AN IMPROVED BEARING FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER CARRIAGES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Palmer and John Henry Palmer (trading in
Co-partnership under the Firm of Palmer and Son, at Aston juxta Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick, Engineers, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED
BEARING FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 11th June 1880, and dated the 16th December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Palmer and John
Henry Palmer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th
December 1879.
THOMAS PALMER and JOHN HENRY PALMER, (trading in Co-aprtnership under the
Firm of Palmer and Son, at Aston juxta Birminghain, in the County of Warwick,
Engineers. "AN IMPROVED BEARING FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER CARRIAGES."
In this bearing two or more rows of balls are introduced between the axle and
journal, the said rows of balls being kept apart by a flange or flanges forming part
of the axle, or which may be attached to the axle, the said flange or flanges being
of equal thickness from the smallest to the largest diameter, the points of contact
of the flange with each ball is consequently that of a plane with a radius, the said
points of contact being the axes upon which the balls revolve. The case or journal
of the bearing is cylindrical in form, and holds parrallel relations to the axle,
therefore when the balls are placed between the axle and journal the points of
contact of each ball with the axle and journal are constantly on the extreme
diameter of the ball and on a line bisecting the centre of the axle.
The bearing is adjusted to compensate for wear by two processes. First. The
axle or journal has a cap screwed in from one side, by pressing the said cap the
balls are brought into contact with the flange or flanges and the sides of the case
or journal, thus taking up lateral or side shake.
Second. On the underside of the case or journal is a cylindrical projection which
is perforated towards the axle so as to admit the introduction of a ball and screw.
By pressing forward the said screw the ball is brought into contact with the axle
or flange on the axle, and the journal drawn downward and into contact with the
bals or axle, or the flange on the axle, thus vertical shake can be taken up.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Palmer and John Henry Palmer in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 16th June 1880.
THOMAS PALMER and JOHN HENRY PALMER, trading in Co-partnership under the
Firm of Palmer and Son, at Aston juxta Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Engineers. AN IMPROVED BEARING FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER CARRIAGES,"
"
In this bearing two or more rows of balls are introduced between the axle and
journal, the said rows of balls being kept apart by a flange or flanges forming part
of the axle, or which may be attached to the axle, the said flange or flanges being
of equal thickness from the smallest to the largest diameter, the point of contact
of the flange with each ball is consequently that of a plane with a radius, the said
points of contact being the axes upon which the balls revolve. The case or journal
of the bearing is cylindrical in form, and holds parallel relations to the axle, therefore
when the balls are placed between the axle and journal the points of contact of
cach ball with the axle and journal are constantly on the extreme diameter of the
ball and on a line bisecting the centre of the axle.
The bearing is adjusted to compensate for wear by two processes.
First. The
case or journal has a cap screwed in from one side, by pressing forward the said
cap the balls are brought into contact with the flange or flanges and the sides of
the case or journal, thus taking up lateral or side shake. Second. On the underside
of the case or journal is a cylindrical projection which is perforated towards the
axle so as to admit the introduction of a ball and screw. By pressing forward the
said screw the ball is brought into contact with the axle, or flange on the axle, and
the journal drawn downward and into contact with the balls or axle, or the flange
on the axle, thus vertical shake can be taken up.
It will be understood that the said cap may be held in position by any conve-
nient means, but by preference we use a small spring which is attached to the
bearing and takes into suitable grooves cut round the edge of the cap.
That our Invention may be better understood we have annexed hereto Drawings
thereof which we now proceed to describe.
Similar letters of reference denote the same parts in both the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation showing a bearing with the cap screwed in; and Fig. 2
is a section through the said bearing on the line A, B. a, a, a, a, are the balls
placed between the axle b and the journal c, kept apart from each other by the
flange d, d; it will be seen that the points of contact of the balls with the flange
and sides of journal are the axes k, k, k, k, upon which the balls revolve, and also
that upon screwing forward the cap e the balls a, a, a, a, are brought into contact
with the flanges d, d, and the sides of the journal at the point 1, 1, 1, 1, and the
bearing contracted laterally; g is a ball placed in a chamber formed by perforating
the projection f; upon pressing forward the screw h the ball g is brought into
contact with the flange d, and the bearing contracted vertically; is the spring
catch which takes into the notches around the cap'c, and securely holds it in
position.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, we desire it to be understood that
without limiting ourselves to the precise details hereinbefore described and illus-
trated in the accompanying Drawings, (as these may be to some extent varied or
modified without departing from the nature of our said Invention,) we claim as the
Invention to be protected by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent,-
The use of a flange or flanges dividing the case or journal of a bearing into t
square grooves, also the use of a ball and screw for the purpose of contracting the

page_text: bearing towards the centre of its axle, in combination with two or more rows of
balls and an adjustable cap, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings,
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Palmer and John Henry Palmer,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Fifteenth day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.