Improvements in Ball Bearings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
I, GEORGE TRYON TURNER of 1705 Tioga Street, Philadelphia, United States
of America, Broker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to ball-bearings and has for its chief object to obtain a
simple and comparatively dust-proof bearing which contains within itself reservoirs
for oil or other lubricant.
The chief feature of the invention consists in mounting fixed cups in the bearing
casing or its equivalent outside of the cones in combination with which cones they
form ball races.
An important feature of this invention is the facility with which the bearing can
be mounted and dismounted, it being unnecessary to removed either the cup or cone
for this purpose. The bearing being mounted it is only necessary to release a ring
of balls by screwing a cone inward in order to drop the balls from the races,
whereupon the cones and balls can be withdrawn from the bearing casing. The
bearing may be constructed to dismount from the right or left side or both right
and left side.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide fixed cups placed outside of the
cones and so constructed as before stated to form with the said cones the racer paths
for the balls. The cups may be secured in any suitable manner. If they are
screwed, the screw threads should be contrary to the direction of rotation.
One of
the cones may be formed from the axle itself, or be constituted by a steel or other
ring fixed on the axle. The distance between the cups remains practically constant
during adjustment of the bearing. The cones approach each other during the
dismounting and recede from each other during the mounting of the bearing, and
more outward to take up play.
A receptacle is preferably provided to receive the balls when the bearing is being
mounted or dismounted.
It
In a modification a divided axle is used in lieu of the movable cone or cones.
will be seen that a divided axle the two parts of which are screwed together
or connected by a socket having right and left handed screw threads admits
of increasing or diminishing the distance between the cones which in this construction
are preferably formed out of the material of the axle itself. The aforesaid divided
axle may be applied to a bearing of the usual construction.
An opening or openings is or are provided to admit of removing and replacing the
balls; and one or more screws or bolts between the cup and bearing casing and
passing through the screw threaded parts thereof, is or are employed to prevent the
cup from moving.
I provide a cup-like protector at the end of the hub to prevent the entrance of
dust into the bearing, and to keep the lubricant in. The protector is made of light
metal and is formed with an opening through which the cones or axle may be
passed. It may be secured in any suitable manner and can be applied to most forms
of existing hubs.
The advantages of this bearing are that it is dust proof; and retains the oil; it
is moreover very rigid by reason of the balls being more widely separated; the
tendency of the friction on the adjusting cone is to loosen and not tighten the
bearing and hence breakage of cups, coues, and balls is avoided; and further there
is a great saving of time in mounting and dismounting besides which its parts

page_text: are about the same in number as those of an ordinary bearing, and it is no more.
expensive to make.
Dated this 6th day of May 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
I GEORGE TRYON TURNER of 1705 Tioga Street Philadelphia in the United
States of America Broker 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 ball bearings and has for its chief object to obtain a
simple and comparatively dust proof bearing which contains within itself reservoirs for
oil or other lubricant and which is adapted to be readily mounted and dismounted.
The chief feature of the invention consists in mounting fixed cups in the
bearing casing or its equivalent outside of the cones in combination with which
cones they form ball races.
An important feature of this invention is the facility with which the bearing can
be mounted and dismounted, it being unnecessary to remove either the cup or cone
for this purpose.
The bearing, being mounted, it is only necessary to release a ring of balls by
screwing a cone inward in order to drop the balls from the races whereupon the
cones, axle, and balls can be withdrawn from the bearing casing.
The bearing may be constructed to dismount from the right or left side or both
right and left sides.
In carrying my invention into effect I provide fixed cups placed outside of
the cones and so constructed as before stated to form with the said cones the races
or paths for the balls.
The cups may be secured in any suitable manner; if they are screwed, the screw
threads should be contrary to the direction of rotation and screws or bolts may be
employed to fix them with the hub or casing.
One of the cones may be formed from the axle itself, or be constituted by a steel
or other ring fixed on the axle.
The distance between the cups is unalterable and therefore remains constant
during adjustment of the hearing.
The cones approach each other during the dismounting and recede from each
other during the mounting of the bearing or to take up play.
In some cases a receptacle is provided to receive the balls when the bearing is
being mounted or dismounted or an opening or openings is or are provided to admit
of removing and replacing the balls.
The advantages of this bearing are that it is dust proof and retains the oil; it
is moreover very rigid by reason of the balls being more widely separated; the
tendency of the friction on the adjusting cone is to loosen and not to tighten the
bearing and hence breakage of cups, cones, and balls is avoided; and further there
is a great saving of time in mounting and dismounting besides which its parts are
about the same in number as those of an ordinary bearing and it is no more
expensive to make.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
to describe the same.

page_text: Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a ball bearing constructed according to the
present invention and suitable for a velocipede.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 representing the position assumed by the
parts in dismounting the bearing.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2, showing the manner in which the axle and
balls leave the hub in the act of dismounting the bearing.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 1 but showing the first operation in mounting
the bearing and
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 2, but inverted showing the final operation
of mounting the bearing.
Figure 6 is a similar view to Figure 1 but representing the application of the
invention to the wheel of a road carriage or the like.
Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 illustrating the method of removing the
balls and dismounting the bearing.
Figure 8 is a similar view to Figure 7 but representing the method of replacing
the balls and mounting the bearing.
Figure 9 is a sectional edge view drawn to a reduced scale representing the.
complete wheel mounted on the axle.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 5 a represents the tubular hub of a velocipede wheel
and 6 represents the axle which may have the cranks fixed upon the ends thereof
or may be fixed with the frame of the machine according to the particular wheel to
which the device is applied.
The hub a is at its ends provided with apertured cups a permanently fixed there-
with by set screws a² or by other suitable means, such as soldering, brazing or the
like, but when threaded to screw into the ends of the hub as a preliminary to such
fixing operation the threads should be arranged in a direction contrary to the
direction of rotation of the axle b whilst the aperture a* in one of the cups al is
of such diameter as to admit of the passage therethrough of the cones 6¹¹* and
axle b.
The inner faces of these cups a¹ are shaped to form together with the cones 6¹ 61*
hereinafter more fully referred to the necessary races or paths for the balls c and
by reason of the cups a¹ being fixed with the hub a the distance between the same
remains constant or unalterable during the adjustment or mounting of the bearing
as hereinafter described.
The cone is fixed with the axle 6 in any suitable manner or it might be forme
thereon, the material employed being of the necessary degree of hardness.
The cone is internally threaded to engage a corresponding thread formed
upon the end of the axle, such thread being so formed that in the running of the
axle there is a tendency if anything to move the cone ₁ inward and thus to loosen
the bearing; the cone 6* being moved inward-causing the cones to approach one
another in order to loosen the bearing and outward-causing the cones to recede
from one another-in order to tighten it.
At one end of the hub a is provided an annular recess a³, which receives the balls
during the dismounting and mounting of the axle b so as to enable the cones 6181*
to pass the balls and thus to release them from the hub.
In order to dismount the bearing the cone b¹* is moved inward a short distance
upon the axle b and the hub and axle are turned into the vertical position indicated
at Figure 2 with the cone 6¹* underneath when the balls c at one end will fall away
from the acting face of the cone and into the annular recess a³ thus enabling the
cones to pass the balls c which latter will then fall out through the aperture in
the cup which at that moment is underneath as indicated more particularly at Figure 3
when the cones b₁₁* and axle may be removed through the large aperture a¹* in
the cup a'..

page_text: ;.
In order to remount the bearing the hub a is placed in a horizontal position and
the number of balls required at each end is introduced through the apertures in the
cups a¹ and those passed through the aperture a* at the right hand fall into the
annular recess a³ so as to admit of the cone 61* passing clear of them on its way into
position as indicated at Figure 4.
The axle 6 is now inserted into position through the aperture a¹ and the entire
device is turned into the vertical position indicated at Figure with the cone
above and the axle 6 is then raised slightly when the lower balls c will fall into
the annular groove 62, and between the acting faces of the cup a¹ and the cone b'.
The cone 6 must now be moved outward along the axle until the required
adjustment is obtained between the acting surfaces of the cones 61 61* and those of
the cups a¹.
Although this method of manipulating this bearing would at first appear to need
some care, in practice it is found that the mounting and dismounting or adjustment
can be almost instantaneously effected.
may if
Although I have spoken of the cone b¹ as a cone fixed with the axle b I
desired mount it with capability of moving thereon in a similar manner to that b*
but this is generally speaking unnecessary and adds to the work required to adjust
the device.
Referring to Figures 6 to 9 which represent the application of the invention to
the wheel of a vehicle adapted to run on common roads the parts are substantially
the same as those hereinbefore described, but in this case as it would be difficult or
impossible to turn about the hub a in the manner hereinbefore described with
respect to the previous figures when mounting or dismounting the bearing the
annular recess as is dispensed with and openings a are provided in the hub a and
cups a through which the balls c may by screwing inward the cone 6¹* as indicated
at Figure 7, and by turning the wheel until the openings a' are at the lowest
point be removed as indicated in the same figure in order to dismount the bearing
when the hub a and wheel may be readily moved end wise off the axle the cones b¹¹*
freely passing through the aperture a¹*.
•
When however it is desired to mount the bearing the cone 6 is screwed inward
and the wheel is placed in position with the openings a in the hub at the highest
point when the balls may be readily inserted into position as indicated at Figure 8
after which the cone 61* may be screwed outward until the required adjustment is
obtained thus mounting the bearing.
The balls are held in position by the cones 6161* and the corresponding faces of
the cups al so that they cannot work out of the openings a' but as it is desirable to
close the latter in order to exclude dust or the like, stoppers a screwing into a
corresponding thread in the apertures a are provided and these stoppers a³ are
preferably attached to the hub a by means of chains a³ in order to prevent their
being mislaid or lost.
The hub a is of course provided with spokes a' attached thereto in any suitable
manner and the hub a is preferably covered with a wooden box a³ in order to give
the wheel the usual appearance.
In lieu of forming the cones of differential diameters they may both be formed
of equal diameter the apertures in the cups being of corresponding area.
The lubricant is introduced into the interior of the hub a and the peculiar
shape given thereto forms annular troughs in which the lubricant is held so
that the balls are constantly running through the same and picking up and
distributing it.
The screw threads of the adjustable cone or cones 6* are so arranged that the
tendency of the friction of the balls thereon will be to loosen and not to tighten
the bearing and hence the difficulties heretofore met with in bearings where the
screw threads are arranged in the opposite manner and such as the breakage of
cups cones and balls is avoided.
From the foregoing description it will be seen that the cones are caused to
approach each other during the dismounting of the bearing and to recede from

page_text: each other during the mounting of the bearing or to adjust the same or take up
play.
Some of the advantages of this bearing are that it is practically dust proof and
retains the oil, it is very rigid by reason of the large base afforded by the great
distance between the two sets of balls the breakage of cups cones or balls is
avoided and furthermore there is a great saving of time in mounting and
dismounting the bearing, besides which the parts are numerically the same as those
of an ordinary bearing and the cost is substantially the same.
I am aware that it has heretofore been proposed to form a ball bearing by means
of cups at the ends of the hub and internal cones adjustable upon the axle but in
this case the cups were removeable and the apertures therein were of less diameter
than the cones so that in order to dismount the bearing it was necessary to remove
the cups whereas according to my present invention it is only necessary to slacken
back one of the cones and in some cases to unclose the stoppered apertures in order
to achieve the same end.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a ball bearing the combination of a hub or case, a permanently fixed cup
at the end of the hub or case upon its inner face shaped to form part of a race or
path for the balls, a shaft or axle passing through the cup, a cone adjustably
mounted upon the axle and shaped to form the other part of the ball race, a
number of balls, a receptacle in the hub to receive the balls when they are released
by the cone, and an aperture in the cup of a diameter to admit of the passage
therethrough of the cone and axle upon the release of the balls from the race
substantially as herein shown and described.
2. In a ball bearing the combination of a hub or case, permanently fixed cups at
the ends thereof upon their inner faces shaped to form part of a race or path for
the balls, a shaft or axle passing through the cups and hub or case, two cones
mounted upon the axle inside the cups, and shaped to form the other part of the
ball race one or both of such cones being adjustable, a number of balls, a receptacle
in the hub or case adapted to receive one set of balls when released by their cone,
and an aperture in the corresponding cup of a diameter to admit of the passage
therethrough of the cones and axle substantially as herein shown and described.
3. A ball bearing of the character hereinbefore described adapted to be
dismounted by screwing inward the cones and without removing either of the cups
substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In a ball bearing the combination of a hub or case, permanently fixed cups at
the ends thereof upon their inner faces shaped to form part of a race or path for
the balls, a shaft or axle passing through the cups and hub or case, two cones
mounted upon the axle inside the cups and shaped to form the other part of the
ball race one or both of such cones being adjustable, a number of balls, apertures
in the hub or case closed by screw or other stoppers through which the balls are
adapted to pass when released by the cones and for the purpose of mounting or
dismounting the bearing and an aperture in one or both cups of a size to allow of
the passage therethrough of the cones and axle substantially as herein shown and
described.
5. In a bearing of the character hereinbefore described mounting the cone or
cones upon the axle by means of screw threads so arranged that the tendency of
the friction on the cones will be to loosen and not to tighten the bearing substantially
as herein shown and described.
Dated this 19th day of February 1894.
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
27, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.