Improvements in Bearings for Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bearings for Bicycles.
We, THE GOOLD BICYCLE COMPANY LIMITED of the City of Brantford in the
County of Brant and Province of Ontario, Canada, Manufacturers, and WILLIAM
SANFIELD WILSON of the same place Machinist 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:-
-
The object of the invention is, first, to prevent any unevenness in the frame or
forks affecting the alignment of the bearing; second, to provide means for re-
taining the balls on the cones when the axle is removed from the hub; and third,
to provide efficient means for excluding dust from the bearing, and it consists,
essentially, first in connecting the cones by a tube adapted to provide a solid
backing to prevent the cones being twisted out of true if inequalities in the frame
or forks should tend to spring the axle; second, of a retaining washer held in
position to operate in connection with a flange on the cone to retain the balls on
the cone; and third, in cutting a spiral groove in the boss of the cup flange so that
dust will be conveyed outwardly and cannot enter the bearing, the whole being
constructed in detail substantially as hereinafter more specifically described and
then definitely claimed.
Figure 1, is a longitudinal sectional view showing the improvements applied
to the bearings of a rear wheel.
Figure 2, is a similar view showing the improvements applied to the crank
hanger bearings.
Figure 3, is a front elevation of one of the cones and ball retaining washers.
Figure 4, is a view of the device with the hub and cups removed therefrom,
showing the balls still held in place.
In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures.
In Fig. 1, A is the axle, and B, the cones which may be either screwed upon the
axle, as shown, or merely sleeved thereon. Each cone has a flange 'C, formed at
the outer end thereof which extends upward in front of the balls, but clear of the
same when the bearing is in use. D, is a tube which is accurately squared at
the ends and embraces a portion of each cone B. E, is a shoulder formed on each
cone which is turned parallel with the bearings and against these shoulders the
ends of the tubes abut.
F, are retaining washers which have flanges a formed thereon which extend
over the cones sufficiently far to prevent the balls rolling out between them and
the flanges formed on the cones. The flanges a must not, however, be so close to
the balls as to come in contact therewith when the bearing is in use.
In practice, the retaining washers F, are held in position by being formed to

page_text: embrace the ends of the tube D, but any other method of connection which will
support them in the position shown will answer the purpose of my invention.
Gare the cups which are screwed within the ends of the hub H. One cup is
preferably adjustable and may be locked by means of the lock nut I. Each cup
has a flange formed thereon extending towards the axle, which is extended into a
boss J.
K, are circular nuts screwed upon the axle and butting against the cones B.
These nuts fit as close to the bosses J, as possible, without producing friction.
Inside each boss J, is formed a spiral groove L, preferably right-handed on the
right hand side of the bearing, and left-handed on the left hand side, so that
the revolution of the hub about the axle causes the spiral grooves to work out-
wardly any dust which may lodge upon the nuts K.
From the construction above described, it follows that by removing one of the
cups G, the axle, the cones, balls and other parts connected therewith, may be
removed without danger of the balls dropping out.
As the cones B are rigidly held apart by the tube D, they will not be affected
or twisted out of alignment in case the axle is sprung through the fork ends or
parts of the frame being out of true one side with the other.
In Fig. 2, my improvements are shown applied to a crank hanger bearing.
The parts are similar in this Figure with the exception that the axle A, revolves
instead of being held stationary. This necessitates the spiral groove L, at each
end of the bearing being formed upon the axle instead of upon the cups G, as
the groove must be in motion to accomplish its purpose.
By removing the tightening or cap screw M, from one of the cranks and screw-
ing the opposite cup out against the opposite qrank, the first mentioned crank is
forced off the axle and the axle with the balls remaining thereon can be removed
from the frame.
{
Figure 3, shows more clearly how the balls are retained in position by the
retaining washer F.
Although reference is made in the claims to a hub as an element in most of
the combinations, it will of course be understood that a stationary casing such as
shown in Fig. 2, is a practical equivalent therefor when the improvements are
applied to a crank hanger bearing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a bearing, a hub having a cup formed on or connected thereto; an axle;
a cone sleeved on the axle and having a flange formed thereon, in combination
with a retaining washer connected to the said cone and having a flange extending
over the cone sufficiently far to prevent the balls rolling out between it and the
first mentioned flange, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a bearing, a hub having a cup connected therewith which has a boss
formed thereon and a spiral groove cut in the inner surface of the boss, in com-
bination with the axle and a circular nut screwed thereon and adapted to fit close
to the inner surface of the said boss, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
5. In a bearing, the hub H, having the cups G, connected thereto, in com-
bination with the axle A; the cones B, sleeved thereon, and provided with
flanges C; the tube D, embracing the portion of each cone and butting against
a shoulder thereon; and the ball retaining washers F, provided with flanges a
and fitted over the ends of the tube D, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
;
6. In a bearing, the hub H, having the cups G, connected thereto; a boss J,
being formed in each of said cups and a spiral groove L, cut in the inner surface
of each buss, in combination with the axle A; the cones B, sleeved thereon and
provided with flanges C; the tube D, embracing the portion of each cone and
butting against a shoulder E, thereon, and the ball retaining washers F, provided

page_text: with flanges a and fitted over the ends of the tube 1); the circular nuts K, screwed
on the axle and adapted to fit close to the inner surface of the bosses on the cups,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.