Improvements in Wheel Bearings.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheel Bearings.
I, JOHN FRANCIS POPE, residing at 1647, West Harrison Street, in the City of
Chicago, State of Illinois, United States, North America, by profession a Civil
Engineer & Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as.
follows:-
This my invention relates to wheel bearings and is a modification upon one
described in a prior Specification No. 20655 of 1897. The modification consists, in
special relation to a bicycle, of the substitution of the ordinary toothed sprocket
wheel for the driving wheel called in the "prior Specification
"motion imparting
arms and the projections from the hub to meet these arms; and the making the
dust protecting plates also race plates for the ball bearing of the hub.
"
The invention consists of voluted or coiled springs encased in a cylinder having an
antifriction device commonly called ball bearing at each end on which revolves an
outer cylinder forming the hub of a wheel with spokes & fellies or tires attached
thereto in the usual manner. Hereafter the voluted or coiled springs will be called
springs and the cylinder in which they are encased the spring case.
Each spring has its volutes or rings formed around an opening not necessarily in
the centre of the spring; through this opening of a single spring or a series of
springs passes the axle of the wheel; the axle is thus also not necessarily in the
centre of the hub or wheel. The springs rest on or are supported on this axle.
Some of the springs are always in contact with the inner surface of the spring case,
others are only so when there is pressure on the axle, or, when the wheel is in use.
The whole length of the material forming the ring coils or volutes need not necessarily
be of the same dimension or cross section throughout its entire length. The outer
plate at each end of the hub which also forms part of the anti-friction device, also
serves the purpose of a dust protector to the inner areas of the hub and spring case.
The above description applies to the use of this invention for all wheel bearings.
In the drawing accompanying this Provisional Specification is shown its special
adaptability to a bicycle, especially to its driving wheel, or that to which the pro-
pelling power is applied.
In Fig. 1 is the axle. S, S1, S2 the voluted or coiled springs, having their
volutes or rings close together on the upper side of the axle, and diverging below it.
S, S are shown in contact with the spring case, which consists of the cylinder W
screwed on to the ball bearing frame gv which is open for the greater portion of its
circular area and has a projecting arm V screwed, as just mentioned, to the inner
cylinder W. The springs S$1, $2 only come in contact with the spring case
when pressure is put on the axle a. u are washers between the springs at the axle,
and t are thin rods or wires to keep the springs apart at bottom, one or two of these
will in general suffice between each pair of springs. e represents the space between.
the volutes or rings. f is the open space between the ball bearing frame gv and the
springs S. h is the outer cylinder or hub with its perforated rim n for attaching
the spokes. kis the sprocket or toothed driving wheel fixed on the hub on which the
chain from the larger sprocket wheel acts; k may either be cast with the hub, or, by

page_text: preference screwed on or otherwise fixed to it. p is the outer ball race plate and dust
protector combined, it rests on a collar (not lettered) on the axle and is held in
position by the lock nuts d. is the frame or standards of the bicycle, and c lock-
nuts holding them in position. V is the projecting arm of the ball bearing frame gv
screwed into the spring case cylinder W. O is the space between the hub cylinder
& spring case to permit the former to revolve freely around the latter. m³ is the
space between the springs S1 and S2 at bottom, and m. is the space between them
at top.
Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line x y between the sprocket ring k and the
perforated spoke rim looking towards n. Similar letters in Fig. 2 correspond to
similar letters in Fig. 1. The volutes or rings of the spring S are shown clearly in
Fig. 2.
JOHN FRANCIS POPE,
Inventor.
Improvements in Wheel Bearings.
I, JOHN FRANCIS POPE, residing at 1647, West Harrison Street, Chicago, State
of Illinois, United States, North America, by profession a Civil Engineer &
Architect, 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 :-
This invention relates to modifications of one described in a prior Specification
No. 20655 of 1897, and pertains to that class of wheeled conveyances in which it is
necessary for the comfort of the rider to convert the jolting or concussion due to
passing over uneven ground, into the more comfortable resilient motion effected by
springs or otherwise. This is now frequently effected, especially in bicycles, by a
pneumatic tire, which however has the disadvantage of being very liable to puncture
or fracture; and, it is the intention & object of this invention to remove this
liability to such accidents, by having the necessary resilient motion not located at
the circumference or tire of the wheel, but, instead, in voluted or spiral springs
located on the axle of the wheel; thereby permitting a more solid tire either of
wood, rubber or metal. The special intention and. object of the invention now
applied for, is to improve on my invention No. 20655 of 1897 by simplifying the
mechanism of the ball bearing or anti friction device; by making the dust plate at
each end of the hub do the double duty of keeping the dust from the interior of the
hub & spring case, and also acting as a race plate in contact with both the balls
and the revolving hub. Another improvement, is the omission of the projections
from the hub and the curved arms from the sprocket meeting these projections;
and to remove the sprocket from the axle, and place it on the hub as in the ordinary
bicycle.
I will now describe the mechanism by which I attain these objects, reference
being also had to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification No. 21280
of 1897; and accompanying drawing Fig. 3, Sheet 2, which is an interior end view
of the hub and spring case with the dust plate removed, and further illustrates the
nature of the invention. In Fig. 1a is the axle; S, S1, S2 the voluted or coiled
springs having their volutes or rings close together on the upper side of the axle and
diverging below it; an improvement in mechanism on that shown in No. 20655 of
1897. The material forming the rings or coils of a spring need not necessarily be
of the same dimension or cross section throughout its entire length, an improve-

page_text: ment not mentioned in No. 20655 of 1897. The springs S, S are shown in contact
with the spring case, which consists of the cylinder W serewed on to the ball
bearing fratne g v, which is open for a portion of its vertical circular area, and
has a projecting arin V screwed as just mentioned to the inner cylinder W. The
springs S1, S2 only come in contact with the spring case when extra pressure is
brought to bear on the axle a. u are washers between the springs at the axle; and t
are thin rods or wires to keep the springs apart at bottom, also an improvement. e repre-
sents the space between the coils or rings of a spring; f is the open space
between the ball bearing frame gv and the end springs S; h is the outer cylinder
or hub with its perforated rim n for attaching the spokes. is the sprocket or
toothed driving wheel fixed on to the hub, and on which the chain from the larger
sprocket wheel acts. The removal of this sprocket wheel on to the hub is an
improvement on No. 20655 of 1897. p is the outer race plate to the ball bearing
device, and acts also as a dust protector to the interior of the hub & spring case.
Being in its first named capacity an improvement on No. 20655 of 1897. p may
either be secured to the axle a by being screwed on to it, in which case the axle
would have a circular form at area of contact, or it may rest on a square section of
the axle; which in either case would tend to keep it in a rigid vertical position on
the axle; or, it may rest on a collar, as shown in the drawing, running from the
spring S to the standard ; the lock-nuts & tend to hold the plate p in position. ¿ is
the frame or standards of the bicycle, and c locknuts holding them in position. V is
the projecting arm of the ball bearing frame gv screwed into the spring case
cylinder W. O is the space between the hub cylinder & spring case, to permit the
former to revolve freely around the latter. m is the space between the spring case
and the springs S1 and S2 at the top, & m¹ the space between them at bottom.
The axle a should preferably be of square or rectangular section inside the hub;
outside the hub it may be turned circular for the locknut screw threads.
Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line y of Fig. 1
letters in Fig. 2 correspond to similar letters in Fig. 1.
spring S are clearly shown in Fig. 2.
looking towards n. Similar
The volutes or rings of the
Fig. 3, Sheet 2 illustrates, by the removal of the plate p at the sprocket end, the
interior of the hub, showing its ball bearing device & frame
9: and such portions of
the spring S as are visible through the slot or opening in the frame g; in which slot
the axle a moves more or less vertically on its springs; thus affording the requisite
resilience to the vehicle. The sprocket k, and its locknut k¹, (not lettered by over-
sight on Sheet 1) both screwed into position on the hub, are also shown on Fig. 3.
Similar letters in Fig. 3 correspond to similar letters in Figs. 1 & 2.
I now describe how this improved invention can be carried into practical effect by
a competent workman. Take a piece of metal, by preference a flat steel band, and
after heating it, revolve it while hot as a spiral or volute on an axle, so that the coils
may rest directly on one another at top, but diverge with a space between them at
bottom; these spaces & the number of coils or rings being determined by the amount
of resilience required in the spring. Also the number of springs, and the thickness
or section of the metallic band to be determined by the weight to be borne on the
axle. Take the springs off the axle, and retemper them until they are of the temper
of the finest spring steel. Then place them, as many as are necessary, again on
their axle and encase them in a metallic cylindrical case, having the usual ball bear-
ing device attached to each end of the case; a slot being made in the supporting
vertical plate of the cone or ball bearing device, to permit the axle to move more or
less vertically on its resilient springs. In coiling the steel band to form the springs,
some of the springs to be made of less diameter than the others, to form a reserve
resilient power in the spring case. Make a hub of a wheel with its spokes &c. of
suitable size to fit onto and revolve on the ball bearing device in the usual manner.
Mount on the axle at each end of the hub a dust protecting plate, also making
it act as a race plate in contact with the balls of the ball bearing device; the
size of these plates to be such, as to act as perfect dust protectors to the interior
of the hub, allowance being duly made for the vertical movement of the axle

page_text: on its springs. Fix locknuts &c. where required to give security to the different
parts of the mechanism. If the wheel be for the hind wheel of a bicycle, fix a
sprocket on the hub in the usual manner. If required for the front wheel, or
for a buggy, no sprocket will be needed. Fix the frame of the bicycle, buggy
or other conveyance on the axles of as many wheels as they require.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I
make no claim to anything described and claimed in my previous Specification
No. 20655 A.D. 1897, but what I claim is :-
I. In a wheel bearing, the combination with the axle thereof of a series of
voluted or spiral springs mounted thereon, the coils or rings lying normally close
together at one side of the axle and diverging for resilience at the other sides;
the coils or rings altering in section as they diverge from the axis around which
they are coiled; a spring case enclosing said springs and means for holding in
position the springs & their casing.
II. In a wheel bearing, the combination with the axle thereof of a series of
voluted or spiral springs mounted thereon, the coils or rings lying normally close
together at one side of the axle and diverging for resilience at the other sides; a
spring case enclosing said springs; a revoluble outer casing with anti-friction ball
bearing devices between the two said casings combined with a vertical dust plate
protector mounted on said axle at each end of the revoluble casing, acting also as a
race plate in contact with the balls of the said anti-friction ball bearing devices;
slots provided in the sides of the vertical ball bearing (or cone) plates to guide the
axle in its vertical motion on its resilient springs; means for holding the mechanism
by locknuts, and screws, & washers.
Dated this Second day of Iune 1898
JOHN FRANCIS POPE.