Improvements in Crank Axle Bearings for Velocipedes and similar Carriages.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 2nd July, 1896-Accepted, 8th Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Crank Axle Bearings for Velocipedes and similar
Carriages.
We, SAMUEL TWEEDALE of Haugh Cycle Works, Oldham Road, Rochdale
in the County of Lancaster, Cycle Manufacturer and JAMES CLEGG of Walmsley
House, Rochdale in the County of Lancaster, Commission Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to velocipedes and similar carriages and consists in
improvements in the construction of the crank axle bearings therefor having for
their object to facilitate the opening of the bearings and the removal of the crank
axle from the framing or bearing for cleaning or repairing purposes.
In safety
bicycles and tricycles as ordinarily made the cones or cups forming the ball races
of the ball bearings are secured in the bearing bracket forming part of the
framing, which renders the opening of the bearing for the extraction of the balls
and crank axle and the re-insertion of the axle and balls very inconvenient and
troublesome, which inconvenience is obviated by our improvements.
Our improvements consist in the formation of the bearings for the crank axle
in such a manner that the bearings and axle can be bodily removed from the
framing and reinserted thereinto. For this purpose we form the bearings in a
separate sleeve which is inserted into and fixed in the bearing bracket. The
sleeve consists of a tube, which may be formed with an external screw thread and
have an internally screwed cap screwed upon each end, or be tapped internally
and have a plug screwed into each end. The ends of the caps or the plugs are
formed with ball races corresponding with those on the collars of the crank axle,
and are bored as usual for the axle ends to pass through them. The cap or plug
at one end is preferably screwed home or tight upon the tube and the other
arranged to screw in or out for the purpose of adjusting both ball bearings
simultaneously. Preferably at one end the cap or plug is formed with a flange
projecting beyond the tube, which bears against one end of the bearing bracket
when the sleeve has been inserted thereinto; and at the other end a nut is screwed
upon the cap which is formed with an external thread, or upon the plug, and the
sleeve is thus fixed in the bearing bracket. Other means for fixing the sleeve
may be employed. Preferably the bearing bracket is bored out slightly taper and
the sleeve part fitting into the tube turned to the corresponding taper, to ensure a
tight fit and facilitate insertion and removal. When the nut or other fixing
device is removed or loosened, and one of the cranks detached, the sleeve containing
the bearings and crank axle can be bodily removed from the framing.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Crank Axle Bearings for Velocipedes and similar
Carriages.
We, SAMUEL TWEEDALE of Haugh Cycle Works, Oldham Road, Rochdale
in the County of Lancaster, Cycle Manufacturer and JAMES CLEGG of Walmsley
House, Rochdale in the County of Lancaster, Commission Agent, 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 velocipedes and similar carriages and consists in
improvements in the construction of the crank axle bearings therefor having for
their object to facilitate the opening of the bearings and the removal of the crank
axle from the framing or bearing-for-cleaning or repairing purposes. In safety
bicycles and tricycles as ordinarily made the cones or cups forming the ball races
of the ball bearings are secured in the bearing bracket forming part of the framing,
which renders the opening of the bearing for the extraction of the balls and crank
axle and the re-insertion of the axle and balls very inconvenient and troublesome,
which inconvenience is obviated by our improvements.
On the drawing appended hereunto Fig. 1 shows a horizontal and Fig. 2 a
vertical section of our improved crank axle bearing, a representing the bottom
bracket of a bicycle, the crank axle, c the chain wheel, d and e the cranks, these
parts being made or arranged in any usual way.
Our improvements consist in the formation of the bearings for the crank axle in
such a manner that the bearings and axle can be bodily removed from the framing
and re-inserted thereinto. For this purpose we arrange the bearings in or attached
to a separate sleeve which is inserted into and fixed in the bearing bracket a. The
sleeve consists of a tube f, which may be formed with an external screw thread and
have an internally screwed cap 9 and h screwed upon each end, as shewn, or be
tapped internally and have a plug screwed into each end. The ends of the caps g
and. h (or the plugs) are formed with ball races suitable for those on the collars 61¹ b
of the crank axle, and are bored as usual for the axle ends to pass through them.
The cap g (or the plug) at one end is preferably screwed home or tight upon the
tube or may be fixed thereto by soldering or otherwise, and the other h arranged
to screw in or out for the purpose of adjusting both ball bearings simultaneously.
Preferably at one end the cap g (or plug) is formed with a flange g¹ projecting
beyond the tube which bears against one end of the bear-bracket when the sleeve
with caps or plugs has been inserted thereto and is cut off at one side so as to form
a flat bearing against a corresponding flat on the boss a¹ and preventing the sleeve
from turning. At the other end a nut i is screwed upon the cap which is formed
with an external thread, (or upon the plug) and the sleeve with the caps or plugs
is thus fixed in the bearing bracket. Other means for fixing the sleeve and
attachments may be employed. Preferably the bearing bracket a is bored out
slightly taper and the parts fitting into the tube turned to the corresponding taper,
to ensure a tight fit and facilitate insertion and removal. When the nut i or other
fixing device is removed or loosened, and the crank e detached, the sleeve with the
bearings and crank axle can be bodily removed from the framing.
An oil hole is drilled through the bearing bracket a and the cap g and closed by
a screw, the sleeve with the caps or plugs forming an oil reservoir.
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 claim is
First. The arrangement of the bearings for the crank axle of a velocipede or

page_text: similar carriage in or attached to a sleeve detachably inserted into the crank shaft.
bracket substantially as hereinbefore described.
Second. The construction of a sleeve containing or having attached thereto the
crank axle bearings and detachably inserted into the bearing bracket of a
velocipede or similar carriage substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
by the drawings.
Dated the 29th day of June 1896.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 6, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.