Improvements in Ball Bearings.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd June, 1894-Accepted, 28th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
We THOMAS BROADBENT of Summer Road East Molesey in the County of
Surrey Engineers Tool Maker and WILLIAM BROWN of Maidenhead Thicket in
the County of Berks Carpenter do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention consists of a hub; the shaft or axle being enlarged where it takes
its bearing; three rings of ball; (sectionally taking the form of a triangle) and a
ring grooved inside.
The hub preferably taking the form of a hollow cylinder; in the two inside ends
ball races are formed and is recessed between these ball races to allow a space or
clearance for the outer ring of balls and grooved ring.
About midway on the enlarged part or collar on the axle are two ball races
which coincide with the ball races in the hub. The space between these ball races
on the axle is slightly enlarged.
The hub is mounted on the axle on the two inner rings of balls; the third or
outer ring of balls being used to keep the inner or bearing balls from coming in
contact with each other. The grooved ring encircling this outer ring of balls.
Most of the bearing on the axle ball races is taken on the central sides of
the races.
This bearing is adjusted from one end, the same being made to screw in and out
thus adjusting the whole bearing simultaneously.
Dated this 30th day of September 1893.
THOMAS BROADBEN 1.
WILLIAM BROWN.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
We THOMAS BROADBENT of Summer Road, East Molesey in the County of
Surrey, Engineers Tool Maker, and WILLIAM BROWN of Maidenhead Thicket in
the County of Berks, Carpenter 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 consists of a hub or case, the shaft or axle enlarged by having a
sleeve or collar fixed upon it where it takes its bearing. Three rings of balls,
sectionally the centres of these balls take the form of triangles or pyramids, and a
grooved ring. The hub or case preferably takes the form of a hollow cylinder, and
in the two inside ends ball races or paths are formed, it is recessed between these
two ball races to form a space and clear the grooved ring and the outer ring of
balls. About midway upon the enlarged part of axle, or collar fixed upon it ball
races or paths are made which coincide with the ball races in the hub at the
space between these two ball races or paths the collar is slightly enlarged in
diameter. The hub is mounted on the axle or shaft upon the two inner rings of
balls, the third or outer ring of balls being used to keep the inner or bearing balls
from coming in contact with each other; the grooved ring encircles the outer ring
of balls. The most of the bearing on the axle ball races is taken on the central

page_text: sides of the races. This bearing is adjusted from one end the same being made to
screw in and out, thus adjusting the whole bearing simultaneously.
To enable our invention to be better understood we describe it and shew it
applied in different forms, to suit various purposes on accompanying drawings.
Similar letters denote similar parts in the different views.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view of the bearing shewing the method of arranging the
balls and ring.
Fig. 2 is a front plan of same with part of case removed looking from the right
of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the box or hub of a wheel shewing the method of 1
arranging two rings of balls for lighter purposes.
Fig. 4 is a side view of Fig. 3 looking from either end of same with part of case
end removed as in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the bearing shewing the ring of dividing balls and
grooved ring used on the inside of bearing balls instead of the outside as in
Fig. 1.
Referring to Fig. 1, A. is a shaft or axle. B is a collar fixed upon it this
collar is enlarged at its centre to prevent the rings of balls C and C¹ (which take
the weight brought upon the bearing) from coming together as they traverse the
ball paths made upon the collar and inside ends of the case or hub D. D'. F is a
ring of balls placed alternately upon and between the balls constituting the two
rings of bearing balls C and C₁ they are placed sufficiently far enough between
them to prevent them coming in contact as they rotate. E is a plain ring with a
ball path made in the form of a groove on its inside; it encircles the ring of
deviding balls F controlling and keeping them in their proper positions between
the bearing balls C and C. D. D' is a case or hub made in two parts the part D'
is made to screw in and out of the part D to facilitate putting the bearing together
and adjustment of same. H is a screw passed through the outer edge of part of
case D into part of same D to fix them when adjusted.
Fig. 2 shews the position of the bearing balls C and C₁, and the ring of deviding
balls F with the ring E encircling them.
In light work where a double ring or two rings of bearing balls are not necessary,
and in cases where the bearing is required to be of the least possible diameter as in
the hubs and boxes of vehicles and cycles only one ring of bearing balls, and one
One of the
ring of deviding balls need be used as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4.
ball paths in the case in this form of construction is an external one made in
sections K. K¹ for adjusting and regulating the rate of travelling of the ring of
deviding balls F upon it in conjunction with the bearing balls C which traverse a
larger diameter ball path; this is done by making the sectional ball path K. K' in
such a form that the ring of deviding balls bear upon the two points of same J. J'
at a certain distance from each side of their greatest periphery, so that they
traverse the ball path slower than they would if they only took one bearing upon
their greatest point of circumference. This speed of travelling is regulated by
above method so that the ring of deviding balls F and the ring of bearing balls C
.although being preferably of the same size diameter and traversing different
diameter ball paths do not set up sliding friction but complete one circuit of their
respective paths in the case with the same number of revolutions upon their
own axes.
The action of the deviding ring of balls, controlling ring, and adjustment of
bearing in this form of construction is the same as in Figs. 1 and 2.
Fig. 5 shews the ring of deviding balls F and controlling ring E upon the inner
side of the bearing balls C. C' it is adjusted by moving one of the sleeves L. L.
longitudinally upon the shaft or axle and fixing same with screws N; this form of
construction allows a larger number of bearing balls to be used as is often necessary
in heavy work.
It is obvious that the outer part of the case or hub may be constructed in any

page_text: form to suit the purpose for which required, also that the shaft may be stationary
and the case or hub be part of moving machinery or vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention,
we declare that what we claim is.
1. In ball bearings the combination of a shaft or axle enlarged or having a collar
fixed upon it with or without a slight longitudinal freedom and made upon this
collar a ball race or races, a case or hub made in two parts with an internal ball
path made on the inside end of each part three rings of balls and a ring with a ball
path made on its inner side substantially as herein illustrated and described.
2. In ball bearings the combination of a shaft or axle with an enlargement or
collar thereon, this collar having a ball path made upon it; a case or hub having a
ball path made on each of its inside ends, one of these paths an internal one, the
other an external one made in sections and in such a form that a ring of certain
sized diameter balls will rotate upon it on their own axes the same number of times
and travel the circuit of it in the same time that a ring of the same sized diameter
balls rotating on their own axes in conjunction with them would do upon a ball
path of a larger diameter, and a ring grooved on the inside substantially as herein
illustrated and described.
3. In ball bearings the combination of a shaft or axle two adjustable sleeves
with enlarged ends each sleeve having made upon it an external ball path, a case
or hub, a detached controlling ring with a ball path made upon it, substantially as
herein illustrated and described.
4. The combination of a sectional case or hub with two ball paths made upon its
inside ends, one an internal one the other an external one, made in sections, two
rings of balls to rotate respectively upon these ball paths in conjunction with each
other in the manner and form herein illustrated and described and for the purpose
stated.
5. The combination of three rings of balls to rotate and traverse upon ball paths
in conjunction with each other and controlled with an internally or externally
grooved ring in the manner and form illustrated on attached drawings and
described.
6. In ball bearings the combination of rings of balls arranged antifrictionally in
the manner and form described and illustrated on drawings attached.
Dated this 23rd day of June 1894.
THOMAS BROADBENT.
WILLIAM BROWN.