Improvements in Bicycles and Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles and Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
I, JOHN CHESHIRE of 63 Wheeler Street Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to bicycles, tricycles and to any other wheel machines
propelled by similar means, and particularly to that class of such machines in which
the chain driving gear is so arranged that the speed of the machine may be
alternately and instantly varied or changed from fast to slow, and from slow to fast
respectively at the will of the rider;-and the object of this invention is to produce
an improved combination of parts constituting the alternating clutch gear by which
the chain driving gear may be brought into or thrown out of action;-to provide
an improved arrangement or combination of parts of mechanism by which the said
clutch gear may be operated or alternated from and by a lever on the handle bar of
the machine, and which shall suitably adapt itself to the steering motion, and
follow the general contour or configuration of the frame of the machine ;-and to
effect an improvement in the mode of supporting an anti-vibration lever, intermediate
between the saddle and the saddle-bar of the machine.
One arrangement of this invention as applied to a bicycle may be described as
follows:-Two chain gear wheels, say of the same diameter, are secured to the hub
of the rear wheel, one on each side, and motion is communicated to them, by driving-
chains, from two wheels similar in kind, but differing in diameters, carried loosely
or independently upon the treadle spindle; so that, by imparting motion to the one,
or to the other respectively, a different or varied speed is communicated to the rear
wheel. On the inner sides, nearest each other, of the gear wheels upon the spindle
are two or more spring clutch pegs which are caused to project by their springs in
the rear, and which may consequently be depressed or pushed back when required.
Rotating upon, and simultaneously with the spindle is a tubular sliding part of a
clutch formed with a disc at each end, and in each disc are holes corresponding in
number and in position to the opposite spring clutch pegs in the aforesaid wheels.
By causing the tubular part to slide sufficiently end ways in one direction, one disc
comes in contact with the spring clutch pegs in the adjacent wheel, which then take
into and become engaged with the corresponding holes in that disc,- and so, the
wheel just mentioned, the tubular part of the clutch, and the spindle become locked
together while the other wheel runs loosely on the spindle-and by sliding the
said tubular part sufficiently in the other direction, the latter wheel, its adjacent
disc, and the spindle become locked with each other-while the former wheel is
freed and runs loose. But if the tubular part be retained in the middle position, or
midway between these adjacent wheels, neither of them become engaged with it, and
both run free and independent of the treadle spindle.
Under the handle bar-and by preference to the left-is a lever for operating
the clutch gear by the left hand, somewhat similar to the brake lever on the right.
One end of this lever is pivoted or jointed to a rod, so secured in the upper end of
a tube as to be free to rotate without sliding in it, and at the lower end of this tube
is affixed and secured a ball or spherical part adapted to a corresponding split
socket on the end of a short lever. The latter is secured to the end of a rod or
spindle, serving as a fulcrum joint both to this lever and to another lever secured
at its other extremity, and the forked end of the latter lever engages in an annular
groove between the discs of the tubular sliding part to throw the latter into or out
of gear with either of the adjacent wheels, or to permit both to run free and
independent of the treadle spindle, as herein before mentioned. In combination

page_text: with the mechanism just described a ratchet plate and spring ratchet or detent are
suitably arranged to retain the operating parts in any position required.
To neutralize or lessen the effect of the vibrations of the machine in running, an
anti-vibration lever is jointed, between its extremes to a suitable part of the saddle
bar, and the saddle being secured to that part or end of the lever which is over one
part of the saddle bar one or more spiral springs may be suitably arranged between
the said parts. The other end of this lever extends towards the neck of the machine,
and its end being tubular contains a variably extending rod terminating in a forked
end which latter is also supported upon one or more spiral springs attached to the
neck of the machine.
T
1
C
1000
JOHN CHESHIRE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles and Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
I, JOHN CHESHIRE of 63 Wheeler Street Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Machinist 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 bicycles tricycles and to any other wheel machines
propelled by similar means; and particularly to that class of such machines in
which the chain driving gear is so arranged that the speed of the machine may be
alternately and instantly varied or changed from fast to slow, and from slow to fast
respectively, at the will of the rider; and the object of this invention is to produce
an improved combination of parts constituting the alternating clutch gear, by which
the chain driving gear may be brought into or thrown out of action, and to
provide an improved arrangement or combination of parts of mechanism by which
the said clutch gear may be operated or alternated from and by a lever on the
handle bar of the machine, which shall suitably adapt itself to the steering motion,
and follow the general contour or configuration of the frame of the machine.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying drawing,
forming part of this Specification, the mode or manner in which this invention is
to be or may be performed.
Fig. 1, represents a side elevation of a bicycle to which my invention is shewn
as being applied. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation of the front portion of the
same.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 & 8 represent the parts of which, in combination, my invention
consists, and are shewn partly in detail, and detached from the machine.
In Fig. 1, a indicates the rear wheel of the machine, and one of two chain
wheels of the same diameter, secured to the hub of the wheel a, one on each side.
Motion is communicated to the wheel by the chain c, or to the other before
mentioned wheel on the opposite side of the hub by the chain d.
Gearing with the chains e and d respectively are the two driving wheels e and f
of different diameters, and both carried upon and running independently upon the
treadle spindle g, so, that by imparting motion to e or to respectively a different
or varied speed is communicated to the rear wheel. Secured on the inner side of
each gear wheel upon the spindle, is a notched or serrated part of a clutch, one,-/
(Fig. 8) being securely attached to e, and the other similarly made fast to f
Rotating upon and simultaneously with the spindle g, and sliding on a key, or other-
wise adapted to slide axially without rotating independently, is a tubular sliding
part j, having a notched or serrated disc at one end, which may engage with its
counterpart half clutch h, and another similar disc at its other end, which may
engage with its counterpart half clutch i. By causing to slide sufficiently
towards e the half clutch & engages with the half clutch h,-and so the wheel e,
the slide and the spindle y, become locked together, while the wheel
is free and

page_text: runs loose on the spindle g; and by causing to slide sufficiently towards ƒ the
half clutch engages with its counterpart half clutch i, and the wheel, the
part j, and the spindle become locked with each other, while the wheel e is freed
and runs loose. But if the part j be retained midway between e and in the
position shewn in Fig. 8-neither e nor become engaged with it, and both run
free and independent of g.
Under the handle bar m, (Fig. 2) and by preference to the left as shewn, is a
lever n for operating the clutch gear by the left hand, the said lever being similar
to the brake lever o to the right (the other part of the brake arrangement no
shewn). The end p of the lever is pivoted to the rod q, as shewn, secured in the
upper end of the tube by the pin s. The rod may be formed with annular
grooves, or an annular groove opposite to the pins, which projects therein, and by
which is retained in r, while being free to rotate therein.
The lower end of r is formed with a ball or spherical part, adapted to a
The
corresponding split socket & constructed as shewn on the end of the lever u.
latter is either rigidly secured to the rod or spindle or attached thereto by a joint
To the
as shewn at to, and the said spindle is supported in the bearings and .
other end of is secured, by the nut y, a spring on the other end of which is
suitably secured, as shewn, a forked part a'. The said forked part engages in the
annular groove b¹ in j, and serves to throw the latter into or out of gear with either
e or f, or restrains; from engaging with either, and permitting both wheels to run
free and independent as before mentioned. By means of a spring ratchet or
detent c firmly secured to the rod e, operating in combination with a stationary
ratchet plate with suitable indents, as shewn, the operating parts of the clutch
gear may be retained in the position required.
I do not confine myself to the precise details as described herein, as equivalents
may be employed in place of the ball and socket joint, and the joint p and q and r
combined, and for the spring detent c' and plate without departing from the
nature of this invention.
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 :-
First, The lever n pivotted in a fulcrum joint to the handle bar, the end p-
jointed as shewn or by equivalent means, and operating a vertical adjustable rod
in a tube substantially as described herein and shewn in the drawing.
20
Second, The lever n jointed to the adjustable rod 1, and tube r, in combination
with a ball or spherical part at the lower extremity of , operating in a socket t,
on the end of a lever substantially as set forth herein and shewn in the drawing.
Third, The lever u, having a ball and socket joint (or equivalent) at one end, in
combination with a rod, spindle or fulcrum joint substantially as set forth and
shewn in the drawing.
Fourth, The lever u, having a ball and socket joint t at one end, and the other
end attached to, or forming part of, the spindle in combination with a forked
end a substantially as herein described and shewn in the drawing.
Fifth, The arrangement combination and application of the several parts of the
mechanism substantially as described herein in reference to Figures 1 to 8 of the
accompanying drawing.
1000
JOHN CHESHIRE.