IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, CARRIAGES, AND MACHINERY
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES of Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, CARRIAGES, AND MACHINERY" to be as
follows:-
My improvements have for their object increased facility for applying bearings,
(whether ball, coned, or plain), to the shafts of bicycles, tricycles, and other purposes
as pamed in the title; and consist in so shaping the outside case or bearing box that
it forms part of a sphere, and combining with such bearing box or case, a strap of
a corresponding shape internally to the partly spherical shape of the outside of the
bearing box. The said strap is fitted or fixed to the frame, fork, or part of
machinery; by a suitable lug or other convenient means and is cut through in
either direction and passed on or over the bearing box or case which is fixed to the
shaft and when in position is secured by a pin or other means thus forming a true
bearing without strain to any part. I am enabled when constructing bicycles
tricycles or machinery to fix the bearings to the shafts more readily and with
increased facility-and saving of time as the connection of the exterior of the case
and interior of the strap permits the necessary compensation or adjustment to
obviate any springing or bending of the frame or shaft of the machine and at the
same time prevents any undue strain on the bearing or other parts. Again should
any part of the machine be bent affecting the bearings as is the case sometimes with
Bicycles tricycles and machinery causing an undue and unequal strain upon the
bearings, this can readily be overcome by unscrewing and releasing the strap which
will adjust itself on the bearing to its proper position where it can be fixed by
simply tightening up the strap on the bearing by the pin or other means before
described thereby fixing the bearing in the proper position required for free running
on the shaft.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES of Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Machinist do, hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES TRICYCLES CARRIAGES AND MACHINERY" and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My improvements have for their object increased facility for applying bearings
whether ball coned or plain, to the shafts of bicycles tricycles and other purposes
as named in the title and consist in so shaping the outside case or bearing box, that
it forms part of a sphere and combining with such bearing box or case a strap of
a corresponding shape internally to the partly spherical shape of the outside of the 1
bearing box.
The said strap is fitted or fixed to the frame fork or part of machinery by
a suitable lug or other convenient means and is cut through in either direction and
passed on or over the bearing box or case which is fixed to the shaft and when in
position is secured by a pin or other means thus forming a true bearing without i
strain to any part.
By these improvements I am enabled when constructing bicycles tricycles or
machinery to fix the bearings to the shafts more readily and with increased facility
and saving of time as the connection of the exterior of the case and interior of the
strap permits the necessary compensation or adjustment to obviate any springing
or bending of the shaft or frame of the machine and at the same time prevents any
undue strain on the bearing or other parts.
Again should any part of the machine be bent affecting the bearings as is some-
times the case with bicycles tricycles or machinery causing an undue and unequal
strain on the bearings this can be readily overcome by unscrewing or releasing the
strap which will adjust itself on the bearing to its proper position where it can bo
fixed by simply tightening up the strap on the bearing by the pin or other means
before described thereby fixing the bearing in the proper position required for free
running on the shaft.
But in order that I may be well understood I will proceed to describe the
Drawings hereunto annexed reference being had to the figures and letters marked
thereon.

page_text: in consequence of being cut through at D. to spring open permitting the bearing to
be freely adjusted in any direction as above described and shown at Figure 2. The
shank E is for attaching the strap A. to the frame or any part of the bicycle tricycle
or machinery, but it will be readily seen that this means of connection will be
varied as circumstances require.
In some cases instead of cutting the strap as at D. it may be divided in the
reverse manner as shown in dotted lines at b. b. Figure 5. the parts being held
together by being hinged at one end and pins and nuts at the other or in any
suitable way-It will thus be seen that by my invention bearings on shafts of
bicycles tricycles or machines can be readily adjusted or set in the desired position
to secure free and perfect running on the shaft.
Having now described my invention and the manner of giving effect to the same,
I wish it understood that what I claim and desire protected by Letters Patent is
The strap A. to be used in combination with bearings on shafts of bicycles
tricycles and machinery for adjusting and setting them in any desired position
substantially as herein described and exhibited.