A new or improved Driving Gear for Cycles and like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A new or improved Driving Gear for Cycles and like Vehicles.
I, ARTHUR HENRY EDWARDS, of No. 12, Temple Court, King Street, Sydney,
in the Colony of New South Wales, Inventor, 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 certain new and useful improvements in driving gear
for cycles and like vehicles, with the special object of increasing the speed without
any increase in the energy required, and consists essentially of the combination
and arrangement of a gear wheel secured to the axle of the rear or driving wheel
of the cycle, this gear wheel meshing with the internal gear of a larger wheel, the
latter having attached on its outer face a sprocket wheel of smaller diameter, this
latter being operated by a chain, connected with the pedal sprocket wheel in the
usual manner. This invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying sheet
of drawings which form a part of this specification and in which; -
Figure 1 is a part side elevation of a bicycle with this invention applied.
Figure 2 is a plan of the attachment to the driving wheel.
Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of the attachment to the driving wheel.
In all figures similar letters are used to denote similar parts.
A is the axle of the driving wheel B and passes through the back fork C at its
junction with the back stay D, the back fork C is extended downwards below its
junction with the back stay D, for the purpose hereinafter explained. On the
outer end of the axle A is either fast or integral therewith the small gear wheel E,
this latter meshes with the internal gear of the wheel which is of much larger
diameter than E. The wheel F is carried by an axle G to which it is either fast
or integral supported at the inner end by the extended back fork C, while the outer
end is supported by the supplementary stay H, the latter being joined to the back
stay D at I, see Figures 1, and 2. On the outer face of the internal gear wheel F.
is secured the sprocket wheel J, which is of smaller diameter than the wheel, F,
the spokes of the wheel J, are at the same angles as those of the wheel F, so that
the screws or studs K, may be inserted for the purpose of securing the sprocket
wheel J, to the internal gear wheel F, or if desired the sprocket wheel J may be
made integral with the wheel F, but where the sprocket wheel is secured to the
wheel F, by studs or screws various size sprocket wheels may be attached as
required so as to increase or reduce the gear. The driving chain L, passes around
the sprocket wheel J and the pedal sprocket wheel M. The backstay D is made
telescopic at N for the purpose of adjustment; and is provided with a bolt or
clamping screw 0. A cycle constructed with this improved driving gear may be
driven at a much greater speed, without the necessity of expending more energy,
therefore the cycle may be propelled at the ordinary speed, with greater ease, as
there would be fewer revolutions of the pedals. I am aware that internal gear
wheels meshing with a pinion secured to either the hub or the axle of the driving
wheel, have been used, but these have been provided with sprockets on their external
periphery, but by experiment I have found that this construction does not give

page_text: increased speed, unless the energy expended is proportionately greater; however
by arranging the sprocket wheel J, as shewn in the drawings herewith, making the
said sprocket wheel of smaller diameter than the internal gear wheel, a great
increase of speed may be obtained without the expenditure of more energy.
A modification may be made by attaching the small gear wheel E to the hub of the
driving wheel B, instead of the axle:
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1st. The combination with the driving wheel of a cycle, having a gear wheel
as E, attached to either the axle or hub; of an internal gear wheel as F and a
sprocket wheel as J, secured to the face of the said internal gear wheel substantially
as herein described explained, and illustrated in the drawings.
2nd. The combination and arrangement of the various parts herein described,
explained, and illustrated, altogether forming the new or improved driving gear
for cycles, and like vehicles, substantially and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 29th day of December 1897
HASELTINE; LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.