Anti-Friction Washer for Journal Boxes

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!


On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.


David A. Morris, oi Pittsburg, Pa., has taken measures to secure a patent for an impro ved mode of constructing washers for reducing the friction between the shoulder of the journals and the boxes of the wheel. The invention is m.ore particularly applicable to railroad cars, to prevent the excessive friction in turning curves; but it may be also applied to any kind of axle or shaft when it is required to avoid friction at the face of the box, upon the shoulder of the journal. The improvement consists in a washer fitting loosely to the journal between the shoulder and box furnished with a number of radial pivots, on which are placed friction rollers. When the axle is :unning Iree from pressure in a straight direction, this washer is left quite free, but when there is a tendency to press upon the shoulder, the rollers in the washer run between the surfaces of the shoulder and box, and tend to prevent the friction. By this method nearly all the friction is avoided.

Scientific American Magazine Vol 8 Issue 41This article was published with the title “Anti-Friction Washer for Journal Boxes” in Scientific American Magazine Vol. 8 No. 41 (), p. 324
doi:10.1038/scientificamerican06251853-324a

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American

Subscribe