The evening times., 1897-08-30
BICYCLES WITHOUT CHAINS
Some of the Various Designs Put
Through the Patent Office.
A Chicopee Falls Man Has Invented
Wheel Propelled Ia a stand
ing Position.

Apropos of the universal agitation OF
as to whether they will put a chainless
bicycle on the market next year, de
scrlp,ion or a few of the wheels OF this
type that have been either put upon the
market within short time or have been
put through the Patent Office ready fol
! some moneyed individual 10 take bold viii
not be out or place.
A saddIeless bicycle has been invented b Y
a ChiCopee Falls man, which Is propelled
In a standing instead of sitting posture.
II is claimed as great advantace tha
All, inseead OF oniy part, OF a rider S
weight can by this device be utilized in
propeIiing the wheel The frame of the
wheel is q inches long and about 2inches
hlgn. The front wheel is IA and the rear
wheel l6 inches In diameter The pedals
take In the heel as well as the ball OF the
roDt and are equipped with short crankS.
Ordinary handlebars are used. A chainless
gear Will be adopted, although the model
has cnain- The machine Will weigh
about l2 pounds, and the most interesting
tact about II, perhaps, is the fact that the
inventor, who Is an experienced bicycle
mechanic, is confident that it can be built
or hign-grade materials and placed in the
purchasers hands for $50.
In the lever machine a pinion forms
part of the hub OF the rear wheel and a
larger wheel mesbes with the same. The
large wheel is rotated by means OF q
slotted crank, Journaled ON the rear axle
and operating roller stud fixed on the
slotted crank a toothed sector is fastened,
which meshes with similar toothed
sector that is either formed in one piece
with the foot lever or rigidly connected
with it. The mechanism is alike on both
sides OF the wheel, and is incased so as
TO make It dust proof, and the position of
the slotted crank in relation TO the large
gear wheel is so adjusted that when the
pedal on one foot lever is down the other
one is up.
The pedal shaft of the changeable bevel
gearing has mounted on it two gears of
unequal diameter, one being bevel gear
and the other spur gear. The gears are
rigidly connected and provided with elon-
gated hubs. One is grooved TO receive q
split collar, to which the shafting rod is
connected. The pedal shaft has a spline
and the hub key seat, SO as to key the
gears TO the shaft, while permitting them
to be shifted longitudinally. On one of the
ends of the driving shaft are mounted two
gears, also of unequal diameter to match
with tile gears on the Pedal shaft, one of
these gears being bevel pinion and the
other crown gear. The latter is formed in.
tegral with the pinion, and eXten ds from It's
base Its teeth are formed to engage with
those of the spur gear. The engagement of
fore, slow speed with great power, while
the bevel gear is used with ordinary travel
ing over smooth and even ground. Toggle
links are mounted in the frame and con-
and are further connected through a rod
with rocking lever pivotally mounted
on the outside of the gear casing, within
reach of the rider, to per init the ready SHIFT
ing OF the gears when desired.
1te nallett mechanism consists of q spur
wheel having two sets OF teeth incased in
a hermetically sealed case, and two push
rods working back and forthi IN the tworear
braces, which are provided with clutches
on the head end. These engage on per-
fectIy clear surface on the rear hub when
pushed backward, but release themselves
automatically when drawn forward. The
whole mechanism OF the wheel can be
reached by the removal of a few screws
The wheel can be made will narro w tread
since the spur wheel, being in the center
or the frame, the narro owness OF the tread
Is only governed by the room necessary for
wheel clearance. different gearings are OBJ
tanned by changing the size of the front
spur wheel. The turning OF a screw i'm the
casing OF the rear spur wheel takes up
any wear or the parts, thus securing neces-
sary adjustment.
The Sc anan chainless is unlike the. chain
less wheels. there is no smart on this ma
chine. In appeara ance it resembles an ordi-
barry wheel without the chain and with the
front and rear sprocket incaSed in a gear
case. There is some arrangement to run
right through the rear fork, but as yet few
particulars have been given out regarding
this machine. Bah bearings are said to play
an important partin this device. One of the
features is that the whole contrivance
runs In Oil, sever al pints being put in the
case which hides the working parts from
view.