A Self-adjusting Gear for Cycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1897-Accepted, 11th Sept., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A Self-adjusting Gear for Cycles and the like.
I, HENRY ARTHUR CHAPLIN, Engineers Draughtsınan of 7 Bloomfield Terrace
Pimlico Road London S. W. in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the propulsion of vehicles, such as
cycles, motor-cars and the like, over roads or other ground of varying gradient. For
this purpose I make use of any suitable variable-speed gear, preferably cone wheels,
between which runs a power transmitting device, such as a friction wheel or band,
the said wheel or band being mounted upon or actuated by a weighted rod, free to
swing to and fro in the direction of the vehicles progression. This rod by reason of
its weight will always hang vertically, moving toward the front of the machine when
it is descending a hill, and toward the rear upon a hill being ascended. This motion
of the rod in relation to the rest of the machine or vehicle, I make use of to
automatically effect the change of gear, by shifting the connecting device or clutch,
one way or the other along the cone wheels or other variable-speed device. I may
also use a cord or lever connected to the said swinging rod or other suitable part, to
effect a change of gear by hand if necessary
Dated this 19th day of Sontember 1906
A Self-adjusting Gear for Cycles and the like.
I, HENRY ARTHUR CHAPLIN, Engineers Draughtsman of 7 Bloomfield Terrace,
Pimlico Road, London, 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:-
The object of this invention is to facilitate the propulsion of vehicles, such as
cycles, motor cars and the like, over roads or other ground of varying gradient, by
utilizing the incline of the ground to automatically shift the mechanism to the gear
best suited to that particular gradient. For this purpose I make use of any suitable
variable speed gear, preferably cone wheels which may be arranged as shown in the
accompanying drawings, where
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation, Fig. 2 an end view (with tothed wheels removed) and
Fig. 3 a plan of the proposed arrangement.

page_text: Two cone-wheels or drums A and B are supported upon a frame G H so that they
are free to revolve with their axles parallel to one another, but with their larger
diameters at opposite ends; between these a rod or shaft C is supported, also free to
turn, but parallel to the adjacent side of each cone-wheel. Upon the rod C runs a
loose wheel D, free to revolve and free to slide from end to end of the cone-wheels
which are kept pressed against the wheel D so that it will transmit the power from
one cone wheel to the other by means of the friction grip.
A weighted rod E, pivotted at J on the same frame G H (or at a point which is
fixed in relation thereto) is split or opened in one part to forin a fork F, between the
sides of which the wheel D can revolve.
It is obvious that if power be applied to the cone-wheel B, it will be transmitted
to A through the friction wheel D, the difference in speed of the two cones depending
upon the position of the said wheel D.
If the vehicle upon which the mechanism is mounted, become tilted one way or
the other so that one end of the frame G H is lower than the opposite end, the
weight W will tend to move toward the lower end, so as to retain the vertical position
of the rod E, and in so doing will shift the power transmitting wheel D along the
cones and thus alter the gear.
When the vehicle is upon a level road, the rod C will be revolving at the same rate
of speed as the wheel D, but immediately the vehicle is inclined one way or the
other, the wheel D shifts its position and revolves either faster or slower than the
rod C, this fact (as is well known) facilitating the travel of the wheel D along
the rod C.
The centre part of the wheel D, I make in the form of a sphere, so that at whatever
angle the swinging rod E may be, the centre part of the wheel will exactly fit the
sides of the fork F and yet be free to revolve.
In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the power may first be applied to the rod C, turning
the toothed wheel K, this gears with the wheel L which is affixed to the cone B; the
power is then transmitted through the wheel D to the cone A and toothed wheel M,
and thence to the wheel N. The power thus having returned in a line with the
rod C where it was originally applied, but now being at a variable rate of speed.
The number of cone-wheels may be increased in pairs to any extent and be placed
all round the centre rod C, providing that all the cones with the larger ends one way
gear together. The only object for increasing the number being to increase the
friction surface.
I do not confine myself to the exact mechanism as shown, but may modify the
same if necessary. The rod E in Figs 1, 2, and 3 may have a cord or lever attached
to them, or it may be attached to any other suitable part, so that the change of gear
may be made by hand if necessary, irrespective of the incline of the road.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I hereby declare
that what I claim is :-
1. The gear as described and illustrated.
2. The use of a swinging rod or equivalent gravity arrangement for effecting the
change of gear.
3. The combination of cones and friction wheels as and for the purposes
described.
ليمي
T
1907