Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1900 -Accepted, 28th Apr., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles
and similar Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM HENRY MERIFIELD, of Fernside, Orchard Road, Erdington, near
the City of Birmingham, Secretary, and FREDERICK MACDONALD, of 28, Stretton
Road, Aston Manor, near Birmingham aforesaid, Toolmaker, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a clutch device to be used in connection with the hubs
of the free wheels of cycles and like vehicles.
Our invention has for its object, to obtain a positive action clutch and dispense
with the use of rollers or balls interposed between the opposed peripheries of an
inner disc and an outer ring, taken into their operative or coupling positions by
springs, which rollers or balls are apt to jamb and either fracture the inner disc
or burst the outer ring..
According to our invention, the holding or connecting devices of the clutch
are sunken into the outer cheek of one of a pair of elements fixed upon a hub,
between which elements a chain or sprocket wheel is mounted so as to be capable
of freely rotating in one direction only, but is rotated in the other direction with
the hub by the holding devices of the clutch coming up to or engaging with the
shoulders of a series of sinkings formed within it.
In carrying out one form of our improvements as applied to a bicycle, we
fix upon the hub of a back wheel, two separated cheeks or ring elements, with
inner flanges abutting so as to form a distance collar upon and around which a
loosely mounted toothed sprocket or chain may freely rotate when not coupled to
the hub through the medium of the holding device. One face of the sprocket
wheel, and the opposed face of one of the cheeks or ring elements, are formed
with sinkings the series on the one part being of the figure of ratchet teeth with
end shoulders, and with the inclines raking backwardly, whilst the sinkings on
he other element are fitted with spring-operated pawls in the form of a wedge-
haped plate, which, when the chain wheel is held stationary with the road
wheel running free in a forward direction, are kept within the sinkings, but
when the chain wheel is rotated for driving, they rise and engage with the
ront shoulders of the ratchet sinkings, so that the sprocket wheel and the ring
lements on the hub rotate together during forward pedalling.
When the rider holds the cranks still, the sprocket wheel is held stationary by
he chain, the clutch mechanism is thrown out of gear and allows the hub and
he back wheel to freely revolve independent of the sprocket wheel and gearing,
hilst the cycle continues to travel forwardly by the momentum acquired before
edalling was discontinued.
We further propose to provide means whereby a free wheel hub may be con-
erted into an ordinary hub, consisting of a set pin, which is passed through a
rewed hole in one of the rings and made to engage with one of the sinkings

page_text: in the sprocket wheel, which is thereby made to rotate bodily with the hub in
all directions.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1899.
WILLIAM. HENRY MERIFIELD,
FREDERICK MACDONALD,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles
and similar Vehicles.
.
We, WILLIAM HENRY MERIFIELD, of Fernside, Orchard Road, Erdington, near
the City of Birmingham, Secretary, and FREDERICK MACDONALD, of 28, Stretton
Road, Aston Manor, near Birmingham aforesaid, Toolmaker, 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:-
Our invention relates to a clutch device to be used in connection with the hubs
of the free wheels of cycles motor cycles motor cars and like vehicles:
Our said invention has for its object, to obtain a positive action clutch and
dispense with the use of rollers or balls interposed between the opposed peri-
pheries of an inner disc and an outer ring, taken into their operative or coupling
positions by springs, which rollers or balls are apt to jamb and either fracture
the inner disc or burst the outer ring.
According to our invention, the holding or connecting devices (which are in
the form of spring pawls) of the clutch are sunken into the outer cheek of one
of a pair of elements fixed upon a hub, between which elements a chain or
sprocket wheel is mounted so as to be capable of freely rotating in one direction
only, but is rotated in the other direction with the hub (for transmitting drive)
by the holding devices of the clutch coming up to or engaging with the shoulders
of a series of sinkings formed within the opposed face of the said chain wheel.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an elevation of the inner
side of a free-wheel clutch for cycles constructed and arranged according to
our invention.
Figure 2 represents a separate elevation of the loosely mounted chain wheel or
toothed driving ring, showing the series of ratchet teeth formed on one side
thereof, and with which the spring pawls carried by a fixed member of the clutch
engage for transmitting drive or forward motion to the hub of the wheel to
which the said clutch is attached.
Figure represents an elevation of the inner ring or fixed member of the
clutch, showing the seatings in the face thereof in which the spring pawls are
located.
Figure 4 is a vertical section of the said ring upon the dotted line a.
Figure 5 shows a similar elevation of the said ring to that represented in
Figure 3, but showing the pawls in position within their seatings. The dotted
lines in this view indicate the positions which the teeth on the face of the chain
wheel assume relative to the said pawls when the several parts of the clutch
are assembled.
Figure 6 represents an edge view, end view and plan of one of the pawls of
the clutch separately.
Figure 7 represents, upon an enlarged scale, a sectional view taken upon the
curved dotted line, Figure 1, having the parts in the positions they assume

page_text: when the chain wheel is transmitting motion to the fixed ring on the hub, viz.,
with one of the shoulders on the said wheel being engaged by a pawl on the
driven ring.
Figure 8 is a similar section to that represented in Figure 7, but with the
same parts shown in the positions they assume when the hub and its fixed
elements are running free and the chain wheel is held stationary by the rider
discontinuing forward pedalling.
Figure 9 represents a complete vertical section of the improved clutch applied
to a hub, but showing the toothed. ring locked to the hub so as to provide an
ordinary fixed driving wheel.
Figure 10 represents the several component parts of the hub separated from one
another.
In carrying out this form of our improvements as applied to a bicycle, we fix
upon the hub a of a back wheel, two separated cheeks or ring elements 6 and e
with the outer one b, screwing onto the end of a flange c, projecting from the
inner one and forming a distance collar upon and around which the loosely
mounted toothed sprocket or chain wheel d may freely rotate in one direction
when not coupled to the hub through the medium of the clutch pawl device. The
inner face of the sprocket wheel, is formed with a series of ratchet teeth with
end shoulders, and with the inclines raking backwardly, whilst the opposed
face of the fixed ring e, is formed with a number, (say for instance three) of
sinkings which constitute seatings for the spring-operated pawls e, which are
in the form of wedge-like plates (see Figure 6) adapted, when the chain wheel
is held stationary and the road wheel is running free in a forward direction,
to be forced into and retained within the said sinkings, but when the chain wheel
is rotated for driving one (or more) of the said pawls rises or is forced outwards
by its spring f, and engages with the front shoulder of one of the ratchet teeth,
so that the loose sprocket wheel and the fixed ring elements on the hub rotate
together and transmit the driving power during forward pedalling.
When the rider ceases pedalling, the sprocket wheel is held stationary by the
chain, the clutch mechanism is thrown out of gear and allows the hub and the
back wheel to freely revolve independent of the sprocket wheel and gearing,
whilst the cycle continues to travel forwardly by the momentum acquired before
pedalling was discontinued. The springs f are located within small sinkings f',
let into the bottoms of the clutch recesses.
The means whereby the free wheel hub may at the option of the rider, be
readily converted into an ordinary fixed wheel hub, consists of a set ping, which
is passed through a screwed hole gl in one of the fixed rings and made to engage
either with a hole g, in the sprocket wheel, or with one of the ratchet teeth of
the said wheel, which is thereby made to rotate bodily with the hub in all
directions.
Instead of the locking or set pin, screw or its equivalent being carried by a
fixed ring of the hub, it may be carried by the loosely mounted chain wheel so
as to engage with a hole or equivalent on a relatively fixed part of the hub.
It is obvious that instead of the spring pawls being located within recesses in
the face of the fixed element and engaging with or being engaged by the ratchet
or like teeth on the opposed face of the loosely mounted chain wheel, the teeth
or projections may be formed on the face of the fixed hub ring whilst the pawls
or connecting devices of the clutch, may be carried by the toothed chain wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is:-
First Afree-wheel" clutch for cycles and other vehicles, comprising a ring
or equivalent element fixed to the wheel hub, and a loosely mounted chain wheel,
with, a series of spring pawls or connecting devices carried upon the face of the
one element and adapted to engage with the shoulders of a series of ratchet

page_text: teeth or their equivalent upon the opposed face of the other element, the said hub
being provided with suitable means for retaining the chain wheel in position
relative to the fixed element, substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and also as set forth in the accompanying drawings.
Secondly: A "free-wheel" clutch for cycles and other vehicles, comprising a
fixed ring or equivalent element on the wheel hub, and a loosely-mounted chain
wheel, with a series of spring pawls or connecting devices located with sinkings
or recesses formed in the face of the one element and adapted to engage with
the shoulders of a series of ratchet teeth or their equivalent on the opposed face
of the other element, the said hub being provided with suitable means for
retaining the chain wheel in position relative to the fixed element, substantially
as and for the purpose herein described, and also as set forth in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 19th day of March 1900
WILLIAM HENRY MERIFIELD,
FREDERICK MACDONALD,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.