Improvements in Wheels and Bearings for Cycles and Light Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels and Bearings for Cycles and Light Vehicles.
I SIDNEY JOHNSON, of 28, Saint John's Square, London, E.C., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates firstly. to an improved construction of wire spoke wheel,
suitable for Cycles and light Vehicles; secondly to an improved construction of
ball or roller bearings, suitable for same.
According to the first part, the spokes are made with a head at the hub end, and
at other end screwing into a socket on inside of rim of wheel. The hub is made
with an outer lateral rim drilled through for the spokes to come through, and with
an inside counter sink for the head of the spokes, these spoke holes are slotted
outwardly to enable the wire of spoke to be passed in laterally, the whole being
then secured by a screwed on plate. To take out a spoke it is only necessary to
unscrew plate, pull out the spoke through the slot, and unscrew from rim socket.
According to the second part, the foundation of the bearing is made for a steel
ring or collar to fit on, upon this the balls bear, and when it becomes worn, can
be taken off and reversed, and when completely worn out can be entirely replaced,
by this means ball bearings will last an indefinite time by occasionally renewing
the bearing collar. The foundation is made with the usual lateral race for the
balls which are secured by a screwed on cap having a similar lateral race.
Dated this 22nd day of October 1896
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicant.
I SIDNEY JOHNSON of 28 Saint John's Square, London, E.C., 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 refers to an improved construction of wire spoke wheel and an
improved construction of ball or roller bearings, suitable for cycles and light
vehicles.
My invention will be readily understood by the following description having

page_text: reference to the accompanying drawings, whereon Figure 1 is an elevation partly
in section of the wheel hub, Figures 2 and 3 shewing a detail of same, and Fig. 4
is a sectional elevation of the bearing to carry the wheel shaft Fig. 5 being an end
sectional elevation of the bearing.
I form the wheel spokes A with heads at the ends the opposite ends screwing as
usual into sockets in the rim of the wheel such rim not being shewn in the
drawing as it does not form a part of the invention.
In order to secure the inner ends of the spokes A to the hub I construct the
latter, according to my invention, and with reference to Fig. 1, with a tubular
barrel B and flanged collars for convenience of manufacture the flanged collars
may cach consist of a central part C, fixed on to the end of the barrel B, and
screwed externally to receive an outwardly flanged ring D. One of the rings D
is illustrated (detailed) by front elevation at Fig. 2 and side elevation at Fig. 3
from which it will be seen that the flange D¹ is slotted at D so that the spokes A
can be passed in laterally, and the heads of same then take against the interior
of the flange D¹ and are supported thereby.
The wheel shaft I generally employ is a tubular one such as E which fits
within the barrel B of the hub, being held in position by a washer F and nut F.
On to the projecting screwed part C of each flange of the hub I screw a cap G
which is calculated to retain all the spokes in position within the slots of the hub
flanges and one cap as shewn is adapted to cover the nut F
By this construction of hub, not only is the manufacture simplified but any
spoke or spokes may be removed by merely removing the cap G and unscrewing
the spoke from the rim.
The bearing for the shaft E is composed as follows upon the shaft E or upon
a sleeve El securely fixed on the shaft as at Figure 4 I provide a collar H held in
position by a set screw H¹ the collar is shouldered to receive a steel ring or collar J
which passes within a bearing box K.
In this box K there is formed a ball race containing balls K¹ and these balls
bear upon the steel ring J. When this steel ring wears it can be taken off and
reversed and when completely worn out can be entirely replaced and by this means
the ball bearings will last an indefinite time by occasionally removing the bearing
ring J.
The hearing box K, is recessed laterally to receive a steel washer L, which
directly takes the lateral thrust of the balls and the washer L, is held in position
by an annular end plate M, screwed (see Fig. 5) to the bearing box K. The
bearing box K, is formed with means such as lugs K, Fig. 5, by which it can be
secured to the vehicle frame N, Figs. 4 and 5.
As will be well understood I may in some cases provide rollers instead of the
balls as shewn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In cycles and light vehicles, the construction and arrangement of wheel
composed of a rim metallic spokes having heads at their inner ends, and a-hub
having two disc ends, lateral flanges on the discs and slots in the flanges to receive
the spokes so that the heads thereof are supported by the flanges, and caps to
screw into the discs and secure the spoke heads in position, substantially..as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In cycles and light vehicles, the bearings for the wheel shaft, composed of a
collar on the shaft, a steel reversible ring on the collar to take the wear of the
balls or rollers, a bearing box to carry the balls or rollers, and parts connected
therewith all substantially as described and illustrated with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3. The wheel hub and shaft bearing for cycles and light vehicles all constructed

page_text: and combined substantially as described and illustrated with reference to Figs. 1
to 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1897
FREDERIC PRINCE,
Agent for Applicant.