US912476A - Ball-bearing curtain-ring. - Google Patents

Description

i J. W. LESLIE. BALL BEARING CURTAIN RING. APPLICATION FILED rEB.1o, 1908.

Patented Feb. 16, 1909.

TH: Normas Parras co.. wAsHmcwN, D. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEETCE.

JAMES W. LESLIE, OF WAKEFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS.

B ALL-BE ARING CURTAIN-RING..

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. LESLIE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and resident of lakefield, county of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Ball-Bearing Curtain-Rings, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawing, is a specification, like `numerals on the drawing representing like parts.

This invention has for its object the production of an efficient, durable and cheap ball bearing curtain-ring for use inhanging curtains, portires, and the like, the ring being provided with one or more traverserolls mounted to revolve around the ring upon bearing balls. By this construction I attain a practically noiseless rin'g when moved along the usual supporting rod or pole, and: one which can be moved with a minimum of friction.

Inasmuch as curtain-rings are s old at a relatively low price the structure must be such that the same can be made very cheaply and the different parts quickly and easily assembled, and at the saine time due regard must be had to the strength and rigidity of the ring.

The various novel features of my invention w-ill be fully described inthe subjoined specification and particularly pointed out in the following claims.

Figure l is a View in elevation of a curtain ring embodying one forin of my invention, provided with ball-bearing traverse-rolls, the supporting pole being shown in section; Fig. 2 is a sectional detail to illustrate the manner in which the separated ends of the ring are i'ixedly connected, and the structure of the ball-bearing feature, two different forms of the connecting member being shown 3 Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the structure shown in Figs. 1 and 2, to more clearly illustrate structural details 3 Fig. 4 is a view partly in section of another embodiment of my invention 5 Fig. 5 is an enlarged diametral section of the traverse-roll; Fig. 6 is a side elevation thereof, Fig. 7 is a diametral section of a traverseroll having a large external diameter, for use with small bearing rolls; Eig. S is an elevation of a connecting member made as a single piece and `provided with two ball races.

I prefer to providethe ring with two radially arranged traverse-rolls, as thereby thebest andlmost practicalresultsr are se- Specicaton of Letters Patent.

Application led February 10, 1908.

Patented'Feb. 16, 1909.

Serial No. 415,061.

cured, and preferably the main or body portion of the ring is made of thin sheet-metal, bent into ring form, at 1, the ends of such ring body being separated in the structure illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

The traverse-roll is made as a hollow shell, composed of two circular disks n, 3, centrally apertured, and flanged atl their outer; circumferences at 4, 5 respectively, the flanges 5 overlapping the flanges 4, clearly shown' in Fig. 5, and the two parte are xedly connected 1n any suitable manner, as by4 rolling over the edge of the flange 5as at 6. A roll of this construction is shown in, my Unitedy States Patent N o. 87 2,947 granted Decemberprovided with two radially arranged annular` ball-races, constructed as grooves or depressions below the surface of the ring, the trav.- erse-rolls loosely surrounding such portions, and a series of bearing balls is interposed between eachfixed ball-race and the roll, the latter constituting the complemental, movable race.

When using two traverse-rolls, asin Figs. 1 and 2, the connecting member comprises a distance piece 8, preferably a piece of ring tubing, locked at each end to an enlargement at'the inner end of the roll axle, a similarenlargement on the outer endof the axle being locked to the adjacent end of the ring l.

The axle may be made of spun sheet metal, and comprises two parts each having an apertured enlargement or head 9, contracted -to form an annular groove 10 and then widened to a shoulder 11, the inner face of the'shoulder being concaved at 12 to forin-one-half ofl a ball-race, and then inwardly flanged at 13. The flanges 13 of the two parts are abutted, as clearly shown in Eig. 3, and fixedly conlargement or head 9. 'When so unitedthe concaved parts 12 form a shallow annular. 110

which travel freely therein.

Instead of using sheet metal the axle member may be made solid and turned to shape, as shown at the left, Fig. 2, the central groove 16 forming the ball-race, with annular grooves 17 around the bases of the enlargements 18.

One of the heads, whether of sheet-metal or solid, is inserted in the open or socket-like end of the ring 1, and the metal of the same is forced into the groove 1() or 17, as the case may be, at 19, such compression of the metal of the ring securely locking the ring end to the outer enlargement of the axle, and in a similar manner the inner enlargement is locked to the distance piece 8 by compressing the latter at 20. The two ends of the ring body are thus firmly and rigidly connected so that they cannot separate or twist apart, and the use of solder is avoided. Before the ends of the ring body are connected the parts of the two traverse-rolls are slipped on, and the balls 15 are dropped into the cup-like part 2 of a roll, after which the part 3 is applied, its flange 5 telescopically receiving the flange 4. llhen the edge of the flange 5 is rolled over at 6, or otherwise secured, and the roll is assembled, inclosing within it the series of bearing rolls, the latter traveling in the fixed ball-race previously described. The fixedv race laterally positions the balls, preventing their displacement, the shoulders 11 Vnearly filling the roll opening 7, and the roll, which forms the outer, movable race, is supported by the balls and by them is held from lateral displacement, as will be manifest. As the traverse-roll has rolling engagement with the balls, and the latter roll around the fixed ball-race, the friction is reduced to a minimum and the traverse of the ring as a whole is practically noiseless and easily effected.

In Fig. 4 I have shown another form of my invention wherein the fixed ball-races are formed in the tubular ring itself, one end of the latter being interlocked with the other. Near one end of the ring 21 an annular radially arranged groove or race 22 is formed in the ring by spinning over a former of suitable shape, for one set of balls 23, the traverse-roll surrounding them being the same as that illustrated in Figs. 5 and 6. A simi* lar race or groove 24 is formed near the other end of the ring, for the second set of balls 25, but beyond the race the ring is reduced in diameter at 26, leaving a shoulder 27, the reduced end being forced into the opposite end of the ring, as shown, and secured thereto in any suitable manner, as by a drop of solder at 28, the shoulder. 27 limiting the extent to which the reduced end 26 enters the opposite end of the ring.

It is sometimes desirable to use a traverseroll of relatively large external diameter, with small bearing balls, and in Fig. 7 I have shown in section a twofpart roll adapted for such use, the disk portion 29 being bent over and inward at its outer edge, to form the ball-race 30, and then bent outward at 31, the disk 32 having its outer edge bent over to 'form an inclosing flange 33, which is rolled over the disk 29 at 34. Y

The connecting member for securing together the separated ends of the ring body may be made as a single piece, as shown inV Fig. 8, having enlarged heads 35 annularly grooved at 36 to receive the compressed portions of the ring ends, the two ball-races 37 being formed at the ends of the central portion 38 ol the connecting member.

Various changes'or modifications may be made by those skilled in the art,in respect to the different details of construction without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a curtain ring having a radially arranged annular ball-race sunk below the external surface thereof, of a two-part centrally open traverse roll, loosely embracing the ring about the ball-race, and a series of bearing balls interposed between the ball race and the roll and in direct rolling engagement with each, the central opening' of the traverse roll being of suflicient diame ter to loosely embrace the ring.

2. The combination, with a curtain-ring, of a centrally apertured traverse roll loosely surrounding it and having a ball-race at its inner circumference, the portion of the ring surrounded by the roll having an annular, radially arranged depression therein forming the complemental ball-race, and a series of bearing balls loosely mounted in the two races, the normal cross-section ol' the ringV being of less diameter than the central aperture of the roll.

3. The combination, with a curtain-ring having a radially arranged, annular ball-race, of a series of bearing balls to travel therein, and a traverse-roll loosely surrounding the ring and embracing the balls, said roll comprising two parallel annular disks having their outer edges flanged and overlapped to form a hollow shell having an annular open recess at its inner circumference, the edges of the side walls ol' the recess loosely embracing the ring at the sides of the ball-race.

4. The combination, with a metallic curtain ring body having xedly connected ends, of a traverse-roll centrally apertured to loosely surround the body and having an annular open recess at its inner circumference, the part of the ring body surrounded by said roll being reduced in diameter to form an annular track, the cross-section of which is a circular arc, and a series of rotatable bearing balls interposed between the track and the traverse rolls, the latter consisting of two parallel annular disks flanged at their outer edges and overlapped, the portions of the disks adjacent the flanges forming the sides of an annular, open recess and cooperating with the bearing balls at opposite sides of the series.

5. rlhe combination, with a tubular rnetallic curtain ring body, made in one piece and having its ends fixedly connected, of a hollow traverse roll loosely surrounding it and presenting an annular, open recess at its inner circumference, the part of the ring-body surrounded by the roll having a kradially arranged annular depression and a series of bearing-balls loosely interposed between said depression and the roll and extending into the open recess at the inner circumference thereof, the sides of the depression and the sides of the recess coperating with the balls to prevent sidewise movement of the roll on the ring body.

6. The combination, with a tubular metallic curtain ring-body, having an annular ball race presenting a circular arc in cross-section, of a traverse roll loosely surrounding the body around the ball race, and a series of balls arranged to travel in the race in direct contact therewith and loosely entering the inner circumference of the roll, the latter having a central aperture of greater diameter than the cross-section of the body.

7. The combination, with a curtain-ring, of a plurality of radially arranged traverserolls loosely surrounding it, the portions of the ring surrounded by the rolls being reduced in diameter to form annular ballraces, and a series of balls interposed between each roll and the adjacent race and adapted to travel in the latter, the rolls having each a central opening of greater diameter than the unreduced portions of the ring.

8. A ball-bearing curtain ring, comprising a ring, and a plurality of ball-bearings arranged radially upon the ring, each consisting of an inner, lixed annular ball-race sunk below the surface of the ring, and presenting a circular arc in cross-section, an outer, rotatable annular Aball-race loosely surrounding the ring, and a series of balls traveling in each inner race and interposed between it and the outer race and cooperating with the latter to support it and limit lateral movement thereof, the balls contacting directly with the inner and outer races.

9. A ball-bearing curtain-ring, comprising a ring, and a ball-bearing arranged radially thereupon, consisting of an inner, fixed annular ball-race of less diameter than the cross-section of the ring, an outer, rotatable, annular ball-race loosely surrounding the ring and constituting a traverse-roll, it having an inner diameter greater than the crosssection of the ring, and a series of balls traveling in the inner race and interposed between it and the outer race, cooperating with the latter to support it and prevent lateral movement.

l0. A ball-bearing curtain-ring, comprising a ring, and a ball-bearing arranged radially thereupon, consisting of an inner, fixed annular ball-race of less diameter than the cross-section of the ring, an outer, rotatable, annular ball-race loosely surrounding the ring, and having an inner diameter greater than the cross-section of the ring, and a series of balls traveling in the inner race and interposed between it and the outer race, coperating with the latter to support it and prevent lateral movement, the outer race being composed of two circular members centrally apertured to receive the ring and having their outer edges flanged and overlapped, the annular portions of the circular members adjacent the flanges coperating with the portions of the balls exposed beyond the outer surface ofthe ring.

11. The combination with a one-piece tubular curtain-ring provided with a radially arranged ball-race within the surface thereof, a series of bearing balls in the race, and a two-part traverse-roll loosely surrounding and traveling upon the series of balls, said roll having an axial opening of larger diameter than the cross-section of the ring, but of less diameter than a circle tangential to and circumscribing the series of balls.

12. The combination with a tubular curtain-ring having a ball-support integral with and of less diameter than the tube, a twopart traverse-roll of larger diameter than the tube, and bearing balls interposed between the roll and the support and traveling upon the latter, the bottom of the ball-support being a circular arc in cross-section.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of wo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES W. LESLIE.

l/Vitnesses JOHN C. EDwARDs, MARGARET A. DUNN.

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