A New or Improved System of Chain Gearing for Transmitting Motion to all Mechanical Transmissions Employing Chains, especially applicable to Velocipedes and such like Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: .Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 10th June, 1895-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved System of Chain Gearing for Transmitting
Motion to all Mechanical Transmissions Employing Chains,
especially applicable to Velocipedes and such like Vehicles.
A communication from PAUL LAVIGNE, of 103 Rue des Boulets, Paris, France,
Mechanical Engineer.
I, THEODORE POIROTTE, of 104 Upper Rathmines, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows :-
This invention has reference to a new or improved system of chain gear whereby
motion may be transmitted with greater softness, ease, and regularity, than by any
system hitherto in use so far as I am aware.
In carrying out my invention I proceed to construct the endless chain as follows :—
I take two triangular cheeks or flanks and place them side by side, and between a
certain angle of one and the corresponding angle of its fellow I insert a suitable
roller working on a pivot for the purpose presently described. The couple of
cheeks or flanks thus arranged are connected to a correspondingly arranged couple
of cheeks or flanks by means of suitable links so pivoted as to enable a continuous
flexible chain to be produced.
In gear with the chain thus produced I propose to use a wheel composed of lank
teeth between which are pivoted suitable balls or rollers.
These balls or rollers gear with the rollers carried between each couple of cheeks
or flanks.
The action of such a chain gear is to produce a rolling surface between the
moving chain and the wheel with which it. is engaged.
By this arrangement the friction which exists between the ordinary endless
chain and the teeth of ordinary wheels is entirely obviated and a considerable
softness of motion is obtained together with a saving in power transmitted.
Dated the 8th day of September 1894.
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved System of Chain Gearing for Transmitting
Motion to all Mechanical Transmissions Employing Chains,
especially applicable to Velocipedes and such like Vehicles.
A communication from PAUL LAVIGNE, of 103 Rue des Boulets, Paris, France,
Mechanical Engineer.
I, THEODORE POIROTTE, of 104 Upper Rathmines, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Gentleman, 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 :—
This invention has reference to a new or improved system of chain gear whereby

page_text: motion may be transmitted with greater softness, ease and regularity than by any
system hitherto in use so far as I am aware.
In carrying out my invention I proceed to construct the endless chain as follows:-
I take two triangular or rectangular cheeks or flanks which I place side by side, or
parallel to each other, and these I connect by rivets or pins or rollers inserted
towards their ends.
The couple of cheeks or flanks thus arranged are connected to a correspondingly
arranged couple of cheeks or flanks by means of peculiarly shaped links so pivoted
as to enable a continuous flexible chain to be produced. These links are provided
on their inner circumference with semi-circular projections for the purpose presently
described.
In gear with the chain thus produced I propose to use a wheel provided with a
deep-flanged groove all round its circumference.
In this groove are arranged a number of transverse rivets carrying suitable
rollers the circumferential distance apart of each roller corresponding approxi-
mately with the length of the connecting links of the chain.
In my Provisional Specification I mentioned the presence of lank teeth between
these rollers, but I find by experiment that I can with advantage dispense with
same, and I do not therefore shew them in the drawings attached hereto, a reference
to which will enable the nature of my invention to be more readily understood.
Fig. 1, represents in elevation my improved chain and wheel in gear, a portion
of the near flange being removed to shew the contact of the connecting links and
the rollers. This view is to scale, about half-size for pedal wheel of an ordinary
bicycle.
Fig. 2, represents plan of the outer circumference of the chain, full size for
bicycle.
a, a, are the peculiarly shaped links connecting the couples of cheeks or flanks b, b,
by rivets as shewn. c, c, are the rollers carried on the rivets d, d, arranged all
round the deep-flanged groove and spaced so as to enable the peculiarly shaped
links to gear with same.
Apertures are formed in the links for lightness of construction.
It is obvious that by this arrangement of chain gear, the effect is to produce a
rolling contact between the chain links and the rollers of the wheel whereby the
friction hitherto existing between the ordinary endless chain and the teeth of the
ordinary wheel, is entirely obviated, and a considerable softness of motion obtained,
together with a saving of power transmitted.
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 :-
The improved system of chain gear formed by the combination of the endless
chain and the deep-flanged wheel, herein described all constructed, arranged, and
operating in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein described and
set forth.
Doted this och dof 100%
J. K. FAHIE & SON,
9 Westland Row, Dublin, Agents for Applicant.