Improved Devices for Cleaning the Sprocket and Chain Gear of Bioycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improved Devices for Cleaning the Sprocket and Chain Gear of
Bioycles.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Char-
tered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as
communicated to me from abroad by Walter Luther Dodge, of Chicago, United
States of America, Broker,) to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in devices for cleaning the sprocket
and chain gear of bicycles.
As at present performed, the operation of cleaning such sprocket and chain
gear practically necessitates the removal of the chain from the sprockets, which
requires a considerable expenditure of time and labour and no small degree of
mechanical skill, besides being a dirty and disagreeable operation and one which
frequently disturbs the adjustment of the parts and requires their re-adjustment
at the expenditure of still further time and labour. As a consequence of these
difficulties the care of the driving gear of the bicycle is usually neglected and
the efficiency of the machine rapidly decreases, it being well known that the
smooth and easy running qualities of the modern bicycle are more apt to be
disturbed by the fouling and undue wear of the driving gear than from any other
one cause.
The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved clean-
ing device such as will enable the most unskilled person to clean the driving
chain and sprockets without removing the chain from the sprockets, and by so
easy, quick and cleanly a method as to overcome the tendency which most riders
have to neglect this important part in the care of their machines.
I will describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawing,
in which:
Fig. 1 is a general view of a bicycle with the cleaning device attached thereto,
showing the manner of performing the chain and sprocket cleaning operation.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective part view showing the construction of the
device and the mode of its attachment to the frame of the machine.
Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the pan.
Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of the fastening clip.
The improved cleaning device or attachment consists simply in a shallow pan A.
of suitable size and shape to fit over the front portion of the crank sprocket S
of the bicycle. Suitable means are provided for securing the pan to the frame
of the bicycle in the above mentioned position relatively to the sprocket, such
means consisting in this instance of a clip A which is secured to the pan and
clamped around the lower front tube or member B of the bicycle frame.
herein shown, the clip A is formed by stamping out of a single piece of metal
and consists of the clamping band a having a forked arm a¹ projecting at right
As

page_text: angles from one of its edges. The band a is preferably made of stiff spring
metal so that when sprung over the tube B of the frame the friction due to the
spring of the band will properly hold the clip in place. Or if desired a clamping
bolt may be employed to tighten the band on the frame tube and insure against
it slipping. The forked arm a¹ of the clip is designed to slip over a short stud a³
which projects from the bottom of the pan, and then clamped rigidly to the pan
by a screw thumb-nut at on the said stud. This form of connection between
the pan and clip is desirable in permitting a considerable adjustment of the pan,
laterally to meet the requirements of various makes of wheels which differ in
the clearance provided between the sprocket and the adjacent crank. The adjust-
ment required for the different sizes of sprockets is provided by slipping the
clip A along on the frame tube B so that the pan is held at whatever distance
from the crank shaft S the size of the sprocket requires.
The pan A itself is desirably made from sheet metal and of segmental shape,
wide enough to receive the sprocket and chain and deep enough to contain a
few ounces of cleaning fluid, such as gasolene or the like. It will, however, be
understood that the segmental shape of the pan, although most convenient and
economical for the purpose both in manufacture and use, is not absolutely essen-
tial, since the prime requisite is simply that the pan shall form a trough within
which the edge of the sprocket and that portion of the chain resting on such
edge of the sprocket may be subjected to the action of the cleansing fluid, so that
it is obvious that the pan may be of other than segmental shape and still per-
fectly perform this function. It will also be understood that while the form of
the securing clip herein shown is deemed very advantageous, other forms of clip
or fastening for securing the pan to the bicycle frame might readily be devised.
The chain cleaning operation is performed after the pan has been secured in
place by simply turning the frame of the wheel up into a vertical position with
the rear driving wheel uppermost, as shown in Fig. 1, pouring a little gasolene
or other cleaning fluid into the pan and rotating the sprocket until the chain has
been subjected to the complete action of the fluid throughout its entire length.
This will ordinarily take but a moment, as the gasolene will almost instantly
cut the grease and gum from the links and permit the dirt and sediment to settle
at the bottom of the pan. The crank sprocket will be cleaned at the same time
by direct contact with the fluid, and the rear sprocket by the action of the gaso-
lene which is carried up by the chain. The operation is at the same time very
cleanly, since owing to the nearly vertical extension of the chain between the
sprockets when the machine is held in this position the fluid thus carried up by
the chain, instead of dripping off upon the floor, simply runs down the chain
again into the pan which thus eventually collects all the dirt.
On the completion of the operation the pan is removed and emptied.
Dated this 15th day of Sentomilor 1898
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Devices for Cleaning the Sprocket and Chain Gear of
Bicycles.
I, CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Birkbeck Bank Chambers, Southampton Build-
ings, Chancery Lane, in the County of London, Consulting Engineer and Char-
tered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (as
communicated to me from abroad by Walter Luther Dodge, of Chicago, United

page_text: States of America, Broker), 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 devices for cleaning the sprocket
and chain gear of bicycles.
As at present performed, the operation of cleaning such sprocket and chain
gear practically necessitates the removal of the chain from the sprockets, which
requires a considerable expenditure of time and labour and no small degree of
mechanical skill, besides being a dirty and disagreeable operation and one which
frequently disturbs the adjustment of the parts and requires their re-adjustment
at the expenditure of still further time and labour. As a consequence of these
difficulties the care of the driving gear of the bicycle is usually neglected and
the efficiency of the machine rapidly decreases, it being well known that the
smooth and easy running qualities of the modern bicycle are more apt to be
disturbed by the fouling and undue wear of the driving gear than from any other
one cause.
The object of the present invention, therefore, is to provide an improved clean-
ing device such as will enable the most unskilled person to clean the driving
chain and sprockets without removing the chain from the sprockets, and by so
easy, quick and cleanly a method as to overcome the tendency which most riders
have to neglect this important part in the care of their machines.
I will describe the invention with reference to the drawing accompanying my
Provisional Specification in which :-
:-
Figure 1 is a general view of a bicycle with the cleaning device attached
thereto, shewing the manner of performing the chain and sprocket cleaning
operation.
Figure 2 is an enlarged perspective part view shewing the construction of the
device and the mode of its attachment to the frame of the machine.
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the pan.
Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective detail of the fastening clip.
As
The improved cleaning device or attachment consists simply in a shallow pan A
of suitable size and shape to fit over the front portion of the crank sprocket S
of the bicycle. Suitable means are provided for securing the pan to the frame
of the bicycle in the above mentioned position relatively to the sprocket, such
means consisting in this instance of a clip A¹ which is secured to the pan and
clamped around the lower front tube or member B of the bicycle frame.
herein shewn, the clip A is formed by stamping out of a single piece of metal
and consists of the clamping band a having a forked arm a¹ projecting at right
angles from one of its edges. The band a is preferably made of stiff spring
metal so that when sprung over the tube B of the frame the friction due to the
spring of the band will properly hold the clip in place. Or if desired a clamping
bolt may be employed to tighten the band on the frame tube and insure against
it slipping. The forked arm a¹ of the clip is designed to slip over a short stud a³
which projects from the bottom of the pan, and then clamped rigidly to the pan
by a screw thumb nut a4 on the said stud. This form of connection between
the pan and clip is desirable in permitting a considerable adjustment of the pan
laterally to meet the requirements of various makes of wheels which differ in
the clearance provided between the sprocket and the adjacent crank. The adjust-
ment required for the different sizes of sprockets is provided by slipping the
clip A along on the frame tube B so that the pan is held at whatever distance
from the crank shaft S the size of the sprocket requires.
The pan A itself is desirably made from sheet metal and of segmental shape,
wide enough to receive the sprocket and chain and deep enough to contain a
few ounces of cleaning fluid, such as gasolene or the like. It will, however, be
understood that the segmental shape of the pan, although most convenient and
economical for the purpose both in manufacture and use, is not absolutely essen-
tial, since the prime requisite is simply that the pan shall form a trough within

page_text: which the edge of the sprocket and that portion of the chain resting on such
edge of the sprocket may be subjected to the action of the cleansing fluid, so that
it is obvious that the pan may be of other than segmental shape and still per-
fectly perform this function. It will also be understood that while the form of
the securing clip herein shewn is deemed very advantageous, other forms of clip
or fastening for securing the pan to the bicycle frame might readily be devised.
The chain cleaning operation is performed after the pan has been secured in
place by simply turning the frame of the wheel up into a vertical position with
the rear driving wheel uppermost, as shewn in Figure 1, pouring a little gasolene
or other cleaning fluid into the pan and rotating the sprocket until the chain has
been subjected to the complete action of the fluid throughout its entire length.
This will ordinarily take but a moment, as the gasolene will almost instantly
cut the grease and gum from the links and permit the dirt and sediment to settle
at the bottom of the pan. The crank sprocket will be cleaned at the same time
by direct contact with the fluid, and the rear sprocket by the action of the gaso-
lene which is carried up by the chain. The operation is at the same time very
cleanly, since owing to the nearly vertical extension of the chain between the
sprockets when the machine is held in this position the fluid thus carried up by
the chain, instead of dripping off upon the floor, simply runs down the chain
again into the pan which thus eventually collects all the dirt.
On the completion of the operation the pan is removed and emptied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
-
An appliance for cleaning the sprocket and chain gear of a bicycle, compris-
ing a pan for containing liquid and a clip for adjustably securing it to the frame,
in position to enclose part of the crank sprocket wheel, substantially as described.
Dated this 8th day of December 1898.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.