Improvements in Axles for Bioyole or other Wheel Hubs.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr.,
1897
Improvements in Axles for Bioyole or other Wheel Hubs.
We, CHARLES OBERLE, Machinist, and MICHAEL WIELAND, Grocer, both
of 404 East 16th Street, New York, in the County and State of New York, U.S.A.
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 axles for bicycle or other wheel
hubs; the object thereof being to supply an article of this character which is 80
constructed as to allow for lateral adjustment of the cones forming part thereof
without the necessity of removing the axle from the hub, whereby the bearings can
be readily and accurately adjusted.
The invention will be hereinafter fully described and specifically set forth in the
annexed claims.
In the accompanying drawings formning part of this specification:
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of my improved axle, showing the
same in connection with a bicycle wheel hub.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, showing a slightly modified
construction.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, showing the application of my
invention to the hub of a pedal; and
Fig. 4 is n perspective view, illustrating a part of the axle.
In the practice of our invention, the axle comprises two sections, A and A
The section A is provided upon the inner end thereof with slots a for receiving
tongues a formed upon the inner end of the section A', whereby when the two
sections are connected to each other, they are adaptable for independent lateral
movement, but rotation of one upon the other is prevented, and these two said
sections are provided at their outer cuds with the customary threaded portions 1
for receiving nuts 2 adapted for connecting the axle to the framework of a
bicycle.
As a means for adjusting the sections, we provide a spindle B which is supplied
at each end thereof with threads b, the inuer end engaging with a threaded
recess a of the section A and the outer end engaging with a threaded portion a³ of
the section A', whereby rotation of the spindle will cause the sections to move to
or from each other.
Each section A and A' is provided with a hardened steel cone C adapted for
engagement with ordinary ball bearings D mounted within angle-iron rings E of
an ordinary hub F, which said hub is provided with the customary removable
heads adapted for proventing inlet of dust to the bearings.
To further strengthen the connection between the sections A and A', a collar a¹
is connected around the inner end of the section A' and projected inwardly for
telescopic connection with the section A.
In the modified structure, illustrated by Fig. 2 of the drawings, the sections A
and A' are connected to each other by means of semicircular projections a' and the
spindle B' has a left hand thread & upon one end thereof and a right hand thread b
upon the other, which said threads engage respectively with left and right hand
threads provided within the ends of the sections A and A'. In this view, the
cones Care illustrated as forming an integral part of their respective sections,
but it is obvious that they may be shrunk on, if desired,

page_text: In Fig. 3, we have illustrated the application of our device as a means for
mounting bicycle pedals, and the structure in this instance is similar to that shown
in Fig. 1 of the drawings, the outer section A¹ being provided with tongues a' and
the inner section A with grooteaza, for engagement with the tongues, the spindle B
having threads upon each end thereof for engagement respectively with the
threaded portions a' and a of the sections A and A'; the cones C being provided
for engagement, with ball bearings D which also engage with the pedal hub F.
In the operation of the device, it is obvious, that rotation of the spindle..B in a
left hand direction will cause the cones to move away from each other to loosen the
bearings, and rotation in a right hand direction will cause the said cones to move
towards each other for tightening the bearings, and this operation can be readily
performed without removing the wheel from the frame of a bicycle, it being
simply necessary to loosen the nuts 2 until they are out of contact with the frame-
work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the soune is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is :-
1. An axle, comprising two sections adapted to be moved laterally to and from
each other, and means for connecting and operating them, substantially as shown
and described.
2. An axle, comprising two sections 80 connected that they cannot rotate upon
each other, and an interiorly arranged spindle threaded to each of the said sections
adapted for moving them laterally, substantially as shown and described.
3. In an axle for hubs, the combination of two sections supplied respectively at
their points of connection with grooves and tongues, and an interiorly arranged
screw threaded spindle engaging with the said sections and adapted for adjusting
them laterally, substantially as shown' and described.
4. In an axle, for hubs, the combination of two sections connected to each other
by tongues and grooves and having cones mounted respectively upon their outer
portions with a threaded spindle connecting the said sections and adapted for
adjusting them laterally, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination of a hub having ball bearings mounted thereon, with a shaft
comprising two sections joined together by means of tongues and grooves, said
sections being hollow and screw threaded and having a spindle engaging with their
threaded portious adapted for adjusting them laterally, substantially as shown and
described.
Dated this 1st day of February 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.