AN IMPROVED BEARING FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: $
We, ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON; of 38, Blenheim Crescent, .Notting Hill, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent; and FREDERICK
NESFIELD COOKSON; of Eva Villa, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton in the County,
of Staffordshire Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention for
'AN IMPROVED BEARING FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
"J
The object of our Invention is an improvement in the construction of the
bearings of bicycles and other velocipedes, and consists in making them in such a
way, that the weight of the rider is brought into direct connection with the axle
of the machine. At the same time, our improved bearing is not rigidly attached
to the fork or frame of the machine, the interposition of springs between the
journals and such fork or frame, makes the connection a yielding one, capable of a
rising and falling motion, so that, when passing over rough or uneven roads, thé
consequent tremor or shaking is absorbed, or compensated for, by the springs,
instead of being communicated to the body of the rider, as would be done if the
frame of the machine were rigidly connected to the axle journals.
In order that our Invention, and the method of putting the same into successful
operation, may be thoroughly understood, we will proceed to describe it, reference
being made to the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as part of this
specification and read therewith. Corresponding parts are, throughout the figures,
marked with the same reference letter.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of our improved bearing adapted to the
drivers.
.
Figure 2 is a transverse section, shewing our improved construction of ball
bearing.
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of our improved bearing adapted to the
trailing wheel, the springs drawn being oval in plan.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation corresponding with Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a sectional side elevation of a modification of our improved bearing
for the drivers, in which twin springs of a round section are used.
[Prine Gd1
When this

page_text: bearing is to be nitten to the traning wued, only one spring, and var
plan, are used.
Figure 6 is a plan corresponding with Figure 5.
A is a cylindrical case of any suitable section, the top of which is firmly
connected to B, the continuation of the fork or other corresponding part of the
machine. C is the journal, of any desired type, plain or conical, and with, or
without, ball bearings. D, D are twin spiral springs, of any suitable section. We
uso twin springs in preference to a single one, so that, in case of one breaking, the
bearing may not be entirely without the advantage of the compensating property
of a spring, until such time as the broken one can be replaced. Two ports, E, are
cut in opposite sides of the case, A; in which the ends of the bush, or journal, play
A moveable
according to the varying stress brought to bear upon the springs D.
cap, F, preferably held by screws, f, gives access to the interior of the caso A.
Figure 2 is a transverse section illustrating the construction of our improved
journal with ball bearings. The bush, c³, receives one half of the balls in a groove,
while the two halves c', c, of the journal, receive the other half in a groove formed
in their joint face. These two halves are conveniently made so as to overwrap each
other at their edges, and to. be screwed together.
These improved ball bearings can be made with either single or double balls.
In Figures 3 and +, only one spring is shown in each case A. In other respects,
the construction of the bearing is as described with reference to Figuro 1, the same
reference letters being used to designate like recurring parts.
In Figuro 5 we illustrate another form of our improved bearing. With this
form, we always make the case A with two tubes a, a, to receive the twin
springs D, D. Each tubo is fitted with a screw plug, a', which bears upon its
spring through a washer, a³. By means of these plugs, the effective strength of
the springs can be regulated. The tops of the plugs are either milled, as shewn, or
of hexagon shape, to be turned by a key.
The journal shewn in this figure is the one described in detail with reference
to Figure 2, in which it is shown in transverse section. A removeable plate,
conveniently fixed by screws and tabs, gives access to the interior of the case, A.
When considered desirable we use double springs, i.e., one inside the other, and
this arrangement can of course be adapted with any shape of spring, or with either
single tube cases as in Figure 1, or double tube cases, as in Figure 5.
Our improved bearing can be made with the spring, or springs, either in
compression, or in tension. The accompanying figures illustrate it always in
compression, and this is the construction we adopt, by preferenco. But it is obvious
that we may vary this construction, without departing from the essence or substance
of our invention, to the extent of connecting the ends of the fork or corresponding
part of the machino to the underside of the journal-case, the springs being still in
compression. Or, the springs may be placed under the journals their end being
passed round said journals or otherwise firmly attached thereto, the other end
being attached to the ends of the frame continued below the axis of the machine to
meet said lower ends of the springs. The springs are then in tension.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
First. A bicycle, or other velocipede, bearing, consisting of a journal case, A, with
one or more single or double springs between the journal C, and the case A, the
sides of the case having ports, E, cut therein, substantially as describod.
Second. In a bearing of the herein described type, the combination of the case A,
connected in any convenient way to the frame of the machine, with a journal C,
between two adjacent faces of which are interposed an upright spiral spring or
springs, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Third. In a ball bearing for bicycles and other velocipedes, the combination of a
split journal having single or double balls working in a groove or grooves, and
bearing directly upon the axle or through a grooved bush, substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated thig 16th dove of Santamban 1001