Improvements in the Ball Bearings of the Crank Axles of Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1893-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ball Bearings of the Crank Axles of Bicycles,
Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I JOHN VERNON PUGH of Whitworth Works, Rea Street South, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the ball
bearings of the crank axles of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes, the object
of my said improvements being to obtain a wide rigid bearing combined with a
narrow tread; that is, with the cranks at a less distance apart than when the
ordinary arrangement of ball bearings is. employed.
Ι
To effect this object I arrange the parts of the ball bearing and parts in con-
nection therewith in the following manner.
The axle and the cone near each of its ends are made in one piece but the said
cones are arranged in an opposite way to that in which they are usually arranged;
The open
that is they are arranged on the axle with the larger ends outwards.
ends of the cylindrical body of the bearing carried by the bracket, have screwed in
them cups having internal or hollow cones, between which hollow cones and the
convex cones on the axle the balls are situated and work. The cups described are
so arranged in the ends of the cylindrical body of the bearing that their internal
coned ends are situated inwards or behind the convex cones on the axle. These
screwed cups are secured in their places by any of the ordinary devices employed
for similar purposes. The cranks and chain wheel are keyed on the ends of the
crank axle and the boss of the chain wheel at one end of the axle and that of the
crank at the other end of the axle project a short distance into the cups and are
nearly in contact with the balls between the two cones.
By arranging the cups and cones of the ball bearing in the manner described and
the fitting of the bosses of the chain wheel and crank in the said cups, a narrow
tread is obtained combined with a steadier bearing in consequence of the disposition
of the pairs of cones.
Dated this 4th day of November 1892.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Ball Bearings of the Crank Axles of Bicycles,
Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I JOHN VERNON PUGH, of Whitworth Works, Rea Street South, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
the said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in the ball
bearings of the crank axles of bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes, the object
of my said improvements being to obtain a wide rigid bearing combined with a
narrow tread; that is, with the cranks at a less distance apart than when the
ordinary arrangement of ball bearings is employed.
To effect this object I arrange the parts of the ball bearing and parts in con-
nection therewith in the following manner.
The axle and the cone near each of its ends are made in one piece but the said
TO77

page_text: cones are arranged in an opposite way to that in which they are usually arranged
that is, they are arranged on the axle with the larger ends outwards. The oper
ends of the cylindrical body of the bearing carried by the bracket, have in them
cups having internal or hollow cones, between which hollow cones and the convex
cones on the axle the balls are situated and work. One or both of the said cups
is or are inserted in the end or ends of the cylindrical body of the bearing by
screwing. The cups described are so arranged in the ends of the cylindrical body
of the bearing that their internal coned ends are situated inwards or behind the
convex cones on the axle. These cups are secured in their places by any of
the ordinary devices employed for similar purposes.
The cranks and chain wheel, or a crank and a crank and chain wheel combined,
are keyed on the ends of the crank axle and the boss of the chain wheel or the
boss of the combined crank and chain wheel at one end of the axle and that of the
crank at the other end of the axle project a short distance into the cups and are
nearly in contact with the balls between the two cones.
By arranging the cups and cones of the ball bearing in the manner described and
the fitting of the bosses of the chain wheel and crank in the said cups a narrow
tread is obtained combined with a steadier bearing in consequence of the disposition
of the pairs of cones.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents in longitudinal section, partly
in elevation, the crank axle ball bearing of a safety bicycle containing my
improvements ;
Figure 2 represents the same in elevation, one of the cranks being removed;
Figure 3 represents in longitudinal section, partly in elevation, the bottom bracket
or bearing case and the bearing cups when the cranks, crank axle and bearing balls
are removed; and
Figure 4 represents in end elevation and cross section one of the bearing cups
detached.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the
drawing.
a is the bottom bracket or bearing case screwed internally at one of its ends. In
the plain or unscrewed end of the bottom bracket a the bearing cup 6 is inserted
and in the other or screwed end of the bottom bracket a the screwed bearing cup c
is inserted. The conical bearing surfaces b², c³ respectively of the said cups b, c as
well as the mouths or ends of largest internal diameter, of the said cups, are turned
outwards. The said cup is provided at its outer end with notches for
engagement with a tool for screwing the said cup c into or out of the screwed end
of the bracket a and the said bracket a is provided at its screwed end with a locking
device by which the said cup.c may be secured in any desired position. Although
any of the ordinary locking devices may be employed for locking the said cup c in
the screwed end of the bracket or bearing case a, I have represented in Figure 2
and prefer to use the cotter and crescent locking device described, represented and
claimed in the Complete Specification of my Patent Application No. 17331
year 1892 for securing the said cup e in its adjusted position.
d is the crank axle having near its outer ends the bearing cones d², d'; and e, e
are the cranks keyed to the ends of the said crank axle d. The crank e carries on
its inner side the chain wheel f as represented. The larger ends of the bearing
cones d d on the crank axle d are turned outwards, that is, are arranged in a
manner the reverse of that in which they are ordinarily arranged, and between the
said cones d², d² and the conical bearing surfaces 6², c² of the cups b, c respectively
the sets of balls g, g' work.
In order to put the parts constituting my invention together the plain or
unscrewed bearing cup bis first inserted in the unscrewed end of the bottom
bracket a and the screwed bearing cup c is advanced in the screwed end of the said
bracket a to its full or nearly to its full extent as represented in Figure 3. The
crank axle d onto which the crank e has been keyed is then introduced into the
bearing case or bracket a through the plain or unscrewed bearing cup 6 but before

page_text: reaching its proper position in the bracket a the set of balls g is introduced
between the conical surface of the cup 6 and the cone d² of the crank axle d.
The axle d having been inserted in the bearing case a to its full extent the other
set of balls g is introduced between the conical surface e³ of the bearing cup c and
the other cone d of the crank axle d. The cup c is then turned in the direction
proper to withdraw it from the screwed end of the bracket a until the bearing
balls have been adjusted in their proper position against the bearing cone d'.
The screwed bearing cup c is then locked in its adjusted position. The other
crank may now be fitted on the other end of the axle. The fitting of the
cranks e is preferably effected by providing the said cranks with hollow cones at
their inner faces which seat themselves on cones on the axle, the bosses of the said
cranks slightly entering the mouths of the cups b, c as represented in Figure 1 and
thereby excluding dust and grit.
E,
When in consequence of wear it is desired to re-adjust the parts of the bearing,
the crank eat the screwed end of the bracket a is removed from the axle b and the
cup c is unlocked and turned in the direction proper to withdraw it from the
bracket a, until the desired.adjustment is obtained, the adjustment or withdrawal of
the cup e causing a slight outward motion of the axle d and effecting at the same
time the adjustment of the parts at the other end of the bearing. The said cup c
is then locked in its readjusted position and the crank e' is replaced.
Although I have represented the bearing cups and balls at each end of the
bracket a of different sizes yet the said hearing cups and balls may be of the same
size without materially affecting the efficiency of my invention; and although I
have described and represented one of the bearing cups plain and the other screwed
yet both of the said bearing cups may be screwed, the adjustment in this case
being effected from either end of the bracket a or partly from one end and partly
from the other end.
By constructing and arranging the parts of the crank axle ball bearing in the
manner described the bosses on the inner side of the cranks are permitted to enter
the open mouths of the bearing cups so as nearly to come in contact with the
bearing balls thereby making the "tread" (that is, the distance between the cranks)
very narrow at the same time the ball races are kept at a sufficient distance apart
to ensure a steady bearing.
Although I have described and represented my improvements as applied to the
crank axle ball bearing of a safety bicycle yet their application to the crank axle
ball bearings of bicycles other than safety bicycles as well as to the crank axle ball
bearings of tricycles and other velocipedes differs in no essential respect from their
application to the crank axle ball bearing of a safety bicycle as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my
invention;-
;-
The arrangement or combination of the ball bearings of bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing; that is to say, arranging the cones on the crank axle so
that their larger ends are turned outwards or in a manner the reverse of that in
which they are usually arranged and the combination therewith of the bearing cups
arranged with their conical bearing surfaces and mouths turned outwards so as to
admit of the bosses of the cranks entering the mouths of the bearing cups, thereby
narrowing the tread of the velocipede at the same time keeping the ball races at a
sufficient distance apart to ensure a steady bearing.
Dated the Twenty-first day of July 1893.
JOHN VERNON PUGH.