Improvements in Ball-bearings for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Ball-bearings for Cycles.
I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, near Nuneaton, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to ball-bearings for cycles.
In applying this invention to a bottom-bracket, I employ a hollow pedal-shaft.
One cone is fixed and the other cone slides on said pedal-shaft. The sliding cone
is prevented from turning by a key passing transversely through the hollow pedal-
shaft. Two screws in the hollow pedal-shaft bed against this key. The bearing is
adjusted by slightly unscrewing one screw and then tightening up the other. The
discs are fixed by screwing them up against the ends of the bottom-bracket.
Dated the 15th day of April 1896.
JAMES W. SMALLMAN.
Improvements in Ball-bearings for Cycles.
I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, near Nuneaton, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to ball-bearings for cycles.
In applying this invention to a bottom-bracket, I employ a hollow pedal shaft.
One cone is fixed and the other cone slides on said pedal-shaft. The sliding cone
is locked by a key passing transversely through the hollow pedal-shaft. Two
screws in the hollow pedal-shaft bed against this key. The bearing is adjusted by
slightly unscrewing one screw and then tightening up the other. The discs are
fixed by screwing them up against the ends of the bottom-bracket.
The accompanying drawings show how I prefer to carry out my invention.
Fig. 1 is a horizontal section of a bottom-bracket fitted with my improved ball-
bearing.
Fig. 2 is a separate view of the sliding coue.
Fig. 3 illustrates said cone in a different position.
Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the said cone as seen from the left.
Fig. 5 is a corresponding elevation from the right.
Fig. 6 is a separate view of the hollow pedal-shaft turned ja quarter of the way
round from the position it occupies in Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is an end elevation of the key.
Fig. 8 is a corresponding side elevation.
Fig. 9 is a vertical section of a driving wheel hub.
Fig. 10 is a side elevation of a screw that extends from the key to the end of
the step.

page_text: A is a hollow pedal-shaft. A' is a fixed cone. A is a sliding cone. B is a
key that locks the cone A*. C and Clare two screws that bed against the key.
bare projections on the pedal-shaft A which strengthen same near where the
slot is cut for the key B. The key is kept in the slot 6 by the end of the
screw C. The tongues 6* on the cone Ax slide between the projections b. To
adjust the bearing, the screw is slightly unscrewed; the screw C being then
tightened up.
In Fig. 9, A" is the fixed cone. A** is the sliding cone. B₁ is the key.
c and ex are screws in a hollow axle E, which is locked to the frame by a step F
and a nut F D are draw-links. To adjust the bearing, it is unnecessary to
interfere with the step For the nut F, all that is requisite being to slightly
unscrew the screw cx and then tighten up the screw c.
The disc L may have a right-hand thread, but then it must be screwed home
very tightly with a long spanner or the friction of the balls would uoscrew it. If
it has a left-hand thread, it may be screwed home with a short spanner, as the
friction of the balls would keep it screwed up. The disc R has a right-hand
thread and may be screwed home with a short spanner.
The projections on the pedal-shaft A may be dispensed with. Then the
sliding cone would work on an enlarged part of the hollow pedal-shaft through
which the locking key would pass, said key preventing said cone from turning.
"The hollow axle E may be similarly altered.
The disc R has a right-hand thread. The disc L', if screwed home very
tightly, may have a right-hand thread. Or said disc may have a left-hand
thread.
With disc-adjusting bearings in which the discs are held by lock-nuts, it is well
known that the tightening of the lock-uut frequently alters the adjustment of the
dise; the proper adjustment of the bearing requiring skill and the use of
spanners too large to go in the saddle-bag. Moreover, the disc often sticks, and
can then only be moved with difficulty. My improved bearing can, however, be
readily adjusted (even by a novice) to the greatest nicety with an ordinary screw-
.driver.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. A ball-bearing made or adjusted substantially as described.
2. In a ball-bearing, the combination of parts, substantially as set forth.
3. In a ball-bearing, the employment of a sliding cone, a key that locks said
cone, and two screws that bed against the key, substantially as set forth.
Dated the 18th day of January 1897.
JAMES W. SMALLMAN.