Improvements in Anti-friction Bearings.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1898-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Anti-friction Bearings.
I, GEORGE CROYDON MARKS, of 18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London, W.C., Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention in anti-
friction bearings, (a communication from abroad by The Rubber Tire Wheel
Company, of Sheridan Avenue, in the City of Springfield, County of Clark and
State of Ohio, a body corporate,) and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement;-
This invention relates to improvements in anti-friction bearings for vehicles,
and the object of this invention is to provide a suitable bearing for vehicles,
preferably in the nature of a roller bearing, which is capable of adjustment for
wear or otherwise and also admit of ready removal with all of the parts retained
in their normal positions.
This invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts
hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a device embodying
this invention. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the end of the axle showing the adjust-
able fastening device. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the same. Figs. 4 and 5 are
detail views of the same.
Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.
In the said drawings, a represents the spindle of an ordinary vehicle axle, and b,
the hub which turns on the spindle. The hub is provided at each end with
conical chambers 61 and 63, in which are placed anti-friction rollers c. On the
axle a, and adapted to extend within these chambers so as to contact with the
inner side of the rollers are cones a¹ a². The front cone a¹ is adapted to move
longitudinally on the axle, the rear cone being preferably held stationary; the
adjustment of the bearings being secured in a well known manner by moving the
front cone a¹ in and out. This is the preferable construction, but this forms
no part of my present invention and any form of anti-friction bearings having
adjustable parts may be employed, the parts being modified to suit the construc-
tions shown and claimed.
At the rear of the spindle I form on the axle a collar a³, having an inwardly-
extending annular flange a', and this flange is adapted to be seated within an
annular chamber 64, formed in the end of the hub or part of the hub. Within
this annular chamber 6, I place an elastic packing ring 65, preferably of pure
rubber, and on the face of this rubber I place a wearing ring 66, of vulcanite, or
similar hard substance. This wearing ring is adapted to contact with the end
of the flange a and form with it a bearing, while the elastic packing ring 65 is
compressed in the chamber and presses the wearing ring 66 at all times in contact
with the flange. By this construction, as has been demonstrated in practice, I
can form an absolutely water-tight joint which prevents moisture from getting
into the bearing and the oil from getting out. At the same time the friction is
very much reduced, the vulcanite forming with the end of the flange a bearing
joint which is maintained in close contact by the elastic packing of the packing
ring.

page_text: At the front end the spindle is reduced to form a straight cylindrical
portion 5, on which there is fitted a sleeve d. This sleeve is provided
with a deep notch at one end on opposite sides, to receive a key d', which
I term a linch-pin, which takes the place of the ordinary linch-pin of, a wagon
the straight cylindrical portion of the spindle being mortised out to receive
the linch-pin. The outer periphery of the sleeve d is screwthreaded, and there
is screwed thereon a nut d², having a series of notches, at one end and adapted
to come opposite the notch and mortise in the sleeve and spindle respectively
and receive the linch-pin d. The sleeve d is prevented from turning on the
spindle by a pin or projection a, in the spindle, which engages with a notch d
in the sleeve. There are preferably two of these notches d on opposite sides of
the sleeve so that the sleeve will fit the projection. with either side up, but when
the pin or projection is in engagement it will bring the notches 10 in line with
the opening through the spindle to receive the linch-pin.
The nut d on this screwthreaded sleeve is adapted to contact with the cone a',
or other adjustable part of the bearing, while the sleeve is preferably adapted to
fit snugly on the reduced portion and may shoulder against the larger part of the
spindle.
By this construction it may be seen that by removing the pin and turning the
nut on the sleeve the proper adjustment may be secured of the cones or other
adjustable features of the bearings, when upon inserting the pin, the parts will
be firmly bound together and retained in this position. The nut is preferably
made to turn snugly on the sleeve so that when the pin is removed to remove the
hub or other parts of the bearing, it may be replaced without changing the
adjustment.
The nut and sleeve and other parts are preferably enclosed by a cap e, which
fits in the hub in the manner hereinafter described in my former patent
referred to.
It will be seen that by this construction I provide an adjustable feature which
permits the ready adjustment of the bearing. The cone a¹ sliding on the spindle
will force the hub back in contact with the rollers at the opposite end, which
causes the elastic packing to press tightly against the wearing ring and this in
turn against the annular flange on the shaft, thus making all the parts tight,
while, at the same time, upon removing the cap e and the linch-pin d, the hub
may be readily removed and replaced, the cones and the cages containing the
anti-friction rollers coming out in the hub.
It is obvious that balls might be substituted for the rollers and the parts other-
wise modified with the same results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In an anti-friction bearing, such as described, a spindle having an annular
flange and a hub having a recessed chamber, a wearing ring of vulcanite or
similar substance, and an elastic packing ring, such as rubber, in said chamber
and in contact with said wearing ring, and a securing device for said hub to
cause said wearing ring to contact with said annular flange, substantially as
specified.
2. The combination, in an anti-friction bearing of a spindle and a hub, a
sleeve on said spindle, and a nut on said sleeve, a linch-pin extending through
said spindle and adapted to engage with said nut and sleeve, substantially as and
for the purpose specified.
3. The combination, in an anti-friction bearing, of the spindle having the
reduced portion, a sleeve thereon, a linch-pin extending through said spindle and
engaging with notches in said sleeve, a nut screwthreaded on said sleeve and
having engaging notches to engage said linch-pin, substantially as specified.

page_text: 4. The combination with the antifriction bearings, as described, the spindle
having a pin or projection, a sleeve notched to fit said pin or projection, a linch-
pin extending through openings in said sleeve and spindle, and a screwthreaded
uut on said sleeve having notches to engage said linch-pin whereby the same
is held in different positions of adjustment, substantially as specified.
5. The combination with the spindle and hub, the cones on said spindle and
rollers between said cones and hub, one of said cones being longitudinally mov-
able, as described, an annular flange on said spindle, an annular chamber in
said hub, and elastic packing, such as rubber, in said chamber, and a wearing
ring, such as vulcanite, between said flange and packing, a sleeve on said spindle,
a nut on said sleeve, said sleeve and nut being held by a linch-pin extending
through said spindle, one end of said nut contacting with the movable cones, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
2000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.