Improvements in Ball Bearings.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Ball Bearings.
I, JULES LARCHEVÊQUE, of 37, Rue des Quatre Vents, Charenton (Department
de la Seine), in the Republic of France, Mechanician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to a cup of novel form for ball bearings, the bearing
surface of which is formed in such a manner as to obviate wedging, binding and
other defects which are produced in such parts when all play is taken up owing
to too tight an adjustment.
In accordance with my invention the bearing surface is constituted by a
cylindrical portion and a conical portion, this characteristic form presenting a
considerable advantage which will readily be understood.
In ball bearings as hitherto constructed, each ball has one point of contact
upon the cup and another upon the cone. According to the extent to which
these parts are tightened, contact upon the cup takes place at a varying point of
the curve joining the cylindrical wall and the end of such cup; when the
tightening up is too great and the inclination of the contact between each ball
and the cup is very small with respect to the axis, the point of contact being
adjacent to the commencement of the curve upon the cylindrical wall, the smaller
irregularities in the form of the balls or in the mounting of the cup and of the
cone with respect to their axis, result in considerable wedging action, binding
and wearing of the surfaces in contact, and sometimes even in the rupture of
the cup or the destruction of the balls.
In my improved bearing, on the other hand, the cylindro-conical form of the
bearing surface of the cup combined with the curvilinear form of the bearing
surface of an ordinary cone, results in giving three points of contact between
each ball and these two surfaces. Whatever may be the extent to which the
balls are tightened between the cone and the cup, the inclination of the contact at
one point is constant, and owing to its relatively high value, no wedging or
binding can take place.
For this reason, a ball bearing provided with my improved cup could not be
It also enables the entire elimination
destroyed owing to faulty adjustment.
of play, without danger of binding the bearing surfaces, thus having much less
strain and wear than ball bearings as hitherto made, remain perfectly smooth
and true and are very durable.
My invention is equally applicable to ball bearings intended for vehicles and
machines of various kinds as to those for velocipedes.
When applying my invention to a safety bicycle hub each cup is externally
screw-threaded and is screwed into the extremity of the hub; a lock-nut ring
screwing into the hub in the opposite direction to the cup, prevents this latter
from becoming unscrewed. The axle carrying the two cones passes freely
through the apertures formed in the cup ends. The locking rings and likewise
the cups are each provided with two mortices by means of which they may be
seized by a suitable wrench or spanner, in order to screw or un-screw them.

page_text: I may modify the inclination with respect to the axis of the conical portion
of my improved cups, according to the purpose for which it is intended to employ
the particular ball bearing. I may also modify the method of fixing the cups
upon the hubs, and likewise the device for enabling their adjustment.
particular, the cup may be internally screw-threaded and screwed on outside the 5
hub.
Dated this 201 Joy of Cantal 1000
In
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
I, JULES LARCHEVEQUE, of 37, Rue des Quatre Vents, Charenton (Départment
de la Seine), in the Republic of France, Mechanician, 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:.
This invention relates to a cup of novel form for ball bearings, the bearing
surface of which is formed in such a manner as to obviate wedging, binding and
other defects which are produced in such parts when all play is taken up owing
to too tight an adjustment.
In accordance with my invention the hearing surface is constituted by a
cylindrical portion and a conical portion, this characteristic form presenting a
considerable advantage which will readily be understood by reference to the
accompanying drawing, in which:
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal section of a safety bicycle wheel hub pro-
vided with my improved cups.
Figures 2 and 3 are detail views shewing the form of a cup in section and in
front elevation respectively and
Figure 4 shews the position of the balls between their bearing surfaces.
In ball bearings as hitherto constructed, each ball has one point of contact
upon the cup and another upon the cone. According to the extent to which
these parts are tightened, contact upon the cup takes place at a varying point of
the curve joining the cylindrical wall and the end of such cup; when the
tightening up is too great and the inclination of the contact between each ball
and the cup is very small with respect to the axis, the point of contact being
adjacent to the commencement of the curve upon the cylindrical wall, the smallest
irregularities in the form of the balls or in the mounting of the cup and of the
cone with respect to their axis, result in considerable wedging action, binding
and wearing of the surfaces in contact and sometimes even in the rupture of
the cup or the destruction of the balls.
In my improved bearing on the other hand, the cylindro-conical form a bc of
the bearing surface of the cup, combined with the curvilinear form of the bearing
surface of an ordinary cone e, results in giving three points of contact f g h
between each ball and these two surfaces. Whatever may be the extent to
which the balls are tightened between the cone and the cup, the inclination of
the contact at g is constant, and owing to its relatively high value, no wedging
or binding can take place.
For this reason, a ball bearing provided with my improved cup could not be
destroyed owing to faulty adjustment. It also enables the entire elimination
of play without danger of binding; the bearing surfaces, thus having much less

page_text: strain and wear than ball bearings as hitherto made remain perfectly smooth
and true and are very durable.
My invention is equally applicable to ball bearings intended for vehicles and
machines of various kinds as well as to those for velocipedes.
When applied to a safety bicycle each cup d is externally screw-threaded and
is screwed into the extremity of the hub k; a lock-nut ring 1, screwing into the
hub in the opposite direction to the cup, prevents this latter from becoming
unscrewed. The axle m carrying the two cones e e passes freely through the
apertures n formed in the cup ends. The locking rings and likewise the cups
are each provided with two notches by means of which they may be engaged
by a suitable wrench or spanner, in order to screw or unscrew them.
I may modify the inclination with respect to the axis of the conical portion
of my improved cups, according to the purpose for which it is intended to employ
the particular ball bearing. I may also modify the method of fixing the cups
upon the hubs, and likewise the device for enabling their adjustment.
particular, the cup may be internally screw-threaded and screwed on outside the
hub.
In
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:-
A ball bearing characterized by a cylindro-conical cup the conical portion of
which is at such an angle to the axle as to prevent wedging of the balls and
consequent wearing of the cup through tight adjustment substantially as herein.
before described and shown in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 29th day of June 1899
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.