Improvements in or relating to Bearings.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bearings.
I, ENOCH JOHN WEST, of Progress Cycle Works, Stoney Stanton Road, Foleshill,
Warwickshire, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to bearings and especially applicable to adjustable ball
bearings, such as are commonly fitted to velocipedes and the like; and it consists
essentially in the improved means for locking the adjustment of bearings, here-
inafter described.
In carrying out my invention as applied to the "cup-adjusting" hub or bottom
bracket of a velocipede I form the interior of the end of the case of two diameters,
the part of smaller diameter being nearer the middle of the case than the part of
larger diameter. I provide each of the two parts with an internal screw thread,
the thread of one part being in the direction opposite to the thread of the other
part. The bearing cup is adapted to be screwed, mouth inwards, into the part of
smaller diameter. The back of the cup is provided with an inclined or coned
surface, the apex of the cone being directed outwards. The back of the cup is
preferably further formed with a sleeve or collar around the central aperture
through the said cup; the free end of this sleeve is adapted to project beyond the
end of the case, and is preferably provided with flats or the like to facilitate the
rotation of the cup when required.
Into the larger threaded part of the case I screw a suitable washer the inner
face of which is inclined or coned internally to fit the corresponding part of the
back of the cup; and the said washer is preferably at one place cut through from
the inner to the outer circumference. The said washer may be provided with a
hexagonal collar or other means whereby it may be rotated, but I prefer to pro-
vide it with horizontal holes so that it may be turned by a suitable peg spanner.
. When the bearing has been adjusted by screwing the cup to the case to the right
distance, the washer is screwed in until its coned surface bears on the coned surface
of the cup. Further screwing in of the washer causes the said washer to expand
outwardly and jam between the part of the case into which it is screwed and the
conical part of the cup against which it bears, and the cup is thereby practically
jammed in the case so that it cannot rotate relatively thereto until the washer be
slacked back. With this construction I do not find that rotating the washer has
any tendenc to rotate the cup, and the locking, pressure being applied circum-
ferentially to all the parts there is no risk of destroying their concentricity, but
rather the reverse.
In applying my invention to a "cone-adjusting" bearing, the cone and washer
would be screwed on to the axle. The part of the axle adapted to receive the cone
would be larger than and nearer to the centre of the bearing than the part of the
axle adapted to receive the washer: the said two parts of the axle would be screw
threaded in opposite directions. The back of the cone would be coned internally

page_text: and the sleeve would be formed around its outer circumference; the inner face of
the washer would be coned to project into the adjusting cone. In short the con-
struction of the cup-adjusting bearing would be inverted.
The invention may be applied to either or both ends of the bearing, but as a
rule it will be found more convenient to fix the cup or cone which does not adjust
in some simpler manner, as by screwing it tight up to a shoulder or otherwise.
From the above description the application of my invention to other suitable
bearings will be readily understood, modifications being made to suit special cir-
cumstances as may be required.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bearings.
I, ENOCH JOHN WEST, of Progress Cycle Works, Stoney Stanton Road, Foleshill,
Warwickshire, Cycle Manufacturer, 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 bearings and is especially applicable to adjustable ball
bearings, such as are commonly fitted to velocipedes and the like; and it consists
essentially in the improved means for locking the adjustment of bearings, here-
inafter described.
And in order that the said invention may be properly understood I will describe
the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings wherein,
Figure I shows a longitudinal section through a velocipede or like hub, the
bearing being constructed on the "cup-adjusting system" and provided with my
improved means for locking the adjustment.
Figure II shows the adjusting cup in front and side elevation separate from the
hub.
Figure III shows similar views of the locking washer separate from the hub.
Figure IV shows a longitudinal section through a velocipede or like hub, the
bearing being constructed on the "cone-adjusting" system and provided with my
improved means for locking the adjustment.
Figure V shows the adjusting cone in front and side elevation separate from the
hub, and
Figure VI shows separate views of the locking washer separate from the hub.
Corresponding parts are marked with the same reference numerals in all the
figures.
In carrying out my invention as applied to the "cup-adjusting" ball bearing
hub of a velocipede (Figs. I, II, and III) I form the interior of the end of the
case 6 of two diameters, the part (13) of smaller diameter being nearer the middle
of the hub case than the part (14) of larger diameter. I provide each of the two
parts 13, 14 with an internal screw thread the thread of one part being in the
direction opposite to the thread of the other part. The bearing cup 2 is adapted to
be screwed, mouth inwards into the smaller parts 13 of the case. The back of the
cup is provided with an inclined or coned surface 4 the apex of the cone being
directed outwards. The back of the cup is preferably further formed with a sleeve
or collar 5 around the central aperture through the said cup; the free end of this

page_text: sleeve is adapted to project beyond the end of the case, and is preferably provided
with flats 9 or the like to facilitate the rotation of the eup when required.
Into the larger threaded part (14) of the case I screw a suitable washer 7 the
inner face of which is inclined or coned internally to fit the corresponding part of
the back 4 of the cup; and the said washer is preferably at one place (8) cut. through
from the inner to the outer circumference. The said washer may be provided with
a hexagonal collar, horizontal holes 10 or other suitable means whereby it may be
rotated. When the bearing has been adjusted by screwing the cup 2 into the
case 6 to the right distance, the washer 7 is screwed in until its coned surface bears
on the coned surface 4 of the cup. Further screwing in of the washer causes the
said washer to expand and jam between the part 14 of the case into which it is
screwed and the conical part 4 of the cup against which it bears and the cup 2 is
thereby locked to the case 6 so that it cannot rotate relatively thereto unless anu
until the washer 7 be slacked back. In this application, if the washer be split, as
is preferred, it will tend to expand when screwed home and thus jam vertically as
well as horizontally between the case and the cup.
In applying my invention to a "cone-adjusting" ball bearing velocipede hub
as shown in Figs. IV, V and VI, the cone 2 and washer 7 are screwed on to the
axle 6. The part (13) of the axle adapted to receive the cone 2 is larger than and
nearer to the centre of the bearing than the part (14) of the axle adapted to receive
the washer 7. The said two parts 13, 14 of the axle are screw threaded in opposite
directions. The back of the cone 2 is coned internally (4) and the sleeve 5 is
formed around its outer circumference the inner face of the washer 7 is coned to
project into the adjusting cone 2. In short the construction of the cup, adjusting
hearing is inverted. When the bearing has been adjusted by screwing the cone 2
along the larger part 13 of the axle 6 to the right distance, the washer 7 is screwed
onto the smaller part 14 of the said axle until its coned surface hears against the
coned surface 4 of the cup. Further screwing in of the washer causes the said
washer to jam between the part 14 of the axle on to which it is screwed and the
conical part 4 of the cone against which it bears; and the cone 2 is thereby locked
to the axle 6 so that it cannot rotate relatively thereto, unless and until the washer
be slacked back. In this application, if the washer be split, as is preferred, it will
tend to contract when screwed home and thus jam vertically as well as horizontally
between the axle and the cone.
In both applications of my invention the parts are preferably so proportioned
that there is a clearance space 3 behind the washer 7 when the same is screwed up
tight. Provided the parts are reasonably well fitted I do not find that rotating the
washer has any tendency to rotate the cup, and the locking pressure being applied
circumferentially to all the parts there is no risk of destroying their concentricity
but rather the reverse.
The invention may be applied to either or both ends of the bearing, but as a
rule it will be found more convenient to fix the cup or cone 12, which need not
he adjustable in some simpler manner as by screwing it tight up to a shoulder or
otherwise.
From the above description the application of my invention to the bottom
brackets of velocipedes and to other suitable bearings will be readily understood.
I do not wish to confine myself to the precise details herein set forth as it will
be obvious that certain modifications such as the direction of the coned surfaces
may be made without exceeding the fair limits of my invention.
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 means for locking the adjustment of bearings-the employment of a
washer having one surface screw threaded and another coned, whereby it is
adapted to engage with and lock together the adjusting piece of the bearing and
the part (case or axle) of the said bearing into or onto which the said adjusting

page_text: piece screws, the screw-thread of the washer being opposite in direction to that of
the adjusting piece and adapted to engage with a screw thread in or on the case
or axle different from that with which the screw thread of the said adjusting piece
engages, substantially as set forth.
2. In a bearing having a screw-thread formed in the case and an adjusting
piece adapted to screw into the said case---means for locking the adjustment con-
sisting of an externally screw-threaded and internally coned washer, the screw-
threaded surface whereof is adapted to engage with a part of the case different
from, and screw-threaded in the opposite direction to, that with which the said
adjusting piece engages, and the coned surface of which washer is adapted to bear
against a part of the adjusting piece which is correspondingly coned, substantially
as set forth.
3. In a bearing having a screw thread formed on the axle and an adjusting
piece adapted to screw on to the said axle,-means for locking the adjustment con-
sisting of an internally screw-threaded and externally coned washer, the screw-
threaded surface whereof is adapted to engage with a part of the axle different from,
and screw threaded in the opposite direction to, that with which the said adjusting
piece engages; and the coned surface of which washer is adapted to bear against
a part of the adjusting piece which is correspondingly coned, substantially as set
forth.
4. In means for locking the adjustment of "cup-adjusting" bearings the com-
bination of: firstly, an adjusting cup having its circumference screw-threaded and
its back coned; secondly, a case having one part suitably screw-threaded inter-
nally to receive the said adjusting cup and a larger part suitably screw-threaded
internally in the opposite direction to receive the locking washer next hereinafter
mentioned; and thirdly, an externally screw-threaded washer adapted to screw
into the larger part of the case and having a coned surface adapted to bear against
the correspondingly coned part of the said adjusting cup so as to lock the said
adjusting cup to the case, substantially as set forth.
5. In means for locking the adjustment of cone-adjusting bearings the com-
bination of:firstly, an adjusting cone having its internal circumference screw
threaded and its back coned; secondly, an axle having one part suitably screw
threaded externally to receive the said adjusting cone and a smaller part suitably
screw-threaded externally in the opposite direction to receive the locking washer
next hereinafter mentioned; and thirdly, an internally screw-threaded washer
adapted to screw on to the smaller part of the axle and having a coned surface
adapted to bear against the correspondingly coned part of the adjusting cone so as
to lock the said adjusting cone to the axle, substantially as set forth.
6. Constructing a locking washer of the kind referred to in the preceding
claiming clauses, with a cut from its inner to its outer circumference, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
7. The improved means for locking the adjustment of bearings, constructed,
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference
to Figs. I, II and III of the accompanying drawings.
8. The improved means for locking the adjustment of bearings, constructed,
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference
to Figs. IV, V and VI. of the accompanying drawings.
Dated thi 19th day of July 1897.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent, for the Applicant.