Improvements in Ball Bearings, specially applicable to Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896-1ccepted, 13th Mar., 1997
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings, specially applicable to Velocipedes.
1, FREDERICK WILLIAM SCHROEDER, of Newman Street, Newtown, near
Sydney, in the British Colony of New South Wales, Engineer, 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 and devices for adjusting and lubricating
them which though specially applicable to the wheels and driving axles of
velocipedes are also generally applicable to spindles revolving in bearings and to
wheels revolving around spindles.
I shall describe ball bearings according to this invention referring to the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a central section of one end of a wheel nave and spindle such as thint
in the fork of a bicycle. Figure 2 is a similar view of a modified construction.
Figure 3 is an internal front view of the fork-end of a bicycle.
Figure 4 is a section of bearing with, two sets of balls. Figure 4* is an end
view of this bearing.
Figure 5 is a central section of the pedal axle and bracket of a velocipede,
Figure 6 is a central section of a pedal axle and bearing.
Figure 7 is a front view of the device for holding the end of the spindle of the
driving wheel of a bicycle.
.
A (Figure 1) is the boss of a bicycle wheel in which. is fitted by soldering or
otherwise the ball race B. Fis the axle having at the end which is not shown a
cone for balls C in a race similar to B. The adjusting cone D has fitted in a
groove an elastic washer E made preferably of leather or it might be of elasti
metal, and its cover piece D' has serrations G adapted to engage like serrations H
made in the end of the fork H of a cycle. The ball race B has a groove or
enlargement B' and a contracted mouth B' through which is passed the washer E
when it is contracted or folded.
The contracted mouth B2 with the washer E internally covering it, effectually
prevents escape of the lubricant and also prevents the entrance of any dust or
grit. To adjust this bearing the nut is unscrewed and the fork H is strained
outwards until the serrations G and H are disengaged; the cone D is then turned
to the extent required to adjust the bearing; then the fork H' is allowed to spring
inwards and the nut F is tightened locking the bearing.
In the modification shewn in Figure 2 the cone D is screwed on the nave, but
it may be driven on a taper, in which case holes A' are provided for driving it off
when it is worn out. It might however be soldered or made integral with the
nave A. In the cone D is a groove for holding the elastic washer E. The ball
race B screws on to the end of the spindle F and has a contracted mouth B?
which is passed over the washer E allowing it to expand and bear internally
against the lip of B2. The outer face of the cone B* bas serrations G and the
fork H' has corresponding serrations H the spindle having a nut F
Figure 3 shows the face of the fork with serrations which may be more or less
fine as desired. Instead of the serrations being radially upon the face of the

page_text: fork they might be circumferentially around a projecting boss in corresponding
internal serrations,made in a hollow of the ball race. Or the serrations might be
outside a boss on the ball race and inside a hollow in the face of the fork.
Obviously with the construction shewn in Figure. 1, the serrations night be
similarly modified.
Referring to Figure 4 the boss A and cone D have a ball race B with two
concavities for two sets of baHC and Cx both of which may be used together or
one set may be used, and when the race way is worn out the other set may be
brought into use. This cone D has a groove for the elastic washer E bearing
internally against the lip of the contracted mouth B. Upon the cone is screwed
a separate cover J having serrations J of the same pitch as the serrations G on
the end of the cone D and adapted' as well as these to engage the serrations Hon
the fork H' so that both the cone D and the cover J' when once adjusted are
prevented from movement on the spindle. F. To prepare this bearing for use with
the two sets, of balls the nave A having therein the race B is laid upon its side.
After the spindle F is passed through, the first set of balls Care placed in the
first concavity of the race B, the cone D is screwed in so far that the second set
of the balls may be dropped in but will not pass down to the set C*; being
prevented by the larger diaineter of the cone where its two curves meet. The
cone can then be screwed farther on the spindle F until the adjustment of the
bearing is effected. The elastic washer E is then passed through the contracted
mouth B' so as to bear internally against the lip. The cover or end J' is then
screwed upon the cone D and fixed by means of the nut F¹ causing the serrations.H
to engage with the serrations G and J.
Referring to Figure 5 the revolving axle K has a cone part K against which
bear the balls C which are kept and adjusted to their position by meaus of the
race B screwed into the bracket L. The cone K' has a groove holding the elastic
washer E which runs in a recess for lubricant B'. The race B has holes Bs to
receive studs of a spanner and the cap M has corresponding holes M³ and it also
has a contracted mouth M.
The washer E by bearing internally against the lip of the mouth M² excludes
the dust and dirt from entering the bearing and prevents the exit of lubricant.
For adjustment the studs of a spanner are placed in holes M³ and the cap M is
slackened until holes M³ coincide with the holes B when the studs of the turn
spanner can be pushed through the holes M³ into the holes B3 and the cover M and
the race B can then be moved backwards or forwards as desired for adjustment.
The lock of the cotter-screw N being fastened as is well understood the studs of the
spanner are withdrawn from the holes Bs into the holes M³ and the cover M is
screwed up on the race B as a lock nut.
Referring to Figure 6, the axle O is screwed into a crank P and has at one end
a cone Dx integral with it and at the other end an adjusting cone D; at both ends
an elastic washer E in a lubricant cavity B' having a contracted mouth B³ which
has a cap D overlapping the cone D or D. The balls C bear against the races B
in the ends of the pedal bracket R. The adjustment of these bearings is effected
by means of the cone D aud the keeper or lock washer S having a D shaped
hole S' fitted over the end of the spindle O made with a flat O. This lock washer
or keeper has upon its inner face serrations H which fit upon similar serrations G
on the end D' of the cone D,, and outside this wasber S. is nut O for locking the
whole together. On the nut O being released the serrations H can be disengaged
from the serrations G and the cone D can be moved to adjust the bearing the
washer and nut being then replaced to lock the whole. In the crank end of the
spindle O is a screw oil cup or well Q from the end of which leads a passage Q
to about midway of the length of the spindle, both bearings being thus supplied
with lubricant.
In Figure 7 are shown serrations G on the face of the chain adjuster bearing or
support for the back or driving wheel of a bicycle, these serrations being of the

page_text: same character.as those shown in Figure 3 or modified as described so long as they
have a complementary part upon the end of the adjusting cone or adjusting race of
the nave of the driving wheel.
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. In a ball bearing, the combination with a race such as Ba set of balls such
as C and a spindle such as F having an adjustable cone such as D of a groove or
cavity for lubricant such as B baving a contracted mouth and an elastic washer
such as E adapted to pass through the mouth and to expand and bear internally
against the lip of the contracted mouth substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a ball bearing the combination with a race or way such as B a set of balls..
such as C and a spindle such as F having an adjustable cone such as D of the face-
of the cone having serrations such as G and the fork or support such as H' having
serrations such as H together with a nut such as F' on the spindle F for locking
the serrations G and H together substantially as and for the purpose set forth:
3. In a ball bearing the combination with a revolving boss or have having a cone
such as D a set of balls such as C and a spindle such as 'F, of an adjusting race B*
having therein a lubricant cavity such as B' and a contracted mouth such as B2:
and means for locking the race to the spindle substantially as describel and
illustrated.
4. In a ball bearing the combination with the adjusting or moving part upon the
fixed spindle of serrations on the face or circumferentially upon a boss or within a..
hollow on the face and complementary serrations upon the face or circumferentially
internal or external serrations within an annulus or around a boss upon the rigid
support, substantially as herein described.
5. In a ball bearing the combination of a race such us B having two concavities..
therein and two sets of balls such as C and C* a spindle such as F a regulating
cone such as D having two recesses or bays therein and a cap or cover such as J.
said cone and said cap adapted to be locked to a rigid support substantially as
described and illustrated.
6. In a ball bearing such as that set forth in the preceding (fifth) claim the
combination with an adjusting cone such as D and a cap or cover such as J' of
serrations such as G and J and corresponding serrations such as H on a
rigid support together with a nut such as F substantially as described and
illustrated.
7. The combination with a rigid spindle such as K a ball race or way such as B...
adapted to be screwed into a rigid support such as L and to be locked on it and a
set of balls such as C of a nut such as M (forming with the lead of the race such
as Ban oil cavity such as B') with a contracted mouth such as M' and means,
such as holes M and B3, for adjusting the race and locking thereon the cover M,.
substantially as described and illustrated.
8. The combination with a rigid spindle such as O a race such as B a set of
balle such as C an oil cavity such as B' with contracted mouth such as B² an elastic
washer such as E an adjusting cone such as D having a head such as D' of a
locking washer or keep such as S having a D shaped hole to fit over a flat such
as on the spindle and having radial or circumferential serrations adapted to
engage corresponding serrations upon the head such as D', substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
9. The combination with a rigid spindle such as O a revolving boss such as R.
and ball bearings such as those referred to in the preceding (eighth) claim of a
screwed oil cavity such as Q and passage such as Q', substantially as described and
illustrated.
10. In combination with a ball bearing and a chain adjuster or solid support of
serrations such as G or internal or external circumferential modifications of the

page_text: same adapted to engage corresponding serrations upon the adjusting part of the
ball bearing, substantially as herein described and illustrated.
Dated this 29th day of December 1896.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.