IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES PART OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Harrison Adams 34 Fullerton Road Wandsworth
S.W. for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES PART OF WHICH ARE
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Harrison Adams at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th March 1883.
JOSEPH HARRISON ADAMS 34 Fullerton Road Wandsworth S.W.
MENTS IN BICYCLES PART OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
IMPROVE-
The principal object of the invention is to obtain increased speed. I consider
the only practicable way of increasing speed in these machines is by diminishing
friction. This I effect to a very large extent by my improved bearings which
form the main feature of these improvements. These bearings have such a small
amount of friction that they may be run without any lubricant. Their construc-
tion is as follows, I make (which consist of three only for each bearing) about 3/4
the size of the spindle and turned down at their ends to about the size of the
spindle. The turned down portions work in a plate on each side of the bearing.
These plates are free to revolve with the rollers. The plates are kept in position
without working in any groove and by the following means: I use three con-
necting pieces passing through the bearing to keep them in position. These are
turned down at their ends and the turned down portions screwed. The ends of
the rollers and connecting pieces are alternately placed in holes to receive them in
the side plates. Nuts are placed on the ends of the connecting pieces and the
plates are bolted up against the shoulders of the same. The bearing is then ready
for work. I should say that the number of the connecting pieces is the same as
the rollers and they are somewhat smaller so as to clear the bearing, the spindle
and the rollers. The large portion of these connecting pieces are also somewhat
longer than the large portion of the rollers, so that when the plates are bolted up
they may not jam against them.
For the treadle bearings I use a modification, without any connecting pieces, in
which the plates are sufficiently secured at the ends of the rollers themselves. It

page_text: can with advantage be done in this case on account of the large proportion the
length of this bearing bears to its size.
These bearings are applicable to a large number of purposes. In shafts and the
larger class of six rollers may be used with the same number of connecting pieces;
but in the larger class of bearings the rollers would not be so large in proportion to
the shaft as in the smaller.
I use a new description of spring which is bent back upon itself; it forms a curve
something approaching the shape of an egg (but the smaller end being much more
pointed and one side nearly flat. The larger end is first bent and the other end is
brought back to and rests upon the larger end. The lower part of the spring is
fixed to the backbone and upon its upper portion the saddle is placed. It is fixed
in the following manner; A U shaped strap of sheet steel is used the curved
portion of which is placed on the lower side of the backbone. On the top of the
backbone and between the legs of the strap a wrought iron piece is placed-curved
on on side and flat on the other the curved side being placed on the backbone.
The spring is then placed on this and the legs of the strap having been the spring
is firmly wedged down.
The step consists of a similar contrivance to that which is used for fixing the
spring. But in this the legs of the strap itself form the step or it is formed by an
upward and outward extension of the wrought iron piece.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Joseph Harrison Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th September 1883.
JOSEPH HARRISON ADAMS of Wandsworth in the county of Surrey IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BICYCLES PART OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
The improvements relate to bearings spring and step. In the bearings friction
is diminished to a very large extent and increased speed is thereby obtainable.
No lubricant is wanted. Their construction will be seen from the following
description and accompanying drawings.
For bicycles I use three rollers only; these are turned down smaller at their
ends and the turned down portions work in a plate on each side of the bearing.
The plates or washers are kept on the ends of the rollers by three connections
passing through the bearing. The plates have six equi distant holes drilled in
them to receive alternately the ends of the rollers and connections three of each
being used. The connections are turned down at their ends and screwed so that
the plates, when in position, can be bolted up against the shoulders thus made,
This will be seen on referring to the Longitudinal Section Fig. 1. The connections
are made to clear between bearing and spindle and also a length, from shoulder, so
that the plates when bolted up will be just clear of the large part of the rollers.
The rollers have two flanges, two nicks in the spindle are made for these flanges
and also a recess at each end of the bearing. This is shown at the Longitudinal
Section Fig. 1 There is no rubbing surface between spindle and bearing and
consequently no friction; whatever friction exists is in the turned down portions
which revolve in the side plates and this is an extremely small amount. The Cross
Section shows the rollers and washers placed alternately-the whole being free to
revolve. The washers or plates revolve within clearing distance of the side of the
bearing as shown in the Front View.
For the treadle bearings I use a modification without any connections in which
the plates are sufficiently secured at the ends of the rollers themselves. It can
with advantage be done in this case on account of the large proportion the length
of this bearing bears to its' size. Any convenient number of rollers may be used; -
three of them are used to secure the plates and they do so without interfering with
their own revolution. The part which comes outside the plate is turned down to
within a clearing distance of the plate. The plates are then secured by collars or
nuts leaving a space in which it is free to revolve between the end of the roller
and the collar. The other rollers are similar to those before described. This will
be seen on referring to the three views in fig. 3 which are double size.
The bearings are applicable to many purposes. In shafts and the larger class of
bearings six rollers may be used with the same number of connections. But in the
larger class of bearings the rollers would not be so large in proportion to the shaft
as in the smaller.
My improved spring is bent back upon itself; the large end is first bent and
the other end is brought back to and rests upon it. This is shown in fig. 2. The
lower part of the spring is fixed to the backbone and upon it's upper portion the
saddle is placed. It is also seen in the Section but the upper part is drawn out
smaller according to the weight it has to receive.
This spring I fix by a new description of clip consisting of a U shaped strap of
sheet steel the curved part of which is on the lower side of the backbone. On the
backbone and between the legs of the strap a wrought iron piece-concave on

page_text: lower side and flat on top the curved side being placed on the backbone. The
spring is placed on this and, the legs of the strap having been slotted, firmly
wedged down with a key
The clip above described I also use for fixing the step.
1 I Claim The bearings as above described.
2
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3
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The application of the above to other purposes.
The securing the washers at the ends of the rollers as described for
the treadle bearings.
The spring and clip as described and the application of the latter for
fixing the step.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph Harrison Adams have hereunto set my
hand and seal this 4th day of September 1883.