Improvements in Ball Bearings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
Improvements in Ball Bearings.
I, ANTON BOLZANI, Machine-Manufacturer, of Invalidenstrasse 118, Berlin, N.,
Empire of Germany, 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:
In the case of ball bearings as used at present the re-adjustment of the ball
races when worn is very difficult and almost impossible to anyone except a
mechanic. With some of the cycle bearings it is useless for the rider, unless
he himself is familiar with mechanical matters, to attempt such re-adjustment.
The present invention relates to a ball bearing, the special construction of
which renders it possible to evenly re-adjust it by means of a key, or even a
pocket knife and which besides offers the advantage that in doing so the pressure
on both the sets of balls is distributed perfectly.
The bearing is represented in the accompanying drawing:
Figure 1 illustrates an axial section of a ball-bearing for a
by way of example;
cycle, chosen here
Figure 2 a view of the axle showing the inner races and a partial section of
the pedal crank, while,
Figure 3 is a cross section of the line A-B of Figure 2.
a
The bearing contains, as usual, two sets or rings of balls a arranged between
the outer ball race b and the inner race c. The former may be constituted by
ring of angular section and the latter by a ball cone; the shape of the bearing
parts are, however of no special importance, as long as they are so constituted
that by means of an axial displacement they can be re-adjusted.
In the case of the bearings used at present the inner races are either solid
with the axle or immovably fixed on them, while the outer bearing parts are
movably arranged for the purpose of re-adjustment. According to the present
invention the outer races are fixedly arranged in the bearing block or casing:
in this case, in the tubular casing d. i.e. they are connected with it by means
of a screw thread but are immovably fixed, after mounting, by set screws.
The two inner races, in this case, the cones c, the surfaces of which are inclined
in opposite directions, are mounted on the axle e which engages them by means
of a screw thread, the thread of one of the race rings or tubes, being cut in a
direction opposite to that of the other, in such a manner that by turning the
axle in one or the other direction the movable bearings will be moved, either
towards or from each other. The pedal cranks f g are also loosely arranged on
the axle e and are prevented from slipping off by screws h extending into an
annular groove provided for that purpose on the axle. In order to connect
the cranks with the inner bearings c in such a manner that one is involved in
the rotatory movement of the other thereby forming for the purpose of rotation
a single part, they are provided with claw or clutch couplings. i.e., the parts
are provided with projections kl, m. n engaging with each other, the parts k, l, m
being movable or adjustable in a longitudinal or axial direction, but connected
with each other as regards rotatory movement.

page_text: It is evident that in this arrangement the axle e is held only against bending
and not against torsional efforts, and that it cannot be turned unintentionally
with the cranks after the coupling has been effected. And it is also clear that in
turning the axle, which can be effected by means of a screw driver applied to
the notch o provided on the faces of the axle, a re-adjustment of the bearings
may be effected, i.e., a relative movement from each other of the inner bearing c
takes place in consequence of which the ball races become reduced in width.
It will therefore be easy for anyone to re-adjust, for instance, such a cycle
bearing by turning the axle with a screw driver or the like until the parts run
easily and evenly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A ball bearing, characterised by inner cone bearings screwed on an axle
or shaft provided with left and right handed screw threads, and forming a sleeve
in two parts, these parts or halves being provided with clutch projections
engaging with each other in such a manner that in turning the axle relatively
to the bearings for the purpose of re-adjusting the bearings, the movable bearings
will be displaced only in an axial direction, while any tendency to rotatory
displacement is avoided.
2. A ball bearing comprising two inner cone bearings on the shaft and fixed
outer bearings and clutch projections as kl and m n on the, rotatory parts sub-
stantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The complete ball bearing for cycles substantially as described and illus-
trated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1899.
BOULT, WADE & KILBURN,
Agents for the Applicant.