Improvements in Variable Speed Mechanism for Driving Cycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 9th July, 1892
I
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Speed Mechanism for Driving Cycles.
We, ROCHESTER ILLINGWORTH, of Hill Street Coventry, Manager, and
JOSEPH BUSH of Gas Street, Coventry, Engineer, both in the County of Warwick
do hereby declare the nature of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has for its object improvements in variable speed mechanism for
driving cycles by which means we obtain, a simple cheap and compact means
for driving safety bicycles and tricycles at variable speeds suited to the
conditions under which the machine is travelling as for instance a much greater
speed over level roads and under favorable conditions and a reduction of speed
and consequent increase of power and ease of driving when ascending hills or
under difficult conditions and this we effect without any excessive increase in
the weight or bulk of the driving mechanism. By these means cycles can he
geared to very high speeds and these speeds reduced to medium or low speeds
and vice versa instantaneously whenever required.
By the said arrangement of gearing the chain wheel under ordinary conditions,
i.e., on level or easy roads is driven direct for speed while for power and ease
of driving the speed of the driving wheel is reduced from that of the crank
shaft by means of bevil or toothed wheels of varied sizes and intermedinte
pinions as hereafter described.
In carrying our invention into effect the chain wheel is so mounted as to
revolve on a loose sleeve on the crank spindle as hereafter described and upon
the crank spindle, side by side with the chain wheel, a bevil or toothed wheel
is fixed having teeth around the circumference of that face of it next to the
chain wheel. Within the chain wheel, one, two, or more spindles are fixed
longitudinally in a radial position between the circumference and axis of the
said chain wheel so as to become part of it and upon each of these spindles
two bevil pinions are mounted to revolve together the one or outer pinion of
which engages with the teeth on the face of the said bevil or toothed wheel
attached to the crank spindle the other or inner pinion of the double pinion
engages with teeth on the inner face of a second bevil or toothed wheel of
smaller diameter which is mounted on the opposite side of the chain wheel
loosely on the crank shaft so as to be capable of being locked stationary while
the crank shaft is revolving.
For the purpose of steadying the smaller tooth wheel it is provided with a
sleeve bearing which extends through the boss of the chain driving wheel and
forms a bearing upon which the chain wheel revolves as before described.
The speed reducing action of the arrangement is then as follows:-The large
bevil or toothed wheel receives its movement from the crank spindle to which
it is fixed and communicates the movement to the outer pinions which are
mounted and revolve within the chain driving wheel. The inner pinions are
thus revolved and engaging as they do with the smaller and stationary toothed
wheel on the other side of the chain wheel are caused to rotate thus carrying
the chain wheel, in which they are mounted, with them at a speed which is
reduced from that of a large tooth wheel in proportion to the difference in the
size of the two outer bevil or toothed wheels, and as the relative proportion of
the two outer wheels is varied so is the proportion of the reduction of speed
effected.
When the speed reducing arrangement is not required as in the case of
travelling upon a level or under other favorable conditions the smaller toothed
wheel is unlocked from its stationary position and is locked to the chain wheel

page_text: itself thereby preventing the pinions from revolving and thus at once locking
both small and large tooth wheels and chain wheel, together so that they revolve
as one with the crank spindle.
We may effect the engaging and disengaging of the small toothed wheel in
any manner suitable to the varying conditions to be found in various shaped
machines and the locking and unlocking of the same to the crank wheel or
large tooth wheel may also be similarly varied.
We are aware that fixed bevil wheels of equal size with one pinion have been
mounted for certain purposes in connection with chain wheels upon the wheel
axles of tricycles but what we desire to protect is the arrangements of fixed
and loose bevil or toothed wheels of different and varied sizes with intermediate
double pinions with means for engaging and disengaging the loose bevil wheel
for proportionately reducing the speed and increasing the power relatively to
the difference in the sizes of the said wheels as hereinbefore described.
Dated this 17th day of September 1891.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Speed Mechanism for Driving Cycles.
We, ROCHESTER ILLINGWORTH, of Hill Street Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Manager, and JOSEPH Bus of Gas Street, Coventry, aforesaid,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Our invention has for its object improvements in variable speed mechanism for
driving cycles by which means we obtain a simple cheap & compact means for
driving safety bicycles & tricycles at variable speeds suited to the conditions
under which the machine is travelling as for instance a much greater speed
over level roads & under favorable conditions & a reduction of speed & conse-
quent increase of power & ease of driving when ascending hills or under difficult
conditions & this we effect without any excessive increase in the weight or
bulk of the driving mechanism. By these means cycles can be geared to very
high speeds & these speeds reduced to medium or low speeds & vice-versu
instantaneously whenever required.
By the said arrangement of gearing the chain wheel under ordinary conditions,
i.e. on level or easy roads is driven direct for speed while for power & ease of
driving, the speed of the driving wheel is reduced from that of the crank shaft
by means of bevil or toothed wheels of various sizes & intermediate pinions as
hereatter described.
In carrying our invention into effect the chain wheel is so mounted as to
revolve on a loose sleeve on the crank spindle as hereafter described & upon
the crank spindle side by side with the chain wheel a bevil or toothed wheel is
fixed having teeth around the circumference of that face of it next to the chain
wheel. Within the chain wheel one two or more spindles are fixed longitudinally
in a radial position between the circumference & axis of the said chain wheel
so as to become part of it & upon each of these spindles two bevil pinions are
mounted to revolve together the one or outer pinion of which engages with the
teeth on the face of the said bevil or toothed wheel attached to the crank spindle
the other or inner pinion of the pinion engages with teeth on the inner face of a
second bevil or toothed wheel of smaller diameter which is mounted on the opposite
side of the chain wheel loosely on the crank shaft so as to be capable of being
locked stationary while the crank shaft is revolving.
For the purpose of steadying the smaller tooth wheel it is provided with
ajsleeve

page_text: bearing which extends, through the boss of the chain driving wheel & forms a
bearing upon which the chain wheel revolves as before described.
The speed reducing action of the arrangement is then as follows:-The large
bevil or toothed wheel receives its movement from the crank spindle to which it is
fixed & communicates the movement to the outer pinions which are mounted &
revolve within the chain driving wheel. The inner pinions are thus revolved &
engaging as they do with the smaller & stationary toothed wheel on the other side
of the chain wheel are caused to rotate thus carrying the chain wheel in which they
are mounted with them at a speed which is reduced from that of a large tooth wheel
in proportion to the difference in the size of the two outer bevil or toothed wheels &
as the relative proportion of the two outer wheels is varied so is the proportion of
the reduction of speed effected.
When the speed reducing arrangement is not required as in the case of travelling
upon a level or under other favorable conditions the smaller tooth wheel is unlocked
from its stationary position & is locked to the chain wheel itself thereby preventing
the pinions from revolving & thus at once locking both small & large tooth wheels
& chain wheel together so that they revolve as one with the crank spindle.
We may effect the engaging & disengaging of the small toothed wheel in any
manner suitable to the varying conditions to be found in various shaped machines &
the locking & unlocking of the same to the crank wheel or large tooth wheel may
also be similarly varied.
We are aware that fixed bevil wheels of equal size with one pinion have been
mounted for certain purposes in connection with chain wheels upon the wheel axles
of tricycles but what we desire to protect is the arrangements of fixed and loose
bevil or toothed wheels of different & varied sizes with intermediate double pinions
with means for engaging & disengaging the loose bevil wheel for proportionately
reducing the speed and increasing the power relatively to the difference in the sizes
of the said wheels as hereinbefore described.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood & more easily carried into
practise we have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings upon which
we have fully illustrated the nature and working of our said invention.
Figure 1., is a general view of my speed reducing mechanism complete.
Figure 2., is a section through Figure 1 on the line 3-4.
In carrying our invention into effect the chain wheel D is so mounted as to
revolve, on the loose sleeve e³ on the crank spindle B as afterwards described and
upon this crank spindle B side by side with the chain wheel the bevil or tooth
wheel A is fixed having the teeth around the circumference of that face of it
next to the chain wheel; within the chain wheel one two or more spindles d³ are
fixed and upon each of these spindles the two bevil pinions & f' are mounted to
revolve together the one engaging with the teeth on the face of the tooth
wheel A the other f engaging with the teeth on the inner face of the tooth
wheel E which is of smaller diameter and which is mounted on the opposite side of
the chain wheel & so as to allow the shaft to revolve independently of it when it
may be locked stationary.
For the purpose of steadying the smaller tooth wheel E it is mounted upon the
sleeve bearing which extends through the boss of the chain driving wheel & forms
a bearing upon which the chain wheel revolves as before described.
The speed reducing action of the arrangement is then as follows:-The large
bevil or tooth wheel A receives its movement from the crank spindle B to which it
is fixed & communicates the movement to the pinions which are mounted to revolve
within the chain driving wheel D. The pinions are thus revolved & engaging as
they do with the smaller & stationary tooth wheel E are caused to rotate thus
carrying the chain wheel on which they are mounted with a speed which is reduced
from that of the large tooth wheel in proportion to the difference in the size of the
two outer bevil or toothed wheels A & E and as the relative proportion of the two
outer wheels is varied so, is the proportion of the reduction or increase of speed
effected.

page_text: We do not confine ourselves to the mode or method of locking & unlocking the
mechanism although we prefer to effect it in the manner shewn and described by
English Specification No. 15,519 A.D. 1890 in which case the bolt C referred to
in that Specification is mounted upon the side plate E herein referred to while the
slotted ring with which the said bolt engages is fixed upon the chain wheel D.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
"
The improvements in variable speed mechanism for driving cycles consisting of
the part E and with the intermediate double wheels " and " mounted within the
chain wheel D substantially as & for the purpose herein set forth & shewn upon
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th dox of Tanu 19
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.
C