Improvements in the Hub or Bearings of Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by
the decision of the Chief Examiner of the 5th day of May 1898.
Date of Application, 6th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Hub or Bearings of Wheels.
We, BENJAMIN CROWTHER, of 76, Paradise Street, West Bromwich, in the County
of Stafford, Carriage Builder, and DAVID ROPER, of 41, Lindon, West Bromwich
aforesaid, Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement: —
Our invention has for its object improvements in the hub or bearings of wheels
of all kinds by which the friction is reduced to the least possible minimum while
such bearings are very simple and easily fitted into the nave or boss of the wheel
and when once fitted the wheel can be removed from its axle or spindle without
disturbing the bearings.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings
upon which we have illustrated examples of our improved bearings.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the nave or hub of a wheel fitted with our
improved bearing.
Figure 2 is a sectional elevation of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation taken on the line y in Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the cones shewing our method of adjustment.
Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation of Figure 4.
In carrying our invention into practice we will describe our bearing as fitted
into the hub or nave A of a vehicle wheel. B B are the cups or half ball races
which are fitted into the ends of the hub or nave each end of the said nave being
recessed to receive them and these cups or half ball races are held in position
by screws or bolts passing through holes formed in the flanges 68 and 63. The
grooves 66 are formed in the interior of these cups to receive the balls D. The
inner cones E and E¹ are each formed with a projection and these projections
fit into to ends of a distance tube T which is provided for keeping the cones the
required distance apart so that when they are once fixed into position they become
immovable. After these cones and distance tube have been placed in position in
the hub or nave the balls on each side are then dropped into place and the outer
cones E and E³ fitted into position thus forming the complete bearing. The two
sets of cones are held together by the screws E5 or their equivalents. The wheel
with its bearings properly adjusted is now fitted into the axle X, the collar z¹
which fits inside the flange 65 butting against the outer cone E³. Each end
the axle is reduced and has a right and left hand screw thread cut thereon to
receive the lock nuts N and N1, the lock nut N being provided with an enlarged
base n so that when this lock nut is screwed up tightly it binds against the
cone Es thereby binding the collar a tightly against the opposite cone E³ and the
of

page_text: inner cones E and E' against the ends of the distance tube, the cotter pin n³ is then
driven in, thus firmly and securely locking these parts together. The caps F
which screws into the flange 66 formed on the cup B is provided so as to prevent
any dust or dirt from entering and the holes a¹ and a which communicate from
the exterior of the nave to the interior of the cups are formed for the purpose of
supplying the bearings with lubricant a screwed plug or cap may be fitted into
these holes for excluding dust or dirt. It is evident the cylinder or distance tube
may be in more than one length and that in the case of several cones mounted
upon the same axle the tubes might be in one piece with one of the cone sides.
At Figures 4 and 5 we have shewn our method for adjusting our bearings
and this we accomplish by means of the three screws h¹ h2 and h³ these screws
fit into holes formed in the outer cones, a countersink being formed at the outer
end of each hole to receive the heads of the screws the ends of the screws bearing
against the inner face of the cone E' as clearly shewn at Figure 5. It will be
easily understood that by loosening these screws the cones E¹ and E3 will be
brought closer together thus lessening the space in which the balls run thereby
adjusting the bearing. Instead of the axle being made round it may be formed
square in which case the hole in the cones would be formed square also. Wheels
fitted with bearings according to our invention can be removed from their axle
or shaft without disturbing the adjustment of the bearings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
CLAIMS.
First The improvements in the hub or bearings of wheels consisting of a
wood or other hub A having recessed ends to receive the cups B and B which are
provided with a groove or grooves, in combination with divided cones which are
locked together and kept at the desired distance apart by the distance tube or
cylinder the bearing sliding upon the round or other axle X after which the
cones are locked to the said axle by the end lock nuts and washers or their equi-
valents substantially as described & shown.
Second-For wheel hubs a round or square axle removably connected with
cones sliding thereon in pairs with their locking screws and distance tube for
holding them apart as shewn the whole being tightened together against the
shoulder of the axle so as to prevent them from turning in the manner substan-
tially as herein set forth and as shewn.
Third: In wheel hubs or bearings adjusting the cones by two sets of screws h',
hs, h&e in the manner substantially as herein set forth and as shewn upon the
drawings.
Fourth-The wheel hubs and bearings substantially as herein set forth and as
shewn on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of November 1807
GEORGE BARKER
Agent for Applicant, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.