Improvements in Variable Speed Gear, Specially Applicable for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Speed Gear, Specially Applicable for
Cycles.
We, LUDWIG OBERHAMMER, of Dachauerstrasse 12, Munich, Gun Maker, and
MAX GERSTENDORFER, of Fuerth, Merchant, both in the Empire of Germany, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an arrangement especially for chainless cycles, which
allows of changing the gearing of the driving wheels, while the latter are in move-
ment. In cycles the gearing can be changed during the movement by means
of this arrangement, without the cyclist needing to dismount.
The gear consists of a wheel provided on its surface with several rows of teeth
(for instance three). In each of the teeth rows gears a corresponding conical wheel
and which rests loosely upon a socket moving on balls.
Between these wheels are arranged rings fixed upon the socket which hold the
wheels in their relative position.
The rings as well as the hubs of the wheels have appropriate grooves into which
will catch keys or feathers movable in corresponding slots in the socket. The: e
keys are in connection by means of the arms with a ring which moving on balis
can be displaced by any appropriate mechanism.
By moving the keys the latter pass into the grooves of one of the wheels and fix
the same so that as the keys reach into the socket they carry it with them when
turning and the driving force can be transferred either from the smaller wheels
to the large wheel or inversely.
In cycles the socket is seated suitably upon one of the horizontal rods of the
back framing. The large wheel is arranged either on the back wheel axle or on
the pedal crank axle and the arrangement of the loose toothed wheels is effected
correspondingly. Upon the other end of the socket is seated one of a couple of
conical wheels which transfers the force, either from the pedal crank axle to the
socket etc. or from the socket to the back wheel axle of the cycle. The mechanism
which effects the movement of the keys is led to the handle bar or to any other
appropriate point and can be operated either by hand or by the foot. The separate
positions of the keys can be correspondingly marked or fixed.
The whole mechanism is easily reached and the wheels can be correspondingly
changed.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1896.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.;
Agents for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Speed Gear, Specially Applicable for
Cycles. "
We, LUDWIG OBERHAMMER, of Dachauerstrasse 12, Munich gun maker, and
MAX GERSTENDORFER, of Fuerth, Merchant, both in the Empire of Germany, 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 an arrangement, especially for chainless cycles, which
allows of changing the gearing of the driving wheels, while the latter are in move-
ment. In cycles the gearing can be changed during the movement by means
of this arrangement, without the cyclist needing to dismount.
1+
In the annexed drawing Fig. 1 shows a plan view and Fig. 2 a section of this
gear, Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a bicycle fitted therewith.
The gear consists of a wheel a provided on its surface with several rows of teeth
(in the drawing three). In each of the teeth rows gears a corresponding conical
wheel b, c and d, which rests loosely upon a socket e moving on balls. Between
these wheels b c d are arranged rings f g h fixed upon the socket which hold the
wheels in their relative position.
The rings as well as the hubs of the wheels have appropriate grooves, into which
there may be caused to engage keys or feathers i movable in corresponding slots e¹
in the socket e. These keys i as shown in the drawing are in connection by means
of the arms with a ring k, which moving on balls can be displaced by any
appropriate mechanism.
By moving the keys the fatter pass into the groove of one of the wheels bc or d
and fix the same, so that, as the keys engage into the socket e they carry it with
them when turning. The driving force can be transferred either from the small
wheels to the large wheel a or inversely.
In cycles the socket c is seated suitably upon one of the horizontal back tubes of the
frame. The large wheel a is arranged either on the back wheel axle or on the pedal
crank axle and the arrangement of the loose toothed wheels corresponds. Upon
ne other end of the socket is seated one of a couple of conical wheels, which
transfers the force either from the pedal crank axle to the socket etc., or from the
socket to the back wheel axle of the cycle. The mechanism for the movement
of the keys is led to the handle bar or to any other appropriate point and can be
operated either by hand or by the foot. The separate positions of the keys can be
correspondingly marked or fixed.
The whole mechanism is easily reached and the gear can be correspondingly
altered..
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:.
The construction for changing the proportion of gear of a toothed wheel gearing
during the movement of the wheels especially for cycles, characterized by the
arrangement of several conical wheels, which running loosely upon a socket gear
with corresponding teeth ranges on the side surface of a wheel the conical
wheels being severally adapted to he secured by one or more keys or feathers
operated by an appropriate mechanism the movement being transferred to a couple

page_text: of bevelled toothed wheels upon the other end of the socket or inversely the move-
ment of the couple of bevelled toothed wheels transferred to the aforesaid gear.
Dated this 21st day of June 1897.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co..
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, Agents to Applicants.