Improvements in Bearings for Cycle Axles, and for other similar purposes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 13th Feb.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings for Cycle Axles, and for other similar
purposes.
1, DUNCAN REDFORD, 2, Acacia Villas, Hoe Street, Walthamstow, in the
County of Essex, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to the manner in which I construct and arrange the
bearings for bicycles, tricycles and the like, and also for other revolving axles
where the weight to be carried is not very great and where absence of friction and
high speed is of great importance.
In carrying my invention into effect, when constructing my bearing for use upon
a bicycle or tricycle, I make the box or bearing case of any desired configuration
suitable for carrying two or more knife-edged rollers, these rollers or discs running
themselves upon knife-edged supports, mounted within the same channel or bearing
case or box.
I make the main bearing discs or rollers, with their outer edges or
faces tapered or made V-shaped, so as to receive and engage with the shaft or axle
which is to rest upon them. I arrange these discs or V-shaped bearing wheels or
rollers one behind the other, preferably, so that the shaft is not carried on a mere
ring, formed by the V-shaped rollers pressing at one circular path. Thus I make
the bearing box wide enough to permit of the desired number of rollers being
mounted therein, to provide the necessary width of supporting a surface, which it
is desired that the discs or runners shall rest upon. The inner surface of the
channel or box I make with its central opening of a diameter sufficient to permit
the axle, as a wheel, to pass freely through it without touching. The outer portion
or opening of the channel box I make with a hole reduced down to permit of the
shouldered end of the axis passing through it to receive a nut and collar or other
washer of fastening and locking arrangement. I make the configuration of the
bearing case preferably circular, with a covered plate to secure the whole in
position by means of screws or by other ordinary means of attachment, and I carry
the case or box upon the fork of. the machine; by forming a tongue piece or joint
arın at one end of the box, or I weld or braise the same to the fork members when
so desired. I sometimes provide adjustable bearing pieces or supports for the axles
of the rollers so as to permit of any adjustment being made when the axle may
have become scored or when the surface of the rollers may have become worn.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any particular form of channel
box or to any particular method of securing the channel box to the fork of a
bicycle or tricycle, but I modify the shape of the box together with the mountings.
in the same and its method of attachment to the fork of the machine to suit any
ordinary requirement.
I also employ the same essential features of a knife-edged disc supporting system
of channel for carrying other axles and other shafts as herein before described when
applied to an ordinary cycle bearing.
£ February 1894
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Bearings for Cycle Axles, and for other similar
purposes.
I, DUNCAN REDFORD, of 2 Acacia Villas, Hoe Street, Walthamstow, in the
County of Essex, Builder, 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:-
This invention has reference to the manner in which I construct and arrange the
bearings for bicycles, tricycles, and the like, and also for other revolving axles
where absence of friction and high speed is of great importance.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of my bearing in a frame suitable for
attachment to the axle box of a vehicle or the like; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of
the same.
Fig. 3 is a modification of the arrangement of my bearing wheels and Fig. 4 is
a side elevation of the same.
Fig. 5 is a front elevation of my bearing box when mounted as a tramcar axle
box and Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the same.
In carrying my invention into effect, when constructing my bearing, I make the
box or bearing case A of any desired configuration suitable for carrying two or
more rollers B. C; these rollers or discs running themselves upon roller supports,
or being carried upon axles D having ordinary bearings E mounted within the
same channel or bearing case or box A. I sometimes make the main bearing discs
or rollers B. C. with their outer edges or faces tapered or made somewhat
V-shaped so as to receive and engage with the shaft or axle which is to rest upon
them. I arrange these discs or bearing wheels or rollers one behind the other
preferably, so that the shaft F is not carried on a mere ring, formed by the rollers
pressing at one circular path. Thus I make the bearing box A wide enough to
permit of the desired number of rollers being mounted therein, to provide the
necessary width of supporting surface, which it is desired that the discs or runners
shall rest upon. I make my bearing box A as shown in Figures 1 and 2 with two
rollers B C to receive the upward thrust of the shaft, and with bearing caps G to
retain the roller spindles D in position and to carry the dead weight of the vehicle.
I make openings be within the bearing box frame to permit of the rollers B C
being readily introduced; and I dispose the rollers out of line as shown in Figure 2
so that the bearing surface is not upon a plain ring or narrow support.
When providing for bearing in any direction such as for ordinary shafting
purposes, I arrange three or more rollers 1, 1, 1, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 making
the frame suitable for carrying the shaft F and for enabling the rollers to be intro-
duced. I provide bearings E, H, H, and bearing caps G, M, M, for receiving and
retaining the roller spindles D, K, L, in position.
I sometimes make my bearing rollers to be carried in a box or case A' suitable
for fitting into a spring box or body of an ordinary tramcar axle box, and I then
make the box A' with its rollers Di D¹ to fit into the outer casing of the axle box
and I arrange spiral springs and other ordinary laminated springs to permit of a
yielding bearing for the axle being formed as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any particular form of bearing
box or case to the number of rollers mounted therein; but I modify the form of
the case and the method of attaching it to any vehicle, machine, car frame or bed-
plate to suit any particular requirement.

page_text: 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.) The construction of bearings for axles and shafts in which the supports are
formed by means of rollers or discs placed one behind the other within a common
casing or box substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November 1894
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.