Improvements in Ball Bearings.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 1st Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
I, CHARLES HIRAM FERGUSON, of "Lake Shore Hotel," South-West Corner Lake
View Avenue and Deming Court, Chicago, in the County of Cook and State of
Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
-
My invention relates to improvements in ball bearings and is illustrated in
the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figures 1 and 8 are enlarged sectional elevations of my improvements as applied
to bicycle pedals;
Figures 2 to 7 are details of the construction shown in Figure 1; and
Figure 9 shows the arrangement when applied to a wagon hub.
I will first describe more particularly the construction shown in Figure 1 and
afterwards those of Figures 8 and 9. In the said drawings A is a spindle which
represents the pin of a bicycle pedal in Figures 1 and 8, and the axle of a wagon
in Figure 9.
In Figure 1 the left end of the spindle A is provided with a screw threaded
portion E, and adjacent to this is a nut F, formed solid with the body of the
spindle. In the cylindrical surface of the spindle A at a little distance to the
right of the nut F, is cut a groove 10 which serves as a race for the balls 11. A
little further to the right the spindle A is reduced in diameter so as to leave a
sort of bead 12 between the groove or race 10 and the reduced part of the spindle A.
The outside diameter of the bead 12 is the same as, or not greater than, the
diameter of the spindle between the race 10 and the nut F, and all parts of the
spindle further to the right have the same restriction as to diameter. The object
of this is to permit the ring C, which serves as a cup for the balls 11 when in
the race 10, to be slipped over the spindle until stopped by contact with the nut F.
The axial length of the ring or cup C is somewhat increased by a projecting
lip 15 that overhangs the balls 11 and does not entirely uncover them when said
ring is moved back against the nut or stop F. In the bead 12 is cut a slight
groove 13 into which is sprung a ring 14 that serves as a retainer for the
balls 11. The length of the cup C, including the lip 15, and the height of the
ring 14 above the surface of the bead 12, are so related to the distance between
the nut F and the diameters of the balls 11, that the distance between the lip 15
and the ring 14 is less than the diameter of said balls, even when said cup is moved
to its extreme limit against the nut F. Consequently the balls 11 cannot be
removed from the race 10 when the ring 14 is in the groove 13, but the dis-
tance between the lip 15 and the bead 12 is greater than the diameter of the
balls, so that when the ring 14 is removed the balls may also be removed. The
ring 14 therefor acts as a retainer to keep the balls 11 in the race 10. In
assembling these parts the cup C is first placed over the spindle adjacent to the
nut F, the balls 11 are then dropped into place and the ring afterwards sprung
into its groove 13. They are removed in the reverse order. To facilitate spring-

page_text: ing the ring 14 into place it is split or cut as shown in detail in Figure 7. In
the interior of the other, or outer, end of the spindle A, is cut another race 16
in which run the balls 17. The race 16 takes the form of a cup, that is,, it bears
on the outer rather than the inner surfaces of the balls 17. In the outer surface of
the spindle, where it is enlarged to permit of forming the cup ráce 16, is cut a
small groove 19 into which is sprung the bead 20 of the retainer 21. This retainer,
which is shown in detail in Figure 2, extends over the end of the spindle so as
to partially enclose the balls 17. In the center of the cup 16 is an axial pro-
jection 18 which extends to approximately the position of the plane that passes
through the centers of the balls.17. The projections 18 and the inner edge 23
of the retainer 21, are so related to each other that when the retainer 21 is in
position the distance between the edge 23 and projection 18 is less than the
diameters of the balls 17. As thus far explained, the cup C and retainer 14
hold the balls 11 from dropping out of the groove 10, because the nut F does
not permit the cup C to move far enough back to permit the balls 11 to pass
between the lip 15 and ring 14, and the retainer 21 and projection 18 likewise
prevent the balls 17 from displacement. It will therefore be evident that the
parts so far described will retain both sets of balls in their respective races without
the aid of any other parts.
The cup or ring C is screwed into the rear end of a shell B that surrounds
all parts of the spindle to the right of said cup C. Into the other, or outer, end
of the shell B is screwed a cone D that engages the balls 17, and with the cup 16
furnishes the complete race for said balls. The cup C is screwed up to a fixed
position in the shell B, that is, so that the lateral flange on said cup C butts against
the rear end of the shell B. When so screwed into place the cup C can only be
removed by the exertion of considerable force, and, for all practical considerations
is solid with the shell B. The cone D is adjustable in the shell B, and when
screwed up into contact with the balls 17 not only takes up any slack or looseness
at that point, but draws the shell B, and consequently the cup C, to the right,
thereby also taking up looseness at the balls 11. It therefore follows that the
complete race for the halls 11 is made up of a fixed member consisting of the
groove 10 and bead 12, and an adjustable member consisting of the cup C; and
that the complete race for the balls 17 is made up of a fixed member consisting of
the cup 16, and an adjustable member consisting of the cone D; also that both
adjustable members are simultaneously adjusted by adjusting the cone D in the
shell B. Surrounding the stem 24 on the cone D, is a lock or jam nut 25 and a
washer 26 shewn in detail in Figures 3 to 6, which has a teat or projection 27
that enters a groove 28 in the thread 29 of the shell B. The groove 28 is parallel
with the axis of the shell B, so that when said teat 27 is in said groove 28, the
washer is restrained so that its movement is only axial in its relationship to the
shell B. The jam or lock nut 25 screws into the shell B and consequently has
both a rotary and an axial movement, while that of the washer is only axial. On
the washer seat of the cone block D is a pin 30 that enters a hole 31 through the
washer 26. There are a number of these holes 31 in the washer 26 as is shown in
detail in Figure 4. As the washer 26 is prevented from turning by the teat 27
in the groove 28, it will be evident that the cone I will be prevented from turning
when the pin 30 is inserted in one of the holes 31 in the washer 26. It will also
be evident that if the washer 26 is withdrawn from its seat on the cone block D
far enough to clear the pin 30, the cone I can be adjusted to any required position,
and by returning and securing the washer again on its seat with the pin 30 in the
nearest hole 31, the cone D will be securely locked at its new adjustment. To
facilitate the movement of the washer 26 to and from its seat, the inner edge is
beveled, as more clearly shown in Figures 4 and 6, and inserted in an under-cut
or dove-tail 32 in the lock-nut 25. When the lock-nut 25 and washer 26 are
secured together in this manner, any axial movement of one will be followed by a
corresponding axial movement of the other. They are however, loose enough.
so that one will freely turn on the other. It therefore follows that when the

page_text: lock nut 25 and the washer 26 are inserted in the end of the shell B, the nut will
have both a rotary and an axial movement similar to that of any other nut,
while the washer, by virtue of the fact that the teat 27 slides in the groove 28,
is restrained so that it partakes only of the axial movement of the nut 25. When
in running position, as shown in Figure 1 the action of the balls 17 on the cone D
tends to turn said cone and thus disturb its adjustment. When, however, the
washer 26 is inserted in place with the pin 30 inserted in one of the holes 31,
and the nut screwed down tight, these parts (the nut and the washer) act as a
locking device for the cone D. This form of locking device is particularly secure
as there is no rotary action on the nut 25 tending to turn it because its seat is
on the washer which is held from turning by the teat 27. Though the washer 26
and nut 25 serve to lock the cone D at any required adjustment, that adjustment
may be readily changed by unscrewing the lock or jam nut 25, which action
withdraws the washer axially. When the washer has thus been moved far enough
away to clear the pin 30, the cone I may be moved to a new position and then
securely locked at that position by again returning the nut and washer to their
seat. To get the washer 26 in position over the dove-tail 32 on nut 25, it is
dished as shown in Figure 5, when it may be made to pass over the dove-tail 32.
The washer is then pressed down flat when the nut and washer take the permanent
form shown in Figure 6.
In Figure 1 the head for the shell B is made solid with the cone D, but in
Figure 8 this head is a separate piece 35 screwed into a fixed position, and the
cone is formed on the end of a screw 36 that is adjustable in this head 35. A
jam nut 37 serves as a locking device to hold the screw 36, and consequently the
cone D, from displacement. In this case the washer 26 and its co-operating parts
are omitted, but otherwise it is substantially the same as in Figure 1. In Figure 9
the head 35" is cast solid with the shell H, which corresponds to the shell B in
Figures 1 and 8, and the cap 76, which corresponds to the cup 16, is made remov-
able so that it may be renewed when worn. The race 10ª is also formed in a
separate piece that is screwed on to the spindle A and up against a shoulder 38
on said spindle. A jam nut 39 secures race 10 from displacement. The cup 76
is also screwed up against a shoulder on the spindle A, and to avoid the use of a
jam nut at this place the threads are made right hand on one side of the wagon and
left hand on the other. The nut F in Figure 1, which serves as a stop for the
cup C when unscrewed from the shell B, is replaced by a bead 44 in Figures 8
and 9, which furnishes the necessary stop to prevent the cup C from retreating
far enough from the balls 11 to permit them to fall out of their race when their
retainer is in place. The retainers 74 in Figures S and 9 are of different section
from retainer 14 of Figure 1, but they are otherwise the same and perform the
same function.
In Figure 8 of the drawings it will be seen that the projection 18 is omitted
from the cup 16 as owing to the size and number of the balls 17 in, this structure
they cannot escape from the aperture in the retaining device when the spindle
is withdrawn from the hub, as the balls lying laterally of said aperture prevent
those above from reaching a position where they can pass through said opening.
The retainer is thus effective when the projection 18 is omitted.
When it is desired to inspect the balls, the cup C is unscrewed from the shell B
(or H) when the said shell may be removed leaving the balls 11 and 17 securely
held in their respective, places in the spindle A by their retainers. By removing
these retainers the balls may also be removed. After such inspection, the shell B
(or H) may be returned to its place, and by again screwing the cup C up to its fixed
position against the rear end of the shell, the fixed and movable members of both
races will be again brought to their previous adjustment. One of the advantages
of my construction is that I can at any time remove the enclosing shell and inspect
the balls without spilling them out of their races as occurs when any one of the
ordinary constructions is used. Another advantage is that I can at any time
remove the balls from their respective races and again return all parts to

page_text: their original position without going through the tedious process of
adjusting the
race members to the balls. This last advantage comes
about by the fact that the adjustment for both sets of balls is by adjustment of
the cone I), and this part is not disturbed when opening for inspection. Still
another advantage is that I accomplish the simultaneous adjustment of both
bearings by screwing the cone D in or out in the shell B, because when cone D
is screwed in toward balls 17, the shell 3 draws cup C towards balls 11. This,
therefore, is a means of adjusting both bearings by applying the adjustment
directly to only one of them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. A spindle. provided with a ball holding cup within the end thereof, balls
within said cup, and a removable retainer secured to said spindle and serving to
retain balls in said cup.
2. A spindle provided with a ball holding cup cut within the end thereof and
having an axial projection located at the centre of said cup, balls between said
cup and a cone, and a retainer removably secured to the body of said cup.
3. In combination with the shell or hub of a ball bearing, a spindle having an
exterior ball race near one end and an interior ball race near the other end,
balls within said race, and devices located near each race for retaining said balls
within their respective races when the said shell or hub is removed.
4. A hub or enclosing shell, a spindle therefor having a cup formed within
the end thereof, a cone screwed into said shell adjacent to said cup, balls within
the completed race formed by said cup and cone, and a retainer adapted to retain
said balls within said cup when said cup and cone are separated.
5. In combination with a spindle provided with a cup shaped ball race cut
within the end thereof and having an axial projection at the centre of said cup,
and a retainer secured to the outer surface of said cup and extending around the
end thereof to a point which leaves less space between said retainer and said axial
projection than the diameters of said balls.
6. A ball race consisting of a fixed member and an adjustable member, a
shell enclosing both, a lock-nut adapted to secure said adjustable member to said
shell, a washer, means for preventing said washer from partaking of the rotary
movement of said nut, and means for retaining and compelling said washer to
partake of the axial movement of said nut.
7. A shell, a cone screwed therein, a lock-nut, a washer secured thereto and
rotatable thereon, a seat on said cone for the reception of said washer, a pin on
said seat, a series of openings in said washer for the reception of said più, and
means for preventing said washer from turning in said shell.
8. A spindle and an enclosing shell therefor, a ball race formed by a fixed
member consisting of a cup cut in the end of said spindle and an adjustable
member consisting of a cone screwed into said shell, balls within said race, and a
locking device for securing said adjustable member from displacement.
9. In combination with a cone and a shell into which said cone is screwed, a
washer provided with a projection extending into a groove in said shell, an inter-
locking device between said washer and said cone, and a lock nut screwed into
said shell against said washer and serving to hold it in engagement with said cone.
10. In combination with a spindle providing the fixed member of a ball bearing
and enclosing shell therefor, and adjustable member for said bearing screwed
into said shell, balls within the race formed by said members, a washer provided
with means for preventing it turning in said shell, means whereby said washer
will keep said adjustable member from turning when in engagement therewith,
and a nut for keeping said washer and said adjustable member in engagement.
11. The combination with the fixed and adjustable members of a ball race and
balls therein, of a shell into which the adjustable member is screwed, a washer

page_text: having a seat on the adjustable member and provided with a projection on its
periphery, a groove in said shell for the reception of said projection, a nut secured
to said washer and rotatable thereon, and a locking device between said washer
and said adjustable member.
12. The combination with the fixed and adjustable members of a ball race and
balls therein, of an enclosing shell into which the adjustable member is screwed,
a lock nut and a washer for said adjustable member an axial groove, and means
for causing said washer to partake of the axial movement of said nut.
13. In combination with a shell and a cone screwed therein, a locking nut pro-
vided with a circular dovetail projection, and a solid washer provided with an
inner bevelled edge adapted to engage and be retained by said dovetail.
14. A spindle having a groove cut in its cylindrical surface, said groove serving
as the fixed member of a ball race, a shell, a cup screwed into said shell and
serving as the adjustable member of said ball race, balls within the
completed race thus formed, a stop for limiting the movement of said
cup from said balls, and a removable ring secured to said spindle and serving
to retain said balls within their race.
15. A ball race consisting of a fixed member as 10 and a movable member as C,
balls within the race thus formed, a shell surrounding said race and into which
the movable member is screwed, a stop for limiting the movement of said movable
member from said balls, and a retainer adapted to prevent said balls from falling
out of their race when said movable member is in contact with said stop.
16. In combination with a spindle provided with ball bearings at each end,
each bearing being provided with one fixed and one movable member, balls within
each bearing, a shell into which the movable members are screwed means for
adjusting the position of both movable members by the axial movement of one
member, and means for permitting the removal of balls from both bearings by
unscrewing the other movable member.
17. In a ball bearing provided with a ball race at or near each end of the
spindle thereof, means for adjusting the member of both races, and means for
permitting the removal and return of the balls from either or both races without
disturbing such adjustment.
18. In a bearing provided with a ball race at or near each end of the spindle
thereof, means for adjusting the members of both races, a locking device for
retaining such adjustment when made, means for permitting the withdrawal and
return of the spindle without disturbing such adjustment, and devices for retaining
the balls in both races when the spindle is so removed.
19. In a bearing provided with a ball race at or near each end, means for adjust-
ing the members of both races simultaneously from one point, a locking device for
securing such adjustment when made, and means for opening said bearings for
inspection without disturbing said adjustment.
20. In combination with a spindle provided with a ball race at or near each end,
balls within said races, means for adjusting the members of both races, a locking
device for securing such adjustment when made, and means for permitting the balls
to be removed from and returned to their respective races without disturbing
such adjustment.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.