Foot Step

Form of bearing to steady and withstand the thrust and weight of a vertical shaft. See PIVOT and BEARING. For heavy pre ures, the bearing area has to be flat and of size sufficient to prevent exce ive load per sq. inch. Lubrication is best secured by having the end of the shaft in an oil bath, utilizing centrifugal force to distribute the oil by grooves acro the end. Friction has been diminished by a hydraulic foot step, in which the end of the shaft rested on the surface of water kept by a pump at sufficient pre ure to counteract the weight and keep the end of the shaft from the metal bottom of the step. This principle has been applied for horizontal bearings also (known as the "pallier gli ant" by French adapters) with notable reduction of friction.