Improvements in Ball-bearings.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
Improvements in Ball-bearings.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM POMROY, of Number 291, Allyn Street, in the City of
Hartford, County of Hartford, and State of Connecticut, United States of
America, Merchant, 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:-
The object of my invention is to provide a ball-bearing for axles, more especially
adapted for use on carriages and the like, that shall be simple and cheap as to
construction and one that can be easily taken apart or assembled for any purpose.
To this end my invention consists in the combination, in a ball-bearing axle, of
the several parts making up the device as a whole as more particularly hereinafter
described and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a view in longitudinal central section through the hub of the wheel
showing my improvements.
Figure 2 is a detail end view of the same with the nut and packing removed.
Figure 3 is a detail view in section through the ball-race on a line at right angles
to the section of Fig. 1.
In the accompanying drawing, the letter a denotes the end of an axle arm and
the hub of a wheel mounted thereon. The axle arm a is provided with an
enlarged portion or shoulder a' freely fitting in the inuer end of the hub of the
wheel. Within the hub band extending therethrough is a sleeve e each end of
which is recessed to form the inner section of the ball-case at each end of the hub.
The opening through this sleeve is preferably slightly larger than the axle arm
that extends therethrough, and the sleeve may be made in two sections if desired.
The outer section d of each ball-case is secured in each end of the hub b preferably
by means of screws e passing through the sleeve c or inner section of the ball-case
into the said outer section d. A second shoulder is formed in the inner section of
the ball-case against which the outer section d of the ball-case rests; and a nut &
screwed upon the extremity of the axle bears against the outer section d at the
outer end of the bearing preferably through a washer to hold it against its seat
on the said shoulder. A ball-race is thus formed between the two sections of the
ball-case at each end of the hub, balls g being located in the said ball-races. These
balls are preferably of a size to support the ball-case or sleeve on the axle-arm, so
as to leave a space between the axle-arm and said case or sleeve.
The washer, which may be made of any desired material, serves as a dust-guard
and is of such size as to cover the opening between the axle-arm and the outer
section d of the ball-case and thus prevent dust or dirt from entering therein. The
nuti is secured to the outer end of the axle arm, and is preferably provided on its
inner side with an annular flange ¹, this flange being of a diameter to closely
embrace the dust guard h. The outer section d of the ball case snugly fits within
the inner section as shown, a flange on the inner section c extending outward to the
end of the hub of the wheel. A dust guard may also be placed between the ball
case and the shoulder on the axle arm at the inner end of the hub if desired.
The ball bearings rest and run directly on the surface of the axle arm which is
hardened to resist wear but in case there should be any wear of the surface the hub
may be set up nearer to the collar a¹ by taking out one of the washers & located
against the inner face of the collar a' and between it and the outer section d of the

page_text: ball case.
This adjustment of the hub on the arm changes the place of bearing of
the balls on the surface of the axle arm; by adding other washers the place of
bearing can be shifted in the opposite direction.
It is obvious that if one of the washers A be removed, it or its equivalent must be
substituted at the opposite end of the hub in order to cause the nut to bear against
the outer section d of the ball-case, and if more washers k be placed on the axle
arm a filling will have to be used between the end of the arm and the nut i in order
to cause the latter to seat itself and not bind upon the moving parts of the 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 combination with an axle arm, a hub, the inner section of a ball case
secured within the hub, the outer section of the ball case located within the inner
section and resting against a shoulder thereon, balls located between the two sections
and bearing against the axle arm, a nut secured to the outer end of the axle arm
and bearing against the end of the inner section of the ball case and against the
outer section of said case either directly or through a suitable washer, all sub-
stantially as described.
2. In combination with an axle arm, a hub, the inner section of a ball case
secured therein, the outer section of a ball case located within the inner section and
resting against a shoulder therein, balls located between the outer and inner
sections, a nut secured to the outer end of the arm, and bearing against the end of
the ball case, and having an annular flange located on the inner side of the nut and
bearing either directly or through a washer against the outer section of the ball
case whereby the latter is held against the shoulder on the inner section, all
substantially as described.
3. In combination with an axle arm, a hub, the inner section of a ball case
secured therein, the outer section of a ball case secured against a shoulder within
the inner section, balls located between the two sections of the case and the axle
arm, a nut bearing against the end of the inner section of the ball case, and having
an annular flange located on the inner surface of the nut and bearing either directly
or through a washer against the outer section of the ball case whereby a dust guard
chamber is provided within the nut, all substantially as described.
Dated this Fourteenth day of December 1894.