Improvements in Mechanical Gearing, applicable to Cycles, Vehicles, and Machinery.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 10th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanical Gearing, applicable to Cycles, Vehicles,
and Machinery.
HUGH WYLIE HORNE General Engraver 6 Hanover Street Edinburgh do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Instead of useing the ordinary spurred or toothed gear wheel & sproket wheel
as fitted at present to a chain driven bicycle I provide a metal gear wheel & metal
sproket wheel with metal balls, these metal balls are placed round the periphery of
the gear & sproket wheels, and the metal balls are kept in position by suitable
recesses constructed round the edge of the gear & sproket wheels. The metal balls
may also be kept in position by suitable flanges or plates fitted to each side of the
above mentioned wheels these flanges extend to the edge of the sides of the gear &
sproket wheels.
The metal balls are only free to move on their own axis as they are placed in
cells fitting each metal ball exactly & they can only turn round in the space fitting
each metal ball.
Between the above mentioned flanges or plates that is in the centre of the edge
of the ball fitted gear and sproket wheels I provide a groove cut sufficient depth to
expose a portion of the metal balls and into this groove or recess a suitable
constructed toothed or spurred chain is fitted, the teeth or spurs of the chain point
towards the centre of the ball fitted gear and sproket wheels and the teeth or spurs
of the chain fit in between the metal balls in the gear and sproket wheels.
This toothed or spurred chain conveys the power from the metal ball fitted gear
wheel to the metal ball fitted sproket wheel. I may also use instead of a toothed
or spurred chain a suitable shaped toothed or spurred wheel or wheels to work
with and into the ball fitted gear and sproket wheels above described.
Dated this 19th day of May 1896.
HUGH WYLIE HORNE.
COMPLETE SPEC
Improvements in Mechanical Gearing, applicable to Cycles, Vehicles,
and Machinery.
I, HUGH WYLIE HORNE, of 6, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, General
Engraver, 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 :-
Instead of using the ordinary spurred or toothed gear wheel and sprocket wheel
as at present fitted to a chain driven bicycle, I provide a metal gear wheel and
metal sprocket wheel with metal balls. These metal balls are placed round the
periphery of the gear and sprocket wheels and the metal balls are kept in position

page_text: by suitable recesses constructed round the edge of the gear and sprocket wheels.
The metal balls may also he kept in position by suitable flanges or plates fitted to
each side of the above mentioned wheels, these flanges or plates extending to the
edge of the sides of the gear and sprocket wheels.
The metal balls are only free to move on their own axis and they are placed in
cells of sufficient size to hold the balls only but free to turn therein. Between the
above mentioned flanges or plates, that is to say, in the centre of the edge of the
ball fitted gear and sprocket wheels, I provide a groove of sufficient depth to expase a
portion of the metal balls and into this groove or recess a suitable constructed toothed
or spurred chain is fitted. The teeth or spurs of the chain point towards the centre
of the ball fitted gear and sprocket wheels and the teeth or spurs fit in between the
metal balls. This toothed or spurred chain conveys the power from the metal ball
fitted gear wheel to the metal ball fitted sprocket wheel.
1 may also use instead of a toothed or spurred chain a suitable shaped toothed or
spurred wheel or wheels to work with and into the ball fitted gear and sprocket
wheels above described.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended one sheet of drawings in the several figures of
which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a chain wheel which is in section and rear chain
wheel of a cycle embodying my improvements.
Figure 2 is an end view partly in section of the large chain wheel.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views to Figure 2 illustrating modification of my
invention and
Figures 5 and 6 are side elevation and plan respectively of different forms of
links made in accordance with and constituting my invention.
In carrying out my invention, referring to Figure 1 the rim A of the pedal chain
wheel B is of channel formation. The inner cheeks of the said rim A are formed
circumferentially with a number of hollows C of spherical configuration. These
hollows C which are in juxta-position with each other, are intended for the reception
of balls or spheres D of hardened steel for the object hereinafter to be explained.
To facilitate placing the balls in position it is necessary that one or both sides of
the rims A be made removable. There are various ways of doing this, a very
convenient one is shown in the large wheel of Figure 1 where that portion of the
rim is shown in section. The part in section shows a rib or intermediate web E
which may be formed with the wheel shrunk or otherwise rigidly secured to it.
Holes e are formed at regular intervals at the top of the undulations or ridges of
the rib E as well as in the rims A to enable bolts to pass through in order to bind
the rims E together. In some cases one side of the rim A. may be formed with the
wheel and the other side corresponding to it may be made detachable. The
detachable side of the rim inay be bolted to the fixed side, and distance pieces in
the form of dises may be employed to keep them the proper distance apart.
The chain rear wheel F may be similarly constructed or may be made in halves
and bolted together.
Figures 3 and 4 illustrate the substitution of rollers G for the balls or spheres D
which in Figure 3 are free to be rotated either on fixed or locse axes, while in
Figure 4 the rollers H are fixed and therefore do not enter into any motion.
The chain I which forms a feature of special novelty in my improvements is
composed of links K alternating between straight piece or pieces J approximating
to the curvature of the rims A of the wheel upon which they lie as seen in Figure 1,
and the links K are of hook or saddle form. The holes k through which the pins
pass are provided with liners or ferrules m which are of the same width as the links.
The object of these liners or ferrules m is to distribute the friction on the pins over
a greater bearing surface than would otherwise be without them. It will be seen
from the various figures, the links K in their travel round their respective wheels B
and F being single as opposed to the double or compound links J drop into the
groove or channel formed by the two rims A and engage the spheres or balls D,

page_text: rotatable rollers G, or fixed rollers H, in respect of the rear wheel F, while with
wheel B, being the driving wheel, they are engaged by the balls or rollers
aforesaid.
It will be seen from Figures 2, 3, and 4 that sufficient area only of the spheres
and rollers is exposed to give the necessary bearing contact and impact to the
spheres and rollers the axial rotation which is so desirable in minimising friction
and undue resistance.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In the gearing of cycles, vehicles and machinery the general arrangement and
construction of the chain wheels, substantially as described and illustrated on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In the gearing of cycles, vehicles, and machinery the general arrangement,
construction and operation of the chain, substantially as described and illustrated
on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
3. In the gearing of cycles, vehicles and machinery, the method in which the
links of the chain engage with or clutch the balls, substantially as described and.
illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 20th day of February 1897.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents._