IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRIVING GEAR TO OBTAIN TWO OR MORE SPEEDS AND FREE PEDALS ON TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I SEPTIMUS JOHN COLLIER of 45 Knowsley Street Bolton in the County of
Lancaster Tricycle Agent do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF DRIVING GEAR TO OBTAIN TWO OR
MORE SPEEDS AND FREE PEDALS ON TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES to be as
follows:-
This Invention applies to Tricycles and other Velocipedes driven by means of
crank-shafts by means of endless chains or intermediate gear wheels. When this
invention is to be applied to a Coventry Rotary shape of machine or any machine
in which the axle can be made bare, I take the axle resting on two ball bearings
across the machine and have the gear at the same side of the machine as the steering
wheels, on the end of the axle I place a small piece of metal having three pins
from its face, on the end of the crank-shaft I have the same arrangement. 1 have a
lever having a short spindle on it at each end, on each of these spindles I place a
chain wheel of different size having three holes on each side of their faces; running
loosely but capable of being attached to the axle or crank shaft by means of the
pins: round these two chain wheels I place the ordinary chain, the lever holding
the chain wheels and chain works on a swivel from the centre of the down tube
holding the cranks so that either chain wheel can be turned opposite the axle or
the crank end as required, If the larger chain wheel is opposite the axle and the
smaller one opposite the crank end the machine is geared for power. If the smaller
chain wheel is left opposite the axle and the larger one opposite the crank end, the
machine is geared for speed. If neither of the chain wheels are opposite either the
axle or the crank end the pedals remain free.
When this invention is to be applied to a Tricycle or other Velocipede in which
the end of the driving axle cannot be made bare I place a small wheel running
loosely on a stationary spindle a short way down the frame. I connect this small
On the side of
wheel to the axle by means either of a short chain or bevel wheels.
this small wheel there are three holes, I then hold the chain wheels with three pins
on their faces on a lever like for the Coventry Rotary shape and the same motion
takes place except that the chain wheels are turned opposite this small wheel on
the spindle and communicate power or speed to this and this small wheel being
connected to the main shaft drives the machine.

page_text: This invention can also be applied in the following manner to Tricycles and
other Velocipedes. Instead of baving any chain wheel keyed to the end of the
crank shaft I fasten two chain wheels one large the other small to a lever, both are
inside the chain, On the end of the crank shaft I place a sliding clutch when power
is required I turn the small chain wheel opposite the end of the crank shaft and if
speed is required I turn the larger one opposite the end of the crank shaft. To
take up the slack in the chain when the smaller wheel is at the crank end I leave
the lever at an angle so that the chain has to pass round the larger cog thus
keeping the chain the proper length. This method needs three chain wheels, one
on the driving shaft and the other two on the lever just above the crank end.
I claim the principle of holding the chain wheels on a lever so that they may be
turned from the axle to the crank shaft and vice versa.
Dated this nineteenth day of February 1884.

page_text: I SEPTIMUS JOHN COLLIER of 7 West Cliff Blackpool Tricycle Agent do
hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF DRIVING GEAR TO OBTAIN TWO OR MORE SPEEDS & FREE
PEDALS ON TRICYCLES & OTHER VELOCIPEDES and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention applies to Tricycles and other Velocipedes driven by endless
chains or intermediate gear wheels.
This invention is to be applied to a Coventry Rotary shape of machine or any
shape in which the driving axle can be made bare I take the axle resting or 2 ball
bearings or through the frame to the steering side of the Machine.
About one inch down the axle I place a piece of metal having 3 pins from its
face, keyed on the axle, on the crank end I have the same arrangement The Two
chain wheels have 3 holes in their face they are held from the outside boss by a
lever which works on a spindle from the centre of the down tube holding the
cranks.
The 2 chain wheels vary in size according to speeds required, round the chain
wheels I place the ordinary chain.
The alteration from one speed to the other is accomplished either by hand or foot
as arranged.
The gear works in the following manner. if the larger chain wheel is placed on
the axle the smaller one will be on the crank end and the machine is geared for
Power. if the gear is turned round taking the smaller chain wheel to the axle and
the larger one to the crank end the machine is geared for speed. if neither chain
wheel is in the axle or crank end the pedals remain free.
The novelty of the invention lies in the production of 2 speeds out of 2 chain
wheels. by first placing the smaller chain wheel on the crank end and driving on to
the larger chain wheel for Power, and turning the chain wheels round for speed
taking the small chain wheel to the axle and the larger one to the crank end.
I claim the principle of holding the chain wheels on a lever so that they can be
turned from the axle to the crank end or vice-versa thus producing Two speeds out
of Two chain wheels and one chain.
Dated this Fifth day of November 1884.