Improvements in and relating to Driving Mechanism for Bicycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 16th Apr.. 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Driving Mechanism for Bicycles.
I, MICHAEL MCANENY, Machinist, of 3,337, Larimer Street, Denver, in the County
of Arapahoe, State of Colorado, United States of America, 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: .
My invention relates to improvements in bicycles and comprises a differential speed
gear, means for housing and controlling the gear and means for connecting the gear
with the rear axle, all as hereinafter described and claimed, reference being made to
the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.
In this drawing
1
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle equipped with my improvements.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device for shifting the clutch pin.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on the line x-x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line y-y, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is a section taken through the rear axle.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view in detail of one of the clutch members.
Fig. 7 is a face view of the same.
Similar reference characters indicating corresponding parts in these views, let the
numeral 5 designate a dust proof casing or housing for the nest of gears. This casing
comprises the upper or stationary part 5 having thimbles for the reception of the
frame bars 6, 7 and 8, which are brazed thereto; and the lower or detachable part 5°
secured to the stationary part by screws or other suitable fastening devices passing
through coinciding apertures formed in suitable flanges with which the casing parts
are provided.
Journaled in the upper part 5 of this casing is the crank shaft 9, upon whose central
tapering portion is mounted a gear wheel 10, which is keyed or otherwise made
fast to the shaft. This gear wheel is further secured in place by a nut 12
screwed on the shaft to engagement with the hub of the gear. The crank shaft
is further provided with two pairs of cones screwed upon the threaded portion thereof;
the respective cones of each pair are designated by the numerals 13 and 14. Screwed
into horizontal sleeves 5d of the casing, which are interiorly threaded for the purpose,
are the grooved bearings 15 which co-operate with the cones in holding the
small balls 16 in place. The cones, when adjusted, are held in place by locking
nuts 17 and 18 respectively.
Directly below the crank shaft, and journaled in the casing between the two parts
thereof, is the clutch sleeve or shaft 19, upon whose central enlarged portion is keyed
a pinion 20, meshing with the gear 10 of the crank shaft. Also mounted on the sleeve 19,
and engaging shoulders on each side of its enlarged central portion, are the female
clutch members 21, each having a series of recesses 21ª adapted to receive a pin 22
passed through a slot in the sleeve and adapted to slide therein to engagement with
either clutch member for the purpose hereinafter specified.
These clutch members are shouldered and their reduced portions are threaded to
receive gears 23 and 24 respectively. These gears are of different size, the gear 23
being the larger. Their hubs surround the clutch members and they are located

page_text: close to the pinion 20 on either side thereof. The gears are fast on the clutches, the
latter being normally loose on the sleeve. The clutch members may, of course; be
formed integral with the gears if desired. When the clutch pin 22 occupies a
central position, as shown in the drawing, it lies between two clutches and engages
neither. In this case, the sleeve moves independently of the gears, which have no
motion. It is evident, however, that by shifting the clutch pin to engagement with
the clutch members, either gear may be made to rotate with the sleeve. The clutch
pin is composed of a flat piece of metal of sufficient width to nearly fill the space
between the clutch members. The slot 19* of the clutch sleeve is considerably
longer than the width of the pin, its length being sufficient to allow the pin to
slide in either direction to engagement with the recesses of the clutch.
Screwed upon the threaded extremities of the sleeve 19 are two pairs of cones,
whose members are designated by the numerals 27 and 28 respectively: Co-operating
with each pair of cones is a grooved bearing 29 screwed into sleeves 58 formed on
the casing. The bearing balls 30 are located between the cones and the parts 29. The
inner cones engage shoulders formed on the clutch sleeve and are located just outside
of the clutch members; their thickness is such that they project beyond their
engaging shoulders and engage the clutch members locking them securely in
place.
The gears 23 and 24 mesh with two gears 25 and 26 respectively. These last
named gears are mounted upon and made fast to a hollow shaft 47 journaled in the
casing between the two parts thereof, its center being in the same horizontal plane
with the center of the shaft 19. The extremities of the shaft 47 are threaded to
receive two pairs of cones, the members of each pair being designated by the
numerals 31 and 32 respectively. The balls 33, engaging these cones, are held
in place by an outer bearing 34 screwed into sleeves 5 formed on the casing.
In the open extremities of the hollow shaft 47 are inserted and fastened cylindrical
projections 35 formed on the cranks 35 at right angles to the latter. The fastening
devices consist of two pins 4 passed at right angles through co-inciding apertures
formed in the hollow shaft and each projection 35. These pins also lock the
gears 25 and 26 on the shaft. The outer extremities of the cranks 35 are provided
with wrists 36, to which are attached the forward extremities of the connecting
rods 37, by means of ball bearings 38. The rear extremities of these rods are
similarly attached to cranks 48 having stems 48* inserted and fastened in the open
extremities, of the hollow hub 39 of the rear wheel, by means of pins 4 passing
through apertures formed in the stems and hub. A cone 40 is screwed on each
crank stem 48". The balls 41 are located between the cones and shoulders formed
ou the hub. The balls are surrounded by an outer casing 42, fast on the frame.
When the clutch pin 22 is in the central position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the
clutch sleeve turns loosely on its bearings when the crank shaft is rotated, and conse-
quently, no movement is imparted to the bicycle. This position of the clutch pin is
adapted for coasting, since the machine may run without moving the crank shaft;
hence, the feet may rest on the pedals without movement. The clutch pin 22 is
fastened to a shifting device 43, consisting of a stem or short rod adapted to telescope
or move end-wise within the clutch sleeve. The outer extremity of this stem is
adapted to receive the forked extremity 44" of a crank 44, made fast to the lower
extremity of a rod 45 movably mounted on the frame, the upper extremity of said
rod being located within easy reach of the rider when mounted. By turning the
rod 45 in one direction, the device 43 may be moved sufficiently to cause the clutch
pin 22 to engage the clutch member 21. When this occurs, the rotation of the
crank shaft imparts movement to the bicycle, since the gear 10 meshing with the
pinion 20 rotates the clutch sleeve, causing the gear 24 to turn, the last named gear
being fast on the clutch member. The gear 24 meshing with the gear 26 rotates the
shaft 21 and imparts movement to the rear wheel through the medium of the con-
necting rods and the cranks attached thereto. The size of the gear 24 in this case
determines the speed of the machine as the crank shaft is rotated. If a greater
speed is desired for a given rotation of the crank shaft, the clutch pin is again shifted

page_text: and made to engage the clutch 21. In this case, motion will be imparted to the
gear 23 which engages the small gear 25 on the shaft 27.
By means of this construction, the rider may adapt the gear to the condition of
the road on which he is riding. He may have the lower gear while climbing hills,
the higher gear on level ground and no gear at all while going down hill or coasting.
Hence, the advantages of this mechanism will be readily understood.
Each connecting rod 37 is composed of two parts connected by a turn buckle 49
through the instrumentality of which the length of the rods may be controlled and
regulated or adjusted at will.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a bicycle gear, the combination with a casing mounted upon the frame, of a
crank shaft journaled therein, a gear centrally mounted thereon, and made fast
thereto, a slotted clutch sleeve also journaled in the casing and having shoulders on
each side of its center, which is enlarged, a pinion fast on the central portion of the
sleeve, a clutch member loosely mounted on the sleeve and engaging each shoulder
thereof, said clutch members being provided with recesses adapted to coincide with
the slot in the sleeve, a pin passing through the slot in the sleeve and adapted to
slide to engagement with the clutch members, gears of unequal size applied to the
respective clutch members, means for shifting the clutch pin to engagement with either
clutch member as desired, means for holding the clutch members and their respective
gears in place upon the sleeve, another shaft journaled in the casing and carrying
fast gears meshing with the gears on the clutch sleeve, and means for connecting the
last named shaft with the rear wheel, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a casing mounted on the bicycle frame, of a crank shaft
journaled therein and a gear fast on said shaft, a clutch sleeve also journaled in the
casing and having a shoulder on each side of its enlarged central portion, said sleeve
being provided with a slot extending through the enlarged portion and beyond the
shoulders on either side, a pinion keyed on the central portion of the sleeve and
meshing with the gear on the crank shaft, a clutch member loosely mounted on the
sleeve and engaging the shoulder on each side of the center, said members being
recessed to co-incide with the slot extremities, a pin passed through the slot in the
sleeve and adapted to slide to engagement with either clutch member, differential
gears mounted on the respective clutch members and made fast thereto, means for
shifting the clutch pin to engagement with either clutch member, another shaft
journaled in the casing and carrying fast gears meshing with the differential gears on
the sleeve, and rods for connecting cranks on the last named shaft with cranks on
the hub of the rear wheel, which is journaled in the frame, substantially as
described.
3. In a bicycle gear, the combination with a suitable casing, the crank shaft
journaled therein and the gear made fast on said shaft, of the slotted clutch sleeve
journaled in the casing, a pinion made fast to the central portion of said sleeve and
meshing with the gear on the crank shaft, a pin passed through the slot in the sleeve,
a clutch member loosely mounted on the sleeve on each side of the pinion and having
recesses adapted to coincide with the extremities of the slot in the sleeve, differential
gears carried by the respective clutch members, another shaft journaled in the
casing and carrying fast gears meshing with the differential gears on the sleeve, a stem
attached to the clutch pin and telescoping in the clutch sleeve, and suitable means
connected with the outer extremity of said stem for shifting the pin, substantially as
described.
4. In a bicycle gear, the combination of a suitable casing and the crank shaft
journaled therein, of the gear made fast on the shaft, the clutch shaft journaled in the
casing and carrying a sliding device for locking the gears thereon, a pinion fast on the
clutch shaft and meshing with the gear on the crank shaft, two gears of unequal size
loosely mounted on said clutch shaft, one being located on each side of the pinion and

page_text: 1
each being adapted to engage the locking device when the latter is properly adjusted,
means for shifting the locking device to engagement with either gear, a third shaft
journaled in the casing, gears fast on the last named shaft and meshing with, the
gears on the clutch shaft and suitable means for connecting the third shaft with the
rear wheel.
:
5. In a bicycle gear, the combination with the casing mounted on the frame, of a
crank shaft journaled therein, a gear mounted thereon and made fast thereto, a slotted
sleeve journaled in the casing, a pinion fast on the sleeve, a clutch member loosely
mounted on the sleeve on each side of the pinion, a pin passing through the slot in
the sleeve and adapted to slide to engagement with the clutch members, gears of
unequal size applied to the respective clutch members, means for shifting the clutch
pin to engagement with either clutch member as desired, another shaft journaled in
the casing and carrying fast gears meshing with the gears on the clutch sleeve, and
means for connecting the last named shaft with the rear wheel.
6. The combination with a casing, of a crank shaft journaled therein, a gear fast
thereon, a shaft 19 also journaled on the casing and having two separated shoulders,
said shaft being provided with a slot located between and extending beyond the said
shoulders on either side, a pinion fast on the shaft between the two shoulders and
meshing with the gear on the crank shaft, clutch gears differing in size engaging the
shoulders on the shaft 19 and located on 'each side of the pinion, said gears having
recesses adapted to coincide with the extremities of the slot in the said shaft, a pin
engaging the slot in the shaft and adapted to slide to engagement with either clutch
gear, suitable means for shifting the clutch pin to engagement with each clutch gear,
another shaft also journaled in the casing, and gears fast thereon and meshing with
the gears on the shaft 19.
7. In a speed gear, the combination with a suitable support, of a shaft journaled
therein and having two separated shoulders, said shaft having a slot formed between
the said shoulders and projecting beyond the same, a gear or pinion fast on the shaft
between the shoulders, and clutch gears loosely mounted respectively on opposite
sides of said pinion and engaging the shoulders on said shaft, said gears having
recesses adapted to coincide with the extremities of the slot in the shaft, a pin
engaging said slot, and means for shifting this pin to engagement with either clutch
gear.
8. In a speed gear, the combination with a suitable casing, of three shafts 9; 19
and 47 journaled therein, a gear fast on the shaft 9, a pinion fast on the shaft. 19 and
meshing with the gear on the shaft 9, two gears of unequal size loosely mounted on
the shaft 19 on each side of the pinion, adjustable means for locking either gear on
the shaft 19 at will, and two gears fast on the shaft 47 and meshing with the gears
on the shaft 19.
9. In a bicycle, the combination with a casing mounted on the frame of the
machine, of a pedal shaft journaled therein, a gear fast on said shaft, another shaft
also journaled in the casing, a pinion mounted on the last named shaft and meshing
with the gear on the crank shaft, a gear also mounted on the pinion shaft, a third
shaft journaled in the casing, a gear made fast on the last named shaft and meshing
with the gear on the pinion shaft, the third shaft being provided with two cranks,
two other cranks attached to the hub of one of the bicycle wheels, and rods connecting
the cranks on the third shaft with the cranks on the wheel hub..
10. In a speed gear for bicycles, the combination with a bicycle frame, of a two
part casing, one part of which is made fast to the frame, three shafts 9, 19 and 47
journaled therein, the casing being divided on the center line of the shafts 19 and 47,
half of the bearings for the shaft journals being on each section of the casing, a gear
mounted on the shaft 9, a pinion mounted on the shaft 19 and meshing with the
gear on the shaft 9, a gear mounted on the shaft 19 to one side of the pinion, and a
gear mounted on the shaft 47 and meshing with the gear on the shaft 19.
11. The combination with a bicycle frame, of a two part casing, one part of which
is made fast to the frame of the machine, the other part being detachably connected
with the stationary part, a nest of co-operating gears enclosed by the casing, three

page_text: shafts journaled in the casing and upon which the gears are mounted, the casing
being divided on the center line of two of the shafts whereby as one part of the casing
is detached, the two shafts and the gears mounted thereon may be removed.
12. In a speed gear for bicycles, the combination with the frame, of a casing
composed of two parts 5ª and 5c, the part 5* being made fast to the frame bars and
the part 5° detachably connected with the part 5", three shafts 9, 19 and 47 journaled
in said casing, the shaft 9 being the crank shaft and journaled in the casing part 5ª
the casing being divided on the center line of the shafts 19 and 47, a gear 10
mounted on the shaft 9, a pinion mounted on the shaft 19 and meshing with the
gear 10, a gear 23 mounted on the shaft 19 to one side of the pinion, a gear mounted
on the shaft 47 and meshing with the gear 23, and propelling rods connecting short
cranks on the shaft 47 with short cranks on the hub of the rear wheel.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1897.