Improvements in Driving Gear for Bicycles and Tricycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 14th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Bicycles and Tricycles.
I, JOHN MONEY, of High Wycombe, in the County of Buckingham, Cycle
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
--
The object of this invention is to provide means whereby the driving gear of a
bicycle or tricycle can be made to exert an increased amount of propelling power
for the purpose of enabling the rider to mount hills or to overcome other
obstacles.
For this purpose I employ certain modifications and adaptations of what is
known as the balance gearing usually applied to the wheels of tricycles to enable
the latter to turn corners easily. As is well known the said balance gear consists
of a series of toothed wheels arranged somewhat after the manner of a sun and
planet motion.
In order to adapt this gear to the purpose I have in view I apply
it either to the driving treadle or crank axle, or to the driven wheel or wheels.
When applying it to the treadle or crank axles I connect one of the main toothed
wheels of the gear with the pitch chain wheel which turns loosely on the said axle.
The other main toothed wheel of the gear turns loosely on the said axle but can,
when required, be connected to and made to turn with the said axle by means of a
clutch. The intermediate or planet toothed wheels connecting together the two
main toothed wheels of the gear are carried round by the axle and when the
aforesaid clutch is connected with the main toothed wheel of the gear, the whole
system of gearing is carried round together with the pitch chain wheel, so that
under these circumstances each revolution of the treadle or crank axle imparts a
revolution to the pitch chain wheel, and the gear is then adapted to impart the
slowest speed to the cycle. When however the beforementioned clutch is dis-
connected from its corresponding main toothed wheel, and that wheel is prevented
from revolving by a catch or other suitable means, the planet wheels are carried
round it, rotating on their own axes, and driving the toothed wheel connected
with the pitch chain wheel at a higher speed than that given to it in the other
case.
When applying the gear to a driven road wheel, instead of to the treadle or
crank axle, I connect one of the main toothed wheels of the gear with the driven
road wheel of the cycle, which wheel is free to turn on its fixed axle, and I make
the other main toothed wheel free to turn on the said fixed axle except when
prevented from turning by a suitable stopping apparatus. The two main toothed
wheels can also be connected so as to revolve together by means of a clutch.
The intermediate or planet toothed wheels connecting together the two main
toothed wheels of the gear are in this case carried by the pitch chain wheel.
When the two main toothed wheels of the gear are connected together by means of
the clutch, the pitch chain imparts rotation to them, and consequently to the road
wheel, through the medium of the planet wheels at the slowest speed; but when
the two main toothed wheels of the gear are disconnected and the one not connected
with the road wheel of the cycle is prevented from rotating by the stopping
mechanism above referred to, the planet toothed wheels rotate round the fixed
toothed wheel, and on their own axes, and drive the main toothed wheel connected
with the road wheel at a higher speed than in the former case.
Instead of causing one of the main toothed wheels of the gear to stop completely
when it is desired to change from slow to high speed, the said wheel may be caused
to rotate at any required rate of speed by gearing or other suitable mechanical
devices, and by these means any speed intermediate between the maximum and
minimum can be obtained.

page_text: The clutches and stopping mechanism are operated from the rider's seat by any
suitable arrangements of levers and connecting rods or otherwise as may be
convenient or desirable.
•
Dated this 14th day of August 1891
JOHN MONEY.
W. H. Beck,
Per G. E. Gunyon,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Bicycles and Tricycles.
I, JOHN MONEY, of High Wycombe, in the County of Buckingham, Cycle
Maker, do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 means whereby the driving gear of
a bicycle or tricycle can be made to exert an increased amount of propelling power
for the purpose of enabling the rider to mount hills or to overcome other
obstacles.
For this purpose I employ certain modifications and adaptations of what is
known as the balance gearing usually applied to the wheels of tricycles. As is
well known the said balance gear consists of a series of toothed wheels arranged
somewhat after the manner of a sun and planet motion. In order to adapt this
gear to the purpose I have in view I apply it either to the driving treadle or
crank axle, or to the driven wheel or wheels.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I will now proceed
to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying two sheets of drawings in
which
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved gear as applied to the driving treadle or
crank axle,
Figure 2 is a similar clevation partly in section.
Figure 3 is an elevation of my improved gear as applied to the driven wheel of a
safety bicycle for example, and
Figure 4 is a similar.elevation partly in section.
When applying the improved gear to the driving treadle or crank axle (see
Figures I and 2) I connect one of the main toothed wheels A of the balance gear
with the pitch chain wheel B arranged to turn loosely on the said crank axle C
which turns in ball or other suitable bearings in the part D or bottom bracket of
the frame of the machine in the usual way. The other main toothed wheel A' of
the gear turns loosely on the said axle C but can when required be made to turn.
with the said axle by means of a clutch E in the manner to be hereafter described.
The intermediate or planet toothed wheels A' A³ connecting together the two
main toothed wheels A and A' are mounted and turn respectively on studs A**
and A screwed or otherwise secured in or formed with the sleeve F which is
secured to the axle C so as to turn therewith; the studs A** and A³* also pass
radially through the cylindrical ring or enclosing box G so that the latter is forced
to turn along with the sleeve F, wheels A' A³, and axle C. The clutch E is
mounted on the long boss of the wheel A' and is free to slide longitudinally
thereon, being forced to turn therewith by means of the feather H in the said boss.
The claws E of the clutch E are adapted to take into the notches G¹ in the side
of the box G when the said clutch is moved towards the left in the figures, and
when the clutch is so engaged with the box G the wheels A A', A² and A³,
together with the pitch-chain wheel B, are locked together and to the axle C so
that the wheels A A³ cannot turn on their axes; but as those axes are connected
to the crank axle C by the sleeve F the revolution of the said axle carries round'

page_text: with it the whole system of gearing together with the pitch chain wheel B so that
under these circumstances each revolution of the treadle or crank axle imparts a
revolution to the pitch chain wheel, and the gear is then adapted to impart the
slowest speed to the cycle so as to facilitate the surmounting of hills or other
obstacles. When however the clutch E is moved towards the right in the figures
so as to disengage the claws E from the notches G¹ in the side of the box G. and
to bring the notch or recess E in the side of the clutch into gear with the spur I
which is rigidly connected with the bottom bracket D of the machine frame, the
wheel A is prevented from revolving with the crank axle C but the planet
wheels A and A3 being now left free to revolve on their axes A** and A³×, when
they are carried round the wheel A¹ by the crank axle C, they drive the toothed
wheel A and consequently the pitch chain wheel B at double the speed at which
they are driven when the clutch E is in gear with the box G, that is to say at
double the speed of the crank axle C under which circumstances the cycle is
adapted to run at its highest speed. When the clutch E is held in the position
shown in Figures 1 and 2, that is to say out of gear both with the box G and with
the spur I, the pitch-chain, wheel B is free to revolve independently of the crank
axle C, and the latter can be held stationary while the motion of the cycle
continues as in going down hill for example, the pitch-chain wheel B being driven
by the pitch-chain from the pitch chain wheel on the hub of the back driving
wheel, the planet wheels A' A³ and wheel A' being driven on their respective axes
by the wheel A without doing any useful work.
When applying the gear to a driven road wheel (see Figures 3 and 4) instead of
to the treadle or crank axle I connect one of the main toothed wheels A of the
balance gear with the hub K of the driven road wheel which is free to turn on its
axle L fixed in the ends of the fork D₁ of the frame. The other main toothed
wheel A is free to turn on the said fixed axle L except when prevented from
doing so by a suitable stopping apparatus such as, for example, the clutch E to be
hereafter described. The intermediate or planet toothed wheels A² A³, connecting
together the two toothed main wheels A A¹, are in this case carried by, and turn
loosely on, axles A** A* respectively which are supported by the sleeve F and
box G. The sleeve F being in this case free to revolve on the fixed axle L.
The pitch chain wheel B is formed on the box G and is therefore in connection
with the planet wheels A' A³. The clutch E is mounted on the long boss of the
wheel A and is free to slide longitudinally thereon, being forced to turn therewith
by means of the feather H in the said boss. The claws E of the clutch E are
adapted to take into the notches G in the side of the box G when the said clutch
is moved towards the right in the figures and when the clutch is so engaged with
the box G the wheels A A' A2 and A³, together with the hub K of the road
wheel, are locked together, so that the planet wheels A' A³ cannot turn on their
axes; but as these axes are connected with the box G and pitch chain wheel B
the revolution of the latter produced by the pitch-chain, actuated by the
crank axle, carries round with it the whole system of gearing, together with the
hub K, so that under these circumstances each revolution of the pitch chain
wheel B imparts a revolution to the hub K and consequently to the road wheel
and the gear is then adapted to impart the slowest speed to the cycle so as to
facilitate the surmounting of hills or other obstacles. When however the clutch E
is moved towards the left in the figures so as to disengage the claws E' from the
notches G in the side of the box & and to bring the notch or recess E' in the side
of the clutch into gear with the spur I, which is rigidly connected with the fork D¹
of the framing of the machine, the wheel A' is prevented from revolving with the
pitch chain wheel B; but the planet wheels A and A³ being now left free to
revolve on their axes A2 and As when they are carried round by the pitch-chain
wheel B and box G, they drive the toothed wheel A and consequently the hub. K
of the road wheel at double the speed at which it is driven when the clutch E is in
gear with the box G, that is to say at double the speed of the pitch chain wheel B,
under which circumstances the cycle is adapted to run at its highest speed. When

page_text: the clutch E is held in the position shown in the figures, that is to say out of gear
both with the box G and with the spur I, the road wheel is free to revolve
independently of the pitch-chain wheel and the latter can be held stationary by the
crank axle being prevented from revolving while the motion of the cycle continues,
as in going down hill for example, the planet wheels A2 A3 and wheel A¹ being
then driven on their respective axes by the wheel A without doing any useful
work.
T
The clutches E may be operated from the rider's seat by any suitable arrange-
ment of levers and connecting rods, or otherwise as may be convenient or desirable,
for example in Figures 3 and 4 is shown a clutch fork M turning on a fulcrum
pin N in a bracket or fixing P secured to the fork D, the arm M of the clutch
fork being connected by a connecting rod Q with a lever or other suitable
mechanical device (not shown in the drawing) placed within reach of the rider and
arranged to be held in either of the three positions necessary for holding the
clutch E in gear with the box G, in gear with the spur I, or out of gear with
either. A similar arrangement may be applied to the gear shown in Figures 1
and 2.
The wheels A and A¹ are preferably arranged to turn on ball bearings on the
axes C or L as the case may be, but these bearings are not shown in the drawings
as their application to such wheels differs in no material respect from their appli-
cation to the ordinary road wheels of cycles which is well understood by persons
conversant with the art of cycle making.
The gear as above described in connection with a crank axle (Figures 1 and 2)
may be employed in cases where the crank axle is applied to a driving wheel
direct instead of to what is known as the bottom bracket; in such case the driving
wheel would be arranged to turn loosely on the said axle in place of the pitch-
chain wheel B, the wheel A being fixed to the hub of the said wheel instead of to
the said pitch-chain wheel. In this case the prongs of the fork D would be much
longer than shown in Figures 1 and 2 in order to receive the driving wheel, and the
spur I would be secured to or formed with one of the said prongs in a manner
similar to that shown in Figures 3 and 4.
The gear as above described in connection with a driven road wheel may be
applied to more than one such driven road wheel if the cycle is furnished with
more than one, as in the case of those tricycles which have two driven road wheels
for example.
In the drawings the gearing is shown with two planet wheels A² and A³ but for
the sake of simplicity one only may be employed, though I prefer to use two as
shown.
Similar letters of reference relate to like parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire to have it
understood that I make no claim generally to the use of a sun and planet system or
epicyclic train of gearing for causing the pitch-chain wheel, or the driving wheel,
of a cycle to run at a speed different from that of the crank axle, as I am aware
that such use is not novel, but I declare that what I do claim is
First. In a sun and planet driving gear applied to the crank axle of a cycle the
combination with such gear of a clutch so arranged and adapted that when engaged
with a spur or stop on the frame of the machine it locks one of the main wheels of
the gear stationary to enable the planet gear to drive the pitch chain wheel, or the
driving wheel, as the case may be, at a greater speed than the crank axle; when
engaged with the box or ring connected with the planet wheels it locks all the
wheels of the gear and the pitch chain wheel, or on the driving wheel, as the case
may be, together and to the crank axle, so that the said pitch chain wheel or
driving wheel revolves with and at the same speed as the crank axle; and when
disengaged from both the aforesaid spur or stop and box or ring it.leaves the pitch

page_text: chain wheel, or the driving wheel, as the case may be, and the main wheels of the
sun and planet gear free to revolve on the crank axle when the same is held
stationary, substantially as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2
of the drawings.
Second. In a sun and planet driving gear applied to the driven road wheel of a
cycle the combination with such gear of a clutch so arranged and adapted that
when engaged with a spur or stop on the frame of the machine it locks one of the
main wheels of the gear stationary to enable the pitch chain wheel to drive the
road wheel at a greater speed than the said pitch chain wheel itself revolves; when
engaged with the box or ring connected with the planet wheels it locks all the
wheels of the gear and the pitch chain wheel together, so that the said pitch chain
wheel drives the road wheel at the same speed as itself and when disengaged from
both the aforesaid spur or stop and box or ring it leaves the road wheel and the
main wheels of the sun and planet gear free to revolve on the axle when the pitch
chain wheel is held stationary substantially, as herein before described, and illustrated
in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings.
Third. In a sun and planet driving gear of a cycle the combination, with the
main wheel of such gear which is not connected to the pitch chain wheel or driving
or driven road wheel, of a clutch by means of which the said main wheel may be
connected to the frame and thereby prevented from revolving when it is required
that the driven part shall run at a greater speed than the driving part, substantially
as hereinbefore described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Fourth. In a sun and planet driving gear of a cycle the combination, with the
main wheel of such gear which is not connected to the pitch chain wheel or driving
or driven road wheel, of a clutch E and a box or ring G connected with the axes
of the planet wheels and rotating with the said wheels round the main axle, and
adapted to be engaged with the said clutch E when it is required that the driven
part shall run at the same speed as the driving part, substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in the drawings.
Fifth. The improved driving gear for cycles which cousists of a sun and planet
system of toothed wheels, a clutch, and a spur or stop connected with the frame of
the machine, combined, arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore
described, and illustrated in the drawings.
1000