Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 7th Jan., 1899
I, GEORGE CADDICK, of Church Avenue Extension, Alleghany, County of
Alleghany, State of l'ennsylvania, United States of America, Piano Tuner, 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:-
-
The following is a description of my invention, reference being had to the
acompanying drawing forming part of this specification in which
Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of my improved bicycle;
Figure 2 is a plan view with part of the upper framework removed;
Figure 3 is a detail view in side elevation of the gearing and enclosing case;
Figure 4 is a central longitudinal section on the line IV, IV;
Figures 5 and
lid in position;
are detail views illustrating the method of securing the case
Figure 7 is a cross section taken through the rear hub, on the line VII, VII
of Figure 3;
Figure 8 is a similar section taken on the line VIII, VIII of same figure
My invention relates to bicycles and has reference to the driving mechanism
by which the machine is propelled.
This mechanism consists of a train of toothed gear wheels, located on each side
of the machine adapted to communicate motion to the driven wheel of the
machine and provided with separate pedal cranks mounted in an enclosing case
which is incorporated with and forms a part of the frame of the machine. The
details of construction and features of novelty and advantage will be hereinafter
set forth.
Primarily the object of my invention is to dispense with the chain gearing of
a bicycle or other foot propelled vehicle, and so substitute therefor a more com-
pact, evenly balanced and dust proof mechanism, whereby the machine is rendered
more efficient in operation and less bulky and cumbersome in construction.
To that end, I employ the duplicate train of intermeshing toothed gear
wheels 2, 3 and 4, the wheels 2 being secured upon the ends or forming a part
of the rear wheel hub which in the form of machine most commonly in use, is
the driven member by which the bicycle is propelled. In the construction shown
in the drawing the wheels 2 are provided with outer hub extensions 5 and inner
extensions 6, such inner extensions being connected to the hub barrel 7 by means
of right and left hand screw joints & so that in the forward travel of the machine
the tendency will be to tighten the joint. The neck of the wheel 2 is turned
down to form a bearing surface 9 for the balls 10, and the entire hub is preferably
more securely held together by means of a bolt 11, having oppositely directed
threads and nuts 12.
When thus constructed the hub of the rear wheel is rigidly and unyieldingly
The wheel 3, intermediate
connected and forms practically a continuous hub.

page_text: between wheels 2 and 4, serves as an idler wheel to convey motion from the driver
to the driven wheel, and by which, it is made to revolve in a forward direction.
The wheels 3 and 4 are made with short projecting journals 13 designed to
form the shafts for such wheels, but preferably made integral therewith, and sur-
rounding the necks of such journals I have employed the bearing thimbles 14 of
hardened metal which form a bearing surface for the balls 10. 15 is an enclosing
case or housing incorporated into the frame of the machine and, forming a part
thereof being joined to the truss members 16, 17 a strengthening brace 17
extending from the top of the case forwardly to the member 17, such case being
made in a form suitable to receive the gearing and furnished with suitable ball
bearing races 18 and perforated to receive the projecting hubs and thimbles.
Upon the outer face of the case 15 is a correspondingly shaped plate 19, also
having ball bearing races 18 and held in position by bolts 20, tapped through the
plate into the bottom of the case and secured by nuts 21. Adjacent to such
securing bolts are adjustable temper screws 22 also tapped into the bottom of the
case and provided with heads 23 slotted so as to be turned by a screw-driver, a
suitable hole 24 being left in the plate 19 for entrance of the screw driver with-
out removing the plate. By these means the outer plate may be very delicately
adjusted so as to control the action of the ball bearings, and when properly set
and adjusted, the entire construction is held rigidly in position, while being free
to operate with a minimum friction.
The enclosing case, when properly made of pressed or cast steel, is very stiff
and light and when so assembled the parts are securely enclosed and protected
from dust or any foreign substance. As will be seen, and readily understood,
the construction is the same on each side, thereby perfectly equalizing the pres-
sure the cranks 25 being keyed or secured to the outer projecting ends 13¹ of the
journals 13, and when set oppositely, will maintain such relative positions by
reason of the controlling effect of the wheels 2 which always maintain the same
relation to each other, and consequently effect such a result in the driving
wheels 4.
It will be understood that the size and number of teeth of the gear wheels may
be made to suit different requirements, thus making the "gear" of the wheel to
any desired degree by regulating the proportions of the driving and driven
pinions
By my improved arrangement of gearing I am enabled to locate the axles of the
driving wheels considerably back of the rim of the rear wheel, the range of foot
revolution being in consequence further back, and thus the bicycle may be con-
siderably shortened, while the construction of the frame is rendered simpler and
cheaper as I am thus enabled to dispense with the usual centre post common to"
diamond frame machines, while employing less material throughout. Changes
and modifications may be made by the skilled mechanic in the design and pro-
portion of the frame, or in the number and arrangement of the gearing, without
departing from my invention, since I do not desire to be limited to the exact
proportions and arrangement shown at the drawing but to include all such
changes as are within the scope of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said-
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a bicycle having a gear casing incorporated with the frame and provided
with a removable plate, and intervening ball bearings for the journals of the
driving gear
carried by the casing and plate respectively, adjusting screws form-
ing bearings for the plate and securing bolts for retaining it in position substan-
tially as set forth.
2. In a bicycle having a gear casing incorporated with the frame and provided
with removable plate, with ball bearing grooves upon the inner faces of the

page_text: casing and plate respectively adjusting screws forming bearings for the plate and
securing bolts for retaining it in position substantially as set forth.
3. In a bicycle the combination of oppositely located gear casings incorporated
with the frame provided with a removable plate, ball bearing grooves upon the
inner faces of the casing and plate respectively, with intervening ball
bearings, pinion wheels, connected with the rear wheel hub mounted
therein, driving gear wheels provided with cranks, and intermeshing intervening
gearing also mounted therein, and adjustable screws upon which the plate bears
and securing bolts for retaining it in position substantially as set forth.
4. A bicycle having oppositely located gear casings incorporated with the frame
each provided with a removable plate ball bearing grooves upon the inner faces
of each casing and plate respectively, pinion wheels connected with the rear
wheel hub by screw threads and a central securing bolt mounted therein, driving
gear wheels provided with cranks, and intermeshing intervening gearing also
mounted therein with means for adjusting the ball bearings substantially as set
forth.
5. In a bicycle provided with gear casings incorporated with the frame on each
side having adjustably secured removable plate, the combination of pedal driven
gearing mounted in each casing on ball bearings formed in the
casing and plate respectively, with intermeshing driven pinion wheels
similarly mounted having inwardly extending hubs connected to the wheel
hub by right and left hand screws, and
stantially as set forth.
Dated this 28th day of November 1898
a connecting central bolt sub-
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.