IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BEARINGS FOR AXLES AND SHAFTS
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOSEPH BARKBY of Cricket Road, Sheffield in the County of York Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF BEARINGS FOR AXLES AND SHAFTS to be as follows:-
My invention relate to improvements in the construction of bearings for the
support of axles and shafts, such as the axles of colliery Wagons, and other Vehicles,
colliery roller frames, sheave pulleys, and shafting, also to the steps of vertical
shafts.
The object of my invention, is in the first place to enable a worn bearing or step
to be readily removed and replaced by a new one without having to remove any
other part of the bearing, and also to prevent the escape of the lubricant from the
grease or oil box; and it consists chiefly in the arrangement by which the step or
brass may be inserted in the bearing, and also in the application of a sliding
shuttle fitting partly round the shaft or axle, so as to cover any aperture, between
the axle, and the opening in the bearing.
In applying my invention to the bearing of a vertical shaft, I make the body of
the bearing upon a baseplate provided with the usual bolt holes.
The body consists of a central enclosed chamber, (but open at the top,) to receive
and hold the step, and is surrounded at a little distance by an outer wall, the space
between the two being used to contain the lubricant, which is able to percolate
through perforations formed in the upper portion of the wall of the step chamber.
A suitable opening to admit the step is made through the sides of the body, and
is walled off from the lubricant, which is prevented escaping through the said
opening by means of a vertical slide-plate.
The step is preferably made with a projection or retaining piece on its underside
to fit into a corresponding recess in the bottom of the step chamber.
In carrying out my invention in the construction of a bearing with only a
bottom brass or step, "for example" I make the body of the bearing hollow to
contain the lubricant, the open top being closed by a lid.
An opening corresponding to the area of the cross section of the axle and its
step, is made in the side or sides of the bearing to admit the said step and end of
shaft.

page_text: The step is made without the usual flange at one end, but may have a small lip
or a stud, to drop into a corresponding recess in the floor of the bearing, upon
which the step rests so as to prevent it working out of its place.
To prevent the escape of the lubricant (which is in direct contact with the axle
neck) through any aperture round the axle, such as would be caused by wear, I fix
against the inside of the bearing, a vertical plate, slide, or shuttle, having its
bottom edge shaped to fit closely round the top half of the axle, and the opening
through which the step has been inserted. This plate may be held by strips,
screws, rivets or by similar means, either allowing the plate to be supported by the
axle, or fixing it in the desired position.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Bearings for Axles
and Shafts.
I JOSEPH BARKBY of Cricket Road, Sheffield in the County of York Engineer
do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BEARINGS FOR AXLES AND SHAFTS and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, that is to say :—
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of bearings for the
support of axles and shafts, such as for example, the Axles of Colliery and Railway
Wagons and other Vehicles, also the axles of colliery roller frames, sheaves and
pulleys, and ordinary horizontal and vertical shafts.
The object of my invention, is, in the first place to enable a worn bearing or
step to be easily removed, and readily replaced by a new one, without having to
remove any other part of the bearing; also to prevent the escape of the lubricating
material from the grease box, and it consists chiefly in a novel arrangement by
which the "brass" or step of any suitable material can be inserted into the body
of the bearing, and in the application of a sliding or removeable shuttle or plate, so
as to cover or close any aperture between the axle and the opening through which
the axle passes.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood I annex a sheet of
drawings illustrating some methods of carrying the same into practice; the same
letters of reference indicate the same parts in any of the figures.
Figs 1 & 2, are a side, and end elevation of a Colliery Roller box, and Fig. 3 is
a plan of same.
Figs 4 and 5, are a side elevation and plan and Figs 6 and 7, are a sectional
elevation and plan of an "inside" wagon axle-box.
Figs 8. 9. 10. 11 are complete, and sectional elevations and plans of a sheave or
shafting bearing.
Figs 12 & 13 represent an end, or outside bearing or axle box for wagons.
Figs 14. 15. 16, are sectional elevations and plan of a footstep bearing for
vertical shafts.
In carrying out my invention in the construction of a colliery roller box, having
a bottom bearing only, as shown in Figs 1. 2. 3, I make the part of the standard or
frame that carries the step A, chambered or hollow at B to contain the lubricant,
and preferably with a lid C to close the top opening of the chamber B.
An opening corresponding with the area of the cross section of the axle and the
step A is made in the side to admit the said step and the end of the shaft or axle.
The step is made with a flange at one end only but has a lip or stud D, to drop
into or engage with a corresponding recess in the floor of the chamber B on which
the step rests, which prevents it from moving or working out of its position.
To prevent any escape of the lubricant (which is in direct contact with the axle
neck) from the grease chamber through any aperture round the periphery of the
axle, such as would be caused by ordinary wear, I fix against the inside of the

page_text: chamber, a vertical plate, slide, or shuttle E, having its bottom edge shaped to fit
closely round the top half of the axle, and of the opening through which the step is
inserted.
This plate E may be held in its place, by strips, screws and slots, or equivalent
devices, and so as to either allow the plate to rest upon the axle, or it may be
supported in a fixed position and not resting on the axle.
In the wagon axle box illustrated in Figs 4, 5, 6, 7, the vertical plate is not used,
the brass or step of any suitable material is inserted at one end being supported by
the strips F, F, which fit into corresponding grooves, and may be further secured
by a screw or rivet G, and a strap or bridle may be used to secure the axle in the
usual manner.
The Figs 8. 9. 10. 11, show my invention as applied to a bearing for the end of
a sheave axle, or of an ordinary shaft, and intended to be fastened to a wall or
wooden beam.
B is the lubricant chamber, A the step, E the plate, C the spring lid.
When required for a through shaft, the step is divided, each part having a
flange, and a lip, and being inserted from opposite sides of the bearing.
The lips drop into a central recess, and a vertical plate is applied to each side.
Figa 12 & 13 merely represent a modification of the wagon axle box shown in
Fig 4. 5. 6. 7. being for an outside bearing, in this case the casting is continued
(at H) round the axle.
To adapt my invention to a foot-step, or bearing for vertical shafts, I construct
the bearing as shown in Figs 14. 15. 16.
On a suitable sole plate I, I raise a foundation for the step J, round which
I continue vertically a circular wall K, which I enclose in an outer wall L, the
annular space M between, being to contain the lubricant, which finds its way to
the step through the holes N. O is a lid or cover to protect the lubricant.
"
An opening P, is arranged on one side to admit the step J, which is provided
with a retaining lid Q as before described.
R is the vertical plate to prevent the escape of the lubricant.
To renew a worn step it is only necessary to raise the shaft a sufficient distance
above the recess of step to enable the lip to be lifted out of its groove, when it
can be drawn through the opening P, after the vertical plate has been removed.
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
The construction of bearings for axles and shafts, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and as illustrated in Figures 1 to 16 of the drawings annexed.
ROBT F. DRURY,
Agent for the Applicant.