US1928359A - Bearing - Google Patents

Description

Se t. 26, 1933. H. E. MUCHNIC BEARING Filed Aug. 9, 1926 k k m s ggg ZZ/ mass.

Patented Sept. 26, 1933' UNITED 1 sTATss PATENT OFFICE Application August 9, 1926. Serial No. 128,223

6 Claims.

It' will be understood by those skilled in, the

art that in a steam locomotive the driving wheel axles are supported for rotation in parallel frames provided with recesses which receive the driving box in which the journal, that is, the brass, is secured, by pressing. Many attempts'have been made to reduce andeliminate the distortion of the brass due to pounding, it being common practice to provide a bearing brass which overlies the axle and which receives substantially all of the pressure of the locomotive frames on the axles and these bearing brasses have in most instances and in practically all railway practice today been made substantially semi-circular, that is, only the upper part of the bearing actually is a bearing. In this type of driving box, the brass, owing to the elongitudinal thrust, tends t become pounded out, of shape In order to overcome the disadvantages of the present driving box I have provided a device hereinafter described, andits principal objects I and advantages reside in the provision shown of an improved type of driving .box including the bearing itself and associated elements; the provision of an improved driving box characterized by the embodiment therein of a substantially continuous bearing, that is, a bearing fbrass which completely encircles the axle; the provision of an improved driving box bearing in which the bearing member is floating; that is,

revoluble in the box both relatively to and with lubricating means; and the provision of a bearing of the character described which is substantially continuous and whereby strains are thereby distributed throughout the bearing member and the life of the bearing therefore increased.

In the prior art devices known to me, when repairing a locomotive driving box, that is,:renewing the brass, it is necessary that the wheels and axle be dropped either into a pit or the whole locomotive hoisted off the wheels in order that the driving box may be removed'from the frame for receiving the new brass. In the present invention, I provide an arrangement whereby renewal of the brasses may be simply accomplished by jacking up the box against the tension of the springs, blocking the springs and allowing the box to be freely moved above the axle so as to remove the worn brasses and replace the same with new brasses, this feature being setforth hereinafter in detail.

This invention also is characterized by the provision of 'an improved method of constructing the brasses employed whereby an accurate multiple brass forming a substantially continuous bearing surface can be, provided. I

The foregoing and such other objects and advantages as may appear or be pointed out as this description proceeds are embodied in a structure illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the deviceof this invention taken on a plane transverse to the axis'of rotation, and V Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Figure 3 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing,'I provide a box member, generally designated 5, this boxmember being generally recs tangular in contour and provided at its lateral edges, with vertical channels 66 which afford flanges between which the vertical lugs of the locomotive frame are received whereby the box may vertically moveagainst the usual spring elements. The upper portion of the driving box is provided with a channel 7 in which the usual spring yoke, not shown, may be received.

The box 5 is provided at its medial portion with a transverse semi-cylindrical recess'9 forming a surface having the center 10 of the driving axle 11 as its center of curvature. The surface 9 is substantially semi-cylindrical and terminates at or adjacent the points 121 2, the end portions of the box 5 being there formed with vertical side.

walls 13 and 14, which latter at their lower extremities terminate with flanges 15 and 16, the inner surfaces of said walls, that is, the surfaces 16 and 17, respectively, being inclined toward the walls 13 and 14, as best illustrated in Figure 1.

The curved surface 9 forms, with the inner surface of the wall 13, shoulders 18 and 19 for a purpose which will presently appear.

The lower part of the box, that is, the open bottom thereof, is closed by a cellar member gen-- erally designated 20 which, as will hereinafter appear, serves to form, with certain other elements, the lower retaining portion of the box 5. The cellar member is provided with a curved wall 21 described about the same center as that of the wall 9 and formed on upwardly extending tionalized member 38 substantially completely portions 22 and 23, the'upper end of the portion 22 resting against the shoulder 18, and the outer surface thereof'resting against the inner surface of the wall 13. In the case ofthe part 23, this is shaped to receive the lateral extension 24 of a key member 25 which serves a purpose which will hereinafter appear, the upper edge, however, of the extension 23 resting upon the shoulder 19 with the exception of the distance required to accommodate the key. An inspection; of Figure 2 will show the key 25v as disposed approximately midway the length of the bearing.

The cellar member 20 is provided with inclined surfaces 26 and 27 complemental to the surfaces 16 and 17, and gib keys 28 and 29 are inserted between these surfaces for snugly retaining the member 20 in position. Additionally, the lower wall 30 of the member 20 is provided with a plurality of lugs 31 arranged in pairs complemental to pairs of lugs 32 formed on the bottom flanges 15 and 15a of the walls 13 and 14, and these lugs are suitably apertured to receive transverse retaining bolts 34 provided with nuts 35.

The bearing proper of the present invention preferably includes the bearing member36 which latter is, as shown in Figure 1, made up of a plurality of sections forming a substantially complete annulus, the bearing member being termed a brass because it is usuallymade of brass and is divided, as indicated at 37, 3'7, into three sections, the joints being substantially 120 apart. Any number of sections desired may be employed but I have found that this construction facilitates renewalof the bearing memberand at the same time does not provide an undesirable number of joints. The bearing member, though removable, of course snugly engages the axle 11 sections so that no distortion or binding, can.

take place due to expansion when heated. By

' forming the bearing member 36 accurately to fit the axle at the outside, it is not necessary for the bearing member to become worn in service but the sections thereof fit the axle.

A steel liner in the form of a cylindrical secencircles the bushing or bearing member 36, said steel liner being formed preferably in two halves divided as at 39 and having adjacent ends as at 40a engaging the key 25. This key serves'to prevent rotation of the liner and facilitates assembly of the bearing by retaining the upper part of the liner in desired position while the lower part thereof and the other parts of the bearing are applied.

The key 25, as will be seen from Figure 3, has a body portion and a laterally disposed portion 24 provided with an inclined surface 25a which facilitates its introduction into position in the recess 24a afforded in the member 23, this key municate with openings 41-, 41 leading from passageways 42, 42, said passageways being formed -in the upper portion of the box 5.

in the body of the yoke 5 and communicating with supply passageways 42a leading from the lubricant containing pockets 43 and 44 located in the cylindrical enlargements 45 and 46 formed From an inspection of Figure 2 it will be seen that the passageways 42 extend substantially entirely across the top of the bearing and may communicate, by a plurality of the openings 41 and 40, with the bearing member 36.

As best shown in Figure l, the lubricant pockets 43 and 44 are arranged in relatively opposed relationship and as they are substantially identical in construction, but one of the same will be described. Referring to the lubricant pocket 43, this latter is substantially cylindrical and has a piston 48 slidable therein against the tension of a helical spring 49, which latter is retained in position by a plug 50 threading into the outer end of the lubricant pocket. The spring 49 tends to force the lubricant out of the pockets 43 and 44 to the bearing surface. A piston rod 51 guides the piston and as said piston rod projects beyond the plug 50, it serves as a means to indicate the quantity of lubricant in said pocket. Lubricant is introduced into the pockets 43 and 44 through openings 52 and 53 provided with a suitable check valve coupling member 53 of any approved design whereby a grease gun may be applied for introducing the lubricant.

Again reverting to the bushing or brass 36, it will be observed that the latter between its joints 37- is formed with a plurality of complemental ports 37a which form passageways for the lubricant introduced between the liner and the bushing to pass to the surface of the axle 11, I also finding it convenient and desirable to internally groove the surfaces of the sections of the bushing as indicated at 55 for hastening the distribution of the lubricant throughout the bearing surface. As will be observed from an inspection of the drawing, the openings or ports 37a are provided with enlarged outer portions or mouths 371) so that the lubricant finds easy access to these ports from the passageways 40 and 41.

For ordinary lubrication of the bearing, the member 2.0 is provided with a cellar 56 communicating' by a central opening 5'7 to the opening 58 in the-lower half of the liner 38, the cellar containingan additional lubricant which is conducted through the openings 57 and 58 through the liner to-the bearing bushing 36 and, as said bushing is rotated, the openings 37a pick up the lubricant and conduct it to the axle.

It will be observed that the advantagesaccruing to this invention reside particularly in the absence of any pound on the bearing due to uneven supporting of the axle andany displacement of the axle in the bearing longitudinally of the locomotive being taken up by some part of the bushing member which is, of course, constantly changing.

Inassembling the device of this invention, the manner of assembly depends, of course, on whether this is being done originally when the device is placed on the axles or whether it is done to an engine for repair purposes. As one of the principal advantages of this invention resides in the facility with which repairs can be made, it will be pointed out that assuming the device is in position on a locomotive, as shown, the 'gib. keys 281 and 29'and bolts 34 are first removed and the cellar member 20 allowed to drop locomotive springs, not shown, and a block may then be placed between the springs and the top of the locomotive frame, thereby taking the weight of that part of the engine oil the driving box whereupon it is freely movable relatively to the axle and to the locomotive frame. The retaining ring 61 is then removed and the worn bushings, and, if necessary, the liners, removed along the axle. New bushings and liners are then inserted in position, and the cellar member raised, gib keys inserted, and. the bolts 34 inserted and tightened. The key 25 is, of course, placed in its proper position to retain the liners against rotation. The springs will then again be jacked up and the retaining block removed, allowing the spring yoke to again engage the upper part of the drivim box, and the engine is again ready for service. It will be obvious that the advantages are in this structure over the prior art device wherein it is necessary to drop driving wheels into a pit in order to remove the journal box for replacing the brass. It will be understood, of course, that the liner 38 is not absolutely essential but is employed to eliminate wear on the driving box itself. In some installations it may be desirable to eliminate the liner and permit the bushing to rotate against the grooved surface of the box and cellar member 20.

Having thus described my invention'and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a bearing of the character described, in combination, a supporting member having spaced arms extending beyond the axis of the bearing and a retaining transverse bolt carried thereby, said arms having internally arranged shoulders, a revoluble bearing member arranged in said supporting member, a wheel having a hub portion abutting one end of said bearing member, means for holding said bearing member in position including an auxiliary bearing member provided with complemental shoulders and slidable in said arms and having a portion partially embracing said revoluble bearing member, a keeper plate on said supporting member abutting the end of said bearing opposite to said wheel and permitting removal of the bearing member without complete separation of said supporting and auxiliary bearing members, and said auxiliary supporting member having apertured lugs projecting therefrom and engaging said transverse retaining bolt.

2. In a bearing of the character described, in combination, a supporting member having spaced arms extending beyond the axis of the bearing and a retaining means carried thereby, said arms having upwardly inclined shoulders, a revoluble bearing member arranged in said supporting member, means for holding said bearing member in position including an auxiliary supporting member.

slidable in said arms and partially embracing said bearing member, said auxiliary supporting member having inclined shoulders complemental to the first mentioned shoulders, means on said auxiliary member engaging said retaining means and maintaining said shoulders in spaced relationship, a removable retaining annulus at one end of said supporting member, wear compensating means between said shoulders, and said revoluble bearing member abutting said annulus at one end and adapted to abut a wheel hub at the other end.

3. In a bearing of the character described, in combination with an axle having a wheel hub thereon, a supporting member having spaced arms extending beyond the axis of the bearing and embracing said axle and a retaining transverse bolt carried by said arms, said arms having internally arranged shoulders, a revoluble bearing member,

arranged in said supporting member abutting said wheel hub at one end, means for holding said bearing member in position including an auxiliary bearing member provided with complemental shoulders and slidable in said arms and having a portion partially embracing said bearing member, wear compensating means between said shoulders, said auxiliary supporting member having apertured lugs projecting therefrom and engaging said transverse retaining bolt, and means detachably secured to said supporting and auxiliary bearing members and abutting one end-of said revoluble bearing member.

4. In a bearing, a substantially continuous bearing surface member, and a box therefor including separably connected sections, an auxiliary liner encircling said bearing surface, means carried by one of said sections and retained in position jointly by said sections for locking said liner against rotation, and means jointly carried by the sections for preventing endwise movement of said liner.

5. In a bearing of the character described, the combination of a journal box having an arcuate surface in the upper part and open at bottom with side Wall portions depending beneath the journal receiving portion of the box, said side wall portions being offset from the arcuate surface so as to provide shoulders approximately at opposite sides of the center line of the journal, the lower ends of said side wall portions having inwardly disposed flanges; a cellar section adapted to fit between the depending side walls and beneath said shoulders, the sides of the cellar section being inset to receive said inwardly disposed flanges; the depending sides and the cellar section having matching bolt receiving portions; a split liner within the box and cellar section, a split bushing within the liner; and means whereby endwise movement of the liner is prevented.

6. In a bearing of the character described, the combination of a journal box having an arcuate surface on its interior and open at the bottom with side wall portions depending beneath the journal receiving portion of the box, said side wall portions being off-set from the arcuate surface to provide shoulders approximately at opposite sides of the center line of the journal, the lower ends of the side wall portions having inwardly disposed flanges; a cellar section adapted to fit between the depending side walls and beneath said shoulders, the sides of the cellar section being inset to receive said inwardly disposed flanges; the depending sides and the cellar section having matching bolt receiving portions; wedge keys between said flanges and the inset sides of the cellar section; a split liner within the box and cellar section; a key insertable at the juncture of the split liner and cooperating with the box-sides and the cellar section for locking the liner against movement; a split bushing within the liner; and means at the end of the box whereby endwise movementof the bushing is prevented.

HENRY E. MUCHNIC.

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