Certain Improvements in Gear Cases for Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 13th N.v., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Aug., 1895-Accepted, 14th Sept., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Gear Cases for Bicycles and other
Velocipedes.
We,
SAM THOMAS RICHARDSON, of 34, Rea Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Cycle Manufacturer, and ALFRED SMALLWOOD, of Globe Metal Works, Small-
heath, Birmingham, Metal Merchant, and RICHARD PRICE, of 34, Rea Street,
aforesaid, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference to gear cases which are used on safety bicycles and
other velocipedes to cover the gear wheels and the endless driving chain to protect
the same from dirt and dust and to form the oil container and to ensure proper
lubrication of the moving parts of the gearing.
In carrying cut this invention we make those parts of the gear cases which cover
the two portions of the driving chain between the gear wheels, in the form. of two
light thin metal or other tubes of round or other shape in cross section, arranged
one above the other, so that the upper part of the driving chain is contained in and
runs through the upper tube, and the lower part of the driving chain is contained
in and runs through the lower tube. The ends of the two tubes terminate in and
are connected to sheet metal or other rounded end parts of the case which enclose
the gear wheels. One of these end parts of the gear case is by preference made
disc-like with a trough section or other rim or flange to enclose the gear wheel, and
the other end part of the gear case is by preference made in the form of a round
ended hollow cap, also by preference made of trough section to enclose the other
gear wheel. This cap fits and slides on to the ends of the tubes and can readily
be removed to enable the chain to be examined and can also be moved along the
tubes nearer to or farther from the other end of the case when the tension of the
chain is being adjusted.
The said tubular parts may be lined with leather, india rubber, cork, canvas or
other suitable substance so as to prevent any noise if the chain should touch the
inside of the tube.
By making the gear case as above described it is much lighter than heretofore
and also forms a better oil container for the lubrication of the moving parts of the
gear.
By the word "tubes" we mean and include tubes of all kinds whether made of
metal, cane, wood, cardboard, stiffened canvas or other suitable substance or material
or combination of the same.
Dated this 9th day of November 1901
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Certain Improvements in Gear Cases for Bicycles and other
Velocipedes.
We, SAM THOMAS RICHARDSON, of 3ª Rea Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Cycle Manufacturer, and ALFRED SMALLWOOD, of Globe Metal Works, Small-
heath, Birmingham, Metal Merchant, and RICHARD PRICE, of 3ª Rea Street,
aforesaid, Cycle Manufacturer, 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 has reference to gear cases which are used on safety bicycles and
other velocipedes to cover the gear wheels and the endless driving chain to protect
the same from dirt and dust and to form the oil container and to ensure proper
lubrication of the moving parts of the gearing.
By making the said gear cases in accordance with this invention they are much
lighter than heretofore, they form better oil containers for the lubrication of the
chain and other moving parts of the gear and they do not offer so much resistance
to a side wind as when made in the usual way.
On the accompanying drawing
Fig. 1 is a front view of one of the said gear cases made in accordance with this
invention but with the cover of the larger chain wheel removed ;
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the gear case and
Fig. 3 shews the usual well known end cap which we use in combination with
our new parts of the gear case but it will be understood that we make no claim to
the said cap.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
figures.
According to this invention we make those parts A' A' of the gear case which
cover the upper and lower two portions B1 B2 of the driving chain between the gear
wheels F and G, in the form of two light thin metal or other tubes of round or other
shape in cross section, arranged one above the other as shewn in Fig.
so that the
upper part B¹ of the driving chain is contained in and runs through the upper tube A¹,
and the lower part B2 of the driving chain is contained in and runs through the
lower tube A2. The ends of the two tubes A¹ A terminate in and are connected
to sheet metal or other rounded end parts D and E of the case which enclose the
gear wheels F and G. One of these end parts of the gear case namely that
marked D is by preference made disc-like with a trough section or other rim d' or
flange to enclose the gear wheel F, and the other end part E of the gear case is by
preference made in the form of the usual round ended hollow cap E, shewn
separately by Fig. 3, also by preference made of trough section to enclose the other
gear wheel G. This cap E is the ordinary well known cap as used to form a part
of other gear cases and it fits and slides on to the ends of the tubes A' A' and can
readily be removed to enable the chain to be examined and can also be moved along
the tubes nearer to or farther from the other end D of the gear case when the
tension of the chain is being adjusted.
The tubular parts A' A² are by preference made of thin metal and they may be
lined with leather, india rubber, cork, canvas or other suitable substance so as to
prevent any noise if the chain should touch the inside of the tubes. The lower
tube A is by preference slightly curved as shewn in Fig. 1 to correspond with the
swag of the chain.
By the word "tubes" we mean and include tubes of all kinds whether made of
metal, cane, wood, cardboard, stiffened canvas or other suitable substance or material
or combination of the same.

page_text: The larger end D of the gear case is provided with a removable front cover
such as H shewn in Fig. 2 which fits against the front of the part D and is
suitably fastened thereto which can be done by turn buttons or any of the well
known means as employed for fastening the like covers of other cycle gear cases.
Our improved gear case can be fixed to the cycle frame by the usual means
(not shewn on our drawings) as employed for fixing other gear cases to cycle
frames.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is: :-
1. In a gear case for covering the gear wheels and the endless driving chain of a
safety bicycle or other velocipede, making those parts of the gear case which enclose
the chain between the gear wheels in the form of two tubes through which chain
passes said tubular parts being at one end formed with or connected to the disc-like
part which encloses the gear wheel substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. In a gear case for covering the gear wheels and the endless driving chain of a
safety bicycle or other velocipede the combination of the tubular parts such as A¹A³
adapted to enclose the chain between the gear wheels, a disc-like part connected to
said tubes at one end to enclose the larger chain wheel and a sliding end cap such
as E adapted to fit on to the other ends of said tubes and enclose the small gear
wheel substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 2nd day of August 1905
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicants.