Improvements in Multiplying Gear applicable to Cycles, Motor Cars and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Multiplying Gear applicable to Cycles, Motor Cars
and the like.
I, WILLIAM BILES, of 32, Pemberton Street, Holderness Road, Hull, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the driving gear employed for
propelling bicycles, tricycles, motor cars, or the like driven by pitch chain, or
geared up to the driving wheel or wheels, the object I have in view being to
impart a high rate of speed to such driving wheel or wheels by means of apparatus
occupying a comparatively small space. To this end in the case of a bicycle I
attach by keying or otherwise a small spur wheel to the shaft on which the
pedals are mounted, this wheel gearing into a pinion which is cast in one
piece with, or otherwise secured to a spur wheel, both wheels running loose
upon a stud or pin supported in any convenient manner.
This spur wheel gears into a corresponding wheel cast with or secured to the
pitch chain wheel which runs loose upon the driving spindle. I find a very
convenient ratio between the wheels and pinion to be four to one, that is to say,
such that the pitch chain wheel revolves four times to one revolution of the
crank and driving spindle. I do not necessarily confine myself to this ratio as I
may obviously employ any suitable deviation therefrom.
'
If my invention is employed for motor car purposes it is attached to the shaft
conveying motion to the pitch chain wheel or the spur or equivalent gear
connecting it to the driving wheels.
I may employ ball bearings to any suitable parts of my invention.
Improvements in Multiplying Gear applicable to Cycles, Motor Cars
and the like.
I, WILLIAM BILES, of 130, Portway, West Ham, Engineer, and formerly of
32, Pemberton Street, Holderness Road, Hull, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in the driving gear employed for
Fropelling bicycles, tricycles, motor cars, or the like driven by pitch chain, or

page_text: geared up to the driving wheel or wheels, the object I have in view being to
impart a high rate of speed to such driving wheel or wheels by means of apparatus
occupying a comparatively small space. To this end in the case of a bicycle I
attach by keying or otherwise a small spur wheel to the shaft on which the
pedals are mounted, this wheel gearing into a pinion which is cast in one
piece with, or otherwise secured to, a spur wheel, both wheels running loose
upon a stud or pin supported in any convenient manner. This spur wheel
gears into a corresponding wheel cast with or secured to the pitch chain wheel
which runs loose upon the driving spindle. I find a very convenient ratio
between the wheels and pinion to be four to one, that is to say, such that the
pitch chain wheel revolves four times to one revolution of the crank and
driving spindle. I do not necessarily confine myself to this ratio as I may
obviously employ any suitable deviation therefrom. If my invention is employed
for motor car purposes it is attached to the shaft conveying motion to the pitch
chain wheel or the spur or equivalent gear connecting it to the driving wheels.
I may employ ball bearings to any suitable parts of my invention.
I will now proceed to describe my invention more fully, reference being made
to the accompanying drawings in which like figures indicate like parts:-1, is an
ordinary pedal axle or driving shaft, which for the purposes of my invention
is elongated on the driving side. At the extremity of this axle or shaft is fixed
by means of the cottar 2, the crank 3.
To the boss of the crank 3, I fix by means of the screwed studs 4, rivets, by
brazing or the like, a metal spur wheel 5. To the right arm of the bottom fork 6,
I braze a lug or lugs, bracket or the like, and into this projecting lug or lugs
I braze a light tubular forked bracket 8, the arms 8 of which are slotted as at 9.
A spindle 10, is mounted in bracket 8, and carries a metal pinion 11, in gear
with the spur wheel 5, mounted upon the crank axle 1. This pinion is cast in
one piece with or separately and secured to a spur wheel 12; both wheels or
the composite wheel thus formed running loose upon the spindle 10, the ends
of said spindle being screwed as at 13, and held in the forked bracket 8, by
means of nuts 14, and washers 15. Loosely mounted upon the crank axle 1,
is a light metallic spur wheel 16, gearing into the spur wheel 12, mounted upon
the spindle 10. This spur wheel 10, is made in one piece with or secured by
screwed studs 4, rivets, by brazing, or the like, to the pitch chain wheel 17,
bevel driving wheel or the like. The operation of my invention is as follows:-
The spur wheel 5, being rotated by means of the crank 3, imparts its motion to
the pinion 11, which in turn causes the spur wheel 12, to drive the spur 16,
and wheel 17, which by means of a chain, or by bevel, spur, or other gear
replacing it actuates the driving wheel or wheels, of the bicycle tricycle motor
car or the like.
The ratio shewn between the driving spur wheel 5, and the pinion 11, is four
to one, the spur wheels 12, and 16, being equal. This I have found to be a
very convenient ratio but it is obvious that it may be increased or decreased
within reasonable limits without departing from my invention.
For instance I may increase the diameter of the spur wheel 5, and decrease
that of the pinion 11, or increase the diameter of the spur wheel 12 and decrease
spur wheel 16, in either case or in both, the speed is augmented.
By reversing these conditions the speed is lessened, that is by increasing the
diameters of the pinion 11, and spur wheel 16 and decreasing the diameters of
spur wheels 5, and 12. In some cases I may make the spur wheels and pinion
in raw hide, fibre or other equivalent suitable material.
Ball bearings 18, may be fitted to the composite spur and pinion wheel 11
and 12 mounted on the spindle 10 as shewn, the spindle being fitted or made
with hardened steel cones 19, and the composite wheel with hardened removeable
steel cups 20. Provision is made for oiling by means of the oil duct 21, and
dust cap 22.
The gearing may be enclosed in a suitable casing or the gear case in general

page_text: use for protecting the chain and pitch chain wheels may be adapted to effect
this purpose. It will be seen that by means of my invention a multiplying
power is obtained with a comparatively light and compact apparatus thus
obviating the use of large and unsightly chain wheels. It is obvious that the
position and design of the lugs 7, and bracket 8, may be varied to suit require-
ments in different cases."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. In cycles, motor cars, and the like the use and employment of the inter-
acting parts constituting the multiplying geared drive substantially as herein
described.
2. In a multiplying gear for use in cycles, motor cars and the like the use and
employment of the fast driving spur wheel 5, engaging with a loose pinion 11,
said pinion being in one piece with or secured to the spur wheel 12 which engages
with the loose spur wheel 16, formed in one piece with or rigidly connected to
the chain wheel 17, or equivalent replacing it.
3. In combination with the multiplying gear for use in cycles, motor cars,
and the like claimed in Claims 1 & 2 the use and employment of the forked
bracket 8, fixed to the frame by means of a lug the slotted fork arms 8¹ spindle 10
cones 19, cups 20, formed as described and for effecting the purpose set forth.
Dated this 6th day of November 1899.
FRANCIS M. ROGERS,
Agent for the Applicant, 21, Finsbury Pavement, London, E.C.