Year: 1896

page_text: 1, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN of 28 Rose Grove, Ardwick, Manchester
in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to the chain gear cases of velocipedes
and consists in improvements in construction, which improvements have for their
objects, simplicity of construction, ease of access to the gear and greater general
efficiency.
In accordance with this invention the case is formed of two sides or walls of
metal or other suitable material and of suitable stiffness. These two sides may
form part of the framework of the vehicle in which case they are made of suitable
strength. They are made of suitable form and size to cover the area occupied by
the gear of the chain toothed wheels and chain or equivalent, and a suitable margin
all round, and are fixed to or form part of the framework of the vehicle so as to
enclose between them the gear. The bearings or axles carrying the toothed
wheels or their equivalents pass through openings in one or each side of the case
according to the arrangement of the gearing. The openings are rendered dust
proof in any suitable manner. I form and fit an elastic band over the opening
around and between the two sides. The band is preferably made of suitable
indiarubber and formed with sides or flanges and a central raised rib; or the band
has say two parallel grooves round its inner periphery. The sides of the grooves
lie on each side of the walls or side of the case. A suitable opening provided with
a cover is made in one or each side of the case to enable the connecting screw of
the chain to be readily removed when required.
In some cases each side of the case is divided longitudinally in order to enable
the case to be readily applied to vehicles unprovided for gear cases. The division
is provided with a suitable lap joint and screws. Each part forming the sides is
also provided with suitable clips by which it is held in position.
The sides are kept at the required distance apart by suitable studs and screws.
In some cases, in order to make the opening through which a bearing passes
dust proof I form and apply a grooved split indiarubber ring so as to line the
opening, the ring forming also a cushion to prevent rattling.
R. J. URQUHART,
57,,Barton Arcade, Manchester, 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Gear Cases for Velocipedes.
I JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44 Albert Road, Alexandra Park, late of
28 Rose Grove Ardwick Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, 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 more particularly to the chain gear cases of velocipedes
and consists in improvements in their construction, which improvements have for
their objects, simplicity of construction, and ease of access to the gear.
In accordance with this invention the case is formed of two sides or walls of metal
or other suitable matèrial of suitable stiffness, and an elastic band around their
edges. The two sides may form part of the framework of the vehicle in which case
they are made of suitable strength. They are made of suitable forin and size to
cover the area occupied by the gear of the toothed chain wheels and chain or
equivalent, and a suitable margin all round, and are fixed to or form part of, the
framework of the vehicle so as to enclose between them the gear. The bearings or
axles carrying the toothed wheels or their equivalents pass through openings' in
one or each side of the case according to the arrangement of the gearing. The
openings are rendered dust proof in any suitable manner. The sides are kept apart
at the required distances by blocks or studs and fixed by screws. I form and fit an
elastic band over the opening around and between the two sides. The band is
preferably made, of suitable indiarubber and formed with sides or flanges and a
central raised rib; or the band has say two parallel grooves round its inner
periphery. The sides of the grooves lie on each side of the walls or side of the case.
A suitable opening provided with a cover is made in one or each side of the case to
enable the connecting screw of the chain to be readily removed when required.
On the drawing appended hereunto a gear case made according to my invention
is represented,
Fig. 1 showing a front view and
Fig. 2 a horizontal section of the gear case,
Figs. 3, 4, and 5 showing details.
The gear case consists of two plates and a' of the form and size required to
cover the gearing and leave sufficient clearance all round. They are formed as
usual with slots b for the bottom stay of the frame to pass through, and the slots
and stay may be covered in with thin metal or with leather. There are also slots c
at the driving wheel end to allow of the plates being pushed over the axle, and
the slots are covered in by sliding plates. The back-plate has a similar slot for
passing over the crank axle, and the front plate may also be slotted for this
purpose, or simply have a round hole as shewn, in which case the crank has to be
removed to put the plate on.
The two plates are kept apart for the required distance by ferrules h and a
block of wood d which is preferably fixed to the back plate a by hollow screws
forming nuts into which the screws for fixing the front plate a are screwed.
The block d also serves to fix the case to the hottom stay of the machine. The
arrangement of the slots in the plates and of the fixings may be varied to suit
various machines.
Each plate is formed with a bead a² or equivalent projection near: to its edge,
and round the edges of the plates an india rubber band e of channel shaped form
is stretched, the flanges el embracing, the two plates. The band is preferably
thickened in the middle or formed with a stiffening rib. The 'heads a prevent
the edges of the rubber being caught by the feet of the rider.

page_text: In some cases I place at the semicircular ends of the gear case metal supports
for the band arranged as shewn by Figure 5. This support consists of two
channelled bent plates f and f' soldered or rivetted together, the inner channelled
plate being narrower than the outer one so as to form grooves between their
flanges into which the edges of the plates fit and are thereby secured in their
position while the plates ff' support the india rubber band e between the edges
of the plates.
In some cases I rivet or solder a channelled plate g to the back plate as
shewn by Figure 5. This plate g may pass only round the semicircular ends, with
openings where these are slotted, or along the top and bottom of the gear case.
The front plate a is held up to it by the overlapping indiarubber band e
Instead of the indiarubber band having a channel section, it may be flat with
a groove on each side into which the edges of the plates fit.
By lifting up the band e, or removing it from the case the chain and gear are
readily accessible for oiling or the front plate can be taken off after unscrewing
a few screws for giving access to the chain and wheels.
In some cases each side of the case is divided longitudinally in order to enable
the case to be readily applied to cycles unprovided with gear cases. The division
is provided with a suitable lap joint and screws. Each part of the case is formed
with suitable distance pieces and one or both with clips for attachment to the
frame.
To make the opening through which the axles or bearings pass dust proof, I
sometimes make and apply a grooved indiarubber ring or washer so as to line the
opening, the plate entering into the groove of the ring, which also forms a cushion
to prevent rattling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The improved arrangement or construction of gear cases substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in and by the drawings..
2. The construction of a gear case for velocipedes with two side plates kept apart
by distance pieces and a band of elastic indiarubber passed round and embracing
the edges of the plates substantially as herein before described and illustrated by
the drawings.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, 6, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.