Improvements in Chainless Velocipedes and like Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1890
UUAIT LEIN
Improvements in Chainless Velocipedes and like Vehicles.
I, GEORGE POPE, of Hartford, in the County of Hartford, and State of
Connecticut, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 the driving mechanism for vehicles in which there is
a frame, wheels and means which connect a driving shaft with a wheel hub or axle,
the features of improvement being particularly applicable to velocipedes, bicycles
and vehicles of that class. A main object of my invention is to provide a geared
mechanism in which the driving means and gear wheels may be united to or
separated from the frame without disturbing the adjustment of the bearings
or the main portions of the frame which are united and made rigid as to the
several members when the frame is once assembled.
To this end my invention consists in the combination of a rigid frame united
as to its parts, the geared driving mechanism with means for connecting the several
shafts and gears, and the adjustable bearings, and in details of the parts and their
combination, as hereinafter described and more particularly recited in the claims.
Referring to the drawings:
-
Figure is a view in side elevation of a bicycle in connection with which my
improvement is illustrated in the present case.
Figure 2 is a detail perspective view of the lower rear fork and crank bracket
of a bicycle frame with the connecting shaft in place.
Figure 3 is a detail view in section through the lower rear fork and connected
parts on line with the axis of the connecting shaft.
In the accompanying drawings the letter a denotes the crank bracket of a bicycle
frame, the frame upright, c, d the lower rear fork tubes, e and f the upper rear
fork tubes, g and h the right fork connecting tubes or braces, the upper brace g
being brazed or otherwise firmly and rigidly secured to the upper rear fork e and
the lower rear fork c.
A swinging latch i is attached at one end, as by means of a bolt, to the outer
end of the lower connecting tube h, and at its upper end to a lug on the lower end
of the upper rear fork tube e. A socket k is located about midway of this latch i
and into this socket the threaded end of a pin or axle extends.
The driving wheel is located between the forked members of the frame and
is held in position on the axle which extends through the hub m and through the
openings in the lug at the junction of the rear forks on the one side, and the socket
in the latch i at the other side of the frame. The hub m of this driving wheel is,
in the form of driving mechanism shown, provided with a bevel gear n which is
arranged to mesh with a bevel gear on the rear end of the connecting shaft of the
gear driving mechanism.
The crank bracket is hollow and the crank o extends through it, the bearings for
the crank shaft being located at the opposite ends of the bracket. The main or crank

page_text: shaft gear is located in the crank bracket a, and facing inward meshes with the
gear wheel which is removably secured to the front end of the connecting
shaft p.
This connecting shaft p is located within and extends through the lower rear
fork tube c, carrying fast to its rear end a bevel gear p² arranged to engage the
gear on the hub of the driving wheel 7.
The driving mechanism comprises the crank shaft operated by means of the
cranks and pedals connected thereto, the inward facing gear wheel fast to the
crank shaft, the connecting shaft located in the lower rear fork tube c, the gear
wheels on the front and rear ends of the connecting shaft, and the gear wheel on
the hub of the driving wheel.
°
These parts are so connected with the frame of the vehicle in my improvement
as to enable them to be easily assembled and afterwards readily removed without
disturbing the main frame members or the adjustment of the parts of the driving
means.
Within the crank bracket a the crank shaft o supports a sleever shorter than the
bracket and having cones r¹ at its opposite ends forming part of the ball races for
the ball bearings. This sleeve is held against rotation on the crank shaft by
projections on opposite sides of the one part, as the sleeve, fitting into sockets
in the opposing face of a shoulder on the opposite part, as the inner ends of the
crank hubs.
At one end of the crank bracket a an annular ball cases is removably secured,
preferably by means of interengaging threads on the respective parts, and the
balls of the bearing are held in the race temporarily by a retainer ring s secured
to the case and surrounding and overarching the balls but leaving a clear space
for the surface contact of the balls with the cone which is on the sleeve.
A circular disk or cover plate removably secured in the opposite end of the
crank bracket a supports an adjustable bail case t¹ with balls held therein by a
retainer ring identical with the ring s¹ in form and function, and these balls
when the shaft o and sleever are in position in the bracket, are in running contact
with the cone on the adjacent end of the sleeve.
Both of these ball cases s and t¹ are adjustable lengthwise of the crank bracket,
and this enables the position of the main gear, which is fast to the sleeve, to be
adjusted with reference to and across the line of the axis of the connecting shaft P.
This adjustment is determined when the crank shaft is assembled in place in the
bracket at the factory, and after being once adjusted the crank shaft may be removed
from the bracket by unscrewing the nut o2 on the end of the crank shaft o. The
crank shaft can then be pulled out of the hub of the crank arm and out of the
sleeve, or by removing the plate t the crank shaft and the sleeve with its appur-
tenant main gear wheel may all be removed from the bracket. This is a very
simple operation, requires but few tools, and is done without disturbing the adjust-
ment of the ball bearings. The parts can be replaced by reversing these steps, and
secured in place in the crank shaft without requiring the services of a skilled
operative.
Another feature of my invention resides in the details of construction of the parts
of the geared driving mechanism appurtenant to the driving wheel Z. The hub m
of this wheel is of the barrel type and the gear wheel n is screwed upon the threaded
end of the hub with the back of the gear resting against a shoulder m¹ on the
hub and held firmly in place by the collar m² which is located between the outer
edge of the hub of the gear and the overhanging flange m³ of the case m. This
case m of the ball bearings at this end of the hub is threaded to fit the thread on
the inner surface of the hub, and its position with reference to the distance it
enters the hub is determined by the width of the collar m². At the opposite end
of the hub m an adjustable ball case m³ is held by engaging threads on the re-
spective parts and it is clamped by an annular lock nut or collar mo threaded on its
edge and used as a follower. A thin metallic washer m³ is located between the
case m³ and the nut me and is held against rotation by a lug on its edge which

page_text: nters a narrow socket m³ in the inner face of the hub. This construction prevents
ccidental loosening of the case.
The rear wheel axle extends through the rear fork connection on one side of the
rame, through the sleeve which is within the hub m and, on the side where the
rears are located, fits into the short sleeve 2 which has an internal thread to fit
hat on the axle and an external thread which engages the thread in the socket in
the latch i. A lock nut fits upon the sleeve on the outer side of the latch.
This sleeve is provided with the cones which co-operate with the cases m³ m³ to_
support the balls for the bearings, and it rests at one end against the inner surface
of the rear fork connection and at the other end against the inner end of the
sleeve in the latch.
ย
In the open end of the connecting shaft p a hub w is fastened by brazing its
shank to this tubular shaft, and a shoulder on the hub backs up the cone w³,
the corresponding case c¹ for the ball bearings being adjustably secured on the
threaded rear end of the frame member c and held against movement thereon by
a lock nut c².
On the reduced and threaded front part of the hub w the gear wheel 22 is secured,
a metallic washer 2 clamped between the back of the gear wheel and the shoulder
on the hub, being used in adjusting the gear; washers of variable thickness may be
used for this purpose. A lock nut p' clamps the gear wheel in place in the usual
manner.
For the purpose of protecting the gears from dirt and dust, and in part to hold
lubricating material, they are enclosed by a sectional cover which is fitted closely
In the within illustrated
about the parts and held together by bolts or screws.
form of driving means bevel gears are employed for transmitting the power from
the crank shaft to the driving wheel through the intermediate shaft and gears.
An internal sleeve v* holds the two parts of the sleeve v together during assembl-
ing but the pressure of the ball bearings at each end towards the centre keeps
the assembled hub intact and the sleeve v* then serves to hold the parts in axial
alignment. A collar m* is forced between the inner ends of the studs to which the
spokes are secured to hold them in place for assembling.
The ball case a², which is secured within the socket in the crank bracket a,
and the ball case c¹, which is firmly held on the rear end of the sidefork c, are
supported by rigid parts of the frame and therefore not disturbed by the removal
of a cone bearing part, such, for instance, as the gear wheel pl. Any thrust length-
wise or lateral, upon the connecting shaft is thus resisted by a rigid frame member.
This enables adjustment of moving parts to be made and maintained, and running
parts to be removed and then replaced without disturbing the frame parts or the
adjustment of the bearings. On the sleeve , which is inside the driving wheel
hub, the cones v¹ 22 are arranged relatively to their respective ball cases so that the
lines which may be drawn through the points of contact of the balls upon which
the greatest thrusts come and their bearing surfaces are substantially coincident
or parallel with the lines of thrust upon the balls.
Force
In shafts arranged at an angle to each other, in the driving operation, there is a
tendency of the gears to separate. The pitch circle of each of the gears on
such shafts forms part of a cone which would have its apex at the point of inter-
section of two lines passing axially through the two shafts, and the tendency of the
gears to separate is on a line at right angles to the surface of said cone.
applied to one of the shafts is communicated to the opposite shaft on this same line.
In ball bearings so arranged that a line drawn through the points of contact of
each ball, when the same is in position to offer the maximum resistance to the
thrust, will be coincident or parallel with this line of separation, the force applied
to one shaft is communicated to the other in a certain line, and this force being
resisted by the balls must be in a line coincident or parallel with the line of thrust
upon the balls.
According to my present invention I arrange each of these bearings with
reference to the direction of force applied so that in each instance the force passes

page_text: in a line drawn through the points of contact of that ball which, for the time
being, occupies the position in which it can be most effectively employed to
transmit the whole of the thrust and there is no shearing force applied to
the balls which would tend to slide one portion of the ball from another portion by
breaking.
This feature of construction exists in all the bearings in the vehicle and prevents
the accidental breaking of the balls and cases which has been a serious fault in
gear driven bicycles of prior construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: :―
1. A velocipede or like vehicle having a driving wheel and means for rotating
the same, the ball bearings for all rotating parts being so arranged that the lines
of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel with the lines drawn through
the points of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
2. A velocipede or like vehicle having a driving shaft and means for rotating
the same, a driving wheel, means for transmitting power from the driving shaft to
the driving wheel, and bearings for all rotating parts so arranged that the lines of
thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel with the lines drawn through
the points of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
3. A velocipede or like vehicle having a driving shaft and means for rotating
the same, a driving wheel, a connecting shaft for transmitting power from the
driving shaft to the driving wheel, and bearings for the rotating parts so arranged
that the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel with the lines
drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
4. In a bevel gear driving mechanism for bicycles, a shaft supporting a bevel
gear, and ball bearings for the shaft so arranged that the lines of thrust on said
shaft shall be substantially coincident or parallel with the lines drawn through the
points of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
5. A velocipede or like vehicle having a driving shaft and means for rotating
the same a driving wheel, a connecting shaft between the driving shaft and the
driving wheel, a bevel gear on the driving shaft, a bevel gear on the driving wheel,
bevel gears on the connecting shaft meshing with the bevel gears on the driving
shaft and the driving wheel, and bearings for all rotating parts so arranged that
the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel with the lines
drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
6. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with the parts rigidly connected,
a driving wheel and means for rotating the same, the bearings for all rotating
parts being so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident or
parallel with lines drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing
surfaces.
7.. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with the parts rigidly connected,
a driving shaft and means for rotating the same, a driving wheel, means for trans-
mitting power from the driving shaft to the driving wheel, and bearings for all
rotating parts so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident
or parallel with lines drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the
bearing surfaces.
8. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with the parts rigidly connected,
a driving shaft and means for rotating the same, a driving wheel, a connecting
shaft for transmitting power from the driving shaft to the driving wheel, and
bearings for all the rotating parts so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be
substantially coincident or parallel with the lines drawn through the points of
contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
9. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with the parts rigidly connected,
a shaft supporting a bevel gear, and ball bearings for the shaft so arranged
that the lines of thrust on said shaft shall be substantially coincident or parallel

page_text: 5
with lines drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing
surfaces.
10. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with the parts rigidly connected,
a driving shaft and means for rotating the same, a driving wheel, a connecting
shaft between the driving shaft and the driving wheel, a bevel gear on the driving
shaft, a bevel gear on the driving wheel, bevel gears on the connecting shaft
meshing with the bevel gears on the driving shaft and the driving wheel, and
bearings for all rotating parts so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substan-
tially coincident or parallel with lines drawn through the points of contact of
the balls and the bearing surfaces.
11. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with a brace connecting the
upper and lower rear forks of one side, a driving wheel and means for rotating the
same, the bearings for all rotating parts being so arranged that the lines of thrust
shall be substantially coincident or parallel with lines drawn through the points
of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
12. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with a brace connecting the
upper and lower rear forks of one side, a driving shaft and means for rotating
the same, a driving wheel, means for transmitting power from the driving shaft
to the driving wheel, and bearings for all rotating parts so arranged that the lines
of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel with the lines drawn through
the points of contact of the balls and bearing surfaces.
13. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with a brace connecting the
upper and lower rear forks of one side, a driving shaft and means for rotating the
same, a driving wheel, a connecting shaft for transmitting power from the driving
shaft to the driving wheel, and bearings for all the rotating parts so arranged that
the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel with lines drawn
through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
14. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with a brace connecting the
upper and lower rear forks of one side, a shaft supporting a bevel gear, and ball
bearings for the shaft so arranged that the lines of thrust on said shaft shall be
substantially coincident or parallel with lines drawn through the points of contact
of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
15. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame with a brace connecting the
upper and lower rear forks of one side, a driving shaft and means for rotating the
same, a driving wheel, a connecting shaft between the driving shaft and the driving
wheel, a bevel gear on the driving shaft, a bevel gear on the driving wheel, bevel
the bevel gears on the
gears on the connecting shaft meshing with
and bearings for all rotating
driving shaft and the driving wheel,
parts so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel
with lines drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing
surfaces.
16. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame, braces extending from one of
the parts of said frame, a latch connecting the outer ends of said braces, a driving
wheel and means for connecting the same, the bearings for all rotating parts being
so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel
with the lines drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing
surfaces.
17. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame, braces extending from one of
the parts of said frame, a latch connecting the outer ends of said braces, a driving
shaft and means for rotating the same, a driving wheel, means for transmitting
power from the driving shaft to the driving wheel, and bearings for all rotating
parts so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident or parallel
with lines drawn through the points of contact of the bearing surfaces.
18. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame, braces extending from one of
5 the parts of said frame, a latch connecting the outer ends of said braces, a driving
or crank shaft and means for rotating the same, a driving wheel, a connecting shaft
for transmitting power from the driving shaft to the driving wheel, and bearings

page_text: for all the rotating parts so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substantially
coincident or parallel with lines drawn through the points of contact of the balls
and the bearing surfaces.
19. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame, braces extending from one of
the parts of said frame, a latch connecting the outer ends of said braces, a shaft
supporting a bevel gear, and ball bearings for the shaft so arranged that the lines of
thrust on said shaft shall be substantially coincident or parallel with lines drawn
through the points of contact of the balls and the bearing surfaces.
20. A velocipede or like vehicle having a frame, braces extending from one of
the parts of said frame, a latch connecting the outer ends of said braces, a driving
shaft and means for rotating the same, a driving wheel, a connecting shaft between
the driving shaft and the driving wheel, a bevel gear on the driving shaft, a bevel
gear on the driving wheel, bevel gears on the connecting shaft meshing with the
bevel gears on the driving shaft and the driving wheel, and bearings for all
rotating parts so arranged that the lines of thrust shall be substantially coincident
or parallel with the lines drawn through the points of contact of the balls and the
bearing surfaces.
21. In a velocipede or like vehicle, in combination with a frame, wheels and
driving mechanism, a driving wheel axle mounted at one end in a frame member
and at the other end in a removable latch by means which enable the axle to be
removed from the frame without disturbing the frame members or the adjustment
of the axle bearings, all substantially as described.
22. In a velocipede or like vehicle, in combination with a frame including a
tubular side fork with lateral braces and a latch connecting said braces, wheels
and driving mechanism, a driving wheel axle mounted at one end in a frame
member and at the other in said removable latch, and means which secure said
axle to the frame and latch respectively and permit its removal from those parts
without disturbing the frame members or the adjustment of the axle bearings.
23. In a velocipede or like vehicle, in combination with a frame, wheels and
driving mechanism, a driving wheel axle threaded at both ends, mounted at one end
in a frame member and at the other in a removable latch, a sleeve surrounding the
axle and supporting bearing cones, a wheel hub surrounding the sleeve and
containing bearing cases, a sleeve screwed into the latch and onto the axle and
abutting against the first sleeve and then secured by a lock nut, the first sleeve
abutting at the other end against the frame member and secured by a lock nut on
the axle on the outer side of the frame member.
Dated the 20th dow of Manh 1908
GEORGE POPE.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.