Improvements in Crank Hanger Bearings for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Crank Hanger Bearings for Bicycles.
1, EMILE AZE, of 244 Forquer Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, United
States of America, 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 aud by the following statement :-
My invention relates particularly to ball bearings as used in connection with
safety bicycles, being especially applicable to the crank shaft, or what is known in
the art as the crank hanger.
The object of my invention is to provide a simple, economical and efficient
bearing for the crank shaft of a bicycle-one that will occupy the least amount of
space longitudinally, so as to admit of a "narrow tread" for the pedals; and the
invention consists in the features, combinations and details of construction herein-
after described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section,
taken on line 1 of Fig. 2, showing the crank hanger of a bicycle and a small
portion of the bicycle frame; and Fig. 2 a transverse section, taken on line 2 of
Fig. 1.
In the art to which this invention relates, it is well known that it is desirable to
have what is known as a narrow tread wheel, or a wheel in which the pedals are
brought as close together as possible so that the rider will occupy a perfectly
upright position-that is, the feet will occupy about the same position as in
walking. In order to accomplish this, it is desirable to have as narrow a bearing
as possible in the crank hanger, and it is necessary that provision be made for
taking up the loose play so as to prevent wabbling.
In illustrating and describing my improvements, I have only illustrated and
described that portion of the wheel that is necessary to a complete understanding
of my invention, riz., the crank hanger and attached parts-the others being well
known in the art need no further description.
In constructing a bicycle equipped with my improvements, I make the usual
frame, a portion of which is shown in the drawings and marked A. To this is
secured a casing, B, which forms the crank hanger. In this casing I rotatably
mount the crank shaft, C, having a threaded portion, c, upon which is mounted a
disk or wheel, D. This disk or wheel is provided with an outer V-shaped circum-
ferential rim, d, having therein an internal V-shaped groove, d'. This disk is, as
above specified, screw-threaded on the crank shaft, and held in the desired
position by means of a lock nut, d. This V-shaped groove in the disk or wheel
forms one portion of the bearing groove, in which I mount a set of anti-friction
balls, E.
In order to form and complete the rest of this bearing groove, I provide what
I term an adjusting nut, G, having a threaded portion and mounted in a threaded
axial opening in the banger portion. This adjusting nut or disk has an outwardly
extending flange portion, which forms a bearing portion, 9, arranged inside of the
rotatable disk, as shown in Fig. 2, to form one portion of the inner V-shaped
bearing groove. The hanger portion is provided with a flange or rim, b, extending
inwardly, and upon which I mount a circular ring, H, that is tightly fitted thereon
80 as to be practically prevented from rotary motion, and which completes, with
the other parts above mentioned, the bearing groove. I then provide a lock

page_text: nut, g', on the projecting threaded portion of the adjusting nut so as to position
the same after the desired freedom has been given to the anti-friction balls.
I prefer to inclose the hanger at its side, and thus protect it from dust, dirt, &c.,
by means of caps or dust covers, I, such as are shown to the left of Fig. 2, and
which are secured to the hanger by means of screws, i. In assembling the parts,
he circular ring, H, is first put in place, although, if desired, this portion may be
made a part of the hanger.
The advantages of my construction are that the balls, being comparatively a
considerable distance from the center, prevent any wabbling, and the loose play
in the bearing may be taken up by the adjusting nut, g, in the desired position,
which can be easily performed from the outside without taking the mechanism
apart.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a crank hanger bearing for bicycles, the combination of a crank shaft, a
disk on such crank shaft having an internal V-shaped groove therein, an adjusting
put or disk screw-threaded in the hanger portion with its bearing portion arranged
inside of the disk and forming one part of the inner V-shaped bearing groove, a
third portion in such hanger with a portion arranged inside the disk and forming
the rest of the inner V-shaped bearing groove, and a series of anti-friction balls in
such bearing, substantially as described.
2. In a crank hanger for bicycles, the combination of a crank shaft having a
threaded portion, a disk on the threaded portion of such crank shaft provided with
an internal V-shaped bearing groove, an adjusting nut or disk screw-threaded in
the hanger portion having a projecting outside portion for operating the same and
its bearing portion arranged inside of the disk to form one part of the inner
V-shaped bearing groove, a ring portion in such hanger having its bearing portion
arranged inside of the disk completing the V-shaped bearing groove, and a series
of anti-friction balls in such bearing, substantially as described.
L
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.