Improvements in Ball and similar Bearings for Vehicle Wheels, Shafts, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan.; 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball and similar Bearings for Vehicle Wheels,
Shafts, and the like.
I, JOHN PETER THOMAS, of 439, Thirty-first Street, in the City of Chicago,
County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America, Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in ball bearings, and is applicable to
vehicle wheels as well as to bearings for shafts, revolving cylinders and the like.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown my invention as applied to a
bearing such as would be adapted for use on the rear wheel of a bicycle.
Figure 1 is a broken elevation, partly in section, of a construction embodying
my invention in one form, and
Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified construction.
I
A represents the axle, which is threaded at its ends, as shown at a, and pro-
vided with a collar a¹ adjacent to the inner end of each thread.
Upon said
threaded ends are arranged the rings B and C, the former abutting against the
collar a¹, and the latter being held in position by a collar or lock nut a² mounted
on the threaded portion a of the axle A. These rings provide circular ways for
the inner sets of balls E and F, which are arranged in circumferential series, the
raceways being in two parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of revolution at
each end of the bearing. G represents a barrel or cylinder threaded both inter-
nally and externally at its ends, and provided with an annular rib or collar gat
the inner end of its threaded portions, both internally and externally. Into this
cylinder is screwed the bearing ring H, which abuts against the collar and
which is provided with the grooves I and J for the inner sets of balls E and F,
said grooves forming, in conjunction with the grooved rings B and C, the race-
ways of the inner sets of balls. K indicates a bearing ring screwing on the outer
portion of the cylinder or barrel G, abutting against the collar and provided
with grooves k and k¹ on its opposite sides to receive the outer balls L and M.
N indicates the outer cylinder or body of the hub, which is threaded internally at
its ends to receive the bearing rings 0 and P, which screw therein, the former
abutting against a shoulder n of the outer cylinder or hub, and the latter being
held in place by means of a ring or nut n¹ screwing into the threaded end of the
outer cylinder. The bearing rings O and P are grooved to form, in conjunction
with the grooves of the bearing ring K, raceways for the outer sets of balls L
and M. A washer n² may be clamped between the rings P and n for the purpose
of preventing dust and dirt from having access to the bearing. End caps Q are
screwed on the threaded ends of the axle and fit and close the ends of the
cylinder N.
If in the construction above described power is applied to the outer cylinder,
rotary motion will be imparted thereto. The bearings of said outer cylinder being
the outer series of balls ₺ and M. said balls will travel in their circular raceways

page_text: intermediate the two cylinders, and will impart a rotary motion to the inner
cylinder in the same direction but at a different rate of speed. The inner
cylinder has its bearings on the inner series of balls, which travel in their raceways
around the axle.
The construction described has numerous advantages. Its several parts aro
simple, requiring no expensive tools for their manufacture, and being readily
fitted to and disconnected from each other. The employment of two series of
balls concentrically arranged distributes the friction, and the location of duplicate
sets of ball bearings at each end, laterally separated from each other, reduces the
tendency to unsteadiness of movement, avoids binding and obviates the necessity
for the extremely accurate fitting essential to a bearing wherein a single set of
balls is employed.
The size of the parts and the number of sets of balls used in carrying out my
invention may be varied. For instance, instead of employing four sets of balls
at each end of the bearing, two sets may be used, at each end, and such a con-
struction I have shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, which will be readily
understood without detailed description here.
While I have designated my invention as being for an improvement in ball
bearings, it is obvious that it is readily applicable to roller or cylinder bearings.
In the construction used in actual practice suitable provision will be made for
properly lubricating the parts.
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 combination with a shaft or axle, of an integral inner cylinder surrounding
said axle, an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder and axle, said cylinders
extending the length of the bearing and said three parts being concentric and
having independent relative motion, divided bearings interposed between said
three parts at each end of said axle, and provided with grooves forming raceways
arranged in parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of revolution at each end of
the bearing, and balls arranged in said grooves, substantially as described.
2. The combination, with a shaft or axle, of an integral inner cylinder
surrounding said axle, an outer cylinder surrounding the inner cylinder and axle,
said cylinders extending the length of the bearing and said three parts being con-
centric and having independent relative motion, divided bearings interposed
between said three parts at each end of said axle, and provided with grooves
forming raceways arranged in two parallel planes perpendicular to the axis of
revolution at each end of the bearing, balls arranged in said grooves, and caps
applied to the axle and closing the ends of the outer cylinder, substantially as
described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.