Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th June, 1897-Accepted, 28th Aug., 1897
I JOHN MCALPINE of 30 Horace Road Forest Gate E. Engineer do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My present invention has reference to improvements in bearings of all kinds and
is adapted for use more especially in connection with bicycles and horseless
carriages.
It consists in the combination of balls and rollers so arranged as to give increased
speed to the vehicle at a reduction of the power required to propel it.
In applying my invention to a bicycle I fit a collar at each end of the spindle
inside the hub face the collars being recessed or grooved to receive the balls.
Over each set of balls a grooved or recessed roller is fitted that moves with every
motion of the balls on which they rest. Around the rollers I place another row of
balls on which the wheel revolves. Thus the bearing of the wheel is two sets of
balls with a movable roller between, at each end of the spindle; instead of a fixed
spindle as at present in general use. The continuous motion of balls and rollers
reduces the friction on the wheel and lessens the power required to propel the
vehicle, and thus increased speed is obtained with less wear and tear.
The principle of my invention can be extended indefinitely, that is to say:-
the sets of rollers and sets of balls can be inorcased as often as required.
Rollers may also be substituted in place of the outer sets of balls if desired. I
do not confine myself to placing the bearing at each end of the spindle inside the hub,
as the bearings may be fitted anywhere within the hub casing most convenient.
My improvement may be applied to bearings of every description such as for
instance: Carriages, Tram cars, Railway vehicles, Perambulators, Blook sheaves,
Steering gear sheeves, Shafts, Engine bearings.
Dated this 18th day of August 1896.
I, JOHN MCALPINE, of 30, Horaco Road, Forest Gate, in the County of Essex,
30 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:-
My invention relatos to bearings especially designed for use in connection with
bicycles and horseless carriages but also applicable for use upon or in connection
Price T

page_text: with ordinary carriages, tram-cars, railway vehicles, perambulators, block sheaves,
stearing gear sheaves, shafting, engines and the like, the object of my invention
being to reduce friction and thereby enable the driving power to be utilized moro
efficiently than with ordinary bearings.
In carrying out my invention I combine a roller and balls in a novel manner the
roller being concentric with the shaft whilst the balls are arranged between the
shaft and the roller and between the roller and the casing.
To enable my invention to be fully understood. I will describe the same as
applied to the hub of a cycle wheel, reference being had to the accompanying
drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 is an end elevation of the axle and hub; and,
Figure 2 a longitudinal section of the same.
a is the fixed axle and b, b are collars adjustable upon the said axle, c is a roller
which as shewn is composed of two rings d, d carried upon the ends of a sleeve;
e is the wheel hub or outer casing of the bearing and g, g, h, h are the balls between
the collars band the rings d of the roller c and between the said rings d of the
roller c and the hub e respectively, the faces of the collars, b, 6 the rings d, d and
the hub with which the balls come in contact being suitably shaped to form the
races for the balls and to permit of the adjustment. With this arrangement it will
be understood that the motion between the axle and the hub instead of being taken
up by one set of balls, as has hitherto been usual, is divided between two sets of
balls and the roller c which floats between the said balls so that the wear and tear
are greatly reduced.
In the drawing I have represented the bearing as having one roller and two sets
of balls but it is to be understood that two or more rollers and a corresponding
number of sets of balls may be used; also instead of the balls 9, 9 and h, h I may
use small cylindrical antifriction rollers the faces of the collars b, of the rings d, d
and of the hub, with which the balls come in contact, being formed to correspond.
In the arrangement illustrated the ball races are arranged at the sides of the hub
which latter has its ends formed to enclose the parts; it is to be understood,
however, that the races may be placed at any other suitable point inside the hub
casing.
When the invention is applied as a bearing for a rotating shaft the outer casing
is suitably fixed in a plummer block or other holder.
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 ]
claim is:
1. A bearing having a roller arranged concentric with the shaft passing through
the said bearing, antifriction balls or rollers being arranged between the shaft and
the said concentric roller and between the said concentric roller and the outer
casing, substantially as described.
2. A bearing having a roller and antifriction balls arranged and operating
substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing.
3. The modification of my invention wherein two or more concentric rollers 4
having antifriction balls or rollers between them and between the outer roller and
the casing and the inner roller and the shaft, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of June 1897
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.