Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
COMPLETE
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
"
We, WILLY DUDEK of 3, Poststrasse and EDWIN RING of 44, Ohlauerstrasse both
of Breslau in the Empire of Germany, Merchants, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to mechanism for propelling velocipedes in which the
chains heretofore used are dispensed with and in which the parts liable to be
injured by dirt &c. are so closed in that the said dirt cannot have access to the
same. For the purpose of effecting this object the motion of the crank is trans-
mitted by means of rods to an internally toothed wheel which serves to rotate a
toothed wheel that is mounted on the axle of the hind wheel. By means of this
arrangement it is rendered possible to enclose the two rings of teeth so completely
as to prevent all dirt and the like from reaching the same.
In the accompanying drawings; Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle, fitted
with this propelling gear. Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevation of the propelling
gear and Figure 3 is a plan thereof partly in section.
The cranks are mounted in a suitable manner in the framing of the cycle, and
are connected by means of pivotted connecting rods with two toothed wheels a.
These toothed wheels are provided on their inner rims with teeth and are
mounted so as to be readily capable of rotating upon fixed or stationary short
shafts on the fork B of the hind wheel of the cycle. As may be seen from
Figure 1, the movement of the rotary cranks will cause the toothed wheels a to
rotate. These said wheels engage with their teeth in small toothed wheels d which
are mounted on the shaft of the hind wheel e and by means of which the rotation of
the toothed wheel a is transmitted to the hind wheel.
The toothed wheels are closed in towards the outside, and closure of these
wheels from the inside is effected by means of the disc e. In this manner there is
formed so to speak a box in which the small toothed wheel dis enclosed, whilst at
the same time the teeth of the wheel A are inaccessible from the outside. For the
purpose of attachment of the discs e there is preferably formed in the rims of the
toothed rims a a groove f into which the bent-over edges of the discs e fit, which
discs are then fixed in position by means of screws, studs or the like. In the
dises e there are formed two holes through which the shafts of the hind wheel and
the shaft B of the toothed wheel a projects. This disc is mounted on the shaft b
and must bear close up against the shaft of the hind wheel.
C
Figure shows a second modification of the cycle, arranged in such a manner
that the pedals A are fixed direct to the discs a which are formed with internal
teeth. By this means the rods. are dispensed with, and obviously the saddle C
will come over the short shaft and the whole cycle will thereby be rendered
shorter because the front 'wheel is shifted towards the hind wheel. The saddle C
then rests upon the two stays E and F which are connected in the usual manner to
the remainder of the frame.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
(1) A chainless driving gear for velocipedes, characterised by the fact that the
toothed wheels a mounted externally of the hind wheel fork are rotated by the
pedal cranks by means of pivotted connecting rods, said toothed wheels gearing
directly with the toothed wheel that is mounted on the hind wheel axle, for the
purpose of more easily transmitting the power, as set forth.
(2) In driving gear as specified in claim 1, the arrangement of two toothed
wheels which are formed with internal teeth and which are closed towards the
outside, and are covered in on the inside by a disc, so that the teeth of the large
toothed wheel and the teeth of the small toothed wheels mounted on the hind
wheel axle, are completely enclosed with the object of preventing all injury from
dirt, blows and the like, as set forth.
(3) In a velocipede, driving gear as specified in claim 2, characterised by the fact
that the driving gear is operated by means of pedals fixed direct to the toothed
wheels, whereby the rods are dispensed with, and the saddle is brought vertically
over the point of attachment of the internally toothed wheels a, as set forth.
(4) The improvements in velocipedes substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown.
13th day of May 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.