Improvements in or connected with Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1900-Accepted, 24th Feb., 1900
Improvements in or connected with Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
I, GEORGE SINGER, Managing Director of Singer Cycle Company, Limited,
of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to improvements in or connected with driving gear
for that class of velocipedes usually called "free wheel" cycles, in which the
vehicle is capable of running in a forward direction while the pedals remain
stationary.
The object of my invention is to provide a machine which may be used
either as a "free wheel" cycle or as an ordinary cycle at the option of its
rider.
-
A convenient way of carrying out my invention is for example as follows:-
I make the flange on the inner side of the driving wheel somewhat larger than
usual, and through this flange I put a stud, which is capable of lateral movement
and is made to engage with a recess in the side of the free wheel driving
sprocket, which latter is loose on the hub.
The spokes of the wheel I attach above the line of this stud, in order to bring
the support of the stud and the side of the free wheel sprocket as near together
as possible.
The stud may be made movable either by screwing it into the flange, or it
may slide in the flange, and be kept in position laterally by means of a spring
or springs.
I sometimes fit a hinged catch. pivotted to a projection on the hub and
engaging with a slotted projection in the free wheel sprocket.
Improvements in or connected with Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
I. GEORGE SINGER, Managing Director of Singer Cycle Company, Limited,
of Coventry. in the County of Warwick, 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, or connected with, driving gear
for that class of velocipedes usually called "free wheel" cycles, by which gear

page_text: the vehicle is rendered capable of running in a forward direction, while the
pedals remain stationary.
The object of my invention is to provide or construct the driving gear with
devices such as hereafter described, whereby the machine may be conveniently
rendered capable of use either as a "free wheel" cycle, or as an ordinary cycle, 5
at the option of the rider.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe examples
of same with reference to the accompanying drawings, whereon Fig. 1 is a
sectional elevation and Fig. 2 is a plan view of a driving wheel hub with free
wheel gear; Fig. 3 is an interior elevation of the driving sprocket ring of same,
these views shewing one construction of locking device according to my said
invention.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are similar views shewing a slightly modified construction,
and Figs. 7, 8 and 9 are similar views shewing a construction where a hinged
catch is employed.
Referring more particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, I form the flange A of the
driving wheel hub, of somewhat larger size than usual, and I fit or form on
the inner side thereof a bracket, sleeve, or housing A to receive a bolt B,
which latter is capable of lateral motion in such housing. The inner end of
the bolt B projects through the housing A¹, and is provided with a milled
head 13, the bolt being shouldered to form a bearing for a spring C, which
surrounds same in the interior of the housing A¹, and tends to force the bolt B
towards the inner face of the sprocket ring D.
'
The inner face of the free wheel driving sprocket ring D is recessed at parts
as shewn at E, Fig. 3, and the bolt B is formed or provided with a similar
shaped end B2, adapted to fit into one of such recesses E when the free wheel
sprocket ring D is required to be locked to the hub for ordinary driving.
Upon the shank of the bolt B, there is a projecting feather or stud B3, which
latter when the bolt is out of action, bears against the end of the housing A¹,
while the end of the housing is slotted at one part, to allow of the advance of
the bolt to locking position when required.
"
In order to convert the machine from "free wheel to "fixed wheel" driving,
that is to say, in order to lock the sprocket ring D to the wheel hub, the bolt B
is partly rotated by the aid of the milled head B¹, in order to bring the stud B³
to coincide with the longitudinal slot in the housing A¹; the rider then releases
the milled head, when the bolt B is forced forwards by the spring C, whereby
the end of the said bolt is brought into contact with the recessed face of the
sprocket ring, and enters one of the recesses E therein, as shewn in the drawing,
thereby locking the sprocket ring to the wheel hub; the machine can then be
driven and controlled, through the driving chain or the like, in the ordinary
way.
When the machine is to. be converted to "free wheel" driving the rider draws
the bolt B back by the head B¹, and partly rotates the bolt to bring the stud B³
against the end of the housing A', whereby the said bolt is held out of action
and the machine converted to "free wheel" driving. In the construction shewn
at Figs. 1. 2 and 3, the spokes of the wheel are attached to the flange A above
the line of the bolt, in order to bring the housing of the bolt and the free wheel
sprocket, as near together as possible.
At Figs. 4. 5 and 6, an arrangement is shewn where the flange is not
necessarily enlarged, and where the sleeve or housing A¹ is formed in a piece
with, or affixed to. the barrel of the wheel hub. and the stud B³ projects through
a slot A² resembling the slot of a bayonet joint. There are two recesses E
shewn in the face of the sprocket ring, and in some other respects, as will be
readily observed. the construction shewn at Figs. 4, 5 and 6 slightly differs from
that shewn at Figs. 1, 2 and 3. while the action is the same as that of the
device described with reference to the latter figures.
Instead of the bolt B sliding laterally as described, I may instead thereof form
1

page_text: the bolt as a hinged catch as shewn at Figs. 7, 8 and 9, where the bolt B is
pivotted at A to a housing or part A¹ extending from the barrel of the wheel
hub and is retained in the position shewn (that is locking the sprocket ring
to the hub), or in a vertical position (leaving the sprocket ring free) by means
of a spring C which bears upon flattened surfaces of the pivotted bolt B. In
this construction the rider places the bolt in one position or the other as required
by simply raising or lowering same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. In driving gear for velocipedes in which the driving wheel hub is fitted
with a driving sprocket ring, and clutch or ratchet mechanism by which the
sprocket ring engages the hub in the driving direction, while the hub is free
to over-run the said sprocket ring; the combination with the wheel hub, of a
housing or bracket fixed to, or formed therewith, and adapted to carry a sliding
or pivotted spring-governed bolt, the said bolt being capable of being placed in
either of two positions, that is, to engage in recesses formed in the sprocket ring
to lock the latter to the hub, or withdrawn from the sprocket ring to permit
the wheel hub to over-run the said sprocket ring, substantially as described.
2. In driving gear for velocipedes in which the driving wheel hub is fitted
with a driving sprocket ring, and clutch or ratchet mechanism by which the
sprocket ring engages the hub in the driving direction, while the hub is free
to over-run the said sprocket ring; the construction and arrangement of device
substantially as and for the purposes described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3
of the accompanying drawings.
3. In driving gear for velocipedes in which the driving wheel hub is fitted
with a driving sprocket ring, and clutch or ratchet mechanism by which the
sprocket ring engages the hub in the driving direction, while the hub is free
to over-run the said sprocket ring; the construction and arrangement of device
substantially as and for the purposes described with reference to Figs. 4, 5
and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In driving gear for velocipedes in which the driving wheel hub is fitted
with a driving sprocket ring, and clutch or ratchet mechanism by which the
sprocket ring engages the hub in the driving direction, while the hub is free
to over-run the said sprocket ring; the construction and arrangement of device
substantially as and for the purposes described with reference to Figs. 7, 8 and 9
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of Januar 1900
BREWER & SON,
London & Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.