Improvements in and relating to Crank Axles for Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Crank Axles for Cycles.
I, ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS M. Inst. Mech. Engs. of 70 Chancery Lane,
in the Parish of St. Andrews Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting
Engineer and Registered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion (which has been communicated to me by The Overman Wheel Company of
Chicopee Falls, in the County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts U.S.A.)
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improvement in and relating to crank axles for
cycles, and particularly for bicycles of the safety type, and it consists in a crank
axle having certain details of construction and combinations of parts as will be
hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims, the object being to produce a
simple, light and strong construction, designed with particular reference to ease of
assemblance and dismemberment.
!
This end is attained in the manner shown in the accompanying drawing in
which :-
.
Figure 1 is a view in vertical section of one form which, the improvement may
assume.
Figure 2 is a view of the axle.
Figure 3 is a view in end elevation of the axle, and
Figure 4 is a view showing a modified form of the axle.
As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, the axle A, which is tubular, has a
crank arm socket A', located at a right angle to it and formed integral with one of
its ends, the said socket being as small in every dimension as the exterior diameter
of the axle. The bore of the socket is slightly tapering, and adapted to receive
the tapering inner end of the crank arm B, the extreme end of which is reduced in
diameter, and threaded to receive a retaining nut C, between which and the adjacent
end of the socket, a washer C' is preferably located. For convenience of description
the end of the axle provided with the socket A' will be hereinafter spoken of as the
outer end, and the opposite end of the axle as its inner end. By making the socket.
smaller in every dimension than the external diameter of the axle, the same is
enabled to be slipped, socket end first, through the horizontally arranged tubular
box D, which forms the bearing for the axle, the said box being connected with
the lower ends E, E, of the frame of the machine in any approved manner, the
letails of which do not concern this invention, which is independent of the particular
construction of the crank bearing, or of its support by the machine frame. The
opposite ends of the said bearing are constructed with concavo-convex ball-bearing
Hanges D' and D', of ordinary construction. The said outer end of the axle is
exteriorly threaded, as at a, for the application of the adjustable ball bearing
cone F, which holds a series of balls G within the ball-bearing flange D¹ before
mentioned. It will be understood that the aperture of the cone is sufficiently
large to enable it to be passed readily over the socket A of the axle, so that after
the axle has been introduced, socket end first, into the bearing, the said cone may
then be readily applied to it, after which the crank arm B is introduced into and
secured to the socket. The opposite or inner end of the axle has permanently

page_text: attached to it a combined part comprising a socket A³, a chain wheel hub A' and
an inwardly projecting sleeve A', corresponding in diameter to the internal diameter
of the open end of the axle, into which the said sleeve A is brazed, or otherwise
secured, prior to the passage of the outer end of the axle through the bearing D.
The hub A before mentioned, is provided with perforations a' for the attachment
by means of bolts H, of the removable chain wheel crown H'. The bore of
the socket A corresponds to the bore of the socket A', and is adapted to receive
the tapering inner end of the crank-arm B₁, the extreme inner end of which is
reduced and threaded to receive a retaining nut C2, between which and the adjacent
end of the socket, a washer C³ is located. The inner end of the axle is threaded,
as at a³ for the reception of an annular ball bearing cone F¹, which holds a series
of balls G within the flange D³ of the bearing D.
In the use of this invention, the integral part comprising the socket A³, the chain
wheel hub A, and the sleeve A', will be permanently connected with the open end
of the hollow axle A, after which the opposite end of the same will he slipped
through the bearing D, together with its integral socket. The cone F is then
screwed on to the outer end of the axle, and the crank arm B connected with the
socket A'. The balls are then put in place, and the adjustment of the axle is
complete. If it is desired to remove the axle, it is only necessary to remove the
crank arm B and the cone F, after which the axle may be readily drawn out of the
bearing.
It will thus be seen that under this improved construction, the insertion and
removal of the crank axle is very readily effected. This is a matter of great
convenience, both to the manufacturer and to the user of the machine. Further-
more, the improved axle is very light, stiff and strong, and has but few parts.
Preferably one of the sockets is made integral with the axle, as shown in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3, but if desired, both sockets may be formed independent of the
..axle, and applied thereto as shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, in which the tubular
axle I is shown provided at its outer end with an independently formed socket 1',
which is brazed into or otherwise firmly secured to the outer end of the axle, and
is no larger in any dimension than the external diameter thereof.
I wish it to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited to the
exact construction herein shown and described, but that such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within its spirit and scope may be made therein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in and relating to crank axles for cycles as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. A tubular crank axle, provided at one end with a crank arm socket located at
a right angle to it and no larger in any dimension than the external diameter of
the axle, substantially as set forth.
3. A tubular crank axle having a crank arm socket located at a right angle to
it, no larger in any dimension than its external diameter, and made integral with
one of its ends, substantially as set forth.
4. In a cycle, the combination with a tubular crank axle, of a crank arm socket
located at right angles to it and not exceeding in any dimension the external
diameter of the axle, and of a combined crank arm socket, chain wheel hub and
sleeve, all combined, arranged and adapted to operate, as set forth.
5. In a cycle, the combination with a crank axle bearing constructed at its ends
with ball flanges, of a tubular crank axle provided at its outer end with a crank
arm socket located at a right angle to it and not exceeding in any dimension the
external diameter of the axle whereby the socket is adapted to pass through the
said bearing, of a combined socket chain wheel hub and sleeve made in one piece
and secured by means of its sleeve to the open inner end of the axle, of crank arms

page_text: removably connected to the said sockets, and of ball bearing cones mounted on the
ends of the tubular axle that at its outer end being removable all substantially as
set forth.
Dated this 19th day of July 1894.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.