IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES, PARTLY APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Edward Phillips, of No. 37, Great George Street,
in the City of Westminster, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION
OF VELOCIPEDES, PARTLY APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Edward Phillips at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th November 1881.
ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS, of No. 37, Great George Street, in the City of
Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES, PARTLY
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Firstly. An improved differential driving apparatus whereby the speed of the
axle to which the motive power is applied may be varied in ratio to the speed of
the axle carrying the driving wheel or wheels to obtain either speed or power
whilst the machine is in motion.
Secondly. An improved method of carrying a lamp on the axle of & within a
wheel, whereby a steady bearing is provided for the lamp, and its position within
the wheel regulated without the use of side guides.
In carrying out the first I employ two wheels, one on the axle to which the
motive power is applied, & the other on the axle carrying the driving wheel or
wheels, whose peripheries are free to expand and contract. These wheels are in
equilibrium, that is to say, as one expands the other contracts in the same ratio,
and therefore the driving belt or chain connecting them is always of one uniformn
length. By this means the axle to which the motive power is applied can be mado
to revolve at any proportionate rate to the axle which carries the driving wheel
or wheels, so that either speed or power may be obtained.
The method I prefer to adopt in the construction of wheels with expanding
peripheries is as follows:-Fixed to the axle is a disc which is provided with eight
or more grooves radiating from its centre, into which fit an equal number of slides
free to move to or from the centre of the disc. These slides carry segments of
a circular ring which form the periphery of the wheel. The radius to which theso
segments are struck is a mean between the greatest and least radius to which the

page_text: segments can expand or contract. Sliding on the axle but revolving with it is a
clutch connected with the slides carrying the segments forming the periphery of
the wheel by links, so that as the clutch is caused to approach to or recede from
the disc so the periphery of the wheel is expanded or contracted. Both axles
being provided with the-e expanding wheels, the clutches are connected by a
suitable lever pivotted on a point centrally between them, and so placed that as one
clutch approaches to the other recedes from the disc, & thus as the periphery of
one wheel expands the other contracts, & vice versa. The connecting lever
between the clutches is connected by suitable means with a hand lever & quadrant,
so that it may be held in any desired position in relation to the desired ratio
between the speeds of the axles.
In carrying out the second part of this Invention I provide a loose sleeve or
quill of any suitable metal on the axle of the wheel, between the hubs or flanges
thereof, for the purpose of carrying a lamp which is clamped thereto, the axle being
free to revolve within it; by this means a long and steady bearing is provided for
the lamp, & the side guides as generally used to keep the lamp centrally within
the wheel are dispensed with. Spheres or rollers may be interposed between the
sleeve or quill & the axle to reduce friction.
Although any lamp may be used with this arrangement providing the adjustment
by which it is fastened to and allowed to revolve on the axle is sufficiently small in
its internal diameter to allow of its gripping the sleeve instead of revolving on it,
I prefer to substitute for the leathers as generally used thin discs of metal of a
similar shape, so that a more unyielding grip may be obtained on the sleeve.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed.
by the said Robert Edward Phillips in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th May 1882.
ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS, of No. 37, Great George Street, in the City of
Westminster. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES, PARTLY
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Firstly. An improved differential driving apparatus, whereby the speed of the
axle to which the motive power is applied may be varied in ratio to the speed of
the axle carrying the driving wheel or wheels, to obtain either speed or power
whilst the vehicle is in motion.
Secondly. An improved method of carrying a lamp on the axle of and within a
wheel, whereby a steady bearing is provided for the lamp, and its position within
the wheel regulated without the use of side guides.
In carrying out the first I employ two wheels, one on the axle to which motive
power is applied, and the other on the axle carrying the driving wheel or wheels,
whose peripheries are free to expand and contract. These wheels are in equilibrium,
that to say, as one expands the other contracts in the same ratio, and therefore
the driving belt or chain connecting them is always of one uniform length. By this
means the axle to which the motive power is applied can be made to revolve at
any proportionate rate to the axle which carries the driving wheel or wheels, so
that either speed or power may be obtained.
The method I prefer to adopt in the construction of wheels with expanding
peripheries is as follows:-Fixed to the axle is a disc which is provided with n
number of grooves radiating from its centre, into which fit an equal number of
slides free to move to or from the centre of the disc. These slides carry segments
of a circular ring which form the periphery of the wheel. The radius to which
these segments are struck is a mean between the greatest and least radius to which
the segments can expand or contract. Sliding laterally on the axle, but revolving
with it is a clutch connected with the slides carrying the segments forming the
periphery of the wheel by links, so that as the clutch is caused to approach to or
recede from the disc, so the periphery of the wheel is expanded or contracted.
Both axles being provided with these expanding wheels, the clutches are connected
by a suitable lever pivotted on a point centrally between them, and so placed that as
one clutch approaches to, the other recedes from the disc, and thus as the periphery
of one wheel expands the other contracts, and vice versa. The connecting lever
between the clutches is connected by suitable means with a hand lever and
quadrant, or worin-wheel and screw, so that it may be held in any desired position
in relation to the desired ratio between the speeds of the axles.
In carrying out the second part of this Invention, I provide a loose sleeve or
quill of any suitable metal on the axle of the wheel, between the hubs or flanges
thereof, for the purpose of carrying a lamp which is clamped thereto, the axle
being free to revolve within it; by this means a long and steady bearing is provided
for the lamp, and the side guides as generally used to keep the lamp centrally
within the wheel are dispensed with. Spheres or rollers may be interposed between
the sleeve or quill and the axle to reduce friction. Any lamp may be used with
this arrangement, provided the adjustment by which it is fitted to and allowed to
revolve on the axle in the usual manner of carrying hub lamps is sufficiently
small in its internal diameter to allow of its gripping the sleeve instead of revolving
on it.

page_text: In order that I may be clearly understood as to the nature of my Invention, I
will proceed to describe the accompanying Drawings, reference being made to the
letters marked thereon, likes of which on all views indicate corresponding parts.
Figures 1 and 2 are side and front elevations of the improved differential driving
apparatus, shewing the expanding wheels when of equal diameters.
Figures 3 and 4 are side and front elevations of the improved differential driving
apparatus with the diameters of the expanding wheels varied so as to obtain double
power. Figure 3 shews the reverse side to Figure 1. Figure 5 is an enlarged
semi section of one of the expanding wheels, the top half shewing the segment
contracted, the bottom half shewing the segment expanded. Figure 6 is an
elevation of one of the sliding segments, and Figure 7 is a plan of the same in
position in the disc which is in section. The improved differential driving apparatus
is constructed as follows, that is to say :-Upon the axle to which the driving wheel
or wheels of the velocipede are fixed, hereinafter called the main axle A, I place
an expanding wheel B, the construction of which will be hereafter described; on
the treadle shaft C to which the motive power is applied, I place a similar
expanding wheel B'; the difference between the diameters of these expanding
wheels will determine the variation obtainable between the speeds of the treadle
shaft and the main axle. The differential gearing illustrated in the accompanying
Drawing is capable of any variation between even speed, i.e., one revolution of the
treadle axle to produce one revolution of the main axle, and double power, i.e., two
revolutions of the treadle axle to produce one of the main axle. In this case I
prefer to make the wheel B expand from six to eight inches, and the wheel B¹
expand from four inches to six inches; then when the larger wheel B is at its least
diameter, six inches, and the smaller wheel B' is at its greatest diameter, six inches
(Figures 1 and 2), one revolution of the treadle axle would produce one revolution
of the main axle; but if I expand the larger wheel B to eight inches, and at the
same time contract the smaller wheel B' to four inches, the treadle shaft will make
two revolutions to one of the main axle, and therefore double power will be
obtained, while the driving band or chain will be practically always of one uniform
length. To obtain this equilibrium expansion and contraction of the wheels B
and B' I connect them with a lever D of the first order; the fulcrum of this
lever is carried on a snug E fixed to any rigid part of the velocipede. I connect
this lever by suitable means with a hand-lever and quadrant, or a worin-wheel and
screw, so that it may be conveniently manipulated by the rider of the vehicle. It
will thus be obvious that through the lever Dand its connections any ratio between
the diameters of the wheels B and B', and consequently between the speeds of the
treadle shaft and the main axle, may be obtained. The method I prefer to adopt
in the construction of these expanding wheels is as follows:-Upon the axle, or on
a loose sleeve to be fixed to the axle, I fix a disc "a" having a number of grooves
(varying with the size of the wheel) equidistant apart radiating from its centre.
In these grooves I fit a number of slides carrying segments of a circular ring
which forms the periphery of the wheel, hereinafter called the sliding segments
"b," "b," et cetera. Sliding laterally on the axle or sleeve, but revolving with it, is
a clutch "c" connected with the sliding segments by a number of links "e," "
et cetera, so that as the clutch is caused to approach towards the disc by means of
the lever and its connections, the sliding segments are caused to radiate from the
centre of the dise and so expand the periphery of the wheel, and vice versa.
In
order to assist the sliding segments to rise more easily, I sometimes place under
them in the grooves of the disc small spiral springs """f" et cetera. The grooves
in which the slides work may be circular, or shaped, or of any other suitable
form, and the face of the segments which they carry must be adapted to the
particular driving chain or band which it may be intended to use; the one to
which I give preference is that known as the Liebermann metallic belt. In fitting
my improved differential gear to velocipedes already constructed, where the width
available for the driving gear is limited, I prefer to use an arrangement as shewn
ور

page_text: "
"
in Figures S and 9, where I substitute racks and pinions for the links in making
the connection between the sliding clutch and the sliding segments. In Figures 8
and 9 of the accompanying Drawing "a" is the disc fixed to the axle; "b" b¹,"
et cetera, are the sliding segments, preferably in this case sliding in V shaped
grooves; on each of these sliding segments are sinal racks "b'," "b¹," et cetera;
c" is the clutch sliding on the axle, carrying a number of small racks "c'," c','
et cetera, equal to the number of sliding segments "b," b₁," et cetera; both of these
sets of racks "," "," et cetera, and c," "c" et celera, gear with small pinions
a','
31 46 a," et cetera, rotating on pins
" a²,' a," et cetera, carried by small snugs
a³," "a³," et cetera, fixed to the disc " a, so that as the clutch "C is caused
to approach towards the disc "a," the racks "c'," "c¹," et cetera which it carries
cause the pinions "a'," "a¹," et cetera, to revolve, which in their turn cause the
sliding segments "b," "b," et cetera, through the racks "b," "b". et cetera, which
they carry to radiate from the centre of the disc "a," and so expand the periphery
of the wheel, and vice versa.
"
"
Figure 10 is an elevation of the V shaped sliding segment, with rack;
Figure 11 is a plan of the same; and Figure 12 a section through the rack.
Where it is necessary to minimize the weight as much as possible I prefer to
use a smaller number of sliding segments, and encircle them with an expanding
rim made on the principle of "lazy tongs," as shown in elevation in Figure 9,
F being the expanding rim; Figure 13 shows a portion of the expanding rim,
contracted (in plan); Figure 14 is a section of the same; Figure 15 shows
a portion of the expanding rim expanded (in plan). The central joint pins "x,"
and "
x," et cetera, of the expanding rim have their heads countersunk flush
with the surface of the plates forming the rim on its exterior face so as to
present an even surface for the driving band or chain; the outer joint pins
y," "y," el cetera, have their heads left proud, and so form a flange to the iim;
the heads of all the joint pins on the interior face of the expanding rim may be
either countersunk, or the face of the expanding segments may be recessed to
receive them. The expanding rim is fixed to each of the sliding segments at one
or more points "," z," et cetera. It will be seen that this differential driving gear
is applicable for driving any kind of light machinery where instantaneous change
of speed is required.
"
The second part of my Invention is shewn by Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, 20,
and 21 in the accompanying Drawing; Figure 16 is an elevation (part in
section) of the most simple inethod of carrying out my Invention; G is the
axle of the wheel; H, H, are the hubs of the wheel fixed to the axle G; J is
a loose sleeve or quill of any suitable metal, which forms a bearing for the lamp,
which is clamped tightly to it, so that the axle revolves freely in the bearing when
the velocipede wheel is travelling, and the lamp remains steady. The diameter
of the axle is reduced at "g" to admit of the introduction of a lubricant. Figure 17
is a sectional elevation of one end of an axle showing the introduction of spheres
K, K, et cetera, to reduce friction; Figures 18 and 19 show a method of applying
this arrangement with spherical bearings to velocipedes already constructed;
Figure 18 is a sectional elevation of one end of an axle so fitted; and Figure 19
is a section of the same through the path of the spheres. G is the axle; H, the
hub fixed in the usual manner; J is the loose sleeve or quill (to which the lamp
is fixed), made in two parts (Figure 19) to admit of its being placed in position;
K, K, et cetera, are the spheres, and La coned collar, against which the spheres
revolve, also in two parts (Figure 19) to allow of its being placed in position.
The two parts of the coned collar are kept together by pins "," "," while the two
parts of the loose sleeve or quilt are fastened to the two parts of the coned collar
by the screws "j" "j" so as to break joint and lock one another; Figures 20
and 21 are elevations, partly in section, of methods of fitting this bearing to axles
complete in themselves; Figure 20 shews a plain bearing, and Figure 21 a spherical
bearing. In both methods the axle is built up of two pieces G and G' to admit

page_text: of the loose sleeve or quill J being placed in position, which being effected the part
Gis shrunk or sweated on to the part G, and further secured by a taper pin "k."
It will be understood that any kind of lamp that is capable of being fixed rigidly
to this revolving bearing may be used.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
it is to be carried out, I declare that I do not bind myself to the exact details as
shewn, as it is obvious that many modifications may be made without departing
from the principle of the said Invention, but what I claim as my Invention
and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The wheel with an expanding periphery, substantially as illustrated by
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, and for the purpose described.
2nd. The combination of two wheels with expanding peripheries, in equilibrium,
substantially as illustrated by Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, and for the purpose described.
3rd. The construction of a bearing on the axle, hetween the hubs, of the wheel
of a velocipede, substantially as illustrated by Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, and 21,
and for the purpose described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Edwa d Phillips, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of May, One thousand eight hundred and
eighty two.
ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS. (L.S.)