NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM OR APPLIANCES FOR REDUCING THE FRICTION ON THE ENDS OR OTHER PARTS OF DRIVING, SCREW, OR OTHER KINDS OF SHAFTS, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO ALL REVOLVING BODIES WHERE THE FRICTIONAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO BE REDUCED OR DISPENSED."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Berry, Engineer, of Castleton Foundry,
Armley, near Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention of "NEW OR
IMPROVED MECHANISM OR APPLIANCES FOR REDUCING THE FRICTION ON THE
ENDS OR OTHER PARTS OF DRIVING, SCREW, OR OTHER KINDS OF SHAFTS,
WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO ALL REVOLVING BODIES WHERE THE FRICTIONAL
PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO BE REDUCED OR DISPENSED."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Berry at
the Office of the Commissioners of 'Patents on the 8th April 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY BERRY, Engineer, of Castleton Foundry, Armley, near Leeds,
in the County of York. "NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM OR APPLIANCES FOR
REDUCING THE FRICTION ON THE ENDS OR OTHER PARTS OF DRIVING, SCREW, OR
OTHER KINDS OF SHAFTS, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO ALL REVOLVING BODIES
WHERE THE FRICTIONAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO BE REDUCED OR DISPENSED."
The object of my Invention is to reduce the friction of shafts and other revolving
bodies which has heretofore existed by the ordinary method of carrying the shafts
in what are known as "footsteps," pedestal bearings," "ringed necks" of friction
washers, all of which methods I dispense with.
And my Invention consists in the construction and application of a receptacle or
box which I fix securely on the end or any other suitable part of the shaft or
revolving body at the place where the friction is required to be dispensed, and
which receptacle or box revolves with the shaft or body to which it is fixed, and it
so formed as to hold one or more rollers or small discs which are so arranged, as
that the peripheries of them roll upon two surfaces, one of which is formed by the
box in which they are carried, the motion of which causes the small rollers or discs
to roll with it, and upon the other or resisting surface which is a suitable plate or
foot disc to which the bearings of the shaft may be fixed if desired. The aforesaid
small rollers or discs, of which I may use any suitable number, are arranged also so
that they revolve upon their own axes, the bearings of which are placed in slots or
grooves internally arranged in the before named receptacle or box, and so as to
allow freedom of motion either up or down, and are self-adjusting, no weight

page_text: whatever resting on the axles; their employment being only to keep the rollers or
discs in their relative positions, or instead of rollers or discs I may employ either
separately or in conjunction with them round balls which may be pivotted or kept
by any suitable means in proper position within the box or receptacle which is
secured to the shaft. In case where the friction is required to be dispensed on the
periphery of the shaft or not end ways, then I may form the box or receptacle so
that it will answer if required as a pulley for driving purposes, the rollers, discs, or
balls being arranged conveniently to act on the outward surface of what may be
termed a "dead
or non revolving boss through which the shaft passes clear, and
which boss may be secured to a wall box or ordinary pedestal fixing the other
surface upon which the rollers, discs, or balls work or roll, being the receptacle in
which they are placed as before described. The Invention can also be applied to
all kinds of rolling stock, carts, or other vehicles and similar purposes, the box and
rollers or discs being arranged to suit the particular case to which they are applied.
The use of my Invention is not restricted to vertical shafts or revolving bodies, but
is equally applicable to horizontal arrangements of the same, and besides the friction
being reduced to a minimum and the consequent saving in wear and tear over
hitherto known contrivances, the use of oil and other lubricants for the shafts may
be entirely dispensed with, as none is needed only for the axles of the small rollers
or discs, and as before stated, the friction upon them is so little, that running in
water or the employment of wood axles and the use of blacklead or some similar
lubricant will be found sufficient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Henry Berry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
October 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY BERRY, Engineer, of Castleton Foundry, Armley, near Leeds,
in the County of York. "NEW OR IMPROVED MECHANISM OR APPLIANCES FOR
REDUCING THE FRICTION ON THE ENDS OR OTHER PARTS OF DRIVING, SCREW, OR
OTHER KINDS OF SHAFTS, WHICH IS ALSO APPLICABLE TO ALL REVOLVING BODIES
WHERE THE FRICTIONAL PRESSURE IS REQUIRED TO BE REDUCED OR DISPENSED."
The object of my Invention is to reduce the friction of shafts or bearings and
other revolving bodies which has heretofore existed by the ordinary method of
carrying the shafts in what are known as "footsteps," "pedestal bearings," " ringed
necks," or "friction washers," all of which methods I dispense with. In order that
my Invention may be more clearly understood, I have hereunto annexed one Sheet
of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked it with figures and letters of
reference, the same letter referring to the corresponding part in the various views
or Figs. Fig. 1 shews my Invention as applied to a vertical shaft where there is
end pressure. Fig. 2 is plan of same with top disc removed. Fig. 3 is view of one
arrangement of my Invention as applied when the end thrust or pressure is
horizontally, which arrangement can be used to vertical shafts also. Fig. 4 is plan
view of such arrangement, and Fig. 5 is detail of slotted ring or plate used as shewn
in Fig. 1. At Figs. 6 and 7, I have shewn my Invention as applied to horizontal
arrangements of shafts where the friction is required to be reduced on the periphery.
Figs. 10, 11, 12, and 13, are views of my Invention as applied to the axle of a cart.
Figs. 14 and 15 being details of some of the parts thereof. A is the driving disc
which is firmly secured to the end of the shaft B (Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 4). C are small
rollers which roll on surface of resisting disc D by the rotary action of the disc A.
Thus a free rolling action is introduced between the discs A and B. The rollers are
kept in their relative positions by means of slots formed in the ring E, which slots
fit on roller axles, or as in Figs. 3 and 4, the rollers may revolve on axles projecting
from a centre boss or ring E. Fig. 6 shews my Invention as applied where the
friction is required to be dispensed on the periphery of the shaft, and not end wise
as shewn at Fig. 1 and 3. F is the box disc or receptacle which carries the small
rollers G, and which is secured to the shaft H, the external surface of the box disc
F it will be seen, may be used as a pulley or driver for communicating motion to
other machinery, the small rollers G rolling upon what may be termed a dead or
non-revolving boss J ; each of the small rollers G has a groove formed in it, and a
ring K encircling the whole set of rollers, and formed to fit in the said grooves,
having slots formed to fit on the reduced part of the rollers; the slots may be cut
or formed so as to open internally or externally, as shewn at Figs. 8 and 9, the said
rings K. so formed, keep the rollers G always in their proper relative positions, and
are free to revolve with the rollers G. Fig. 7 shews my Invention as applied
horizontally as at Fig. 6, only instead of the box disc F revolving with the shaft
I make the boss O the revolving body, the action of the rollers G being the same.
Fig. 10 is view of part of the axle of a cart or vehicle. Fig. 11 is section through
line A, B, (Fig. 10). Fig. 12 is longitudinal half section, and Fig. 13, section
through line C, D, (Fig. 12), the boss L in which the "felloes" are fixed being the
receptacle for the small rollers M; the slotted ring or plate b keeping them in their
proper position on their axis N, which ring b answers to the rings K before
described. From the foregoing illustrations and description, it will be readily seen
by all practical engineers that the application of my Invention can be varied to
suit many requirements in the particular line for which it is intended, viz.:-That.
of reducing friction, and at an enormous saving of lubricants, which by the hitherto
employed appliances have had to be used, and also a great saving in power will be
་

page_text: accomplished, the advantages of which will be obvious to all users thereof. For the
screw shafts of steam ships where the end friction is so very great, my Invention is
invaluable; for pug mills and grinding pans, it is especially applicable. The form
and number of small rollers D, G, and M, also rings K and b, may be varied in
number and form to suit particular circumstances, but I have shewn the number
and form which I have found most practicable to the cases applied.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and shewn by Drawings how
the same may be performed and carried into practice, I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the precise details of construction as shewn and
described, for, as stated, modifications may be made, but what I claim as my Inven-
tion, and believe to be new is,-Firstly, the construction and application of rollers
between the rotary box disc and bearing disc or resisting surface, the weight and
pressure being borne on the peripheries of the said rollers, substantially as shewn
and described.
Secondly. The use of the rings E, K, and b, to keep the rollers in their relative
positions in manner and for the purposes substantially as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Berry, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
W WHITEHEAD,
Patent Agent,
Halifax.
WILLIAM HENRY BERRY. (L.S.)