Albert Kingsbury
Encyclopedia
Albert Kingsbury [1] was an American
engineer
, inventor and entrepreneur
. He was responsible for over fifty patent
s obtained between the years 1902 to 1930. [2] Kingsbury is most famous for his tilting pad thrust bearing
which uses a thin film of oil to support weights of up to 220 tons. [1] This bearing extended the service life of many types of machinery during the early 20th century. It was primarily outfitted on Navy ships during World War I
and World War II
. [4]
and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School
, OH in 1880.[1] Kingsbury would eventually father five daughters. [1] In addition to his interest in tribology and bearings, Kingsbury enjoyed the world of arts, history, and letters. He devoted much time to the study of foreign languages. [2] Kingsbury died in 1943, and was buried at the Quaker Cemetery, Spring Mills, Pennsylvania
. [1]
to study Scientific-Latin courses. [2] He dropped out and worked as a machine apprentice in Cuyahoga Falls. Kingsbury credited this as an important experience that led him to advance his career in engineering.[2] Kingsbury resumed his formal education at Ohio State University
, but he again dropped out to work as a machinist with the Warner and Swasey Company in Cleveland.[2]
Kingsbury received his mechanical engineering degree from Cornell University
in 1887. [2] It was at Cornell that he met Professor Robert H. Thurston. Professor Thurston was instrumental in shaping Kingsbury’s interest in bearings and tribology. Working under Professor Thurston, Kingsbury conducted tests on bearing materials for the Pennsylvania Railroad
. [2] His craftsmanship, honed by his experience in machine shops, allowed Kingsbury to fit half-bushings to the journal by scraping. His hand fitting produced the small tolerances that promoted film lubrication. [2] These bearings, when ran showed no measurable signs of wear, and was Kingsbury’s prompt to the creation of the thrust bearings which now bear his name.
. [1] Within two years, he was a professor of Mechanical Engineering
courses at the university. [1][2] His new position at the university allowed him to continue pursuing his interest in lubrication
. During his time at the University of New Hampshire, he created an innovative test machine to measure friction
in coarse pitch, lubricated screw threads at loads of up to 14,000 psi. [2] The usefulness of this invention received mixed reviews from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
(ASME). His research also covered fluid lubricated bearings, and he published a paper entitled "Experiments with an Air Lubricated Bearing". [2] It was at this university that he envisioned the Kingsbury thrust bearing.
to continue pursuing his interest in lubrication. [1][2] He secured expansions for laboratory facilities and funding to continue his tests on a centrally pivoted thrust bearing with the aid of his students. [2]
in Pittsburgh as a general engineer. [2] He used this as an opportunity to advance the development of his thrust bearings in an industrial setting. Unfortunately, the first test of his thrust bearing was a failure. His bearing overheated during the test and was discarded. [2] This made the company skeptical of Kingsbury’s invention, but Westinghouse’s skepticism did not dent Kingsbury’s mettle. Kingsbury would later fund his own test that proved his bearings successful. [2] Unfortunately Westinghouse decided to stick to more conventional ball bearings for their motors.
His first bearing was a failure as it was immediately destroyed by Babbitt wiping. [2] Fortunately for Kingsbury, the Pennsylvania Water and Power Co. gave him a second chance. His bearing succeeded this time, and worked flawlessly for the next 25 years. When it was inspected after 25 years, there was so little evidence of wear that it was calculated that the bearing would last 1,300 to 1,700 years.[2] The same bearing is still operating smoothly today.[3] By World War I, the Kingsbury thrust bearing was used extensively in the navy especially to transmit thrust from propeller shafts to ships' hulls (i.e., the propeller pushes water in one direction, and the Kingsbury thrust bearing, attached to the shaft and mounted to the ship, pushes the ship in the opposite direction).[2] In 1921, the Kingsbury thrust bearing had become so popular that Westinghouse could no longer keep up with the demand, thus prompting Kingsbury to set up his own manufacturing plant.[2]
in 1931; the Elliott Cresson Medal
of the Franklin Institute
; and honorary doctorates from the University of New Hampshire and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. [2] The Kingsbury Hall at the University of New Hampshire also pays homage to the great inventor. Albert Kingsbury was inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame
. [4]
2)McHugh, Jim. October 2003. Sound and Vibration. Kingsbury Bearings. http://www.kingsbury.com/pdfs/albert_kingsbury.pdf (accessed November 18, 2008)
3)University of New Hampshire- Albert Kingsbury. http://www.ceps.unh.edu/kingsbury/kingsbury_albert.html (accessed November 18, 2008)
4)National Inventors Hall of Fame. http://www.ibs.invent.org/hall_of_fame/344.html (accessed
November 18, 2008)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
, inventor and entrepreneur
Entrepreneur
An entrepreneur is an owner or manager of a business enterprise who makes money through risk and initiative.The term was originally a loanword from French and was first defined by the Irish-French economist Richard Cantillon. Entrepreneur in English is a term applied to a person who is willing to...
. He was responsible for over fifty patent
Patent
A patent is a form of intellectual property. It consists of a set of exclusive rights granted by a sovereign state to an inventor or their assignee for a limited period of time in exchange for the public disclosure of an invention....
s obtained between the years 1902 to 1930. [2] Kingsbury is most famous for his tilting pad thrust bearing
Thrust bearing
A thrust bearing is a particular type of rotary bearing. Like other bearings they permit rotation between parts, but they are designed to support a high axial load while doing this.Thrust bearings come in several varieties....
which uses a thin film of oil to support weights of up to 220 tons. [1] This bearing extended the service life of many types of machinery during the early 20th century. It was primarily outfitted on Navy ships during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. [4]
Personal life
Albert Kingsbury was born in Morris, IllinoisMorris, Illinois
Morris is a city in Grundy County, Illinois, United States. The population was 13,636 at the 2010 census.Morris is home to the Dresden Nuclear Power Plant, which provides a substantial portion of the electricity supply for the Chicago metropolitan area...
and graduated from Cuyahoga Falls High School
Cuyahoga Falls High School
Cuyahoga Falls High School is a public high school in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, United States. It is the only high school in the Cuyahoga Falls City School District. It has a current enrollment of around 1,663 students in grades 9-12...
, OH in 1880.[1] Kingsbury would eventually father five daughters. [1] In addition to his interest in tribology and bearings, Kingsbury enjoyed the world of arts, history, and letters. He devoted much time to the study of foreign languages. [2] Kingsbury died in 1943, and was buried at the Quaker Cemetery, Spring Mills, Pennsylvania
Spring Mills, Pennsylvania
Spring Mills is a census-designated place in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is part of the State College, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. [1]
Formal education
In 1884, Kingsbury attended the University of AkronUniversity of Akron
The University of Akron is a coeducational public research university located in Akron, Ohio, United States. The university is part of the University System of Ohio. It was founded in 1870 as a small college affiliated with the Universalist Church. In 1913 ownership was transferred to the City of...
to study Scientific-Latin courses. [2] He dropped out and worked as a machine apprentice in Cuyahoga Falls. Kingsbury credited this as an important experience that led him to advance his career in engineering.[2] Kingsbury resumed his formal education at Ohio State University
Ohio State University
The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1870 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United States...
, but he again dropped out to work as a machinist with the Warner and Swasey Company in Cleveland.[2]
Kingsbury received his mechanical engineering degree from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
in 1887. [2] It was at Cornell that he met Professor Robert H. Thurston. Professor Thurston was instrumental in shaping Kingsbury’s interest in bearings and tribology. Working under Professor Thurston, Kingsbury conducted tests on bearing materials for the Pennsylvania Railroad
Pennsylvania Railroad
The Pennsylvania Railroad was an American Class I railroad, founded in 1846. Commonly referred to as the "Pennsy", the PRR was headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
. [2] His craftsmanship, honed by his experience in machine shops, allowed Kingsbury to fit half-bushings to the journal by scraping. His hand fitting produced the small tolerances that promoted film lubrication. [2] These bearings, when ran showed no measurable signs of wear, and was Kingsbury’s prompt to the creation of the thrust bearings which now bear his name.
University of New Hampshire
Kingsbury pursued a teaching position at the University of New HampshireUniversity of New Hampshire
The University of New Hampshire is a public university in the University System of New Hampshire , United States. The main campus is in Durham, New Hampshire. An additional campus is located in Manchester. With over 15,000 students, UNH is the largest university in New Hampshire. The university is...
. [1] Within two years, he was a professor of Mechanical Engineering
Mechanical engineering
Mechanical engineering is a discipline of engineering that applies the principles of physics and materials science for analysis, design, manufacturing, and maintenance of mechanical systems. It is the branch of engineering that involves the production and usage of heat and mechanical power for the...
courses at the university. [1][2] His new position at the university allowed him to continue pursuing his interest in lubrication
Lubrication
Lubrication is the process, or technique employed to reduce wear of one or both surfaces in close proximity, and moving relative to each another, by interposing a substance called lubricant between the surfaces to carry or to help carry the load between the opposing surfaces. The interposed...
. During his time at the University of New Hampshire, he created an innovative test machine to measure friction
Friction
Friction is the force resisting the relative motion of solid surfaces, fluid layers, and/or material elements sliding against each other. There are several types of friction:...
in coarse pitch, lubricated screw threads at loads of up to 14,000 psi. [2] The usefulness of this invention received mixed reviews from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
American Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
(ASME). His research also covered fluid lubricated bearings, and he published a paper entitled "Experiments with an Air Lubricated Bearing". [2] It was at this university that he envisioned the Kingsbury thrust bearing.
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Kingsbury joined the Worcester Polytechnic InstituteWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Worcester Polytechnic Institute is a private university located in Worcester, Massachusetts, in the United States.Founded in 1865 in Worcester, WPI was one of the United States' first engineering and technology universities...
to continue pursuing his interest in lubrication. [1][2] He secured expansions for laboratory facilities and funding to continue his tests on a centrally pivoted thrust bearing with the aid of his students. [2]
Invention of the Kingsbury thrust bearing
Kingsbury’s research at the University of New Hampshire led him to conceive an early Kingsbury bearing that consisted of several stationary arc segments facing a thrust collar on the rotating shaft. Each segment would have a boss on the side away from the thrust collar, allowing it to tilt and form an oil wedge that would carry the thrust.[2] Kingsbury tested this new bearing with a modified version of his earlier screw thread testing machine. The bearing was successful with pressures of up to 4,000 psi at speeds of 285 rpm. [2] This pressure exceeded that for common collar-type bearings by a factor of 80 to 100, thus proving the promise of the Kingsbury bearing. [2]Westinghouse career
Kingsbury joined the Westinghouse Electric CompanyWestinghouse Electric Company
Westinghouse Electric Company LLC is a nuclear power company, offering a wide range of nuclear products and services to utilities throughout the world, including nuclear fuel, service and maintenance, instrumentation and control and advanced nuclear plant designs...
in Pittsburgh as a general engineer. [2] He used this as an opportunity to advance the development of his thrust bearings in an industrial setting. Unfortunately, the first test of his thrust bearing was a failure. His bearing overheated during the test and was discarded. [2] This made the company skeptical of Kingsbury’s invention, but Westinghouse’s skepticism did not dent Kingsbury’s mettle. Kingsbury would later fund his own test that proved his bearings successful. [2] Unfortunately Westinghouse decided to stick to more conventional ball bearings for their motors.
Patenting of the Kingsbury thrust [bearing]http://www.rollerbearing.info
Kingsbury tried to file for a patent during 1907. His initial application was rejected as a British patent had been granted to A.G.M. Michell who had a similar concept. [2] Kingsbury was able to demonstrate that his 1898 test at the University of New Hampshire predated Michell’s work, so in 1910 Kingsbury was awarded US patent No. 947242 for the tilting pad thrust bearing. [2]Success of the Kingsbury bearing
Kingsbury would eventually run his own business with the Westinghouse Machine Co. building his bearings. [2] This allowed him to actively pursue applications for his newly patented thrust bearing. His first chance came when the Pennsylvania Water and Power Co. gave him the opportunity to demonstrate his bearing on their power generator at the Susquehanna River.His first bearing was a failure as it was immediately destroyed by Babbitt wiping. [2] Fortunately for Kingsbury, the Pennsylvania Water and Power Co. gave him a second chance. His bearing succeeded this time, and worked flawlessly for the next 25 years. When it was inspected after 25 years, there was so little evidence of wear that it was calculated that the bearing would last 1,300 to 1,700 years.[2] The same bearing is still operating smoothly today.[3] By World War I, the Kingsbury thrust bearing was used extensively in the navy especially to transmit thrust from propeller shafts to ships' hulls (i.e., the propeller pushes water in one direction, and the Kingsbury thrust bearing, attached to the shaft and mounted to the ship, pushes the ship in the opposite direction).[2] In 1921, the Kingsbury thrust bearing had become so popular that Westinghouse could no longer keep up with the demand, thus prompting Kingsbury to set up his own manufacturing plant.[2]
Later years
Kingsbury continued to pursue his interest in bearings and tribology later in his life. One of his greatest achievements was his analysis of the effects of side leakage of lubricants from bearings. By recognizing the analogy in the equations for lubrication and those for electrical flow in a conductive fluid and variable depth, Kingsbury was able to make complicated predictions of slider load capacity well before the advent of computers. [2]Legacy and awards
Kingsbury received many accolades for his contributions to science and engineering. He was awarded the Gold Medal of the American Society of Mechanical EngineersAmerican Society of Mechanical Engineers
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers is a professional body, specifically an engineering society, focused on mechanical engineering....
in 1931; the Elliott Cresson Medal
Elliott Cresson Medal
The Elliott Cresson Medal, also known as the Elliott Cresson Gold Medal, was the highest award given by the Franklin Institute. The award was established by Elliott Cresson, life member of the Franklin Institute, with $1,000 granted in 1848...
of the Franklin Institute
Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is a museum in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and one of the oldest centers of science education and development in the United States, dating to 1824. The Institute also houses the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.-History:On February 5, 1824, Samuel Vaughn Merrick and...
; and honorary doctorates from the University of New Hampshire and Worcester Polytechnic Institute. [2] The Kingsbury Hall at the University of New Hampshire also pays homage to the great inventor. Albert Kingsbury was inducted in the National Inventors Hall of Fame
National Inventors Hall of Fame
The National Inventors Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to recognizing, honoring and encouraging invention and creativity through the administration of its programs. The Hall of Fame honors the men and women responsible for the great technological advances that make human,...
. [4]
Sources
1)NNDB. http://www.nndb.com/people/948/000170438/ (accessed November 18, 2008)2)McHugh, Jim. October 2003. Sound and Vibration. Kingsbury Bearings. http://www.kingsbury.com/pdfs/albert_kingsbury.pdf (accessed November 18, 2008)
3)University of New Hampshire- Albert Kingsbury. http://www.ceps.unh.edu/kingsbury/kingsbury_albert.html (accessed November 18, 2008)
4)National Inventors Hall of Fame. http://www.ibs.invent.org/hall_of_fame/344.html (accessed
November 18, 2008)