Improved Speed and Power Gear for Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1893-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Speed and Power Gear for Velocipedes.
I, PAUL EUGÈNE FONTAINE, of 5 Rue du 29 Juillet, Paris in the Republic of
France, Mining Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to any velocipede whether bicycle tricycle or other, in
which the driving wheel or the shaft thereof is driven by chain or equivalent
gearing from a treadle shaft, and it consists in an improved gearing whereby the
driving wheel may be driven at either of two rates of speed proportional to the
speed of revolution of the treadle shaft and whereby if desired the latter may be
allowed to run free for instance for descending hills or at other times when the feet:
are to remain at rest while the machine continues in motion.
On the driving wheel or its shaft are fixed two sprocket wheels and on the
treadle shaft are two other sprocket wheels running loose. One of these wheels on
the treadle shaft is geared by chain or otherwise with one of the sprocket wheels
on the driving wheel hub or shaft and the other wheel on the treadle shaft is
similarly geared with the other wheel on the driving wheel hub or shaft but these
wheels bear different proportions the one to the other so as to produce a different
rate of speed.
Between the sprocket wheels on the treadle shaft is a sliding sleeve on the said
shaft keyed to revolve therewith but able to move side ways. This sleeve carries
projecting tongues to engage between the spokes of the one or other sprocket
wheels and so engage the respective wheel according to whether the sleeve is slid
towards the one or other wheel. Behind each tongue is a second tongue shorter
than the first and consequently only coming into engagement after the pressure
on the treadles has brought the longer tongue into pressure against the rear edge
of one of the spokes whereby sufficient space is left behind the first tongue and
in advance of the following spoke to allow the sleeve to be fully pushed towards the
wheel and engage the second shorter tongue. This tongue then forms a counter
tongue for back pedalling.
To operate the sleeve the latter is provided with a central perpendicular flange
over which the forked end of a pivoted lever is engaged. This lever carried to
near the hand of the rider and there terminating in a handle is held in the position
given to it by a spring like backing plate or suitably notched guide or support.
There may be two notches in this plate or support the one corresponding to
engagement of the sleeve with one of the wheels, the other with the engagement
of the sleeve with the other of the wheels. There may be a third notch in the
middle corresponding to a position in which the sleeve is midway between the
wheels and not in engagement with either; in this position the driving wheel is
free from the operation or control of the treadle shaft and the latter therefore
may serve as a stationary foot rest while the machine continues in motion.
Dated this 21'st day of November 1892.
К. HADDAN,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Speed and Power Gear for Velocipedes.
PAUL EUGENE FONTAINE, of 5 Rue du 29 Juillet, Paris in the Republic of
France, Mining Engineer 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 invention relates to any velocipede whether bicycle, tricycle or other in
which the driving wheel or the shaft thereof is driven by chain or equivalent
gearing from a treadle shaft and it consists in an improved gearing whereby the
driving wheel may be driven at either of two rates of speed proportional to the
speed of revolution of the treadle shaft and whereby if desired the latter may be
allowed to run free for instance for descending hills or at other times when the feet
are to remain at rest while the machine continues in motion.
In the annexed drawings
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of so much of a safety bicycle as is necessary to
illustrate. the invention, being taken upon line a b Fig. 2.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof showing also the handles and saddle.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation on a larger scale of one of the sprocket wheels on the
pedal shaft with clutch in engagement therewith.
Fig. 4 is a half vertical section, half front elevation of both sprocket wheels and
clutch between them.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of the guide and retainer for the lever which controls the
position of the clutch.
Fig. 6 is a modified form of guide and retainer.
On the driving wheel or its shaft are fixed two sprocket wheels M L and on the
treadle shaft are two other sprocket wheels A B running loose. One of these
wheels A on the treadle shaft is geared by chain or otherwise with one of the
sprocket wheels L on the driving wheel hub or shaft, and the other wheel B on
the treadle shaft is similarly geared with the other wheel M on the driving wheel
hub or shaft, but these wheels bear different proportions the one to the other so as
to produce a different proportion of transmission of speed. Between the sprocket
wheels A B on the treadle shaft is a sliding sleeve C on the said shaft keyed to
revolve therewith but able to move sideways. This sleeve C carries projecting
tongues T to engage between the spokes Z of the one or other sprocket wheel A. B
and so engage the respective wheel according to whether the sleeve C is slid
towards the one or other wheel. Behind each tongue T is a second tongue V
shorter than the first and consequently only coming between the spokes after the
longer tongues T have entered the space between two spokes and after pressure on
the treadles has brought the longer tongues T into pressure against the rear edge
of the spokes Z next in front of them whereby sufficient space is left behind the
first tongue and in advance of the following spoke Y to allow the sleeve to be fully
pushed towards the wheel and engage the second shorter tongue V. This tongue
then forms a countertongue for back pedalling.
To operate the sleeve the latter is provided with a central perpendicular flange D
over which the forked end of a pivoted lever O is engaged. This lever, carried to
near the hand of the rider and there terminating in a handle O2 is held in the
position given to it by a spring like backing plate or suitably notched guide or
support G. There may be two notches or recesses S S¹ in this plate or support,
the one corresponding to the position of engagement of the sleeve C with the
wheel A, the other with the position of engagement of the sleeve C with the other
wheel B. There may be a third notch or recess S' in the middle corresponding to
a position in which the sleeve is midway between the wheels A and B and not in
engagement with either; in this position the driving wheel is free from the

page_text: operation or control of the treadle shaft and the latter therefore may serve as a
stationary foot rest while the machine continues in motion.
K is the frame of the bicycle; the lower end of the lever O may end in a spring
fork as in Fig. 1 to lightly embrace the disc D or may have antifriction rollers as
in Fig. 4; it is pivoted at O' on a branch of the frame K.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
In a velocipede having the treadle shaft distinct from the driving wheel axle,
the combination of two pairs of wheels A L and B M of different proportional
transmission, the wheels L M being fixed in relation to the driving wheel and the
wheels A B loose upon the treadle shaft, a clutch C keyed upon said treadle shaft
but capable of moving endwise thereon, a lever O adapted to move said clutch,
teeth Ton said clutch adapted to enter between the spokes of the wheel A or B
respectively and to be pressed against the backs of said spokes, and shorter teeth V
adapted to enter later between said spokes and form abutments for the faces of the
next following or other spokes substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
oul 1
T. 1902
R. HADDAN,
Herbert Haddan & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicant.