Year: 1897

page_text: We, CHARLES GARDINER and NEIL LAMONT, both of 8, Union Street, Coupar-
Angus, in the County of Perth, Scotland, Cycle Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in gear cases for cycles, of the type
in which the chain passes through the upper and lower tubes which connect those
portions of the case enveloping the chain wheels, the objects being to obtain
access to the driving or sprocket wheel for the purpose of inspection, adjustment
or removal, and that without detaching the case from the machine, and also to
provide means for viewing, working or aligning the chain without having ro
remove the ends of such case.
In carrying out our invention we design the front portion of the case which
covers the driving wheel in such a manner that the front half of such driving
wheel may be completely exposed on opening or removing that end of the case,
that is to say the semicircular end. Such end may be hinged to the bottom of
the case and secured at the top by a screw or other suitable catch, or it may be
held at the top by a detachable joint or hinge and at the bottom by a screw or
catch, the latter combination permitting of its complete removal when desired.
The front portion, or face of the gear case which covers the other and back haif
of the driving wheel is detachable and semicircular in shape. This semicircular
portion fits into a recess or guide in the cover or conversely, that is to say when
it is in position it forms part of the face of the gear case. It is so arrangel
that it can be turned round about the crank axis and removed from its recess.
When the end is opened or removed as previously explained and the semicircular
portion removed the driving wheel is uncovered and can then be examined,
adjusted or removed as may be desired.
For viewing, working or aligning the chain without having to remove either
of the ends of the case, access is obtained to the inside by means of two detach-
able covers or doors placed in the top and bottom edges of the case between the
driving and the driven wheels and extending about two thirds the distance between
the centres of such wheels. One end of each cover is provided with a projection
which goes within the case while the other end of each is provided with a sliding
catch or its equivalent which can be made to engage with the case. The end
portion of the case, where access is obtained to the driven wheel, may be made
in any suitable known way.
101 of Dreamber 1807

page_text: improvements in and relating to Gear Cases for Cycles.
We, CHARLES GARDINER and NEIL LAMONT, both of S, Union Street, Coupar-
Angus, in the County of Perth, Scotland, Cycle Agents, 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 relates to improvements in gear cases for cycles of the type
in which the chain passes through the upper and lower tubes which connect those
portions of the case enveloping the chain wheels, the objects being to obtain
access to the driving or sprocket wheel for the purpose of inspection, adjustment
or removal, and that without detaching the case from the machine, and also to
provide means for viewing, working or aligning the chain or the gear case with-
out having to remove the ends of such case.
And in order that our said invention and the manner of performing or carry-
ing the same into effect or practice may be properly understood we have hereunto
appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in which the same reference numerals
are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the figures where shown, that is
to say:-
1
Figure 1, (Sheet 1) is a side elevation of a gear case showing it closed and in
position.
L
Figure 2, (Sheet 1) is a cross-section at C. C, (Figure 1).
Figure 3, (Sheet 1) is a section at D, D, (Figure 2) showing the top cover
removed.
Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7, (Sheet 1) show respectively the back cover, the fixed
body, the semicircular front and the front cover, all these being detached.
Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11, (Sheet 1) show respectively cross-sections at A, A,
(Figures 4, 5, 6, and 7).
Figures 12, 13, and 14, (Sheet 1) show respectively cross-sections at B, B,
(Figures 5, 6, and 7).
Figure 15, (Sheet 2) is a part side elevation of the portion covering the driving
chain wheel showing another modification.
Figures 16, 17, and 18, (Sheet 2) show respectively the front portion of the
fixed body of such gear case, the semicircular front and the front cover, all
detached.
Figures 19, 20, and 21, (Sheet 2) show respectively cross-sections at E, E,
(Figures 16, 17, and 18).
In carrying out our invention we design the front portion of the case which
covers the driving wheel, that is to say the driving chain wheel, in such a manner
that the front half of such driving wheel may be completely exposed on opening
or removing the end 25, of the case, that is to say the semicircular end. Such
end may be held at the bottom of the case by a detachable joint and secured at
the top by a screw or other suitable catch, or it may be held at the top by a detach-
able joint and at the bottom by a screw or catch, such combination permitting
of its complete removal when desired. In the drawings we have shown the bottom
of the cover retained in position by a male catch 26, which engages with a corre-
sponding female one 27, on the body of the case. The top is secured by a screw 28,
which passes through pads which are respectively brazed to the body and to the
end of the case.
The front portion or face of the gear case 29, which covers the other and back
half of the driving wheel is detachable and semicircular in shape. This semi-
circular portion fits into a recess or guide 30, in the cover, or conversely, that is

page_text: It is
to say when it is in position it forms part of the face of the gear case.
80 arranged that it can be turned round about the crank axis, say in the direction
of the arrow, and removed from its recess. When one end 25 is detached as
previously explained, and the semicircular portion 29, removed, the driving
chain wheel is uncovered and can then be examined, adjusted or removed, as
desired.
For viewing, working or aligning the chain without having to remove either
of the ends of the case, access is obtained to the inside by means of two detachable
covers or doors 31, placed in the top and bottom edges of the case between the
driving and the driven wheels and extending about two thirds the distance
between the centres of such wheels. One end of each cover is provided with a
projection 32, which goes within the case, while the other end of each is pro-
vided with a sliding catch 33, or its equivalent, which can be made to engage
with the case. The edges 34, fit into corresponding recesses in the cover or con-
versely, or they may pass either within or without the sides of the cover without
going into special recesses. The end portion of the case, where access is obtained
to the driven wheel may be made in any suitable known way.
The body 35, of the case is fixed to the frame of the cycle by means of two
clips 36, and 37, one being sustained by the rear fork 38, and the other by the
socket of the crank bracket which receives the bottom stay.
In fitting a gear case to a cycle the body is first rigidly secured to the rear
fork and to the crank bracket, care being taken that it permits of the chain
wheels and the chain working freely. The semicircular front 29, is then rotated
about the axis of the driving chain wheel into position, after which the front
half 25, is placed in position and secured by means of the catch 26, and 27, and
the screw 28. It is to be noted that this modification of a case may be applied
to a cycle without disturbing any of the parts except the chain and the back stay.
In another modification as illustrated by Figures 15, to 21, (Sheet 2) I may
slightly modify the front of the case, by making the inner side of the body.in
one piece and by cutting away the corresponding part of the front half 25. "The
edge of such half 39, fits into a recess 40, in the body of the case.
When fitting this type of case to a cycle the crank with its driving chain wheel
is first removed from position and the body of the case attached to the frame of
the cycle in the manner previously explained. The chain wheel and crank is
then adjusted after which the front 29, is rotated into position and finally the
front cover 25, is put on. Although this form of cover necessitates the removal
of the crank and its appurtenances before the case can be attached, yet it has
advantages, as a leather washer 41, may be used to keep the dust out.
Although we have described and shown how the gear case may be applied to
cycles of the type now generally made, yet it is evident that the arrangement and
construction may be modified to suit other types without departing in any way
from the spirit of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be
understood that we are aware that gear cases have already been constructed divided
into parts, and also that they have been designed in such a manner as to be
capable of being applied to or removed from a cycle without disturbing any of
the parts, and further that they have been made with provision for removing the
chain wheel without having to detach the case from the cycle, but we déclare
that what we claim is: -
(1) In a gear case for a cycle, the combination and construction of parts for
obtaining access to the driving chain wheel and its appurtenances, consisting
of a detachable semicircular end and a detachable semicircular face constructed
to be removed by being turned about the axis of the crank after the end cover is
taken away, substantially as described and illustrated by Figures 1, 5, 6, 7, 9,
10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

page_text: (2) In a gear case for a cycle, a body fixed to the rear fork and the socket of
the crank bracket which receives the bottom stay, by means of clips, substantially
as described and illustrated.
(3) In a gear case for a cycle, the top and bottom detachable covers or doors,
substantially as described, and illustrated by Figures. 1, 2, 3, and 5.
(4) In a gear case for a cycle, the combination and construction of parts for
obtaining access to the driving chain wheel and the chain, consisting of a detach-
able semicircular end and a detachable semicircular face constructed to be removed
by being turned about the axis of the crank, after the end cover is taken away,
substantially as described and illustrated by Figures 15, to 21.
(5) In a gear case for a cycle, a body of the kind illustrated by Figures 16,
and 19, fixed to the rear fork and the socket of the crank bracket which receives
the bottom stay by means of clips, substantially as described.
(6) In a gear case for a cycle the combination of the top and bottom doors with
the semicircular front end 25, and the front cover 29, as described and illustrated
by the annexed drawings.
(7) In a gear case for a cycle the combination of the top and bottom doors
with the detachable back end as described.
(8) In a gear case for a cycle the combination of the top and bottom doors
with the semicircular front end 25, the front cover 29, and the detachable back
end, as described.
(9) The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete gear
case for a cycle, substantially as described and shown by Figures 1, to 14.
(10) The combination and arrangement of parts constituting a complete gear
case for a cycle, substantially as described and shown by the drawings.
Dated this 14th day of September 1898.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicants