The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-08-17

falling the necessary rigidity OF frame
ne necessary ixity can be attained oy
| improved journal box, which shall hold
the parts OF the gear IN position in spite
of the opposing tendencies.
But even at that the connecting rod
or pitman. 5 subjected TO severe tor
| sional strain. This would seem to lay
| man ID affect rod Of ordinary strength
| too slightly for consideration; but the
| fact that deviation OF one five-hun-
| dredth of an inch will cause serious diff
| ficulty must not be overlooked. For sue
| cessful operation the alignment OF the
parts Of a bevel gear must be kept prac-
| tically perfect. The slight play allowa-
BILE in a chan gear would suffice to rem
der bevel gear useless.
| DUST AND MUD PROBLEM.
| Furthermore, the bevel gear does not
| do away with the dust and mud prob
| lem. 1t is little less exposed than the
chain, and is no less usceptibie 10 the
| ciogging and cutting influences OF mate
rial that may settle in ii. While the
gearing may be protected by practi-
cally dust proof gear case, the same ad-
In England gear cases are N almost
universal use, and are considered indis-
pensable. Why they are so little known
in this country would be difficult 10 say.
| Those who use them are enthusiastic in
their support.
The mechanism consists essentially in
a pair Of aluminium tubes TO incase the
chan, aluminium plates to cover the
sprocket wheels, and sheet rubber joints
to hold the metal parts together. The
whole can be taken apart and removed
in a moment, and as readily be put to-
getiler again; no mechanical skill is re-
auired. The tubes are lined with felt,
into which is rubbed graphite or plumba-
go. This is to minimize the friction in
the event of an accidental contact be-
tween tubes and chain.
The case is practically dust proof. So
great is its saving in wear and tear on
the chain that Is. V. II. Schultz, formerly
mechanical expert of bearings, is con-
WINGED that it 5 the true solution OF
the chain problem. - ,y
To return to the bevel gear, expense
would be an important item. OF neces-
sity, the cogs cannot be parallel. This
would necessitate the cutting Of each
cog wheel separately. An important saw
ing has been effected in the manufacture
OF sprocket wheels by milling several
OF them at once.
EXPERIMENTS BEING MADE
The old league chainless safety was
operated on the bevel gear principle.
The company manufacturing the wheel
failed. Tho machines with which the
Pope company. Spalding and others are
now experimenting are said 10 be simply
a development of the old league type
Many experts assert that the chain
wheel is the only bicycle that will give
satisfaction. The facts, as opposed to
or confirming theories remain TO be seen.
Other mechanical devices have been
tried, but their applicat ton to the bicy-
Gle invariable has ended in failure. The
experiment that now seems most anus
ing was a scheme to push a series OF
balls from the crank axle 70 the rear
axle through a tube. Several variations
on the principle We're tried. One plan was
to have the balls pushed into series |
of pockets in the rear OF the axle and |
forced out of a similar series from the |
seat of the power. Another experiment |
the pockets with tile paddles. |
In both cases the rubbing of the balls |
caused too much friction; as remedy |
the tube was flooded with oil. Il was |
then found that a perfectly oil-proof |
joint could not be constructed.
A train of gears" consisting OF three |
cog wheels, was operated for a time with |
some show OF success. The system |
proved, however. to be Of less practical |
value than tire chain. A ratchet, some |
thing like that used on the old Star ma
chine was tried. II introduced adCi- /
tional parts, added complications, and |
necessitated the use OF spring 20 re-
turn the lever 20 its proper position
Another experiment consisted in con-
Meeting the forward and rear sprocket |
wheels with simple piston. the same in
principle as is used on locomotives. The
dead center" proved too much for the
piston. This piston would occasionally
se, into a position from which it could
only with difficulty be moved either way
One OF the mechanical engineers in
Cornell university determined that. n
4 perfectly constructed bicycle in per-
feet order, the friction due 10 the chain
md sprocket amounted 10 one-half OF
per cent OF the total friction. In
bicycle cheaply constructed. carelessly
sept, or both, he found that the chain
md sprocket's contribution to the total
friction was so per cent. These figures
Ire OF immense significance. II the man
lfscturer WI see thai the parts are per-
-.
emperei neither too hard nor too soft.
the rider Will consent 20 give his ma
.hiDe the care and protection that Is
Iue 50 fine a mechanism, il would seem /
s though the evolution OF bicycle pro-
ceiling devices had reached It's climax
n the CHAIN. Failing these o5servaaces
N TIE part % maker and User. SacTi-
ice Of the most direct appliance for the
OF power may De found ex-
sedicn.