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Philip Vaughan 1794

• Transport:1700s

Philip Vaughan, an iron master from Carmarthen Wales, patented the first ball bearing mechanism. He described how iron balls running in a groove between the wheel and axle would reduce friction in his patent of 1794.

Vaughan was a carriage maker and wanted to improve the direct contact between the axle and wheel to reduce the wear.

Literally a Revolution

If the wheel is one of mans greatest inventions the bearing is close behind. Vaughans bearings made carriage travel more comfortable lessened the strain on horse power and reduced maintenance.

The success of the bearings caught the imagination of other engineers who applied the principle to a multitude of rotating machinery. Bearings improved and miniaturised in the coming years and now just about every moving device has bearings to reduce friction.

Bearing

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