IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYOLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, PART OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Singer, of Coventry, and William Granger, of
Birmingham, both in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYOLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, PART OF WHICH ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Singer and William
Granger at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd December
1879.
GEORGE SINGER, of Coventry, and WILLIAM GRANGER, of Birmingham, both in
the County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES,
PART OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The primary object of this Invention is to reduce the side shake, and at the
same time to allow the rollers or balls which are to take the weight, say, of the
rider of a velocipede, to be free from any side friction, and to relieve the bearing
from twisting in the axle when the steering is moved.
In carrying out our Invention we provide a split case to contain the bearing, one
end of which is screw threaded internally to receive a corresponding washer, as and
for the purpose hereafter described; this end of split case is further divided longi-
tudinally and secured by screws, so that the adjustment of the screwed washer may
be accomplished with facility when necessary.
The axle carries two flanges, against the outer sides of which a series of balls or
suitably shaped rollers take their bearing, the opposite peripheries of which are
pressed by the aforesaid washer, which screws into the end of split case. By this
means the position of the balls can be adjusted to the greatest nicety, and side
shake thereby practically be prevented. In the centre between the flanges we
insert short rollers or balls, these rollers or balls only taking the weight.
Each end of the bearing has a loose perforated disc by which the end balls are
retained and adjusted in position between the perforated disc and the second flange
on the axle.
This bearing is thus a combined roller and ball bearing, or a combined ball
bearing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Singer and William Granger in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd June 1880.
GEORGE SINGER, of Coventry, and WILLIAM GRANGER, of Birmingham, both in
the County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES,
PART OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
The primary object of this Invention is to reduce the side shake, and at the same
time to allow the rollers or balls which are to take the weight, say, of the rider of
a velocipede, to be free from any side friction, and to relieve the bearing from
twisting in the axle when the steering is moved.
In carrying out our Invention we provide a split case to contain the bearing; one
end of the case is screw threaded internally to receive a corresponding screwed
washer, as and for the purpose hereafter described The case is divided or split
longitudinally in parts secured by screws, so that the adjustment of the screwed
washer may be accomplished with facility when necessary. The axle carries two
flanges, against the outer sides of which a series of balls or suitably shaped rollers
take their bearing, the opposite peripheries of which are pressed by the aforesaid
washer, which screws into the end of split case. By this means the position of the
balls can be adjusted to the greatest nicety, and side shake thereby practically be
prevented. In the centre between the flanges we insert short rollers or balls, these
rollers or balls only taking the weight.
Each end of the bearing has a loose perforated disc by which the end balls arc
retained and adjusted in position between the perforated disc and the second flange
on the axle.
This bearing is thus a combined roller and ball bearing, or a combined ball
bearing.
And in order that this Invention may be more fully understood, we will
now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 is an end view of a bearing suitable for a hollow or solid bicycle
axle; Figure 2 is an end view with the screwed washer or cover removed, Figure 3
is a vertical central cross section, and Figure 4 a vertical longitudinal section
through same.
The hollow axle a is formed with two flanges b and b¹, and revolves in the
bearing case, which is split or divided into two halves c and c' which are united
by a screw d and on each side. The flanges b, b¹, do not take their bearing
against the interior of the case c, c', but there are for this purpose friction rollers c
between the two flanges (or it might be balls) The case is closed at one end, and
the opposite end is formed with internal screw threads to take a screwed washer f,
which has two small holes f¹ for turning it by means of a spanner. In the spaces
at each end of the flanges b, 61, are arranged loose ring discs g, g¹, with holes in for
taking friction balls h, h', revolving freely therein. The rings are free to revolve
round the axle a. The washer f serves to limit or adjust the play between the
balls h, h¹, the flanges b, b', and the end of the bearing.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a pedal bearing constructed according to this
Invention; Figure 6, an end view of same with the end washer removed; and
Figure 7, an end view of the ring with balls.
The pedal pin or spindle a is enclosed in the sleeve or casing c, and is at one end
formed with a flange b, and has at the other end a loose washer b' fitting over the
screwed end of the pin a and against a shoulder on the latter; e and e¹ are rollers
(or it might be balls) for taking the side or down pressure of the casing c against
the spindle a; g and g¹ are loose ring discs with holes for the balls and h¹ to
revolve in freely; fand flare screwed washers inserted in each end of the casing c
for taking the end thrust of the shoulders b, b', and balls h, h¹, and for adjusting

page_text: the play between these parts. As the thrust is mostly or generally in the direction
of the arrow the ring g¹ and balls may be left out without seriously adding to
the friction.
The rollers (or balls) e may if desired be kept apart by distance pieces hollowed
out to suit the curve of the rollers, or by a cage, or ring, or rings.
It is obvious that the casing c in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 need not be divided if
the flanges b, b¹, bo made loose and fitting against shoulders on the axle a similarly
to the washer b' in Figure 5.
In some cases where the end thrust is in one direction only we use balls at one
end of the bearing only.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, and how
it is or may be carried into effect, we declare that we claim,-
Firstly. The combination of parts forming the improved bearing, videlicet, the
rollers or balls e arranged between flanges on the spindle and in a case, the end
thrust being taken up by balls h, h³, loose in holes in a disc g, g', which is free to
revolve round the spindle, substantially as described and shown.
Second. The improved bearings, as claimed, in combination with the screwed
washer for regulating the bearing endways, substantially as described and
shown.
In witness whereof, we, the said George Singer and William Granger, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this 19th day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
GEORGE SINGER.
(L.S.)
WILLIAM GRANGER. (L.S.)