Improvements in or relating to Covers or Cases for Excluding Dirt or Wet from the Gearing of Velocipedes or the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 16th May, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Covers or Cases for Excluding Dirt
or Wet from the Gearing of Velocipedes or the like.
We, BENJAMIN BARTON, Ironmonger, and WALTER HARRY BARTON, Clerk,
both of No. 3 Saint Michaels Terrace, Priory Street Coventry, and WILLIAM
STEPHENSON LOUDON, Merchant of Warwick Lane, in the said City of Coventry,
in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to covers or cases for excluding dirt and wet from the
gearing of those velocipedes in which the propelling power is transmitted through
an endless chain running on a driving and a driven toothed wheels and has for its
objects, the facilitation of the attachment and detachment. of the cover, the
prevention of noise and the reduction of weight.
To attain these objects we construct the cover preferably of sheet tin or other
suitable metal or material so as to form a skeleton framework and fill in the spaces
with fine wire gauze, canvas or similar light and silent material and coat the
same with paint, or any other suitable preparation so as to render it dust and
waterproof.
"
"
"
The cover consists of three or more principal parts which, when assembled in
position,, enclose the chain and the two toothed wheels. Instead of both " runs
of the chain being in one chamber, each " run is separately enclosed, so that
there is an outer frame running round the outside of the chain and wheels and an
inner frame running round between the " runs of the chain and between the
wheels. The two frames are connected by suitable side walls of metal,. canvas or
other material as hereinbefore described. One or both ends of the cover or case
is or are so made that it or they may be drawn away lengthwise, thus laying part
of the chain open so that its continuity may be broken. The cover is further
divided, at, each end; the divisions passing from the outer frame through the
apertures left for the wheel centres to the inner frame so that the remainder of the
cover, thus formed into two parts may be drawn away from the gear at right
angles or approximately at right angles to a straight line passing through the
centres of the two wheels.
To detach the cover, one end is removed, the continuity of the chain broken and
then the two or more remaining parts removed. If both ends of the cover be
separately. removable, they may both be removed before severing the chain.
The parts of the cover are fitted to each other and to the velocipede or the like
by any convenient method.
Dated this.6th day of September 1892
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
Applicants' Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Covers or Cases for Excluding Dirt
or Wet from the Gearing of Velocipedes 'or the like.
We, BENJAMIN BARTON, Ironmonger, WALTER HARRY BARTON, Clerk,
both of 3 Saint Michaels Terrace, Priory Street, Coventry, and WILLIAM
STEPHENSON LOUDON, Merchant of Warwick Lane in the said City of Coventry
in the County of Warwick do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to covers or cases for excluding dirt and wet from the
gearing of those velocipedes in which the propelling power is transmitted through
an endless chain running on a driving and a driven toothed wheels and has for its
objects the facilitation of the attachment and detachment of the cover, the
prevention of noise and the reduction of weight.
To attain these objects we construct the cover preferably of sheet tin or tinned
iron or other suitable metal or material so as to form a skeleton framework and
fill in the spaces with fine wire gauze, canvas or similar light and silent material
and coat the same with paint or any other preparation so as to render it dust and
waterproof. To impart the necessary rigidity to the framework we prefer to make
it from strips and roll them with a curved cross section and strengthen with
complete or skeleton side pieces. We cut the filling material to the desired shape
and if of canvas or other non-metallic substance we cement or rivet or otherwise
secure it by its edges to the edges of the framework, but we prefer to use fine
wire gauze and solder its edges within the edges of the framework.
If we use
aluminium, celluloid or other material for the framework which does not readily
permit of soldering, we prefer to use canvas, leather or other non-metallic substance
for the filling material, and if it be not proof against the entry of dirt and wet
we coat it with paint or some similar preparation, preferably not readily dissolvable
in oil, to make it proof against dirt and wet.
י,
22
The cover consists of three or more principal parts which, when assembled in
position, enclose the chain and the two toothed wheels. Instead of both " runs
of the chain being in one chamber, each run is separately enclosed, so that
there is an outer frame running round the outside of the chain and wheels and an
inner frame running round between the " runs "of the chain and between the
wheels. The cover is made of a sufficient width and the frames of the chambers
are preferably curved so as to allow the chain to be properly loose and the runs
thereof to swing, sag or jump without coming in contact with the framework or
sides of the cover. The two frames are connected by suitable side walls of wire
gauze, canvas or other material as hereinbefore described. One or both ends of
the cover or case is or are so made that it or they may be drawn away lengthwise,
thus laying part of the chain open so that its continuity may be broken. The
cover is further divided at each end, the divisions passing from the outer frame
through the apertures left for the wheel centres to the inner frame so that the
remainder of the cover, thus formed into two parts, may be drawn away from the
gear at right angles or approximately at right angles to a straight line passing
through the centres of the two wheels. The said apertures are cut large enough
for the revolving parts of the respective wheel centres to rotate therein without
coming in contact with the edges thereof.
As a modification the cover may be made of only two principal parts. In this
case neither end is detachable separately, but the divisions are made in line with
one another or approximately in line with one another and pass from the outer
frame to the inner frame through each of the two wheel centres. But when
.

page_text: fitting the cover to the usual type of rear driven safety bicycle with chain adjust-
ment at the back fork ends, we prefer to make the cover in three pieces with the
back or smaller end detachable.
22
"
Any convenient means may be adopted for attaching the parts of the cover to
one another and the cover to the velocipede or the like. In the case of a rear
driven safety bicycle in which one of the "back stays crosses between the " runs
of the chain, the said stay will usually pass clear between the two corresponding
chambers of the cover, thus greatly facilitating the attachment and detachment of
the cover.
To detach the cover one end is removed, the continuity of the chain broken and
then the two or more remaining parts are removed. If both ends of the cover be
separately removable, they may both be removed before severing the chain.
In order that our invention may be well understood we append drawings which
show one general form and arrangement of the parts when fitted to a common
design of rear driven safety bicycle, but modifications can be made without
departing from the spirit of our invention. In the drawings similar letters of
reference refer to similar parts.
Figure 1 is a side view in elevation of our invention.
Figure 2 is a side view in elevation of our invention showing the three principal
parts detached from one another.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of our invention and Figure 4 a plan view of
same.
The cover consists of three principal parts, first the upper chamber I, second
the lower chamber 11, and thirdly the detachable end or cap II. These three
parts when assembled in position on the frame J, K, L, L, L, of the machine
enclose the chain D, D', and the toothed wheels E, F. The upper run D of the
chain is enclosed in the upper chamber I and the lower run D₁ is enclosed in the
lower chamber II. The outer frame A, A, C, runs round the outside of
the chain D, D' and wheels E, F and the inner frame B, M, N, B¹; U, V runs
round between the runs of the chain and between the wheels. The cover is made
of a sufficient width and the chamber I and II are made with curved frames A, B,
and A, B, respectively, so as to allow the chain to be properly loose and the runs
thereof to swing, sag or jump without coming in contact with the framework
or sides of the cover. The frames of the chambers I and II are constructed of
strips of tinned iron or other suitable material A, A, B, B'; M, N, U and V
curved in cross section and of strengthening side pieces O, P, Q, R of similar
material. The more sharply curved ends of the framework are preferably made
of separate strips from those bent to the flatter curves and forming the length of
the framework and the ends and lengths are joined together afterwards. being made
of suitable dimensions for that purpose. The spaces between the edges of the
outer and inner frames are filled in with sheets of wire gauze G, cut to shape, so
that their edges overlap the edges of the outer and inner frames, and soldered
in position. The cap III is constructed of a curved strip C and is strengthened by
side pieces C. The side pieces O, P, Q, R and C' may be complete as at Q. R, C
or they may be skeleton as at O, P; when they are skeleton the spaces are filled
in with gauze G' as hereinbefore described with respect to the frames. The
gauz is painted to make it dust and waterproof. The cap III is fitted to the
upper and lower chambers with a telescopic joint c, tongues on the ends of
the chambers fitting into the mouth of the cap; removable screws c', c² pass up
to the head through holes in the cap into corresponding internally screw threaded
lugs secured on the inside of the said tongues. The case is further divided at each
end, the divisions passing from the outer frame A, A, C through the apertures, ',
3,y left for the wheel centres to the inner frame B, M, N, B, U, V. The upper
and lower chambers are fitted together at the divisions with telescopic joints a,,
tongues on the upper chamber 1 fitting into the lower chamber II; removable
screws a, pass up to the head, through holes in the lower chamber II, and a
removable screw a passes up to the head, through a hole in the arm on the

page_text: bracket S, into corresponding internally screw threaded lugs secured on the inside
of the said 'tongues on the upper chamber I.
"
The cover may be attached to the machine, in front by a bracket S secured to
the cover and detachably bolted to the part L of the frame or as shown, to the
crank axle bearing bracket L with screws s, s, and, at the back, to the tubular
menibers J, K of the frame by shaped clips; each of which clips partly, but not
more than half, embraces the part to which it is shaped. The clip K¹ is secured
to the cap and fits on to the back of the tube K. The clips K2 and are
secured to the strengthening piece Q on the upper chamber I, the clip K fits on to
the front of the tube K and the clip ¹ fits on to the upper side of the "back
stay J. The clip is secured to the strengthening piece R on the lower
chamber II and fits on to the under side of the back stay J. The back stay J
crosses between the runs D, D¹ of the chain and passes between the corresponding
chambers of the cover without coming in contact therewith or needing to be fixed
thereto. Clips K³, K are secured to the cap III, to the strengthening piece Q
and to the strengthening piece R, to fit on to the fork end W and exclude dirt
and wet.
The apertures y and are cut large enough for the hub T and chain
wheel boss f to rotate therein without coming in contact with the edges thereof.
The apertures y, y' are left long enough to allow of the adjustment of the chain
and may be so far covered by sliding plates as to prevent the entrance of dirt and
wet but without coming in contact with the hub T. To attach the cover the upper
chamber I, is first placed in position with the clips K, and fitting against the
tube K, fork end W and back stay J, each against each respectively, and the front
end of the chamber enclosing the upper part of the wheel F. The lower
chamber II is next placed in position with the clips fitting against the back
stay J and the fork end W respectively and the front end of the chamber enclosing
the lower part of the wheel F. The lower chamber II is attached to the crank
bracket L by the bracket S within the screws 8. The joints a and telescope
together and the upper and lower chambers are secured to one another by the
screws a', a² and corresponding lugs and by the cap 111, which is lastly fitted on,
with the clip K fitting against the tube K and the clips K³, K, fitting against
the fork end W; the cap telescopes on to the tongues of the joint cand is
secured to the chambers I and II by the screws c', and corresponding lugs. The
chain D, D' may be threaded into the upper and lower parts of the case before
or after they are fitted to the machine, in either case the ends should be at the
back and be united before fitting on the cap II.
To detach the cover, the screws c¹, 2, are removed the cap III detached so as
to expose the chain at the back and the wheels E, F, if necessary, revolved
until the connection Z in the chain becomes accessible when it is disconnected.
The chain may then either be drawn out of or left in the cover. The remaining
screws a¹, a², and s are then removed and the remaining parts of the cover
removed from the gear, the upper one up and the lower one down. If necessary
the slides should be drawn before removing the case. The cover may be attached
in other ways and may also be fitted to other types of velocipedes or the like.
Any convenient means may be adopted for lubricating the gearing; and an
aperture or apertures is or are preferably made in the bottom of the case for the
escape of waste oil or other refuse matter.
We are aware that covers or cases for excluding dirt or wet from the gearing
of velocipedes or the like have already been constructed with separate chambers
for the two runs of the chain, the same being set forth in the Specification of
Harry Andrea and Thomas Hugh Armstrong dated the eighth day of March
1892, and numbered 4569. And we are also aware that such covers or cases
have already been constructed with skeleton 'frameworks and the spaces filled in
with fine wire gauze coated with a suitable enamel, or of other light material, the
same being set forth in the Specification of Joseph Van Hooydouk and Frederick
Nockold dated the 31st day of March 1892 and numbered 6264, and we do not
claim either of these constructions as our invention, but

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:
--
1. In a cover or case for excluding dirt or wet from the gearing of velocipedes
and constructed with separate chambers for the two runs of the chain, dividing
the cover or case from the outer circumference through the apertures for the
wheel centres to the inner circumference and making one or both ends of the cover
detachable, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. Improvements in or relating to covers or cases for excluding dirt or wet from
the gearing of velocipedes or the like substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
Dated this 15th day of May 1893.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
The Central" Office for Inventions,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Applicants' Agent.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
The Central" Office for Inventions,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Applicants' Agent.