Improvements in Variable Speed Gear for Velocipedes and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Speed Gear for Velocipedes and other
similar Vehicles.
I, CHARLES LOUIS JULES LEMIRE of 12 Place du Marché Couvert à St. Quentin-
Department of the Aisne in the Republic of France, Manufacturer 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 provide improved variable speed gear for
velocipedes and other similar vehicles which improved speed gear can be readily.
operated without stopping the vehicle. The apparatus forming the subject matter of
this invention is called an "automatic multiplier" and is composed of two discs A, B,
(Figures 2, 24). The first disc A replaces the ordinary sprocket wheel of a velocipede,.
and the second disc B is placed on the hub of the back wheel of such machine.
The internal face of the large disc A is furnished with a series of concentric gear,
rings a, b, c, d; while the external face of the small dise B is likewise furnished with
one or more similar gear rings e,f is a rigid tubular stay forming part of the frame
of the machine and fitted at one end to the bottom bracket thereof to which it is
brazed; while its other end is secured by a bolt and nut q to a shoulder P formed on
the back stay of the machine wherein the driving wheel runs. The tubular stay f.
forms an axis whereon tubes i. rotate. These tubes are carried in adjustable ball
bearings L, L' as shewn at Figures 2-2^.
The small dise B gears into a bevel pinion C, mounted on the tube i which together.
with the pinion is supported by ball bearings fitted in races formed in such pinion
and in a cap c fitted on the tube f as shown in Figure 24. The pinion c is held in
position by a cheque nut c' which prevents the pinion becoming slack. The tube i
acts as an abutment between the tube i and the pinion G and supports the ball,
bearing L which holds such pinion in position. A sliding tube N, works to and fro
between the tubes f, and i, ¹, and is furnished externally with eight tappets, four only
whereof are seen in the drawing Figure 2 and marked H, I, J, K. Such tappets are
placed diametrically opposite each other-Corresponding tappets H, I, J, K, are
formed internally on pinions D, E, F, G, which are mounted loose on the sliding tube N,
and hold such tube in a central position. Such pinions travel on ball bearings n, o, p,
and are supportedby the adjustable ball bearings L, M, which are regulated by nuts l,m³
as shewn in Figure 2.
The pinions D, E, F, G, are placed in front of and gear into the gear rings a,
b, c, d on the disc A so as to operate the tubes and i together with the
pinion C and the disc B, by bringing one pair of the tappets on the sliding tube N in
the same plane as the tappets of one of the pinions D, E, F, G; thus causing contact
between such tappets and transmitting motion through the tubes N and i and pinion C
to the disc B. The tappets on the sliding tube together with those on the pinions

page_text: are so armnged that only one pair of such tappets can gear with its corresponding
pair at the same time.
The manner of operating the rotating tube i together with the pinion C and disc B
is as follows. Slots are formed in such tube through each of which slots a stud m
formed on or fitted to the sliding tube N projects. Each stud is furnished with a
spindle o carrying a small roller o' while a collar T mounted in an adjustable frame S
works to and fro on the tube i.
The rotary motion of the tube N is transmitted to the tube i by means of the
studs m engaging with such latter tube while the spindles o turn freely in the
collar T.
A lever is fitted to the handle bar of the machine which lever can be operated
either laterally or vertically so as to engage with or be released from a rack 8 as
occasion requires-Such lever is connected to the collar T by means of a
connecting rod and lever jointed to the frame S carrying the collar T, and when
it is desired to change the speed of the machine the lever is operated, and placed in
that division of the muck corresponding to the speed required; the higher speeds being
obtained from the larger gear rings, and the lower speeds from the smaller gear rings.
My improved apparatus is fitted with a suitable gear case which serves to protect it
from dust and dirt.
Figure 1 shews a plan of my improved apparatus.
Figures 3 and 4 shew a modification of my invention in which the collar T is
together with a bolt H engaged with a hevel pínion D of low gear or with the pinion F
of high gear by means of the frames S taking into the notches I or J provided for that
purpose-Figure 3 shews the two pinions D, F, turning freely on their common axis
band d are two gear rings on the plate A which is fitted to the crank.
A second modification is shewn at Figures 5 and 6:-bere the frame S is divided
into two na S, S', the two frames each controlling a collar T-T. The collar T
operates the pinion D of low gear while the collar T operates the pinion F of high
gear-The two frames SS' are actuated in opposite directions by a set of levers and
eranks jointed at b, b', a, a', o, o' as shewn. Figure 5 shews the arrangement for high
and Figure 6 that for low speed.
This invention is applicable to velocipedes of all kinds including motor cycles.
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 arrangement of concentric gear rings fixed at uniform or variable distances
on a pedal disc which can be put in communication by bevel pinions with one or
other of the gear rings mounted on the discs fitted to the back wheel whereby the
required speed is obtained at will.
2. The arrangement of two rotating tubes connected by studs and working over
each other all substantially as described.
3. The combination and arrangement of bevel pinions and gear rings substantially
as hereinbefore described and shewn whereby the operator is enabled to regulate the
speed gear at will so as to vary the speed as desired.
4. The improved construction and arrangement of bevel pinions which are hollowed
so as to allow of one or more tappets being fitted therein or thereon at variable
distances.
5. The disposition of tappets on the sliding tube, whereby they make contact with
the tappets fitted in or on each of the bevel pinions, thus operating the sliding tube
by the rotation of one of such pinions, the others remaining idle and thereby allowing
change of speed at will.
6. The arrangement of a collar wherein the studs of the sliding tube rotate while
the collar is free to move the sliding tube to and fro as desired.
7. A lever fitted with a rack and frame whereby any one of the bevel pinions may
be thrown into gear with the transmission tabes thus varying the speed as desired.

page_text: 8. The application of this apparatus and any of its parts for the purpose of varying
speed as desired to velocipedes of all kinds including motor cycles.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1896.
ELT & Co.,
Registered Patent Agents,
43, Southampton Buildings, Holborn, London, Agents for Applicants.