Improvements in and appertaining to Bicycles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 6th June, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Bicycles.
A communication from abroad by FREDERICK WHITE, of Worcester, in the
County of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Manufacturer of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both
in the County of Lancaster, and 323, High Holborn; in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
:-
This invention relates more especially to that class of bicycles in which a large
traction wheel is employed, with crank-pedals or power applying devices arranged
in connection with an axle or driving-shaft at the central axis of said wheel; the
object of the invention being to provide an improved system of speed gearing for
bicycles which shall be efficient and easy of operation; simple and compact in
construction, and in which the parts are adapted for adjustment to take up looseness
and wear.
In carrying out the invention, a hollow wheel-hub is employed preferably made
of larger diameter at one end than at the other, with an interior chamber for
containing the gearing, and with external rings or peripheral flanges for the
attachment of the wire spokes. In the ends of this hub are fitted and secured
annular discs or heads having projecting flanges that support the bearing-bosses of
the frame; series of rolling balls are arranged between curved surfaces of the
flanges and frame. These heads are removable, and the flanges hardened to
prevent wear.
The driving-shaft or axle is arranged through the centre of the hub and
supported on the frame-bosses by the collars and bearing-balls. Said axle is
provided with a cross-bar or lateral arms within the enlarged chamber or barrel of
the hub, preferably formed integral with the main bar of the axle. Each of the
arns carries stud axially parallel to the main axis, upon which stud there is
mounted a pinion that meshes with an internally toothed ring-gear within, and
keyed to the shell or barrel of the hub; and also with a gear or toothed portion on
an inwardly extended sleeve or part of one of the frame-bearings. The two studs
are disposed at opposite sides of the drive-shaft axis. The stud is formed with a
rounded or inclined shoulder, and a collar having a similar shaped shoulder is fitted
by screw-threads upon the opposite end of the stud. The central opening of the
pinion is chambered with a rounding shoulder; and series of rolling-balls are
disposed between the parts, forming anti-friction bearings; the pinion being
supported entirely by the balls and not in contact with the surface of the stud.
At the outer side of the collar there is arranged upon the stud a washer and a
nut; the washer being made with an irregular shaped hole and the side of the stud
slabbed off to match it, so that said washer cannot be rotated on the screw-threaded
end of the stud, while the collar and nut can be turned thereon, as required. By
the aid of the nut and the screw-threaded collar, the ball-bearings for the pinion
can be accurately adjusted; the washer being non-rotative prevents the parts from
working out of adjustment.
Pedal-cranks of well known form are attached to the ends of the driving-axle,
outside the frame-bearing, for the application of power to operate the mechanism.
When in operation the inner gear remains stationary with the frame, and the
pinions are rolled about said gear by the revolution of the driving-axle, and the
pinions meshing with the ring-gear effects rotation of the hub and wheel at a speed
somewhat greater than the speed of the driving-axle.

page_text: The improved mechanism is very compact, is quite simple of construction, and is
formed of parts that can be conveniently manufactured. The gears and working
parts that require to be oiled are enclosed by the shell of the hub and protected
from accumulation of dust when in use; but are accessible by removal of the head.
Dated this 12th day of July 1890.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to Bicycles.
A communication from abroad by FREDERICK WHITE, of Worcester, in the
County of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Manufacturer of Cycles.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster & 323 High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil 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 more especially to that class of bicycles in which a large
traction wheel is employed, with crank-pedals or power applying devices arranged
in connection with an axle or driving-shaft at the central axis of said wheel; the
object of the invention being to provide an improved system of speed gearing for
bicycles, which shall be efficient and easy of operation; simple and compact in
construction, and in which the parts are adapted for adjustment to take up looseness
and wear.
These objects are attained by the mechanism illustrated and described; the
particular features of the invention claimed being hereinafter definitely specified.
In the drawings:
:-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section showing the hub of a bicycle wheel, having
speed gearing constructed according to this invention combined therewith.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of said mechanism at linea a Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section at line y y Figure 1, and
Figure 4 shows the side of the non-rotatable washer used on the pinion studs.
In carrying out this invention a hollow wheel-hub A is employed, preferably
made of larger diameter at one end than at the other, with an interior chamber for
containing the gearing, and with external rings or peripheral flanges for the
attachment of the wire spokes S. In the ends of this hub are fitted and secured
annular discs or heads AA² having projecting circular flanges a which support the
bearing-bosses of the frame B; a series of rolling balls b being arranged between
curved surfaces on the flanges a and frame B, as shown. These heads, which are
removable, are best made of steel and with the flanges hardened to prevent wear.
The driving-shaft or axle D. is arranged through the centre of the hub A. and
supported on the frame-bosses B by the collars C and bearing-balls c. Said axle is
provided with a cross-bar or lateral arms D' disposed within the enlarged chamber
or barrel of the hub, and preferably formed integral with the main bar of the axle.
Each of the arms D¹ carries a stud E fitted therein axially parallel to the main
axis and retained by the nut d, or otherwise, and upon which stud there is mounted
a pinion F that meshes with an internally toothed ring-gear G which is fitted within
and keyed to the shell or barrel of the hub; and also with a gear or toothed
portion on an inwardly extended sleeve B' which is fixed to or forms an integral
part of one of the frame-bearings B.
The two studs E with their pinions Fare of similar construction, and are
disposed at opposite sides of the drive-shaft axis. The stud E is formed with a

page_text: rounded or inclined shoulder d; and a collar I having a similar shaped shoulder is
fitted by screw-threads upon the opposite end of the stud. The central opening of
the pinion F is chambered with a rounding shoulder; and series of rolling-balls i
are disposed between the parts, as shown, thereby forming anti-friction bearings
between the pinions and their supporting studs; the pinion F being supported
entirely by the balls and not in contact with the surface of the stud.
At the outer side of the collar I there is arranged upon the stud E a washer K
and a nut L, as shown; the washer being made with an irregular shaped hole (see
Figure 4) and the side of the stud slabbed off to match it, so that said washer
cannot be rotated on the screw-threaded end of the stud, while the collar I and
nut L can be turned thereon, as required. By the aid of the nut L and the screw-
threaded collar I on the stud F the ball-bearings for the pinion can be accurately
adjusted; the washer K being non-rotative prevents the parts from working out of
adjustment.
Pedal-cranks M of well known form are attached to the ends of the driving-axle,
outside the frame-bearing, for the application of power to operate the mechanism.
When in operation the inner gear B2 remains stationary with the frame, and the
pinions F F are rolled about said gear by the revolution of the pinion axes and
arms D' with the driving-axle, and the pinions meshing with the ring-gear G effect
rotation of the hub A and its wheel, at a speed somewhat greater than the speed of
the driving-axle; the degree of increased speed depending on the proportional
relations in size of the several gears.
It will be seen that the improved mechanism very compact; also that it is
quite simple of construction, and formed of parts that can be conveniently manu-
factured. The gears and working parts that require to be oiled are enclosed by
the shell of the hub and protected from accumulation of dust when in use; but are
accessible by removal of the head A'.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A bicycle-wheel operating mechanism, substantially as described, consisting
of the hollow hub with an internally-toothed ring-gear fixed therein, an externally
toothed non-rotatable gear on an inwardly projecting part of the frame, the driving-
axle having lateral arms which carry pinion-supporting studs with spur-pinions
mounted thereon that engage with both said internally-toothed and externally-
toothed gears, and the axle-supporting bearings, and pedal cranks or power
appliances at the ends of said driving-axle, all combined and organized for operation
as set forth.
2. In a bicycle having the driving-axle D with arm D¹, and the internal and
external gears with intermediate pinions; the combination, with the pinion F
having recesses or bearing shoulders, and its axial-stud E having the shoulder e, of
the shouldered collar I supported and screw-threaded upon said stud, the series of
bearing-balls i, and the non-rotatable washer K and threaded nut L fitted upon the
stud at the back of said collar, whereby adjustment of the pinion bearings can be
effected, substantially as set forth.
D L 31104 1
Ր A 1001
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.