Improvements in Variable Gearing for Driving Cycles, Auto-Cars, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Gearing for Driving Cycles, Auto-Cars,
and the like.
We, ELEAZAR TURNER, of Goldthorpe Lane Ends, near Rotherham, in the county
of York, Grocer, and EDWARD JONES, of Wood View, Smithies, near Barnsley in the
county aforesaid, 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 :-
Our present invention relates to gearing for driving cycles, auto-cars and the like,
and the object thereof is to arrange and construct a combined gearing which may be
operated so that a light or easy gear may be in operation when the rider of the cycle
ascending a hill or when a heavy load is on the auto-car, or the same is ascending
a gradient, and a heavier or harder or quicker gear may be in operation when the
rider of the cycle is travelling on a level or easy road or when a light load is on the
Auto-car, traction engine or other self propelled vehicle; to attain which we construct
and arrange our improved variable driving mechanism substantially.in the manner
set forth and described with reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
which
.
Fig. 1. is a sectional plan and Fig 1^ an enlargement of same taken on line a a of
Fig. 2. which latter is an end elevation of our improved driving gear attached to the
brackets or frame of cycle.
Fig 3 is a sectional elevation taken on line b b of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4. is an elevation looking at the back of Figs 1 and 2.
Fig 5 is a sectional elevation on line cc of Fig. 1. and Fig 6 is a front view with
crank removed of Figs 1 and 2.
Fig 7
an elevation of enlarged detail part of our said mechanism and Fig 8 is a
sectional plan of same.
Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each view.
To the crank axle d we secure a chain wheel e; The main driving chain wheel fis
carried on said axle d by ball bearings and is free to move thereon.
This main chain wheel ƒ has an annular flange f¹. A carrying plate g is fixed to
the bracket h and has two slot holes g¹ wherein are fitted adjustable carrying blocks j
which carry cranked pins k, to the outside part of each is fixed a lever k³, and the
inner or cranked portion carries a combined friction and chain drum k², the friction
part of which (when the lever k¹ is pulled to required position) bears against the
inner periphery of the annular flange f¹, and by the aid of the chain / working on
the chain wheel e and over the chain-spoked parts of the drums k² causes the latter
to revolve the main driving wheel f. But this can only be done when the main
driving wheelf is free.
The fixed chain wheel e is arranged to carry a movable clutch or teeth e' which are
secured to rods e² which extend through said wheel e and are attached to or made
with a movable annularly grooved collar o.
The main chain wheelf has a clutch-box or gaps. fr. formed on its inner boss to
correspond with the teeth e', and it will be obvious that by moving the collar o one

page_text: way or the other the main chain wheel f, is thrown in or out of gear with the fixed
chain wheel e as desired.
We prefer to arrange the mechanism for moving the friction drums and clutch in
and out of gear in such a way that by the operation of one rod the clutch may be
forced into action simultaneously with the throwing out of gear of the friction drums
and vice versa as desired, and we illustrate one way of performing this, but we would
have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to this special means shown as
our invention may be operated in any other well known way to suit the particular
form of cycle or Auto-car to which it may be applied, we therefore merely describe
and illustrate some combined levers for operating our hereinbefore described invention
without making any special claim to said levers.
A shaft may be carried on the bracket h to which we secure levers. 2. which
couple up to the levers k', we also fix to said shaft 1 levers 3 which connect by means
of the rods 4 the runners 5 to the movable grooved ring. O.
A lever 6 is connected to a lever 7, and a lever 8 is operated by a rod 9 which may
extend to the handle bar of a cycle.
By pulling the rod 9 the clutch'e is thrown into gear with the main chain wheel f
and simultaneously the friction drums are thrown out of gear with the flange f', and
by depressing said rod 9 an opposite effect is the result.
Where desired the chain may extend around the wheel e and over only one of the
drums k, the other drum merely acting as a dummy or guide.
For assisting lady cyclists and others to ride on heavy roads or up steep gradients
our present invention will be found most valuable, and also where a similar gearing
is applied to a traction engine or Auto-car it will be of great service in travelling
upon heavy roads or along ascents, or in propelling heavy loads, it being obvious that
the slow gear may be put in motion where power is required and the fast gear where
speed is required, and that it is not necessary to stop the cycle or Auto-car in order
to change from one gear to the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1. In variable driving gear for cycles auto-cars and the like the combination with
a flanged main chain or driving wheel of a frictional wheel or wheels mounted upon
cranked pins and operated by a chain from a fixed inner chain wheel on crank shaft.
The frictional wheels and pins being carried in bearings made with and supported by
a stationary plate or bracket the whole to operate in the manner substantially as
described and for the attainment of the object specified.
2. In variable driving gear for cycles, auto-cars and the like the combination with
a main driving or chain wheel free to move on crank axle and having a clutch-box
boss with an inner chain wheel fixed to crank axle and having a movable clutch
together with frictional drums pivotted to crank pins and operated by chain gear
all arranged and worked substantially as described and for the purpose stated.
Dated this 20th day of September 1897.