Improvements in or connected with Ball Bearings for Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Ball Bearings for Wheels.
I, JAMES HEX, of 47, Leathwaite Road, New Wandsworth, in the County of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to ball bearings for wheels and comprises the novel arrange-
ment of parts hereinafter described.
According to my invention the cups and the cones between which the balls are
confined are fixed respectively to the wheel axle and to the wheel, so that the cones
rotate inside the balls instead of the cups rotating outside the balls as has here-
tofore been usual.
In carrying out my invention I advantageously form the two cups integral with
the axle (although they may be screwed upon it) the hollows of the cups being
towards the ends of the axle. The hub is bored out parallel slightly larger than
the external diameter of the cups and the cones are screwed into the ends of the
bore of the wheel hub so that the balls may be adjusted by tightening up the cones
from the outsides.
With the parts arranged as herein before described the hub forms a reservoir
for lubricant for maintaining the bearing in a constant state of lubrication.
In some cases I screw the cups on to the axle so that their hollow faces are on the
adjacent sides and I screw the cones into the ends of the hub with the conical
sides outwards. In this arrangement the adjustment of the balls is effected by
screwing up the cups.
Improvements in or connected with Ball Bearings for Wheels.
I, JAMES HIX, of 47, Leathwaite Road, New Wandsworth, in the County of
London, Engineer, 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 that class of ball bearings for the wheels of cycles

page_text: wherein the cup portions in which the balls run are held against rotation whilst
the cones are attached to the wheel hub so as to rotate inside the balls.
Hitherto it has been usual with this class of bearing to attach the cups to the
fork ends before the wheel has been placed in position, this arrangement, however,
has the disadvantage that considerable difficulty is experienced in introducing the
balls into the bearings. The object of my invention is to overcome this difficulty
and to simplify the construction of the bearing and to this end I arrange the
cones to be applied to the wheel axle instead of to the fork ends so that the several
parts of the bearings can be assembled before the wheel is placed in the fork.
In carrying out my invention I screw the cups on to the axle so that their
hollow faces are on adjacent sides and I insert the cones into the ends of the hub
with the conical sides outwards. The adjustment of the balls is effected by
screwing up one of the cups.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same by
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which:-
:~
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a bicycle back wheel axle and huḥ having
bearings arranged in accordance with my invention; and,
Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a slight modification:
Figure 3 is a side elevation illustrating an arrangement which I advantageously
use in connection with my improved bearings when applied to the driving wheel
of a bicycle for effecting the tension of the driving chain; and,
Figure 4 is a detail of this arrangement.
a is the axle which is provided with screw threads a', a² at its ends and b, b¹ are
the cups which are screwed on to the threads a¹, a². The screw thread a¹ is carried
along the axle to such an extent that when the cup b is screwed upon the said axle a it
shall be home upon the thread. Or the said cup may be formed upon or braized or
otherwise fixed to the said axle. The screw thread a² upon the other end of the axle
is continued for some little distance beyond the cup, as clearly shewn, so as to
permit of adjusting this cup b¹ towards the cup b.
c is the hub of the wheel mounted upon the axle a and having fixed into its ends the
cones d, d¹ which work in conjunction with the cups b, b1 respectively. e, e are
the balls which, as shewn in Figure 1, run directly between the cones and the cups;
if desired, however, I may use two sets of balls, as shewn in Figure 2, a floating
ring being arranged between the two sets of balls. Or more than two sets may
be employed in which case I should use another ring or rings such as f..
In assembling the parts the cup b is first of all screwed tightly home upon the
thread a and then the hub with the cones in it is placed upon the said axle with
the balls in position between the cup and cone d, the cup b¹ is then screwed on
to the thread as with the balls between itself and the cone and is adjusted
thereon. The wheel and axle are now inserted between the fork ends of the cycle
which fork ends in Figures 1 and 2, are indicated by the letters g, g and then
nuts h, h¹ are screwed on to the axle a outside the fork ends in order to secure
the said axle firmly in position.
In order to effect an adjustment after wear it is obvious that it is only necessary
after loosening the nut h¹ to screw up the cup 61 to the desired extent and then
again tighten up the parts.
i, i are metal plates sprung into the mouths of the cups b, ¹ to exclude dust.
When my invention is applied to the back wheel of a bicycle I advantageously
combine with my improved bearings means as shewn in the drawing, for adjusting
the axle for the purpose of regulating the tension of the chain. These means
comprise two washers ; each of which has a central aperture k through which the
boss of one of the cups passes; around each aperture k is formed an eccentric
projection which fits in a circular aperture in the adjacent fork end g.
With this arrangement it will be understood that as the said washers are rotated
more or less the axle a carried thereby will be caused to approach or recede from
the crank axle. The washers j, j are held in any position in which they may be
adjusted by being clamped by the nuts h, h¹ against the forked ends.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
-
1. The improvements in ball bearings for wheels consisting in inserting the cones
into the wheel boss and in screwing the cups on to the ends of the axle towards
the cones, the cup at one end of the axle being screwed home upon its thread or
otherwise fixed to the said axle whilst the cup at the other end of the axle is
capable of being adjusted upon its thread towards the other cone, substantially
as described.
2. In ball bearings having the cups and cones arranged as described the
employment of two or more sets of antifriction balls and a floating ring or rings
substantially as described by reference to Figure 2 of the drawing.
3. The improved ball bearings for wheels substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
4. The combination with a wheel axle having ball bearings arranged in the
manner hereinbefore described, of means for adjusting the said axle in the fork
ends, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Dated this 17th dow of Manh 1000
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.