IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR CYCLES, CARRIAGES AND MACHINERY
Year: 1885

page_text: I, GEORGE DOUGLAS LEECHMAN of N° 45 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR CYCLES, CARRIAGES AND MACHINERY to be as
follows:-
My improvements in bearings relate to those kinds of bearings which have
revolving weight-carrying pieces between the axle and the box. All forms and
kinds of these revolving weight-carrying pieces are, for convenience, hereinafter
included in the term "balls." If these balls are allowed to touch one another, it is
evident that friction is produced by each ball having two different motions
imparted to it, one by the axle or box (whichever revolves) and the other by the
ball or balls touching it. If these balls are separated by other revolving pieces
which touch the balls on each side of them respectively, but revolve independently
of the axle and box, the motion imparted to one ball by the axle or box (whichever
revolves) will be passed on to the next ball by the revolving piece separating them.
All forms and kinds of these revolving, separating pieces are, for convenience,
hereinafter included in the term "rollers."
-
My improvements are applied to the means of holding these rollers in place.
For this purpose I use one or more rings, (which encircle the axle,) as follows:-
In the 1st case, I support the rollers on the outside of one or more of these rings
which is (are) free to revolve independently of the box, axle and balls, (and of each
other, if more than one be used). The balls are placed so close together that when
the rollers are inserted between the balls and the outside of the ring or rings, in
such a way that a cylindrical surface passing through the axes of the rollers would
fall within a cylindrical surface passing through the centres of the balls, they (the
rollers) are prevented from falling towards the box by the closeness of the balls to
one another. The rollers are prevented from falling towards the axle by the ring
or rings supporting them.
In the 2nd case I encircle the rollers by one or more of these rings, which is
(are) free to revolve independently of the box, axle, and balls, (and of each other,
if more than one be used). The balls are placed so close together that when the

page_text: •
rollers are inserted between the inside of the ring or rings and the balls, in such a
way that a cylindrical surface passing through the axes of the rollers would fall
without a cylindrical surface passing through the centres of the balls, they (the
rollers) are prevented from falling towards the axle by the closeness of the balls to
one another. The rollers are prevented from falling towards the box by the ring
or rings encircling them.
In the 3rd case I use both supporting and encircling rings, one or more of each
kind, all free to revolve independently of the box, axle, balls and each other.
I arrange the bearing so that the axes of the rollers and the centres of the balls all
lie, exactly or nearly, in the same cylindrical surface. The tendencies of the rollers
to fall towards the box and axle being counteracted by the rings only.
Various combinations of these three cases may evidently be made; such as, for
instance, combining cases 1st & 2nd and therewith using two sets of rollers.
The extremities of the rollers may be so constructed, that should they touch the
box or axle they will do so with axial points only.
.

page_text: I GEORGE DOUGLAS LEECHMAN of Stamford Brook House, Chiswick but late of
45 Lincolns Inn Fields both in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR CYCLES
CARRIAGES AND MACHINERY, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My improvements in bearings relate to those kinds of bearings which have
revolving weight-carrying pieces between the axle and the box. All forms and
kinds of these revolving weight-carrying pieces are for convenience hereinafter
included in the term "balls "-If these balls are allowed to touch one another it is
evident that friction is produced by each ball having two different motions
imparted to it, one by the axle or box (whichever revolves) and the other by the
ball or balls touching it-To prevent this friction bearings have been constructed
with the balls separated by other revolving pieces which touch the balls on each
side of them respectively but revolve independently of the axle and box, the
motion imparted to one ball by the axle or box (whichever revolves) being passed
on to the next by the revolving piece separating them. All forms and kinds of
these revolving separating pieces are hereinafter, for convenience, included in the
term "rollers." My improvements are applied to the means of holding these
rollers in place only. For this purpose I use one or more rings (which encircle the
axle) as follows:-
In the first case (of which Fig. 1. shows a cross section through W X of Fig. 2;
and Fig. 2 a sectional plan through Y X of Fig. 1.) I support the rollers R. R. on
the outside of 2 of these rings S. S. which are kept in position and from touching
the balls B. B. by such guides or recesses as may be found convenient (e.g. the
axle (A) may have a collar (G. G.) raised on it and the ends of the box (C) be
brought down to meet or nearly meet the axle (A) and the rings S. S. placed in
the recesses so formed as at F F Fig. 2.) These guides or recesses should not fit the
rings (S. S.) too closely but allow them to revolve with perfect freedom. I do not
confine myself to 2 rings as 1. 3 or more may be used. In some cases one or more
of the rings may be placed between the circles of the balls and where there are an
even number of circles of balls and only one supporting ring, it, the ring, should be
placed centrally between the circles of balls. The balls B. B. in each circle are
placed so closely together that when the axis of each roller (R) would lie nearer
the axle (A) than the centre of the line (a. b. Fig. 1.) joining the centres of the
balls (B. B.) touching it (each roller) on each side, i.e. when the rollers (R. R.) are
put between and under the balls (B. B.) the rollers (R. R.) are prevented from
falling towards the box (C) by the said closeness of the balls (B. B.) to one another;
and they are prevented from falling towards the axle (A) by the rings (S. S.)
supporting them.
In the second case (of which Fig. 3 shows a cross section through W X of Fig. 4;
and Fig. 4 a sectional plan through Y Z of Fig. 3) I encircle the rollers R. R with
2 of these rings E. E. which are kept in position and from touching the balls (B. B.)
by such guides or recesses as may be found convenient (e.g. the box (C) may be
grooved and the rings (E. E.) placed in the recesses so formed as at D D Fig. 4),

page_text: These guides or recesses should not fit the rings E. E. too closely but allow them
to revolve with perfect freedom. I do not confine myself to 2 rings 1. 3. or more
may be used. In some cases one or more of the rings may be placed between the
circles of balls and where there are an even number of circles of balls and only one
encircling ring it (the ring) should be placed centrally between the circles of balls.
The balls (B. B.) in each circle are placed so close together that when the axis of
each roller (R) would lie farther away from the axle (A) than the centre of the.
line (a. b. Fig. 3) joining the centres of the balls (B. B.) touching it (each roller) on
each side; i.e. when the rollers (R. R) are put between and on the balls (B. B.) the
rollers (R. R.) are prevented from falling towards the axle (A) by the closeness of
the balls (B. B.) to one another; and they are prevented from falling towards the
box (C) by the rings (E. E) encircling them.
In the third case (of which Fig. 5 shows a cross section through W X of Fig. 6;
and Fig. 6 a sectional plan through Y Z of Fig. 5) I use both encircling (E. E.) and
supporting (S. S.) rings for the rollers (R. R.) 2 of each kind, and they respectively
are kept in position and from touching the balls as in the previous cases-I do not
confine myself to 2 rings of each kind as 1. 3. or more may be used. In some cases
one or more of either or both kinds may be placed between the circles of balls and
where there are an even number of circles of balls and only one of the encircling
rings or one of the supporting rings or only one of both encircling and supporting
rings, such one or both such ones should be placed centrally between the circles of
balls. I arrange the bearing so that the axis of each roller (R) cuts or nearly cuts
the line (a. b. Fig. 5) joining the centres of the balls (B. B.) touching it (each
roller) on each side.
The encircling rings (E. E) prevent the rollers (R R) from falling towards the
box (C) and the supporting rings prevent them from falling towards the axle (A).
Various combinations of these three cases may evidently be made, such as, for
instance, the first and second cases may be combined and therewith two sets of
rollers and both kinds of rings used, and in this case some of the rollers might be
placed as in the first case and the rest as in the second.
The rings may have parallel, curved or inclined surfaces but the cores of them
should be plane circumferences.
The holes through the supporting rings S, S, should be so large as to let the
axle (A) turn in them without touching when the bearing is made up.
So, when the axle (A) or box (C) revolves the motion is passed on from ball (B)
to ball (B) by the rollera (R, R,) separating them; and the rollers (R, R,) revolve
independently of the axle (A) and box (B), being kept in position either (1) by the
supporting (S, S,) or encircling (E, E) rings & the balls B, B, (as, e.g. in cases 1
& 2); or (2) by the supporting and encircling rings S S, and E, E, only (as e.g. in
case 3). And the rings (S S, E, E) revolve independently and freely of the
axle (A) box (C) and balls (B. B.) and of one another (if more than one be used);
and are kept in position by the rollers (R, R,) from which alone they receive their
motion and by such guides or recesses (e.g. D, D, F F) as may be found convenient.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The means of holding the "rollers" in position in bearings for cycles, carriages
and machinery, or any mere modification thereof.
Dated this 26th day of August 1886.