Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1891-Accepted, 2nd July, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of
Velocipedes.
We FRANK HOWLES of 269 Lower King Edwards Road Birmingham
Mechanical Engineer and FREDERICK ALBERT ROLAN of 11 The Shrubbery
Coplow Street Ladywood, Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
bur said invention to be as follows:-
:-
We will describe our invention for improvements in the driving mechanism of
velocipedes, as applied to the ordinary safety.
We provide two driving chains, one being on each side of the machine and two
sets of spur wheels, the one set being proportioned for speed, and the other set for
power. These chains are not both in action at one and the same time, but either
of them is put into gear by the means that we will now describe.
دو
of
We make the pedal shaft square in the centre and round towards each end. On
the square part of the pedal shaft slides double ended "sleeve clutch
which the length is equal or nearly so, to the length of the square part of the
pedal shaft.
The round part at each end of the pedal shaft passes through a clutch corre-
sponding to the sliding clutch. These clutches on the round parts of the pedal
shaft allow of the free rotation of the pedal shaft within them. The outer part of
each clutch is turned to run in a bearing hereafter described, and we provide two
spur wheels one of which is secured to each clutch and rotates with it. These spur
wheels by means of pitch-chains transmit the power of the rider from the pedal
crank shaft to the driving wheel.
The spur wheels are of different sizes so that the driving wheel can be driven at
one of two different speeds from a uniform velocity of the pedal shaft.
The clutches are turned on their outer circumferences and rotate in bearings
(usually ball bearing) formed in a fork on the frame of the machine.
The pedal cranks are firmly secured to the outer ends of the pedal crank shafts
and rotate with it, when the sleeve clutch is in its central position no motion can be
communicated from the pedal crank shaft to the driving wheel, but if it is slid along
the square to one side on the other then one or other clutch with its spur wheel and
chain is put into gear and the safety-bicycle is propelled either speedily for the level
or down hill running, or more slowly for hill climbing.
The part in the centre of the pedal crank shaft we make square by preference,
but it may be round, with a feather, or of some other section if preferred so long
as it and the sleeve clutch rotate together.
To actuate the sleeve clutch we provide a forked lever centred on a fulcrum pin
attached either directly or indirectly to the frame of the machine, the forked lever
in its connection with the sleeve clutch is provided with two rollers to reduce the
friction the other end of this lever is connected by rods to a hand lever which can
be easily actuated by the rider of the machine. A spring catch or step catch being
provided to keep it in place.
Dated 2nd Jul 18001
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of
Velocipedes.
I FRANK HOWLES of 132 Spring Hill in the County of Warwick in the City
of Birmingham Fitter and Turner formerly of 269 King Edwards Road City, of
Birmingham County of Warwick F. A. ROLAN Fitter & Turner 11 The Shrub-
bery Coplow Street, County of Warwick City of Birmingham 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 :-
I construct of iron and steel a clutch gearing by which two speeds are obtained
on velocipedes.
A is a double ended sleeve clutch sliding on a square spindle C the square on
spindle C is equal in length to the clutch A the ends of spindle C passing through
the combined clutches and bearing B1 and B2 are round into which the cranks D
are secured in the usual way two chain driving wheels of different diameters are
required one keyed on clutch bearing B₁ at B3 and one at clutch bearing B² at B4
the spindle C being driven by the cranks take round the clutch A which, has a.
square hole through a sliding fit on the square of spindle C the clutch A when
central on the square of spindle C will mis clutch B' and B2 by means of fork
lever F working in groove in centre of clutch A clutch A is moved to right or left
clutch B or B2 the clutches are not straight but have a slight lead on which will
be seen in drawings the clutch bearings B1 and B2 work in ordinary cased-ball
bearings the cases K which bearings B¹ and B³ work in are stayed by three
stays E.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in. what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what, I
claim is
1st. Spindle C is square the length of clutch A.
2nd. I claim case K with stays for my clutch gear and F fork with rollers for
clutch A clutches B1 and B2.
3rd. The combination of clutches pinion and spindle I claim as a novelty in two
speed velocipedes.
FRANK HOWLES,
132, Spring Hill, in the County of Warwick, in the City of Birmingham,
Fitter and Turner,
Formerly of 269, King Edwards Road, City of Birmingham,
County of Warwick.