Improved Device for Cleaning and Adjusting Cycle Chains.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1897-Accepted, 27th Nov., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Device for Cleaning and Adjusting Cycle Chains.
I, ANTON MINKS, of Komotau in Bohemia, Austrian Empire, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The present invention consists of a device for cleaning the chain of a bicycle or
tricycle whilst the latter is running, said device comprising two rotary brushes
adapted to rotate one above and the other below the chain and being adjustable as
regards each other so that by adjusting one against the other the tension of the chain
may be varied.
And in order to render the present specification more easily intelligible reference
is had to the accompanying drawing in which similar letters of reference denote
similar parts throughout the several views:-
Fig. 1 is a detached side elevation of the device and
Fig. 2 a section on the line x-x of Figure 1.
a and b are two rotary brushes mounted on the shafts d and e and adapted to
rotate one at either side of the chain f when the bicycle or tricycle is running.
A collar consisting of the two parts m n hinged together is attached by means of
a screw o to one arm or bar p of the bicycle frame and to this collar is rigidly fixed
an arm g, which carries the pivot d of the upper brush a. To the arm g is adjustably
affixed a downwardly extending arm h having slot through which two screws k
engage the arm g, so that by loosening the screws the position of the arm h on the
arm y may be adjusted and the screws which are threaded into the arm g, then
tightened up. Thus the position of the brush b with regard to the brush a may be
varied at will and the driving chain thereby tightened or loosened as required.
The
This method of tightening the chain by adjusting the lower brush to cause the
same to take a curved path between both brushes has the advantage that owing to
the yielding nature of the brushes the chain will not be strained, as is often the case
when the tightening is effected by shifting the position of the rear wheel.
arrangement of the collar n m enables the easy removal of the brushes if required
and as the same are rotary, the power required to operate them will be so small that
it will not be noticeable by the rider.
Thus the chain will be kept constantly clean during the journey and riding will
be rendered much more easy on muddy and heavy roads.
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
1. In a bicycle, or tricycle the arrangement of brushes for cleaning and
tightening up the chain said brushes being adjustable as regards their relative
positions to the chain, one brush (a) being arranged above and the other (b) below
the chain at different points in the length of the same substantially as described.
077

page_text: 2. The combination of a pair of brushes and a bicycle chain in the manner and
for the purpose substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1897.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.