Improvements in and relating to Ball-bearings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Mar. 1891
Complete Specification Left, 28th Dec., 1891-Accepted, 30th Jan., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE FREDERICK SIMONDS, of Fitchburg,
Massachusetts, United States of America, Engineer.]
Improvements in and relating to Ball-bearings.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to ball-bearings, and is designed to simplify and improve
the construction of the same, and to facilitate the introduction of the balls into,
and their removal from, the space between the rotating and non-rotating parts.
The said invention comprises an improved device in which one or more circular
series or groups of balls are held or retained in annular channels between suitable
rings or annular or tubular pieces, in such a manner that the balls protrude a short
distance from the said channels beyond the outer surface of the rings or annular
pieces, and the said balls, whilst free to rotate or roll in the said channels, cannot
escape therefrom. This device is so constructed that it can be readily placed upon
and removed from a shaft or axle or can be readily inserted in and withdrawn from
an axle-box, pedestal or other suitable casing.
One of the bearing surfaces for each circular series or group of balls is formed
on one or other of the said rings or annular or tubular pieces, the other bearing
surface for such series or group of balls being formed on the part of the bearing
into or upon which the aforesaid device is to be placed.
It is advantageous to construct the said device as follows, that is to say :-Each
of the said rings is made with a plane surface parallel to a corresponding plane
surface on the adjacent ring, or with a cylindrical surface concentric with a
corresponding cylindrical surface on the adjacent ring; and a circular series or
group of balls is arranged in the annular channel formed between either pair of
such surfaces. These surfaces extend outward to, or slightly beyond the points
where the balls are in contact with, or in closest proximity to the said surfaces;
and beyond or outside of these points, suitable lips or flanges are formed on the said
rings, so that, when the said rings are properly joined or secured together, the
balls, while capable of rolling freely around in the annular channel between the
said rings, cannot escape from the said channel, being securely retained therein by
the said lips or flanges. One of the rings of each pair is also formed with a bearing
surface for the balls, which surface is either cylindrical or plane, according to
whether the balls are intended to resist or support radial pressure or end-
pressure.
In some instances, two or more circular series or groups of balls are arranged
between each pair of rings or annular pieces; and, if desired, one or more of such
series or groups of balls may be adapted to resist or support radial pressure, and
the remaining group or groups thereof be adapted to resist thrust or end-pressure.
The aforesaid rings or annular pieces are joined or secured together in any
suitable manner so as to permit free rotation of the balls between the guiding
surfaces of the channel in which they are placed, whilst preventing displacement of
the said balls from such channel. The said rings may, for example, be conveniently
united by means of screw-threads.
The device comprising the rings secured together with the balls between them,
as above mentioned, can be readily applied to a shaft or axle or fitted in an axle-
box, pedestal or other suitable casing; and it is evident that such device can, if
desired, be made and sold as an article of commerce separately from the other parts
of the bearing.

page_text: In one form of the improved ball-bearing, a device such as that above described,
provided with balls for resisting thrust or end-pressure and with other balls for
resisting or supporting radial pressure, is fixed upon a shaft or axle and is
introduced into an axle-box or casing; the said box or casing is constructed with
a plane bearing surface for the balls for resisting thrust or end-pressure, and with a
cylindrical bearing surface for the balls for resisting radial pressure. The said
axle-box or casing is preferably closed at its outer end by means of a suitable cap
or cover. And, in some instances, one or more washers or packing rings
of leather or other suitable material are provided for the purpose of excluding
water, dust or other foreign matter from the interior of the bearing.
In another form or modification of the improved removable device, two rings or
annular pieces are secured one to each end of a tubular piece or sleeve, and the
balls are arranged, as above described, in one or more annular channels between
each of the said rings and the tubular piece or sleeve.
The construction of the said device can, however, be otherwise somewhat
modified, if desired, according to the character or description of bearing for which
it is intended. Moreover the construction of the other parts of the bearing can, if
desired, be varied without departing from the nature of the said invention.
Dated this 26th day of March 1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Ball-bearings.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Co. Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 relates to ball bearings of that kind or class in which one or more
circular series or groups of spherical rollers or balls is or are arranged between
concentric bearing surfaces for the purpose of sustaining radial pressure or weight,
and other spherical rollers or balls are arranged between plane bearing surfaces to
resist thrust or end pressure, and the said invention is designed to simplify and
improve the construction of such bearings, and to facilitate the introduction of the
balls into and their removal from the space between the rotating and non-rotating
parts.
The said invention comprises an improved device in which one or more circular
series or groups of balls are held or retained in annular channels between suitable
rings or annular or tubular pieces, in such a manner that the balls protrude a short
distance from the said channels, beyond the outer surface of the rings or annular
pieces, and the said balls, whilst free to rotate or roll in the said channels, cannot
escape therefrom. This device is so constructed that it can be readily placed upon
and removed from a shaft or axle, or can be readily inserted in and withdrawn
from an axle-box, pedestal or other suitable casing.
One of the bearing surfaces for each circular series or group of balls is formed on
one or other of the said rings or annular or tubular pieces, the other bearing
surface for such series or group of balls being formed on the part of the bearing
into or upon which the aforesaid device is to be placed.
The said invention also comprises other improvements in ball-bearings herein-
after fully described.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1, is a partly sectional elevation illustrating one form of my invention as
applied to a bicycle.
Figure 2, is a similar view showing the application of the invention to
a pulley.

page_text: Figure 3 is a sectional view of another ball bearing embodying my improve-
ments, the shaft or axle and the parts that confine the balls being so arranged that
either the shaft or the ball confining devices will be free to revolve, showing also
an annular cage in which the balls for resisting radial pressure are carried indepen-
dently of the shaft or axle, and the detachably connected ring and shouldered
tubular piece in which the said cage and both groups of balls are confined so as to
be removable in a body.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing only a single series of balls for sustaining
radial pressure.
Figure 5 is a similar view showing the detachably connected ring and shouldered
tubular piece detachably secured to the shaft or axle and surrounded by a bearing
or a stationary or rotary part.
Figure 6 is a longitudinal sectional view showing one manner of applying my
improved ball bearing to a wheel hub, and
Figure 7 is a similar view showing another mode of applying the ball bearing.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the numeral 1 designates a shaft or axle which as
shown in Figure 1, may be supported in a fork 2, of a bicycle.
On the axle 1, is secured a ring or tubular piece 3 having concentric surfaces 4
and 4ª, and shoulders 5 and 5ª, that are substantially at right angles to the said
concentric surfaces. Each ring or tubular piece 3 is provided with a screw
threaded portion 6, that engages a similar screw threaded portion of a ring 7, which
is thus connected with the ring or tubular piece 3 and together therewith forms a
cage for retaining spherical rollers or balls 8 and 9, in operative position and that
enables them to be readily removed and replaced in a body without difficulty or
loss of time. If desired some or all of the surfaces of the rings 3 and 7 in contact
with the balls 8 and 9, may be concaved as shown to form curved channels for said
balls to run in.
The hub 10 of the wheel or pulley is recessed to receive the rings 3 and 7 and in
the interior of the recessed hub is an annular surface 11 concentric with the
rings 3 and 7 and a plane vertical surface 12 parallel with the corresponding
surfaces of said rings.
In the case of bicycles and some other machines the wheel hub 10 may be
recessed at each end for the reception of rings 3 and 7 near each end of the axle.
After the rings 3 and 7 have been placed on the axle within the recessed hub the
ends of the hub will be closed by means of annular screw caps 13 in each of which
may be placed a packing ring 14, Figure 1, to exclude dust and moisture.
As shown in Figure 2, the hub 10, of the pulley 15, may be recessed its entire
length except at one end where the plane surface or shoulder 12 may be formed
either in the said hub or in a bushing 17, and after the pulley is in place on the
ball bearing the other end of the pulley hub or other similar part will be closed by
an annular cap 13 having an inner plane vertical bearing surface 12 that corre-
sponds with the shoulder at the other end of the hub. In this construction a single
ring or tubular piece 3 will be employed, the said ring being provided at each end
with concentric surfaces 4 and 4ª, and screw threads 6 to connect with the rings 7;
and the said ring 3 may be secured to the shaft or axle 1 by means of a screw 16
or other suitable means. If desired the hub may be provided with a bushing 17
of steel.
It will be observed that in both forms of construction the spherical rollers or
balls 8 for sustaining radial pressure or weight are arranged to revolve freely in all
directions on and in bearing contact with the parallel concentric surfaces 4 and 11
of the ring or rings 3 and hub or other rotary or stationary part 10 respectively,
while the balls 9 for resisting end thrust are arranged to revolve in like manner
against and in bearing contact with the parallel vertical surfaces 5 and 12 of said
parts. The surfaces 4, and 5 of the ring 3, in connection with the corresponding
surfaces of the ring 7 serve to hold the balls 9 and 8 respectively, in operative
position.
By arranging the balls for sustaining radial pressure and those for resisting end

page_text: thrust in groups of different diameters and on different planes, as shown, a compact
and convenient ball bearing is provided for bicycles, sewing machines and many
situations in which economy of space is desirable. The rings 3 and 7 that confine
the balls being securely connected together enables the balls to be readily handled
or inserted and removed in a body with great ease, thus avoiding the annoyances
and difficulties resulting from a separate handling of the balls and which would
be incurred by placing them in the bearing separately instead of in a body.
Referring to Figures 3, 4 and 5 which illustrate a modification of my invention
the numeral 1 designates the spherical rollers or balls for resisting thrust or end
pressure; 2 the spherical rollers or balls for sustaining radial pressure and 3 an
annular ball-carrying cage in which the balls for supporting or resisting radial
pressure are placed so that they can be handled in a body and be free to revolve in
all directions and bear against and roll upon the concentric surfaces between which
they are located.
The numeral 4 denotes a ring that is screw threaded for a portion of its width
either externally, as shown in Figures 3 and 4 or internally, as shown in Figure 5;
the said ring 4 being thus adapted to be detachably connected with a corresponding
internally or externally screw threaded portion of a shouldered tubular or annular
piece 5, which together with the ring 4, is adapted to surround a shaft or axle. It
will be seen that the ring 4 may thus be located either within one end of the
shouldered tubular piece 5, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, or on the outside of one
end of said shouldered tubular piece as shown in Figure 5, the screw threaded
connection in either case, permitting them to be readily joined or separated. The
tubular piece 5 is provided near one end with an internal or external annular
shoulder 6, and at or near its other end with an internal or external annular
shoulder according to the position in which the ring 4 is to be attached. The
annular shoulder 6 forms one of the plane surfaces against which the balls 1 bear
and upon which they roll for the purpose of resisting or sustaining thrust or end
pressure, the other plane surface being formed either by the side of a collar 8 on
the shaft or axle 9, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, or by the interior of a bearing 10
or the other stationary or rotary part, as shown in Figure 5. The annular
shoulder 7 and the opposite face or end of the detachable ring 4 serve to confine
the annular cage 3 in which are located the balls 2 that bear against and roll upon
concentric surfaces, as shown, for the purpose of supporting or resisting radial
pressure. It will thus be seen that the ring 4 and tubular shouldered piece 5 are
so arranged and connected as to form two annular channels or cavities for receiving
the two separate and distinct sets or groups of balls for sustaining end thrust and
radial pressure. The annular channel or cavity for receiving the balls 1 is formed
mostly in the end of the tubular shouldered piece 5 and is completed by the
attached ring 4; and in order to hold these balls in position and yet permit them
to revolve freely in all directions the adjacent or opposite outer edges of the ring 4
and tubular piece 5 are flared toward each other as shown, so as to contract the
open side of the annular cavity in which the balls 1 are placed and thereby
prevent them from falling out when the parts 4 and 5 and handled or removed
from the shaft. The cage 3, for holding the balls 2 is arranged in the annular
channel or cavity formed by the ring 4 and the shoulder 7 of the tubular piece 5
and this channel may be either internal as shown in Figures 3 and 4 or external, as
shown in Figure 5. In the cage may be placed a single circular series or group
of balls 2 for sustaining radial pressure, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, or as shown
in Figure 3, the said cage may contain more than one circular series or group
of balls.
It is obvious that the detachably connected ring 4 and shouldered tubular piece 5
may be arranged either to rotate or to be at rest with relation to the shaft or axle
or other stationary or rotary part to which said devices are applied.
As shown in Figures 3 and 4 the ball confining parts 4 and 5 may be separate
from the shaft or axle, either being free to rotate on the other; or, as shown in
Figure 5, the said detachably connected parts 4 and 5 may be detachably secured

page_text: either to a fixed or rotary shaft. In Figure 5 I have shown the shouldered tubular
piece 5 and the shaft or axle 9 fastened together by a screw threaded connection,
but it is obvious that they may be detachably connecied by other means.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7 which illustrate ball bearings adapted more
particularly for application to the hubs and axles of vehicles, the numeral 1
designates an axle spindle provided with a collar 2 at its inner end. The axle
spindle is preferably made of metal and formed or provided with a hardened
surface.
The ends of the hub 3 are recessed, as shown, and in the interior of the hub is
secured a hardened metallic sleeve, lining or bushing 4, the ends of which, as shown
in Figure 6 may project somewhat into the recesses formed in the hub ends.
In the construction shown in Figure 6 a circular series or group of balls 5 is
confined between the collar 2 and a ring 6 that is screwed on a screw threaded
portion of the said collar. The opposite edges of the open side of the recess thus
formed by the collar 2 and ring 6 are flared toward each other, as shown so as to
confine the balls 5 in such a manner that they will be capable of revolving freely
in all directions and may be removed in a body with the axle spindle.
Figure 7 shows a slight modification in which the collar 2 of the axle spindle is
formed with an annular recess 7 to receive an annular cage 8 in which are confined
the balls 5 that project laterally in both directions to bear against and roll upon
plane surfaces for the purpose of resisting thrust or end pressure. The hardened
plane surfaces against and between which the balls 5 revolve are furnished by
the vertical wall of the collar 2 on one side and the end of the sleeve 4 on the
other side.
In the inner end of the hub is placed an annular packing 9 that may abut against
the ring 6 as shown in Figure 6 or against the collar 2 as shown in Figure 7 for
the
purpose of forming a close joint and excluding dust and moisture.
Between the hub and axle spindle I place one or more annular cages 10 in
which are confined a number of spherical rollers or balls 11 that are adapted to
revolve freely in all directions in bearing contact with the hardened concentric
surfaces of the hub and axle, for the purpose of sustaining radial pressure and
obviating the objectionable effects of friction. It will be seen that the length
of the cage or cages 10, and the number of the balls 11 confined therein is such
that the said balls have sufficient room for free lateral play so as to distribute the
friction and wear uniformly.
The wheel hub is held on the axle by means of a cap or nut 12 screwed on the
screw threaded end of the axle spindle. As shown in Figure 6 a number of
balls 13 are confined in the recessed inner face of the nut or cap 12 by means of a
ring 14 screwed on an externally threaded portion of the said nut or cap.
The opposite edges of the open side of the annular recess in which the balls 13
are placed are flared toward each other so as to confine the said balls in such a
manner as to permit them to be removed in a body with the cap or nut 12 and
attached ring 14 and yet permit the balls to revolve freely in all directions. The
said balls are for the purpose of resisting thrust or end pressure.
In the modification shown in Figure 7 the inner face of the nut 12 is provided
with an annular recess 15, to receive a cage 16 in which are confined the balls 13
that project laterally in both directions to bear against and roll on the hardened
plane surfaces of the said cap or nut 12 and the adjacent end of the sleeve 4 in
the hub.
In the outer end of the hub is inserted an annular packing 17 against which may
abut the ring 14 as shown in Figure 6 or the cap or nut 12 as shown in Figure 7,
thereby forming a close joint and excluding dust and moisture.
If preferred, the balls 11 for sustaining radial pressure need not be arranged
along the whole of the concentric bearing surfaces. They may be placed in a cage
located only at one end of the radial bearing and the remaining space between the
hub and the axle spindle or shaft be occupied by a loose sleeve or collar, or there
may be a cage of balls at each end of the bearing, as shown in Figure 6, and a

page_text: loose sleeve or collar 18 placed on the axle spindle between the said cages. I may
also supply with balls 11 only some of several short cages 10 or one or more
compartments of a long cage and leave the other cages or cage compartments
empty as in many cases it may not be necessary to fill the space between the
concentric surfaces with balls.
The ball carrying cages 8, 10 and 16 may be of any suitable construction, as
shown, for instance, in prior British Letters Patent No. 20508 A.D. 1890.
It will be seen that the separate groups of balls 5 and 13 for resisting thrust or
end pressure are so arranged as to surround the shaft or axle and that they are
located and confined in annular recesses at the opposite ends of the hub in position
to revolve freely between and against the hardened plane bearing surfaces and
take the thrust or end pressure from both ends of the hub or other rotary part.
It will also be observed that the several sets or groups of balls for resisting radial
pressure or for resisting thrust are each removable in a body with their confining
or retaining devices, thus adding greatly to the convenience of handling such balls
in fitting the parts of a ball bearing of this character.
Each ball of the several groups is so arranged with relation to the bearing
surfaces as to bear thereon only at two diametrically opposite points whereby a
wedging action of the balls is avoided and the friction and wear greatly
diminished.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated by my
foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a ball bearing, the combination with a circular group of spherical
rollers or balls for sustaining radial pressure or weight and another circular group
of balls for resisting end thrust, of connected rings or annular pieces having
surfaces concentric with the axis of the rotating part and other surfaces per-
pendicular to the said axis the said surfaces forming channels for retaining the
balls in groups or circular series of different diameters and in different planes, and
whereby the said balls and their retaining rings are removable in a body,
substantially as described.
Second. In a ball bearing, the combination with an axle or shaft, and a hub or
other part surrounding the said axle or shaft and provided with a surface 11
concentric with the axle or shaft and a plane surface 12 perpendicular to the said
surface 11 of the detachably connected rings 3 and 7 secured to the axle or shaft
and provided in different planes with annular channels of different diameters, and
the circular groups of spherical rollers or balls 8 and 9 arranged in the said
channels and removable in a body with the said connected rings, substantially as
described.
Third. A ball bearing constructed substantially as described with reference to
any one of the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and operating as
specified.
Dated this 28th day of December 1801
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.