Patent GB-190519666-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Change Speed Gears for Velocipedes.
Filed: 1905-09-29
Granted: 1906-07-26
Abstract: 19,666. Rudge-Whitworth, Ltd., Pugh, J. V., and pountney, F. Sept. 29. Variable-speed gearing.-In an epicyclic threespeed gear for velocipedes in which the planet pinions p are always in gear with a non-rotatable sun pinion q, the changes of speed are affected by sliding the internally-toothed ring r and the cage m, n to the right or left, as desired, intermediate free-running positions of the gear between each speed being obtained. In the position shown in Fig. 1, teeth j upon a driving-drum c are in engagement with clutch teeth s<1> upon the plate m of the cage, and the hub is driven at low speed through the planet pinions, the internally-toothed ring, external teeth v, and teeth w<1> within the hub. When the cage is moved towards the right a sufficient distance to disengage the teeth j, s<1>, the gear runs free, while, if the cage is moved still farther so that the teeth v simultaneously engage the teeth j, w<1>, the hub is driven direct. A second free-running position is obtained when the cage is moved sufficiently to disengage the teeth y from the teeth w<1>, and if the cage is then slid to bring the teeth s, w<1> into mesh, the teeth v, w<1> being still engaged, the hub is driven at low speed through the internally-toothed ring, the planet pinions, and the cage. For traversing the gear within the hub, a plate x secured to the cage engages over a collar z upon a screw-threaded sliding sleeve y which is prevented from rotating by teeth y<1> in engagement with the sun pinion, so that, by rotation of a sleeve 4 by means of a lever 7, the sliding sleeve and the gear are moved within the hub. A spring 8 tends to maintain the cage in the low-speed position. In a modified form of speed-changing mechanism, an enlarged collar z, Fig. 7, upon the sliding sleeve carries pins 11 upon which are mounted light springs 14 bearing upon plates 12, 13, one plate being engaged with a flanged extension 9 of the cages, and the other with the collar. The plates, however, need not be used, the springs being arranged to bear against the extension and the side plate of the cage; the gear may also be changed by the engagement of two skew-cut racks at right-angles. As a further modification, an operating wire or chain passing along an axial hole in the spindle may be surrounded by two helical springs, one spring being disposed between an end bead upon the wire and a bifurcated cross-piece connected to the cage, and the other spring arranged between a second bead and the end of a bent tube screwed into the hole. A third bead upon the wire carries a tubular cap of sufficient length to cover the end of the bent tube in all positions of the gear, and, to facilitate adjustments, the tube may be provided with three marks to indicate the position of the bottom of the cap when the gear is in one or other of the three speed positions. When this type of mechanism is used with bicycles having eccentric-axle chain adjustment, the hole is drilled centrally with the eccentric and the sun-wheel carries a semicircular feather, which, engaging a corresponding groove in the spindle, prevents the wheel from turning upon the spindle. In lieu of the lever 7, a wheel or disk actuated by a lug upon a cord or a rack and pinion, worm and worm-wheel, or other device may be used to turn the sleeve 4. Fig. 7 also shows an arrangement in which the non-rotatable sun pinion is adapted to slide with the cage and internallytoothed ring. According to the Provisional Specification, as a modification of the speed-changing mechanism shown in Fig. 7, a wire passing through springs within a hole in the spindle may be attached to a cross-piece engaging the sliding sleeve, so that the sleeve and the wire move together.