Improvements in the Driving Gear of Bicycles, Tricycles, Autocars, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Gear of Bicycles, Tricycles, Autocars,
and the like.
I, ERNEST ARCHDEACON, of 12 Rue du Ranelagh, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The use of a chain for the transmission of motive force from the pedals or pedal
shaft of a bicycle or the like to the driving wheel presents many inconveniences,
which some manufacturers seek to avoid by employing systems of transmission
without a chain, but the latter are generally very complex, and frequently do
not attain the object sought.
The present invention relates to an improved method of transmission of move
ment which I have designed, and which, without presenting the complications of
chainless arrangements of the gearing, nevertheless avoids all the drawbacks
accompanying the use of a chain.
My invention consists as follows:-
The right hand bottom stay or side of the rear fork is divided into two arms or
branches, between which are placed two pulley wheels mounted in ball bearings,
and having a flat peripheral groove to hold the chain which serves for the trans-
mission, said chain being passed over these two pulleys instead of the usual
arrangement. On the pedal shaft a spur wheel is mounted; and a smaller spur
wheel on the axle of the rear or driving wheel.
When the pedal shaft on which the spur wheel is mounted is actuated by means
of cranks, this spur wheel will operate the chain, and the latter will transmit the
movement to the smaller spur wheel which will itself communicate it to the large
driving wheel on the axle of which it is keyed. It will be seen that the working
of this arrangement is very simple. The pulleys are respectively maintained in
place by bolts which serve for fixing their distance apart and for stretching the
chain in order to avoid jerkings. The fixing and the regulating of the axle of
the rear wheel are effected exactly in the same manner as in an ordinary machine.
As may be seen the chain instead of surrounding the large spur wheel and the
smaller spur wheel as is generally done with the chain wheels of existing machines
is only engaged by them externally and worked by means of ordinary gearing.
This arrangement considerably diminishes the loss due to friction.
With my arrangement, any divergence or warping, even if somewhat con-
siderable, in the large spur wheel, or a considerable wear of the chain, do not
injure the working of the machine; in fact the warping or divergence of the
large spur wheel does not harm in any way the driving of the driving wheel,
whilst in the ordinary arrangements this divergence produces enormous lateral
friction, which occasions a great loss, even causing the chain to escape from the
chain wheels.
The length of the chain being only about of that employed when it passes
simultaneously round the chain wheels of the pedal shaft and of the driving

page_text: wheel, it is almost impossible, however much it may be inclined, for it to mount
on the teeth of the sinall wheel, which frequently happens with the ordinary
system.
In a modified arrangement, the chain need not engage directly on the smaller
spur wheel. In such case a toothed wheel of smaller equal or greater dimensions
than that of the rear pulley is mounted on the axle of the latter and is intended
to engage and actuate the smaller spur wheel.
Finally, in another arrangement à pulley having a sufficiently deep groove to
permit of the chain being completely buried therein, may be arranged with one
of its cheeks cut into teeth adapted to engage the smaller spur wheel. This allows
of a greater multiplication or gearing up, whilst retaining a small spur wheel ou
the pedal shaft.
Instead of the chains herein before mentioned, a band of steel, or other like
part, may be employed.
My invention is applicable to bicycles of all kinds, as well as tandeins, tricycles
and the like or any suitable autocars.
Dated this 30th day of December 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co:,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Driving Gear of Bicycles, Tricycles, Autocars,
and the like.
I, ERNEST ARCHDEACON of 12 Rue de Ranelagh, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Mechanical 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:-
The use of a chain for the transmission of motive force from the pedals or pedal
shaft of a bicycle or the like to the driving wheel presents many inconveniences,
which some inauufacturers seek to avoid by employing systems of transmission
without a chain, but the latter are generally very complex, and frequently do
not attain the object sought.
The present invention relates to an improved method of transmission of move
nent which I have designed, and which, without presenting the complications of
chainless arrangements of the gearing, nevertheless avoids all the drawbacks
accompanying the use of a chain."
My invention is shown in the accompanying drawings in which.
Figure 1 is an elevation of my arrangement;
Figure 2 a plan view;
Figure 3 a modification of this arrangement;
Figures 4, 5 and 6 another modification.
The right hand bottom stay or side of the rear fork' is divided into two arms
or branches A and B, between which are placed two pulley wheels CD mounted
in ball bearings, and having a flat peripheral proove to hold the chain E which
serves for the transmission, said chain being passed over these two pulleys instead
of the usual arrangement. On the pedal shaft a spur wheel F is mounted, and
a smaller spur wheel G on the axle of the rear or driving wheel.
When the pedal shaft H on which the spur wheel F is mounted is actuated by
means of cranks, this spur wheel F will operate the chain E and the latter will
transmit the movement to the smaller spur wheel. G which will. itself communicate
it to the large driving wheel on the axle of which it is keyed. It will be seen

page_text: that the working of this arrangement is very simple. The pulleys C and D are
respectively maintained in place by bolts I and J which serve for fixing their
distance apart and for stretching the chain E in order to avoid jerkings. The
fixing and the regulating of the axle of the rear wheel are effected exactly in the
same manner as in an ordinary machine.
. As may be seen in the drawings the chain E instead of surrounding the large
spur wheel and the smaller spur wheel Gas is generally done with the chain
wheels of existing machines is only engaged by them externally and worked by
means of ordinary gearing. This arrangement considerably diminishes the loss
due to friction.
With my arrangement, any divergence or warping, even if somewhat con-
siderable, in the large spur wheel, or a considerable wear of the chain, do not
injure the working of the machine; in fact the warping or divergence of the
large spur wheel does not harm in any way the driving of the driving wheel,
whilst in the ordinary arrangements this divergence produces enormous Interal
friction, which occasions a great loss, even causing the chain to escape from the
chain wheels.
The length of the chain being only about of that employed when it passes
simultaneously round the chain wheels of the pedal shaft and of the driving
wheel, it is almost impossible, however much it may be worn, for it to mount on
the teeth of the small wheel, which frequently happens with the ordinary system.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figure 3 the chain need not engage
directly on the smaller spur wheel G. In such case a toothed wheel C' of smaller,
equal, or greater, dimensions than that of the rear pulley C is mounted on the
axle of the latter and is intended to engage and actuate the smaller spur wheel G.
Finally, in another arrangement shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 the pulley Clas
a sufficiently deep groove to permit of the chain being completely buried therein
and may be arranged with one of its cheeks cut into teeth adapted to engage the
smaller spur wheel G. This allows of a great multiplication or gearing up,
whilst retaining a small spur wheel on the pedal shaft.
Instead of the chains hereinbefore mentioned, a band of steel, or other like
part, may be employed..
My invention is applicable to bicycles of all kinds, as well as tandems, tricycles
and the like or any suitable autocars.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The improvement in the driving gear of liicycles, tricycles, autocars and
the like, which consists in transmitting the motion of the pedal gear wheel to
the gear wheel of the driving wheel by means of an independent chain steel band
or the like mounted on two intermediate pulleys (Figures 1 & 2) substantially
as hereinbefore described and shown in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a driving gear of the kind described, the arrangement of gear wheels
substantially as described with reference to Figure 3 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a driving gear of the kind described, the arrangement of gear wheels
substantially as described with reference to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompany-
ing drawings.
Dated this 15th day of Santambon 1907
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.