Bicycle hub constructions and lubrication thereof

• US 4,763,957 A
• Filed: 11/03/1986
• Issued: 08/16/1988
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1986
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wilderness Bicycle Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Wilderness Bicycle Incorporated
• Inventors: Poehlmann, Paul W., Slate, Mark J., Potts, Stephen M., Cunningham, Charles B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reeves, Robert B.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stormer, Russell D.
• Application Number:
  US06/926,340
• Time in Patent Office: 652 Days
• Field of Search: 301/105 R, 301/105 B, 301/111-112, 301/124 R, 301/124 H, 301/125, 280/279, 280/288, 384/44, 384/380, 384/381, 384/474, 403/22, 403/320, 411/272, 411/273, 411/351, 411/432
• US Class Current: 301/110.5
• CPC Class Codes: B60B 27/023 specially adapted for bicycles

Abstract

The forks of a bicycle receive an axle having threaded ends. A tube surrounds the axle and carries ball bearings on which a wheel housing is rotatable with a space between the tube and the housing. Specially shaped seals engage the wheel housing and the tube between the ball bearings to keep lubricant out of the space between the seals. A special lever lock on one end of the axle cooperates with a nut on the other end of the axle to draw together the parts engaged with the axle, the tube and the housing.

Claims

1. A bicycle hub construction and lubrication therefor especially for a bicycle having first and second spaced forks with openings therein comprising an axle adapted to extend through said openings and having threaded ends, a tube disposed around said axle and spaced from said forks, a pair of spaced-apart ball bearings each having an inner race engaging said tube and an outer race, a tubular housing surrounding said axle and having spoke-receiving end flanges, means on said housing adjacent said end flanges for engaging the outer races of said ball bearings, means on said housing providing a pair of end chambers each with a shoulder adjacent a respective one of said ball bearings, a pair of circular seals each having an annular band disposed between one of said shoulders and the outer race of one of said ball bearings and each having a conical portion integral with said band adjacent said one of said shoulders and extending into contact with said tube at spaced locations leaving a volume between said seals, means including passages through the wall of said tubular housing and overlain by said seals for admitting lubricant to said end chambers, a pair of cups each having a shoulder disposed between a respective end of said tube and a respective one of said forks and having a cylindrical portion surrounding said respective end of said tube, a nut engaging one threaded end of said axle and near said first fork, a bearing washer around the other end of said axle and abutting said second fork, a nut block engaging the other threaded end of said axle, means defining transversely disposed bearing shoulders on opposite sides of said nut block, a yoke having a pair of fingers, a bearing pin on each of said fingers adapted to engage a respective one of said bearing shoulders, means on each of said fingers defining cams eccentric to said bearing pins and adapted to engage said bearing washer, a latch lever, means for pivoting said latch lever on said yoke between said fingers for movement of said latch lever into and out of engagement with said nut block, and means for urging said latch lever into engagement with said nut block.

2. A bicycle hub for a bicycle having spaced forks with openings therein comprising an axle adapted to extend through said openings and having ends with threads, a tube surrounding said axle and having ends between said forks, cup washers each having one portion surrounding a respective end of said tube and having a flange interposed between a respective end of said tube and a respective one of said forks, a nut adapted to engage said threads on one of said ends outside the adjacent one of said forks, a threaded block adapted to engage said threads on the other of said ends outside the other one of said forks, a washer on said axle and interposed between said block and said other one of said forks, a lever, means for pivoting said lever on said block to rotate about an axis extending transversely of said axle, a cam on said lever adapted to move against and away from said washer as said lever rotates, and a detent movable on said lever into and out of a position engaging said block for precluding rotation of said lever about said axis.

3. A bicycle hub for a bicycle having spaced forks with openings therein comprising an axle adapted to extend through said openings and having ends with threads, a tube surrounding said axle and having ends between said forks, cup washers each having one portion surrounding a respective end of said tube and having a flange interposed between a respective end of said tube and a respective one of said forks, a nut adapted to engage said threads on one of said ends outside the adjacent one of said forks, a threaded block adapted to engage said threads on the other of said ends outside the other one of said forks, a washer on said axle and interposed between said block and said other one of said forks, a lever, means for pivoting said lever on said lock to rotate about an axis extending transversely of said axle, a cam on said lever adapted to move against and away from said washer as said lever rotates, and a detent movable on said lever into and out of a position engaging said block for precluding rotation of said lever about said axis, and a spring for urging said detent into said position engaging said block.