Improvements in Cycles and like Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Cycles and like Machines.
CHARLES FREDERICK WOOD, 35, Hanby Terrace, Ordnance Road, Enfield Lock, in
the County of Middelsex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
The first part of my invention relates to improvements in ball bearing hubs,
brackets, and pedels, said improvements are applicable to the various designs of
hubs and brackets at present in use. I therefore wish it to be understood that I
do not confine myself to any particular type or design. The principle part of my
invention, consists in providing a tube to receive the cups or female cones or their
equivalents forming part of the ball races, in hubs, brackets, and pedels, heretofore
said cups are placed within the shell of the bracket, either screwed therein or
plainly fitting said shell.
Considerable trouble is now experienced in taking to pieces the various ball
bearing in hubs, and brackets, and more especially the latter. My present object
is to simplify this operation and lessen the time employed therein.
In carrying out my invention, I provide a tube turned to fit the bracket, said
tube is in some cases the same length as the bracket, in other cases shorter as here-
after explained; into the ends of this tube the cups or cones, or their equivalents
are screwed or otherwise fit.
The shaft is now placed within the tube, the balls inserted, and the cups or cones
screwed into the ends of the tube. It will therefore be seen that the ball bearings
are assembled and adjusted upon the shafts detached from the machine with one
crank off. The whole is now placed within the shell of the bracket, lugs are pro-
vided upon the brackets to receive binding pins to compress the shell upon the nut
or tube and thus said lugs may be split or solid.
Good sized holes are drilled into the sides of the tube for the purpose of lightning
the same and also for the purpose of washing the inside of the bearings and tube
without detaching the balls therefrom.
One or both of said cups or cones are adjustable within the tube by means of the
screwed ends therein.
The ordinary means may be employed for tightening the cones, or I may use a
worm upon the casing or bracket and provide teeth upon the circumference of the
before mentioned tube the worm engaging therewith in such a manner that upon
revolving the worm the tube would be revolved within the casing drawing in the
cones and taking up the wear.
In the above case one cup would be threaded right hand whilst the other would
be threaded left hand, the cups or cones may have flanges formed upon them, said
flanges to be made to fit the bracket, whilst the adjoining part of the cup is reduced
in diameter, and threaded to receive the before mentioned tube, in the above case
the tube would be shorter than the bracket by reason of the flanges before described.
Fethers or their equivalents may be employed projecting from the bracket into

page_text: a slot cut into a cup or cone the object being to prevent the cone or cup from revolv
ing with the tube, said fethers may be solid or removeable, in some cases the flange
before described may be threaded and the bracket screwed to receive it, the object
being to prevent end movement of the cups or cones.
In a modification of my invention instead of the tube before described I may use
two tubes their ends nearly meeting in the centre of the bracket the inside of each
tube is threaded and into one tube is firmly screwed a threaded nipple, which pro-
jects to receive the other half of the tube which is screwed thereon and thus forms
the whole, at the outer ends of these tubes internal flanges are formed and within
the tubes and resting upon the flanges are inserted hardened cups or female cones
forming part of the ball races; one or both of these tubes are adjustable, holes
being provided in the internal flanges to be engaged by a spanner. It will be
evident that the cups may be extended in length as above described and screwed
together at their ends but this is expensive I therefore prefer the other arrangement.
Although I have described the tube as fitting the bracket or hub and engaging
with the outside diameter of the cups or cones, yet I wish it to understood that I
may reduce the tubes in diameter and screw them into the central holes of the said
cups or cones as the case may be.
The object of the second part of my invention is to provide a better means of
securing the crank upon the shaft.
Heretofore it as been usual to secure the cranks to its shaft by means of a cotter
pin, this cotter pin projects upon each side of the crank which is very objectionable
and often entangles or tears the clothes of the rider. In carrying out my invention
I drill a hole up the end of the shaft preferably taper or conical this hole is tapped
with a taper tap the shaft is split to any desired depth and a taper screwed plug
of hardened steel inserted therein so as to expand the shaft within the hole
of said crank it is usual to bore a circular hole within the crank to receive the shaft.
This I avoid instead thereof I form the hole with a flat, or flats projecting within
the circle corresponding flats are formed upon the shaft to fit the hole in the crank,
the crank is placed in position upon the shaft the screwed plug inserted therein and
screwed home, thus expanding the shaft within the crank and preventing all move-
ment thereon. To prevent the lateral movement of the crank a small lip may be
formed on the end of the shaft to project into a corresponding cavity cut into the
crank or in place thereof a cotter pin may be passed through the crank and partly
through the shaft the ends being flush therewith.
The taper screw as before described may be inserted as follows.
The shaft is not split in this instance and the hole to receive the taper screw is
drilled partly into the crank and partly into the shaft from the end thereof and
tapered as before the taper screw is inserted and locks the two firmly together any
wear is taken up by turning the taper screw further into the hole. Instead of the
taper plug before described I may use a plain smooth conical plug having formed
upon its end a parallel screw fitting into a corresponding parallel tapped hole in
the shaft at the end of the cone. Thus the screw draws forward the plain cone,
thus expanding the shaft as before.
Dated this 15th day of March 1897
CHARLES FREDERICK WOOD, 35, Hanby Terrace, Ordnance Road, Enfield Lock, in
the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:
The first part of my invention relates to improvements in ball bearing hubs,
brackets, and pedals said improvements are applicable to the various designs of
hubs and brackets at present in use.
I therefore wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any particular
type or design. The principal part of my invention consists in providing a tube
to receive the cups or cones or their equivalents forming part of the ball races in
hubs, brackets, and pedals-heretofore said cups are placed within the shell of the
bracket either screwed therein or plainly fitting said shell considerable trouble is
now experienced in taking to pieces the various ball bearings in hubs, pedals, and
brackets, and more especially the latter, my present object is to simplify this
operation and lessen the time employed therein.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood reference may be had to
the accompanying sheets of drawings, similar letters of reference are used to
indicate like parts in all the views.
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan of a bottom bracket with shaft, cups, cranks, balls, and
tube, assembled Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of my improved tube with the cups
screwed therein, in constructing a bottom bracket for a cycle according to my
invention I bore a smooth hole through the bracket A into which I fit the tube B
which is of weldless steel tubing by preference.
This tube B is tapped or threaded internally to receive the cups or discs E the
right disc or cup has formed upon it an external flange E" which is screwed up
tight to the end of the tube B this flange also bears against the end of the bracket A
on the right hand side. The left hand disc or cup has no flange formed upon it but
is threaded its whole length part of which projects beyond the end of the tube B
and also beyond the end of the bracket A for the purpose of receiving the ring nut D.
The cups I, are bored to receive the ends of the shaft C. Lugs may be provided
upon the outer casing to receive binding pins to compress the tube B and discs E
and thus the lugs and outer casing may be split or solid this arrangement is well
known in the trade.
As a means of washing out the internal parts of the tube B and also the ball
bearings and shaft CI provide a hole or holes within the wall of the tube B this
hole is indicated at 1' it will therefore be seen that without disturbing the adjustment
of the bearings in any way the whole may be steeped in liquid said liquid entering
and being discharged by the hole or holes indicated at F the washing hole F is
always kept to the top side in the case of bottom brackets thus making the tube B
oil retaining. For this purpose I form a feather G upon the tube B which engages
with a corresponding slot in the bracket A by this means the tube is retained in
its correct position within the bracket A. Or a movable stop may be provided to
screw into the shell of the bottom bracket A its end projecting into a corresponding
hole in the tube B or cup E. I would here state that the above facilities for wash-
ing are equally applicable to all ball retaining devices for hubs brackets and pedals.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the tube B detached from the bracket A showing the
discs or cups E screwed therein with locking ring D in position upon the pro-
jecting cup E on the left hand side. The tube B is made a little shorter than the
bracket A for the purpose of ensuring that the locking nut D shall tighten upon the
end of the bracket A.
Fig. 3 is a sectional plan representing a modification of my invention in this
case the tube B. fits the bracket A as before described but the tube is divided into
two parts B, B¹ there ends being joined together by means of a nipple K the tubes
being threaded at there inner ends, for that purpose the nipple K is correspondingly
threaded and is firmly screwed into one of the tubes B about half its length pro-
jecting to receive the other half of the tube which screws on a working fit upon
the outer end of the right hand tube is formed an internal flange and also an
external flange or collar E and E" and within the tubes B are tightly fitted cups E
forming part of the ball races which rest upon the internal flanges ¹ a projection

page_text: may be formed upon said cups E to enter corresponding holes in the internal
flanges El to prevent them moving round with the balls. The outside of the left
hand tube is threaded near its end to receive the locking ring D.
A feather G is provided upon the right hand tube to engage with a correspond-
ing slot in the bracket as in Fig. 1 for the purpose of preventing this half of the
tube from moving out of its true position, as the washing hole F is arranged in this
tube, whilst the left hand tube is not provided with a washing hole. It will be
readily seen that by slacking back the locking ring 1 the left hand tube can be
revolved upon the nipple K thus giving the adjustment of the bearings.
To remove the tube and its contents as a whole from the bracket A take off the
crank H remove the locking ring D and withdraw the tube. Both of the cups E
may be provided with holes for a pin spanner to tighten them.
The application of the tube to the hubs of wheels is the same as in bottom
brackets.
In Fig. 4, 5 and 6 are represented my improvements in pedals.
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation of a pedal complete in carrying my invention into
practice I enclose the pedal spindle C in a tube B which is divided into two parts
at K and screwed one on the other one tube is held stationary upon the spindle C
by means of the feather G the other half is locked by the lock nut D upon the pedal
spindle C it will therefore be seen that by taking off the lock nut D and washer N
the tube bearings and pedal can be withdrawn from the pedal spindle in one piece.
Washing holes being provided in the tube as in the case of Fig. 1 and 2, cones C¹
are provided upon the tube either forming part thereof or secured thereto in any
suitable manner.
The cups E are screwed into the ends of the pedal tight up to the flange E
The adjustment of the gearings is got by mens of the screw on the devided tube B
as in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 is a section of another modification showing another method of getting the
adjustment of the bearings in this case the tubes are not screwed together as in
Fig. 4 but may fit over each other without screwing one half being held upon the
feather G as in Fig. 4 the end of the outer tube being tapped or threaded at B¹ to
screw on to the end of the pedal spindle C thus it will be readily seen that by slack-
ing back the lock nut D on the washer N the tube B¹ can be moved one way or the
other upon the screw on pedal spindle C thus giving the adjustment of the bearings,
this arrangement may be used in place of that shown in Fig. 4 and 6.
Fig. 6 is a sectional elevation showing the tube in one piece with the cone C¹¹
fast upon the tube B.
The cone C is threaded also the outer end of the tube B so that the adjustment of
the bearings is provided for by moving the cone C¹ upon the threaded tube B, the
lock nut D securing the cone upon the tube B in this case the outer end of the
tube B is plugged up making it solid as shown at B thus making it oil retaining,
the spindle is threaded at its inner end against the collar ( and the tube B is
correspondingly tapped to screw thereon thus retaining the tube upon the spindle C.
The soled end of tube B may be flattened for a spanner.
I would here state that I do not claim the above tube for pedals as I am aware
that such a tube has been proposed before, but in a very defective manner.
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation of a crank and shaft in carrying out my invention
I make the shaft taper on that part on which the crank fits as shown at S a flat is
formed upon it at the crank H is made with a corresponding taper hole to fit
upon the shaft having a flat part C' left within the hole to fit upon the flat upon the
shaft a hole C is drilled up the end of the shaft C and threaded to receive a taper
screw O which expands the shaft within the crank H a lock nut D is screwed upon
the taper screw at its projecting end left parellel in that part for the purpose.
The shaft is divided in sections R to about the depth of the thickness of the
crank it will thus be seen that as the shaft wears or the hole in the crank enlarges
the crank will be forced up the taper of the shaft and thus remain a tight fit, a
space being left between the end of the shaft C and the nut D for that purpose.

page_text: 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 what
I claim is:
First the combination and arrangement of parts forming a bottom bracket bear-
ing, forming the outer shell A and inserting in said casing a piece of seamless
tubing held in position by and fitting said casing A said tube being slightly shorter
than the casing.
Second in a cycle bottom bracket the tube threaded internally at its ends to
receive the cups E and shaft C and balls, then securing the whole detachably in
the outer shell as A in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set
forth in the accompanying drawings Figs. 1, 2 and 3.
Third. In a bottom bracket bearing in a tube or its equivalent the hole arranged
therein such as F for washing said tube and barings without disturbing the ajust-
ment of said bearings, also for hubs and pedals as set forth.
Fourth. The application of the same combination to the hubs of wheels.
Fifth. In a pedal the devided tube in Fig. 4 the feather G, the cups E in combina-
tion with an inner tube B B the method of securing the inner tube B as shown at
Fig. 5, and lock nut D. Fig. 6 the cones upon the inner tube as described. The
solid end of tube B, the method of screwing the tube upon the spindle as described
and illustrated in the drawings.
Sixth. The combination and arrangement of parts for securing the crank upon
there shafts shown at Fig. 7 the taper shaft as at S with correspondingly taper hole
in the crank the flat within the crank H at C, the taper screw O.
Dated this 15th day of December 1897.