Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes or similar Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Dec., 1898-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes or similar Vehicles.
We, GEORGE GIBSON, of Glenelg, Wellington, Salop, and JAMES MONTGOMERY,
of Penarth, Earlsdon, Coventry, Warwickshire, Cycle Engineers, 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 the construction of the hubs and
bearings of the driving and gear wheels of gear driven vehicles, its object being
to simplify and facilitate the withdrawal of the driving wheel from the framework
of the vehicle and to enable. this to be done without disturbing any portion of
the driving gear or its cover.
In carrying out the invention, instead of mounting the chain or other gear
wheel on the driving wheel hub, as is the usual practice, we form the gear wheel,
boss or hub, as a separate body, having independent bearing surfaces, preferably
ball bearings are employed, two sets being used: the driving wheel hub having
also two sets of ball bearings, one at each end in the usual way.
The hub and boss are made interlocking at one end, preferably by serrations
or corresponding grooves and tongues.
The axle is divided, comprising two portions, one carrying the driving wheel
hub, the other the gear wheel boss: the two portions being rigidly but removably
connected to each other and to the vehicle frame. In each case the portion of
the axle should extend just beyond the face of the interlocking end so that when
the two portions are held rigidly together, whilst the interlocking device is in
operative connection, the end faces of the hubs should not be in close contact,
the engagement being between the sides of the projections and slots, so as to
prevent any risk of uneven strain on the hubs and binding of the ball races,
or other bearings.
Although adapted for gear driven vehicles generally the invention may be best
described as applied to the back wheel of an ordinary chain driven bicycle.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the driving wheel hub and sprocket
wheel and boss in operative position on the chain-stays or lower back fork of a
bicycle.
Figure 2 is a perspective view of the sprocket wheel, boss, and portion of the
axle in operative position on one chain-stay.
Figure 3 is a similar view of the driving wheel hub and portion of the axle
detached from the bicycle: and
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the locking pin for the axle.
Like letters indicate similar parts in all figures.
The driving wheel hub A comprises a body A¹ of ordinary construction with
flanges A to which the driving wheel spokes are secured. Each end of the
body A¹ has an inside thread to receive a screwed cap A3, A4, each bored centrally
to receive the axle and shaped internally to form the outer bearing surface of a
ball race; the cap A³ is adjustable to take up wear on the bearing surfaces and
has a lock nut A5 to secure it in position. The cap A* is provided with a
lot A6.
The portion A of the axle is hollow to receive a locking pin C and provided
with two coned collars A8, forming the inner bearing surfaces of the ball races.
The boss B is constructed with a tubular body B₁ threaded externally to receive
he sprocket wheel D, which is screwed up against a flange. B and is also scoured

page_text: by a lock-nut B³. The ends of the boss body B' are threaded inside to receive
caps B B bored centrally to receive the axle B6, and shaped internally to form
the outer bearing surfaces of the ball races. The cap B has a transverse pro-
jection B adapted to engage in the slot A6 of the hub A before described. The
cap 15 is adjustable to take up wear on the bearing surfaces and is provided with
a lock nut B8 to secure it in position. One end of the portion B6 of the axle is
bored at B and screw threaded internally to engage with the screwed end C¹
of the locking pin C; its other end forms a threaded pin B10 having a lock-nut Bu
and a washer 1312 by which it is clamped on to one prong E of the lower back
fork or chain stay. The axle portion B6 is provided with a double coned
collar B which forms the inner bearing surfaces of the two ball races.
It is evident that if desired either the cap B or the sprocket wheel D or both
may be formed integral with the body of the boss.
The locking nut C is provided with a head C³ conveniently shaped to receive.
a spanner as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
When in operative position as shown at Figure 1 the boss B carrying the
sprocket wheel D, is secured on to one prong E of the lower back fork by the
portion 16 of the axle and its tongue or projection B7 engages in the slot A6 of
the hub A; the ends of the axle portions A7 136 butt against each other, and the
two portions are rigidly locked together and fixed in position between the
prongs EE of the lower back fork by the locking nut C. As clearly shown in
Figure 1, the ends of the axle portions project slightly beyond the faces of the
caps A B so that the opposing ends of the hub A and boss B do not come in
actual contact.
To remove the driving wheel for repairs or other purposes it is only necessary
to unscrew and withdraw the lock nut C, when the hub A with its axle portion A7
slips readily out from its position between the boss B and the prong E, without
springing the latter and leaving the boss B with its axle portion E6 securely
attached in its normal position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
wo claim is;-
1. In a velocipede or similar vehicle the combination with a driving wheel
hub and a gear wheel boss one having a groove and the other a tongue or an
equivalent device to interlock their ends of a divided axle holding the interlocking
device in engagement substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. In a velocipede or similar vehicle a divided axle comprising a body B
rigidly secured to one portion of the vehicle frame and a body A rigidly held
in contact one end with the part B6 and the other end with the vehicle frame by
a locking pin C substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. In a velocipede or similar vehicle having a driving wheel hub interlocking
with a gear wheel boss, arranging the hub and the boss so that when the inter-
locking device is in operative engagement the end faces of the hub and the boss
are not in contact substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. The driving wheel and gear wheel attachment constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purpose described or illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 10th day of December 1908
GEORGE GIBSON,
JAMES MONTGOMERY..
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicants.