Patent GB-190326068-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in Variable Speed Gear for Motor Propelled Vehicles.
Inventor: MEYER ERNST GUSTAV
Filed: 1903-11-28
Granted: 1904-11-24
Abstract: 26,068. Meyer, E. G., and Mudford, A. J., [Hagen, R.]. Nov. 28. Motor road vehicles.-In a variable-speed gear for motor-propelled vehicles, of the type in which a driving-clutch is given an adjustable throw, the variation in speed is obtained by altering the throw of the crank, or cranks, employed for actuating the clutch. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the driving-clutch is operated by links d, l, connected to a rocking lever a, which is coupled to a variable-throw crank by a rod 6. The crankpin 10 is carried by a block 5 mounted to slide on a crank 4 secured to the shaft 3. A spindle 14, carried, preferably on ball bearings, by the crank 4, is screwed to engage a nut carried by the block 5. The spindle 14 is connected by bevel gearing with a shaft 11 passing through the shaft 3. A clutch member 18 is keyed so as to allow sliding on the shaft 11, and can be moved, by suitable levers &c., so as to engage with the fixed framework, or with a spur-wheel 19 driven, through intermediate gearing, from a wheel 20 on the shaft 3. When the member 18 is in engagement with the framework, the spindle 14 is rotated in one direction to alter the throw of the crank, and, when in engagement with the wheel 19, the spindle is rotated in the opposite direction. In order to prevent overrunning of the block 5 in either direction, the block is provided with cam-plates, which, when at either end of the travel, move a rod 12. This rod is connected by links 17 to the lever for actuating the member 18, and when the rod 12 is moved the clutch is thrown out of engagement. The block 5 runs on balls 22 arranged in endless grooves in the block 5, in tapered pieces or blocks 23, and in caps 60. The blocks 23 are adjustable by means of nuts to regulate the tightness of the block 5 in the bearing. The caps 60 are secured by screws 61 locked in place by pins &c. In the arrangement shown in Figs. 4 and 5, the rods for actuating the clutches are coupled directly to pins 33 on a double crank 32 fixed to the shaft 30. The crank-pins 33 are formed as annular bosses on blocks 37 adapted to slide on balls 36. The pins 33 carry nuts engaging right and left hand screws on a spindle 38 mounted on the crank. A worm-wheel 39 on this spindle engages a worm 40 on a screwed shaft 41. A pinion 42 on the shaft 41 gears with a pinion 43 and an annular wheel 44 loosely mounted about the crank shaft. Normally, the shaft 41 revolves around the shaft 30 without rotating on its axis ; when either the wheel 44 or the pinion 43 is fixed, the shaft 41 is rotated in one or other direction and the spindle 38 is rotated so as to alter the throw of the cranks. A ratchet is fixed to the sleeve of each of the wheels 43, 44 and is engaged by a double pawl, operated by a button, to fix the wheel 43 or 44. In order to prevent over-running, a tappet on a nut, engaging the screw on the shaft 41, engages a trip-lever 51, when at either limit of the travel, and moves a rod 50, which operates the button, through levers 49, and releases the fixed wheel.