Improvements in Ball Bearings.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 19th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
We, ARTHUR JOSEPH SIMPSON, of Crabb's Cross, Redditch, in the County of
Worcester, and THE IXION COMPANY, LIMITED, of the same address, Cycle
Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
Our invention relates mainly to improvements in the construction of ball-
bearings, as applied to the wheels, crank-brackets, head, and pedals of cycles, and
other parts where balls are used, but our improved bearings are also applicable
to vehicles and apparatus of other descriptions.
To explain the nature of our invention, we will describe its application to the
wheel hub of a "safety" bicycle. In this case the hub rotates upon a fixed
spindle. A conical recess is formed within each end of the hub, and cones are
provided upon the spindle to enter the said recesses, the balls being placed
between the said conical recesses in the hub and the cones on the spindle.
One cone is ordinarily fixed upon, or made in one piece with the spindle, the
other cone being adjustable to take up wear.
Our invention consists in the means we employ for adjusting the movable cone.
We make the end of the spindle, to which the movable cone is applied, of
D shape in cross section that is to say a circular spindle with a longitudinal flat
face cut, or otherwise formed upon it, parallel with its axis. The cone is formed
with a similar D shaped aperture, so that it can slide upon the spindle, but cannot
turn round upon it.
A screw thread is cut upon the end of the spindle, preferably before the flat
face is formed thereon, and a nut is placed on the spindle behind the cone, so
that by screwing up the said mut the cone can be advanced to take up wear in
the balls or the coned surfaces between which they travel.
Although in the case above described, the spindle is fixed and the hub rotates,
it is obvious that our invention is equally applicable if the spindle rotates in a
fixed bearing, as for instance in the case of crank-bracket bearings, or the driving
wheel of an ordinary" bicycle.
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If desired, two or more cones on the same spindle can be made independently
adjustable in accordance with our invention.
Dated this 19th day of May 1891.
AMBROSE MYALL,
21, Cockspur Street, London, S. W., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
We ARTHUR JOSEPH SIMPSON of Crabbs Cross Redditch in the County of
Worcester Company Director and THE IXION COMPANY LIMITED of the same
address Cycle Manufacturers 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 :-
Our invention relates mainly to improvements in the construction of ball
bearings as applied to the wheels crank brackets and pedals of cycles but our
improved bearings are also applicable to vehicles and apparatus of other
description.
To explain the nature of our invention we will describe its application to the
wheel hub of a "safety' bicycle. In this case the hub rotates upon a fixed
22

page_text: spindle. A conical recess is formed within each end of the hub and cones are
provided upon the spindle to enter the said recesses the balls being placed between
the said conical recesses in the hub and the cones on the spin le.
One cone is ordinarily fixed upon or made in one piece
other being adjustable to take up wear.
the spindle the
Our invention consists of the means we employ for adjusting the moveable come.
We make the end of the spindle to which the moveable cone is applied of
D shape in cross section that is to say a circular spindle with a longitudinal flat
face cut or otherwise formed upon it parallel with its axis. The cone is formed
with a similar D shaped aperture so that it can slide upon the spindle but cannot
turn round upon it. Similar results can be obtained by forming the end of the
spindle to which the moveable cone is applied and the aperture in the cone square
triangular or other geometrical figure in shape or round with wo or more flat
surfaces thereon or by forming a groove in the spindle with a corresponding tongue
in the apperture of the cone to slide therein or by other well known means for
allowing the cone to slide.upon the spindle while preventing it from turning round
upon the spindle
In the accompanying drawing Figs. 1. 3 & 4 represent the moveable cone and A.
in each fig. represents different forms of the aperture made therein to slide upon a
spindle where end is of similar shape. Fig. 2 represents end and side views of the
spindle with the longitudinal flat surface cut upon it for the purpose of receiving
the cone represented in Fig. 1. In Fig. 5 C represents the moveable cone D the
nut screwed on to the spindle by turning which the cone is advanced to take up
wear and E represents the spindle with as the flat surface cut thereon.
A screw thread is cut upon the end of the spindle preferably before the flat face
or faces are formed thereon and a nut is placed on the spindle behind the cone so
that by screwing up the said nut the cone can be advanced to take up wear in the
balls or the conical surfaces between which they travel.
Although in the case above described the spindle is fixed and the hub rotates it
is obvious that our invention is equally applicable if the spindle rotates in a fixed
bearing as for instance in the case of crank bracket bearings or the driving wheel
of an ordinary" bicycle.
If desired two or more cones on the same spindle can be made independently
adjustable in accordance with our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The construction of the adjustable or moveable cone and spindle in manner
herein before described so that the cone cannot revolve or turn round the spindle
wholly or partly but moves longitudinally only.
2. The adjustment of the moveable cone to take up wear in the conical surfaces
or balls by means of a screw nut on the spindle immediately behind the moveable
cone.
In witness whereof I the said Arthur Joseph Simpson have hereunto set my
hand and seal and the common seal of the Ixion Company Limited has
been bereunto affixed this Eleventh day of February One thousand eight
hundred and ninety-two.
A. J. SIMPSON.
THE IXION COMPANY, LIMITED,
A. J. Simpson, Director.