Improvements in Bicycles and other Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1895-Accepted, 8th June, 1805
Improvements in Bicycles and other Cycles.
We, GEORGE GILBERT, and EDWARD MUSHING, Directors of The Centaur
Cycle Co. Ltd., of West Orchard Works, Coventry in the County of Warwick,
Cycle Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as
follows:
17
Our invention has for its object improvements in bicycles and cycles and is
intended to lessen the friction on the driving and steering wheel journals which has
been found a difficulty. In regard to the pedal bearing considerable improvement
has been made by the use of what is well known as the "barrel-bracket bearing
which limits to a certain extent the escape of the oil from the journal and the
result is that these pedal shaft bearings can be run much longer without a renewal
of oil. The principle of running bearings in a bath of oil is already known, but
the application of the principle in many cases is most difficult. Our cycle wheel
bearings are so constructed that we can conserve the oil to about the same extent
as has been done in the pedal and this with the addition of greater exactness in
setting, the pedal bearing reduces the friction of the whole machine in regard to
the principal bearings, whether bicycle or other cycle, very considerably.
In regard to the pedal bearing we construct the bush which carries the pedal
spindle so that it can be locked in the desired position by screwed cup lock nuts
operating upon the ends of the outer casing thus entirely preventing any alteration
of form or displacement of the parts which was often the case with the old plan of
set screws. We form the spindles for the wheels with a sleeve at each end to form
one side of the ball bearing and which also extends at each end to form an
abutment for the fork so that the lock nuts lock the spindle from turning and the
caps forming the other side of the bearing are recessed so as to form a similar
annular reservoir for the oil to that already known for the pedal bearing and by
these means we further reduce the friction of the main journals of bicycles and
other cycles where the inner portion is stationary and the outer portion revolving.
We do not claim that the retention of the oil in the wheel hub bearings is a greater
saving alone than in the case of the pedal bearing for we are aware that probably
the most strain concentrates at the pedal bearing but we do contend that next to
the pedal bearing in importance comes the driving wheel bearing and next to the
steering wheel bearing. All other parts as regards friction are distinctly
secondary.
Dated this 19th day of July 1894.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.

page_text: We, GEORGE GILBERT, and EDWARD MUSHING, Directors of The Centaur
Cycle Co. Ltd., of West Orchard Works, Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Cycle Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Our invention has for its object improvements in bicycles and other cycles and
is intended to. lessen the friction on the driving and steering wheel journals which
has been found a difficulty. In regard to the pedal bearing considerable
improvement has been made by the use of what is well known as the "barrel
bracket, bearing" which limits to a certain extent the escape of the oil from the
journal and the result is that these pedal shaft bearings can be run much longer
without a renewal of oil. The principle of running bearings in a bath of oil is
already known but the application of the principle in many cases is most difficult.
Our cycle wheel bearings are so constructed that we can conserve the oil to about
the same extent as has been done in the pedal and this with the addition of greater
exactness in setting the pedal bearing reduces the friction of the whole machine
in regard to the principal bearings, whether bicycle or other cycle, very
considerably.
In regard to the pedal bearing we construct the bush which carries the pedal
spindle so that it can be locked in the desired position by screwed cup lock nuts
operating upon the ends of the outer casing thus entirely preventing any alteration
of form or displacement of the parts which was often the case with the old plan of
set screws. We form the spindles for the wheels with a sleeve at each end to
form. one side of the ball bearing, and which also extend at each end to forin
an abutment for the fork so that the lock nuts lock the spindle from turning
and the caps forming the other side of the bearing are recessed so as to form a
similar annular reservoir for the oil to that already known for the pedal bearing
and by these means we further reduce the friction of the main journals of bicycles
and other cycles where the inner portion is stationed and the outer portion
revolving. We do not claim that the retention of the oil in the wheel hub
bearings is a greater saving alone than in the case of the pedal bearing for we
are aware that probably the most strain concentrates at the pedal bearing but we
do contend that next to the pedal bearing in importance comes the driving wheel
bearing and next to that the steering wheel bearing. All other parts as regards
friction are distinctly secondary.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings
giving an example of the driving wheel spindle and boss and its adjusting and
locking arrangement as well as our locking arrangement of the adjustable cones of
the pedal bearings. The front or steering wheel bearing is not shewn because the
details are a mere repetition of the driving wheel parts which will be readily
understood by all practical men.
Figure 1, is a sectional elevation of the driving or rear wheel boss and spindle
and forks of an ordinary safety bicycle.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the same with the fork C removed and looking at
the left band end.
Figure 3, is an elevation with the fork C removed looking at the right hand of
the boss.
Figure 4, is a part section and part elevation on the line 1—2.
Figure 5, is a perspective view of the pedal or barrel bearing showing,the lock

page_text: nuts M and N which enable me to lock the cups in any position most exactly
without interference with the other parts-Of course a suitable thin spanner is
necessary for the purpose.
The driving wheel boss is represented by the letter A with a for the spoke
flanges as will be readily recognised. The chain pinion K is screwed on to one of
the projecting ends a¹ of the boss up to the collar a against which it is securely
locked by the nut a*. The cones E are formed similarly to the cone E in the
pedal bearing Figure 5, so as to receive the balls as near to the fork C as is
practicable which increases the stability and steadiness of the driving wheel and
its parts.
When the cones E are properly adjusted they are securely locked in
the desired position by the lock nuts and e'. In the case of the lock nut el it
also acts as an extra lock to the nut a' which secures the wheel K. It will thus
be evident that the locking and adjusting of the cones has nothing whatever to do
with the fork C or the means for securing it and cone adjustment can be effected
without consideration of the fork at all. Of course suitable thin spanners are
necessary for the purpose. We thus obtain the oil reservoir R in the boss of the
driving and steering wheels just as in the case of the pedal spindle Figure 5 and
the convenient adjustment of all the parts with a minimum width between the
flanges a, a, and a maximum width between the ball bearings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we would have it understood
that we do not claim broadly the use of lock nuts or of adjustable cones or
broadly running the bearing in the bath of oil; but we declare that what we
claim is :-
1st. The general construction and formation of the various portions constituting
the boss A, cup ends E, and other portions so as to allow the minimum width
between the boss flanges a³, a³, and the maximum distance between the ball
bearings in combination with the oil bath R and the locking arrangements for the
several portions substantially as herein set forth and as shown upon the accom-
panying drawings.
2nd. The particular mode of securing the pedal bearing shown by Figure 5 and
as herein set forth.
Dated thie 19th dex of April 1895
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.