Improvements in and relating to the Bottom Brackets and Hubs of Cycles and for the like purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept. 1898
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
Improvements in and relating to the Bottom Brackets and Hubs of
Cycles and for the like purposes.
I, ALFRED HENRY WEBSTER, of 394, Monument Road, Edgbaston, Birming-
ham, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in bottom brackets and hubs for cycles
and other suitable purposes and refers to an arrangement of ball bearings used
in connection with these parts and which is especially applicable to cycles.
Referring firstly to the bottom bracket by my method it is not tapped as usual
but made plain inside.
The internal cylinder which passes through the bottom bracket is screw
threaded at each end to receive cups or caps correspondingly wormed at either
end of which are located the ball bearings.
These cups are of a diameter equal to the diameter of the bottom bracket and
are held firmly in place therein by means of compression pins passing into and
through split clamps integral with the bottom bracket (or may be secured by
other suitable means).
The walls of said bottom bracket are split a certain distance horizontally at
each end, at the parts where the clamps are situated the split being continued
through the clamps this method affords means of compression when the vertical
compression pins are regulated. Or instead of this arrangement I may use external
lock rings and so dispense with the split ends and compression pins.
The internal cylinder which receives the axle of the chain wheel is adjusted
by a pin or screw which fits into and through a screwed hole in the underside of
the bottom bracket and takes into an indent or hole in the cup or cap and thus
keeps saune in position.
By this arrangement the bottom bracket is made absolutely dust proof and so
forms an oil reservoir for lubricating the axle of the chain wheel.
The
Similar means to the above are employed in connection with the hubs and the
screwed cups or caps and ball bearings will be similarly arranged, external locks
rings instead of the split ends and compression pins securing the parts.
hub consists of an outer shell or barrel, and an internal cylinder, a parallel
aperture or space is around these parts into which the bearing cups or caps fit
by being screwed onto the internal cylinder which keeps the parts together and
provides means of adjustment.
Another method of adjusting the hub consists in making a slot through the
wall of the outer shell, a ring is also provided which carries a securing lock,
which has a small peg at right angles to engage any one of a series of small holes

page_text: in the face or end of the cup or cap containing the ball bearings and so adjusts
the bearings.
Dated this 7th day of Sentember 1898
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to the Bottom Brackets and Hubs of
Cycles and for the like purposes.
I, ALFRED HENRY WEBSTER, of 394, Monument Road, Edgbaston, Birming- 1
ham, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement reference being had to the drawings
accompanying this specification and to the figures and letters shown thereon:-
My invention relates to improvements in bottom brackets and also to the hubs
of wheels of cycles and other vehicles and for other suitable purposes and refers
particularly to an arrangement of ball bearings and the method of adjustment
which I employ in connection with these parts and which is specially applicable
to cycles.
Figure 1 represents in longitudinal sectional elevation the bottom bracket and
oil tube.
Figure 2 represents the oil tube alone with casing removed.
Figure 3 represents a part sectional view of the bottom bracket.
Figure 4 represents a front elevation.
Figure 5 shows a compression pin.
Figure 6 represents in section the screwed cup in connection with my improved
bottom bracket.
Figure 7 plan of same.
Figure 8 represents in elevation a view of the oil tube and cups.
Figure 9 represents in longitudinal sectional elevation a hub of a wheel con-
structed according to my invention.
Figure 10 represents a modification.
Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a further modification.
Figure 12 an end view of same.
Referring firstly to the bottom bracket arrangement by my improved method
it is not tapped as usual but made plain inside. I employ an internal cylinder
or oil tube A through which the crank axle passes and which tube A is enclosed
by the outer casing of the bottom bracket B and is screw threaded A¹ at each
end for adjusting cups C that are correspondingly wormed at each end to engage.
Ball bearings are located at each end of the oil tube or internal cylinder A.
The adjusting cups C are of a diameter equal to the diameter of the centre part or
casing E of the bottom bracket and when the said cups C are screwed on to the
internal cylinder or oil tube A they are held firmly in place within the centre
part E by means of compression pins F passing into and through split clamps F
which are a part of the bottom bracket, as in the usual manner, or the oil tube A
and cups C may be secured by other suitable means such as external locking
rings. The walls E of said bottom bracket are also split a certain distance E¹
horizontally at each end which affords the means of compression when the com-
pression pins F are regulated for securing the cups C. The internal cylinder
1

page_text: or oil tube A which receives the crank axle or centre of the chain wheel is
adjusted and kept in place by a pin or screw Figure 1 which fits into a screwed
hole in the under side of the bottom bracket or centre casing of same and takes
into an indent or hole in the cup C and thus locates same and keeps it in position
so that the internal part or oil tube is prevented from rotating.
By this arrangement the bottom bracket is made absolutely dust proof and also
forms an oil reservoir by means of the cylinder or oil tube A the said oil tube being
straight conveys the oil directly onto the ball bearings and axle for lubricating
purposes.
Similar means to the above are employed in connection with the hubs for
wheels of cycles and the like.
Figure 9, 10, 11 and 12, illustrate the arrangement as applied to hubs of
wheels. I employ an outer shell or barrel (a) and internal cylinder or oil tube (b)
through which the axle (C) passes screwed adjusting cups (d) fit on to the screwed
ends of the internal cylinder (b) ball bearings (e) are located at each end of the
hub and are adjusted and kept in place by the said cups (d) external lock rings (f)
are employed for securing the parts a parallel aperture or space (1) intervenes
between the said outer shell (a) and tube (b) which allows of the bearing cups (d)
being fitted in and screwed on to the internal cylinder (b) which keeps all the
parts together and provides means of adjustment by the aid of the said adjusting
cups (d) and lock rings (f), one of which locks the sprocket. In Figure 10 I
shew a modified form of hub when used for a front wheel only, the other parts
are the same as already. described.
A further modification of wheel hub is shewn in Figures 11 and 12 which
consists in providing a slot (g) in the wall of the outer shell, lock rings (f) are
also provided, one of which carries a securing clamp (g) upon which is a small
peg (2) at right angles to engage any one of a series of small holes (/) in the
face or end of the adjusting cup (d) containing the ball bearings (e) and for the
purpose of adjusting the bearings.
It will be understood that the slot (g) in the outer shell (a) of the hub allows
the clamp (g) being operated. The said clamp is screw threaded similar to the
screw threads on the hub shell or casing to engage the locking ring (f) which
works between two shoulders (93) (g) on the clamp (g) to operate the said
clamp.
In order to adjust the ball bearings by unscrewing the lock ring (f) the peg
on clamp (g) is withdrawn from one of the holes (h) in the end of the cup (d)
thus enabling same to be rotated on the oil tube and adjusted as required. The
clamp travelling in the slot with the operation of the ring by reason of the
shoulders (g) (9*).
After adjusting and screwing up the bearing cup the locking ring and
clamp are again brought back to the original position and retained there by the
engagement of the peg (g²) on the clamp with any one of the holes (h).
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
(1) In bottom brackets of frames of cycles and for other vehicles the means of ad-
justment and lubrication of the bearings provided by screwing the cups on to the
internal cylinder which acts as an oil reservoir for lubricating the bearings and the
axle of the chain wheel and the means by which the axle adjustment cups and ball
bearings are all assembled together and inserted into a bottom bracket intact
and kept in position in said bottom bracket by small adjusting screw and by
compression pins and split clamps or by locking rings all in combination and in
manner substantially as set forth and illustrated in Figures 1 to 8 of the drawings.
(2) In wheel hubs of cycles and other vehicles the means of adjusting the bear-
ings provided by screwing the cups on to the internal cylinder which acts as an
oil reservoir for lubricating the bearings and the axle and the means by which

page_text: the axle adjustment cups and ball bearings are all assembled together and inserted
into a wheel hub intact and retained in position by locking rings all in com-
bination and operating in manner substantially as described and illustrated in
Figs. 9 to 12 of the drawings.
(3) In wheel hubs the means for adjusting the ball bearings consisting of the
slot in the outer shell of the hub the clamp and peg the locking rings the adjust-
ing cups the one provided with holes to engage the said peg all in combination
and operating in manner substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 11
and 12 of the drawings.
Dated this 7th day of June 1899
EDWD. J. PAYNE, & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,..
Patent Agents for the Applicant.