IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN BRADLEY of Skinner Lane Birmingham in the county of Warwick Tube
drawer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL
BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, to be as follows:-
My invention consists in the following method of constructing the adjustable
ball bearings of Bicycles, Tricycles, and other velocipedes:-Within the case or
shell of the bearing, (which is provided with convenient bolts and projections &e
for securing the same to the frame of machine) I make a suitable recess or shallow
groove wherein the hardened steel balls or their equivalents may revolve.
I further provide a bush having near its one end a conical flange of a shape
suited to the diameter of the balls, and also having formed upon the external of
the barrel-part of the said bush, a screw thread.
A "flat" or its equivalent is formed upon this external part of the bush which
is screwed, to receive a lock or false waslier to be hereinafter described, this bush
being further bored out to suit the spindle of the wheels.
An adjusting conical disc nut is also formed with an internal screw corresponding
to the external screw upon the bush, and shaped upon its surface in a similar
manner to the flange upon the bush, so as to suit the diameter of the balls or their
equivalents, and being further provided with two or more holes, or recesses upon
its outer surfaces, or, milled upon its edge whereby it may be screwed along the
bush up to and against the balls.
Behind this adjusting conical disc nut, I place the lock or false washer, before
mentioned, which has a hole formed in it which is only part circular, having a part
of its shape to suit the " flat" upon the bush barrel so as to prevent its rotation.
Behind this lock or false washer I place a lock nut which secures the whole in any
desired position along the barrel of the bush.
In addition to the improved means of adjustment I find any bearing to be better
dust proof than those of present manufacture.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Ball Bearings for Bicycles, Tricycles, and
other Velocipedes.
I, JOHN BRADLEY of Skinner Lane, Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Tube
drawer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN BALL
BEARINGS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention consists in the following method of constructing the adjustable
ball bearings of Bicycles, Tricycles, and other velocipedes.
Within the case or shell of the bearing (which is provided with convenient bolts
and projections &c for securing the same to the frame of machine) I make a
suitable recess or shallow groove wherein the hardened steel balls or their
equivalents may revolve.
I further provide a bush having near its one end a flange, having a circular
-surface suited to the diameter of the balls, and also having formed upon the
external of the barrel part of the said bush, a screw thread.
A "flat or its equivalent is formed upon the external part of the bush which
is screwed, to receive a lock or false washer, to be hereinafter described; this bush
being further bored out to suit the spindle or axle of the wheel.
An adjusting collar or disc nut is also formed with an internal screw corre-
sponding to the external screw upon the bush, and shaped upon its surface in a
similar manner to the flange upon the bush, so as to suit the diameter of the balls,
and being further provided with two or more holes, or recesses upon its outer
surface, or, milled upon its edge, whereby it may be screwed along the bush up to
and against the balls.
Behind this adjusting collar or disc nut, I place the lock or false washer, before
mentioned, which has a hole formed in it, which is only part circular, having a
part of its shape to suit the Bat" upon the bush barrel so as to prevent its
rotation. Behind this lock or false washer I place a lock nut which secures the
whole in any desired position along the barrel of the bush.
I will now proceed to further describe this my invention by the aid of the
accompanying sheet of drawings whereon are figures and letters of reference, like
letters referring throughout to the same thing.
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of this my arrangement fitted upon the axle or
spindle of the wheel b.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of Fig. 1 upon line A-B.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lock or false washer.
Fig. 4 is a part sectional view showing how this my invention admits of the
outer case of the bearing being removed from the machine, without first removing
the crank.

page_text: c, is the outer case of the bearing which is attached to the machine in any
convenient manner, and here shewn as being thus attached by means of screw
pin d. At e I form a recess or circular channel, inside and around the said case c,
In some instances it is preferred that this case c should be attached to the machine
without pins or bolts somewhat after the manner shewn in Figs. 5, 6, & 7, a
suitable lug f, being provided upon the case, and shaped so as to pass into the tube
forming the part of the machine to which the bearing is to be attached, and then
soldered to the said tube.
In doing this however it is necessary that the two parts thus to be soldered
together should be made hot; and this would damage the case c if made as shewn
in Fig. 1, because the part forming the recess or circular channel e, must be
hardened before so attached; and to submit it to such heat, would again reduce
its hardness, and also probably injure its true circular form, therefore I modify the
construction of the case to suit such instances, as shewn in Figs. 5, 6, & 7, and
form this recess or channel by means of a lining 9, which may be made, and
hardened, and then screwed or otherwise passed into the case as shewn, and be
secured either by warming the (outer) case c, and shrinking it on, or by small pins
passing through the case into the lining g, or, in any other convenient manner.
If desirable, this lining may be made in two parts as shewn in Fig. 6, but here
I wish it to be distinctly understood that I do not make it in two parts for
adjustment for wear, (as the. necessary provision for such adjustment is made
elsewhere), these two parts forming to all intents and purposes a solid case.
I further provide a bush h, having near its one end a circular surface i, suited to
the diameter of the balls, and also having formed upon the external of the barrel
part at a screw thread.
Along the surface of this bush I remove a portion of its screw thread, thereby
forming a "flat" as at k, or its equivalent, in order to receive the flat part of the
lock washer Fig. 3; this bush being secured to the axle or spindle a An
adjusting collar or disc nut n is formed with an internal screw, and having a
circular surface o, similar to the surface i, upon the bush h, such surface being also
suited to the diameter of the balls.
This collar may be milled upon its surface at p, or, it may have a notch or
notches q, or, instead thereof I may make one or more holes r, each or all being
for the purpose of adjusting the said collar, by hand or by spanner.
The lock washer m (Fig. 3) as before mentioned is provided with an irregular
circular hole to suit the diameter of, and flat upon the bush h. Behind the lock
washer m, I place a lock nut 8, which secures the adjustment collar n, in any
desired position. It will now be seen that unlike previous arrangements for a
similar purpose where only one row of balls are used; in my invention, when any
adjustment is made consequent upon wear, the balls are expanded or forced out-
wards, that is, the circular live of their centres assumes a larger diameter. On
account of this I am enabled to fill my bearing with balls at the outset, leaving
only sufficient room for them to work, and no waste room to allow for adjustment
as wear takes place.
Another very important and desirable feature in my invention is, that I am
enabled as shewu in Figs. 1, 2, & 4, to remove the case c, without first removing
the crank t. This is found to be very useful for several purposes, such as for
cleaning or repairing &c.
In those of present use this cannot be done, that is, the case cannot be removed
without the removal first of the crank, and this is open to several practical
objections. I am aware that balls have been used for the reduction of friction in
bearings for carriages or machines, and that there has been lateral or endwise
adjustment, and also that circular surfaces have been used for the balls to revolve
in, as shewn and made public in application for letters patent No 392 A.D. 1853,
and also in Patent No 2702 A.D. 1862. I do not therefore claim these parts or
principles as new, but only in combination with the other parts.

page_text: 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. A stationary circularly solid case, having an internal stationary annular
channel, to suit the diameter of spherical balls, as shewn upon the drawings, and
hereindescribed.
2nd. The combination of the general arrangement of the several parts, forming
ball bearings, as hereindescribed and shewn upon the drawings, or any mere modi-
fication of the same.