Year: 1886

page_text: I, GEORGE JOHN STEVENS, of Nos. 128 and 129, Great Suffolk Street, in the
county of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in bearings for velocipedes.
In applying my improvements to the pivots of the steering gear of velocipedes
I employ two discs or, washers grooved in such a manner as that when a row or rows
of balls is or are introduced into the said grooves the discs or washers are locked or
dove-tailed together so that the balls are free to revolve with the said discs or
washers.
Where there is sufficient space I construct the discs or washers of the largest
possible diameter but where the space is limited I extend the bearing in the direction
of its axis and arrange the two rows of balls at a greater distance apart and thus
preserve stability of working. In this last mentioned arrangement I construct one
grooved part with an extended portion or spindle which is grooved near its end.
This spindle revolves in a tubular casing or sleeve which is grooved to correspond
with the grooves on the spindle and on the washer.
A suitable means for introducing the balls into the dove-tail grooves consists
in providing a hole (which may also serve as a lubricating duct) through one disc
or washer.
In applying my invention to mounting the wheels of velocipedes I attach a
stud pin with collar to the frame, the said stud pin to be so made that the part on the
one side of the collar shall be eccentric with the other part or I place a loose eccentric
washer in the hole in which the stud pin is fixed, this stud pin constituting the
axle of the driving wheel to which a chain wheel is secured to enable motion
to be transmitted thereto from the pedal axle. By altering the position of the before
mentioned stud pin, the tension of the driving chain may be adjusted, holes or
the equivalents thereof being provided in or on the collar so as to admit of a
key or spanner being applied for the purpose of adjusting the stud pin.

page_text: In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the mode of carrying the same into effect, by reference to the accompanying
drawing in which figures 1, 2, and 3 are respectively an elevation and plans of the
upper and under side of a bearing for velocipedes constructed according to my
invention the pair of discs or washers being provided with one row of balls;
figures 4 and 5 are respectively a vertical and a horizontal section of the same;
figures 6 and 7 are sections of the two discs or washers separated from each other;
figure 8 is a vertical section of a bearing similar to that shewn at figures 1 to 7 but
provided with two rows of balls; figures 9 and 10 are respectively an elevation
and a vertical section of a similar bearing but of a comparatively smaller diameter
and extended in the direction of its axis; figures 11, 12, and 13 are respectively
an elevation, a plan and a vertical section of a bearing specially adapted for the
steering gear of velocipedes; figure 14 is a section of the steering head of a
velocipede illustrating the application of my improved bearings thereto. Similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to figures 1 to 7, a, and b, are the two discs or washers and c, c,
figures 6 and 7, are the grooves which are formed in each of such dises or washers;
d, represents a single row of balls which are introduced into the grooves c, c, and
thereby lock the two discs or washers a, and b, together as clearly shewn in figure 4,
the balls d, being free to revolve with the discs or washers a, and b; e, is the hole
in the disc or washer a, through which the balls are passed into the annular grooves c, c,
this hole being so formed that the last ball inserted serves to key or secure the
remainder of the balls in position in the grooves c, c, without requiring any other
fastening. As shewn more clearly at figures 4 and 6 of the accompanying drawing
the balls may be so secured by drilling the horizontal portion of the hole,e, past the
end of the vertical portion thereof so as to form a kind of pocket for containing one
of the balls d, the said ball projecting partly across the end of the said vertical portion
of the hole e, and bearing against the next ball which also projects partly across the
end of the said portion; a', is the lubricating hole for the bearing.
The bearing shewn in figure 8 illustrates how the bearing surface of the discs
or washers a, and b, can be extended by employing a second row of balls d', running
in grooves in the under and upper sides respectively of the discs or washers a, and 1,
the bearing in other respects being like that hereinbefore described and represented in
figures 1 to 5.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a bearing similar to that shewn in figure 8 except that
the grooved parts a, and b, are of smaller diameter and are extended in the direction
of their axis so that they form a kind of spindle and sleeve the balls d, and d¹, being
placed at a greater distance apart for the purpose herein before referred to; the hole e,
by which the balls d, are introduced serves also as a lubricating hole.
In the bearing shewn in figures 11, 12, and 13 which is specially adapted for the
steering gear of velocipedes the positions of the spindle and sleeve a, and b, (which
are shown still further extended) are reversed that is to say the part a, is placed
below the part b, instead of as in the bearings illustrated in figures 1 to 10).
Figure 14 shews a bearing of this construction applied to the upper part of the
steering head of a velocipede, a bearing being employed at the lower part of the
steering head similar to that shewn in figures 9 and 10 except that the balls d, are
represented as being secured in the grooves c, by a ball d, of larger size than those
in the grooves c, and horizontal portion of the hole e, being jammed into the vertical
portion of the said hole.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, GEORGE JOHN STEVENS, of Nos. 128 and 129, Great Suffolk Street, in the
county of Surrey, Engineer, 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 improvements in bearings for velocipedes.
In applying my improvements to the pivots of the steering gear of velocipedes I
employ two discs or washers grooved in such a manner as that when a row or rows of
balls is or are introduced into the said grooves the discs or washers are locked or
dove-tailed together so that the balls are free to revolve with the said dises or
washers.
Where there is sufficient space I construct the discs or washers of the largest
possible diameter but where the space is limited I extend the bearing in the direction
of its axis and arrange the two rows of balls at a greater distance apart and thus
preserve stability of working. In this last mentioned arrangement I construct one
grooved part with an extended portion or spindle which is grooved near its end.
This spindle revolves in a tubular casing or sleeve which is grooved to correspond with
the grooves on the spindle and on the washer.
A suitable means for introducing the balls into the dovetail grooves consists in
providing a hole (which may also serve as a lubricating duct) through one disc or
washer.
In applying my invention to mounting the wheels of velocipedes I attach a stud
pin with collar to the frame, the said stud pin to be so made that the part on the one
side of the collar shall be eccentric with the other part or I place a loose eccentric
washer in the hole in which the stud pin fixed, this stud pin constituting the axle
of the driving wheel to which a chain wheel is secured to enable motion to be
transmitted thereto from the pedal axle. By altering the position of the before
mentioned stud pin, the tension of the driving chain may be adjusted, holes or the
equivalents thereof being provided in or on the collar so as to admit of a key or
spanner being applied for the purpose of adjusting the stud pin.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe the mode of carrying the same into effect by reference to the sheet of
drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification in which figures 1, 2 and 3 are
respectively an elevation and plans of the upper and under side of a bearing for
velocipedes constructed according to my invention the pair of discs or washers being
provided with one row of balls; figures 4 and 5 are respectively a vertical and a
horizontal section of the same; figures 6 and 7 are sections of the two discs or
washers separated from each other; figure 8 is a vertical section of a bearing similar
to that shewn at figures 1 to 7 but provided with two rows of balls; figures 9 and 10
are respectively an elevation and a vertical section of a similar bearing but of a com-
paratively smaller diameter and extended in the direction of its axis; figures 11, 12

page_text: and 13 are respectively an elevation, a plan and a vertical section of a bearing
specially adapted for the steering gear of velocipedes; figure 14 is a section of the
steering head of a velocipede illustrating the application of my improved bearings
thereto. Figures 15 and 16 of the two sheets of drawings accompanying this my
complete specification represent a face view and a section respectively of my bearing
adapted for use as a wheel bearing. Figure 17 is a side elevation of the hub of the
driving wheel and part of the frame of a velocipede shewing the application of my
eccentric adjustable stud pin thereto; figure 18 is a horizontal section of the same.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to figures 1 to 7, a and b, are the two discs or washers and c, c,
figures 6 and 7, are the grooves which are formed in each of such discs or washers;
d, represents a single row of balls which are introduced into the grooves c, c, and
thereby lock the two discs or washers a and b, together as clearly shewn in figure 4,
the balls d, being free to revolve with the discs or washers a and b ; e, is the hole in
the disc or washer a, through which the balls are passed into the annular grooves c, c,
this hole being so formed that the last ball inserted serves to key or secure the
remainder of the balls in position in the grooves c, c, without requiring any other
fastening. As shewn more clearly at figures 4 and 6 of the drawings the balls may
be secured by drilling the horizontal portion of the hole e, past the end of the vertical
portion thereof so as to form a kind of pocket for containing one of the balls d, the
said ball projecting partly across the end of the said vertical portion of the hole e, and
bearing against the next ball which also projects partly across the end of the said
portion. a, is the lubricating hole for the bearing.
The bearing shewn in figure 8 illustrates how the bearing surface of the discs or
washers a and b, can be extended by employing a second row of balls d', running in
grooves in the under and upper sides respectively of the discs or washers a, and b,
the bearing in other respects being like that hereinbefore described and represented
in figures 1 to 5.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a bearing similar to that shewn in figure 8 except that
the grooved parts a and b, are of smaller diameter and are extended in the direction
of their axis so that they form a kind of spindle and sleeve, the balls d and d¹, being
placed at a greater distance apart for the purpose hereinbefore referred to; the hole e,
by which the balls d, are introduced serves also as a lubricating hole.
In the bearing shewn in figures 11, 12 and 13 which is specially adapted for the
steering gear of velocipedes the positions of the spindle and sleeve a, and b, (which
are shewn still further extended) are reversed, that is to say, the part a, is placed
below the part b, instead of as in the bearings illustrated in figures 1 to 10.
Figure 14 shews a bearing of this construction applied to the upper part of the
steering head of a velocipede, a bearing being employed at the lower part of the
steering head similar to that shewn in figures 9 and 10 except that the balls d, are
represented as being secured in the grooves c, by a ball d³, of larger size than those
in the grooves c, and horizontal portion of the hole e, being jammed into the vertical
portion of the said hole.
The bearing shewn in figures 15 and 16 is similar in construction to that
illustrated in figures 1 to 5 with the exception that the disc or washer a, is provided
with a central hole f, in order to adapt it to receive the axle or shaft of a velocipede
wheel, and the flange of the discs or washers a, shewn in figures 1 to 14, is of course
dispensed with, the two parts a, and b, in fact assuming the shape of two rings
working one within the other; the hole e, through which the balls d, are introduced
instead of being made in the centre as herein before described is formed near the
periphery of the part a (as shewn in figure 15) or it may be formed in the part b,
which in this case would be made somewhat thicker than is shewn in the drawing.
Referring to figures 17 and 18, 9, 3, represent a portion of the frame of a velocipede
and h, and i, represent the two parts of the stud pin and j, the collar thereof which
I attach to the frame 9, 9, when mounting the wheels of velocipedes; the part 1, of
the stud pin is eccentric with the other part i, as clearly shewn in the drawings and
the part i, is secured to the frame g, by means of a nut k; the part 1, of the stud pin,

page_text: constitutes the axle of the driving wheel, the hub, of which is shewn in the drawings
and has a chain wheel m, secured to it to enable motion to be transmitted thereto from
the pedal axle (not shewn); n, n, are the holes in the collar j, to admit a key or its
equivalent for the purpose of adjusting the stud pin, the adjustment being effected in
the following manner :-
The parts being in the position indicated by the full lines in the drawings if it be
required to adjust the tension of the driving chain it will be only necessary to loosen
the nut k, and then by means of the said key or the like to move the collar j, round
until the driving chain has become sufficiently loose or taut, as the case may be,
the parts being by this operation moved into or towards the position indicated by
dotted lines in figure 17, the nut k, is then tightened up and the parts will be thereby
secured in their altered position.
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 :-
--
1. A bearing for velocipedes constructed of two parts each part being grooved in
such a manner that when the two parts are placed together and a row or rows of
balls is or are introduced into the said grooves through a suitable hole the parts are
locked or dovetailed together whilst the balls are free to revolve with the same, the
last ball introduced serving to key or secure the remainder of the balls in position
without requiring any other fastening.
2. The use in combination with the driving wheels of velocipedes of an adjustable
stud pin divided into two parts by a collar the two parts of the stud pin being
eccentric to each other substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described.
3. The improved bearings for velocipedes herein before described and illustrated
in the drawings.