Improvements in Adjustable Ball-bearings for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar.. 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjustable Ball-bearings for Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY KING, of 77 South Tenth Street, in the City of Newark, and
State of New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 object of this invention is to provide more simple, effective and durable
means for taking up lost motion in the ball bearings of vehicles, more particularly,
bicycles and the hub, axles and crank hanger bearings thereof, and to secure
other advantages and results, some of which may be referred to hereinafter.
Referring to the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a central vertical section
of my improvements showing one form of construction; Figure 2 is a transverse
section taken on line ; Figure 3 is a section showing another form of construction
and Figure 4 is a section on line y.
Heretofore, in bearings having a somewhat similar construction, the adjustable
cone bearing within the barrel or box on the frame of the vehicle was free to turn
loosely on the shaft and was so formed as to be lacking in rigidity. Thus the
pressure of the balls was apt to produce a rocking action on the shaft which
increased as the shaft became worn tending, to produce rattling or loose
movement.
The construction referred to was otherwise objectionable, the objections being
avoided by my improvements.
In the drawings, a indicates the shaft, which carries the power transmitting
means such as the sprocket wheel b, and the cranks c, c. Within the hub, box
or barrel d, forming a part of the frame of the vehicle, said shaft is provided with
cones or bearings for the balls which co-operates with the bearings d, at the
interior ends of the said box.
One of the cones, a¹, may be an integral part of the shaft, as in Figure 3.
At a point midway between the ends of the box, the shaft is threaded as at all,
and at one of the threaded portions, the shaft is provided with a longitudinal
feather, on which a sleeve e, slides back and forth to and from the bearing d¹,
and is positively prevented from rotating independent of the shaft. Said sleeve
is enlarged at one end and provides a cone e¹, for the balls f. It has also an
extension which provides a long bearing on the shaft so that there can be no
rocking action due to constant pressure upon the cone and consequent wear at that
portion of the joint between the sleeve and shaft opposite the cone. I may
employ two of such sleeves, so that they slide oppositely, as in Figure 1.
Contiguous to said sleeve, I arrange on said shaft, a threaded collar which is
threaded to engage the threads of the shaft so that when turned in its relation
to said shaft, it will force the sleeve lengthwise on said shaft towards the
bearings, to take up lost motion. Said collar may be turned in its relation to
the shaft by intermeshing gear wheels g¹, gl, one formed integral with the collar
and the other, g", being arranged on a short shaft h, having bearings in the box d,
adjacent to the collar. Said shaft extends outside of the box and is thereat
provided with a head or turning means, h¹, and a spring i, serving to hold the cog

page_text: wheel, away from intermeshing relation. Said cog wheel may also serve as a
detent for preventing the collar from turning when the axle is turned to secure
the adjusting effect.
But I prefer, when the collar is to be held, in making the desired adjustment,
to employ the detent j, shown in Fig. 4, which consists of a simple push piece
adapted to be forced against the power of the spring i, into a recess k, in the
periphery of the collar. Said push piece is held in place on the hub or barrel d,
by a stop, within the box. The push piece nicely fits into the perforation or
opening in the hub or box so as to close the same against the entrance of dust or
gritty matter.
Where the collar g, is employed with a single sleeve, as in Figure 3, said collar
and the shaft a, are correspondingly threaded and work directly upon one another
to secure the desired longitudinal movement of the sleeve, but where two oppositely
movable sleeves are used as in Figure 1, the threaded collar works upon the right
and left hand threads of the contiguous ends of the said sleeves, and the said collar
is provided with means, such as the projection m, entering a peripheral groove, n,
of the shaft, for holding the collar in proper relation to the detent or cog wheel g¹¹,
as will be understood.
The construction thus described prevents rotation of the sleeve independent of
the shaft and consequent looseness and friction, and the adjustments are secured
with greater facility and ease and without the formation of unclosed openings
such as will admit dirt to the bearings.
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 I
claim is
1. The combination with the barrel, hub or box having bearings for the balls;
of a shaft having a feather and means for transmitting power, of a sliding sleeve
held from turning on said shaft by said feather and having a cone, balls and a
collar engaging the sleeve to move the same longitudinally upon the shaft,
substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with the barrel, hub or box, of a longitudinally sliding
sleeve having a cone, balls a collar engaging said sleeve and having a peripheral
recess and a spring actuated detent arranged in the bearings in said box or barrel,
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of Jan 1907
WILLIAM HENRY KING.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.