Improvements in Gear Cases for Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1896-Accepted. 19th Dec.
TUNAD
UATION.
Improvements in Gear Cases for Velocipedes.
We, HY. FEARNCOMBE & Co. LIMITED of Phoenix Japan Works, Wolver-
hampton, in the County of Stafford Japanners and Workers in Tin Plates, Brass
and Copper and ABSALOM EVANS, Fereman at Phoenix Japan Works,
Wolverhampton, aforesaid do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The said invention consists of a gear case for bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes the parts of which are constructed and combined in the manner
hereinafter described.
We will describe the said invention in connection with the gearing of a safety
bicycle.
The said case consists of two nearly symmetrical halves jointed together at one
end after the manner in which the parts of a hinged measuring rule are jointed.
When the two parts are opened upon their hinge they can be passed over the
chain and chain wheels of the bicycle and when closed form a flat approximately
air tight case which encloses the said chain and chain wheels.
Near the front or larger end of the case is a circular opening through which the
crank axle passes and at the other or back end is an oval opening through and in
which the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle passes and works. This oval hole
is provided with sliding pieces which together form a circular opening and by the
adjustment of these pieces the distance between the two axes consequent on the
tightening of the chain is accommodated. There are holes on opposite sides of
the case for the branch of the fork of the rear wheel to pass through. These last
named openings and the front circular opening are provided with india rubber or
the like at their edges for the purpose of making a practically air tight contact
with the fork and crank axle.
Each half of the case is made of two symmetrical parts joined by soldering or
otherwise and the inner edges of the halves of the case which abut against
each other when the case is in position on the bicycle are strengthened by means
of beading and are made to close approximately air tight by interlocking edges.
The front or opening end of the case is provided with a catch fastening by
which the ends of the case are secured together.
One or more openings with covers may be made in the case for the purpose of
facilitating the lubrication of the wheels and chain.
The application of the said invention to velocipedes other than safety bicycles
differs in no essential respect from its application to a safety bicycle as herein before
described.
Dated this Eighteenth day of March 1804
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We, HY. FEARNCOMBE & Co. LIMITED of Phoenix Japan Works, Wolver-
hampton, in the County of Stafford, Japanners and Workers in Tin Plates, Brass
and Copper and ABSALOM EVANS, Foreman at Phoenix Japan Works,
Wolverhampton, aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The said invention consists of a gear case for bicycles, tricycles and other
velocipedes the parts of which are constructed and combined in the manner
hereinafter described.
We will describe the said invention in connection with the gearing of a safety
bicycle.
The said case consists of two nearly symmetrical halves jointed together at one
end after the manner in which the parts of a hinged measuring rule are jointed.
When the two parts are opened upon their hinge they can be passed over the
chain and chain wheels of the bicycle and when closed form a flat approximately
air tight case which encloses. the said chain and chain wheels.
Near the front or larger end of the case is a circular opening through which
the crank axle passes and at the other or back end is an oval opening through and
in which the axle of the rear wheel of the bicycle passes and works. This oval
hole is provided with sliding pieces which together form a circular opening and by
the adjustment of these pieces the distance between the two axes consequent on.
the tightening of the chain is accommodated. There are holes on opposite sides
of the case for the branch of the fork of the rear wheel to pass through. These
last named openings and the front circular opening are provided with india rubber
or the like at their edges for the purpose of making a practically air tight and
dust proof contact with the fork and crank axle. The said junction is noiseless on
the working of the velocipede.
Each half of the case is made of two symmetrical parts joined by soldering or
otherwise or is made in one piece and the inner edges of the halves of the case
which abut against each other, when the case is in position on the bicycle, are
strengthened by means of beading and are made to close approximately air
tight by interlocking edges. The front or opening end of the case is provided
with a snap or other fastening by which the ends of the case are secured
together.
One or more openings with covers may be made in the case for the purpose of
facilitating the lubrication of the wheels and chain.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in front elevation a gear
case for a safety bicycle containing the improvements constituting the said
invention;
Figure 2 is an elevation of the larger end of the same;
Figure 3 is a cross section on the dotted line x, x Figure 1 and
Figure 4 is a cross section on the dotted line y, y Figure 1;
Figure 5 is an elevation of the rear side of a portion of the case :
Figure 6 is a front elevation (partly in section) of the gear case partially
open.
Figures 7 and 8 represent a gear case constructed according to a modification of
the said invention hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the drawings.

page_text: We will first describe the gear case Figures 1 to 6 both inclusive.
The said gear case consists of two symmetrical or nearly symmetrical halves
marked respectively a, a jointed together preferably at their smaller ends by a
joint b which permits the upper half a' of the case to be thrown back until the
meeting edges of the two halves of the case are in line. The case is represented
partially open in Figure 6. Near the front or larger ends of the two half cases
and at opposite points in the meeting edges are semi-circular openings c, c which
when the case is closed constitute the holes in the sides of the case for the crank
axle of the bicycle to pass through. The edges of the said holes e are provided
with a lining e preferably of india rubber. The meeting edges of the two halves
of the case have near their jointed ends cut away parts which when the case is
closed constitute the oval opening d in the front of the case for the axle of the
rear wheel; and the oval opening in the rear side of the case for the end of the
hub of the rear wheel to pass through. The front end of the case is provided
with a snap fastening f, for securing the two halves of the case together when
closed. The meeting edges of the two halves a, a' of the case are provided with
flanges w, w which interlock when the case is closed as will be best understood by
reference to Figure 3.
In the rear side of the case is a slot or opening g and in the front side of the
ease is a slot or opening & through which the branch of the chain stay fork passes
when the case is applied to the bicycle. The said openings are made practically
air tight or dust proof by india rubber or like flanges e, which fit close on the
tubular branch of the chain stay fork passing through the openings.
The oval opening d at the front side of the case is contracted or nearly closed
by an adjustable slide i working in guides m, m on the said front side of the case
and the oval opening d" at the rear side is contracted or nearly closed by
adjustable slides k, working in guides I, 1 on the rear side of the case (see
Figure 5).
The case is fixed rigidly in position on the bicycle by a detachable clip n, shown
in position in Figures 1 and 4, which clip is fitted on the branch of the back stay
fork. The case is attached to the clip by screw pins p, p passed through holes in
the front side of the case and through slots in the said clip and taking into screwed
holes p2, p in the rear side of the case as seen in Figure 4.
A lubricating hole is provided in the upper edge of the case through which
oil may be supplied to the chain. An excess of oil or dirty oil which may drop
from the chain escapes through a small hole made at the lowest point in the edge
of the case.
In applying the case to the bicycle it is fully opened, that is, the upper half is
in its turned back position, and the lower half is placed in position on the bicycle
frame. The upper half is then turned on the joint 6 over the lower half and the
two halves are locked together by the fastening. The screws p, p are then
passed through the holes in the front of the case and made to pass through the
slots in the clip n, which has been previously fixed on the branch of the back stay
fork, the said screws taking in the screwed holes p³, p' in the rear side of the
case. The slide i is closed on the axle of the back wheel and the slides k, k
are closed on the part of the hub of the back wheel occupying the oval
opening in the rear side of the case. The case is thus closed practically dust
proof.
For facility in examining the chain from time to time without detaching the
case from the bicycle we prefer to make the front end separate from the two halves
of the case as is represented in Figures 7 and 8 the said front end or closing cap
being jointed preferably to the lower half of the case.
a' represents the front end or cap of the case jointed at t to the lower half a of
the case.
When the two halves a, a' of the case are closed the jointed end or
cap a is brought into position and fixed by the screws (see Figure 7) passing
through a hole in the top of the part a' and taking into a screwed hole made in
the half a' of the case; u is the hole in the lower half a of the case through

page_text: which dirty oil or an excess of oil introduced into the case in lubricating the chain
⚫escapes.
In other respects the gear case Figures 7. and 8 resembles the gear case
Figures 1 to 6 both inclusive and like parts in. the two cases, are marked with the,
same letters of reference.
The application of the improvements constituting the said invention to gear
cases for tricycles and other chain driven velocipedes differs in no essential respect
from their application to the gear case of a safety bicycle as hereinbefore described
and represented.
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 we claim as
the said invention of "Improvements in gear cases for velocipedes ";-
First. Constructing gear cases for velocipedes of two symmetrical or nearly
symmetrical halves jointed together preferably at their rear ends the meeting
edges having cut away parts which form when the case is closed the openings for
the axles of the driving chain and rear wheels of the bicycle and for, the branch
of the chain stay fork to pass through the uncutaway parts of the edges being
arranged to interlock substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 1 to 6 both inclusive of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. Constructing gear cases for velocipedes mainly of two symmetrical or
nearly symmetrical halves jointed together at. their rear ends and the combination
with the front open end of the jointed halves of a closing end or cap jointed to one
of the said halves and fastened to the other half when closed substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying
-drawings.
Dated the Twenty-third day of October 1896
HY. FEARNCOMBE & CO. LIMD.,
CHAS. HOULT, Managing Director.
HERBERT C. HOULT, Director.
ABSALOM EVANS.