A New and Improved Anti-friction Bearing for End Thrusts in Machinery.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New and Improved Anti-friction Bearing for End Thrusts in
Machinery.
We, GEORGE WILKES, Engineer, of 35, Richmond Street, Southampton in the
County of Southampton, and FREDERICK EDWARDS, Capt. R.N. of Gloucester Lodge,
Portswood, Southampton, in the County of Southampton 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
-
Our invention consists in the combination of rollers with involuted peripheries
rotating freely between two grooved discs as hereinafter more fully described, to form
an end thrust bearing offering the minimum frictional resistance to the rotation of one
disc plate upon the other stationary plate; and in order that our invention may he the
better understood we now proceed to describe the same in relation to the drawings
hereunto annexed, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a general elevation of our completo device.
Figure 2 shows the same with the anti-friction discs removed.
Figure 3 is a detail showing the specially formed periphery of the said anti-
friction rollers.
Figure 4 is a detail of the collar and axes carrying the said anti-friction rollers.
B represents a revolving shaft to which is rigidly attached the bearing plate A
resting upon the peripheries of the anti-friction rollers or wheels E.
The lower plate A may be considered a fixture, forming the bearing base, upon
which roll anti-friction rollers, or wheels E. From the lower fixed disc, or upper
revolving shaft a spindle is continued between the two bearing plates or discs, so as to
form a guide keeping the two bearing plates axial to one another and supporting the
freely revolving collar D.
The said collar D is provided with projecting studs or axes F, upon which the anti-
friction rollers, or wheels E are mounted free to revolve.
The faces of the said bearing plates A are provided each with an annular groove in
which the said anti-friction rollers or wheels run, and by which the said rollers or
wheels are kept in position upon projecting studs or axes F of the collar D.
We have found it essential for the successful operation of our device, that the form
of the annular grooves in the bearing plates A, and the form of the outer periphery f
of the anti-friction rollers or wheels E, shall be carefully turned to a specific curve
as shown in the detached detailed roller Figure 3.
It will be noticed that this curve is not symmetrical on either side of the central
axis of the wheel but has an easy curve on one face, viz. ;-the inner face, of the
periphery of the wheel or roller, and a sharper curve on the outside part of the
periphery.
66
We have found that the required curve is the known geometrical curve an
involute," and we set this curve out upon a gauge from which we prepare both
the annular grooves in the bearing plates and the external peripheries of the said
wheels.
One, two, three, or more wheels may be used in the construction of our device.
The invention can be applied to shafts working vertically, horizontally, or obliquely,
or wherever there is an end thrust bearing.
We may employ any suitable material in its construction such as hard, or soft
steel, iron, or other suitable metal.
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 :-
1st. The rollers, or wheels E, having their peripheries set out with a transverse

page_text: section in the form of an involute curve in combination with bearing plates provided
with annular grooves of a transverse section, similar to that of the periphery of theo
said rollers, substantially as described.
2nd. In combination with the said rollers or wheels the freely rotating collar D
with projecting studs F on which the said rollers or wheels freely revolve.
3rd. The combination of anti-friction rollers or wheels turned as to their peripheries
in the sectional form of an involute curve; a freely rotating collar with studs
supporting the said rollers; and hearing plates provided with an ant.ular groove in
which fit the peripheries of the said anti-friction rollers, forming a complete anti-
friction end thrust bearing, substantially as described.
Dated this 9th day of September 1890.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.