IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH BEARINGS OF REVOLVING SHAFTS AND AXLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Frederick Parsons, of 1, Hamilton Terrace,
Grove Road, Victoria Park, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, for an
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH BEARINGS OF
REVOLVING SHAFTS AND AXLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Frederick Parsons at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1880.
CHARLES FREDERICK PARSONS, of 1, Hamilton Terrace, Grove Road, Victoria
Park, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH BEARINGS OF REVOLVING SHAFTS AND AXLES."
This Invention relates to bearings of revolving shafts and axles in order to reduce
friction.
For the purposes of my Invention I groove or otherwise recess the inside of
square or other shaped surfaces of bearings, and I fit within such grooves or recesses
one or more metallic keys, wedges, or like appliances, upon or against which the
revolving shaft or axle can be caused to bear. I prefer to dovetail the grooves
and also the keys or wedges to fit therein, and if desired the bearings may be in
sections, and the several sections be arranged that they can be screwed up or
otherwise fitted that the keys or wedges may be adjusted.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Frederick Parsons in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
23rd April 1881.
"
CHARLES FREDERICK PARSONS, of 1, Hamilton Terrace, Grove Road, Victoria
Park, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED
WITH BEARINGS OF REVOLVING SHAFTS AND AXLES."
This Invention relates mainly to keys or strips of hard material, such as metal or
wood, fitted in or to bearings or plummer blocks of revolving shafts, spindles, and
axles that said shafts or axles touch given parts only in order to reduce friction
and to facilitate an easy and perfect lubrication. The keys or strips may be fixtures
or be adjustable by screws.
My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Drawings, in which in
Figure 1 I show four keys A, A, A, A, of dove tailed form to fit and be wedged in
corresponding recesses or grooves in the two side walls B, B, and the bottom C, and
the top plate or cap D of the bearing or plummer block E for the purpose of
supporting the shaft, axle, or spindle Fat four points or lines for the full length,
or only for a portion or portions of the width of the bearings E, as found
convenient, instead of at all parts of the circle as in ordinary bearings or plummer
blocks. The keys of wood, metal, or other material, but preferably of hard wood
or of metal, may be tapered in the direction of their length so as to hold themselves
firmly in position when driven home, or by an outside collar upon and nipped to
the shaft, as found necessary; said keys may, however, be rectangular in cross
section, or of other shape, and if desired they may be screwed or otherwise attached
to plain faced bearings, and be provided with lubricating pads or cottons, or be
slotted or perforated for the passage of oil or other lubricant, or any other system
or means of lubricating may be adopted. In Figure 1 I show a tube G with a
strip of felt or cotton wick H within a corner I of the bearing, which tube and
cotton can be supplied with oil from the cup J screwed into the top plate or cap D,
or the corners I, I, I, I, may be packed with lubricant pads or oiled cotton waste,
against which the shaft or spindle rubs, and so becomes lubricated.
The keys A, A, at the sides B, B, can be arranged that they can be slid by "sett"
screws K,.K, to regulate the degree of touch of the shaft, and thus prevent looseness
or wobbling of the shaft while running.
Figure 2 is a part perspective view of the bearing shown at Figure 1 with the
two side keys and the bottom key in position.
Figures 3 and 4 show face and back perspective views of rectangular keys A, A,
with end lips or lugs L, L, for taking over and against the outer edges M, M, of
the plummer block, against which they can be slid for adjustment by the screws K, K,
as in Figure 5. The key in Figures 3 and 4 has a slot N in it for the reception of
felt or other pad, which can be supplied with a fluid lubricant from the cup J on
the top plate or cap D.
Figure 6 shows a similarly shaped key A with perforations along the line where
the shaft touchos for the reception of cotton wicks for lubricating purposes, and
these or the slotted keys alone or in conjunction with the tube and felt curtain
may be used as desired. When my keys A, A, are used for an axle I arrange them
in the hub or box of the wheel.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,―
Fitting and employing keys or strips of metal or other suitable material in, on,
or to the inner surfaces of bearings or plummer blocks for revolving shafts, spindles,

page_text: or axles to bear against with defined points or lines of contact, as described and as
indicated in the annexed Drawings, said keys being fixed in the position shown, or
adjustable by screw or equivalent appliances, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Frederick Parsons, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
C. F. PARSONS. (L.S.)