Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Hubs and their Bearings".
Year: 1899

page_text: printed as amended in accordance with the decision of the Comptroller General
dated the 5th day of October 1901.
[The Amendments are shown in erased and italic type.]
Date of Application, 17th Mar
1800
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th mar., 1900
PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Hubs and their Bearings".
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT, of Bridgeburg, Ontario, in the Dominion of
Canada, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of roller bearings for the
hubs of vehicles, and also to a device for protecting the ends of such hubs when
made of wood.
The main object of the invention being to form an anti-friction bearing which
will provide both for the carrying or vertical pressure and also for the end thrust
with the same series of rollers: the end thrust being taken up through the
diameters of the rollers.
In carrying out the invention as applied, by way of example, to a wooden
carriage hub, the latter is provided with the usual protecting rim bands, and a
central sleeve or tube, on to each end of which is screwed, or otherwise secured
a bearing base, a portion of which is tapered to form one bearing surface or wall
of a roller race.
Referring first to the outer bearing of the hub, the second bearing surface or
wall of the race is formed by an annular recess on a tapering nut screwed on to
the end of the axle.
The rollers are formed with a slight taper, and take a bearing throughout
their entire length on the race walls; the annular recess of the nut and the taper-
ing portion of the bearing case being formed to correspond with the degree of
taper of the rollers and to hold these latter so that their axes are at an angle
preferably of about 20° to the axis of the axle.
The extreme end of the axle is reduced in diameter to enable two peripherally
threaded rings to be screwed within the tapering nut to act as an adjustable lock,
a feathered washer being interposed between them.
The portion of this small end of the axle extending beyond the tapering nut
may also be screw threaded in reverse direction to the adjustable lock and a
second lock provided, comprising a feathered washer and screw nut, engaging
the end of the tapered nut.
The portion of the end of the wooden hub, exposed between the rim band and
the bearing case is liable to become disintegrated under the constant vibrations
to which the hub is exposed when in use, it is therefore covered by a metal ring,
preferably secured in place by means of a flange adapted to screw inside the
bearing case.
A cap is screwed into this ring so as to entirely close in the end of the bear-
ing. The cap may be provided with a central plugged hole for introducing
lubricants.
The case of the inner bearing and the flanged ring for protecting that end of

page_text: the wooden portion of the hub are identical with the similar portions of the outer
bearing already described. The second wall of the roller race is formed by a
recess on a tapered enlargement of the axle. The end of the bearing is closed by
a washer of suitable material, held in place by a ring or cap screwed into the
flange of the hub protecting ring. Preferably both washer and cap are con-
structed so that they can be placed in position after the hub is secured on the
axle: the cap may be formed in two pieces connected by pins-and the washer
being cut through slantingly on one side.
In both bearings the rollers are free to revolve on their own axes and to travel
round the race and preferably means are provided for holding them temporarily
in position against one wall of the race, when the bearing is being taken apart or
put together. For this purpose pins may be provided in each end of the rollers
to engage retaining flanges as described in a previous Patent granted to me
No. 11826 of 1895, or a cage may be provided comprising two rings rotatably
fixed in the bearing and connected by arms, one of which is placed between each
two adjacent rollers above their line of contact.
As an alternative construction the axle end within the hub may be tapered and
provided with a sleeve secured thereon in any convenient manner, the tapering
nut and the tapered enlargement of the axle being respectively secured to, and
formed on, the sleeve instead of the axle.
Or instead of the one bearing surface of the inner bearing being formed integral
with the axle or with the sleeve, this may be formed on a separate collar and
secured on to the axle or sleeve by frictional contact or in other suitable manner.
Dated the 17th. day of March 1899.
Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Hubs and their Bearings.
I, WILLIAM HAMILTON WRIGHT, of Bridgeburg Ontario, in the Dominion of
Canada, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of roller bearing for the
hubs of vehicles, the object being to form an anti-friction bearing which will pro-
vide both for the carrying or vertical pressure, and also for the end thrust with
the same series of rollers; the end thrust being taken up through the diameters
of the rollers. The invention also relates to a device for protecting the ends of
such hubs when made of wood.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a median longitudinal section of a wooden carriage hub with roller
bearings constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of a series of rollers detached.
Figure 3 is a front view of an end cap.
Figure 4 is a view of one half of such a cap.
Figure 5 is a split washer, for use with the inner bearing of the hub.
Figure 6 is a detached elevation of a cone or tapering nut with a roller cage
in section.
Figure 7 shows a portion of one of the cage arms in position between two
rollers.
Figure 8 is an end view of Figure 6 with the cage and series of rollers complete.

page_text: Figure 9 is a similar view of an alternative construction of hub adapted
specially for a gun carriage.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring first to Figure 1:-A is the wooden body of the hub, having the
usual metal end rims A A², and provided with a metal casing for the axle and
bearing comprising a central tube or sleeve B, into each end of which is screwed
or otherwise secured the casings B1 B2 of the outer and inner bearing respectively.
Each casing B B is formed with a taper surface B³ B* increasing in diameter
from within outwards, and forming the outer walls of the respective roller races.
The ends of the wooden body A between the rims A' A2 and the casings B¹ B³
are liable to become disintegrated under the constant vibrations to which the hub
is exposed when in use; they are therefore covered by metal rings A³. Prefer-
ably these rings are secured in place by flanges A* screwed into the outer ends of
the casings B, B2, which are provided with female threads for the purpose.
Describing first the outer bearing; the axle C near its end is provided with a
screw-threaded portion C¹; its extreme end is reduced in diameter and provided
with a threaded portion C2; the direction of the threads on the two portions C¹³
being reversed; preferably the portion C' is furnished with a right-hand and
the portion C2 with a left-hand thread.
On the portion C¹ is screwed a cone or tapering nut D having an annular
recess D¹, forming the inner wall of the race for a series of rollers E, the outer
wall being formed by the taper surface B³ of the casing, before described.
The rollers E are formed with a slight taper, are in full series and take a con-
tinuous line bearing on the walls of the race throughout their whole length, the
recess D¹ and surface B being shaped to correspond with the degree of taper of
the rollers and to hold them so that their central axes are at an angle preferably
of about 20° to the axis of the axle.
The degree of taper of the rollers must be such that if the tapered surfaces
of all the rollers of the series were continued to form perfect cones, their apices
when in position in the bearing would meet at a common central point, as shown
in dotted lines in Figure 2.
One end of the cone D extends beyond the threaded portion of the axle and
is provided with a peripherally threaded adjustment ring D2, which by engaging
with the shoulder C3 regulates the position of the cone 1 on the axle thereby
determining the adjustment of the roller race. The ring D is locked in posi-
tion within the nut D by a locking ring D³, a washer 1, prevented from rotat-
ing (preferably by means of a feather 15 engaged in a slot De cut in the cone D)
being interposed between them.
The cone D is further secured in position by a lock nut D' screwed on the
portion C2 of the axle, a metal washer 8, prevented from rotating (preferably
by means of a feather engaging in a slot C cut in the axle) being interposed
between the cone D and the lock nut D7.
The threads of the locking rings D2 D3 are in reverse direction to those of the
lock nut D', to correspond with the threaded portions of the cone and axle
respectively as previously described.
Instead of being screwed on the axle, as shown in Figure 1 and above described,.
the cone D may be secured thereon by frictional contact or other known means,
the portion C of the axle and the end of the cone engaged thereon, being left
plain.
An end cap F screwed into the flange of the ring A³ completely closes in the
bearing it may be provided with a plugged opening F for lubricating purposes.
Referring to the inner bearing of the hub, of which the outer wall of the
roller race, as already described. is formed by the casing taper surface B*, the
inner wall of the race is formed by the annular tapering recess C³. This may
be formed on an enlarged portion of the axle C or alternatively on a cone or
tapering collar secured thereto in any well-known way. The series of rollers E
are constructed and arranged as in the outer bearing. The bearing is closed by.

page_text: an end cap G, screwed into the flange of the ring A³. Preferably the cap is
constructed in halves to enable it to be placed on the axle after the construction
of the latter has been completed A convenient construction is shown in
Figures 3 and 4, in which the half G is provided with pins G2 which engage in
corresponding holes G³ in the half G'. The part G is also provided with two
recesses G in which are removably secured lugs G5, formed on G¹, by screw
bolts Go.
A felt, leather or other pliable washer G7 is provided to exclude dirt and retain
lubricant within the bearing. Preferably the washer is split, so as to be remov-
able, and is provided circumferentially with a light metal spring G8 which tends
to hold the split portions together and maintain the washer in intimate contact
with its bearing surface on the axle. A desirable form is shown in Figure 5, in
which one side of the washer is divided by a long curved cut G. The split may
however vary in shape or the washer may be formed of two or more separate
pieces held together by the spring. In order to hold the rollers in position in
the recesses D1 and C5, when the bearing is being put together or taken apart,
each end of the rollers may be provided with a central pin E¹, which pins engage
the flanges E of rings E3 secured on the tapered nut or on the axle. These
flanges however are not in contact with the roller pins when the bearing is in
normal working position.
An alternative form of retaining device for the rollers is shown in Figures 6, 7
and 8 as applied to a tapering nut 1). Two rings H H¹ have a bearing and are
capable of rotation on the cylindrical ends of the cone D. The outer edges of
these rings are rigidly connected by arms H2, one arm being placed between each
two adjacent rollers of the series, above the point of contact of the rollers. The
arms H2 are formed, as shown in Figure 7 in cross section, with curved sides
corresponding with the curve of the rollers.
A lock nut H³ may be provided forming with the shoulder D2 a recess within
which the ring H is held, in order to keep the cage from shifting longitudinally.
As the rollers travel in the race they carry the cage with them by means of the
arms H. The rings H H¹ themselves have no contact with the rollers, which in
this construction are not provided with end pins, and the whole weight of the
cage is borne by the bearing surfaces of the rings.
In Figure 9 is shown an alternative construction specially applicable to a gun
carriage. In this case the general arrangement is similar to that shown and
described in Figure 1, except that instead of the inner walls D C of the roller
races being carried on or formed solid with the axle, they are carried on or
formed solid with a sleeve K. secured frictionally, or by other convenient means,
on to the axle C. Longitudinal movement of the sleeve on the axle may be
rendered impossible by means of a washer and cottar K¹. In order to prevent the
bearing casings B1 B2 from becoming unscrewed from the central sleeve, the
end caps may if desired be provided with flanges, and secured by screws in the
wooden casing of the hub, as shown in dotted lines in the figure.
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 :-
:-
1. In a roller bearing for vehicles the combination with an adjustable cone
such as D forming one bearing surface of a roller race of a locking device com-
prising an adjustment ring D2 locking ring D3 both screwed within the cone
and a feathered washer between D2 and D3 substantially as described.
2. In a roller bearing for vehicles the combination with an adjustable cone
such as D forming one bearing surface of a roller race of a locking adjustment
device D2 D3 D4 screwed in one direction within the cone and a lock nut D'
screwed in the reverse direction outside the same and washer D8 substantially
as described.

page_text: 3. In a wooden-vehicle-hub having a rim-band-and-a-bearing casing covering the
wooden surface exposed-between-the-band-and-the-easing-by-a-metal ring substan-
tially-as-described.
4. In a wooden-vehicle-hub the combination-with-a-bearing-easing inside the wood
of a metal-ring-such as A³-having-a-Hange-such-as-At-threaded-externally-to-serew
into the bearing easing and threaded internally to receive the end cap-substantially
as described.
3. In a roller bearing for a vehicle hub a cage such as H H H² G G¹G² sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described or as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7 and 8 of
the accompanying drawings.
4. 6-In a vehicle hub the combination with a bearing casing of an end cap sub.
stantially as described or and illustrated in Figures or and 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
7.
In-n-roller-bearing-for-vehicles-the-combination with a felt or similar-split
washer-such as G' of a spring such-as-Gs-for-closing it-substantially-as-described.
5. In a roller bearing for vehicles the combination with a series of tapered
rollers and a casing forming the outer bearing surface of a roller race of a sleeve
such as K substantially as described.
6. In a roller bearing for vehicles a the sleeve such-as K which carries all the
various parts of the bearing whereby the bearing is rendered self-contained and can
be removed from the axle without disturbance of its parts.
7. 10. The complete vehicle hub and axle bearing substantially as described
or illustrated in Figure 1 or in Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings.
2011
Carambar 1900
BOULT & WADE
Agents for the Applicant.