Improvements in or appertaining to Solid Lubricants and Bearings therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 21st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Solid Lubricants and Bearings
therefor.
CHARLES HENRY RIDSDALE The Grange Hutton Guisboro', Yorkshire,
Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention has for its object the rendering of the use of hard solid lubricants
possible in cases in which hitherto they have not been applicable.
Their use has hitherto been practically confined to the lubrication of roll necks
(in rolling mills), and in a few cases, of very large shafting ;-in short to those classes
of heavy machinery in which the brasses or bearings do not completely surround
the wearing surface of the journal, and thus admit of large blocks of solid lubricant
being applied to it, at the points where such bearing is not continuous.
These blocks are scarcely ever less than three inches square (or nine square inches
area) in cross section, and ten or twelve inches long, (the length being about the
same as that of the brass), and they are placed with their greatest measurement
parallel to the axis of the journal or shaft.
I propose to so adapt the form of any lubricant which is sufficiently hard for the
purpose, (whether applied by itself, or incorporated with any other body or bodies
having lubricating properties, or other beneficial action on the wearing surfaces,)
that it shall be able to be used advantageously in the place of semi-solid or liquid
lubricants in almost all cases, (except possibly for the lightest class of machinery,)
either with or without modification of the bearings (or brasses), and their "keeps,"
lubricating devices, or mode of application.
To this end I propose to use it in the following forms, and applied in the following
ways;
As pencils, bars, slabs, or sticks, of any size or section, passing through a hole or
holes in the brass (or bearing,) and its "keep," so that their ends rest on the shaft,
their greatest measurement being at an angle to its axis ;-or,
As either of the above forms, but of cross section not exceeding three inches
in diameter, or nine square inches in area, lying on the shaft (with their axes
parallel to it,) and contained in a groove or recess in the bearing, in a feeding
hole, or applied at any point of the circumference where the bearing is not
continuous.
Any of the above may be made hollow or solid.
As short cylinders, discs, cones, or other shapes, either hollow or solid, passing
through a hole or holes in the bearing and its "keep," whether with their axes
at an angle to or parallel with that of the shafting.
As cubes, balls, shot, grains, or dust, used in similar manner to that already
described.
Any of the above (which are capable of being so applied,) whether fed by
centrifugal force from the centre of the (hollowed) journal, through a hole or
holes radiating therefrom, or by any other means by which they can be supplied to
the wearing surfaces.
There may be any number of pieces of lubricant in any of the above forms,
either superposed, or arranged in any convenient manner, either in the hole or
holes provided for their passage or also in any receptacle and its connections
attached thereto, where the conditions permit it, so that a continuous supply
shall be kept up.
The lubricant in these forms need not necessarily come into contact with a
section of the journal or shafting parallel to its axis, which is equal to the full
length of the brass or bearing in that direction.

page_text: I also propose, in order to prevent the lubricant from sticking to the sides
of the passage through which it is supplied to the wearing surfaces, and thus
ensure its regular supply, and promote its distribution over those surfaces to
employ the following means;-
1. The counter sinking, bell mouthing, or otherwise conveniently enlarging, of
any of the above named holes or passages at the extremity next to the wearing
surfaces, or to make it to taper throughout its length in either direction, such
modification in these passages being either in conjunction or not, as preferred,
with the usual channels which are cut along one of the wearing surfaces,
(generally that of the brass,) from the lubricating hole.
2. The coating of the lubricant in the various forms described, with some
substance which shall glaze it or give it a non sticky surface. For instance
shellac, black lead, talc, or other substance having similar effect.
3. The lining of the passage with some material tending to minimise sticking,
as a glass or porcelain tube (suitably supported so as not to come into contact
with the journal or shafting), or, (if the situation is warm enough to tend to soften
the lubricant enough to make this desirable), to have a thin inner tube (of
metal glass or other material) somewhat smaller than the hole itself, inserted in
it, so as to leave a space between it and the sides of the hole, such space
allowing the lubricant passing through the inner tube to be cooled by air, water,
or other suitable means thus able to be applied in it. If preferred, the hole
itself may simply be made somewhat larger than the lubricant passing through
it, and the space so left filled with water.
With the same objects, or if the lubricant in the forms described does not
press sufficiently hard on the shafting by its own weight, I also propose to
make use in conjunction with it, of any means which shall give sufficient pressure,
such as
a spring, screw top or plunger, rackwork, or a screw thread, spiral
fluting, or any other special formation on or in the lubricant or brasses, or both,
or any other devices for pressing the lubricant forward and forcing it up to the
wearing surfaces, when used in conjunction with these forms of lubricant.
I propose to use the above named forms of lubricant in conjunction with ;-
1. Any ordinary form of bearing or journal, or
2. Any specially modified bearing or journal having any groove or recess in it as
above described, or
3. Any specially modified bearing or journal, having more, or larger holes than
it is customary to use with the class of machine to which it belongs for lubrication
by ordinary means, or
4. If having more than one hole, the arrangement of such holes (whether
there are the usual number or more than the usual number) in any particular
way, (such as to "break joint,") which is specially adapted to the use of lubricant
in any of the above forms, or
5. The attachment of or connection with of a long tube, hopper, or any other
convenient receptacle, for the lubricant in any of the above forms, to any hole or
holes leading to the wearing surfaces.
DL: 1011
L
1000
C. H. RIDSDALE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Solid Lubricants and Bearings
therefor.
I, CHARLES HENRY RIDSDALE of The Grange, Hutton, Guisborough in the
County of York, Analytical Chemist, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object the application of hard, solid lubricants, such

page_text: as those set forth in my Specification No. 378291, in cases where it has hitherto not
been applicable.
Its use has hitherto been practically confined to the lubrication of neck rolls in
rolling mills, and in a few cases to very large shafts, in other words to those classes
of heavy machinery in which the brasses or bearings do not completely surround
the surface of the journal and thus admit of large plugs of solid lubricant being
applied to it at the points where such bearing is not continuous.
My invention consists in so arranging the bearing and shaping the lubricating
material that it can be applied to other forms of bearings. To effect this I form a
longitudinal slot or a series of longitudinal slots breaking joint with each other or
one or a series of perpendicular or sloping holes through the bearings or brass and
its keep and in a box or reservoir above them I place the lubricant in the form of
balls, shot, cubes, sticks, or other form, so arranged as to fall into or stand in the
aforesaid holes and slots and sink down on to the bearing as the lower portion
wears away. In order to prevent the material sticking in the slot or hole or
wedging itself there, I prefer to form the slot or hole tapering with the larger end
downwards. I may however coat the lubricant with graphite shellac, talc, mica or
other material of a slippery or non-adhesive nature.
In order that my invention may be better explained I show one form of carrying
it into effect. A is the journal, B the brass, C the keep, D the lubricant in the
form of sticks standing in tubes E fitted into two series of round holes going right
across the bearing and breaking joint with each other. Of course instead of the
sticks which in this case are shown slightly projecting from the tubes, the lubricant
could be in the form of granules, shot, ball, cubes, or other shape. The tube can
if desirable be made rather larger than the stick of lubricant and filled with water
or even have a trickle of water continually running into it so as to insure the stick
not adhering to the side of the tube. The bearing can also be arranged if desirable
with a spring or weight pressing on the top of the stick and thus forcing it against
the bearing. It will be obvious also that a bearing can be lubricated in this
manner from below in exceptional cases, a solid stick of lubricant being pressed up
the tube against the bearing by means of a coiled spring or weighted lever and
piston or ram while in other cases it may be found desirable to have a screw top
pressing against the lubricant and by intermittent or continuous motion screwed
down against the same thus forming the lubricant against the journal. Where shot
grains or small balls are used a chamber or groove can be made in the bearing
immediately below the tube into which the balls can be run and thus a single, or
two tubes supply solid lubricant to the entire length of the bearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
:―
1. The manufacture and use of a hard, solid, greasy or saponified lubricant,
formed in sticks, cubes, balls, shot, grains or equivalent shapes substantially as and
for the purposes described.
2. In the use of solid lubricating material or in bearings for such material,
varnishing, glazing, blackleading or otherwise coating the outside surface of the
balls shot or sticks of lubricant or of the lubricating orifice in the bearing, or both,
with a material of a specially non-sticky nature, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3. In a bearing to be lubricated with solid lubricants the following adaptations
A. An arrangement of lubricating orifice in the tubular form expanding as
it approaches the bearing whereby the lubricant has less liability to stick
to the sides.
B. Two or more lines of tubes or tubular orifices passing through the bearing
to the journal, the one link breaking joint with the other.
C. One or more tubular orifices connected at bottom with a deep groove

page_text: extending the whole width of the bearing whereby solid balls of lubricant
passed down the tube can run the whole length of the bearing.
D. The combination with a tubular orifice, of hard lubricant placed inside the
same and weights or springs, continuously or intermittently worked screws
or the mechanical equivalent thereof pressing the solid lubricant down on to
the bearing substantially as described.
E. The combination with the lubricating orifice of the bearing of a high tube
filled with solid lubricant in the form of balls, cubes, sticks, or other shape,
so arranged as to stand one over the other without jamming.
5. In the lubricating of bearings forming a deep hole down to the journal and
ing the same with a stick, sticks, cubes, balls or the like of solid lubricant
rounded by water.
Dated this 19th day of November 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, and London, Patent Agents.