CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND VELOCIPEDES OR CARRIAGES, WHICH IMPROVE- MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR JOURNALS AND AXLES OF MACHINERY AND OTHER PURPOSES." PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bown, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, and Joseph Henry Hughes, also of Birmingham aforesaid,
Machinist, for an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR
BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND VELOCIPEDES OR CARRIAGES, WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR JOURNALS AND AXLES OF MACHINERY
AND OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bown and Joseph
Henry Hughes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd
March 1880.
"
WILLIAM BOWN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and
JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES, also of Birmingham, aforesaid, Machinist. CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND VELOCIPEDES OR
CARRIAGES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR JOURNALS AND
AXLES OF MACHINERY AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Our improvements may be considered as extensions of the principle of adjust-
ment described and claimed in the Specification of the said Joseph Henry Hughes's
Patent, No. 3531, dated the Nineteenth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy seven, of which the said William Bown is the registered
proprietor.
In the construction of the bearings forming the subject of this application we uso
by preference the same combination of hardened steel balls or their equivalents and
coned or curved surfaces as described in the Patent before referred to; nevertheless,
if desired, we may use the balls or their equivalents in connection with flat or
straight surfaces, but the means of adjustment of curved, coned, or flat surfaces in
connection with steel balls or their equivalents form the subject matter and novelty
of our present Invention, which consists in so constructing the outer case or cap as
to admit a screwed flanged collar, the inner flange of the said collar being in contact
with the loose cone covering the balls. The outer case is secured to the corre-
sponding part of the bearing attached to the fork of the bicycle by pins and nuts or
other suitable means passing through two or more lugs formed in both cases or parts,
and on one or other of the pins passing through the lugs wo place a suitable pawl,

page_text: which fits into the serrated edge of the outside flange of the screwed collar, securely
holding it in position.
When the bearing requires adjusting the pawl has only to be removed from the
serrated edge of the collar, effected by unscrewing the pin which frees the pawl,
when the flanged collar can be screwed forward in the cap, forcing the loose cone
forward in contact with the balls or their equivalents, thereby adjusting the bearing
to any degree desired. The pawl has then to be replaced in the serrated edge, and
the pin screwed up, thereby holding all the parts firmly together.
By this mode of adjustment the pressure put on the bearing by the weight of
the rider is effectually and completely resisted by the bolted outer cap before
mentioned, and the adjustment is less liable to alteration with the weight or pressure
upon it. Again, when adjusting the bearing, there are no loose parts to be dis-
connected, thereby avoiding any loss, and the screwed adjusting collar cannot be
withdrawn or forced from the outer case.
This principle of adjustment has only to be suitably modified to adapt these
bearings to the journals or axles of carriages, general machinery, and other such like
purposes where high rates of speed with diminution of friction and lubrication are
of importance.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Bown and Joseph Henry Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 22nd September 1880.
WILLIAM BOWN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and
JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES, also of Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist. "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND VELOCIPEDES OR
CARRIAGES, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR JOURNALS AND
AXLES OF MACHINERY AND OTHER PURPOSES."
Our improvements may be considered as in part founded on those described and
claimed in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to the said Joseph Henry
Hughes, No. 3531, dated the Nineteenth day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and seventy seven, of which the said William Bown is tho registered
proprietor.
In the construction of the improved bearings forming the subject of this present
Patent we use by preference the same combination of hardened steel balls or their
equivalents, and coned or curved surfaces, as described in the Specification of
Patent before referred to. It is however obvious that our improved combination
may be readily modified so as to be used with balls or their equivalents in connection
with flat or straight surfaces. According to our present Invention we construct
the outer case or cap as to admit a screwed flanged collar, the inner flange of the
said collar being in contact with the loose cone covering the balls. The outer case
is secured to the corresponding part of the bearing attached to the fork of the

page_text: that all the essential and primary parts used with the single row ball bearing last
described are used in this instance, and marked with the same letters, the steel
collar D only being altered and formed with a flango at m, m, to keep the balls
apart.
Figures 8 and 9 represent front and sectional views of a bearing constructed
suitable for carrying shafting of machinery or other purposes, the shaft being shewn
marked N, secured to the collar D by the pin b. In this instance the body A is
extended down and formed with lugs or cars 0, 0, permitting its being secured to
the beam or bracket P by pins, as shewn, and, as will be seen, all the essential parts
in this case also are similar to those previously described, but wo will observe that
for heavy or long lengths of shafting we prefer to use a double row of balls or a
greater number of rows, as that arrangement affords greater length of bearing
surface, and would be more suitable for bearings applied to heavy machinery, which
will be readily-understood.
Having thus described our Invention, we wish it understood that we do not-
purpose confining ourselves to the precise parts herein described, which may be
modified without departing from the spirit of our Invention, but what we claim
and wish to protect by the herein in part recited Letters Patent is,―
Firstly. The combination of parts or their equivalents used for the purpose of
adjusting the conical, curved, or flat surfaces and spheres forming the frictional
surfaces of bearings for wheels or for any revolving shafts or axes, substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The use of a loose scat, such as G, and a screwed and flanged adjusting
collar, such as L, in combination with the other parts or their equivalents, forming
our improved bearings, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bown, for and on behalf of myself
and the said Joseph Henry Hughes, have hereunto set my hand and seal,
this Twenty first day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.