Improvements in Ball Bearings for Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, Sth Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd June, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings for Vehicles.
I WILLIAM ROSE SMITH 3 Laurence Pountney Hill, London, E.C. Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to introduce a function of the weight of the
vehicle to press sidewise upon a horizontal ball bearing, (in place of the unknown
amount of side pressure put upon it by screws and nuts), the side pressure increasing
along with the vertical pressure, in order to distribute the pressure of the weight
of the vehicle more uniformly over the whole of the balls.
For the wheels of existing carriages and similar vehicles the ends of the nave
are bored out and a metal casing fitted in and fastened by screws. The concave
ball-races are fitted into this casing and fastened with screws, the concave ball-race
surface of each facing outwards. The axle journals are turned parallel, and a
feather key fitted into each. The convex ball-races are turned and keyways
cut to let them move freely along and prevent them from rotating on the respective
journals. The journals terminate in stops at their junctions with the axle, and a
bearing plate is fastened on the flat surface of each inner convex ball-race.
The inner convex ball race is slipped on to the journal first with the bearing-plate
facing inwards towards the middle of the vehicle. The wheel is then slipped on
and the inner ring of balls inserted between the inner convex and concave ball-
races, then the outer convex ball-race and the outer ring of balls inserted, the
whole bearing being loosely secured in position by a nut screwed on the outer end
of the journal and fastened by a pin.
Each longitudinal spring of the vehicle is removed from the palm attaching it to
the axle, and fastened down to a palm formed on one arm of a lever carried by a
pin upon a socket or bracket standing on the axle in place of the original palm.
The other arm of the lever directed towards the journal is forked and bent down-
wards nearly vertically so as to bear against the bearing plate of the inner convex
ball-race. A vertical draw-plate is fastened to the side of the spring and palm of
the lever to take the draught of the vehicle.
1
The weight of the vehicle is conveyed through its springs and the bent levers to
press the ball bearings sideways outwards against the nuts fastened on the outer
ends of the journals.
The ball-races or paths are cut in cross section to segmental curves, the normal
to the bearing surface being a line making an angle of 45° with the axis of the
journal. A plate of rubber or felt may be interposed between the inner convex
ball-race and its bearing plate, to deaden shocks upon the balls from jolting. The
journal, with the stops on the axle and the nut screwed on the outer end, forms a
safety bolt, so that in case of the sudden removal of the weight by a jerk upwards
of one side of the vehicle the balls do not leave their places in the ball-races.
For wheels of new vehicles the nave may be made of wood or metal with a similar
arrangement of ball bearings and apparatus for applying the weight of the vehicle
to produce uniformly distributed side pressure upon the ball bearings.
For cycles, the ball hub for cycle wheels has the shaft carried through the hub
and ball-races of uniform diameter, a feather is let into each end of this part of the
shaft for guiding the convex ball-races parallel with the shaft and preventing them
from revolving on it. The extremities of the shaft are screwed as far on as the
outer ends of the feathers, and a bracket forming the fulcrum for the side pressure

page_text: lever is screwed on each end and secured by a lock nut. A bent lever forked at
both ends is fastened by a pin on this fulcrum, the lower forked end pressing the
convex ball-race inwards, and the upper or horizontal forked end receiving the
lower end of the bicycle frame fork to which it is attached by a pin. On existing
bicycles the lower end of the bicycle frame fork may alternatively be attached to a
pin instead of to the horizontal forked end of the pressure lever. The back of the
lower forked end bears loosely against the fulcrum bracket to keep the balls in
position when the bicycle is lifted. Forked levers may be applied to both ends or
alternatively to one end of each shaft.
For tramway cars, railway carriages, and railway and tramway bogies, the
convex ball races are keyed and fastened on to the journal of the axle. The
concave ball-races are turned to fit into the ends of the axle box in which they can
slide in a direction parallel with the axle. A pair of side pressure levers are
mounted on each axlebox, the fulcrum of each lever being a pin passing through
the axle-box. Each pin carries a pair of vertical lever arms inside the axle-box to
press against the back of the concave ball-race, and a pair of horizontal lever arms
outside the axle-box to support the springs on bearing washers. The levers cause
the weight of the car to press the concave ball-race outwards, putting side pressure
uniformly distributed on the ball bearings.
Dated this 8th day of January 1896.
I, WILLIAM ROSE SMITH, Civil Engineer, of Laurence Pountney Hill,
London, E.C., 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 the construction and arrangement of
ball bearings the objects being to produce a ball bearing in which the weight or a
part of the weight of the vehicle is automatically caused to press sideways against
the balls, and, by this transmitted side pressure varying with the load, to more
uniformly distribute the weight of the vehicle over the whole of the balls, and also
to dispense with the side or end screw and nut adjustment devices now employed in
connection with other ordinary ball bearings.
In the three accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings:
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved bearing and fittings applied to
an ordinary road vehicle axle.
Figure 2 is a part plan and
Figure 3 a part end elevation of the same.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of a cycle pedal or hub arranged with my
improved bearings and
Figure 5 is a plan of the same;
Figures 6, 7 and 8 being elevations of detail parts of the arrangement.
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 show illustrations of my improved bearings
when applied to an ordinary railway truck or carriage or tramway car axle.
When applying my improvements to the wheels of ordinary road vehicles, I bore
out the ends a of the nave A and I then attach a metal or other suitable material
casing B to the nave box by screws or by any other suitable ordinary means of
attachment. I cause concave ball races CC to be fitted into each casing, the
concave surfaces facing outwards. The axle journals D are turned parallel and
are fitted with feathers or keys d for carrying the convex ball races E E' and for
enabling such ball races to move freely along the journal while revolving with it.

page_text: The journal terminates with a shoulder or stop d against which the inner convex
ball race E¹ bears, and on to this ball race E' a bearing plate F is fastened having
a yielding rubber or felt or other buffer-like washer or shock pad F' placed between
it and the ball race face.
After the inner ball race has been slipped on to the journal, the wheel is put on
and the inner race of balls inserted, then the outer one is placed in position, and
the balls inserted, and a nut washer or keep G G' and cap y is attached for securing
all in working position.
The longitudinal springs K of the vehicle are removed from their ordinary
positions from the palms attaching them to the axle, and are instead made fast to
the palm formed on one arm or arms H¹ of a lever carried by a pin L or the like
upon a socket or bracket D' standing on the axle in place of the original palm.
The other arm or arms H2 I bend downwards nearly vertically so as to cause them
to bear against the bearing plate F. A vertical draw plate K is fastened to the
side of the spring to take the draught of the vehicle.
The weight of the vehicle is carried upon the springs from which it is transmitted
by the bent levers H H to the ball bearings E E in this manner keeping the
parts free from looseness and the load ander a pressure varying with the load or
weight of the vehicle. By this my improved arrangement, the journal with the
stops on the axle and the outer nuts G form a safety bolt so that in case of the
sudden removal of the weight by a jerk upwards of one side of the vehicle,
the balls M do not leave their places but remain in their respective ball races.
For wheels of new vehicles the naves may be made of wood or metal with a
similar arrangement of ball bearings and parts for transmitting the weight of the
vehicle so as to produce a uniform distribution of side pressure upon the ball
bearings.
When applying my invention to cycle or like wheels I arrange the ball hub so
that the shaft D (Figures 4 and 5) passes right through the hub and ball races
and is of uniforin diameter; the convex ball races E' are secured to the shaft by
feathers upon which they are free to slide. The extremities of the shaft are
screwed as far on as the outer ends of the feathers, and a bracket O forming the
fulerum for the side pressure lever H is screwed or attached to each end and kept
in position by a lock nut P or other ordinary fastening. A bent forked lever H is
fastened by a pin on this fulcrum, the lower forked end H pressing the convex
ball race inwards, and the upper or horizontal end H receiving the lower end of
the cycle frame work P to which it is attached by a pin p. On machines expressly
constructed for my improvements the lower end of the cycle frame may alternatively
be attached to the horizontal forked end of the pressure lever. The back of the
lower forked end bears loosely against the fulcrum bracket to keep the balls in
position when the cycle is lifted.
When applying my improvements to a tramway, railway or other like carriage
or bogey in one manner I fasten the convex ball races É to the journal D of the
axle as shown in Figures 9, 10 and 11. The concave ball races EI fit into the
ends of the axle bux B so that they may slide in a direction parallel with the axle
box. Two or more side pressure levers H' are mounted upon a shaft or pins L L
passing through the axle box, and upon the same pin or shafts L L I mount other
transmitting or receiving pressure lever arms H H outside the axle boxes for
supporting the springs K or casing frame K' of the vehicle. I attach my buffer
or shock pad to the ends of the levers H H for taking up any sudden blow or jar
which the vehicle may be subjected to. The levers cause the weight of the car to
press the concave ball races E E' outwards thus distributing side pressure uniformly
over the ball bearings.
When arranging my improved side pressure ball bearings for working in dust.
proof axle boxes I modify the arrangements hereinbefore described and mount the
working or moving parts in one self contained case or box B' as shown in
Figures 12, 13, 14 and 15. The side pressure levers H H 1 carry upon bearings
or supports R formed upon or attached to the axle box B'. The strap bracket Bẞ²

page_text: is carried by knife edges R' resting on the levers H* H* and I cause the load to be
transmitted from the pivot or bearing ends H H to the side pressing ends H H
and I introduce my buffer pads F as herein before described for taking up the
shock of the vehicle.
I enclose my ball races and levers with a cap S and I employ any ordinary dust
shield and when desired lubricating arrangements in connection with my improved
bearings similar to those now in use with ordinary bearings and axle boxes, and
I make my casing from cast or wrought metal to suit any particular type of axle
box to which my improved fittings are to be applied.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any special arrangement of ball
races or to any special form of levers or brackets, but I modify the same to suit
any particular requirement.
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 :-
1. In fittings and bearings for naves of wheels of carts, carriages, wagons and
other road or railway vehicles, arranging levers or the like for transmitting the
load or weight of the vehicle to press sideways on to the races for ball bearings,
substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and as illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
2. In axle boxes or bearings for railway carriages and wagons and for tramway
cars and other like vehicles, the combination and arrangement of levers and fittings
for transmitting the vertical load of the vehicle on to the sides of the ball bearing
races substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a cycle ball bearing or pedal bearing arranging the levers and attachments
for the fork or frame of the machine whereby the vertical load of the machine is
distributed on to the sides of the ball races substantially as hereinbefore described
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
4. In railway or other like axle boxes or bearings mounting pressure distributing
levers and thrust plates with a shock resisting pad or buffer between the contact
surfaces substantiaily as herein before described.
5. In ball bearings for wheels of vehicles the use of a buffer or shock pad
between the contact parts substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
6. The improvements in axle bearings and fittings for the same substantially as
hereinbefore described.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1896.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southamptou Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.