of Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1885

page_text: of Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
We GEORGE SINGER of Alma Street, Coventry in the County of Warwick
Bicycle Manufacturer, and RICHARD HENRY LEA of Paradise Street, Coventry,
Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention refers to improvements in the construction of axles and axle
bearings of tricycles and other velocipedes which improvements have special
reference to that class of tricycles having the driving chain or other gear, at or
near the centre of the axle.
In carrying out our improvements according to our invention we form the axle
in two halves, connected by a differential driving gear which is placed at or near
the centre of the tricycle.
Each half axle has its independent bearing and is adjusted separately. At the
end (of each half axle) nearest the driving gear, a cone is fixed, and at the opposite
end of the half axle and near to the inner flange of the hubb of driving wheel
there is a corresponding cone screwed capable of adjustment relatively to the
fixed cone.
Between these two cones a long sleeve is placed having at each end a concave
case, in which the bearing balls run.
Each half axle thus runs in a bearing of the greatest width obtainable and
thereby great steadiness and the utmost freedom of running are secured.
Each end of each of the two bearing sleeves is attached by bolt and nut or
other suitable means of connection to. a bridge tube which runs the whole length
of the axle and passes over the central driving gear thus firmly connecting the
two bearing sleeves. The bridge tube forms part of the main framework of the
tricycle and is preferably placed directly above the axle and is similar to the inven-
tion for which Provisional Protection was granted to George Singer, July 6th 1885
N° 8180.
Arrangement is made for effectually locking the adjusting cones after the proper
degree of adjustment is secured-and to complete our new and improved axle we
place a small screwed bush or sleeve between the adjusting cone and flange of hubb,
By turning this bush on the axle, the tricycle wheel may be easily and readily
detached whenever its removal may be required and without any liability to injure
the axle end as is the case in the common method of removal.

page_text: :
८
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of Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
We GEORGE SINGER, of Alma Street, Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Bicycle Manufacturer, and RICHARD HENRY LEA, of Paradise Street, Coventry,
Machinist 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:-
'
Our invention refers to improvements in the construction of axles and axle
bearings of tricycles and other velocipedes, which improvements have special
reference to that class of tricycles having the driving chain, or other gear, at or near
the centre of the axle.
!
And in order that our invention may be fully understood we will describe the
same with reference to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference
marked thereon. Figure 1 being a back elevation shewing our improved axle and
bearing constructed according to our invention; Figure 2 a similar view shewing
the axle and bearings in partial section, and Figure 3 is a cross section on line X Y
of Figure 1.
i
In carrying out our improvements according to our invention we form the axle
proper in two halves A A¹ connected by a differential driving gear B which is
placed at, or near, the centre of the tricycle. Each half axle A A¹ has its inde-
pendent bearing C and C¹, and is adjusted separately as hereafter-more particularly
described. At or near the end of each half axle A A¹ nearest the driving gear D
a cone C is fixed, and at the opposite end of. each half axle A A¹and near to the
inner flange of the hubs E of driving wheels, there is a corresponding cone C³
screwed, capable of adjustment relatively to the fixed cone C2. Between these two
conés Cs C³ on each axle a long sleeve C and C¹ is provided having at each end a
concave case in which the bearing balls run, when such are employed.
Each half axle A A¹ thus runs in a bearing of the greatest width obtainable and
thereby great steadiness, and the utmost freedom of running are secured.
Each end of each of the two bearing sleeves C C¹ is attached by bolt and nut, or
other suitable means of connection, to a bridge tube, or bow string girder tube F.
which runs the whole length of the axle A A³, and passes over the central driving
gear D, thus firmly connecting the two bearing sleeves C C¹².
The bridge tube F forms part of the main framework of the tricycle and is
preferably placed directly above the axle and is similar to the invention for which
Letters Patent was granted to George Singer, July 6th 1885 N° 8180.
In order to prevent the possibility of any "sag" taking place (by the pull of the
chain) on the otherwise somewhat unsupported end of A¹, the two halves of the
divided shaft may be conveniently provided at the point of division with a pro-
jecting end or "dowel pin " A say on the half A which fits into a corresponding
bearing A in the end of the half A' and in such manner that the projecting end
may be free to slide laterally when required, in such bearing in the opposite
half shaft.
Arrangement is made for effectually locking the adjusting cones after the proper
degree of adjustment is secured, for example, and as best seen at Figures 1 and 3,

page_text: a collar screwed on to the shafts A A¹ and fixed thereto by a set screw in such
manner that the screw C³ carried by it may reach and hold the cone C in position..
To complete our new and improved axle we place a small screwed bush G or sleeve
between the collar C and flange of bub E. By turning this bush G on the axle,
the tricycle wheel may be easily and readily detached whenever its removal may
be required, and without any liability to injure the axle end as is the case in the
common method of removal.
When it is required to adjust the bearings, the screw C³ carried by the collar O'
which is fixed to the axle, is loosened and withdrawn from the cone C³. This
cone C³ is then screwed and advanced towards the central part of the axle and
acting against the end of the fixed sleeve CC¹ will cause a very slight lateral
motion of the half axle and the cones are tightened, that is the cone C together
with the shaft by which it is carried, is drawn further into one end of the sleeve C
and the cone C³ is at the same time advanced into the other end of the said sleeve.
The construction and action of the bearings for each half axle are similar.
It will be obvious that by reversing the positions of the fixed and adjusting
cones of either A or A¹, the two halves of axle may both be made to move laterally
in the same direction, the component parts of balance gear being thereby kept
from slightly separating, but this movement is so infinitesimal that the previously
fully described arrangement is more convenient, and preferable.
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:-
1st. In tricycles and other velocipedes, the employment on each independent half
of the axle of a bearing consisting of a sleeve carried by the framework, and
bearing at one end upon a cone fixed on the axle, and at the other end bearing
against a corresponding cone screwed on to said axle and capable of adjustment
relatively to fixed cone; in combination with the means for allowing during
separate, adjustment of the divided shaft, of slight lateral motion of same all
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2nd. In tricycles and other velocipedes the employment on each independent
half of the axle of a bearing consisting of a sleeve carried by the framework and
bearing at one end upon a cone fixed on the axle and at the other end bearing
against a corresponding cone screwed on to said axle and capable of adjustment
relatively to the fixed cone together with the means for allowing during separato
adjustment of the divided shaft, of slight lateral motion of same; in combination
with a bridge tube or bow string girder; and the screwed bush or sleeve between
the adjusting cone and flange of hub by which the wheel may be easily detached,`
all substantially as and for the purposes set forth.