Year: 1897

page_text: I, OLIVER HOWARD GENTRY, of 751, Cleveland Street, Brooklyn, in the State
of New York, in the United States of America, Mechanic, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved power transmitting mechanism particu-
larly well adapted for use on bicycles. In accordance with my invention, the
power transmitting mechanism comprises a driving wheel, a wheel substantially
in line therewith to be driven thereby, and an intermediate wheel to transmit
power from the driving wheel to the driven wheel and which consists of an inner
part, centre, or support, a circumferential ring encircling the said centre or sup-
port but separate therefrom and antifriction bearings interposed between the
said centre or support and the inner circumference of the said ring and confining
the ring on the supporting ring.
The driving and driven wheels and the intermediate circumferential ring will
be made as spur gears, and the support or centre of the intermediate wheel may
and preferably will be as an open frame or ring to enable the improved power
transmitting mechanism to be readily applied to the frame of bicycles as now
commonly constructed.
In the application of the invention to a bicycle I apply on the crank axle a
spur wheel and on the axle of the driving wheel of the bicycle a spur pinion in
the same plane for being geared together by an intermediate spur wheel. For this
intermediate wheel I provide a spur toothed ring having a groove in its inner
periphery for part of a ball or roller race and for mounting this ring I provide a
centre or support, preferably another ring the diameter of which is slightly less
than the inner diameter of the toothed ring and having a groove in its outer face
for the counterpart of the ball race and for the best result I attach this ring
fixedly to the lower hind fork of the frame bar in any approved way to support

page_text: it in the plane of the wheel and pinion and on the stationary ring I mount the
toothed ring, by means of balls or rollers inserted in the groove and comprising
a ball or roller bearing of the toothed ring on the stationary ring.
The size of the toothed ring is such as to mesh properly with the wheel and
pinion when so mounted, to transmit the motion.
The stationary ring has an inwardly ranging flange for stiffening it against
the thrusts of the balls or rollers and for connecting to the frame bar. The plan
which I prefer for connecting said ring to the frame bar comprises a shoe block
flat on one side and grooved on the other to fit the flange and frame bar respectively
and suitably interposed between them, with a yoke extending around the bar and
being suitably adapted for receiving clamping screws inserted through the flange
to clamp the several parts together, but the mode of connection may be varied, at
will, for instance, the yoke may have screw threaded terminals inserted through
the flange and secured by nuts screwed on outside.
Two such fastenings at opposite sides of the stationary ring and in the line of
the frame bar are ample for effectual security of the intermediate wheel and it is
not essential that the grip on the frame bar be great, because any tendency of the
wheel to move forward or backward along the frame bar is balanced equally both
ways by the opposite thrusts of the wheel and pinion, and the parallel faces of the
teeth tend to keep the intermediate gear in the plane of the other two gears even
though the fastenings be so slack on the bar as to turn easily thereon.
It will be seen that an intermediate wheel fastened in this manner is held more
substantially than a wheel of the ordinary kind to turn on a central axis where
the stresses are multiplied by the radius of the wheel and special and most
important function of this contrivance is its adaptation for application to the
ordinary side bar of the lower hind fork of nearly all forms of bicycles now in
use without any change whatever and without expensive fittings, the application
being such that the obliquely arranged frame bar extends diagonally through
the rings, while the rings occupy the plane of the crank wheel and pinion parallel
to the vertical longitudinal plane of the entire machine, this being an arrangement
impossible with the ordinary wheels rotating on their axes for which specially
constructed frames must be provided.
Instead of balls it is obvious that other forms of antifriction devices such as
rollers may be employed with practically the same or better effect, the space
between the two rings being a little wider, and the rollers being pivoted in spacing
rings to keep the rollers apart from each other and also for dust guards to exclude
dust from the race, said rings being formed of thin sheet circular strips of sufficient
width to overlap the sides of the toothed rings, and between the rollers the two rings
may be coupled by spacing studs, to confine them in proper relation with the
grooved rings and rollers.
In applying the rings to a bicycle previously completed the frame will be
parted suitably for inserting the stationary ring supporting bar through said ring
and be closed again. In this application to bicycles being constructed the said
bar will be inserted prior to the closing of the frame.
Dalian 1007
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London, for the Applicant.

page_text: 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: —
My invention relates to an improved power transmitting mechanism particu-
larly well adapted for use on bicycles. In accordance with this invention, the
power transmitting mechanism comprises a driving wheel, a wheel substantially
in line therewith to be driven thereby, and an intermediate wheel to transmit
power from the driving wheel to the driven wheel and which consists of an inner
part, centre or support, a circumferential ring encircling the said centre or sup-
port but separate therefrom, and antifriction bearings interposed between the
said centre or support and the inner circumference of the said ring and confining
the toothed ring on the supporting ring.
The driving and driven wheels and the intermediate circumferential ring may
and preferably will be made as spur gears, and the support or centre of the inter-
mediate wheel may and preferably will be as an open frame or ring to enable my
improved power transmitting mechanism to be readily applied to the frames of
bicycles as now commonly constructed.
These and other features of my invention will be pointed out in the claims at
the end of the specification:
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a bicycle in dotted lines with my improved driving
gear mostly represented in full lines.
Fig. 2, is a plan view in similar representation.
Fig. 3, is a horizontal section of my improved: intermediate gear, and plan of
one of the bars of the hind fork, and one form of means of attaching said gear,
the scale being considerably enlarged.
Fig. 4, is a side elevation partly in section of part of the said intermediate gear.
Figs. 5 and 6, are details of devices for securing the stationary ring of the
intermediate gear to the frame bar.
Fig. 7, is a detail of the device for closing the gap. through. which the balls are
inserted in the ball race.
Fig. 8, is an end elevation partly in side view and partly in section, of the
intermediate wheel modified so as to use rollers instead of balls between the grooved
rings:
Fig. 9, is a plan view of the said modified intermediate wheel. also. with a part
in section.
Figs: 10, 11 and 12, are detail sections of the said modified wheel enlarged.
In the present instance, I have shown what I regard as the preferred. form of
my invention as applied to a bicycle frame of ordinary construction.
On the crank axle a is a spur wheel b and on the axle of the driving wheel c of
the bicycle is a spur pinion d in the same plane for being geared together by an
intermediate spur wheel. For this intermediate wheel I provide the spur toothed
ring e preferably having the groove f in its inner periphery for part of a ball or
roller race, and for mounting this ring I provide a centre or support preferably
another ring 9 the diameter of which is slightly less than the inner diameter of
the toothed ring, and having preferably a groove h in its outer face for the counter
part of the ball race and for the best result I attach this ring fixedly to the frame
bar i, in any approved way to support it in the plane of the wheel b and pinion d,
and on the stationary ring 9 I mount the toothed ring e, by means of balls ; or
roller inserted in the rings and comprising a ball or roller bearing of the
toothed ring on the stationary ring.
The size of the toothed ring is such as to mesh properly with wheel b and
pinion d when so mounted, to transmit the motion.
this
I represent in
The ring as shown has an inwardly ranging flange k for stiffening it against
the thrusts of the balls or rollers and. for connecting. to the frame bar i. The
which
plan
case for connecting. said ring com-
shoe block / flat on one side and grooved on
prises a
the other
to. fit the flange and frame bar respectively and suitably interposed
between them, with a yoke m extending around the bar and being suitably adapted

page_text: for receiving clamping screws n inserted through the flange to clamp the several
parts together, but the mode of connection may be varied at will, for instance,
the yoke may have screw threaded terminals inserted through the flange and
secured by nuts screwed on outside.
Two such fastenings at opposite sides of the stationary ring and in the line of
the frame bar are ample for effectual security of the intermediate wheel and it is
not essential that the grip on the frame bar be great, because any tendency of the
wheel to move forward or backward along the frame bar is balanced equally both
ways by the opposing thrusts of the wheel 6 and pinion d, and the parallel faces
of the teeth tend to keep the intermediate gear in the plane of the other two gears
even though the fastenings be so slack on the bar as to turn easily thereon.
It will be seen that an intermediate wheel fastened in this manner is held more
substantially than a wheel of the ordinary kind to turn on a central axis where the
stresses are multiplied by the radius of the wheel and a special and most important
function of this contrivance is its adaptation for application to the ordinary side
bar of the lower hind fork of nearly all forms of bicycles now in use without any
change whatever and without expensive fittings the application being such that
the obliquely arranged frame bar extends diagonally through the rings, while the
rings occupy the plane of the crank wheel and pinion parallel to the vertical
longitudinal plane of the entire machine, this being an arrangement impossible
with the ordinary wheels rotating on their axes for which specially constructed
frames must be provided.
A gap o is cut through the inner rim of the stationary ring for inserting and
removing the balls, and a stopper p is provided to close said gap and confine the
balls in the race.
Instead of balls j it is obvious that other forms of antifriction devices, such as
rollers may be employed with practically the same or better effect, the space
between the two rings being a little wider, and the rollers being pivoted in
spacing rings s to keep the rollers apart from each other and also for dust guards
to exclude dust from the race, said rings being formed of thin sheet circular strips
of sufficient width to overlap the sides of the toothed rings, and between the rollers
the two rings may be coupled by spacing studs t to confine them in proper relation
with the grooved rings and rollers. In this case the rollers being comparatively
few in number and the space between the two rings being wider,
the rollers may be inserted between the rings without a gap as is required
for the balls as the toothed ring may be temporarily placed eccentrically to the
stationary ring and the space opened wider at one side to admit the rollers which
being then adjusted and secured by the spacing rings secure the concentric ring
in its right position.
While the invention is specially advantageous in bicycle driving gear because
of its peculiar adaptation for application to the approved form of frames, it is
also desirable in other trains of transmitting gears and I do not limit my claims
to its application to bicycles only.
In applving the rings to a bicycle previously completed the frame will be parted
suitably for inserting the bar i and be closed again. In this application to
bicycles being constructed the bar i will be inserted prior to the closing of the
frame.
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. In a bicycle having a continuous frame bar from the crank hanger to the
rear wheel axle, a driving wheel at the crank shaft, a driven wheel at the rear
wheel axle and a transmitting ring through which the frame bar passes engaging
the driving and driven wheel substantially as described.
2. In a train of spur wheels gearing the driving crank with the axle of the
hind wheel, the combination with a driving wheel on the crank shaft, and a pinion

page_text: on the axle, of an intermediate wheel consisting of a toothed ring with antifriction
bearings in and movable along a race formed partly in each ring said stationary
ring being secured to the frame substantially as described.
3. In a bicycle driving gear, the combination with a spur driving wheel on the
crank axle, and a spur pinion on the driving wheel axle, of an intermediate trans-
mitting spur wheel comprising a toothed ring gearing with said wheel and pinion,
a stationary ring whereon said toothed ring is mounted with intermediate anti-
friction bearings in a race formed in the two rings and in the plane of the teeth
of said toothed ring and confining said toothed ring on the stationary ring, and
a support, said support consisting of a side bar of the lower hind fork of the
bicycle frame and extending through the ring, said ring being placed sidewise to
and clamped at two opposite points to said bar substantially as described.
4. In a bicycle driving gear, the combination with a spur driving wheel on the
crank axle, and a spur pinion on the driving wheel axle, of an intermediate trans-
mitting wheel comprising a toothed ring gearing with said wheel and pinion, a
stationary ring whereon said toothed ring is mounted with intermediate antifriction
bearings confining said toothed ring on the stationary ring, and a support for said
stationary ring consisting of the lower diverging fork bar extending diagonally
through the ring, said ring being attached to the opposite sides of said bar sub-
stantially as described.
5. In a bicycle driving gear, the combination with a spur driving wheel on the
erank axle, and a spur pinion on the driving wheel axle, of an intermediate trans-
mitting spur wheel comprising a toothed ring gearing with said wheel and pinion
and mounted on a stationary ring with rollers in a race formed in the two rings
and confining said toothed ring on the stationary ring, and spacing rings in which
the rollers are pivoted, said spacing rings forming guards to the roller race sub-
stantially as described.
1
11
1000
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London, for the Applicant.