Improvements in Ball-bearings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2.th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
Improvements in Ball-bearings.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL, of Ferndale, Church Road, Moseley, near
Birmingham, Warwick, England, Managing Director of the Cycle Components
Manufacturing Company Limited, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
My invention relates to ball-bearings and provides an improved method of
adjusting the pressure of the balls against the bearing surface of the ball-race.
My said invention is applicable to bearings of that kind in which the spindle
rotates and the outer case is stationary and forms a bracket for the bearing.
The object of my invention is to facilitate the separate and individual adjustment
of each of the bearings.
According to my invention instead of using a single tube to carry the ball-races
as heretofore I provide two independent tubes each of about half the length of the
usual single tube, one ball-race being held in the outer end of each of said tubes.
The tubes are contained within the outer shell or case which forms the bearing
bracket; said bracket is split longitudinally and is provided with clamping bolts
or studs at each end thereof whereby the contained tubes can be gripped and
retained in any desired position within the outer case and prevented from rotating
or moving axially therein. By slackening either bolt the corresponding inner tube
can be adjusted without disturbing the other tube which is retained by the other
bolt.
To enable the two tubes carrying the ball-races to
with outwardly projecting pins, one on each tube,
slots formed in the outer case or bearing bracket.
opposite directions, the inclination depending on the
is desired to be able to give to the hearings.
be adjusted I provide them
which pins project through
The said slots are inclined in
amount of adjustment that it
To adjust one of the bearing tubes, all that is required is to slack the corre-
sponding bolt in the outer casing and thus allow that half of the bearing tube to
be rotated by means of its pin through a small distance which is limited by the
length of the before mentioned slots in the outer bracket. When so rotated the
tube will move a distance axially depending on the inclination of the slot.
It is evident that no dust can enter the bearing either through the above
mentioned slots in the outer case or through the longitudinal opening in the same,
as the inner tubes cover such openings.
Dated this 28th day of July 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Ball-bearings.
I, ROBERT FREDERICK HALL of Ferndale, Church Road, Moseley, near
40 Birmingham, Warwick, England, Managing Director to the Cycle Components
Manufacturing Company, Limited, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
Pin1

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention has relation to ball-bearings and consists of an improved method
of adjustably setting the balls against the bearing surface of the ball races.
The primary object of my invention is a rectilinear adjustment.
In carrying out my invention in connection with a bottom bracket, the casing
or tubular shell part, has open ends, longitudinally split, and fitted and provided
with sleeve bearings or adjustable ball races through the medium of inclined slot or
slots, into which a stud or equivalent carried by the adjustable sleeve of the
adjustable ball race, passes.
Thus the sleeves or tubes are contained within the outer shell or casing which
forms the bearing bracket; said bracket is split longitudinally and is provided
with clamping bolts or studs at each end thereof, whereby the contained sleeves or
tubes can be gripped and retained in any desired position within the outer body
casing and prevented from rotating or moving axially therein. By slackening
either bolt the corresponding inner sleeve or tube can be adjusted without
disturbing the other sleeve or tube which is retained by the other bolt.
To adjust one of the bearing tubes, all that is required is to slack the corre-
sponding bolt in the outer casing and thus allow that half of the bearing tube to
be rotated by means of its pin through a small distance which is limited by the
length of the before mentioned slot or slots in the outer bracket.
rotated the tube will move a distance axially depending on the inclination of the
slot.
When so
It is evident that no dust can enter the bearing either through the above
mentioned slots in the outer case or through the longitudinal opening in the same,
as the inner tubes cover such openings.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in longitudinal vertical
section, a bottom bracket fitted with rectilinear ball bearing adjustments, made
according to one form of my improvements.
The body casing which is stationary, and the spindle which is rotatory, are fitted
or provided with ball bearings, and with the races made in the form of barrels or
sleeves, adapted to slide axially within the ends of the body casing, which are split,
and provided with clamping devices, for securing the said races in their adjusted
positions.
Figure 2 represents a topside plan of Figure 1, showing the slot for effecting the
fine or setting-up adjustment.
Figure 3 is an end elevation of the left hand end of the said bracket.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in Figures 1 to 3 of
the drawings.
a are the ball races, consisting of cup-shaped and sleeve body parts a³, with their
opposed open ends a directed inwardly, and with their pierced ends a' directed
outwardly, and through which the neck c', of the spindle c passes.
b is the body
casing, in which one of the said cupped and sleeve races is longitudinally
adjustable.
Now the ends of the casing are longitudinally split at 61, and have lugs b²,
through eyes b³ in which cross bolts or pins 64, pass, for the clamping of the said
races a, within the open ends of the casing b.
Now the spindle chas a pair of collars c³, between the outside races c³ of which,
and the contact races a¹ of the sleeve a, ball bearings & come.
The left hand and adjustable end of the cupped and sleeved ball race, has made
fast with it a hollow stalk or peg e, which takes through an inclined slot 66, made
through the shell of the left hand end of the casing b. This stalk or peg, besides
forming the peg for the adjustment, also serves as an entrance for the passage of
lubricant to the interior, and is closed by a cap e¹.
The ball race at the right hand end of the bracket is unadjustable, by the
clamping pin 6, at that end taking into an annular groove or channel as, sunken
within the outer periphery of the sleeved ball race a.

page_text: The adjustment of the left hand end is performed inwards and in the direction of
the arrow.
In setting up the adjustment, slacken the clamping pin 6 on the left hand side
of the bracket when the split end will expand, and allow the ball race a to be
adjusted by giving the same a part rotatory movement, by the stalk or peg e, and
by travelling up the slot 6, traverses its ball race axially, and by it adjust
simultaneously both ball bearings. This done then tighten up the clamping screw
pin 6, when the parts are clamped in their adjusted and set-up positions.
Figure 4 represents in longitudinal vertical section a further form of my inven-
tion, in which the adjustment of the ball races is made outwardly instead of
inwardly.
a are sleeved ball races, taking within the open ends 6, of the bracket casings b.
c is a spindle, with collars c³, between which and the contact races a', of the
sleeve a, ball bearings d, come. e is the stalk or peg. made fast with the adjustable
ball race at the left hand end of the bracket, and taking into an inclined slot 6º,
formed at the left hand end of the casing b.
The casing ends are split and arranged the same as the preceding arrangement.
The setting-up and adjustment is performed by the traversing of the left end of the
sleeved race as indicated by the direction of the arrow.
It is understood that the race at the right hand end of the bracket is made fast
as in the preceding arrangement.
Figure 5 represents in-longitudinal vertical section, a bracket with adjustments
made according to a still modified form of my improvements.
Figure 6 represents the adjustable sleeved race, separately.
a are ball races as before, fitted within the open ends 68, of the bracket
casing b. The right hand race is made fast or fixed, whilst the left hand race is
adjustable and has cut within its outer periphery, au helical or inclined groove a',
into which the clamping pin 64 at that end, passes, so that by rotating the said left
hand end race, by a forked or other tool taking into the holes as, a part rotatory
and an advanced movement is given to it, when the clamping means of the split
part at the said adjustable end, is loosened.
c is the spindle, with collars c³, and with ball bearings d, coming between the
races and the outer side shoulders of them.
Figure 7 represents a safety bottom bracket, provided with adjustable means,
made in accordance with a still further form of my improvements.
Figure 8 is a topside plan of Figure 7.
Figure 9 shows the excentric adjusting boss.
The means of adjustment is performed in this modified form through an
excentric, which gives the necessary traverse to the adjustable race, whereby the
ball bearings at both ends of the bracket, are simultaneously set-up at one
operation.
a are the ball races as before, with the right hand end adjustable and the left
hand end made fast. ba bracket casing, with the open ends 6, fitted with the said ball
races, and with the adjustable one having a boss e, working within a sinking e³, and
having upon its underside an excentric peg e³, which takes into a piercing or hole 6º,
made in the casing 6, so that by rotating the excentric boss e, when the split at the
adjustable end of the casing is slackened, and a traverse of the adjustable ball
race is effected, hence the setting-up of the ball bearings d, located between the
collars of the spindle c, and the made fast and adjustable ball races a. After
the necessary adjustment has been made and the ball bearings set up thereby, the
adjustable ball race is then made fast by clamping as before.
Figure 10 represents a still further modified form of my invention.
a is an adjustable ball race, working within an open end 65, of a bracket casing b,
having a slot a through it, wherein a pinion e, whose teeth engage with those of
the rack a, so that by rotating the said pinion e, the necessary longitudinal
adjustment is effected.
c is the spindle, the collars, and d the ball bearings.

page_text: Figure 11 represents a modified form of ball race, which is spilt and self
expansible, and provided with a lining.
a is the ball race, with an inside contraction or choking a¹, and a lining a², with
a stalk or peg e, and having a longitudinal split a³.
Figure 12 represents a still further modified form of ball race, in which the lining
is secured by the turning over of the metal at the end of the same.
a is the ball race with a lining a² and a turned-over end a¹.
Figure 13 represents a bottom bracket with ball races at both ends adjustable.
a are adjustable ball races, with pegs or stalks e, made fast with them, and
taking through longitudinal and inclined slots 66, made through the walls of the
body casing b. c is the spindle.
The bracket is fitted alike unto Figures 1, 2 and 3, but with adjustable ball races
at both ends.
By making the ball races in the form of long sleeves, with extended and plain
bearing surfaces upon their outer circumferences, the same are kept rigid, and dust
incursion between them and the casing is prevented.
The application of my invention to other ball bearings, differs in no essential
respect from its application to that of a safety bottom bracket.
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 :-
:-
First. Ball bearings, employing in connection with the casing or hollow body
part of the same, plain surfaced and barrel sleeve races, working within the like
inside plain ends of the casing, substantially as and for the purpose as set forth.
Secondly. Ball bearings, with an end of the casing fitted with adjustable and
plain surfaced barrel sleeve races, which have a part sliding and part rotatory
movement, or a sliding movement only, substantially as described and set forth in
the several figures of the drawings.
Thirdly. Ball bearings, effecting the adjustment of the ball bearing races, by a
stud, peg or its equivalent of the one or adjustable part, working against or within
an inclined slot of the fixed or body casing of the other part, or vice-versa,
substantially as and for the purpose as set forth.
Fourthly. In ball bearings, combining with the barrel sleeve race, as referred to
in the preceding claims, of a cam or excentric stud, whereby the adjustment of
the said barrel sleeve race is effected, substantially as described and set forth in
Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Fifthly. In ball bearings, combining with the barrel sleeve race, as referred to
in the preceding claims, of a toothed rack and pinion, as set forth in Figure 10.
Sixthly. In ball bearings, the combination with plain surfaced sleeve ball
races, of split ended casings or body parts, drawn together by clamping screw pins,
substantially as described and set forth.
Seventhly. The improvements in ball bearings as described and set forth in the
several figures of the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of April 1895.