Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Feb., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 29th Mar., 1887.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I JOHN BARWELL of 159 Great Hampton Row, St. Georges Birmingham in the
County of Warwickshire, Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturer, 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:-
::
My invention relates to the application of balls to the centres of the vertical axis or
joint technically known as the steering head "of velocipedes, whereby the steering
wheel or wheels may be turned with respect to the other part of the frame of the
machine, for the purpose of guiding and controlling the course of the vehicle; and it
has for its object confining or "caging" the balls to one or other of the parts of the
head, so that they will not fall out when the head is taken to pieces.
I carry my invention into practical effect in the manner illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing which shows its application to that type of head known as the
Stanley "head.
16
"
Fig. I is a sectional elevation of a Stanley head fitted with my invention, the
balls being "caged" to the centres of the head, that is to say to the top centre set
screw, and to the bottom fixed centre. Figs. 2 and 3 are plans of the top of the neck
spindle, and of the bottom of the top centre set screw respectively, showing the
circular grooves for the balls. Fig. 4 is a plan of the perforated disc for caging"
the balls; Fig. 5 is a plan of a modified form of the perforated disc, and Figs. 6, 7,
and S are
views on an enlarged scale showing modifications in the manner of
caging" the balls.
Throughout the several views similar parts are marked with like letters of
63
reference.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing it will be seen that
I use the ordinary form of head consisting essentially of the head socket A, the neck
spindle B, the top centre set screw C, the locknut and the bottom fixed centre D ;
but instead of forming male and female cones on the respective centres of the head
socket and neck spindle to engage with one another, I form circular grooves b, b, c,
and d in the adjacent ends of the respective parts, the said grooves being of a circular,
coned, or other convenient shape. In the races or paths formed by, and between, the
lower end of the top centre set screw C and the top of the neck spindle B, and
between the top end of the bottom centre D and the lower end of the neck spindle B
respectively, are placed a series of small balls or spheres x, x, etc. To prevent these

page_text: balls, or spheres, falling out when the neck spindle B is removed from the head
socket A they are "caged either to the centres of the head socket A, or to the ends
of the neck spindle B by perforated discs E, E, mounted loosely thereon by centre
screws e, e, so that they may revolve freely with the balls. The perforations in the
discs E, E, take the form of circular holes e¹, e¹, etc, of a diameter slightly smaller
than the balls a, a, etc. These holes are spaced equally round the discs, and are
preferably countersunk so as to allow the balls to protrude as far as possible through
them, though this is not a necessity if very thin discs are used. In the accompanying
drawing the balls, or spheres, are shown "caged" to the top and bottom centres of
the head socket, but it will be apparent that they may be caged" to the ends of the
neck spindle, or one series to the neck spindle, and the other to one of the centres of
the head socket, with equal effect and without departing from the scope of my
invention.
I do not limit myself to any particular number of balls or spheres in each series, or
to the size thereof, so long as the perforated disc is capable of containing the requisite
number of perforations or holes for the halls.
:
When a thick disc E, with countersunk holes is used, the diameter of the disc may
be materially reduced as it will sufficiently "cage the balls if its periphery is
incidental with the centre line of the holes or perforations, which then become a series
of recesses in the periphery of the disc as shown by Fig. 5 of the accompanying
drawing. A further modification is illustrated by Fig. 6 of the accompanying
drawing, in which the disc is reduced to a concave roller loosely mounted on the
screw e, which cages" the balls or spheres,, etc. in the groove c of the set
screw C, the balls or spheres in this case revolving in contact with each other.
Instead of the roller E the head of the stud e may be enlarged to take its place, in
which case I prefer to use the arrangement as illustrated by Fig. 7 of the accom-
panying drawing in which the head of the screw or stude is made cylindrical, and
the groove c in the centre C is made more quadrantal in form so that after the balls,
or spheres, are placed in the groove and the screw e screwed home, the balls or
spheres are confined or "caged" in the groove and cannot fall out, while at the same
time they protrude sufficiently to take a bearing in the groove bin the top of the neck
spindle B, which is also made slightly quadrantal in shape.
Instead of making the ends of the neck spindle, and centres of the head socket, flat,
with a flat perforated disc between them, they may be made spherical, coned, or of
other suitable shape, with the disc between them made "cupped or of a cap shape to
correspond. Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawing illustrates this modification of my
invention.
<<
It will be understood that although the balls are shown as caged" to the top
centre set screw in Figs. 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying drawing, they may be
"caged" to the neck spindle with equal effect.
Although my invention is hereinbefore described and shown as applied to a
Stanley head, I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit my
invention to this particular type of head, as it is equally applicable to all other types
having a neck spindle supported by, and engaging with, centres carried by, fixed to,
or forming part of, the frame carrying the steering wheel or wheels.
::
I am aware that the balls or spheres in ball bearing heads having coned. or
equivalent, centres have already been confined or caged by enclosing or capping
the grooves containing them, and also that the centres of the head sockets have been
made with self-contained ball bearings, with parts of which the coned ends of the
neck spindle engage and I therefore do not claim confining or "caging" the balls
in the heads of velocipedes broadly, but having now particularly described and ascer-
tained the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, I declare that what 1 claim is :-
1. In the steering head of a velocipede the use of a perforated disc, cap, or
equivalent device, for confining or "caging" the balls, as and for the purpose

page_text: 2. In a velocipede the combination with the head socket A, of the neck spindle B,
having circular grooves b, b, formed in the axial ends thereof, the fixed centre D
having a circular groove d formed in the upper face thereof, the top centre set
screw Chaving a circular groove a formed in the lower end thereof, the discs E, E,
secured loosely to the centres C and D) by screws e, e, and having perforations e¹, e¹, etc,
formed in them, all combined, arranged, and operating as and for the purpose set
forth.
3. In the steering head of a velocipede, forming the ends of the neck spindle, tho
top of the bottom centre or cup of the head socket, and the bottom of the top centre
set screw thereof flat, with circular grooves of a circular, coned or other convenient
shape; and inserting in the two races or paths formed thereby, a series of balls, or
spheres, each of which is caged to either the neck spindle, or to the centres of the
head socket, by means of a perforated disc, or equivalent device, loosely fixed thereto,
as hereinbefore described and shown.
“
,,
4. In a ball bearing head for velocipedes, each series of balls of which runs in a
race or path formed by, and between, circular grooves formed in the flat ends of the
neck spindle, and centres of the head socket; "caging" each series of balls to one or
other of the said parts, by means of a concave roller, or its equivalent, so that a
portion of the surface of the balls stands proud to engage with the grooves in the
other part, as herein before described and shown by Fig. 6 of the accompanying
drawing.
5. In a ball bearing head for velocipedes the balls of which run in races or paths
formed by, and between, the grooves formed in the square ends of the neck spindle,
and centres of the head socket; confining or "caging" the balls to one or other of
the parts by a single screw, as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 7 of the
accompanying drawing.
#
6. In a ball bearing head for velocipedes having spherical, coned, or other suitable
shaped centres, and neck spindle; confining or caging
"the balls to one or other of
the adjacent parts by means of a perforated "cupped" disc of a spherical, coned, or
other suitable shape, to correspond with the head centres, and neck spindle, and fixed
loosely thereto by a centre screw as illustrated by Fig. 8 of the accompanying
drawing.
T
1
1
JOOM
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.