Improvements in Antifriction Bearings Applicable for Rotary Shafts, Axles, and the like.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Aug., 1887
Complete Left, 26th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 4th Nov., 1887
Improvements in Antifriction Bearings Applicable for Rotary Shafts,
Axles, and the like.
We, WILLIAM SMITH, DAVID MARKS and ROBERT WATSON, all of Britannia Iron
Works, Keighley, Yorkshire, Machine Makers, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows, that is to say :-
It relates to improvements in antifriction bearings applicable for rotary shafts,
axles and the like, and consists of constructing same in such a manner that the
efficiency thereof is enhanced, while the cost of production is greatly diminished.
As is well known, when a series of rollers are used or employed in connection with
the necessary other parts to form or produce an antifriction bearing for a rotary
shaft etc., the desired object is to keep these rollers in proper relative positions
during their revolution around the shaft or axle in connection with which they are
used, also to keep them in position when said shaft or axle is taken away or withdrawn
from them.
This is attained according to this said invention, by forming the antifriction rollers
of smaller diameter at or near their centre part, and making a ring of pliable metal,
as of wrought or maleable iron, brass, copper etc., with suitable notches or openings,
around the centre opening made therein for the axle etc.; for the reception of the
reduced portions or parts of the rollers. The parts of metal adjoining each of these
openings being so formed that they might be bent over, so as to retain each of said
rollers when placed within each of said openings.
Or instead of the metallic ring being of pliable material and having the parts

page_text: adjoining the openings made therein, formed to bend over as above described, said
ring may be made of any suitable metal as cast iron, etc., and a supplementary ring
may be employed for holding the rollers as above described within their notches or
recesses, this supplementary ring being of a springy or elastic material (as of steel)
and of suitable dimensions so that it may be inserted into the opening for the
reception of the shaft or axle, and at the proper place, spring out in order to
keep each and all of the above named rollers in proper position as hereinbefore
described.
A groove is made in the stationary bearing or block for the reception of the
metallic ring above described, by which means any lateral movement of the rollers
is prevented.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Antifriction Bearings Applicable for Rotary Shafts,
Axles, and the like.
We, WILLIAM SMITH, DAVID MARKS, and ROBERT WATSON, all of Britannia Iron
Works, Keighley, Yorkshire Machine Makers 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, that is to say:-
It relates to improvements in antifriction bearings applicable for rotary shafts,
axles and the like, and consists of constructing same in such a manner that the
efficiency thereof is enhanced, while the cost of production is diminished.
As is well known, when a series of rollers are used or employed in connection
with the necessary other parts to form or produce an antifriction bearing for a rotary
shaft, axle or the like, the desired object is to keep these rollers in proper relative
positions during their revolution around the shaft or axle in connection with which
they are used, also to keep them in position when said shaft or axle is taken away or
withdrawn from them.
Hereunto appended is a sheet of drawings, illustrative of our said invention, the
same bearing letters and figures of reference used in the following description.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation shewing antifriction rollers and pedestal. Fig. 2 is a top
view of fig. 1. Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6 are detail drawings hereinafter referred to.
b
The antifriction rollers a are formed less in diameter in or near their centre parts a¹,
this said centre part a³ of each of said rollers a being received so as to operate within
each of the openings 6 (fig. 4) formed in the metallic ring c. Said ring c is made of
pliable metal as wrought iron, brass, copper or the like, and the openings & are made
therein around the centre opening through which passes or operates the shaft d,
additional openings e being also made therein so that suitable projections may be
formed adjoining said openings 6; which (projections ) being of pliable metal may
be bent over (see fig. 3) to retain or hold in proper position, yet loosely to revolve,
said rollers a.
Instead of the ring c being of pliable metal and the parts or projections / being
bent over, said ring may be made of any suitable metal as cast iron etc., and a
supplementary ring g (figs. 4 and 6) may be employed for holding or retaining the
rollers a within their notches or openings b.
This ring 9 is made of any springy or elastic metal as of steel, and is of suitable
dimensions so that it may be pressed and drawn together or contracted as shewn in
broken lines fig. 4, in order to be inserted within the opening for the shaft d, from
which position, when released it springs or opens out and assumes that shewn by full
lines fig. 4, in which position it holds in an appropriate manner each and all the
rollers a.
A suitable groove is formed in the ring c allowing the ring g to assume
the position above described. Or as will readily be seen instead of a groove being

page_text: made for the reception of the ring g, projections may be made shorter and with
the shoulder formed by the difference in the diameters of the roller a and its part a¹
the ring g will be retained in proper position.
In the stationary bearing or block h a groove is formed for the reception of the
outer edge of the ring c by which means any lateral movement of the rollers a
is prevented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. The rollers a formed as shewn in combination with the ring c constructed of
pliable metal the same having openings and projections formed therein, substan-
tially as and for the purposes specified.
2. The ring c having projections f formed thereon as shewn, in combination with
the ring and the rollers a, all being arranged to operate in the manner and for the
purposes substantially as set forth.
3. The combination of ring c and the rollers a with the block having a
groove formed for the reception of said ring c substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 24th day of Sentember 1887
SAMUEL HEY,
Agent.