Improvements in or in connection with Bearings for the Wheels of Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept.. 1894
Complete Specification Left. 15th May. 1895-Accepted. 29th June, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Bearings for the Wheels of
Wheeled Vehicles.
1, FREDERICK WATERS, of 26 Prestbury Road, Aston, near the City of
Birmingham, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in, or additions to, the bearings of the
wheels of wheeled vehicles, of that type in which balls are employed as the anti-
friction medium, and has for its object, so constructing, arranging or fitting the
parts of the said ball bearings that the wheels can be detached from the axle arms
without interfering with the balls, cones and other loose adjuncts of the said
bearings.
Thus, in the wheels of ordinary wheeled vehicles where ball bearings are
employed, the introduction of the balls within their races, and the removal of the
wheels from the axle arms is fraught with difficulties, in consequence of the balls
falling out, and as the introduction of the balls can only usually be accomplished
by placing the vehicle upon its side, it is obvious that when the vehicle is heavy,
this operation is difficult to perform.
By my improvements, the balls and ball bearing contacts or surfaces are
independently contained within the hubs and remain intact on the axle arms being
removed.
According to one form of my invention, I take an ordinary hollow metal hub,
and fit the interior of the same with an internal tubular sleeve, supplementary hub,
bush or hollow carrier, having near its outside ends, fast or fixed bearing or race
flanges, between the outer sides of which and the bearing faces of adjustable ring
cones, screwed within the mouths or entrances to the primary hub, ball bearings
come.
The axle arm, which is of an outside diameter about equal to the inside diameter
of the internal sleeve or supplementary hub, takes into the said sleeve or hub, and
is there affixed by a pin, cottar or other means, so that the said axle arm and the
sleeve are made fast in common one with another, and around them, through the
medium of the ball bearings, the hub proper revolves.
Assuming that a wheel requires to be taken from the axle arm for cleaning or
otherwise, remove the pin or cottar which connects the axle with the sleeve, when
the wheel and ball bearings can be slipped from the arm, leaving the said bearings
intact.
In a further form of my invention, I provide the inside ends of the bub with cup
shaped races, and I provide the inner end of the supplementary sleeve or hub with
a fixed cone, between the inner face of which and the corresponding ball race of
the hub, ball bearings come. The outer end of the sleeve or inner lining, which is
screwed, is fitted with an adjustable cone, between which and the other inside
cupped end of the hub, ball bearings come. The sleeve of the ball bearing is
slipped upon an ordinary axle arm and when in position, is affixed thereto by
cottars, nuts or equivalents.
Assuming that the wheel is required to be taken from the axle arm, disconnect
the axle from the confining sleeve, when the wheel can be removed from the axle
arm, with the ball bearings, cones and other loose parts remaining intact.

page_text: In carrying out a still further form of my invention, I take an ordinary hub, and
sink each of the inside cupped ends with an annulus race and secure within the
bore of the cup, at a short distance from the said end, a ring or washer shaped
plate, with an inside clearance sufficient to allow of a bearing portion of an
adjustable or fixed cone extending inwardly therethrough. The balls are located
within the boundary of the plate and bear upon the surfaces of both the annulus
race and the cone.
It is obvious that when the axle is withdrawn from the hub, which, in this case,
has no supplementary sleeve, the plates will retain the balls within the annulus
races of the cupped ends, as the space or clearance between the inside edges of the
ring plates and the adjacent edges of the annulus sinkings is a little less than the
diameter of the balls.
In applying my invention to wooden hubs, the primary metal hub as first described
takes the place of an ordinary axle box.
Dated the 20th day of September 180.1
Improvements in or in connection with Bearings for the Wheels of
Wheeled Vehicles.
I, FREDERICK WATERS of 26 Prestbury Road, Aston, near the City of
Birmingham, Manager of Cycle Works, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in, or additions to, the bearings of the
wheels of wheeled vehicles, of that type in which balls are employed as the anti-
friction medium, and has for its object, so constructing, arranging or fitting the
parts of the said ball bearings that the wheels can be detached from the axle arms
without interfering with the balls, cones and other loose adjuncts of the said
bearings.
Thus, in the wheels of ordinary wheeled vehicles where ball bearings are
employed, the introduction of the balls within their races, and the removal of the
wheels from the axle arms is fraught with difficulties, in consequence of the balls
falling out, and as the introduction of the balls can only usually be accomplished
by placing the vehicle upon its side, it is obvious that when the vehicle is heavy,
this operation is difficult to perform.
By my improvements, the balls and ball bearing contacts or surfaces are
independently contained within the hubs and remain intact on the axle arms being
removed.
According to one form of my invention, I take an ordinary hollow metal hub,
and fit the interior of the same with an internal tubular sleeve, supplementary hub,
bush or hollow carrier, having near its outside ends, fast or fixed bearing or race
flanges, between the outer sides of which and the bearing faces of adjustable ring
cones, screwed within the mouths or entrances to the primary hub, ball bearings
come.
The axle arm, which is of an outside diameter about equal to the inside diameter
of the internal sleeve or supplementary hub, takes into the said sleeve or hub, and
is there affixed by snugs on axle arm taking into corresponding gaps in the end of the
sleeve or by a pin, collar or other means, so that the said axle arm and the sleeve

page_text: are made fast in common one with another, and around them, through the medium
of the ball bearings, the hub proper revolves.
Assuming that a wheel requires to be taken from the axle arm for cleaning or
otherwise simply draw out the axle when the snugs on the axle arm taken out of
the gaps in the sleeve end, and the wheel and ball bearings can be slipped from the
arm, leaving the said bearings intact.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a longitudinal vertical section
of such a wheel hub, in act of being slipped off from the axle arm.
a is a hollow metal hub or wheel centre, with a waist a', and inside screwed
heads or ends a³, fitted with adjustable inside ring cones and ball races b, between
which and the race flanges c², of an internal and supplementary bush, hub or
sleeve c, ball bearings d, are located. The axle arm e¹, of the axle e, which has a
flange 2, and cotter snugs e³, fits within the said sleeve c, whilst the cotter snugs e³,
take within the cotter or key ways c¹, of the sleeves c, so that the axle arm. and
internal sleeve shall be made fast together, whilst the hub revolves around
them.
In a further form of my invention, I provide the inside ends of the hub with cup
shaped races, and I provide the inner end of the supplementary sleeve or hub with a
fixed cone, between the inner face of which and the corresponding ball race of the
hub, ball bearings come. The outer end of the sleeve or inner lining, which is
outside screwed, is fitted with an adjustable cone, between which and the other
inside cupped end of the hub, ball bearings likewise come. The sleeve of the ball
bearing is slipped upon an ordinary axle arm and, when in position, is affixed
thereto by cotters, nuts or equivalents or by snugs on the axle engaging in sinkings
in the fixed cone carried by the supplementary sleeve.
Assuming that the wheel is required to be taken from the axle arm, disconnect
the axle from the confining sleeve when the wheel can be removed from the axle.
arm, with the ball bearings, cones and other loose parts remaining intact.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a hub constructed in
accordance with this form of my invention, shown partly drawn from off the end of
an axle.
Figure 3 is a like section view as Figure 2, but with the hub in position upon
and secured to, the axle arm.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same upon the dotted line & Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal vertical section of the primary hub separately, and
Figure 6 is an end view of the same.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of the supplementary sleeve or inner lining,
showing how the same has a fixed cone at its inner end, and is screwed at its
outer end for the reception of the adjustable cone, shown separately in and in section
Figure 8.
In Figures 2 to 8, a is the hollow metal hub or wheel centre, a¹ is the waist and
a² the heads or ends, which latter are pierced with tapped and inclined holes.a³,
for the spokes, and are formed with internal ball races b. c is the supplementary
sleeve or bush, provided at its inner end with a fixed cone c², having a half ball
race c³, in its inner face, and outside screwed at its outer end c¹, whereon an
adjustable cone d, likewise having a race d", on its inner face, takes.
bearings e, are located between the ball races in the heads of the hub and the races
in the fixed and adjustable cones respectively.
Ball
The axle and supplementary sleeve c, are coupled together by square lugs f
on the collar of the former taking into like shaped gaps e³, in the face of the fixed
cone c³.
The extreme outer end of the sleeve is provided with a lock nut g, and washer h,
whilst the dust cap i is secured to the axle end by a screw pin .
In carrying out a still further form of my invention, I take an ordinary hub, and
sink each of the inside cupped ends with an annulus race and secure within the
bore of the cup, at a short distance from the said end, a ring or washer shaped
plate, with an inside clearance sufficient to allow of a bearing portion of an

page_text: adjustable or fixed cone extending inwardly therethrough. The balls are located
within the boundary of the plate and bear upon the surfaces of both the annulus
race and the cone.
It is obvious that when the axle is withdrawn from the hub, which, in this case,
has no supplementary sleeve, the plates will retain the balls within the annulus
races of the cupped ends, as the space or clearance between the inside edges of the
ring plates and the adjacent edges of the annulus sinkings is a little less than the
diameter of the balls.
Figure 9 represents the outer end of such an arrangement.
a is the hub, a¹ the waist, a² one of the heads and is a pocket race formed in
the inner side walls of the mouth b². e are ball bearings, and k is a ring plate,
fixed within the entrance and adapted to form a cage for keeping the balls in
position and whereby the same are prevented from rolling out when the axle arm f
and cone nut d, which is screwed onto the wormed outer end f³, of the said arm f,
is withdrawn.
d is a lock nut and d³ is a D-washer, by which the cone on the inner end of the
axle arm is made fast thereto.
Figure 10 represents an end of a hub which is a modification of Figure 9.
a is the hub, a¹ the waist, a² is the head, recessed at 62 and provided with a
cupped ball race b. d is an adjustable cone, screwed in the inside of the head, and
formed with a cupped ball race d', between which and the race b, ball bearings e
roll and which bearings, when the wheel is withdrawn from the axle, are retained
in their races.
In applying my invention to wooden hubs, the primary metal hub as first described
takes the place of an ordinary axle box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. In the wheels of wheeled vehicles, providing the axle boxes or the
axles with a supplementary sleeve or inner bush, through the medium of which
the balls are retained intact within the races of their bearings in the axle box
or nave, on the wheel being withdrawn from the axle arm, substantially as
described and set forth in Figures 1 to 8.
Secondly. The improvements in, and in the construction, arrangement and com-
bination of the parts of, axle boxes or hubs, substantially as described and set
forth in Figures 1 to 8.
Thirdly. The means for retaining balls within the races of their bearings on
the wheel being withdrawn from the axle arm, substantially as described and set
forth in Figure 9.
Fourthly. The means for retaining balls within the races of their bearings on
the wheel being withdrawn from the axle arm, substantially as described and set
forth in Figure 10.
DL:
1
CM
1005
FREDERICK WATERS,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.