An Improved Method of and Contrivances for Cleaning the Ball. Bearings of Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1896-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Contrivances for Cleaning the Ball.
Bearings of Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
I, FREDERICK EDWIN STRANG WARD, of the London Bank Main Street,
Stawell, in the Colony of Victoria, Accountant, 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:-
Hitherto cyclists have experienced considerable aunoyance and loss of time
owing to the difficulty of efficiently cleaning the ball-bearings of their machines
without first taking them to pieces, an operation which is not only an unpleasant
and dirty one but is also a fruitful source of injury to the bearings owing to the
parts rapidly becoming loose through being taken apart so often.
Now this invention has been devised in order that these bearings may be easily
and quickly cleaned without having to take the machine to pieces, and it consists
essentially in forcing compressed air through said bearings from the interior
outwards by means of a pump such for instance as the one used for inflating
pneumatic tyres, provision being made for connecting the discharge tube of the
pump on to a projecting nipple (made somewhat like an oil cup or lubricator) with
which said bearings are provided.
This connection is preferably made by forming screw threads on the upper part
of the nipple to fit corresponding threads of the metal connection which is usually
inserted in the end of the discharge tube of the pump.
If preferred air may be supplied from the inflated tyre to the bearings through a
connecting pipe provided with a suitable valve the tyre in such a case acting as a
reservoir and the current of air being continuous and supplied in greater volume
than when a pump is used.
In either case the effect of the compressed air passing through the bearings will
be to effectually remove or blow out any dust or grit which may have worked its
way into them as will be readily understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, wherein,
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a bicycle illustrating the application of this
invention thereto.
Figure 2, is a central vertical section through the hub and bearings of the front
wheel, and
Figure 3, is a similar section through the hub and bearings of the back wheel,
whilst,
Figure 4, is another similar section through the bearings of the crank axle, all
three views being for the purpose of illustrating the application of the invention
under different circumstances.
Figure 5, is a view of part of a cycle wheel showing the connection between the
pneumatic tyre and the bearings in order that the compressed air in the former
may be used for cleaning out the grit and dirt from the latter.
Figures 6, and 7, are central sections of a valve which is inserted in the
connection between the tyre and bearings above referred to.
Figure 8, is a view showing a slight modification which might be used in cases
where the spokes come so close together as to make it difficult to attach the
discharge tube of the pump to the nipple in the hub of the wheel.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figures.
The bearings of a bicycle which may advantageously be cleaned by the improved

page_text: method above described are those of the two wheels, the crank axle or spindle and
the two pedals.
These bearings are for the sake of convenience in subsequent reference
lettered A, B, C, D, and E respectively.
In putting this invention into practice it is preferred to screw a nipple G into
the hub of the wheel or into the drum or casing through which the crank axle or
spindle passes, or into the casing of any other ball bearing which it may be
required to clean said nipple being provided with a projecting screw threaded part g.
Into the rim of the wheel is secured a valve H which is constructed as illustrated
in Figures 6 and 7 with a conical seating to receive a correspondingly conical
valve of rubber or other suitable material said valve being normally held down
upon its seating by the compressed air in the tyre assisted by a spring h³ whose
tendency is to keep said valve closed.
h
When not required for use a cap or cover fitted with a rubber washer * may
be screwed over the valve casing as illustrated in Figure 6 in order to protect it
against injury and assist in preventing the escape of air from the tyre.
I represents a length of preferably flexible pipe which is used for connecting the
valve H with a nipple G either in the hub or as indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 1, in one of the adjacent bearings.
In this way either of the bearings B, C, D, and E, may be cleaned by utilizing
the pressure of air in the tyre of the back wheel.
A union coupling J is fitted on the upper end of the flexible tube I and is
adapted to be screwed on to the casing of the valve H. When thus screwed on it
raises the valve off its seat as indicated in Figure 7 by reason of the projecting
spindle of said valve being pushed back by a projection at the end of the tube I.
The other end of this latter is provided with a connecting piece K (see Figure 5)
which is screw threaded to correspond with the projecting screw threaded part of
the nipple G.
Instead of using this arrangement the discharge end of a pump such for instance
as that used for inflating the tyres, might be connected up to the nipples G as
indicated in Figures 2 and 3, with similarly advantageons results.
In cases where the spokes of the wheel come so close together at the hub as to
render it difficult to connect the pump to the nipple G in said hub, an extension
tube 9, might first be screwed on to said nipple as indicated in Figure 8 to
facilitate the connection of the pump.
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,
First. The herein described method of cleaning the ball bearings of bicycles and
other velocipedes consisting in forcing a current of compressed air through them
from the interior outwards, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
Second. In a bicycle or other velocipede a nipple having screw threads cut upon
it to correspond with the threads in a connecting piece in the end of the discharge
tube of an air pump substantially as and for the purposes specified and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In a bicycle or other velocipede a tube (such as I) extending from the
pneumatic tyre either to the hub of the wheel or to any of the other adjacent
bearings substantially as and for the purposes specified and as illustrated in
Fig
Figures 1 and 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Nineteenth day of June One thousand eight hundred and
ninety-six.
FREDERICK EDWIN STRANGWARD.
G. F. Redfern & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.