Improvements relating to Axles and Bearings for the Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Axles and Bearings for the Wheels
of Vehicles.
I, LOUIS CRÉANCHE, of 19, Rue Victor-Hugo, Levallois-Perret, in the Republic of
France, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a ball-bearing axle of novel
construction applicable to vehicles of every description but more particularly adapted
for use in tricycles and quadricycles whether driven by the rider himself or through
the agency of petroleum; also to light horseless carriages generally. The invention
will be best nnderstood by reference to the accompanying drawing in which
Figure 1 is an axial longitudinal section of a ball-bearing axle constructed in
accordance with my invention;
Figure 2 is a vertical section thereof on line y z, Figure 1; and
Figure 3 illustrates how my invention is applicable to axles provided with
differential or any other mechanism which may be employed in transinitting motion
from the motor to the driving wheel.
The improved arrangement consists of two separate but exactly similar
axles A. A whereon the hubs M M¹ of the carriage are made fast. The two axles
which in regard to their rotary motion are entirely independent of each other are
connected by a tube B within which are provided sleeves or sockets D D¹ retained
therein by means of screws d d².
The sockets D D¹ form ball races and in conjunction with the ends a a¹ of the
axles A A¹ also assuming the shape of corresponding ball races hold the balls C C¹
which thus support the extremities of the said axles. By such means these axles
are prevented from moving apart so that the position of their inner ends never.
varies.
The tube B is screw-threaded at both ends for the reception of the ball-bearing:
sockets EE¹ which face the races G G¹ and thus sustain the balls I I¹.
The ends of the tube B which are not only screw-threaded but also slotted
longitudinally for a certain distance, as at b, rest in the bearings R R', likewise
slotted at r, and are secured either below the body of the carriage or on the
carriage frame or, if preferred, on the suspension springs; the open portions of the
said bearings being connected by a bolt J which enables them to be tightened or
locked together.
When the ball bearing of either axle is found to have become loose it is only
necessary, in order to tighten it, first to loosen the bolt J (in the case of the left-
hand axle for example), and then to turn the combined race and socket E in the
desired direction for tightening the balls of the bearing. By reference to the
drawings it will readily be seen, moreover, that the two series of balls I and C
must become tight simultaneously, inasmuch as the socket E is adapted to move
upon the tube B which carries the fixed socket D.
When the adjustment has been effected, all that remains to be done in order to
make it secure, i.e. to prevent the socket E from accidentally unscrewing, is to

page_text: tighten the bolt J which will bring the two parts of the bearing R nearer to each
other, while at the same time tightening the slotted end of the tube B upon the
screw-threaded socket E.
The object of the rings or collars K K¹ secured onto the axles A A¹ is merely to
prevent the said axles from shifting inwardly during the erection of the driving
mechanism.
As illustrated in Figure 3 this arrangement may also apply to axles provided
with differential or other reversing or speed-varying gearing fitted on to the driving
axle.
Taking for example an axle provided with any suitable differential gearing it
will be seen that the two axles A1 and AII, which are independent of each other,
as in the arrangement shown in Figure 1, possess each one range or series of
balls II whereon the hub of the wheel is adapted to roll, and another series of
balls CC whereon the back of the pinion P (or P', as the case may be) is
arranged to rest; one of which pinions is secured to each axle and forms a ball
race. It will be readily understood that when the ball-bearings have undergone a
certain amount of wear, it is only necessary-supposing that the left-hand axle has
to be dealt with-to turn the combined cap and socket E" upon its tube B¹ in the
required direction in order to tighten the two series of balls, 1" and C¹¹, at the
same time.
It should also be observed that in this arrangement the tube which in Fig. 1 was
marked B is divided into two lengths B¹ B¹¹; one length, B' having secured upon
it one half T of the casing of the differential or other motion transmitting
mechanism, while the other length B¹¹ carries the other half, T", of that casing.
The two tubes B¹ B¹¹ are therefore in reality connected together by the
casing T T¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
A quick-tightening ball-bearing axle mainly consisting of axles independent of
each other adapted to turn with the wheels and enclosed in a tube (constructed in
one piece in the case of an ordinary axle or in two parts where a differential axle or
one fitted with motion transmission gearing has to be dealt with) to each end of
which tube there is screwed a ball race or sleeve which it is only necessary to
turn in order to adjust at one operation the two sets of balls of each axle to the
requisite degree of tightness; the two screw-threaded ends of the said tube being
slotted if desired and tightened upou the combined ball race and sockets by means
of the screw-bearings of the axle so as securely to lock the said sockets or ball races
and bearings in position.
7
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.