Improvements in or relating to the Bearings or Journals of the Wheels or other Parts of Velocipedes, but also Applicable to other Purposes in Mechanical Engineering.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1888
Specification Accepted, 9th Mar., 1889
Improvements in or relating to the Bearings or Journals of the
Wheels or other Parts of Velocipedes, but also Applicable to
other Purposes in Mechanical Engineering.
We GEORGE BUTLER of 1 Lombard Street Birmingham Cycle Fitting Manufacturer
and SAMUEL STANTON of 132 Tower Road Aston, do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of our Invention is to simplify the adjustment of the balls in ball
bearings.
In ball bearings as usually constructed the cones between which the balls rotate
are caused to approach to or recede from each other by some kind of screw
adjustment, the Screw or Screws having its axis or their axes parallel to that of
the "Pin" or Spindle.
In a bearing constructed according to our Invention we obtain the pressure on the
sliding cone by means of a spring and we adjust the pressure to the proper degree
by means of direct action of the operators hand.
We will describe a ball bearing made according to our invention as applied to the
hub of a safety bicycle.
33
The hub has the usual circular groove in its outer face in which the balls run,
and a collar having the usual conical inner end slides on the "pin or spindle the
part of the pin on which it slides being turned to receive it; rotary motion of this
collar on the pin or spindle is prevented by means of a groove cut in the "pin" or
spindle into which enters the point of a set screw which is tapped into the
collar.
or Spindle" and
The outer end of the collar is bored larger than the "Pin"
forms a recess for a helical spring which is placed on the pin or spindle.
This spring projects a short distance outside the collar and at its outer end the
"pin or spindle" is turned down smaller and screwed; on this screwed part are two
nuts and between them is the eye of one leg of the fork which is secured firmly in
position by these nuts being screwed against it, one on each side..

page_text: The outer end of the helical spring takes a bearing against the inner surface of
the inner nut, and the spring is of such strength that when the set screw in the
collar is slackened it forces the sliding collar up against the balls with rather more
than the requisite pressure, the operator then, with his fingers slackens the collar,
and spring a little thus getting exactly the degree of pressure requisite for proper
adjustment of the bearing, he then tightens the set screw thus retaining the collar in
the desired position.
By means of the two nuts previously mentioned we secure the fork in its proper
position without any risk of jamming the bearing or journal.
For the sake of neatness and cleanliness we prefer to cover the helical spring with
a short telescopic tube, and also slip a piece of thin tube or a piece of metal bent
round which will spring on the collar over the set screw, this tube or spring has a
hole in it for access to the set screw when requred; at other times the tube or
spring is rotated a little on the collar by that means covering and concealing the
set screw.
Instead of the "Pin" or Spindle having a groove in it for a set pin on the collar
to slide in, we may make it square hexagonal, or of other form of Section if required
making the collar to suit.
::
The word "inner as employed in this Specification means nearer to the centre of
the hub of the wheel, and the word outer means further from the centre.
2:
"
Each end of the "pin" or spindle is similar in construction though it may if
necessary vary in size.
We have described our invention as applied to the bearings of the hub of a wheel
in a fork, of a safety bicycle but with modifications it may be applied to other
bearings, or journals in cycles or velocipedes, and also to other kinds of
mechanism..
Having thus specified the object and nature of this our said Invention for
"Improvements in or relating to the bearing or journals of the wheels or other
parts of Velocipedes but also applicable to other purposes in mechanical engineering"
its description will be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying drawings
(that is to say).
Fig. 1, is a view in section shewing our mode of adjusting the balls in bearings as
applied to the hub of a Safety bicycle.
Fig. 2, is a view in elevation of the same, but complete.
Fig. 3, is the sliding collar and cone in two views for round spindle.
Fig. 4, is a view of the same collar but for a square spindle.
Fig. 5, are parts detached to be afterwards described.
The same letters of reference upon the several figures indicate like or corresponding
parts.
a is the hub and the flanges of a hub of a safety bicycle.
c, is the circular
groove on its outer face and in which are placed the balls as shewn in Fig. 1. dis
the collar with the conical inner end e, which slides on the "Pin or spindle" a¹ as
shown a², the rotary motion of this collar d, upon the Pin a¹ is prevented by the use
of the set screw f, which being tapped into the collar d, enters a groove g, and is
thus secured.
The outer end of the collar d is bored larger than the "Pin" or spindle a¹ and thus
a recess is formed for the helical spring and a seat against which the said
spring i finds a hearing. The outer end of the "pin" or spindle a is reduced at a
and screwed and upon this screwed part are the two nuts j and the latter coming
against the thicker part of a' is checked and moves no farther; the eye of the fork is
arranged between these nuts j and k and is thus secured without interfering with the
other parts in connection therewith.
Or we may make a seat on the "Pin or "Spindle a' in place of the nut k.
The spring i intervening takes a bearing against h¹ and also against the nut k, or its
equivalent the seat, the effect of which is that by the pressure of the spring i against
the sliding collar d is to force the same up and against the balls which are arranged
between and upon the surfaces of the conical inner end e and the circular groove con

page_text: the outer face of the flange holding them always in position, the said spring, giving
more pressure than may be required may be adjusted to any degree, (sufficient to com-
pensate for the wear the bearings may have received) and the set screw screwed
down again in the groove g, which keeps it in a fixed position.
To impart neatness and make the said bearing somewhat dust proof we cover the
helical spring i, with a sliding or telescopic tube i shewn in application Figs. 1 and 2
detached at Fig. 5.
Or we may in some cases dispense with the belical spring i but still employ the
pin" or spindle a¹ with its groove g and sliding collar d as above set forth but the
said collar would be secured after adjustment, by means of the set screw f, or an
additional screw of the same kind near to it.
On the sliding collar d we arrange the tube o or a piece of metal bent shewn in
application Figs. 1 and 2 front and end view and Fig. 5, detached, if the tube is
employed it is provided with the hole p, the purpose of which is that when access is
required to the set screw f this tube is rotated until the hole p is opposite to the said
screw when it can be released and refixed for the purpose above set forth, the tube
again rotated covers the head off, and this prevents it moving and falling out.
In Fig. 4 we shew the "pin" or spindle a as square, thus dispensing with the
groove g, in this case the set screw f, in the sliding collar d, would engage upon one
of the surfaces of the square pin or spindle, and prevent the rotating of the sliding
collar, and would be the same upon hexagonal, octagonal or other surfaces.
Although we have shewn our invention and described the same to the one end of a
"Safety "Bicycle but it is also applicable to the other end which substantially is of
the same construction although it may vary in size.
The above being our invention we wish to say that we do not confine ourselves to
the precise details or arrangement of parts as shewn on the accompanying sheet of
drawings but that we hold ourselves at liberty to alter or modify the same without
departing essentially from our said Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1st. The construction of a pin or spindle with a groove fitted to receive the sliding
collar, with recess and seat in the same, with or without the helical spring in connection
therewith and the Set Screw substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described and set forth.
2nd. The construction of a pin or spindle of a square or other shape in cross section
with the collar fitted in slide thereon with recess and seat in the same with or without
the helical spring in connection therewith, and the set screw substantially as and for
the purposes herein before described and set forth.
3rd. The construction combination or arrangement of parts as above claimed as a
mode of adjustment of the balls of bearings, substantially as herein before described
and set and shewn on the accompanying sheet of drawings, the whole forming
Improvements in" or relating to the bearings or journals of the wheels or other parts
of velocipedes but also applicable to other purposes in mechanical engineering.
"
Dated 21th December 1885
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicants.