Improvements in Two Speed Driving Gear for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 20th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Two Speed Driving Gear for Bicycles
and the like.
We, WILLIAM REILLY, of Wellington Street, Salford, in the County of Inncaster,
Mechanic, and CHARLTON HAIGH. of Grafton Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock,
Manchester, in the said county, Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the driving gear for bicycles and other
vehicles described in the Complete Specification of our application for Letters
Patent No. 6062 of 1896.
It refers more particularly to the arrangement and construction of mechanism by
which the parts are caused to move to and fro on the spindle for the purpose of
changing the gear.
At one side of the hub we arrange the cone that supports the bearing balls without
a screw thread and to be capable of being rotated on the spindle instead of being
provided with a screw thread as hitherto. The inner end of this cone we elongate to
any desired distance to carry a quick pitch screw and on the inner end of the sleeve
thus formed on the cone we cut a screw thread preferably square say of about pitch
and provided with about seven separate threads. The exact length of pitch and
number of threads may, of course, be varied or altered to suit the length of travel
required and the distance the cone is intended to be rotated.
At the outer end of cone is attached a plate or lever of any convenient shape to
which a rod or the like is attached for the purpose of rotating it. At present we
consider the angular movement of the cone should be about revolution.
On the spindle we place a sleeve capable of moving longitudinally thereon but
prevented rotating. At one end this sleeve is provided with an internal screw of
quick pitch corresponding with the screw on the end of the ball cone. This internal
screw engages the screw on the cone and the rotation of the latter draws the sleeve
along the spindle.
The sleeve at the other end engages with the clutch sleeve described in the
specification of our previous patent. It is preferably cut with a saw cut or the like
longitudinally which enables the end to be sprung into the recess in the interior of
the clutch sleeve. The two may, however, be connected together by means of a
loose plate or other device which will allow of the rotation of the clutch sleeve.
A set pin or the like passing through the spindle into the slot in the sleeve prevents
it rotating.
The cone which has a smooth hole without threads so that it may rotate on spindle
is held in position by a nut or collar on the spindle placed behind it.
Dated this 7th day of September 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Two Speed Driving Gear for Bicycles
and the like.
We, WILLIAM REILLY, of Wellington Street, Salford, in the County of Lancaster,
Mechanic, and CHARLTON HAIGH, of Grafton Street, Chorlton-on-Medlock,
Manchester, in the said county, Draughtsman, 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 improvements in the epicyclic driving gear for bicycles
and other vehicles described in the Complete Specification of our application for
Letters Patent No. 6062 of 1896.
It refers more particularly to the arrangement and construction of mechanism by
which the parts are caused to move to and fro on the spindle for the purpose of
changing the gear.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Side elevation.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal section.
Fig. 3. Transverse section on line x-x Fig. 2.
Fig. 4. Transverse section on line y-y Fig. 2.
Fig. 5. Side elevation of the movable slide with actuating device.
Fig. 6. End elevation of same.
Fig. 7. Modification of the slides M and K.
The epicyclic driving gear comprising the sprocket or driving wheel A with internal
teeth the intermediary pinions B and the central rotating pinion D also the hub C with
internal teeth the sliding sleeve K and the arrangement of the ball bearings H
and G are similar to what we have described and illustrated in the specification and
drawings of our said Patent No. 6062 of 1896.
We now construct the stationary axle E solid throughout with a pinion e affixed
thereto at or near its centre with which the internal teeth k of the sliding sleeve K
engage to lock the central pinion D with the axle E.
At one end of the hub we arrange the cone L that supports the bearing balls H¹
capable of rotating but without any longitudinal movement upon the axle E. The
inner end of this cone we elongate to any desired distance to carry a quick pitch
screw and on the inner end of the sleeve thus formed on the cone we cut a screw
thread preferably square say of about ths pitch and provided with about seven
separate threads. The exact length of pitch and number of threads may, of course,
be varied or altered to suit the length of travel required and the distance the cone
is intended to be rotated.
An intermediate slide M which cannot rotate is interposed between the end of the
cone L and the slide K the end m of the slide M is provided with internal screw threads
corresponding with those on the end of the cone sleeve L and the other end m¹ with
.a flange to engage with and draw back the slide K..
Instead of connecting the slide M and the toothed sleeve K direct as shown in
Fig. 1 the sleeve K may be made sufficiently long to allow of a spring R being
interposed as shown in Fig. 7.
This internal screw on the end m engages the screw on the cone L and the
rotation of the latter draws the sleeve along the spindle.
The intermediate sleeve M at the other end m' engages with the clutch sleeve K.
It is preferably cut with a saw cut or the like longitudinally which enables the
end m to be sprung into the recess in the interior of the clutch sleeve. The two
may however be connected together by means of a loose plate or other device which

page_text: will allow of the rotation of the clutch sleeve K. A set pin or the like passing
through the spindle into a slot in the sleeve M prevents it rotating.
At the outer end of the cone L is attached a plate or lever N of any convenient.
shape to which a rod or the like is attached for the purpose of rotating it. At
present we consider the angular movement of the cone should be about th
revolution.
The cone L which has a smooth hole without threads so that it may rotate on
spindle is held in position by a nut or collar P on the spindle placed behind it.
The essential feature of this present invention is the arrangement of a
thread on the inner end of the cone sleeve engaging with a corresponding screw on
a connecting sleeve or link connected to the controlling parts of the gearing by
which it is thrown into and out of gear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we wish it to be clearly
understood that we do not claim epicyclic gearing per se nor a sliding sleeve clutch
such as K for throwing it into and out of gear but what we claim is :
1. The construction and arrangement of parts for imparting a sliding movement
to the controlling part of the gearing of an epicyclic train substantially as described
and shown.
2. The combination with epicyclic gearing and a sliding sleeve clutch such as K
of a sleeve such as L formed by an extension of the bearing cone capable of rotating
on the axle and provided with a quick pitch screw at the inner end and a sliding
intermediate or connecting sleeve whereby the clutch sleeve K is moved longitudinally
in either direction to vary the speed substantially as described.
Dated this 5th day of January 1897.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.