Improvements in or in connection with Ball Bearings for Cycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 29th Oct., 1892
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Ball Bearings for Cycles.
WILLIAM ANDREWS of 184 Trinity Road, Aston, juxta Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a ball bearing for cycle frames,
consisting of an independent case or box containing the usual balls running in
suitable grooves or channels.
This said case enables the machine to be disconnected without the danger of
losing the balls.
My invention is adapted for use on any part of the frame of a cycle where ball
bearings are required, but I will describe it as arranged for a ball socket cycle
steering head for which purpose it is particularly adapted..
Ball socket cycle heads as heretofore constructed have one half of the ball
channel or groove fixed to the front fork and the opposing half is fixed to the back
frame. Two pairs of bearings are usually employed one at the lower end of the
frame tube and the other at the upper end of the same.
In disconnecting the back frame from the front fork it is evident that the
opposing surfaces containing the ball channels will he separated one from the other
and the balls will be entirely released and are liable to spill and be lost.
According to this my invention I enclose the balls in a box having ball channels
or grooves formed in the inner and opposing surfaces of the box. The upper half
of this said box is connected to the lower by a collar or similar device formed on
the outside edge of the box carrying a pin or stud passing through the collar and
working in a groove formed in the lower side of the box. This groove is wider
than the pin which works therein so that the upper ball channel can not only freely
revolve over the lower but the two surfaces can be adjusted in relation to the
distance required between them to suit the size of the balls laying in the said
grooves or channels. I now form on the top and bottom of the box projections or
cavities adapted to engage with projections or cavities to be formed in that part of
the frame of a cycle in which my independent ball bearing case or box is to be
affixed. In the case of a ball socket steering head I make the case or box of such
a diameter that the fork tube can be passed through an aperture in the centre of
the said case or box.
At the lower end of the head one half of the said box is caused to engage with
the crown of the fork and the other half is caused to engage with the frame socket.
At the upper end of the head one half of another similar case or box is caused to
engage with the frame socket and the other half with a collar on the fork tube. I
prefer to make the projections on the outside of the ball bearing case of a conical
shape and in this case the opposing surfaces would be internal cones. Any other
method of detachably connecting the box to the fork and the frame may be used.
In some cases one side of the ball bearing case may be permanently fixed to the
fork or frame by solder or other means, the remaining side being detachably
connected as afore described. It will now be seen that the back frame of a cycle
fitted with this my improved construction of ball bearings may be disconnected
from the front fork without disturbing the balls lying in the case or box herein
described.
Dated Tenth day of December 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or in connection with Ball Bearings for Cycles.
WILLIAM ANDREWS of 184 Trinity Road, Aston juxta Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Enginéer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to ball bearings for cycles, and provides an independent
case or box, which retains the balls in position should the part containing the balls
be disconnected from the frame. My invention is particularly adapted for use in
connecting the fork to the frame, but it is also applicable to hubs and other parts
of the machine.
Ball socket cycle heads as heretofore constructed have one half of the ball
channel, or groove, fixed to the front fork, and the opposing half is fixed to the
back frame.
Two pairs of bearings are usually employed, one at the lower end of
the frame tube, and the other at the upper end of the same.
In disconnecting the back frame from the front fork, it is evident that the
opposing surfaces containing the ball channels will be separated, one from the other,
and the balls will be entirely released and are liable to spill and be lost.
According to this my invention 1 enclose the balls in a box having ball channels
or grooves formed in the inner and opposing surfaces of the box. The upper half
of this said box is connected to the lower by a collar or similar device formed on
the outside edge of the box, carrying a pin or stud, passing through the collar, and
working in a groove, formed in the lower side of the box.
This groove is wider than the pin which works therein, so that the upper ball
channel, can not only revolve over the lower, but the two surfaces can be adjusted
in relation to each other, and the distance required between them to suit the size of
the balls, laying in the said grooves or channels. I now form on the top and
bottom of the box projections or cavities adapted to engage with projections, or
cavities, to be formed in that part of the frame of a cycle in which my independent
ball bearing case or box is to be affixed. In the case of a ball socket steering head,
I make the case or box of such a diameter that the fork tubes can be passed
through an aperture in the centre of the said case or box at the lower end of the
head, one half of the said box is caused to engage with the crown of the fork, and
the other half is caused to engage with the frame socket; at the upper end of the
head, one half of another similar case or box is caused to engage with the frame
socket and the other half with a collar on the fork tube. I prefer to make the
projection on the outside of the ball bearing case of a conical shape, and'in' this
case the opposing surfaces would be internal cones; any other method of detachably
connecting the box to the fork end of the frame may be used. In some cases one
side of the ball bearing case, may be permanently fixed to the fork or frame by
solder or other means, the remaining side being detachably connected as aforc
described. It will now be seen that the back frame of a cycle fitted with my
improved construction of ball bearing may be disconnected from the front fork
without disturbing the balls lying in the case or box herein described.
1
I have found that the last described method is convenient in practice, and I will
therefore proceed to describe the same making reference to the accompanying sheet
of drawings.
Fig. 1. is a full sized section of my improved ball bearing case, with a portion
of the fork tube in position.
Fig. 2. is a section of the steering tube, shewing a ball bearing case at each end
of the tube, and the fork tube in position as in Fig. 1.
.f.
Similar letters of reference indicate the same parts in both drawings.
A, is the lug forging which is united to B, by solder, or other means, C, are the
balls running in a race, formed in the angle of A at C. D, is the opposing half of

page_text: the ball race, which is retained loosely in the cavity of A by means of the screw
collar E. D is formed with a conical aperture adapted to engage with an outer
cone on the fork tube F.
The upper end of F is screwed and is furnished with a threaded hollow cone G,
which fits into the conical aperture of D. It will now be seen that the parts being
in position as shewn in Fig. 2 that the fork tube F, can be revolved, D will be
revolved with it, and the balls C will roll around in the ball race of A. Adjustment
is made by turning G, to cause the opposing surfaces D, D, Fig. 2. to approach
each other.
To disconnect the fork tube F from the frame tube (A. B) G is unscrewed and
removed, F can now be withdrawn from (A B) while the balls C will be retained
in their places by D and the retaining collar E. It will be understood that a
removable ball race may be inserted into A, at the point C but I have found it
convenient to form one half of the ball race integral with A as herein described
and illustrated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention:
1st. A ball socket steering head for cycles, provided with a ball bearing case,
which enables the fork tube to be removed without spilling the balls, substantially
as herein described and illustrated.
2nd. A ball retaining device adapted to permit of the ball case being removed
from the hub, or bracket of a cycle substantially as herein described.
Dated this 12th day of September 1892.
WILLIAM ANDREWS.