Improvements in Ball Bearings.
Year: 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
I, NARCISSE ROUSSELLE, of 3 Rue du Brou Verviers, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Merchant, 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 the manner of fitting, maintaining, and regulating the
balls in the cups of ball bearings. The annexed drawing illustrates the invention
by an example of its application to the driving wheel hub of a bicycle.
A is a screw nut on each side of the hub of a wheel which in order to form of
itself a box to receive and retain the balls and bring them in adjustable contact
with the cup C, is formed with a groove a so shaped as to present the balls to the
cup in the direction of lateral movement parallel to the longitudinal axis of
the axle and to surround them sufficiently to prevent them escaping from this
groove,
In order to avoid any inconvenient friction or wedging of the balls I first
enlarge (see Fig. 2) the groove on each side of the ball producing a relatively flat
part between these two curves and secondly I give to the cup a flat part on which
the balls roll. In order to prevent entrance of dust I continue this flat part C¹
by a straight circular wall C corresponding to the exterior wall of the screw nut.
In order to allow of introducing the balls into this groove I constitute it by the
juxtaposition of two half grooved parts 6 61 formed each with a part groove the
one turned in a ring d the other in the screw nut A in which the ring d is held by a
key or by any other means when the balls have been placed in the half groove bof
the screw box A.
The cup is deep and of an enlarged section in conformity with the generating
line of the cone formed by the screw nut A and the balls which are placed
in it.
It will be understood that by means of the fitting of the screw boxes upon the
screw cut ends of the axles of the wheels the contact of the balls with the cups
may be regulated according to the wear or generally according to the greater or
less play the cyclist may wish to give to his machine.
I do not limit myself to the exact amount of projection that the balls have
exteriorly or interiorly of the screw nut nor to the manner of formation and
assemblage of the half grooves the annexed drawing being only given as an
example.
The application to the pedal crank shaft bracket is made in the same manner by
with such differences of form and dimensions as correspond to the differences
between this bracket and the wheel hubs.
Every expert will understand the advantages resulting from this arrangement of
ball holding cones and cups of which the most important beside the facility of
regulation aud case of running is that it allows of cleaning the parts without
fearing the loss of the balls and this arrangement allows of exceptionally easy and
rapid fitting together and detachment of the parts.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination, with a cup of a screw box having a groove surrounding a

page_text: part of the ball sufficiently in order to retain it while presenting to the cup a
part sufficient for assuring its revolution substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. In a ball bearing as described in Claim 1 the formation of these grooves by
the arrangement of two part grooves one provided in the screw box and the other
in a ring adapted thereto.
3. In a ball bearing as described in Claim 1 the special form of cup having
a flat conical part and a circular straight wall in prolongation of this flat part.
4. In a ball bearing as described in Claim 1 the widening of the groove on the
two sides with a flat part between them.
5. A ball bearing constructed of parts adapted to be fitted and regulated in the
manner set forth.
Dated this 9th day of May 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.