Improvements in Ball Castors for Furniture.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Castors for Furniture.
I, ARTHUR FREDERICK HAWKSLEY, of Dunedin House, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention is designed to provide a ball castor for furniture and other
articles the ball of which will not be liable to stick or refrain from turning when
weight or pressure is applied to it.
I find that it is necessary to provide for a rolling movement of the ball in
addition to and independently of its rotation about its axis and by making provision
therefor I obviate the liability of the ball sticking or jambing.
The ball I place in a cup or socket of any suitable shape or construction and
above it I place a number of friction rollers or balls mounted in circles or upon a
These friction
couple of concentric rings upon which they are free to rotate.
rollers are so placed that their peripheries do not come into contact with the cup or
socket in which they are contained and are free to rotate on their axles formed by
the two concentric rings, or the pivots upon which they are mounted and they
are so arranged that the ball when in motion only rests in contact with rollers
which rotate in the direction in which it is travelling.
The concentric rings are so placed and of such a size that the ball without
coming into contact with the cup or socket containing them can be placed with its
vertical axis under the inner set of rollers, the inner ring being a little further from
the horizontal axis of the ball than the outer one. Two or more sets or rings of
friction rollers may be used.
The ball can travel from side to side over the friction rollers so that it can
assume a position at any point under the circle formed by the rings. In this
position it is free to rotate on its axis being supported only on a few rollers whose
transverse axes lie in the direction of the movement of the ball and its rolling
motion over the surface of the friction rollers is not retarded as they move freely
on the axle formed by the rings.
The concentric rings are supported in the socket by any suitable form of bracket
which will allow free movement of the rollers thereon such brackets preferably
forming dividing pieces to separate the rollers and maintain them in the proper
position.
The ball may be secured from dropping out of the socket by means of a second
flanged socket or ring or other similar device. The main socket may be provided
with a flange or other device or a cap may be placed over it and the flange of the
second socket rest thereon free play being given for the rolling motion of the ball
from one side to the other thereof.
I am well aware that ball castors with friction rollers and ball have been already
made in several different ways.
Dated this 5th day of April 1004
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: ig. 4. ттап.
Fig. 5. Plan from below with the ball and lower part of the socket removed.
Fig. 6. Plan from below in section on line a-x Fig. 2.
Fig. 7. Plan from below in section on line y-y Fig. 2.
The ball A is of metal or other suitable material and is placed in a cup or
socket B of convenient form to receive and retain it in position being sufficiently
wide to allow of a rolling movement of the ball from side to side.
In the socket B and above the ball A I place a number of friction rollers C in
two annular sets. The friction rollers C are mounted upon two concentric rings D
and E upon which they are free to rotate. The rings D and E are of wire
connected or attached to the arms f of a bracket F which is fitted into the socket B.
The bracket F may be of any convenient form to give support to the rings D and E
or may form part of the socket, but for the purposes of construction I at present
consider it better to make it separate from the socket. The arms f of the bracket
limit the lateral movement of the rollers C upon the rings D and E.
The position of the rings D and E and of the friction rollers C upon them, is
such that the peripheries of the rollers C do not come into contact with the cup or
socket B and they are free to rotate and also have a limited lateral movement on
their axles, formed by the two concentric rings D and E. The rings are placed as
shown, one above the other D being larger and nearer to the horizontal axis of the
ball than the ring E. And the relative sizes of the two rings to each other and to
the ball are such that the ball when in motion only rests in contact with such of the
rollers as are behind it and rotate approximately in the direction in which it is
travelling sufficient space being provided for it to roll away from the other
rollers.
The ball A can travel from side to side over the friction rollers C carried by the
inner or smaller ring E so that it can assume a position at any point within the
circle formed by the rings. In this position at either side of the ring it is free to
rotate on its axis being in contact with and supported only on the few rollers C
behind it whose transverse axes lie in the direction of the movement of the ball and

page_text: its rolling motion over the surface of the friction rollers is not retarded as the rollers
move freely on the axle formed by the rings.
The ball is secured from dropping out by the contracted part b at the lower edge
of the socket B or it may be retained in position by means of a ring, flange or other
device attached to the socket B leaving room for the travel of the ball across the
inner set of rollers from one side to the other.
In action as the castor travels in the direction of the arrow c the ball A is
brought into contact with the rollers C at the opposite side of the socket B and
rotates about its own axis in the direction of the arrow a. The surface of the ball
against the periphery of the rollers with which it is in contact causes them to
rotate on the axles formed by the rings D and E. The ball A is thus permitted to
have a rolling movement over the surfaces of the rollers which ensures its free
rotation in any direction.
I am well aware that ball castors with friction rollers and balls have been already
made in several different ways and I do not claim such per se.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
A ball castor constructed with friction rollers arranged in annular sets against
which the ball bears, the rings being of such a size and so placed that the
ball is permitted to have a rolling or travelling movement from any one side of
the socket to the other and when in action only to be in contact with such of the
rollers as are behind it and approximately parallel or in line with the direction in
which the castor travels substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1895.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.