AN IMPROVED ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE BALL BEARING FOR BICYCLES, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Humber, Thomas Rushforth
Marriott, and Frederick Cooper at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 22nd June 1880.
THOMAS HUMBER, THOMAS RUSHFORTH MARRIOTT and FREDERICK COOPER, all
of Beeston, in the County of Nottingham, Bicycle Manufacturers. "AN IMPROVED
ADJUSTABLE DOUBLE BALL BEARING FOR BICYCLES, ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER
USEFUL PURPOSES."
Our Invention consists in applying a double set of balls to bicycle wheels'
bearings and to the bearings or journals of any other rotating axles or shafts, in
order to reduce friction to a minimum, and we effect this in such a manner that
the internal working parts are effectually protected from dust, and are also readily
adjustable from without, so as to take up and compensate for any wear that may
take place and prevent any undue looseness. The two sets or circles of balls aro
parallel to each other and near together, but do not touch each other, and by the
means employed for adjustment, as well as by the general arrangements, the
pressure is equally distributed between and sustained by the two sets of balls.
We boro out the hub of a bearing to a suitable size for the balls to run easily
therein, but in the middle of such bore we leave a flange, which is throated on each
sido to a radius rather larger than that of the balls themselves. This throated
flange acts as an abutment for the two sets of balls, and keeps them at a constant
distance apart. The journal of the axle is suitably reduced where it enters the
hub, but has a flange or bush, the edge of which is carefully turned so as to fit
the bore of the hub dust proof; this flange is also throated or coned to the same
radius as that last mentioned. A sleeve, collar, or cone bored to fit the journal
(hereinafter called the "adjusting cone") is fitted to the other end of the journal,
and fits into the opposite side of the bore of the hub with a similar flange and
throating, the flange also fitting dust proof; this adjusting cone is capable of
sliding along the journal for the purpose of adjustment. A cylindrical ring or
cage" with semicircular bays on each side thereof is placed in a central position
in the hub, the bays on one side "breaking joint" with those on the other side, as
many bays being made on each side of this ring as there are balls in each set.
When the balls are placed in position each ball falls into and is retained in
one of these bays, whereby the balls are kept equidistant, the ring rotating in
the hub.
of

page_text: The crank of the driving wheel of a bicycle is fitted to the journal by being
keyed thereto, or otherwise. Two or more screws are fitted into the boss of the
crank in such a manner that their inner ends press against tho adjusting cone, and
shallow holes are mado therein, into which the ends of these screws enter in order
to compel the adjusting cone to rotate with the crank and axle. When these
screws in the boss of the crank are turned forward, the adjusting cone is forced
inwards, and the balls on that side are pressed up against the internal flange of
the hub. This pressure on one side is at the same time communicated to the other
set of balls, so that the adjustment cannot bo otherwise than equally divided
between the two sets of balls by the one operation. Set screws are fitted to the
adjusting screws to prevent them from shifting.
In applying our Invention to the journals of steam engine and other shafts and
rotating axles where greater strength may be required, the above arrangements aro
modified to suit the circumstances, as it is obvious that our Invention is capable of
being applied to numerous classes of machinery.