Improvements in Mechanism for Transmitting Motion from one Wheel or Shaft to another.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Transmitting Motion from one
Wheel or Shaft to another.
I, GILBERT DYKE WANSBROUGH, Solicitor, of 6, Old Change, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by R. Elcock, of Johannesburg) to be as follows:-
According to this invention I employ an endless stream of hard balls for trans-
mitting motion from a wheel or pulley on one shaft to a wheel or pulley on another
in place of using endless chains ropes or driving belts as now usual.
Upon each shaft I fix a disc or wheel the circumference of which is serrated
or cupped to receive steel balls-the cups being deep enough for nearly half of
a ball to lie in-and the cups being at such distances apart that the balls shall
be in contact with each other but yet able to revolve without friction from such
contact.
The width of each disc or wheel is somewhat less than the diameter of the balls,
so that the balls project slightly from each side of it.
The outer circumference of each wheel and the balls which are around it is
enclosed by a circular case around the inner circumference of which is a groove
for the portion of the balls which project from the cups in the wheels to lie in.
The casing is formed with two channels circular in cross section leading out
from it at two points of its circumference these channels being just of a size to
allow the balls to pass through them. The two channels which extend outwards
from the casing of one wheel are connected to the two channels which extend from
the casing of the other wheel by tubes the internal diameter of which is just suf-
ficient to allow the balls to pass through them.
These connecting tubes are filled with balls touching one another and the stream
of balls is continued around the circumference of each wheel in such manner as
to form one endless stream.
When one or other wheel is turned the endless stream of balls is thereby caused
to revolve and the thrust of the stream of balls passing from this wheel to the other
causes this other wheel to be revolved also.
Where the balls pass from the cups in the circumference of a wheel to one of
the channels branching from it guide plates situated on either side of the wheel
at this point are used to ensure that the balls shall pass out through the branch
channel and not be carried on beyond it by the wheel.
Each connecting tube is formed with a short length in it at one point in its
length which can readily be taken out to allow of the balls being readily put in
or taken out.
This arrangement for driving one wheel from another is especially applicable
for bicycles as the whole of the gearing can easily be rendered dust proof.
Dated this 5th day of July 1897.

page_text: Improvements in Mechanism for Transmitting Motion from one
Wheel or Shaft to another.
I, GILBERT DYKE WANSBROUGH, Solicitor, of 6, Old Change, in the City of
London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been communi-
cated to me from abroad by R. Elcock, of Johannesburg), and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
According to this invention I employ an endless stream of hard balls for trans-
mitting motion from a wheel or pulley on one shaft to a wheel or pulley on another
in place of using endless chains ropes or driving. belts as now usual.
Upon each shaft I fix a disc or wheel the circumference of which is serrated
or cupped to receive steel balls the cups being deep enough for nearly half of
a ball to lie in-and the cups being at such distances apart that the balls shall
be in contact with each other but yet able. to revolve without friction from such
contact.**
*#
The width of each disc or wheel is somewhat less than the diameter of the balls,
so that the balls project slightly from each side of it.
The outer circumference of each wheel and the balls which are around it is
enclosed by a circular case around the inner circumference of which is a groove
for the portion of the balls which project from the cups in the wheels to lie in.
The casing is formed with two channels circular in cross section leading out
from it at two points of its circumference these channels being just of a size to
allow the balls to pass through them. The two.channels which extend outwards
fom the casing of one wheel are connected to the two channels which extend from
the casing of the other wheel by tubes the internal diameter of which is just suf-
ficient to allow the balls to pass through them.
These connecting tubes are filled with balls touching one another and the stream.
of balls is continued around the circumference of each wheel in such manner as
to form one endless stream.
When one or other wheel is turned the endless stream of balls is thereby caused
to revolve and the thrust of the stream of balls passing from this wheel to the other
causes this other wheel to be revolved also.
Where the balls pass from the cups in the circumference of a wheel to one of
the channels branching from it guide plates situated on either side of the wheel
at this point are used to ensure that the balls shall pass out through the branch
channel and not be carried on beyond it by the wheel.
Each connecting tube is formed with a short length in it at one point in its
length which can readily be taken out to allow of the balls being 'readily put in
or taken out.
This arrangement for driving one wheel from another is especially applicable
for bicycles as the whole of the gearing can easily be rendered dust proof.
The drawings annexed show the invention as applied to the driving and driven
wheel of a bicycle.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section, Figure 2 a side view, Figure 3 a plan, and
Figure 4 a section on the line 1, 1, Figure 1, and Figure 5 a section on the
line 2, 2.
1
a and b are steel rings to be secured to discs or wheels upon shafts c d-the
circumferences of the rings are cupped to receive balls e. The outer circumference
of the ring a and the balls which are around it is enclosed by a case of around the
inner circumference of which is a groove (Figure 3) for the portion of the balls

page_text: which project from the cups to lie in. The case f is attached to the frame of
the machine by means of fugs f¹ f¹. The holes through the lugs may be made
oblong to allow of adjustment. Similarly the ring b is enclosed by a case g
secured to the frame by means of lugs g' g¹.
Each of the casings f g of the rings a and b is formed with two channels h h,
ii, circular in cross section leading out from it. The two channels hh, extending
from the one casing are connected to the two channels ii, extending from the
other by tubes kk, and 1, which are connected together by bolts m m and n n.
Guide plates o and pp are secured by screw pins or rivets to the cases f and
which guide the balls in a straight course as they pass from the wheels to the
tubes or from the tubes to the wheels.
T which
At the points of juncture of the tubes spaces are left filled by rings
are secured in place by the bolts m m and n n already mentioned. By these means
the balls can readily be put in or taken out. Adjustment can also be obtained
by using wider or narrower rings as may be required to keep the balls touching
one another.
By transmitting motion from one wheel to another in the above way great
durability of all the parts can be obtained as they can all be hardened and all
wear on the balls will be uniform as the points of contact on each ball through
which the pressure or force is conveyed are continually changing.
As also the transmission of motion is effected by compression instead of tension
no stretching can take place as with a belt or endless chain and consequently
there will be no backlash.
Friction also is reduced to a minimum as each ball is able to revolve or roll on
any part it comes in contact with and the balls form an endless circuit free from
all friction arising from joints or rivets.
The working parts are for the most part entirely enclosed and the enclosing
parts can easily be rendered dustproof.
When this method of transmitting motion is applied to a bicycle the bearings
of the pedal axis are relieved from downward thrust from the foot.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Transmitting motion from one wheel or shaft to another by an endless stream
of balls which pass from recesses formed around one to recesses formed around
the other.
2. The combination of two wheels having cupped recesses around their circum-
ference a ring or case extending around each wheel and two tubes extending
from one case to the other and forming with them an endless race for a stream of
balls.
3. The construction of mechanism for transmitting motion from one wheel or
shaft to another substantially as described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
Dated this 14th day of March 1898.
GILBERT D. WANSBROUGH.