Bracket bearing axle device for bicycle

A bracket bearing axle applied to a bicycle having two grooves for two snapping rings to be mounted on, and a raised ring with an arced surface to the exterior thereof. Two roller bearings are provided on the bearing axle, and a segmented tube which is flexible is provided between the two roller bearings. A pedal spindle receives the bracket bearing axle and the segmented tube with a bearing retainer threaded on one terminal side and a retaining element threaded on the other terminal side. A plurality of ball bearings are disposed between the bearing retainer and arced surface to resist the abrasion face caused by the rotation of the bearing axle. A water cap and an O-ring are provided on the bearing retainer and retarding element, respectively, to prevent water and dust from entering the bracket bearing axle device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a bracket bearing axle device for 
bicycles, and more particular-y relates to a bracket bearing axle device 
wherein a segmented tube is disposed between two roller bearings to 
prevent water and dust from entering this device. 
As applied to a bicycle, a bracket bearing axle is connected to a pedal on 
each terminal end thereof, respectively, such that the bicycle is driven 
by the rotation of the bracket bearing axle. Various types of bracket 
bearing axle devices have been developed for bicycles, but not without 
their drawbacks. For example, a conventional bracket bearing axle device 
does not have enough elements to prevent water and dust from entering two 
roller bearings 71, 72 and bearing axle 70, as shown in FIG. 4. Moreover, 
no means has been provided to compensate for the clearance caused by the 
abrasion of the two roller bearings. 
This application has arisen from work in seeking to obviate and/or mitigate 
the above-mentioned problem. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a bracket 
bearing axle device wherein a segmented tube is disposed between two 
roller bearings to prevent water and dust from entering this device. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bracket bearing 
axle device wherein a water cap and an O-ring are disposed on a bearing 
retainer and a retarding element, respectively, so as to prevent water and 
dust from entering this device. 
Still another objective of the present invention is to provide a bracket 
bearing axle device wherein a plurality of ball bearings are provided 
between the bearing retainer and bearing axle to resist the abrasion force 
caused by the rotation of the bearing axle. 
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a bracket bearing 
axle device wherein the clearance caused by the abrasion of the ball 
bearings and roller bearings can be easily adjusted by a lock nut. 
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become 
apparent as the following description proceeds, and the features of 
novelty which characterize the invention will be pointed out with 
particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this 
invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
With reference to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1 thereof, it can 
be seen that a bracket bearing axle device applied to a bicycle 
constructed in accordance with the present invention comprises a bearing 
axle 1, a bearing retainer 2 with a water cap 25 thereon, a pedal spindle 
4, a lock nut 36 and two bolts 51, 52 threaded on each distal end of the 
bearing axle 1. 
As applied to a bicycle, this invention is connected to a crank of pedal on 
each terminal end thereof, respectively, such that the bicycle is driven 
by the rotation of the bracket bearing axle device. 
Referring to FIG. 2, it can be seen that the bearing axle 1 comprises two 
grooves 11 and 12, and a raised ring 13 with an arced surface 14 on the 
exterior of the bearing axle. 
Respective threaded holes 15, 16 are provided at each of the distal ends of 
the bearing axle 1 for receiving respective bolts 51, 52 and washers 510, 
520 thereon. Further, a plurality of recessed strips 17 are disposed on 
each distal portion of the bearing axle 1 to be connected with a crank 
(not shown). 
A first and a second snapping ring 110, 120 are provided on grooves 11 and 
12, respectively, to retain first and second roller bearings 100, 130 not 
to slide on the bearing axle 1. Further referring to FIG. 3, the first 
roller bearing 100 is locked between the first snapping ring 110 and 
raised ring 13. A segmented tube 41 is disposed to receive the bearing 
axle 1, which has an bore 42, 43 on either end portion thereof. Moreover, 
the distance between the bores is the same as the distance between two 
snapping rings 110, 120, such that the first and second roller bearings 
100 and 130 are partly encased into respective bores 42, 43 of the 
segmented tube 41. 
The pedal spindle 4, having threaded bores on each end portion, encases the 
segmented tube 41. The bearing retainer 2 has a recess 21 on one side 
thereof, and an annular protuberance 22 which has threads 23 on the 
exterior thereof to engage with the pedal spindle 4, as shown in FIGS. 2 
and 3. Before the bearing retainer 2 threads into the pedal spindle 4, a 
plurality of ball bearings 20 are provided against the arced surface 14. 
The ball bearings 20 and part of the first roller bearing 100 are encased 
by the annular protuberance 22. Moreover, the water cap 25 is provided on 
the recess 21 to prevent water and dust from entering the bracket bearing 
axle device. 
A retarding element 3 has respective recesses 31 provided on each side, and 
the two recesses 31 are separated by a hollow interface 33. An annular 
notch 34 is provided in the central portion of the rim of the interface 33 
to receive an O-ring 340, so that the O-ring 340 can prevent water and 
dust from entering the bracket bearing axle device. The exterior of the 
retarding element 3 has threads 35 to engage with the pedal spindle 4. A 
lock nut 36 has threads 37 on the interior thereof to engage with the 
retarding element 3, so that the lock nut 36 can reinforce the engagement 
of the bracket bearing axle device. 
The outstanding features of this invention are that, firstly, the water cap 
25 and O-ring 340 prevent the bracket bearing axle device from abrasion by 
dust and corrosion by water. Secondly, the ball bearings 20 can resist the 
pressure caused by the rotation of the bearing axle 1 so as to prevent the 
roller bearings from being abraded. Thirdly, when the ball bearings 20 are 
abraded, the connection between the bearing retainer 2 and the first 
roller bearing 100 is not fastened tight-y. The lock nut 36 can secure the 
first roller bearing 100 and bearing retainer 2, since the rotation of the 
lock nut 36 does not influence the position of the second roller bearing 
130. Fourthly, the segmented tube 41 is flexible, such that the rotation 
of the lock nut 36 does not damage the segmented tube 41; moveover, the 
segmented tube 41 also prevents water and dust from entering the bearing 
axle 1. Finally, the ball bearings are provided to resist the abrasion 
force from the rotation of the bearing axle. 
While the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred 
embodiment, it is to be understood that various modifications thereof will 
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading this 
specification. Therefore, it is to be understood that he invention 
disclosed herein is intended to cover such modifications as fall within 
the scope of the appended claims.