Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1894--Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894

page_text: arranged at an intermediate point between the limits of its movement it will be out
of engagement with both its clutch-teeth and the planetary gears, and thus will
leave the sprocket disk free to rotate independently of the treadle shafts.
When the adjustable pinion is in engagement with the clutch-teeth 16, or at the
limit of its outward movement, the sprocket disk is locked directly to the treadle-
shaft, whereby the parts operate as in the ordinary construction of gears of this
class in which the sprocket or chain wheel is keyed to the treadle shaft and when
the adjustable pinion is in engagement with the planetary gears, or at the limit of
its inward movement, the rotary motion of the treadle shaft will be communicated
through the planetary gears to the sprocket disk, and as the planetary gears are
permanently in engagement with the internal fixed gear, the motion of the sprocket-
disk will be a quotum or individual part of that of the treadle shaft. The
ratio of the two motions will depend upon the relative sizes of the pinion and
planetary gears.
The mechanism for operating the adjustable pinion consists of a rack-bar 20,
which extends inward beyond the fixed plate 5, and is engaged by an intermeshing
spur-gear 21 fixed to the lower end of a rotary shifting rod 22, which is journaled
in suitable bearings provided therefor and which extends upward to within
convenient reach of the rider and is provided with a suitable handle 23. The lower
bearing for the shifting rod is formed in a bracket 22, extending inward from the
fixed plate 5.
It is apparent that the rotation of the shifting-rod 22, by means of its handle 23,
will cause a longitudinal movement of the rack-bar 20, and thus move the
adjustable pinion to engage either the planetary gears or the clutch-teeth or to
occupy a position between the planes of the planetary gears and the clutch teeth to
permit independent rotation of the sprocket-wheel. Thus the adjustable pinion may
be arranged in either of three positions, respectively to lock the sprocket gear
to the treadle-shaft, to allow independent movement of the sprocket disk for
coasting, and to cause the pinion to mesh with the planetary gears to increase the
power, and in order that the rider may set the pinion in either of these positions
without experimenting, we provide a lock consisting of a disk 24 carried by the
handle 23 and having in its under surface a series of three sockets or depressions 25,
and a spring-actuated pin 26, provided with a beveled upper end to engage one of
said sockets or depressions and mounted in a vertical guide 26, formed in a box 26",
in which the upper end of the shifting-rod is journaled. As the handle of the
shifting-rod is turned, this locking pin engages the sockets or depressions
successively, and thus indicates to the operator the exact position of the adjustable
pinion.
The connection between the rack-bar 20 and the gear 17, whereby the latter
is capable of free rotation and is adapted to be moved transversely to occupy either
of its three positions above described, forms no part of this invention, and may be
varied according to the taste and skill of the manufacturer, but in the drawings we
have shown said rack-bar provided at its outer end with a ring which fits in a
surface groove in the inner side of said gear 17 and is held therein by a plate or
flange, as shown in Fig. 5. A detailed description of this part of the construction
is unnecessary for the reason above assigned.
From the above description it will be apparent that the mechanism is susceptible
of various changes in form, proportion and minor details, which may be resorted to
without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
:-
1. The combination with a treadle-shaft, of a fixed internal gear, a rotary
sprocket-disk loosely mounted upon said shaft and provided with internal clutch-
teeth, planetary gears carried by the sprocket disk and meshing permanently with

page_text: the internal gear-teeth, an adjustable pinion slidably mounted upon the treadle-
shaft and adapted to engage either the clutch-teeth or the planetary gears, and
means for operating said pinion, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a treadle-shaft, of a stationary plate, an internal gear
carried by said plate, a sprocket disk loosely mounted upon the treadle shaft and
having a peripheral flange to meet the outer edge of the internal gear, clutch-teeth
arranged in a cavity in the sprocket-disk, planetary gears carried by the sprocket
disk and permanently engaging the internal gear teeth, an adjustable pinion
feathered upon the treadle shaft, and adapted to engage either the clutch-teeth or
the planetary gears, said planetary gears and adjustable pinion being beveled upon
corresponding sides to enable the latter to occupy a position between the clutch-
teeth and said gears, and means for operating the adjustable pinion, substantially as
specified.
3. The combination with a treadle-shaft, of fixed internal gear, a loose sprocket-
disk provided with clutch-teeth, planetary gears carried by said disk, and an
adjustable pinion feathered upon the treadle shaft and adapted to engage either the
clutch-teeth or the planetary gears, of a rack connected to said pinion, a shifting
rod provided with a spur-gear in engagement with said rack, and a locking device
consisting of a plate carried by the shifting-rod and provided with spaced sockets
or depressions, and a spring-actuated locking pin to engage said sockets or
depressions successively to hold the adjustable pinion in either of its adjusted
positions, substantially as specified.
A
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.