Improvements in the Construction of Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Wheels for Velocipedes and
other Vehicles.
"
I, GEORGE SIMPSON, of Crosshills, near Keighley, in the County of York, Mill
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows, that is to
say:
It relates to improvements in the construction of wheels for velocipedes and
other vehicles wherein antifriction ball bearings are employed for such wheels to
revolve upon, and the object of any said invention is to afford means whereby
the bearings surfaces on these wheels may be readily adjusted or regulated. to
meet the requirements caused by the wearing of said surfaces or otherwise as
is well understood.
This invention has especial reference to those wheels wherein the bearing sur-
faces on the hubs are somewhat of conical shape and in carrying my said invention
into effect I make or construct each wheel's hub in two or more parts so that by
suitably formed coupling pieces one part may be made to advance towards or recede
from the other as occasion may require.
The coupling part may consist of an internally or externally screwed or threaded
bush or sleeve arranged so that its said threaded parts, which are at each end, may
lead in opposite directions (or in other words one may be a right-hand while the
other is a left hand thread) by which means when said bush is rotated the parts of
the hub which it joins together may be caused to move as desired. Appropriate lock
nuts are mounted on the hubs to be screwed against the sleeve or bush to retain it in
position when adjusted.
Provided it is thought that the hub constructed as above described will not with-
stand the torsional strain upon it, one part of the hub may be made to extend so that
it may slide within another part.
Improvements in the Construction of Wheels for Velocipedes and
other Vehicles.
I, GEORGE SIMPSON, of Crosshills, near Keighley, in the County of York, Mill
Manager, 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, that is to say :-
It relates to improvements in the
other vehicles wherein antifriction
construction of wheels for velocipedes and
ball bearings are employed for such

page_text: wheels to revolve upon and the object of my said invention is to afford means
whereby the bearing surfaces on these wheels' hubs may be readily adjusted or
regulated relatively with those on the spindles or shafts upon which they revolve so
that they may meet the requirements caused by the wearing of said surfaces or other-
wise as is well understood, and this object I attain by following the method of
construction hereinafter described and as illustrated by the accompanying sheets of
drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 is a view of a complete hub and it's spindle, the former being constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a section of the hub shown by Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows the same construction of hub as that shown by Fig. 1, but in this
case a central hoop is illustrated in section and the parts beneath it are more clearly
shown, while on the end of the hub a sprocket wheel is shown as secured thereto as is
the case in the propelling wheel of a bicycle.
Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the hub shown by Figs. 1 and 3 but with another
form of central hoop thereon as hereinafter explained.
Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line A B of Fig. 4.
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are drawings in detail of the several parts forming the hubs as is
hereinafter described.
Fig. 9 is part sectional view of a hub of the same construction as that shown by
Fig. 3, but illustrates the application of yet another form of central hoop.
Figs. 10 and 11 are longitudinal and transverse sections of a modified form of hub
showing how the adjustable parts may be made independent of those parts to which
the spokes of the wheel are secured.
Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 are drawings in detail illustrating the several parts of which
the hub shown by Figs. 10 and 11 is composed.
Figs. 16 and 17 illustrate in detail the screwed bush and its somewhat conical
cup which are preferably used as the bearings within the hubs for the purposes
hereinafter described.
Figs. 18 and 19 are longitudinal and transverse sections of another formation of hub
with its adjusting parts shown arranged so that they may be operated by a worm and
wheel.
Figs. 20, 21, 22 and 23 are drawings in detail illustrating the worm wheel, bearings
for the worm, the outer hub, and one of the inner sleeves respectively.
Fig. 24 illustrates a modification (partly in section and partly in elevation) as an
alternative for certain other parts hereinafter described.
Similar letters and figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several
views.
The hubs to which my invention has especial reference are those which revolve
about fixed spindles such as are those at C and which have somewhat conical bearing
surfaces D D securely fixed upon them.
°
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the hub in parts a a¹ the
threads b.b on which are right hand and left hand respectively, while a hoop c having
correspondingly right and left hand threads formed on it is made to take over or mesh
with those on said parts a a¹ by which means when these parts are placed within it,
its rotation about them in one direction will cause them (the said parts a a¹) to
advance towards each other; and its rotation in the opposite direction will cause them
to recede from each other, in this manner, since the bearing surfaces D D¹ are fixed
and held at all times the same distances apart from each other, (or this movement of
the parts a a¹ may be attained by the threads 6 b¹ being both of one hand provided
that they are made of different pitches) and the bearing surfaces d d¹ fixed to and
carried by the parts a a¹ may be thus moved longitudinally upon the spindles C it
will be seen that the space afforded between these two bearing surfaces d d¹ and D D¹
for the operations of the anti-friction balls ff may be regulated and adjusted by the
rotating of the hoop c to more closely press said balls ƒ f¹ or to leave them more
freedom for their actions as circumstances may require.

page_text: In order to secure more accurate alignment of the axes of the parts a and a¹ with
each other I form a sleeve g on one of them as on a¹ to take into and fit nicely within
the other a and this sleeve g I preferably form separately from the part a" and
afterwards secure it rigidly to same by which means I am better enabled to form the
teeth or indentations h¹ on said parta¹to mesh with corresponding teeth or indentations h
on the part a these said teeth h h¹ being of especial services to the hub when power
or force is to be transmitted through it to its rim as is the case in a bicycle or vehicle
propelled by one or other of its wheels. However where the hub is used in a wheel
which merely helps to support the vehicle then these teeth h h¹ need not be used.
and the sleeve g may be formed integrally with the part a¹ as the case may be, while
it will slide within the other part.
By having the edge of the hoop c graduated as at c¹ and by having a mark a² on
the part a when the pitch of the screwed threads within the hoop c are known it
is easy to determine and indicate the space that the said hoop c has at any time
caused the parts a a¹ to advance towards or recede from each other, while by
having other marks c² and a³ made on the opposite side of said hoop c and on
the part a respectively and in proper positions relatively with the teeth h h¹ the
placing together of these said parts a a¹ by holding them in line with each other
as shown by Fig. 1 and then rotating the hoop c is greatly facilitated. Instead'
of the hoop c being formed as shown by Fig. 1, should it be found necessary to
lock or firmly secure same thereto, it may be made longer as shown by Fig. 4 and
have a lock-nut k and k¹ on each side of it for securing it in these positions. Or it
may be formed as shown by Fig. 9 in which case it has its outer ends split or
cut down and locking screws m m arranged to tightly draw same together and so
secure it as desired.
From the foregoing it will be observed that when the parts a a¹ are 'moved
longitudinally as described the outer flanges n n¹ thereon will also be moved so also
will the 'spokes that may be secured to these flanges n n¹ and that consequently the
tension of such spokes will be varied, however I find by experiment that such
variations of tension are so small as to be altogether imperceptible, still should it
ever be found to be objectionable, then I mount the moving parts a a¹ (see Figs. 10
and 11) within the outer case p which thus carries the flanges n n¹; while slots p¹ p²
are made in this case p for pieces 8 81, t t¹ secured to said parts a a' respectively to
pass through.
These pieces 8 s' and t t have respectively left and right hand volute or spiral
ridges and grooves to mesh with the left hand and right hand threads in the hoop c
(which in this case is made in parts so that it may be fixed upon the outer case p)
thus as this hoop ct is rotated the parts a a¹ will be moved laterally through the
actions of their pieces 8 8¹t t¹ and so attain the object desired without moving. the
flanges n n to which the spokes of the wheel may be secured.
A
To attain similar results to those shown and described in connection with Figs. 10
and 11 and by a modified construction of parts I mount the parts aa¹ within the
case p and form these as shown by Figs. 18, 19, 22 and 23. The parts a a¹ in this
case take over a central hoop z on which is formed a wheel z¹ to mesh with a worm z²
by which it may be rotated in one or other direction to draw the parts a a¹ towards
each other or force them in the opposite directions.
The bearings for the worm 22 are made so that their projections 55 may pass
through the outer casing p and enter the notches 6 made in the parts a a¹ by which
means these latter are held from revolving when the hoop'z is rotated, while at such
time they are free to move longitudinally. Or by arranging the central sliding
parts aa to have serrations formed in their outer ends as shown by Fig. 24 to mesh
with similarly formed serrations in the bearing surfaces d' by said parts as a being
slided by rotating the screwed hoop z so that their serrations are clear of the serra-
tions in the ends of the parts these latter may be separately adjusted by being
rotated from the outside by a wrench or the like so that they will screw into or out of
the part p thus being regulated to meet the requirements of their antifriction balls
as above described, on which-by the hoop z being again rotated; but in the opposite

page_text: direction, the sliding parts are moved so that their serrated ends will come into gear
with the serrated ends on said bearing surtaces d d¹ to lock and hold them when thus
adjusted. The worm wheel z¹ in this case being made broader to enable the sliding
parts aa to have a slight lateral motion to meet any variations in the positions of
the surfaces d d so that should the serrated end on the part a come into contact
with that on the part d before the like serrated end on the part a' comes into
contact with that on the part d', the worm wheel 2¹ and its parts z together with the
part a are allowed to slide to meet this difference of position and until the whole are
locked together.
In combination with the adjusting devices for the bearing surfaces above described
I preferably employ a hollow cup w to form the bearing surfaces d d¹ and the
outer periphery of this cup w I make of a tapering form to fit within a split
annular piece having its outer periphery screwed or threaded, by which means
the further this annular piece x is screwed into the part for receiving it, the further
will it rise upon the outer periphery of the cup w and therefore the more firmly
will it be pressed into the position in which it is consequently more certainly
secured.
To enable the application of lubricant to the interior of the parts a a¹ the
opening y is made therein, while a further opening y¹ is made in the sleeve g to
fall opposite the opening in the part a so as not to interfere with its application
to such parts.
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 a wheel having a ball-bearing-hub the combination of two parts in
alignment with each other and taking within another part which holds and operates
them substantially as herein specified, a spindle passing through said parts and
antifriction balls at each end of said spindle as described.
2. In a wheel having a ball-bearing-hub the combination of two parts having
oppositely screwed threads, another part screwed to mesh with both of these threads,
a spindle passing through these parts and antifriction balls arranged at each end
of said spindle substantially as and for the purposes specified.
3. In a wheel having a ball-bearing-hub the combination of two parts having
oppositely screwed threads one of said part having a sleeve to pass within the other,
a hoop screwed to mesh with the threads on both of said parts, a spindle
through same and antifriction balls arranged therein substantially as herein set
forth.
4. In a wheel having a ball-bearing-hub the combination of two parts having
oppositely screwed threads, each part having teeth to gear with corresponding teeth
on the other part, while one of said parts has a sleeve to pass into the other, a hoop
screwed to take over both of said parts, a spindle passing through same and
antifriction balls arranged on said spindle substantially as herein specified.
5. In a wheel having a ball-bearing-hub the combination of two parts having
oppositely screwed threads, a hoop taking over these parts, means for locking said
hoop in position thereon, a spindle passing through said parts and antifriction balls
arranged on said spindle substantially as berein specified.
6. In a wheel having a ball-bearing-hub the construction of two parts having
pieces secured to them with spiral ridges and grooves leading in opposite directions,
a case taking over these parts and a hoop with oppositely screwed threads arranged
to mesh with all the spirally grooved pieces, a spindle passing through these
parts and antifriction balls arranged on said spindle substantially as herein
specified.
7. In a wheel having a ball-bearing-hub the combination of two parts having
oppositely screwed threads, split annular pieces screwed to take into each of these
parts, cups having tapering peripheries to fit within the tapering interiors of the
annular pieces, a hoop screwed to mesh with the oppositely screwed threads on the

page_text: said two parts, a spindle passing through same and antifriction balls arranged on said
spindle substantially as herein specified.
8. In a wheel having a hub for ball bearings the combination of two parts having
oppositely screwed threads, a hoop meshing with the threads on these parts, a worm
wheel formed on said hoop, a worm meshing with said wheel and means for supporting
or retaining said worm and parts, substantially as herein specified.
G. SIMPSON.
Per Samuel Hey,
Agent.