An Improved Driving Gear for Cycles and like Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 22nd day of February 1898.
Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
An Improved Driving Gear for Cycles and like Vehicles.
We, AUGUSTUS Gross, Engineer, VICTOR EDWARD MASTERS, Gentleman, and
JOHN BOOTH, Bank Clerk, all of 156 Vickery's Chamber, 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, which will enable a greater speed to be obtained, without materially
increasing the energy expended, and consists essentially in the combination and
arrangement of four sprocket wheels, and two driving chains, and a novel device
for adjusting the chains.
This improved driving gear may be attached to cycles at present in use as its
application thereto necessitates a very slight and inexpensive alteration. Cycles
having this improved driving gear attached, may be driven at a much greater
speed than heretofore, owing to the driving power being multiplied by the peculiar
arrangement of the additional sprocket wheels; but in order that this invention
may be fully understood reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet
of drawings in which;
-
Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle having this improved driving gear attached
thereto.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section of Figure 1, looking downwards.
Figures 3 and 4 are enlarged views of the chain regulating device and tube
bearing.
In all Figures similar letters are used to denote similar parts.
A is the rear or driving wheel of the bicycle to the hub B of which is attached
the sprocket wheel C. 1) is the pedal axle to which the sprocket wheel E is
attached F, and G, are the back stays, connecting the axle of the rear or driving
wheel A, to the frame work of the bicycle. The back stay G is shaped as shewn
in Figure 2, having a block or boss H, (see Figure 3) provided in a suitable
position.
An opening I, having curved ends as shewn in Figure 3, is provided to receive a
bearing tube J through which the axle K passes and may be provided with ball
bearings, secured to this axle K are the sprocket wheels L, and M, the smaller
wheel M is connected with the sprocket wheel E secured to the pedal axle, by the
chain N, while the larger sprocket wheel L, is connected with the sprocket wheel (',
secured to the hub of the driving wheel A, by the chain O. By this arrangement
DR11

page_text: the large sprocket wheel E, operates the smaller sprocket wheel M, which in
turn, operates the larger sprocket wheel L, by being secured to the same axle,
and this larger sprocket wheel L, operates the smaller sprocket wheel C, attached
to the hub of the driving wheel A. It will thus be obvious that the driving power
will be multiplied considerably.
5
In the drawings, the sprocket wheel M is placed on the inner side, while the
larger sprocket wheel L, is on the outer side of the stay G, it may be desirable in
some instances to reverse this order, but it is preferable to use the arrangement
shewn in tue drawings, to prevent an increase in the length of the pedal axle. The
tube bearing is of sufficient length to pass through the boss or block II, so 1
that a complete bearing may be provided for the axle K, the opening I is of just
sufficient width to receive the tube J, see Figure 3. The tube J is provided with
flanges P, P, arranged longitudinally, these flanges having slots QQ, cut therein,
so that when placed in position, the studs R, R, which are secured to the block
or boss H, will pass through and permit of the nuts S, S, being screwed thereon, 1
and firmly holding the tube in any required position. The object of this arrange-
ment is to provide a means for regulating the chain N, which connects the smaller
sprocket whice! M, with the larger sprocket wheel E, it may also be used to regulate
the chain 0, but an independent regulating device is provided for adjusting the
latter chain, which consists of the fork T, T, and the screw 1, by which the relative
position of the sprocket wheels (', and L, may be altered, and thus adjust the
chain ().
We do not claim this latter regulating device as novel.
In adjusting the chain A. issary in her on the S. S. and this permit
the tube beaing 4, together with K, in the shineket wheels L, 2
and M, to be moved backwards in Taid, i ded and when placed in the
required position may be secured there, by tightening the nuts S, S.
A modification may be made in this regulating device by providing a square
block, cored to receive the axle K in lieu of the ne, the opening in the block
or boss II, would then be provided with square ends. Another moulification may
be made by providing the tube bearing, with flanges such as P, P, at each end, so
that the said flanges will be on both the inner and outer sides of the block or
boss H, in this case bolts would be provided to pass right through the block
or boss H, and the slots Q and be secured by nuts.
Having now particularly described and acertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood
that we make no claim generally to a driving gear for cycles and like vehicles
in which the sprocket wheels on the pedal axle and the driving wheel hub are
respectively geared by chains to a smaller and a larger sprocket wheel on an adjust-
able intermediate axle carried by the back stay, but we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In driving gear for cycles and like vehicles, a chain regulating device,
consisting of a block or boss formed in one of the back stays, being provided with a
suitable opening, to receive a tubo bearing for the axle, to which a sprocket wheel
or wheels are attached, said tube bearing being provided with flanges, in which
slots are cut to permit of studs passing through and nuts to screw on to said studs,
and clasp the flanges and bearing, in any desired position, substantially as herein
described, explained and illustrated in the drawings.
2. In driving gear for cycles and like vehicles, the combination and arrange-
ment of the four sprocket wheels herein described and illustrated, of two driving
chains to operate said sprocket wheels, of an adjustable hearing carrying an axle
to which a small and large sprocket wheel is secured, said bearing passing through
a larger opening in one of the back stays, and having flanges, with slots cut therein
to receive studs or bolts for securing same in position substantially as herein
described, explained and illustrated in the drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of the various mechanical. parts herein

page_text: described explained and illustrated, altogether forming, the improved driving gear
for cycles and like vehicles, substantially and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 10th day of March 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.