IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL OR ROLLER BEARINGS
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL OR ROLLER BEARINGS
"to be as
follows:-
16
This invention relates to ball or roller bearings.
Antifriction balls or spherical rollers are frequently interposed between friction
surfaces turning one upon the other, their object being to transform sliding friction
into rolling friction.
The inconvenience of the arrangements heretofore employed for this purpose is
that, the balls, being enclosed in a chamber of invariable size, when they become
worn, like the chamber containing them, in one or the other direction, cease to
produce the desired effect, which is the conversion of sliding friction into rolling
friction, without occasioning prejudicial shocks to the balls.
In order to obviate this inconvenience, the antifriction balls are according to this
invention enclosed in an annular space the size of which is adjustable, in a vertical
direction as well as in a direction parallel to the axle, in such a manner that the
approach of the parts which form the chamber of the spherical balls enables the
wear of the latter and of the parts with which they are in contact to be com-
pensated for in every direction. In this manner the desired result is attained by
their application.
The accompanying drawing shows by way of example, the application of this
invention to an axle of a railway truck and also to the journal of a fixed axle.
Figure 1 a longitudinal section of the journal of a loose axle provided with the
improved antifriction device.
Figure 2 is a section of the same on the line a b Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the application of the invention to a fixed
axle.
Figures 4 and 5 are views illustrating a modification.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the device is composed of two fixed discs A having
rims or flanges A', and of two discs B having rims or flanges B¹ and capable of
being moved in the longitudinal direction of the axle.

page_text: The discs A are vertical and are fastened by screws, or otherwise held, in a
box D which encloses the entire apparatus.
The discs B B¹ are screwed upon the axle-journal F provided for this purpose
with screw-threads, and they are fixed in position when they are brought to the
desired distance from the discs A by nuts C¹ pressing against the surface C. The
said nuts C may if required, be held by a brake or band which prevents them
from unscrewing.
The rims or portions of these dises, upon which the balls bear above and below
are bevelled.
•
In the spaces between the fixed discs and the movable discs solid balls E of steel
or other suitable material are inserted; the rims A¹ and B₁ force these balls to
move in the vertical plane.
The screw-threads upon the axle-journal enable, by displacing the nuts C¹, the
discs B to be moved more or less towards the discs A so as to compensate for wear.
In fact this approach diminishes the dimensions of the chambers in which the balls
move, horizontally by the approach of the two discs A and B, and vertically
because the rims or flanges Bi being wedge shaped decrease the distance between
the upper and lower points of contact of the balls.
The said apparatus is entirely enclosed in a box of any suitable construction into
which a lubricant is introduced so that at every revolution of the apparatus each of
the balls is successively immersed in the lubricating material, thus facilitating the
rolling motion and reducing the wear to the greatest possible extent.
If necessary, instead of forming screw-threads directly upon the axle-journal, a
sleeve with external screw-threads, and fixed by any suitable means upon the said
axle, may be employed.
.
Figures 4 and 5 represent this modification wherein the axle-journal a is smooth
and receives the sleeve or bush b, the external surface of which is provided with
screw-threads upon which the discs B B are fastened.
This arrangement has for its object to enable the mounting of the two dises with
the balls, for which the former constitute the chamber, upon the axle itself so that
it becomes merely necessary to fasten the improved apparatus upon the journal of
the axle, which is a great deal more convenient in practice.
In order to prevent the rotation of the sleeve or bush 6 upon the journal, the
extremity of this bush is provided with a suitable number of lugs c engaging with
corresponding mortices & provided upon a ring e. This ring, the interior of which
is of a polygonal form (see Figure 5), is placed upon the extremity of the journal,
which is formed so that the portion f has a polygonal external shape corresponding
to the interior of the ring e.
Another portion g at the extremity of the journal is provided with external
screw-threads for receiving a nut h which holds the ring e in position.
The bush has its inner end on the side of the wheel likewise provided with
lugs engaging with corresponding slots formed in the enlargement or shoulder i of
the axle, in such a manner that the sleeve is firmly connected with the axle aud
carries with it the discs B B¹ in exactly the same manner as if the latter were
mounted directly upon the axle, as described with reference to figures 1 and 2.
Figure 3 shows in longitudinal section the application of this invention to fixed
axles.
In this modification the positions of the fixed dises and of the movable discs are
reversed relatively to those which they occupied in the arrangement shown in
Figure 1.
Through the nave of the wheel is passed a hollow cylinder or bush A provided
with longitudinal wings B designed to cause the said bush to participate in the
rotary motion of the wheel whilst allowing it to shift in a direction parallel to the
axle. The hollow cylinder in which the journal E is free has upon its extremities
the screw-threads C. Upon these screw-threads C are placed the discs D which
can be screwed on till their portions C¹ bear against the ends of the hollow
cylinder A which is movable and follows the motion of the wheel.

page_text: The journal E has upon its external extremity a screw-thread upon which is
fixed the disc D¹; the position of this disc is rendered unchangeable by the nut F
which can be provided with a lock. The disc D¹ upon the inner end of the journal
is keyed and bears against a shoulder H of the axle.
As in the preceding case, the screw threads, instead of being cut directly upon
the journal, may be formed upon a sleeve fixed by any suitable means.
It is evident that in screwing the nut F from the outer end all the discs are
pressed together and that it is possible to reduce the wear of the several parts,
ensuring at all times the regular operation of the apparatus.
This apparatus having fixed axles is lubricated like the preceding apparatus
having the loose axle.
This arrangement of discs with inclined internal rims rolling upon balls and
capable of approaching one another so as to compensate for wear of the parts can
be applied to all revolving motions.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS. IN BALL OR ROLLER BEARINGS" and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-—
This invention relates to ball or roller bearings.
In the provisional specification the employment of friction balls in combination
with annular grooves, was described, for obviating the disadvantages of ball
bearings as heretofore constructed.
I have now modified this arrangement somewhat.
According to the improved arrangement plane surfaces are employed and this is
a characteristic difference.
Some arrangements of ball bearing heretofore employed do not permit the
employment of a lubricant, that is to say, they roll dry and are used dry.
An essential condition however of good operation and the least wear is constant
lubrication.
The complication of the tightening parts of the arrangements heretofore employed
is very great, the wedges, tightening screws, friction pieces and the like only
permitting the application of ball bearings to velocipedes or to machines of only a
few kilogrammetres in weight.
By means of the present improvements ball bearings may be applied to very
heavy machines, use being made of simple and solid parts capable of adapting
themselves to any exigencies and following the diverse directions of the pressures.
By way of example I have represented in the accompanying drawing the
application of this invention to the axle of a railway truck and also to the journal
of a fixed axle.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the journal of a loose axle provided with
the improved anti-friction device.
Figure 2 is a section of the same on the line a, b Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional view showing the application of the invention to a
fixed axle.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views illustrating modifications.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2 the device is composed of two fixed discs A having
rims or flanges A', and of two discs B having rims or flanges B¹ and capable of
being moved in the longitudinal direction of the axle.
The discs A are vertical and are fastened by screws, or otherwise held, in a box D
which encloses the entire apparatus.
The discs B are screwed upon the axle-journal F provided for this purpose with
screw-threads, and they are fixed in position when they are brought to the desired
distance from the discs A by nuts C pressing against the surfaces C. The said
nuts C may, if required, be held by a brake or band which prevents them from
unscrewing.

page_text: The rims or portions of these discs, upon which the balls bear above and below
are bevelled.
"
In the spaces between the fixed dises and the movable discs solid balls E of steel.
or other suitable material are inserted; the rims or flanges A¹ and B¹ force these
balls to move in a vertical plane.
The screw-threads upon the axle-journal enable, by displacing the nuts C¹, the
dises B to be moved more or less towards the discs A so as to compensate for wear.
In fact this approach diminishes the dimensions of the chambers, in which the balls
move, horizontally by the approach of the two discs A and B, and vertically because
the rims or flanges B' being wedge-shaped decrease the distance between the upper
and lower points of contact of the balls.
"I
The said apparatus is entirely enclosed in a box of any suitable construction into
which a lubricant is introduced so that at every revolution of the apparatus each:
of the balls is successively immersed in the lubricating material, thus facilitating
the rolling motion and reducing the wear to the greatest possible extent.
If necessary, instead of forming the screw-threads directly upon the axle-journal,
a sleeve with external screw-threads and fixed by any suitable means upon the
said axle, the surface of which is left sinooth may be employed. Figures 4 and 5.
represent this modification wherein the axle-journal a, is smooth and receives the
sleeve or bush b, the external surface of which is provided with screw-threads upon
which the discs B are fastened.
This arrangement has for its object to enable the mounting of the two discs with
the balls, for which the former constitute the chamber, upon the axle itself so that
it becomes merely necessary to fasten the improved apparatus upon the journal of
the axle, which is a great deal more convenient in practice.
In order to prevent the rotation of the sleeve or bush 6 upon the journal the
extremity of this bush is provided with a suitable number of lugs c engaging with
corresponding mortices formed in a ring c. This ring, the interior of which is of
a polygonal form (see Figure 5), is placed upon the extremity of the journal, which
is formed so that the portion f has a polygonal external shape corresponding to the
interior of the ring c.
Another portion at the extremity of the journal is provided with exteraal
screw-threads for receiving a nut which holds the ring e in position.
The bush has its inner end on the side of the wheel likewise provided with
lugs engaging with corresponding slots formed in the enlargement or shoulder i of
the axle, in such a manner that the sleeve is firmly connected with the axle and
carries with it the discs B, B in exactly the same manner as if the latter were
mounted directly upon the axle, as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 3 shows in longitudinal section the application of this invention to fixed
axles.
In this modification the positions of the fixed discs and of the movable discs are
reversed relatively to those which they occupied in the arrangement shown in
Figure 1.
Through the nave of the wheel is passed a hollow cylinder or bush A provided
with longitudinal wings B designed to cause the said bush to participate in the
rotary notion of the wheel whilst allowing it to shift in a direction parallel to the
axle. The hollow cylinder in which the journal E is free has upon its extremities
the screw-threads C. Upon these screw-threads C are placed the discs D which
can be screwed on till their portions C₁ bear against the ends of the hollow
cylinder A which is movable and follows the motion of the wheel.
The journal E has upon its external extremity a screw-thread upon which is
fixed the disc 1), the position of this disc is rendered unchangeable by the nut F
which can be provided with a lock. The disc D' upon the inner end of the journal
is keyed and bears against a shoulder H of the axle.
As in the preceding case the screw-threads instead of being cut directly upon the
journal, may be formed upon a sleeve fixed by any suitable means.
:

page_text: It is evident that in screwing the nut F from the outer end all the discs are
compressed together and that it is possible to reduce the wear of the several parts
ensuring at all times the regular operation of the apparatus.
This apparatus having fixed axles is lubricated like the preceding apparatus
having the loose axle.
Figure 6 shows an improved arrangement of the invention.
As will be seen, this arrangement consists in placing the balls a between surfaces
forming portions of the sides of an isoceles triangle so as to obtain the greatest
possible number of axes of rotation. The adjustment for wear is produced in a
mathematically exact manner, as by making the base of the triangle approach the
apex the area of the triangle is diminished and the three sides are proportionately
shortened. The two discs bare mounted upon right and left hand screw threads
respectively. A bolt is sufficient for securing the discs in place..
The arrangement of discs with inclined internal rims or flanges rolling upon balls
and capable of approaching one another so as to compensate for wear of the parts
can be applied to all revolving motions.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
First. The employment of discs having inclined internal rims or flanges and
having friction balls or rollers arranged between them, the said discs being provided
with means for moving them towards each other to compensate for wear.
Second. The improved bearings consisting of the parts constructed and combined
substantially as described with reference to either of the forms or modifications
shown in the accompanying drawing and operating as, and for the purpose, set
forth.