An Automatic Lubricating Arrangement for Ball Bearings.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application 5th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 11th Feb., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Automatic Lubricating Arrangement for Ball Bearings.
We, ALBERT WENCK, of 36, Kaiserstrasse, Magdeburg, Germany, Merchant, and
OTTO VON GIESE, of 101, Uhlenhorst, Hofweg, Hamburg, Electrical Chemist, 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 lubrication of ball bearings presents special difficulties owing to the fact
that the balls are difficult to get at and that there is, on account of the mode at
present adopted of constructing such ball bearings, no space available for storing
a sufficient quantity of lubricating matter.
The object of this invention is to provide a lubricating arrangement for ball
hearings which, whilst being simple in construction, shall be capable of retaining
a quantity of lubricating material for a long period without such material being
polluted with dust and dirt, and shall, further, be capable of supplying the lubri-
cant to the bearings only in such quantities as shall give a proper and efficient
lubrication.
The object of the invention is effected by making the wheel axle hollow, instead
of solid as at present, and filling the hollow with a suitable lubricant which is
carried to the bearings, in the proper quantities, by means of a wick or its
equivalent.
And in order that our said invention may be properly understood we have here-
unto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section taken through the bearing and hub of a cycle
wheel and showing the lubricating arrangement.
Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line A-B Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken through another construction of cycle
wheel bearing and showing the lubricating arrangement.
Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line C-D Fig. 3.
The wheel axle a, as shown on the drawing, is made hollow and the cavity b
filled with a lubricant which, owing to the fact that the ends of the axle are
closed by screws c, is retained in an air and dust tight condition so that it is, on
the one hand, prevented from evaporating and on the other hand, kept free from
dust. The balls e, which run on the cones d, are lubricated by means of an oil
feeder f, which passes, in the manner shown on the drawings, through the vertical
openings leading to the interior of the axle. The oil feeder, which can be made
of felt, sponge, wick material, or such like, brings the necessary quantity of the
lubricant to the bearings to ensure a proper lubrication. The hub g, carrying the
spokes g', does not require to be altered in construction from the present style.
By this arrangement not only are the ball bearings thoroughly and constantly
lubricated but the balls are enclosed dust tight between the cups and cones.
As illustrated at Figs. 3 and 4 the lubricating arrangement can also be used with
advantage when safety rings i are employed for the purpose of preventing the balls
moving out of place. The rings i are so made that the lubricant is allowed to
pass from the oil feeder f to the balls c.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. An automatic lubricating arrangement for ball bearings in which the lubri-
cant is stored in the axle, which latter is hollowed out for its reception, and is
carried to the balls by means of an oil feeder, substantially as herein before set
forth.
2. In an arrangement for lubricating ball bearings, such as claimed in Claim 1,
the closing of the ends of the hollow axle dust and air tight by means of screws,
and the distribution of the lubricant to the balls by means of an oil feeder (f)
passing through vertical holes (h) made in the axle, substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 4th day of January 1899.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.