other Velocipedes.
Year: 1886

page_text: other Velocipedes.
I WILLIAM CROSS of 4 Fenham Terrace Newcastle upon Tyne in the county of
Northumberland, Engineer, 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 relates to an improved arrangement of variable speed gear for
Bicycles and other velocipedes, and has for its object to provide certain devices by
which (1) a higher rate of the driving wheel speed in relation to that of the cranks,
and treadles is attainable; or (2) the driving wheel or wheels may be thrown out.
of gear with the driving power and allowed to run free and independent of the
cranks when desired; or (3) a machine can be driven in the usual manner at a
speed due to the diameter of the wheel or wheels alone if desired.
I will now fully describe the, construction and arrangement of parts by which
I accomplish these objects referring to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure 1 is a cross section of the lower part, of the front fork and driving gear,
Figure 2 is a part outside elevation of same with crank and face of bearing
removed, Figures 3 and 4 are respectively a plan and side elevation of the top of
the front fork and part of steering handle, showing details of actuating rod and
handle.
These figures show the arrangement of gear as applied to a bicycle, but it is.
evident that with slight modifications it is equally applicable to other forms of
velocipedes.
In order to accomplish the first part of my invention, namely, to obtain a higher
rate of driving wheel speed than that of the cranks and treadles, the lower part a
of one leg of the front fork A is formed of rectangular or other suitable section and
its lower end is forked and carries the forging B which forms the usual ball
bearings of the driving axle C. The axle C is encased and runs loose in a hollow
spindle combined with hub G. To the inner side of the hub the spokes are fixed
in the usual manner and around its periphery a ring of cog teeth glis, cut of a
number and size proportionate to the speed required. Through the web of the
hub G any convenient number (say ten) of holes g³ g² is drilled which may be,
round or of any desired shape for purposes hereinafter described. A spur wheel E
(hereinafter called the axle wheel) is keyed fast on the driving, axle C fitting
concentrically within and in close proximity to the hub G. The bar a carries a

page_text: "
sliding stud box or sleeve J on the inner side of which is centred a double stud
wheel F with two rows of teeth ff of different diameters. The teeth e of the
axle wheel E gear with teeth f of the smaller diameter of the spur wheel F and
the teeth f' of its larger diameter drive back on to the teeth g¹ of hub G; thus the
whole train of wheels is arranged so as to give the required increase of speed and
is thrown in and out of gear by the following means.
On any convenient part of the outside of the bar a is attached a fixed nut L
having a quick pitched thread. Also on the outer side of the sliding stud box J is
fixed a projection 7 forming a nut, tapped with a quick pitched thread the reverse
hand to that on the fixed nut L. Through these two nuts a rod K on which is
cut a right and left handed thread works; the upper end of the rod K. is connected
by an universal joint M to the actuating rod N and the action of the right and
left hand threads on rod K working in the fixed nut L and nut 7 on J is such that
the rotation of N in one direction or the other will either raise or depress the stud
box J.
In order that the motions may be easily accomplished by the rider the rod N is
carried up through a bracket V figures 3 and 4 fixed to the top of the front fork A
and fitted with a suitable handle R. This handle is provided with a boss r which
rotates freely in a hole formed in the bracket but is prevented from rising by a
suitable collar or equivalent on the underside of the bracket. A square hole is cut
through the boss in which the rod N which is also square slides. Then as the
handle R is rotated in one direction or the other the rod N either raises or
depresses the sliding stud box J, and may be held in any desired position by
means of a catch T fixed on the bracket and provided with a spring t which
presses it forward and causes it to engage with a notch cut in the boss of the
handle.
When it is desired to use the speed gearing described the handle R is rotated
until the stud box is depressed to the lowest point of its travel as shown in
figures 1 and 2, the speed wheels are then in gear and the driving wheel rotates at
an increased speed relatively to the inner axle C and the cranks or treadles.
In order to accomplish the second part of my invention and thereby throw the
driving wheel out of gear with the driving axle and its connections so as to enable
it to run free and independent of the cranks I employ the following devices by
which also the machine can be geared to be driven in the usual manner and at a
speed due only to the diameter of the wheel.
The aforesaid axle wheel E is provided with holes es similar and corresponding
to those g² already described in the hub G, and a boss is formed on the side of E
next the fork upon which slides a clutch ring H. This clutch ring has a groove h
turned on its circumference in which on either side the pins ii of two clutch
levers I I engage. The inner edge of H is formed into a number of teeth h¹ h¹
which pass through the said holes e" in the axle wheel E and remain therein when
the clutch ring is not in use, so that H rotates with and forms a component part
of E. The two clutch levers I I are centred on the bar a at P, and in the upper
part of these clutch levers are cut curved slots jj. working over studs ? p fixed
upon the opposite sides of the sliding stud box J. The slots jj are of such a form
as will allow the required lateral motion to be given to the clutch ring H, and at
the same time will still permit the double stud wheel F to be raised out of gear
before H is moved.
In order to allow the driving wheel to run free and independent of the cranks
the bandle R and rod N must be rotated in such a direction, that the stud box J
and therefore the studs p p on either side of it are raised in the slots ;j. The
stud box is then fixed in midmost position of its travel and owing to the form of
the slots ;; during this part of the upward travel of the studs p p the clutch levers
remain vertical, and the clutch ring H stationary so far as its lateral motion is
concerned, but the double stud wheel F is raised out of gear with the axle wheel E
and hub G and the driving wheel and combined spindle and hub G therefore run
loose on the inner axle C,

page_text: If it is wished to exert power more advantageously than through the speed gear,
it is necessary to raise the stud box to the utmost extent of its travel. The stud
wheel F is thus raised still further out of gear and the clutch ring H is forced
inwards by means of the studs p p on J rising in the curved slots jj and forcing
the upper part of the clutch levers outwards, so that its pins h¹ engage with the
holes g in the hub G, thus causing G and E to rotate as one wheel and
synchronously with the inner axle C since E is keyed to C and H revolves with E.
A splasher O of a suitable form is fixed to the inner side of the leg of fork A to
protect the variable gear wheels from dust and dirt.
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. The hereinbefore described variable speed gear consisting of the combination
with fixed axle wheel E and combined spur hub and hollow spindle G carrying the
driving wheel, of double spur wheel F centred on sliding stud box J, and means
of actuating same all arranged and operating substantially as described and
illustrated.
2. The combination with the variable speed gear of clutch H and its connections
to hub G clutch levers I I and means of actuating same all constructed and
arranged substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated.
3. The combination with the variable speed gear and clutch device constructed.
as described of the means of operating same, consisting of sliding stud box J and
its connections with actuating handle R all arranged substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
1000
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Agent for Applicant.