Improved Driving Chain for Cycles and other purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1894-Accepted, 4th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Driving Chain for Cycles and other purposes.
We, WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY, of Tranmere Street, Ward Street, Hulme,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic, HENRY BRERETON
NEWBOLD, of City Road, Hulme, Manchester, aforesaid, Cycle Dealer, JOHN
HAMILTON BRINDLE of Russell Street, Moss Side, Manchester, aforesaid,
Gentleman, ARTHUR TAYLOR NEWBOLD, of Springs, Bury, in the county
aforesaid, Gentleman and JAMES MASON, of Elton Road, Elton, Bury, aforesaid,
Sanitary Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
In constructing our chain we provide for each link two flat straps or side plates
of metal countersunk at each end and having a hole through each countersunk
part. We then make a spindle or axle with a larger circumference in its centre
than its ends forming shoulders thereon to keep the side plates of links when
joined together extended and in their proper position. On the centre of this
spindle or axle we place loosely a hardened steel ball of the required size having a
hole through its centre for the spindle or axle to pass and permit the ball to rotate
freely thereon. The ends of each link are then joined together by rivetting or
otherwise the ends of the spindles or axles and this operation being repeated for
each link forms a continuous chain all one width. We may or may not bush the
balls if we do the spindles or axles will all be one circumference.
Dated this Eighth day of August 1893.
W. H. BAILEY.
HENRY B. NEWBOLD.
JOHN HAMILTON BRINDLE.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Driving Chain for Cycles and other purposes.
We, WILLIAM HENRY BAILEY, of Tranmere Street, Ward Street, Hulme,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanic, HENRY BRERETON
NEWBOLD, of City Road, Hulme, Manchester, aforesaid, Cycle Dealer, JOHN
HAMILTON BRINDLE, of Russell Street, Moss Side, Manchester, aforesaid,
Gentleman, ARTHUR TAYLOR NEWBOLD, of Springs, Bury, in the county
aforesaid, Gentleman, and JAMES MASON, of Elton Road, Elton, Bury, aforesaid,
Sanitary 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 :-
This invention relates to driving chains such as are used for gearing together
the pedals and driving wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and other similar vehicles
and also for gearing together the driving and driven wheels in many classes of
machinery.
It is designed to provide a chain the parts or links of which will work with less
friction over the teeth of the wheels with which they come in contact and the parts
of which will work with less friction upon each other when moving.
It consists essentially in constructing the chains with balls placed upon the cross
studs, links, or pins which connect the side or longitudinal links together and which
are loose and free to rotate thereon.

page_text: It will be rany described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Front elevation partly in section.
Fig. 2. Side elevation of same in section.
Fig. 3. Front elevation partly in section, of modified form of chain.
Fig. 4. Side elevation of same, partly in section.
Fig. 5. Sectional elevation showing modified form of stud or rivet B.
Fig. 6. Sectional elevation showing another modification of same with a bush or
sleeve D.
The side or longitudinal links A of the chain are constructed in the usual way
with rivet holes a therein to receive the transverse studs or rivets B by which they
are connected together and which form the cross links. On each of the transverse
studs B is placed a small ball C which engages with the teeth of the wheels over
which the chain passes.
The balls C are preferably made of hardened steel of any required size with a
hole through the centre to receive the axle or stud B.
The formation of the balls C creates less friction on the teeth of the wheels
and against the sides of the links A as only a small bearing surface is presented
to the tooth and the ball can rotate freely on the pin, than is the case with the
rollers or blocks which have hitherto been employed in the construction of chains
for similar purposes. A further advantage of the employment of the balls C is
that there being only the central bearing upon the tooth of the wheel and not a
relatively long flat bearing the chain is capable of a twisting or sideways move-
ment upon the teeth of the wheel without engendering the heavy friction which
would arise with a flat surface; by this means the very serious drawbacks at
present arising if the two chain wheels are not in proper alignment are to a
considerable extent obviated, as the chain can accommodate itself in a way which
it could not do where the old style of pins, blocks, or collars was employed.
The studs or rivets B may be formed of the same diameter throughout their
length the parts being held in their relative position by their juxtaposition to each
other, or the stud or rivet B may be made of larger diameter at the centre than at
the ends with small shoulders against which the side links bear to prevent one
part pressing against the other. With either of these arrangements of stud or
rivet B a friction bush or sleeve D may be employed to further reduce friction in
the movement of the ball C.
The plates A are preferably half-cheeked into each other but the precise
arrangement of the plates A and studs B is immaterial.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the chain is represented as what is known as a long link chain
in which one tooth of the chain wheel passes between each pair of the transverse
studs or rivets B.
In Figs. 3 and 4 the construction is the same but the arrangement of chain is
similar to that known as the short link block or Humber pattern chain in
which the transverse studs or rivets B are arranged in pairs, the chain being
adapted to receive one tooth of the wheel between each pair of studs and balls
whereas in the former case there was only one stud and ball between each pair of
teeth of the wheel.
In Fig. 5 the studs or rivets B are shown with the ends reduced to form
shoulders for the side plates A to bear against.
In Fig. 6 a friction bush or sleeve is shown on the stud B interposed between it
and the ball C to further reduce friction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A driving chain for cycles and other machinery constructed with balls placed
loosely on the transverse studs or rivets and free to rotate thereon between the
longitudinal links substantially as described.
2. In a driving chain for cycles and other machinery the combination with

page_text: the longitudinal links A, and transverse studs B of balls C placed loosely on the
- latter and free to rotate thereon with or without a friction bush D substantially as
described.
Dated him on ..
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.