Improvements in Speed Gear for Bicycles and other Velocipedes and Motor Cars.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Speed Gear for Bicycles and other Velocipedes and
Motor Cars.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD BLACKETT BEAUMONT, of St. Margarets Mansions, 5.1,
Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County of London, Colonel, do hereby declare
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of driving gear for bicycles
and other velocipedes and motor cars whereby the driving wheel or wheels can be
driven at two different speeds from the crank or driving axle, according to whether
the machine is running on level ground or up hill, while at the same time the
"free wheel."
driving wheel is enabled to act as a
According to one arrangement for this purpose I fix on the crank or driving
axle two chain wheels of different diameters relatively to the corresponding two
driving chain wheels on the hub or axle of the driving wheel or wheels of the
cycle or motor car. The last named chain wheels are cach connected to the hub
or axle of the wheel or wheels by means of a ratchet device, so that they will
drive the wheel or wheels only in the forward direction, running free in the
opposite direction. The high speed driving chain wheel is made in two separate
parts, namely a ring that is connected to the hub by the said ratchet device, and
a toothed ring that runs loose on the ratchet ring but can be connected thereto
by
any suitable clutch device. Thus when the cycle or motor car is being driven
by the low speed gear, the clutch of the high speed wheel is put out of gear and
its toothed ring runs loose on its ratchet ring at a somewhat higher speed than
the hub or axle and low speed wheel.
When on the other hand it is desired to drive with the high speed, the clutch
of the high speed wheel is put in gear by hand and the low speed wheel will then
run idle on the hub or axle at a somewhat slower speed, this being possible on
account of the ratchet connection between the two. In either case, the driving
'free wheel," that is to
wheel or wheels of the cycle or motor car can act as a
say, the crank or driving shaft and its chain wheels can be held stationary while
the driving wheel or wheels continues or continue to run forward.
66
The said high speed and low speed chain wheels can either be arranged separate
one on each side of the cycle or motor car or if desired, they may both be mounted
on the same side, in which case they may be carried by one and the same sleeve
fixed on the hub or axle of the driving wheel, such sleeve having a separate ratchet
connection for each chain wheel.
According to another modification, the ratchet gear for the high speed wheel is
dispensed with, and the loose toothed ring thereof is connected directly by a
clutch to the hub or axle of the driving wheel or wheels; in this case, when the
high speed wheel is put in gear, the driving wheel or wheels does or do not act
as a free wheel or wheels but is capable of being back pedalled.
In either case the cycle can be provided with any back pedalling brake of known
construction

page_text: Although I have spoken of the chain wheels on the crank axle being made of
different diameters for the high and low speeds yet they might be made of equal
diameters, and requisite difference of diameter be made in the chain wheels on
the driven wheel, or both sets of wheels may be made of different diameters.
Dated this 4th day of November 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Speed Gear for Bicycles and other Velocipedes and
Motor Cars.
I, FREDERICK EDWARD BLACKETT BEAUMONT, of St. Margarets Mansions, 51,
Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County of London, Colonel, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
My invention relates to an improved construction of driving gear for bicycles
and other velocipedes and motor cars whereby the driving wheel or wheels can
be driven at two different speeds from the crank or driving axle, according to
whether the machine is running on level ground or up hill, while at the same
time the driving wheel is enabled to act as a free wheel" whether the high speed
or the low speed gear is in action.
"1
In two-speed gear as heretofore constructed, the two chain wheels on the wheel
hub or axle have either both been of ordinary construction, and both mounted
loose on the hub or axle, either the one or the other being coupled at will with
the wheel hub by a clutch according as it be desired to run at a quick or a slow
speed. Or only the high speed chain wheel has been arranged with a clutch con-
nection as above described, while the low speed chain wheel was connected to
the wheel hub by a ratchet wheel connection, so that when the high speed wheel
was thrown in gear the part of the ratchet device of the low speed wheel which
was carried by the hub could run faster than the chain wheel itself.
My present invention has for its object to do away with the necessity of having
to clutch the high speed chain wheel directly on to the wheel hub for running
with the high speed gear, and to afford the latter the same advantage as is afforded
by the low speed gear having the said ratchet connection, namely that of being
able, while running at either the one speed or the other to hold the pedals
stationary while the driving wheel continues to run freely forward.
For these purposes I construct the high speed chain wheel as follows;-
I fix upon the wheel hub the one part of a ratchet device, surrounding which
is the second part of the ratchet device in the form of a ring having a smooth
cylindrical outer surface, and upon this ring I fit a toothed ring, acting as the
chain wheel, which works loose on the intermediate ring, but can be clutched
thereto by means of any suitable clutching device.
One arrangement for this purpose is shown by way of example on the accom-
panying drawing in which Fig. 1 shews an elevation of the hub of a driving wheel
with the high and low speed mechanism connected thereto, Fig. 2 shews a sectional
end view of the high speed gear and Fig. 3 shews a view of the ratchet gear of
the high speed wheel, the toothed ring being removed. Fig. 4 is a section of a
modified arrangement.
A is the low speed chain wheel which is connected to the hub B of the wheel
by means of ratchet gear C, which may be of any suitable construction, but is

page_text: here shewn of the construction described in the Specification to my Application
for Letters Patent No. 19870 of 1898 and which need not be farther described.
The high speed chain wheel consists firstly of a ring D fixed on the hub of the
wheel which ring as shewn in the front view at Fig. 3 has notches containing
loose pawls and has fitted loose upon it a ring E having ratchet notches with
which the said pawls are made to engage by means of springs, the ring E being
held in position upon the ring D by side cheeks.
This arrangement also constitutes the ratchet device described in the specifica-
tion to my aforesaid application.
Upon the ring E is fitted loose the toothed ring F. In the arrangement shewn
this ring is carried by a sleeve F1 that runs loose on the hub B and can be slid
thereon either so as to be in the position shewn in full lines, in which the toothed
ring is loose on the ring E, or so as to be in the dottel position in which it is
clutched to the ring E, studs E' on the latter being then made to enter holes F
in the sleeve F. Thus when the toothed ring is in the uncoupled position
the cycle wheel will be rotated by the slow speed gear AC driven by a corres-
ponding chain wheel on the pedal shaft. When on the other hand the toothed
ring of the high speed chain wheel is clutched with the ring E, the cycle wheel
will be rotated by the high speed gear D, E, F, driven by a second chain wheel
and chain on the pedal shaft.
It will be seen that when running either with the high speed gear or with
the low speed gear the pedal shaft and consequently the toothed rings A and r
can be held stationary while the wheel continues to run freely forward owing to
the said ratchet connections; also, that when the low speed gear is in action, the
unclutched toothed ring F of the high speed gear will be carried round loose
upon the ring E at a quicker speed than the hub and ring E, while when the
high speed gear is in action, the toothed ring A with its cheeks will be carried
round at a slower speed than the hub, this being permitted by the ratchet con-
nection.
The throwing in and out of gear of the toothed ring F may be effected in any
convenient manner. In the arrangement shewn by way of example on the draw-
ing a spring arm G fixed to the cycle frame is engaged with its forked end in a
neck in the sleeve F1 and normally tends to keep this and the toothed ring F
in the unclutched position. On the cycle frame is fixed an incline H, and between
this and the arm G is a wedge I to which is attached a handle J situated in any
convenient position near the saddle, so that for throwing the quick speed gear in
action the rider merely requires to force down the wedge.
Instead of arranging the high and low speed chain gear separate and on opposite
sides of the wheel as described, they might also be arranged side by side as shewn
at Fig. 4.
In this arrangement the toothed ring, runs loose upon the intermediate ring E
between the two side chceks thereof, and a separate sliding clutch K is provided
loose on the wheel hub having two pins kk adapted to engage with recesses e
and f in the parts E and F for clutching them together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
In a high speed chain wheel for variable driving gear the combination
of a toothed ring F loose upon an intermediate ring E connected to the wheel hub
or axle by a ratchet device, and a clutch device adapted to connect the toothed ring
with the intermediate ring, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 20th day of June 1800
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.