Improvements in Thrust Bearings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
Improvements in Thrust Bearings.
I, ERNEST SCHNEIDER, of 58, Wienerstrasse, Vienna XVIII, in the Empire
of Austria, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to thrust bearings for shafts on which a longitudinal strain
is exerted, and more especially to thrust bearings for screw-propeller shafts. The
invention has for its object to provide bearings, in which the friction between the
parts integral with or secured to the shaft and the parts of the bearing in contact
therewith is as far as possible reduced.
According to my invention, the shaft has formed on it or secured to it a number
of collars of comparatively large diameter, these collars being designed to transmit
the thrust to the thrust block. The bearing surfaces of the said collars are made
in the shape of obtuse angled projecting cones, the axes of which coincide with the
axis of the shaft, and the corresponding bearing surfaces of the thrust block are
similar cones having their apexes turned toward the apexes of the conical bearing
surfaces of the said collars.
Between each conical bearing surface of a collar of the screw shaft and the
corresponding conical bearing surface formed on the thrust block a circular frame
or recessed disc is loosely mounted on the screw-shaft. In the recesses of the said
disc three or more conical rollers are so journalled that their axes are arranged
radially and the said conical rollers have their sides so inclined and are of such a
diameter that they are in contact, along generatrixes, with both conical surfaces.
In order to admit of exact adjustment of the said conical rollers which are
constantly forced toward the circumference of their circular supporting frame by
the centrifugal force and by the pressure exerted on them by the two conical
bearing surfaces, the outer trunnions have their step bearings formed by screws.
As soon as the said screws are so adjusted that all the conical rollers are exactly in
contact with both conical bearing surfaces, the nuts of the said screws are screwed
home and locked in their position by any known device for this purpose.
I provide for allowing repairs in one or the other part of this thrust bearing to
be effected while the shaft is running by the following arrangement:-The conical
bearing surfaces of the thrust block are formed on separate blocks movable in
guides and having a removable piece or ring inserted between them and the
abutment formed on the thrust block. It will be seen from this that, as soon as the
said removable piece or ring is withdrawn, the block on which the conical bearing
surface is formed can be pushed out of contact with the roller disc, which then is
removed from the conical surface of the bearing collar of the shaft and stopped.
Dated this 7th day of November 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Thrust Bearings.
I, ERNEST SCHNEIDER, of 58, Wienerstrasse, Vienna XVIII, in the Empire
of Austria, Gentleman, 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:-
My invention relates to thrust bearings for shafts on which a longitudinal
pressure is exerted, or which are used to transmit power in that direction, and
more especially to thrust bearings for screw-propeller shafts.
The invention has for its object to provide bearings in which the friction between
the parts integral with or secured to the shaft and the parts of the bearing in
contact therewith is as far as possible reduced.
According to my invention the shaft is provided with a number of collars or
flanges of comparatively large diameter which are designed to transmit the thrust
to the thrust block. The bearing surfaces of these collars are made in the shape
of obtuse angled projecting cones, the axes of which coincide with the axis of the
shaft, and cones of similar form but projecting in the opposite direction are
provided upon the bearing surfaces of the thrust block.
Between each conical bearing surface of a collar of the screw shaft and the
corresponding conical bearing surface formed on the thrust block a circular frame
or recessed disc is loosely mounted on the screw-shaft. In the recesses of the said
disc three or more conical rollers are so journalled that their axes are arranged
radially and the said conical rollers have their sides so inclined and are of such a
diameter that they are in contact, along generatrices, with both conical surfaces.
In order to admit of exact adjustment of the said conical rollers which are
constantly forced toward the circumference of their circular supporting frame by
the centrifugal force and by the pressure exerted on them by the two conical
bearing surfaces, the outer trunnions have their step bearings formed by screws.
As soon as the said screws are so adjusted that all the conical rollers are exactly in
contact with both conical bearing surfaces, the nuts of the said screws are screwed
home and locked in their position by any known device for this purpose.
I provide for allowing repairs in one or the other part of this thrust bearing to
be effected while the shaft is running by the following arrangement, that is to say,
I insert between the collar having the conical surface upon the thrust block a ring
divided into two parts to enable it to be removed.
It will be seen from this that, as soon as the said removable ring is withdrawn,
the block or collar on which the conical bearing surface is formed can be pushed
out of contact with the roller frame, which then is removed from the conical surface
of the bearing collar of the shaft and can be held against rotation.
To enable the invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved bearing:
Figure 2 is a transverse section; and,
Figure 3 is a front view of the roller disc or frame drawn to an enlarged scale.
a is the shaft provided with a number of collars of comparatively large diameter
by means of which it transmits to the thrust block pressure applied to it in a
longitudinal direction. The bearing surfaces 6 of these collars bare of the form
of obtuse angled cones, it being evident that since the direction of the strain or
pressure may vary both surfaces of these collars must be constructed to act as
bearing surfaces.
Similar conical bearing surfaces c¹ are formed upon collars c which are connected
by bolts c² with. the abutments d' of the thrust block d. Between the collars c and
the abutment d' are inserted the two part rings or discs f by lifting out which, after

page_text: removal of the bolts, the shifting of the conical collars c, previously referred to,
is rendered possible.
Between each pair of conical surfaces b¹ and c' there is upon the shaft a circular
freely rotating frame or recessed disc g. In the recesses in this frame are conical
rollers the axes of which are arranged radially whilst the angle enclosed by the
sides of the rollers is such that they are in contact with the surfaces 6' and c¹ along
generatrices. To allow of the exact adjustment of the rollers h which are constantly
forced outward under the combined effect of centrifugal force and of the pressure
of the surfaces b¹ and c¹ the outer trunnion of each roller his journalled in a
bearing which is adjustably placed in an opening in the rotating frame g and is
held firmly in position by means of a screw ; which acts as an adjustable step-
bearing for the trunnion of the roller h.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A thrust bearing for shafts which act in a longitudinal direction comprising a
number of collars 6 arranged upon the shaft, such collars having obtuse angled
conical bearing surfaces similarly formed but oppositely directed conical
surfaces c upon the thrust block and between each pair of such conical surfaces b'
and c', a frame d rotating freely upon the shaft in which frame conical rollers h
with their axes arranged radially are journalled, these rollers being of such a form
that they are in contact with both the conical surfaces along generatrices, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
2. In a bearing of the kind referred to in the first claiming clause constructing
the conical surfaces c' on the thrust block on separate collars c which are separated
from the fixed abutment d' of the thrust block by removable rings f, substantially
as hereinbefore described.
3. In a bearing of the kind referred to in the first claiming clause adjustable
journal bearings k for the outer trunnions of the conical rollers, adjustable step-
bearings being formed by screws j, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 2nd day of A nonet 1994
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.