An Improved Chainless Driving Gear for Cycles and like Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Chainless Driving Gear for Cycles and like
Vehicles.
We, THOMAS ANDREW, Engineer, and CHARLES LANCELOT GARLAND,
Gentleman, both of 166 Vickery's Chambers 82 Pitt Street Sydney, in the Colony
of New South Wales, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a driving gear for cycles and like
vehicles, simple in construction whilst effective in operation, and that will dispense
with the necessity or use of a chain, and consists essentially in the application of a
sun and planet gearing to the rear or driving wheel of a cycle or like vehicle.
Hitherto when chains have been used in connection with the driving mechanism
of cycles and like vehicles, many inconveniences and annoyances have been
experienced by the riders, the chaid used readily collects the dust or mud from the
roads, which has the effect of clogging the driving mechanism, and not infrequently
does it happen that the cycle chain requires adjustment or repairing through breakage.
To prevent the chain collecting dust or inud from the roads gear cases have been
used, but objections to them have frequently been made by riders as being not only
unsightly but weighty, and even gear cases do not get over the difficulty of the
slackening or breaking of the chain.
Now this invention provides R
driving gear for cycles and like vehicles, that
dispenses with the use of a chain, and in construction is exceedingly simple and
effective.
But in order that this invention may be more fully understood reference will
now be made to the accompanying sheets of drawings which form a part of this
specification and in which-
Figure 1 is a part side view of a bicycle with this invention applied.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the mechanism attached to the rear or driving
wheel.
Figure 3 is a view of the pedal end of the connecting rod showing method of
attachment.
Figure 4 is a rear view of the pedal crank.
In all figures similar figures are used to denote similar parts.
A is the rear or driving wheel of a bicycle, to the hub of which is secured the
toothed wheel B, another toothed wheel C which is of larger diameter than B is
secured in position by the crank D, this crank D is made fast to the axle E
of the rear or driving wheel A. The crank pin F passes loosely through the
crank D and is secured to the toothed wheel C. G is the connecting rod, one
end passing through the crank pin F and secured by means of the collar H
and the nut 1. This rod G may be secured to the crank pin in any other suitable
manner.
The pedal end of the connecting rod G consists of two parts (as shown in
Figure 3) J and K. These two parts are fastened together by the bolt L but may
be fastened in any other suitable manner.
To the pedal axle M is secured the crank N having the circular projection O to
which the pedal crank P is secured, carrying the pedal Q.

page_text: The two parts J and K of the connecting rod G when secured as shewn in
Figure 3, are ball-bearinged on to projection O. The stays R and R' are
preferably joined inside the wheel B.
In operation when the pedal crank is revolved, the rud G will cause the toothed
wheel C to revolve around the toothed wheel B without rotating on its own axis,
and thus revolve and drive the wheel A.
The toothed wheels B and C may be protected by a cover or case, which may be
secured to the sides of the crank D, passing beneath the rod G, and will revolve
with the crank D.
In applying this improved driving gear to cycles and like vehicles it may he
placed on one side of the driving wheel only, or on both sides as shewn in
Figure 1.
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-
1st. In driving gear for cycles and like vehicles, a toothed wheel such as B
secured to the hub of the driving wheel, engaging with another toothed wheel such
as C which is kept in position by a crank such as D and being operated by a rod
such as G causing it to revolve around the toothed wheel B without rotating
on its own axis substantially as herein described, explained, and illustrated, and for
the purposes set forth.
2nd. In driving gear for cycles and like vehicles, a pedal crank such as N, O, P
secured to the pedal axle of a cycle or a like vehicle substantially as herein
described, explained and illustrated, and for the purposes set forth.
3rd. The combination and arrangement of the various parts herein described,
explained, and illustrated, all together forming the improved chainless driving gear
for cycles and like vehicles substantially and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 15th day of December 1896
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.