Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-21
CHA mi ESS WHEELS

Wheelmen and wheelmakers are showing
revived interest In efforts to produce a
chainless bicycle that shall take the placa
OF the present means of propulsion. The
chain and the tire have alternately held
scientific and mechanical attention ever
since the bicycle began to command popu-
lar favor. short time ago the tire was
thoroughly investigated with the purpose
Of rendering 1t less subject TO accident.
while preserving its resilient or power
transmitting qualities. A happy combina-
ton was finally reached ard the pneumatic
tire today, while far from perfect in point
OF being puncture-proof, is more satisfac-
tory than ever before. and the wheelman is
provided with ample means for quick re-
pairing when he meets with misfortune
Now the chain is undergoing experiment in
order TO discover way to improve il or to
DO without 1t The means of Improvement
are necessarily limited. The chain must be
composed OF many short links, each rigidiy
fastened to the next as regards longitude
nal strain and vet perfectly flexible in the
way OF revolving around a common axis.
This heXibilfty Is secured by piyoting each
link upon a smooth bearing bar and the
exposure to dust and CRIME is such as TO
render these fifty or more friction points in
the chain subject to great loss of smooth
hess by reason of clogged and soiled sur
faces. The efforts at improvement have
mainly been confined to the reduction of
Tie aS lne cnaln passes on and OFF
the sprocket teeth In the front and rear
power wheels, while the liability of the
chain to become dirt-choked has remained
as great as ever. Plumbago or graphite is
used, but only to aid the chain i'm its pass
age around the sprockets This material
does not lubricate the many joints of the
chain itself. Oil only can preserve the gem
eral heXibility that must be maintained IL
the chain is to do the maximum of work
at minimum expenditure of power Yet
oil interferes with the free action of the
links on the sprocket teeth and causes that
too familiar cracking noise that frequently
accompanies the of the wheel. This is
not only annoying. but harmful as IL wears
the chain and the sprockets unduly. 1t is
only by exercise of diligent care that the
chain is kept fabricated. free from grit,
and yet easy on the sprockets.
This persistent cleaning has created n
desire for form of gear ng that will trans
init power economically and yet preserve its
servicea bility Indefinitely The bevel gear
ing is thought by some to accomplish this
end, yet Ii is open to serious objections.
This gearing involves the DIR ect transfer of
power from the feet through the pedals
and cranks to beveled toothed wheel en-
gagng the teeth on a similar wheel set per-
pendicalsrly. The power then passes back
to the rear wheel by the turning of a stout
rod longitudinally upon its own axis and
by an arrangement similar to that in front
reaches the driving wheel of the machine.
This gear can be completely inclosed in a
dust-proof case, has fewer parts to create
friction than the chain and theoretically
affords a perfect mode of transferring the
power But the strains caused by hill
climbing and sudden spurts are liable to
dlsarrange the adjustment of the two pairs
of gear wheels, which must be exactly in
conjunction, and the great torsional strain
on the connecting rod tends to destroy its
alignment
The advocates of the chain gear contend
that it can be made equally dust-proof by
Enclosure in a such as that now in
general use in England. which surrounds
every portion of the mechanism with a pro-
tecting device that can be fitted or removed
in short order. Thus Ii may be expected
that merry war VIII heBceforth be waged
between chains and bevels. and meanwhile
the prices of bicycles, which have long been
higher than the public feels to be warranted
by the cost of labor ard materials Will
probably drop lower and nearer the level
to which they are already tending. Then
indeed will the era of wheeling become of
fuller attainment and soon there will come
an apprehension lest the sight of a pedes-
trian on the public streets will cause a
panic of excited attention.