Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, JOHN VERNON PUGH, of No. 52 Lincoln's Inn, Corporation Street,
Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the several improvements hereinafter described in the
construction of the crank axles of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and of
the construction and arrangement of the parts connected with the said crank
axles; which improvements are in part applicable to the spindles of the wheels of
velocipedes. My invention consists, further, of improvements in the means of
connecting the pedals of velocipedes to the cranks of the same whereby the width
of the tread of the velocipede is reduced.
I will first describe my improvements in crank axles and parts connected
therewith.
I make the said crank axles hollow or tubular and I make on the inner face of
the axle ends of the cranks tubular bosses of a size suitable to take into the ends
of the hollow axle. The tubular boss of each crank has a longitudinal slit or
division at its extreme end the said slit extending from end to end and the hole in
the said boss has the figure of a hollow cone the smaller end of which terminates
at the outer side of the crank in an enlarged cylindrical hole or depression. In
the said conical hole a conical plug fits the smaller end terminating in a short
cylindrical screw pin with which a cylindrical screw nut occupying the enlarged
cylindrical hole or depression in the outer side of the crank engages. By screwing
home the circular screw nut the conical plug is drawn into the split boss of the
crank which boss is thereby expanded and made to fit the hollow axle with such
firmness as virtually to constitute one piece with the said axle.
Instead of making the split tubular boss of the crank cylindrical externally it
may be made conical externally and be expanded into the hollow axle by a screw
pin driven home in a screwed hole in the said tubular boss. And instead of
making the tubular boss of the crank plain on its onter face it may be screwed
the ends of the crank axle being screwed internally for the reception of the said
screwed bosses the threads of the screws on the boss and in the axle however must
be of such a shape that when the boss is expanded in the crank axle the sides of
the threads will bind on each other that is to say the threads will not touch at top
and bottom.
I do not limit myself to the means described of expanding the tubular boss of
the crank in the tubular crank axle as various well known devices may be used for
that purpose.
The driving chain wheel may be fixed to the crank in any of the ordinary ways
or in either of the ways hereinafter described.
According to one arrangement I make the tubular boss of that crank which is
situated on the same side of the bicycle as the driving chain wheel of a less
diameter externally than the internal diameter of the crank axle and I make a
tubular hoss on the inner side of the said driving chain wheel similar to that on
the crank excepting that it is of a size internally suitable to fit on the boss
of the crank and externally to fit the hollow axle. On the expansion of the
split boss of the crank for fixing the parts in position the split boss of the chain
wheel is also expanded and the whole of the parts are thus locked securely
together.

page_text: Or the chain wheel or chain ring carrying arms where chain wheels of the kind
commonly called chain rings are employed may be made in one piece with the
crank axle by forming on one end of the crank axle a flange of large diameter
from which the chain wheel or chain ring carrying arms are made. In this
arrangement the mouth of the ball bearing cup in the bottom bracket at the
chain wheel side of the bottom bracket opens outwards.
In all the arrangements above described the cones of the ball bearings are
formed in one piece with or are carried by the tubular axle and all or nearly all
the arrangements permit of felt washers being used between the outer sides of the
cones and the dust proof closing caps or rings of the hearing case.
Instead of making a tubular boss on the crank for taking in the end of the
tubular crank axle a hole may be made in the crank and the crank axle be of
such a length as to take into the said hole the ends of the axle in this case being
slit and expanded in the holes in the cranks. In this arrangement the cone for
the ball bearing instead of being formed on the crank axle is formed on or or fixed
to the inner side of the crank and the cups of the said ball bearing are screwed
into the ends of the bottom bracket and constitute the adjustable parts of the
bearings.
Where the hole in the crank is screwed for taking on a screw thread on the end
of the crank axle I make the screw thread on the two ends of the axle in opposite
directions the internal screw threads in the ends of the cranks corresponding in
direction respectively with the ends of the axle on which they are to be fitted.
By this arrangement the adjustment of the bearings may be effected by turning
the cranks and with them the cones care being taken to preserve the said cranks in
the proper positions with respect to each other.
When it is desired to use dust proof felt washers with bearing cups the mouths
of which open outwards a pair of thin ring washers gripping between them a ring
of felt may be fixed in the open mouth of the cup.
Hollow spindles or axles of the kind herein before described as crank axles may
be employed for the wheels of velocipedes the forks of the said wheels being fixed
to the axles by screw pins passing through holes or slots in the ends of the forks
and taking into internal screws in the ends of the axle.
Hollow axles or spindles of the kind herein before described possess the
advantage that their bearings may be lubricated through the said hollow axles
small holes being made in them leading from the centre to the ball races through
which holes the lubricating oil passes.
The method of internal lubrication described with respect to the hollow axles
may be applied to solid axles by making axial holes in the ends of the said solid
axles and crossing holes leading from the said axial holes to the bearing cups.
The ends of the axial holes are closed after the said holes have been filled with oil
by screw plugs or stoppers. The oil in passing from the axial holes to the bearing
cups is prevented from escaping along the axle by annular ribs on the said axle
situated on either side of the ball race.
Where external lubrication is employed the oil may be conducted to the ball
races by a clip ring fitting within the bearing case or within the hollow cone the
said ring having at one part an inclined trough like spout the upper end of which
is situated under the oil feeding hole in the bearing case and the lower end of the
said spout is situated within the bearing cup so that the oil drops from the said
spout directly into the ball race.
According to one of the arrangements by which I attach pedals to the cranks of
velocipedes I form the pedal pin or spindle with a disc on its inner end the edges
of the said disc being screwed and taking into a screwed hole in the end of the
crank. The said hole in the crank also receives at its outer side the bearing cup
which constitutes with the disc of the pedal pin and a cone on the middle tube of
the pedal the ball race of the pedal bearing. The end of the crank may be split
and a screw pin be passed through the split ends for locking the disc of the pedal
pin and bearing cup in the screwed hole in the crank.

page_text: According to another arrangement I form the crank and pedal pin in one piece
the cup of the bearing for the pedal being for.ned by an annular groove or trough
in the outer face of the crank around the base of the pedal pin. The pedal may
however carry the cup in which case the elge of the cup occupies the outer part
of the annular groove in the crank.
Dated the Seventh day of September 1895.
Improvements In bicycles, IONCIOS, and
I JOHN VERNON PUGH, of No. 52 Lincoln's Lan, Corporation Street,
Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention consists of the several improvements hereinafter described in the
construction of the crank axles of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and of
the construction and arrangement of the parts connected with the said crank axles;
which improvements are in part applicable to the spindles of the wheels of
velocipedes. My invention consists further of improvements in the means of
connecting the pedals of velocipedes to the cranks of the same, whereby the width
of the tread of the velocipede is reduced.
will first describe my improvements in crank axles and parts connected
therewith.
I make the said crank axles, hollow or tubular and I make on the inner face of
the axle ends of the crank, tubular bosses of a size suitable to take into the ends of
the hollow axle. The tubular boss of each crank has a longitudinal slit or division
extending from end to end of the said boss and the hole in the said boss has the
figure of a hollow cone the smaller end of which terminates at the outer side of the
crank in an enlarged cylindrical hole or depression. In the said conical hole
a conical plug fits the smaller end terminating in a short cylindrical screw pin with
which a cylindrical screw nut occupying the enlarged cylindrical hole or depression
in the outer side of the crank engages. By screwing home the circular screw nut
the conical plug is drawn into the split boss of the crank which boss is thereby
expanded and made to fit the hollow axle with such firmness as virtually to
constitute one piece with the said axle.
The driving chain wheel at the driving chain wheel end of the crank axle may
be fixed to the said end of the crank axle or to the crank to be attached to that
end of the crank axle in any of the ordinary ways; or it may be fixed in either of
the ways hereinafter described.
According to one of the arrangements of my invention by which I connect the
chain wheel and crank to the crank axie I make the tubular boss of that crank
which is situated on the same side of the bicycle as the driving chain wheel of a
less diameter externally than the internal diameter of the crank axle and I make a
tubular boss on the inner side of the said driving chain wheel similar to that on the
crank excepting that it is of a size internally suitable to fit on the boss of the crank
and externally to fit the hollow axle. On the expansion of the split boss of the crank
for fixing the parts in position the split boss of the chain wheel is also expanded
and the whole of the parts are thus locked securely together.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in longitudinal vertical
section the bottom bracket of a safety bicycle together with the crank axle and
parts connected therewith the said crank axle and parts in connection therewith

page_text: being constructed according to my invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the
same and Figure 3 is a cross section through the dotted line a, . Figure 1.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.
a is the hollow or tubular crank axle situated and turning in the bottom bearing
bracket A and a², a² are the enlargements or flanges on the ends of the crank
axle a each of which flanges a² constitutes one of the cones of the end hearings for
the crank axle a; b, are the cranks having upon their inner ends the split
tubular bosses 2, respectively; c, c are the radial spokes or arms of the chain
wheel the said radial arms projecting from a split tubular boss c². The split
tubular bess 62 of the crank is of a size suitable to take into and fit the end of
the hollow crank axle a. The split tubular boss 2 of the chain wheel is of a size
externally suitable to fit the hollow crank axle a and internally suitable to take on
to the split tubular boss 3 of the crank . The hole in the tubular boss of each
crank is for the greater part of its length conical the smaller end terminating near
the outer side of the crank in an enlarged cylindrical hole which is occupied by a
cylindrical screw nut d. A taper pin e terminating at its smaller end in a screw
steme is passed into the conical hole of each crank before the crank is applied to
the crank axle and is drawn into the said hole by the screwing up of the cylindrical
screw nut d.
When the cranks b, are applied to the crank axle a the cylindrical serew
muts are screwed up to such an extent that the taper pins e, e are drawn into the
conical holes in the tubular bosses of the crank to such a distance that the said
conical pins e, e effect a slight expansion of the split tubular bosses 2.13 in the
crank axle and the consequent binding or locking of the parts together. Felt or
other washers f, 7 are interposed between the outer sides of the cones a², a² of the
crank axle a and the end closing caps h, h of the bottom bracket so as very
effectually to exclude dust from the bearings.
By the construction and arrangement of the parts described the tread of the
velocipede is reduced, the method of attaching the cranks to the crank axle is
simplified and a very efficient connection of the parts obtained.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the means described and
represented of expanding the split tubular bosses of the cranks in the crank axle
as various well known devices may be used for that purpose; for example, the
split tubular boss of the crank instead of being made cylindrical externally may be
made conical externally and be expanded into the hollow axle by a screw pin
driven home in a screwed hole in the said tubular boss.
The tubular boss of each crank may be screwed externally as represented in the
enlarged sectional view Figure 4, the ends of the crank axle being internally
screwed to receive the bosses of the cranks, the threads of the screws however
must be of such a shape that when the split tubular bosses of the cranks are
expanded the sides only of the threads bind on each other; that is to say, the
threads do not touch at top and bottom as will be seen by an examination of
Figure 4. With the exception pointed out the arrangement of parts represented
in Figure 4 differs in no essential respect from the arrangement represented in
Figures 1, and 3 and corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference.
The chain wheel, or chain ring carrying arms where interchangeable chain rings
are employed, may be made in one piece with the hollow or tubular crank axle by
forming on one end of the crank axle a flange of large diameter from which the
chain wheel or chain ring carrying arms are made. This modification of my
invention is represented in Figure 5 where the spokes of the chain wheel, or the
chain ring carrying arms, are marked a³, a³. In this arrangement the mouth of
the ball bearing cup in the end of the bottom bracket adjacent to the chain wheel
is presented outwards.
Or the chain wheel may be fixed to a flange on the end of the crank axle.
This modification of my invention is represented in Figure 6 where aª, a³ is the

page_text: flange on the chain wheel end of the axle a. The tubular part at of the said
flange on which the chain wheel c fits, is screwed for the reception of a screw nut k
which binds the chain wheel to the fat part as of the said crank axle flange.
A lelt washer is interposed between the flange a and a shoulder A2 on the
exterior of the bottom bracket A so as to effect a dust proof closing of the bottom
bracket.
Instead of fitting the tubular boss of the crank in the end of the tubular crank
axle the said crank axle may be made of such a length as to take into the crank,
the ends of the axle in this case being slit and expanded in the holes in the
cranks. In this arrangement the cone for the ball bearing instead of being formed
on the crank axle is formel on or fixed to the inner side of the crank and the cups
of the said ball bearing are secured in the ends of the bottom bracket and
constitute the adjustable parts of the bearings.
This arrangement of my invention is represented in longitudinal vertical section
in Figure 7 and in cross section in Figure 8 the said cross section being taken on
the dotted line, y Figure 7. In Figure 7 the cone for the ball bearing at the
driving chain wheel end of the crank axle a is preferably made in one piece with
the boss of the chain wheel c and the cone for the bearing at the other end of
the said axle is preferably made in one piece with the boss of the crank in which
boss the split end of the crank axle a is expanded by the screwing up of the
screw. The expanding of the other split end of the axle by a similar screw 12
effects both the fixing of the crank art driving chain wheel c to the said axle a.
The slit or division in the tubular axle is confined to the ends which are expanded
in the holes in the cranks.
Where the hole in each of the cranks b, is screwed for taking on a screw
thread on the end of the crank axle a as is represented in Figures 9 and 10 I make
the screw threads on the two ends of the axle in opposite directions the internal
screw threads in the ends of the cranks corresponding in direction respectively
with the ends of the axle on which they are to be fitted. By this arrangement
the adjustment of the bearings may be effected by turning the cranks and with
them the cones, care being taken to preserve the said cranks in the proper positions
with respect to each other. The cranks are locked in position on the tubular
crank axle, after adjustment by externally screwed tubes m, m the said tubes being
slightly conical externally and having angular holes as is best seen by reference to
Figure 10 for facility in turning the said tubes. When the said locking screwed
tubes m are driven home they expand the split ends of the axle in the holes in the
crank. It will be seen by reference to Figure 9 that the screw threads on the
axle and in the holes in the cranks are of the kind described with reference to
the internal screw thread in the ends of the tubular axle in Figure 4. It will be
seen further that the wearing surfaces of the cones are provided with hardened
steel rings fixed on the conical bosses of the crauks either by shrinking or by
being driven forcibly thereon.
When it is desired to use dust proof felt washers with bearing cups the mouths
of which open outwards a pair of thin ring washers gripping between them a ring
of felt may be fixed in the open mouth of the cup.
A ring washer made as last described is represented in elevation and section in
Figure 11, n, n being the outside thin metallic rings and the ring of felt situated
between them. The thin metallic rings are of such an external diameter that they
fit tightly in the cups with which they are to be used. The improved dust proof
closing washers are shown in connection with the cups of the bearings in the
bottom brackets represented in Figures 7 and 9. Where thought necessary or
desirable the thin metallic rings may be rivetted together with the felt ring p
between them.
Hollow spindles of the kind herein before described and represented may be
employed for the wheels of velocipedes the forks of the said wheels being fixed to
the axles by screw pins passing through holes or slots in the ends of the forks and
taking into internal screws in the ends of the axle.

page_text: Figure 12 of the accompanying drawings represents in vertical section the hub
and a portion of the fork of a bicycle wheel provided with a hollow or tubular
axle a according to my invention the ends 7, 7 of the fork being fixed to opposite
ends of the said hollow axle a by the screw pins q², q².
It will he seen by reference to Figure 12 that hollow or tubular axles or spindles
constructed according to my invention whether for hubs or bottom brackets possess
the advantage that their bearings may be lubricated through the said hollow axles,
small holes a', a' being made in them leading from the interior of the axle to
the ball races through which holes the lubricating oil passes.
The method of internal lubrication described with respect to the hollow axles
may be applied to solid axles as represented in Figure 13 by making axial holes a
in the ends of the said axles for receiving oil and crossing holes a leading from
the said axial oil containing holes to the ball races. The ends of the axial oil
containing holes are closed after the said holes have been filled with oil by screw
plugs or stoppers r. The oil in passing from the axial oil contai ing holes a to the
ball races is prevented from escaping along the axle by annular ribs a² on the said
axle situated on the inner sides of the ball races.
Where external lubrication is employed the oil may be conducted to the ball
races by a clip ring fitting within the bearing case or within the hollow cone, the
said ring having at one part an inclined trough like spout the upper end of which
is situated under the oil feeding hole in the bearing case and the lower end of the
said spout is situated within the bearing cups so that the oil drops from the said
spout directly into the ball race.
Figure 14 represents in elevation a clip ring marked t, 2 for fitting within a
bearing case or bottom bracket and Figure 15 represents one of the said clip rings
in position in a bottom bracket; Figure 16 represents in elevation a clip ring for
fitting the cones of the bearing as is represented in Figure 17. Each of the clip
rings is provided with an oil conducting spout (2 which when the clip ring is in
use is situated under the external lubricating hole of the hub or bottom bracket
the end of the spout terminating within the ball race so as to conduct the oil to
the said race as will be seen by reference to Figures 15 and 17.
According to one of the arrangements of my invention by which I attach pedals
to the cranks of velocipedes I form the pedal più or spindle with a disc on its
inner end the edge of the said disc being screwed and taking into a screwed hole
in the end of the crank. The said hole in the crank also receives at its outer side
the bearing cup which constitutes with the disc of the pedal pin and a cone on the
middle tube of the pedal, the ball race of the pedal bearing. The end of the
crank may be split and a screw pin be passed through the split ends for locking
the disc of the pedal pin and bearing cup in the screwed hole in the crank.
Figures 18 and 19 represent drawn to a large scale pedals constructed according
to this arrangement of my invention, the crank in Figure 18 being unsplit and
the crank in Figure 19 being split, the split ends being drawn together after the
pedal pin has been screwed in the crank by a screw pin engaging in a hole in the
said split ends and thereby locking the pedal pin in the crank.
In Figure 18 is the pedal pin and ² the screwed disc on the inner end of
the same for taking in the large screwed hole in the outer end of the crank b.
The said disc u² constitutes with the cup and conical surface won the barrel w
of the pedal the ball race of the inner bearing of the pedal. The bearing at the
other end of the pedal is of the ordinary construction.
In Figure 19 the cup of the inner bearing is represented in one piece with
the barrel w of the pedal.
According to another arrangement I form the crank and pedal pin in one piece,
the cup of the bearing for the pedal being formed by an annular groove or trough
in the outer face of the crank around the base of the pedal pin. The pedal
may however carry the cup in which case the edge of the cup occupies the outer
part of the annular groove in the crank.
Figures 20 and 21 show arrangements of my invention in which the crank and

page_text: pedal pin are in one piece the annular trough u' around the base of the pedal
pin constituting the cup of the inner bearing. The outer bearings for the
pedals in Figures 19, 20 and 21 are of the ordinary kind.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim
my invention of "Improvements in bicycles tricycles and other velocipedes
"
as
First. Making the crank axles of velocipedes hollow or tubular and combining
therewith cranks having split tabular bosses the said split tubular bosses taking
in the ends of the hollow axle and being expanded therein substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
Secondly. Attaching the driving chain wheels of velocipedes to the cranks used
in combination with tubular crank axles by forming on the said chain wheels
split tubular bosses for taking on the split tubular bosses of the cranks which
tubular bosses are inserted and expanded in the hollow or tubalar crank axle
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. Forming chain wheels or chain ring carrying arms from large flanges
on the ends of and in one piece with, hollow or tubular crank axles substantially
as herein before described and illustrated in Figure 5 of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourthly. Attaching the driving chain wheels of velocipedes to the crank axles
of the same by forming on the said crank axles, flanges to which the chain wheels
are fixed substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figure 6 of
the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. The construction and arrangement or combination of parts hereinhefore
described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings in
which a tube having split ends is employed for the crank axle the split ends of
the tubular crank axle being expanded in the holes in the cranks substantially as
described and illustrated.
Sixthly. The construction and arrangement or combination of parts described
and illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings the said
arrangement or combination of parts consisting in the use with a tubular crank
axle, the split ends of which are externally screwed with a right and left hand
screw thread respectively, of cranks the bosses of which have corresponding
internal screw threads and of parts for expanding the split ends of the crank axle
in the holes in the cranks substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated.
Seventhly. In combination with bearing cups the mouths of which open outwards
of dust proof closing washers consisting essentially of two thin metallic rings and
a ring of felt gripped between the said metallic rings substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 7, 9 and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
Eighthly. Providing for the internal lubrication of the bearings of axles by
making small oil conducting holes from the interior of hollow axles or from axial
oil containing holes in the ends of solid axles, the said small oil conducting holes
leading to the ball races substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
Ninthly. Conducting oil into the ball races of the bearings of velocipedes to
which lubricant is supplied from the exterior of the bearings by the use of clip
rings within the bearing case, spouts or channels in which clip rings receive oil
from the external oil feeding holes and conduct the said oil to the ball races
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 14, 15, 16 and 17
of the accompanying drawings.
Tenthly. Forming or arranging the inner ball races for the pedals of velocipedes
in the screwed holes in the velocipede cranks by providing the pedal pin with a
screwed disc for taking in the screwed hole in the crank the said screwed hole in

page_text: the crank also receiving the cup of the bearing substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 18 and 19 of the accompanying drawings.
Lastly. Forming the pedal pins of velocipedes in one piece with the cranks of
the same the space for the ball race being made in the crank around the base of
the pedal pin substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 20
and 21 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Second day of June 1896.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.