Patent GB-190503910-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Variable Speed Gear.
Inventor: SMITH JOHN
Filed: 1905-02-24
Granted: 1906-02-24
Abstract: 3910. Smith, J., and Humphreys, H. Feb. 24. Motor road vehicles.-Relates to eccentric epicyclic speed gearing applicable to motor-cycles and other self-propelled road vehicles. The driving- part a, Figs. 1 and 2, carries feathers a<1> on which slides a pinion b provided with internal feathers, the pinion engaging an eccentric wheel e solid with a wheel d which gears with teeth e 'on the hub e<1>. The wheels c, dare carried by an eccentric sheave f prevented from backward rotation by pawls which engage teeth on the fixed spindle f<1>. The position shown gives the low speed. For the high speed, the pulley k and tube j<1> are rotated, causing the sleeve i<2>, which carries pins passing through oblique slots in the tube j<1> into slots j<2> in the spindle f<1>, to move along, carrying the wheel b, by means of its flange i<1>, into engagement with slots h<1> on the hub, and giving a solid drive. The sheave may be given one or more intermediate speeds, for instance as shown in Figs. 9 and 13, in which rollers K convey motion at variable speeds between a disk E on the wheel e, which is not secured to the hub, and a similar disk H on the sheave f. The disk E engages the hub e<1> by means of a pawl and ratchet to allow the hub to overrun the disk. The rollers K are carried in frames M turning on pivots N in a carrier J, the rollers turning on pins L pivoted to a nut J<1>, which is traversed longitudinally by a screwed sleeve O to vary the speed. This sleeve is prevented from end motion by a frame P keyed to the fixed spindle f<1>, and is rotated by a chain and sprocket S. To secure efficient contact of the rollers and disks, serrated joints are provided at the points T, V, and a spring W is used to press the disk H forward, the working faces being also roughened if desired. In the Provisional Specification, it is stated that a third speed may be obtained in either of two ways. In the first device, co-axial bevel-wheels are secured to the sheave and to the fixed axle, there being also a ring carrying bevel pinions which gear with both ; clutch mechanism connects the ring to the wheel b, to the fixed bevel-wheel, or to the sheave, or connects the sheave to any of the gear-wheels. In the second device, a train of four spur-wheels similar to the train b, c, d, e is used, the first wheel of the auxiliary train being secured to the wheel band the fourth wheel to the sheave of the main train ; clutch mechanism is provided for locking the main sheave to the fixed spindle, freeing the main sheave and locking the auxiliary sheave to the central spindle, locking together both sheaves, or locking either sheave to any one of the wheels, the other sheave being free. Another wheel C may be added to the wheels c, d and another B be secured to the hub as shown in Fig. 8. The wheel e is provided with an extension m<1> which carries teeth m', adapted to engage corresponding teeth a' on the wheel b and teeth h' on the hub h. The sheave f is adapted to be moved by rotating a sleeve P which has oblique slots engaging pins p<1> on a sleeve p', which has pins p engaging a groove in the sheave f. In its central position as shown, the sheave f is free, and the wheel b and hub h are locked together by the teeth m<2>, giving a solid drive. When the sheave is moved to the right, clutch teeth f<2> engage the fixed clutch teeth n<1> on the fixed tube n, the teeth C are disengaged from the wheel B, and the teeth m' are engaged with the hub h alone, the drive being as in Fig. 1. When the sheave is moved to the left, clutch teeth o engage fixed teeth o', and the teeth C, B are brought into engagement. The teeth m<2> engage the wheel b alone, and the wheel B is driven through the wheels e, d, C.