IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AXLE BEARINGS
Year: 1857

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, of
39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris, and .4, South Street, Finsbury; London,
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF AXLE BEARINGS."-A communication.
Sealed the 23rd October 1857, and dated the 9th June 1857.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Peter Armand Le Comte
de Fontainemoreau at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 9th June 1857.
I, PETER ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINEMOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier,
Paris, and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF AXLE BEARINGS," to be as follows, that is to say:―
This Invention consists in the application of spheres or antifriction balls to
bearings for facilitating the motion of machinery. The spheres or balls are
applied so as to rotate between the axle and the plummer block or bearing.
The form of the plummer block and journal may be varied according to the
application. One of the simplest forms consists in constructing a plummer.
block and axle, and afterwards forming on the interior of the two parts of the
plummer block a groove sufficiently large to receive a series of balls. A
similar groove corresponding with the groove in the plummer block is also
made in the cylindrical part of the axle.

page_text: To obtain greater regularity, an angular groove may be formed on a cylinder
fixed to the axle, and on that angle the series of balls rotate, the outer groove
being curved.
The most suitable mode of applying the Invention to machinery is to make
a collar, around which a curved or angular groove is formed for the spheres
or balls to rotate in, the cylinder being fixed to the axle by means of a key.
The axle, if vertical, is made to rotate on the spheres or balls placed in a cup-
shaped socket or bearing.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemorcau in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 3rd December 1857.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, PETER
ARMAND le Comte DE FONTAINEMOREAU, of 39, Rue de l'Echiquier, Paris,
and 4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of June, in the twentieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, Her special license that I, the
said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Peter Armand le Comte
de Fontainemoreau, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AXLE BEARINGS," communicated to me by a
foreigner residing abroad, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontainemoreau, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be
performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine-
moreau, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
annexed Sheet of Drawings, and to the figures and letters marked. thereon,
that is to say:-
The Invention consists in the application of spheres or antifriction balls to
plummer blocks or axle bearings for facilitating the mótion of the axles of
machinery, the spheres or balls being applied so as to rotate between the axle
and the plummer block or bearing.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing is a front view of the improved
plummer block or axle bearing, and Figure 2 is a sectional plan of the
same.
Figure 3 represents a section of a plummer block with three. series of
spheres or balls; Figure 4 is a section of a modification of Figure 2; Figure 5
shews the balls applied to a vertical shaft, and Figure 6 is a plan of the
same.
The form of the plummer block and journal may be varied according to the
application. One of the most simple forms consists in constructing a plummer
block or bearing and axle in the ordinary way, and afterwards making on the
interior of the two parts of the plummer block a groove sufficiently large to
receive a series of balls.
Figures 1 and 2 shew the groove c and the series of balls o, p, q; another
groove, corresponding in form with the groove in the bearing, is made in the
collar R, fixed to the axle G by a key H. The top of the plummer block is
screwed down, leaving a small space i to allow the balls to rotate freely in the
grooves, so as to touch only at two points. The balls and the parts of the
plummer block against which the balls rotate should be made of metal, of a
hardness proportioned to the wear to which they are subjected. When
a great pressure has to be supported, the balls or spheres must be made larger,
and several parallel series employed, as shewn in Figure 3.
The employment of grooves for enclosing a series of spheres or balls, as in
Figure 1, may be adopted in most cases, especially.in machines which do not
require precision. One of the chief properties of the sphere is to rotate
without sliding, although placed in contact at three points. This property is
rendered available by making an angular groove A, Figure 4, round the
collar C, keyed to the axle E, and placing in the angular groove a series of
balls F, which are kept in their proper position by the part B of the plummer
block, Figure 4.
A mode of applying the spheres or balls to a vertical axle is represented in
section, Figure 5, and in plan, Figure 6. A is a metal socket, made concave or

page_text: cup-shaped, so as to admit the balls B, upon which the end of the shaft C
rotates.
.The most suitable mode of employing the balls or spheres to machinery is
to employ a collar formed with a curved or angular groove for receiving the
balls, and to fix it to any desired part of the axle by means of a key. The
spheres may also be enveloped with a ring of suitable construction, and
enclosed between the two parts of the bearings. Old machines may be
provided with the above-described improvements.
Having now described "the nature of the Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine myself.
to the exact details of construction, reserving to myself the right of modifying
the same. What I claim is,-
First, the application of antifriction balls or spheres in semicircular or
angular grooves in a collar and plummer block or axle bearing for facilitating
the motion of axles of machinery, as herein-before described, and represented
in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the annexed Drawing.
Secondly, the application of balls or spheres, placed in a cup-shaped socket,
to vertical axles, as herein-before described, and represented in Figures 5 and 6
of the annexed Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Peter Armand le Comte de Fontaine-
moreau, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of
December, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
fifty-seven.
L' DE FONTAINEMOREAU. (L.B.)