Improvements in Variable Speed Gear for Motor Cars and other purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Speed Gear for Motor Cars and other
purposes.
We, CHARLES MONTAGUE LINLEY, of 42, St. Luke's Road, Clapham, Londen,
S.W., Manager, and CHARLES THOMAS BROCK SANGSTER, a Director and Works
Manager of the Cycle Components Manufacturing Company, Limited, of Bourn-
brook, near Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has reference to variable speed gear for communicating motion
in motor cars, lathes, shaping machines and other machinery.
In carrying out the invention in connection with a variable speed gear for motor
cars, the driven axle or carriage shaft has keyed upon it, a series of three toothed
wheels of varying diameters, which respectively intergear with the teeth of a
corresponding number of pinions also of different diameters, with the smallest
pinion engaging with the largest toothed wheel, the intermediate pinion with the
intermediate wheel and the largest pinion with the smallest toothed wheel.
These pinions are respectively carried by the adjacent ends of three sleeves,
arranged one over the other and surrounding the driving axis or engine shaft,
around which the said sleeves, with their pinions are capable of rotation and are
confined in position thereon by suitably arranged stops. The other ends of the
said sleeves of which the outermost may be the shortest and the inner one, or that
immediately surrounding the axle, the longest, are respectively fitted with and
are driven by three friction discs, plates or drums, either the one or other of
which is rotated by motion-transmitting clutch mechanism, as hereinafter
described, according to the speed at which it is required to drive the carriage
shaft, it being thus understood that the one friction disc will drive through
its sleeve and pinion the slow-speed wheel, the other disc the intermediate speed
wheel and the third disc the quick speed wheel, and that whichever of the said
wheels is being thus driven, the other two are being carried round at the same
rate with the carriage axle and their pinions, sleeves and friction disc are running
idly around the engine shaft.
The clutch mechanism for communicating motion from the driving or engine
shaft to one or other (as may be required) of the friction plates or discs, consist
of a preferably circular frame, ring or drum, keyed to, but capable of being
slid along, the engine shaft, and having arranged around it, a series of rollers
or dises, so pivoted to the said clutch frame that their peripheries are presented
at a right angle across the peripheries of the driving or friction discs on the
pinion sleeves and with each roller pivoted to a fork-ended or equivalent arm,
jointed to the edge or periphery of the clutch frame and being provided both with
an adjusting screw which raises or lowers the position of the roller at its fore end
and prevents the rollers falling to such a level that they might contact with two
friction plates at the same time and also with a spring the thrust of which is so

page_text: expended as to keep the said roller into proper driving contact with the periphery
of the particular friction disc to be driven.
In connection with the carrier or frame of the clutch is a lever, arm or other
means for sliding the same to and fro along the engine shaft, means being also
provided if necessary for temporarily locking the lever and clutch in one of three
positions. When the speed gear is in operation, the clutch is traversed along
the engine shaft (with which it is rotating) by means of the lever or arm, and,
according to the rate at which it is required to be driven, the annular series of
rollers carried upon it is brought into frictional and driving contact with that
particular friction plate of the series which will drive, through its connection
sleeve and pinion, the required gear wheel on the carriage shaft, and then on the
speed requiring to be increased or decreased, the rotating carrier of the clutch is
shifted either forward or backward along the engine axle so as to cause its friction
rollers to drive either the one plate or the other of the series.
Where a greater number of variations in speed are required then four or more
friction plates, with their corresponding sleeves, pinions and gear wheels may be
provided, either one or other of which may be driven, as required, through the
friction rollers on the rotating clutch frame.
The application of the invention to speed gear for milling machines, lathes and
other machinery differs in no essential respect from its application to the gearing
of motor-driven vehicles as herein described.
This arrangement also forms in itself, a starting and stopping mechanism,
either with or without variable speed gear.
T
1000
CHARLES MONTAGUE LINLEY,
CHARLES THOMAS BROCK SANGSTER.
(By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Variable Speed Gear for Motor Cars and other
purposes.
We, CHARLES MONTAGUE LINLEY, of 42, St. Luke's Road, Clapham, London,
S.W., Manager, and CHARLES THOMAS BROCK SANGSTER, a Director and Works
Manager of the Cycle Components Manufacturing Company, Limited, of Bourn-
brook, near Birmingham, 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 variable speed gear for communicating motion
in motor cars, lathes, shaping machines and other machinery.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a longitudinal vertical
section of a variable speed gearing, particularly applicable for transmitting
motion or power in motor driven vehicles and constructed and arranged in accor-
dance with our invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section upon the dotted liner, looking in the
direction of the arrow and showing only that element of the clutch which rotates
with but is moveable along the driving or motor shaft and is provided with a series
of friction rollers extending through slots or gaps in the cup body part of the
same. Only one of such rollers is shown in this figure.

page_text: vertical section of the casing or body part of the
said roller-carrying clutch element, separately.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 represent longitudinal vertical sections of the three driving
elements of the clutch, which are respectively adapted to receive motion from
the driving or motor shaft and convey the same at varying speeds by means of
their toothed wheels to the driven shaft.
Figure 7 represents one of the friction rollers of the clutch separately, and
Figures S and 9 show respectively in elevation and plan, one of the mountings
in which such roilers are carried.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
In carrying out the invention in connection with a variable speed gear for
motor cars, as represented in the drawings the driven axle or carriage shaft has
keyed upon it, a series of three toothed wheels, preferably of varying diameters,
which are not shown in the drawings but respectively intergear with the teeth of
a corresponding number of pinions a, a,, also of different diameters, with
the smallest pinion al, engaging with the largest toothed wheel, the intermediate
pinion a², with the intermediate wheel and the largest pinion 3, with the smallest
toothed wheel. These pinions are respectively carried by the adjacent ends of
three loose sleeves 1, 2, 3, arranged one over the other and surrounding the
driving axis or engine shaft c, around which the said sleeves, with their pinions
are capable of rotation and are confined in position thereon by suitably arranged
stops such as d. The other ends of the said sleeves, of which the outermost b',
may be the shortest and the inner one ', or that immediately surrounding the
axle, the longest, are respectively fitted with and are driven by three friction
rings or drums e¹, e², e, either the one or other of which is rotated by motion-
transmitting clutch mechanism, as hereinafter described, according to the speed
at which it is required to drive the carriage shaft, it being thus understood that
the one friction disc e³, will drive through its sleeve, and pinion, the slow-
speed wheel, the other disc e, the intermediate speed wheel and the third disc e¹,
the quick speed wheel, and that whichever of the said wheels is being thus
driven, the other two are being carried round at the same rate by the gear wheels
on the carriage axle intergearing with their pinions, which, with their respec-
tive sleeves and friction discs are running idly around the engine shaft.
The clutch mechanism for communicating motion from the driving or engine
shaft to one or other (as may be required) of the friction rings or drums, consists
of a preferably circular frame, ring or cup-like body part f, keyed at f, to, but
capable of being slid along, the engine shaft, and having arranged around it, a
series of rollers or discs g, so pivoted to the said clutch body that their
peripheries g', are presented at a right angle across the peripheries a series of
contact rings, le, h, suitably secured within the open mouths of the driving or
friction drums connected with the pinion sleeves, each roller has a pair of pre-
ferably conical axes or studs g, resting in half bearings g³, in a pair of opposite
arms, coming respectively on the opposite sides of the roller and jointed at 5,
to a pin or other support g, suitably secured to the clutch frame or body. These
pins g, are preferably wormed, so as to thus form adjusting screws for varying
the positions of the friction rollers at their inner ends, and to ensure them being
so set or adjusted that they shall not be liable to contact with two friction rings
at the same time.
In order to keep the said rollers up to their work and in proper driving contact
with the periphery of the particular friction disc to be driven, their supports are
provided with barrels g, or the like, each internally fitted with a coiled spring 98,
with one end bearing against the inside of the said barrel and the other end
against the face of the body frame or other suitable abutment.
To further assist in keeping the friction rollers in position within the clutch
body, which has gaps ', in its edge for the said rollers to pass through, an
annular groove glo, may be formed within the inside of the said body part within

page_text: which the axes or trunnion ends of the said rollers lie and are kept there by the
outward pressure exercised against their mountings by the springs g.
In connection with the carrier or frame of the clutch is a lever, arm or other
means for sliding the same to and fro along the engine shaft, means being also
provided if necessary for temporarily locking the lever and clutch in one of three
positions. When the speed gear is in operation, the clutch is traversed along
the engine shaft (with which it is rotating) by means of the lever or arm, and.
according to the rate at which it is required to be driven, so the annular series of
friction rollers carried upon it is brought into frictional, and driving contact with
that particular friction ring or drum of the series which will drive, through its
connection sleeve and pinion, the required gear wheel on the carriage shaft, and
then on the speed requiring to be increased or decreased, the rotating carrier of
the clutch is shifted either forward or backward along the engine axle so as to
cause its friction rollers fo drive either the one ring or the other of the series.
Where a greater number of variations in speed are required then four or more
friction rings or drums with their corresponding sleeves, pinions and gear wheels
may be provided, either one or other of which may be driven, as required,
through the friction rollers on the rotating clutch frame.
The application of the invention to speed gear for milling machines, lathes and
other machinery differs in no essential respect from its application to the gearing
of motor-driven vehicles as herein described.
This arrangement also forms in itself, a starting and stopping mechanism,
either with or without variable speed gears.
Instead of the driven sleeves being provided with pinions for communicating
the movement of the motor shaft to the driven shaft or axle, they may be pro-
vided with friction drums, discs or plates adapted to drive like drums discs or
plates on the aforesaid driven shaft, whilst instead of the driving friction rings or
drums with their corresponding pinions or the like being arranged to encircle
and work around the motor shaft or driving shaft as required, they may be
similarly mounted upon an independent shaft or spindle.
Further we may also arrange that instead of the rollers of the clutch device
being arranged to make driving contact with the inside peripheries of the friction
drums or rings as in the form represented in the drawings, the said rollers or the
like on the sliding clutch element may be arranged to come in contact with the
outside peripheries of the said drums, which in such an arrangement, would be
of varying lengths, with the intermediate and innermost drums having flanges
or annular extensions at their outer ends both of an outside diameter corre-
sponding to that of the outer drum, so that the contact surfaces of the whole of
the drums come in line with one another.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: —
First: An improved variable-speed driving gear consisting of a series of
toothed pinions or friction devices, respectively carried upon a corresponding
series of independently driven sleeves or their equivalent, each connected with a
separate friction drum, ring or the like, to one or other of which motion is com-
municated from a friction clutch, rotating with and moveable along a driving or
motor shaft, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly: An improved variable-speed driving gear, comprising a series of
toothed pinions or friction devices, respectively carried upon a corresponding
series of independently driven sleeves or the like, each connected with a separate
friction drum ring or disc, to one or other of which motion is directly communi-
cated by a friction clutch consisting of a carrier frame or body part, rotating
with and movable along a driving or motor shaft and provided with a series of
friction rollers adapted to make driving contact with any one of the aforesaid
series of friction devices, substantially as described and set forth.

page_text: Thirdly: In a variable-speed driving gear as referred to in the first claim,
the employment of a clutch consisting of a body part rotating with and movable
along the motor or driving shaft and provided with a series of gaps or clearances,
each of which has extending through it, a loosely mounted roller, supported in
hinged or jointed bearings and kept in its operative position by a spring acting
against the said bearings, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly: The improved variable speed driving gear represented in the
drawings, consisting of a series of toothed pinions, respectively carried upon a
corresponding series of independently driven sleeves each provided with a drum
having an internal friction ring, to one or other of which rings, driving motion
is directly communicated from a friction clutch device, provided with a series of
rollers extending through gaps in the carrier or body of the clutch to come into
driving contact with the friction rings, said rollers being loosely mounted in
hinged or jointed bearings and kept up to their work by springs operating against
the said bearings, substantially as described and set forth.
Dated this 17th day of March 1899.
CHARLES MONTAGUE LINLEY,
CHARLES THOMAS BROCK SANGSTER,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.