Improvements in Changeable Gear for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Changeable Gear for Bicycles and the like.
We, WILLIAM LANE, of l'en Argyle, in the County of Northampton, and State
of Pennsylvania, Merchant, ALFRED DONEY, of Pen Argyle aforesaid, Merchant,
LEONIDAS WILLIAM MORSS, of Scranton, in the County of Lackawanna, and State
of Pennsylvania, Gentleman, and MILTON LANNING TINSMAN, of Scranton afore-
said, Gentleman, all in the United States of America, 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 propelling mechanism for bicycles of the class which
provides for speed or power according to the nature of the surface over which the
imachine is travelling, whereby hill climbing can be easily accomplished and
when a level strip is reached the machine can be speeded. The invention deals
more particularly with the devices for throwing the mechanism into operation
according as speed or power is required, the clutch mechanism being of such
construction as to reduce the friction to the smallest amount possible when
shifting the clutch or holding it in either one of its three positions.
The salient feature of the invention is a collar or sleeve mounted to slide upon
a shaft and keyed so as to rotate therewith, and provided with pins which project
from opposite sides to enter sockets or openings in the adjacent sides of companion
gear wheels, said collar having a peripheral groove in which is fitted a split or
sectional ring having its opposite sides grooved to provide races in which are
placed a series of balls, the latter bearing against the walls of the collar or sleeve
and relieving the friction between the ring and collar. Differential cog gearing
intermesh with the companion gear wheels, which latter revolve loosely upon the
shaft and are brought into active operation by means of the clutch located between
them to meet existing conditions according as the machine is propelled up grade
or over a level surface.
The invention further consists of the novel features, details of construction
and combination of parts which hereinafter will be more particularly set forth,
illustrated, and finally claimed.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:
Figure 1 is a detail view in elevation of a propelling mechanism for bicycles
embodying the principal features of this invention.
Figure 2 is a detail plan section thereof.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line X-X of Figure 1, looking in the
direction of the arrow, the differential gearing being omitted.
Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and
indicated in the drawing by the same reference characters.
The cog gearing 1 is of less diameter than the cog gearing 2 and is concentric
therewith, both being formed with or applied to the same disc or wheel and
forming in effect crown gearing thereof. This differential gearing may be the
driving or the driven part according to its relative location and either position is
immaterial within the scope of the invention.
A shaft 3 is disposed at right angles to the axis of the differential gearing 1

page_text: and 2 and is mounted in any suitable manner. Companion gear wheels 4 and 5
are mounted loosely upon the shaft 3 and are in mesh with the cog gearing 1
and 2. These gear wheels are spaced apart a distance corresponding to about the
distance between the cog gearing 1 and 2 and are mounted so as to turn freely
upon the shaft 3 without having any longitudinal movement thereon. A collar
or sleeve 6 is mounted upon the shaft 3 between the gear wheels 4 and 5 and
has a feather and spline connection with said shaft so as to turn therewith.
This collar is grooved in its periphery to provide a seat in which is fitted a ring 7
formed of sections, the meeting ends of the sections having offstanding ears 8,
which are apertured to receive bolts or like fastenings, by means of which the
parts of the ring are secured together when united and fitted into the groove of
the collar 6. A series of pins 9 are fitted into openings extending transversely
of the collar or sleeve 6 and have their end portions projecting beyond the sides
of the collar or sleeve a short distance so as to enter corresponding openings 10
in the inner or opposing sides of the gear wheels 4 and 5 whereby the parts are
adapted to be brought into clutched engagement when desired.
The sectional ring 7 is formed in its opposite sides with grooves forming
races 11 in which are fitted balls 12, the latter projecting a short distance beyond
the sides of the ring so as to engage with the walls of the collar or sleeve 6
bordering upon and forming the annular groove or seat in which the ring 7
is fitted. These balls 12 reduce the friction between the ring and collar to a
minimum amount, thereby enabling the clutch to be easily shifted upon the
application of slight force. A rod 13 connects with the ring 7 and extends
within convenient reach of the rider, and is adapted to be moved so as to shift
the clutch to an intermediate position or into engagement with either one of the
gear wheels 4 and 5, as required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
-
In changeable gearing for bicycles and the like, the combination of differential
gearing, a shaft disposed at right angles to the axis of the differential gearing,
companion gear wheels mounted loosely upon the said shaft and in mesh at all
times with the differential gearing and formed in their inner faces with a series
of openings, a collar or sleeve mounted upon the shaft between the companion
gear wheels and having a feather and spline connection therewith, pins fitted into
transverse openings of the collar and having their end portions projecting beyond
the sides thereof and entering the openings formed in the inner faces of the
aforesaid companion gear, a sectional ring fitted into an annular groove or seat
formed in the periphery of the collar and having grooves or races in its opposing
sides, means for securing the sections of the ring together, and balls fitted into
the races of the said sectional ring and adapted to engage with the inner walls or
sides forming the annular groove or seat of the aforedescribed collar or sleeve,
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 25th day of April 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.