An Improvement in Driving Gear for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPE
ATION.
An Improvement in Driving Gear for Cycles.
PETER MAURICE STAUNTON 18 Herbert Street Dublin Barrister at Law do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It has for its object the introduction of a modified amount of "spring" into cycle
chains when in use which will I claim be an improvement on the "dead" pull that
is produced by the rigid existing forms of chain. With this object I may construct
the links or some of them much similar to the links used in the ordinary roller
chains but with their sides slightly bent outwards or rounded and arched upwards s0
that they may slightly stretch when the driving pressure is being put on the chain &
resume their normal length as they come in contact with the sprockets.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896.
I, PETER MAURICE STAUNTON 18 Herbert Street Dublin Barrister-at-Law do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be perforined, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to an improved power transmitting chain for use with all
classes of Cycles, such as Bicycles, Tricycles Motor-Cycles and such like, and it has
for its object the construction of a driving chain (lor use on sprocket wheels)
which will have a properly modified amount of longitudinal elasticity or "spring
when subjected to the ordinary driving pressure, whereby an improvement is obtained
over the dead pull" usually resulting from the ordinary cycle chain now in use.
With this object I construct the links of such chain or some of such links, much
similar in shape to those used in the ordinary sprocket chains but so rounded and
arched upwards that they may stretch slightly when the driving pressure is exercised
and resume their normal length as they come in contact with the sprockets of the
wheel by which the chain is being driven.
In order that the nature and construction of my invention may be more readily
understood and carried into practice I will now more fully describe the same, with
the assistance of the annexed drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved driving chain and Fig. 2 is
a plan of the same.
In this form the "spring" links a are much similar in shape to those of an ordinary
sprocket chain, as shown in Fig. 1 b, but their sides are rounded upwards and arched
upwards so as to procure the elasticity and strength required, whilst their inner

page_text: contact surface is prolonged as shown at c, c the object being to maintain the contact
surface as in the ordinary "side" liuks, in order that they may accurately guide the
action of the sprockets between their sides, the sides of those "spring" links are
made of thicker metal than ordinary sides of links, and all the links are connected
together by suitable rivets and rollers.
Fig. 3 shows an elevation of another form of my improved chain and Fig. 4 is a
plan of same.
In this form the "spring". links a are made of a solid piece of steel or other
suitable material and are-as in the first described form of links-rounded and arched
upwards for the purpose.specified-the inner line of contact being maintained as
shown the side links f in this case may be of any ordinary shape.
.
Figs. 5, 6, 7 show various forms of "solid "spring links shaped on the principle of
iny invention those shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be stamped as shown, or stamped
and bent from solid steel. Fig. 7 shows a link formed from weldless steel tubing
which mode of construction I find answers the purpose of my invention.
The complete chain may be made up of alternate "side" links and "solid" links
shaped in accordance with my invention or my improved links may be used in
combination with any other suitable form of link, the required elasticity being
adjusted by the relative heights of the upward rounding and arching of such
"spring" links and by the proportion of them used in any given chain. All the links
may be connected by means of suitable rivets and rollers as shown in Fig. 2. The
connections between the links shown in Fig. 4 are formed by rivets.
An important feature of my invention as shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is that the width
of the chain will not be increased by the use of such "spring" links, as-is the case
in certain other chains hitherto devised for the object in view and the "grain" of
the steel forming such links may also .be. more accurately preserved and yet the
necessary amount of strength and spring, in such links may be obtained.
Another material advantage arising from the use of my improved "solid" links is
that the shortening of such links by wear at their ends and their consequent tendency
to "get out of pitch" by such wear and by the wear of the sprockets,, will be
counteracted and compensated by their tendency to lengthen when subjected to long
continued use or to very undue driving pressure, by which means I secure the main-
tenance of a more accurate "pitch" in addition, the temporary elongation of such
links when in use, will have an upward tendency which will enable them to more
freely come in contact with the sprockets of the driving wheel.
By those means I procure a strong and durable driving chain which may be
adjusted to the sprocket wheels more tightly than an ordinary cycle chain and yet
run freely, and which may be used with sprocket wheels of any ordinary pattern,
and without having to alter the proximity of such sprocket wheel to the frame or
fittings or driving wheel of the cycle. Although I consider that the necessary strength
and elasticity may best be obtained by the combined upward rounding and arching
of my spring links, and' I thereby increase their tendency to "spring" upwardly as
already described-it is obvious that such rounding may be modified, provided the
necessary strength is maintained at the required height above the "line of pull"
through the connecting rivets.
By means of my, improved chain I enable a more even and constant driving
pressure to be applied and I reduce the jerking and jarring of such chains and the
consequent wear and injury caused to the driving gear and to the frame of the
cycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is-
(1) The construction and application of a power transmission chain for cycles
having "side" links or "solid" links shaped or rounded upwards and arched upwards
whereby a slight "spring" or elasticity is afforded, substantially as described and
illustrated.

page_text: (2) The use and application of a power transmission chain having "side" links or
"solid" links shaped or rounded upwards and arched upwards as described in
Claim 1 in combination with the ordinary cog or sprocket wheels for the purpose and
in the manner substantially as described and set forth.
(3) The use and application of a power transmission chain for cycles having "side"
links rounded or shaped upwards and arched upwards and provided with elongated
inner edges for the purpose of increasing the contact between the links and the
sprocket wheels on which the chain may move, substantially as and for the purpose
herein described.
Dated this 10th day of Aucent 1807
PETER MAURICE STAUNTON.