Year: 1887

page_text: Vehicles.
1, THOMAS WILLIAM FEELEY, of 66 Seymour Street, Providence, in the State of
Rhode Island, United States of America, Manufacturing Jeweller, 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 bicycles, tricycles and other vehicles and comprises a tubular
hub, having flanged circumferential grooves on each side for the reception of ball
bearings, and mounted within rings or sleeves upon each side, which rings or sleeves
have an interior channel for said balls and are made each in two half-sections, the upper
of which is integral with the standard and the lower of which is connected with the
upper by ears and screws as hereinafter fully specified.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure. 1 is a side elevation of my improved bicycle.
Figure 2 shews the same partly in front elevation and partly in vertical section, on
line of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a vertical diametrical section of the tubular hub and ring shewing the
interior arrangement of the ball bearings.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of said hub and rings with a portion shown in vertical
section on line of Figure 3, to shew the ball bearings.
Figure 5 shews in side elevation the treadle and its mode of operation.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 shews a bicycle of my improved construction. It has the usual front and
hind wheels and the usual backbone, handle bar and saddle. The forks or standard a
have integral therewith at their base on each side respectively a ring or sleeve B made

page_text: in two semicircular sections and which have ears a, by which said sections are united
adjustably by screws and nuts d. The hub C is tubular and is not mounted on a shaft
or axle, as heretofore, but within said rings B. On the periphery of said hub C, on
each side is a flanged groove in which are placed balls & for bearings as seen in
Figures 2, 3 and 4 which lie in juxtaposition within said groove. The shape of the
groove or channel is shewn more clearly in Figures 3 in cross section. The opening
between the flanges of said groove is somewhat less in width than the diameter
of the balls b. The said balls are inserted in said groove by an opening of sufficient
width in any part of said flange to allow the balls to enter and, said opening is
afterwards closed so as to be uniform in width with the flange. The consequence is
that the whole series of balls are thus arranged in said peripheral grooves of the
hub C, as shewn in the drawings. They cannot leave said groove because they are
confined therein by said flanges; yet they slightly project therefrom, as seen in
Figure 3, and are free to rotate in position. The inner surface of the rings B have a
corresponding V shaped channel to receive the projecting portion of the balls b as seen
in Figures 3 and 4.
The spokes c are inserted in the hub C as shewn in Figures 2 and 3.
Instead of the usual crank for the pedals I
the hub C.
insert the pedals D into the side rim of
The central space within the tubular hub is useful for a receptacle or closet for
baggage or the like and the ends of the same may be closed by covers G, as in Figure 5,
for said purpose.
As the upper section of the ring B is integral with the standard A it furnishes a firm
body for attachments. In Figure 5, 1 shew a stem e projecting from said ring (which
is practically only an extension of one of the ear-pieces a,) and a treadle H affixed thereto
by the bolt or screw f. This treadle has a foot rest-DI and a curved slot within which
a crank pin m is held, which crank pin enters the edge of the hub, like the pedal D. By
the curve of the slot the crank pin is, when pressed by the foot carried beyond the
line of the dead centre and so the treadle is made useful in propelling the vehicle.
As the treadle H is detachable, my bicycle may be interchangeably used either with
the treadle, as described, or with the pedal, D (or its equivalent crank pin m,) as may
be preferred.
When the treadle attachment is used for the propulsion of the bicycle, the saddle
(which may be adjustable, as in bicycles in common use.) should be adjusted further
back upon the back bone and the liability of the hind wheel leaving the ground and a
the rider being thrown from the machine which is the common danger in riding upon
such vehicles, is greatly reduced, and at the same time the power will be more effectively
applied to such treadle, as its fulcrum fis toward the rear of the machine.
It is obvious that the same method of ball bearings and mounting of wheels is
applicable to tricycles and other vehicles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,
First. In a wheeled vehicle, a hub having a cylindrical surface and provided with
circumferential grooves, which are flanged on each side, in combination with a series
of balls, placed in said grooves and retained therein by said flanges so that only a
portion of said balls can project outwardly therefrom between said flanges, and standard
or forks with rings, wherein said hub is mounted and which are provided on their
inner surface with circumferential grooves to receive said segmental portions of the balls
substantially as specified.
A
Second. In a foot-propelled vehicle, a tubular hub having pedals, in combination 5
with standard or forks having rings in which said hub is mounted, substantially as
described.
Third. In a wheel for foot-propelled vehicles, a tubular hub mounted as described,
in combination with covers G to close the ends thereof, substantially as and for the
purpose specified.
5

page_text: Fourth. The combination of the standard A, the hub C having the crank pins m
the rings B having the stem e, and the treadle H having the foot-rest D' and pivotally
mounted upon said stem, substantially as described.
Fifth. In a bicycle the combination of the standards A a rotatable hub ( suitably
mounted and having crank pins m, and treadles H having foot-rests D¹ and engaging
with said crank pins m which treadles are pivoted to a suitable fixed support of the
bicycle, substantially as specified.
Dated this 15th day of Santambar 1407
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.