Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 28th Nov., 18.96

page_text: that the machine is driven at the slower speed; when, however, the wheel a is put
out of gear with the wheel b, a sliding bolt on the crank arm e takes into the
notch on the cover of the case, and the chain wheel a', and consequently the
machine, is driven by the direct action of the crank arm e at a quicker speed.
The cover of the case of course affords sufficient room for the play of the toothed
wheels contained in it, and it can be removed to allow of cleaning the interior at
any time. On the back of this cover is a notch or recess i into which a dovetail
shaped slide or bolt k (Figure 3) on the crank arm e can be pushed. This slide or
bolt is subjected to the pressure of a spring 1 which presses it into the notch or
recess. A small pin m at the side prevents the slide k from being pressed too far
in by the spring . The slide k takes into the recess i when the two toothed
wheels a and b are not in gear with one another and their axes coincide, but it
does not take into the recess when the two toothed wheels a and b are geared
together and their axes do not therefore coincide. The required change of
proportion of the gearing, that is to say the change of power and speed is thus
brought about by simply putting the slide k into or out of gear with the recess i,
which is effected by raising or lowering the case c and wheels a al with reference to
the crauk shaft.
The sliding part g by which the disc f is connected to the frame of the machine
carries a bolt n, Figures 3 and 4, which takes into a slot in the lever o, Figures 2
to 5.
This lever is pivotted at one end to the rods of the frame of the
machine, and is pin-jointed at its other end to a link and lever arrangement pp',
Figures 1, 2 and 6, by means of which, as shown in Figure 1, the whole mechanism
can be put into or out of gear by the rider when mounted on the saddle, by simply
moving the handle q, without the necessity of his dismounting.
It is evident that an increased leverage of crank is obtained when the wheels a
and bare in gear with one another, because the axis of the crank shaft does not
then coincide with that of the chain wheel, and because the motion of the crank
shaft is then transmitted to the chain wheel by reducing gearing, whereby power
is gained and consequently an alteration of the speed is effected.
The whole apparatus must be so arranged with reference to the driving road
wheel and crank shaft that the constant length of the driving chain is not interfered
with. This is, however, entirely a question of constructive detail.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The improved driving gear for cycles in which the proportion or ratio of
the driving gear connected with the crank shaft to the driven gear connected with
the hind or driving road wheel of the cycle can be changed by means of an
internally toothed wheel a connected to the chain driving wheel a', and arranged to
be moved radially on the crank shaft, so that it can be put into or out of gear with a
toothed wheel b secured on the crank shaft, or into or out of gear with. the crank
arm e, substantially as described.
Second. In driving gear for cycles of the kind forming the subject of the first
claiming clause hereof, the mechanism which consists of a toothed wheel a arranged
to be moved radially with reference to the crank shaft by means of levers o p and a
link g in combination with a recess i connected with the wheel a with which recess
a spring-urged slide or bolt k arranged on the crank arm e engages when the
wheel a is moved out of gear with the fixed wheel b, so that the wheel a is then
carried directly by the said crank arm e, substantially as described.
Dated this Oth dan of Ontation 100
...
F. H. VAGT,
Per W. H. Beck,
115. Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.