Improvements in Ball-bearings.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1898--Accepted, 7th May, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball-bearings.
I, GUSTAVUS EMIL STRAUSS, of 37 Maiden Lane, New York, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in ball-bearings and consists of a device
of a special construction by means of which the balls can be placed simultaneously
into the ball-chambers of the bearing and held therein separate from each other,
whereby the friction of the balls in the bearings is greatly reduced. These objects
are accomplished by the constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings
in which
devices..
Figure 2 shews a flat blank of which one retaining device is made.
Figure 3 is a top view of this device with the balls held therein.
Figure 4 is a section of Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a flat blank of a modification of the ball retaining devices, shewn in
Figures 2 to 4.
Figure 6 is a top view of the modification.
Figure 7 is a section of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
In the drawings A designates a hub and C is the axle of the same which latter
is provided on each side with a cone B, one of which being fixed and the other one
screwed upon the axle. The cones form with the inner flanges a of the hub the
ball-chambers, as usual in ball-bearings. B B are the improved ball-holding
devices which are located in the said ball-chambers and carry the balls 1 in such
position that, when the axle in the hub is properly adjusted, they are in contact
with the inner walls of the ball-chambers and can freely revolve therein.
The ball-holding device shown in Figs. 2 to 4 consist of a flat ring of sheet
metal or other suitable material which provided with a series of inwardly and out-
wardly extending flaps e, el respectively, the flange e being radially opposite the
flaps e as shown in Fig. 2. The side portions of the flaps are cut out or concave,
whereby sharp points e2 on the outer ends of the same are formed. The flaps are
then bent upwards so that they stand in right or nearly right angles to the base
of the ring and thus form seats for the balls, which latter are placed on the ring
and rest thereon in the spaces between the flaps as shown in Figs. and 4. The
flaps hold the balls in position by the outer pointed ends e² and prevent them from
dropping out.
The balls revolve freely in the inner and outer and in the upper
In the construction shown in Figs. 5 and 7 the flaps e e¹ are not provided with
the aforesaid points and the flaps el have outer tapering extensions d integral
with, or soldered to the same. These flaps c and e¹ are also bent upwards in the
one direction so that they stand radially opposite each other and the balls D are
directions.

page_text: then placed upon the base of the flat ring of the device between the flaps, so that
one ball is located in one space formed by the said flaps, and the extensions d are
then bent sideways, until their ends come in contact with the top-portions of the
flaps e. The balls are thus securely kept in place and are prevented from
dropping from the retainer by the flaps e and e', which hold the balls on the sides
and by the extensions d, which hold the same on the upper portions. The balls
project from this retainer in the same three directions as from the retainer
illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4.
When the retainers, with their balls are placed into the ball-chambers of the hub,
they come with their portions projecting beyond the flaps e and e¹, and the
extension e² in contact with the walls of the ball-chambers, as shown in Fig. 1
and function in the same manner as the balls in other ball-bearings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
I. A ball-bearing or ball-holding device, consisting of a flat ring having a series
of inner and outer side flaps radially opposite each other and extending upwardly
from the ring the balls held in the spaces between the inner and outer flaps, so that
they project beyond the device in the inner and outer and in the upward
directions substantially as set forth.
II. In a ball-bearing, a ball-holding device, consisting of a flat ring having
inner and outer flaps radially opposice each other, the side portions of which are
cut out so that outer sharp points are formed, the flaps being upwardly bent, and
the balls held in the spaces between the corresponding inner and outer flaps by the
same points and projecting beyond the devices in the inner and outer and the
upward directions, substantially as set forth.
III. The combination of a hub having inner flanges and an axle having cones,
the flanges and cones forming chambers, with ball-holding devices, one in each
chamber which devices consist of flat rings having series of inner and outer side
portions cut out, and balls held in the spaces between the corresponding inner and
outer flaps and projecting beyond the devices in the inner and outer and in the
upward directions, substantially as set forth.
IV. In a ball-bearing, a ball-retaining devioe, consisting of a flat ring having
inner upwardly extending flaps and outer upwardly extending flaps opposite the
inner flaps and being provided with tapering extensions which are so bent that
they come in contact with the tops of the inner flaps, substantially as set forth.
V. The combination of a hub having inner flanges with an axle having cones
forming chambers with the said flanges, and in each chamber a ball-retaining
device consisting of a flat ring, having inner upward extending flaps and outer
upward extending flaps opposite the inner flaps, the inner flaps being provided
with tapering extensions which are so bent that they come in contact with the tops
of the inner flaps, and balls held between the corresponding inner and outer flaps
and projecting beyond the top portions of the devices and the outer sides of the
same, substantially as set forth.
+
1
1
1000
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
322, High Holborn, London, W.C., Patent Agents for the Applicant.