IMPROVE- MENTS IN BEARINGS SUITABLE FOR BICYCLES TRICYCLES AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WILLIAM ANDREWS Engineer Victoria Works Victoria Road Aston in the
County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BEARINGS SUITABLE FOR BICYCLES TRICYCLES AND OTHER VEHICLES to
be as follows:-
In carrying out my invention I provide a casement of the ordinary pattern in
which is a circular opening; in the said circular opening is cut a female screw
thread. I provide a sleeve which may be described as a short tube about 1 inch
diameter more or less, the internal passage of the sleeve is bored true, the external
surface of the sleeve is turned concentric with the internal passage-At a suitable
point on the external surface of the sleeve which by preference would be near the
centre thereof, I provide or cut a groove forming two angular sides, the angular
sides may be continued until they meet, forming a V, or they may at or near the
juncture be formed into a parallelogramic or other suitable clearance shape. I provide
two adjusting rings, on the external surface of each ring is formed a male screw
thread, the internal surface of each ring is formed into a continueous angular face
for the purpose of bearing against the conical rollers hereinafter mentioned.
I make a conical roller in such a manner that the diameter of the smallest end
will exceed the total length of the said roller; this small end bears the same pro-
portion to the larger end of the said roller that the smaller diameter of the angular
faces of the sleeve does to the full diameter of the said sleeve, thus allowing the
rollers to rotate round the angular faces of the sleeve with no other motion than
that of each roller rotating on its axis thus avoiding unnecessary friction. I.provide
a quantity of these rollers and use them in the manner hereinafter described.
In putting the various parts together I proceed thus:
I place the sleeve loosely inside the casement, projecting through the same on
both sides I next screw one of the adjusting rings into the casement, passing it
over the sleeve, I then turn over the casement placing it in an horizontal position
so as to present to view one of the angular faces of the adjusting ring I take up
one of the conical rollers and place it on the angular face of the adjusting ring,
with the smallest end near the sleeve the top face of the said roller bearing against
the top angle in the sleeve. I then place a second roller with its largest end

page_text: .
.
pointing to but not touching the angular face of adjusting ring in this case the
bottom face of the roller bears against the bottom angle of the sleeve and the top
bears against the second ring (when the second ring is put in position) Rollers are
then placed in position alternately on the faces of the adjusting rings until the
casement is filled sufficiently to allow all the rollers to work with freedom.
The advantages of my invention must be compared with some standard of com-
parative perfection in order to shew its merits I therefore prefer to compare it with
an ordinary ball bearing.
The tendency of an ordinary ball bearing is to wear out of its proper shape; the
point of contact being only a spot the frictional impact is concentrated on the spot
and is ever tending to change the shape of the ball. In my invention the contact
is lineal. The frictional impact is consequently distributed the whole length of
the line, the presumed spherical ball is continually, altering its shape and during
the process is cutting the bearing a corresponding concave section to suit it this
action of the ball against the concave bearing and the bearing against the ball
involves extra friction and consequently loss of power. By my invention the cone
bearing lineally on the angular faces provided to receive it will in addition to
distributing the impact carry with it by capillary attraction a film of oil or other
lubricant, Another great advantage is that the wear of each roller corresponds
with the line of its axis consequently as the roller wears from its orignal size it
still remains a true and perfect cone, when the rollers get slack the top adjusting
ring would be screwed into the casement, thus bringing the angular faces of the
rings and sleeve in closer contact with the rollers.
In some cases I can where prefered use the same kind of sleeve and adjusting
rings hereinbefore mentioned but in lieu of the double set of conical rollers use only
one set of rollers, in these cases each roller would be formed of the shape hereinafter
described that is to say similar to two cones joined together one on each side of a
disc the disc being about one fourth of an inch in thickness more or less and of a
diameter corresponding with the bases of cones the roller would of course be made
out of one solid piece into the shape hereinbefore described a suitable number of
these rollers would be placed with one conical side bearing against the V shaped
groove in the sleeve and the other conical side bearing against the angular faces
of the top and bottom adjusting rings. The rollers would be adjusted by screwing
the adjusting ring into the casement until it bears against the conical ends of
rollers, The angular faces of the adjusting rings would (during the process of
adjusting the one conical end of rollers) gently slide the other conical ends of rollers
into the V shaped groove in the sleeve.
I can where preferable use what is technically called a cage to carry the rollers
that is to say a band or rim of metal in which is pierced holes the said holes being
made of a suitable shape to receive the rollers in a similar manner to the bells
projecting from the rim of the musical instrument known as a tambourine. For
the back or small wheel of Bicycles & Tricycles, I take an ordinary back hub
and recess it at both ends to any suitable internal angle.
I then provide a spindle (screwed at each end) and pass the said spindle through
the hub so that the screwed ends of said spindle project through each end of the
hub.
I then provide a cone through which is pierced a central hole tapped to fit the
screwed thread on the end of spindle.
I screw this cone on the spindle until it approaches the internal angle of the
concave end of hub a suitable distance to allow conical rollers similar to those
hereinbefore mentioned as working on the angular faces of sleeve and adjusting
ring to work in a like manner on the angular faces of recessed hub and conc.
I can where preferable provide a cage so shaped that it will rest or rotate on a
shoulder provided to receive it at the bottom of the concave recess in the end of
bub this cage would be made of an angular configuration corresponding with the
internal angle of the concave hub and the external angle of the cone the bottom

page_text: edge of the cage rotating on the shoulder in hub the top edge rotating against a
ring provided to rest on its top edge, the external edge of the said ring being pro-
vided with a screw thread by means of which it could be screwed into the concave
end of hub or the said ring could be formed with a flange projecting over the
extreme end of hub and be adjusted to bear lightly on the top edge of cage by any
suitable mechanical means; the cage as herein before described would thus be
securely adjusted to rotate on the cone, inside the concave recess, It will be readily
understood that openings being made in the periphery of the said cage of a suitable
shape to receive the herein before mentioned conical rollers, the rollers placed in the
openings in the periphery of cage; the cage placed over the cone, resting on the
shoulder at the bottom of angular recess in hub, the ring screwed into the end of
hub to lightly touch the top edge of cage, that the conical rollers would rotate in
the concave end of the back bearings of bicycle or tricycle one, set at the one end
of hub, and another set at the other end of the hub, alternately, in a similar
manner to the conical rollers working in the casement of front bearings as
herein before mentioned.
D
1

page_text: I WILLIAM ANDREWS Engineer Victoria Works Victoria Road Aston in the
County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN BEARINGS SUITABLE FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND OTHER VEHICLES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
In carrying out my invention I provide a casement of the ordinary pattern in
which is a circular opening, in the said circular opening is cut a female screw
thread, I provide a sleeve which may be described as a short tube about 1/2 inch
diameter (more or less,) the internal passage of the sleeve is bored true, the
external surface of the sleeve is turned concentric with the internal passage.
At a suitable point on the external surface of the sleeve which by preference
would be near the centre thereof, I provide or cut a groove forming two angular
sides, the angular sides may be continued until they meet forming a V, or they
may at or near the juncture be formed into a parallelogramic or other suitable
clearance shape, I provide two adjusting rings; on the external surface of each
ring is formed a male screw thread; the internal surface of each ring is formed
into a continueous angular face for the purpose of bearing against the conical
rollers hereinafter mentioned.
I make a conical roller in such a manner, that the diameter of the smallest end
will exceed the total length of the said rollor, this small end bears the same
proportion to the larger end of the said roller, that the smaller diameter of the
angular faces of the sleeve, does to the full diameter of the said sleeve thus
allowing the rollers to rotate round the angular faces of the sleeve with no other
motion than that of each roller rotating on its axis, thus avoiding unnecessary
friction, I provide a quantity of these rollers and use them in the manner
hereinafter described, In putting the various parts together, I proceed thus:
I place the sleeve loosely inside the casement, projecting through the same on
both sides. I next screw one of the adjusting rings into the casement, passing it
over the sleeve I then turn over the casement placing it in a horizontal position
so as to present to view one of the angular faces of the adjusting ring I take up
one of the conical rollers and place it on the angular face of the adjusting ring,
with the small end near the sleeve, the top face of the said roller bearing against
the top angle in the sleeve, I then place a second roller with its largest end
pointing to but not touching the angular face of adjusting ring, in this case the
bottom face of the roller bears against the bottom angle of the sleeve, and the top
bears against the second ring (when the second ring is put in position) Rollers
are then placed in position alternately on the faces of the adjusting rings until the
casement is filled sufficiently to allow all the rollers to work with freedom. The
advantages of my invention must be compared with some standard of comparative
perfection in order to show its merits. I therefore prefer to compare it with an
ordinary ball bearing.

page_text: The tendancy of an ordinary ball bearing is to wear out of its proper shape, the
point of contact being only a spot, the frictional inpact is consentrated on the spot
and is ever tending to change the shape of the ball, In my invention, the contact
is lineal, the frictional impact is consequently distributed the whole length of the
line, the presumed spherical ball is continually altering its shape and during
the process is cutting the bearing a corresponding concave section to suit it, this
action of the ball against the concave bearing and the bearing against the ball
involves extra friction and consequently loss of power. By my invention the cone
bearing lineally on the angular faces provided to receive it, will in addition to
distributing the impact carry with it by cappillary attraction a film of oil or
other lubricant.
Another great advantage is that the wear of each roller corresponds with
the line of its axis consequently as the roller wears from its original size it
still remains a true and perfect cone When the rollers get slack the top adjusting
ring would be screwed into the casement thus bringing the angular faces of the
rings and sleeve in closer contact with the rollers, In some cases I can where
prefered use the same kind of sleeve and adjusting rings herein before mentioned,
but in lieu of the double set of conical rollers, use only one set of rollers; in these
cases each roller would be formed of the shape hereinafter described, that is to say
similar to two cones joined together one on each side of a disc, the disc being
about one fourth of an inch in thickness (more or less) and of a diameter corre-
sponding with the bases of cones, the roller would of course be made out of one
solid piece, into the shape hereinbefore described, a suitable number of these rollera
would be placed with one conical side bearing against the V shaped groove in the
sleeve, and the other conical side bearing against the angular faces of the top and .
bottom adjusting rings, The rollers would be adjusted by screwing the adjusting
ring into the casement until it bears against the conical ends of rollers, the angular
faces of the adjusting rings would (during the process of adjusting the one conical
end of rollers) gently slide the other conical ends of rollers into the V shaped
groove in the sleeve, I can where preferable use what is technically called a cage
to carry the rollers, that is to say a band or rim of metal in which is pierced holes,
the said holes being made of a suitable shape to receive the rollers in a similar
manner to the bells projecting from the rim of the musical instrument known as
a tamborine For the back or small wheel of Bicycle or Tricycles I take an
ordinary back hub and recess it at both ends to any suitable internal angle.
I then provide a spindle (screwed at each end) and pass the said spindle through
the hub so that the screwed ends of said spindle project through each side of
the hub.
I then provide a cone through which is pierced a central hole tapped to fit the
screwed thread on the end of spindle.
I screw this cone on the spindle until it approaches the internal angle of the
concave end of hub a suitable distance to allow conical rollers similar to those
hereinbefore mentioned as working on the augular faces of sleeve and adjusting
ring to work in a like manner on the angular faces of recessed hub and cone.
I can where preferable provide a cage so shaped that it will rest or rotate on
a shoulder provided to receive it at the bottom of the concave recess in the end
of hub this cage would be made of an angular configuration corresponding with
the internal angle of the concave hub and the external angle of the cone, the
bottom edge of the cage rotating on the shoulder in hub the top edge rotating
against a ring provided to rest on its top edge, the external edge of the said ring
being provided with a screw thread by means of which it could be screwed into
the concave end of hub, or the said ring could be formed with a flange projecting
over the extreme end of hub and be adjusted to bear lightly on the top edge of
cage by any suitable mechanical means; the cage as herein before described could
thus be securely adjusted to rotate on the cone, inside the concave recess It will
be readily understood that openings being made in the periphery of the said cage
of a suitable shape to receive the herein before mentioned conical rollers, the rollers

page_text: placed in the openings in the periphery of cage; the cage placed over the cone
resting on the shoulder at the bottom of angular recess in hub, the ring screwed.
into the end of hub to lightly touch the top edge of cage that the conical rollers
would rotate in the concave end of the back bearings of bicycles or tricycles
one set' at the one end of hub and another'set at the other end of the hub,
alternately' in a similar manner to the conical rollers working in the casement of
front bearings as hereinbefore mentioned.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawings the
manner in which my invention is constructed and used.
Figure 1 shows the casement with the sleeve and one adjusting ring in position
together with the conical rollers.
.
Figure 2 is a section of fig 1 at X X.
Figure 3 is a section of the hub of back or small wheel with conical rollers
resting in a cage, the cage being kept in position by an adjustable ring.
Figure 4 is a section similar to one end of figure 3, the ring being dispensed with.
Figure 5 is a view of the end of cone U in figure 4.
Figure 6 is a view of the cage and conical rollers in the central part indicated at
line W.
Figure 7 is a section of cage showing two rollers in position.
I have not illustrated the roller made in the shape of two cones joined together
one on each side of a disc as I do not attach sufficient importance to that method
to make any special claim to it, I will therefore now describe in detail the various
figures that constituted and illustrated my invention similar letters refer to similar
parts throughout the several views. A figure 1 and 2 is the casement B is the
sleeve, C is the bottom adjusting ring. D is the top adjusting ring. The top
adjusting ring is left out in figure 1 to enable the conical rollers to be seen in
position. E F are the conical rollers It will be observed that the top edge or
face of roller E figure 2 bears against the top angle G of sleeve B it will also be
Neen that the bottom face of the roller F bears against the bottom angle H of the
sleeve B the whole of the rollers E and F are shown in position on figure 1
J figure 3 is the hub used for the back or small wheel of bicycle or tricycle.
K are the recessed ends,
EF are the conical rollers.
N are the cages, one on each end of hub, O is the shoulder provided to receive
the bottom edge of cage. P is the ring bearing against the top edge of cage.
The section of one end of hub shown at figure represents the cage kept in
position without the use of a ring.
When using the ring adjustment represented at Fig 3 the cages with the rollers
in them would be placed in the recesses K the cages resting on the shoulders O
formed by the bottom of recesses K.
The male screw threads of rings P would then rotate in the female screw
thread Q of hubs until the faces R lightly touched the top edges of cages, the
cones M would be rotated on the screw threads of spindle L until they lightly
touched the periphery of rollers E E or F F the lock nuts S would then be screwed
tightly against the forks T, thus securing the cones at each end of hub in the
desired position to enable the cages containing the conical rollers to rotate easily
in the recesses provided to receive them.
Instead of using the ring; I can in some cases dispense with it and make the
cones with a flange as represented at U figure 4 the flange U would bear against the
top edge of cage in a similar manner to the ring; when adjusting the cage in this
manner I prefer to allow a space between the bottom edge of cage and shoulder O
of recess to insure the conical rollers taking a proper bearing against the faces of
cone and hub; any tendancy of the conical rollers to wedge themselves tight in
consequence of the space left at the bottom edge of cage will be counteracted by
the centrifugal force acting on the hub when in motion forcing the top edge of

page_text: cage continueally against the flange U. Cones made in the manner represented
at figure 4 would be held in position at each end of the hub by means of the nuts S
as shown at figure 3.
The flats V on flange of cone shown at Figures 4 and 5 are to enable the cones
to be adjusted with a spanner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st The combination of a casement; & sleeve; adjusting rings and conical
rollers; for the purpose of forming a bearing suitable for use, on Bicycles Tricycles
and other vehicles the conical rollers, being placed alternately to bear on the
angular faces of the sleeve and adjusting rings as represented at figures 1 and 2,
the diameter of the smallest end of conical roller exceeding the total length of the
said conical roler. The small end of the conical roller bearing the same proportion
to the large end of the said conical roller that the smallest diameter of the angular
face of the sleeve does to the largest diameter of the angular face of the said sleeve.
2nd The combination of the recessed ends of the hub of a wheel; a spindle; two
cones; two adjusting rings; two cages; a quantity of conical rollers; two fork
sides and two nuts as represented at figure 3, for the purpose of forming a bearing
suitable for use on Bicycles; Tricycles and other vehicles, The small end of each
conical roller bearing the same proportion to the large end of the said roller that
the smallest diameter of the angular face of the cone does to the largest diameter
of the angular face of the said cone.
3rd The flanged cone for the purpose of using in conjunction with a cage and
conical rollers to form a bearing suitable for use on Bicycles Tricycles and other
vehicles as represented at figure 4.
WILLIAM ANDREWS.
Per Alf Wm Turner,
Agent.