IMPROVEMENTS IN DIFFERENTIAL OR BALANCE GEARING ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: We ALFRED BECK EDWARD BURBERY GITTINS and JOHN SHARP of 49 and
50 Steelhouse Lane Birmingham Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturers and Machinists
do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN DIFFERENTIAL
OR BALANCE GEARING ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
The said invention relates and is applicable to parts of the differential or balance
gearing which is now in general use in tricycles of the pattern known as the
Humber tricycle.
As this class of gearing is well known by engineers and tricycle manufacturers it
is not necessary to describe it—but we object to the means employed in it for
holding the intermediate bevil-wheels in position for the following reasons:-
The space being so small it is not easy to insert the studs with the intermediate
bevil-wheels when attached to the case by outside nuts-and when attached by
screw-pins there is not sufficient substance in the collar of the studs for the purpose
of holding the studs firmly-as the studs are suspended from the inner surface of
the cylindrical case there is a great strain on the parts in contact with the case and
the studs are liable to become loose: and as the said cylindrical case in consequence
of overhanging is so far from its bearing it is not sufficiently firm.
Our invention in combination with parts of the gearing now in use removes all
the above objections.
We will now describe our invention.
The outer case consists of an overhanging cylindrical rim or box containing
within it a well-fitting inner case or rim connected with a central boss by two
hollow radial arms into which screws are passed from the outer rim to secure the
two cases or rims together: the hole in the said central boss loosely fits the shaft
thereby constituting a bearing which relieves the strain on the overhanging case.
Midway radially between the hollow arms in the said inner case are slots and
bosses for carrying the radial plain pins or pivots on which the intermediate bevil-
wheels revolve: these pins have bearings on both sides of the wheels but do not
pass through the outer case :-but the said pins or pivots may pass through both
[Price 6d1

page_text: rims and be screwed through the two rims with a larger screw than that which
enters the boss and between each screwed part the pins will be plain for the wheels
to revolve upon-and a lock nut on each pin outside the gear box or case.
By the above arrangement the gear box or case has a bearing on the central
shaft intermediate between the bevil-wheels on the shaft and hub as also between
the intermediate bevil-wheels-and the pivots on which the intermediate bevil-wheels
revolve have a double bearing. Strain and vibration are thereby prevented; the
parts are not liable to become loose; and the gearing runs smoothly and accurately.

page_text: We ALFRED BECK, EDWARD BURBERY GITTINS and JOHN SHARP of 19 Bath
Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick Tricycle Manufacturers (I, the said
John Sharp, as per declaration, being the sole and true inventor of the said
improvements,) do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN DIFFERENTIAL OR BALANCE GEARING ESPECIALLY APPLICABLE TO VELOCIPEDES
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 and is applicable to parts of the balance gearing which is
now in general use in Tricycles and especially of the pattern known as used in
the Humber Tricycle.
As this class of gearing is so well known by Engineers and Tricycle makers it is
only necessary to point out a few of the objections to its construction which this
invention is intended to remove.
The space in the cylindrical box containing the balance gearing as used in the
Humber pattern and other Tricycles being so small it is not an easy matter to
insert the studs or pivots which carry the two intermediate bevel wheels when
attached to the cylindrical box by means of outside nuts-and when attached by
means of screw-pins there is not sufficient substance in the collar of the studs for
the purpose of holding them firmly in position-as the said studs are suspended
radially from the inner surface of the cylindrical box there is great strain upon the
overhanging part and also upon the studs so that riders have often been annoyed
in consequence of the studs becoming loose and especially so when the cylindrical
box has been broken.
This invention in combination with parts of the gearing in general use entirely
removes the said objections and the invention may be described as follows:-
Instead of the said cylindrical box containing radially suspended studs for
carrying the intermediate bevel wheels, it contains an accurately fitted case, the
rim of which is connected with a central boss by two hollow radial arms into
which screws are passed from the outer rim of the box, so as to secure the two
rims together.-Midway radially between the said hollow arms there are openings
to receive the two intermediate bevel wheels and bosses for carrying the radial
plain pivots on which the intermediate wheels revolve. These pivots have bearings
on both sides of the wheels but by preference the pivots do not pass through the
outer cylindrical rim of the box or case. The hole in the said central boss loosely
fits the inner shaft thereby constituting an extra bearing which relieves the strain
on the overhanging cylindrical box.
By this invention the gear box has an extra bearing directly between the two
intermediate bevel wheels,-the pivots on which the intermediate wheels revolve
have each a double bearing, and as the pivots are securely locked in position by.

page_text: the outer rim of the box-and as the outer and inner rims are both screwed the
screws are not so likely to become loose, so that security in all parts is certain and
the vibration and strain hitherto experienced are prevented, and the gearing made
according to this invention runs smoothly and accurately.
With reference to the accompanying drawing: Fig. 1. represents in longitudinal
section through P. P. Fig. 2, and Fig. 2 illustrates in cross section through O..O.
Fig. 1. all the parts of the said invention in combination with some of the parts
heretofore in general use. C is a part of the inner shaft, on one end of which is
the spider wheel hub A with its bevel wheel F secured thereto—both running
loose on the shaft C.
The sleeve shaft D part of which is shewn in section in Fig. 1. runs loose upon
the shaft C and extends to the face of the other hub which is keyed fast on the
shaft C. Midway between the two hubs is one of the chain wheels (not shewn in
the drawing) the chain wheel being secured between the bearings upon the sleeve
shaft D. Upon one end of the sleeve shaft D is secured the boss of the cylindrical
box B by means of screwing and locked in position by means of the screw-pins M.
The bevel wheel G is secured to the shaft C by means of the feather H and the
bevel wheel F is secured to the loose hub A.
The removable case J which contains the two intermediate bevel wheels E which
revolve on the pivots K is accurately fitted within the cylindrical box B and secured
in position by means of the screw-pins L The holes for the pins L being screwed
in both B and J (instead of, as is usual one being a thoroughfare hole and the other
screwed) renders B less liable to be broken when screwing B and J together, and
the screws are not so likely to become loose. The case J is provided with a central
boss the hole of which loosely fits the shaft C and the said central boss and the
rim of the removable case are connected by means of the two radial hollow arms
in which the screw-pins L are inserted The case J is also provided with bosses
which contains the ends of the pivots K which terminate within the cylindrical
box B, so that it is impossible for them to get out of their proper positions.
The main feature of this invention is contained in the inner removable case J for
securely holding the pivots K on which the intermediate wheels E revolve and for
forming an extra bearing on the shaft C for supporting the overhanging cylindrical
box B.
It will be perceived that in order to insert and get at the bevel wheel G the
part J must be removable either as hereinbefore described (which is preferred) or
the cylindrical rim of B and J cast in one piece, the rim part of B being open at
each-end, one-end-is-secured-to-the-disk-on-the-boss of B by means of screwing;-
the parts forming the joint of the rim and disk of B being made large enough for
the purpose.
In this case the pivots on which the intermediate wheels would
revolve would have to pass though the outside cylindrical rim,-the holes in which
would-be screwed-and the pins with hexagon heads screwed to suit, with plain
parts to fit the intermediate wheels.
The process of putting the parts of the said gearing together is as follows:
The box B being secured to the sleeve shaft D, the shaft C is put through the sleeve
shaft D with the face of the boss of the fast bevel wheel G touching B and D.
Then the case J is inserted within the box B; which puts the two intermediate
wheels in gear with the fast bevel wheel G and the screw-pins L being inserted
through the washers N through the rim of B and into the hollow arms of J
securely fasten J and B together. Then the loose bevel wheel F with its hub A'
is put in gear with the intermediate wheels E, and the fast hub of the spider
wheel (not shewn in the drawing) is secured to the shaft C, and the nut with the
D-washer on each end of the shaft C will secure the said parts in their proper
positions.
. Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention for "improvements in differential or balance gearing espécially applicable

page_text: to velocipedes" and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that
what we claim is
The removable case marked J for carrying the intermediate bevel wheels E. E in
combination with the said rim, or disk, or boss marked B and in combination with
the other, parts of mechanism connected therewith substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this twentyeighth day of January One thousand eight hundred and