An Improved Variable Speed Gearing for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th July, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Variable Speed Gearing for Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
I, JOHN ROBERTSON of 2 Victoria Street, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire,
Scotland, Wine Merchants Assistant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in variable speed gearing for velocipedes
and other vehicles, and has for its object a means whereby the gearing employed
may be instantly changed from speed to power or vice-versu at the will of the
operator.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the hub of one of the track
wheels of a velocipede or other vehicle in such a manner as to be borne upon
suitable ball bearings arranged within the frame of the machine, independently
of the axle thereof. Said hub is formed internally to receive an axle which is
polygonal in cross section and arranged to fit freely therein. A recessed wheel
having projections on the periphery thereof to carry a chain, is mounted upon
the frame of the machine by means of a right angled annular flange formed
upon the boss of said wheel, engaging with a similar flange formed upon the
frame of the machine, the angle of the flange upon the wheel being opposed
to the angle of the flange on the frame of the machine, the projection on
the one fitting into the recess of the other, so that the wheel may revolve
thereon. I may in certain cases interpose ball bearings between said flanges
for the purpose of reducing friction. The position of said wheel upon the
frame of the machine being such that the axis thereof is identical with that
of the hub of the track wheel before mentioned, so that the polygonal axle
within the hub of the track wheel may slide into a similar polygonal hole
formed in the axis of the chain wheel when desired. The said axle is polygonal
in cross section for so much of its length as to slightly exceed the length of the
hub of the track wheel through which it passes, so that when projecting beyond
the hub at one end it is not in contact with the chain wheel. One end of the
axle is tapered so as to be circular in cross section, this circular part passes
through the polygonal hole in the chain wheel and carries upon the end thereof
a spur wheel keyed or otherwise fixed thereto, the thickness of said spur wheel
being equal to the depth of the recess before mentioned formed in the outer
face of the chain wheel. Said recess is provided with internal teeth around the
periphery thereof so as to be in gearing when required with the before
mentioned spur wheel by means of cog wheels mounted upon studs suitably
interposed there between and within the recess before described. Upon the
opposite end of the polygonal axle and projecting beyond the hub of the track
wheel I fix a collar having on its outer surface a square screw thread which is in
gear with a toothed quadrant pivotted upon the machine. A suitable pivotted lever
connected to said quadrant extends therefrom in an upward direction so as to be
near the hand of the driver. Said lever works within a guide at the side of the
machine having two notches one at each end, padded with any suitable non-resonant
substance, into one of which the lever is placed by the operator as speed or power
is desired. When the machine is travelling upon a level road, or descending a
gradient, and the speed of the machine may be increased, the lever handle is moved
in the direction needed to cause the movement thereby imparted to the quadrant to
act upon the screw threaded collar in such a manner as to slide the polygonal axle
within the hub of the track wheel until the spur wheel before mentioned is in gear,
by means of the intermediate wheels, with the teeth within the periphery of the
chain wheel; the machine is then in gear for speed and the spur wheel and track

page_text: wheel make several revolutions to one of the chain wheel, although the movements
of the operator are in nowise increased. When the machine is ascending a gradient
and power rather than speed is desired the operation of the lever is reversed and the
spur wheel is thrown out of gear, and the polygonal axle is pushed or slided into
the polygonal hole in the chain wheel which then revolves thereby and therewith,
so that the revolutions of the chain wheel and track wheel are identical by reason
of the external formation of the axle. The polygonal hole in the chain wheel may
be slightly tapered at one side of the wheel in order that the polygonal axle may
slide freely thereinto when desired. The chain wheel is driven by a suitable chain
passing over a chain wheel fixed upon the crank axle of the machine. Or I may in
certain cases construct the crank axle of a velocipede or other vehicle in such a
manner that the outer ends thereof are polygonal in cross section and slide within
suitable ball bearings formed in the frame of the machine in a similar manner to the
bearings of the hub of the track wheel previously described, in which case the action
of the gearing for speed or power would be reversed relatively to that previously
described. A suitable casing may be provided for the chain, chain wheels, and
quadrant, to keep out dust and dirt.
My invention is equally applicable to machines or vehicles driven by mechanical
power.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Variable Speed Gearing for Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
I, JOHN ROBERTSON of 2 Victoria Street, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire,
Scotland, Wine Merchants Assistant 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 variable speed gearing for velocipedes
and other vehicles, by means of which I am enabled to instantly change the manner
of manipulating the energy employed, so that this may be used either for increasing
the speed of the machine when travelling upon a level road, or for increasing the
power when climbing hills, or other inclines, either of which movements may be
carried out without altering the speed of the pedal crank.
In order that my invention and the manner of operating the same may be clearly
understood I have appended the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an external view of the chain wheel carried upon the driving axle of the
bicycle, tricycle or other machine.
Fig. 2 is an external view of the dust cap, or cover to be fixed upon the outer
surface of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a vertical section of Fig. 1, with Fig. 2 placed in position thereon,
illustrating the position of the driving axle therein, when the mechanism of Fig. 1 is
in gear for speed.
Fig. 5 is a repetition of Fig. 4, shewing the position of the driving axle when
said mechanism is not in gear, or when used for power.
Fig. 6 is a diametrical section of part of a driving wheel fitted with the apparatus
forming the subject of my invention.
Fig. 7 is a view illustrating the manner in which a hand lever may be employed
for operating the mechanism, when the same has to be changed from power to speed,
and vice versa.
Fig. 8 is an enlarged view of the guide in which the lever in Fig. 7 may slide,
and become locked, in either the position for speed, or power.

page_text: Similar letters of reference are used throughout the drawings when indicating
corresponding parts.
In carrying my invention into effect 1 construct the hub A, of one of the driving
wheels of a velocipede, or other vehicle, in such a manner as to be borne upon
suitable ball bearings within the frame of the machine B, so that said wheel can
freely revolve therein independently of the axle, said hub A, is formed internally to
receive an axle C, which is polygonal in cross section, preferably hexagonal, for so
much of its length as is intended to fit freely within A. Said axle when employed
upon the driving wheel of a safety bicycle, would have two outer ends, but when in
use upon a tri- or other cycle, would have only one end, which could be considered
the outer end, in so far as regards the wheel in question.
In the former case either
end, but in the latter case the outer end of C is tapered from the polygonal until it
becomes circular, and of smaller diameter, as at A².
The driving axle chain wheel D according to my invention is of peculiar con-
struction, and is formed with a recess upon its outer surface and upon the inner
periphery of D, formed by said recess I provide teeth, or cogs a. Upon the outer
or recessed face of D, are four fixed studs b b and c c', upon which are mounted four
preferably equal sized cog wheels E, F, G, H, the said studs being so arranged
that E and H are always in gear with a, and F, and G, in gear with E and H.
respectively, whilst leaving a distance between F, and G, equal to the
gearing therewith of a similar sized cog wheel I. Upon the inner surface
of D, and forming a boss therefor, I provide a right angled annular flange d,
which may be either in one or two pieces, and brazed or otherwise fastened
thereto as in Figs. 4 and 5, or provided with a second flange d¹ and bolted,
or screwed to D, as shewn in Fig. 6. Said flange d, engages with a similar
flange e formed either upon the frame of the machine, or integrally with, or con-
nected by any suitable means to, the outer end of the hub A, as shewn at Fig. 6.
The angle of d, being opposed to the angle of e the projection of the one fits freely
within the recess of the other, the inner surface of each being curved so that balls f,
may be interposed to reduce friction, by this means D is capable of revolving freely,
upon the angled projection e. Within the centre, or axis of D, I form a polygonal
hole g corresponding to the shape and size of the tapered polygonal part A of C,
and tapering outwardly on the inner side of D, so that C may, when required, be
easily slid thereinto, or so much thereof as is represented by A" until the taper
upon C, fits into the tapered hole g. Upon the circular end A', of C, I fix a cog
wheel I, which gears with F and G when the axle C, is withdrawn from D, as in
Fig. 4, but out of gear therewith when A" is pushed within g as in Fig. 5. The
thickness of the wheels E, F, G, H, and I, being equal to the depth of the recess
in the outer face of D, and consequently the cogs a, permits the fixing of a dust proof
cap, or cover J, upon the outer face of D, by means of screws, or the like engaging
with the holes h and i, in J, and D. The inner surface of J, is cupped at m to
permit the movement of the axle C, as described. Upon the axle C, at a suitable
distance from the inner end of A, I key, or otherwise fix a collar K, upon the outer
surface of which is formed a series of rings, having the appearance of, a square cut
screw thread, and erroneously described as such in my Provisional Specification.
Said ringed collar gears with the teeth of a quadrant L, pivotted in any convenient
manner upon the frame of the machine. A pivotted lever M, is connected to said
quadrant L, and extends therefrom in an upward direction so as to be near the
hand of the driver, or in a downward, or other suitable direction, if intended to be
operated by the foot. Said lever M is arranged to work within a guide n, suitably
positioned upon the frame of the machine, provided with a recess, or notch o at each
end, padded with india rubber, or other non-resonant material, into one, or the
other of which M is placed by the hand or foot of the driver, as speed, or power is
desired, and the manner of operation is as follows.
When the machine is travelling upon a level road, or descending a gradient, and
the speed of the machine may be increased, the lever M would be moved in the
direction needed to cause the movement thereby imparted to the quadrant L, to

page_text: act upon the collar K, in such a manner as to slide the axle C within A, until I is
in gear with F, and G. Referring to Figs. 6 and 7, to attain this movement of C,
the lever L, would be moved from right to left, and C from left to right, until
the gearing as described was effected, as shewn at Fig. 4. The machine would-
then be in gear for speed, and by means of the intermediate wheels E, F, G, and H,
the wheel, and consequently C and A and the track, or driving wheel thereon,
would make several revolutions to one of the chain wheel D, although the move-
ments of the operator would be in nowise increased. When the machine commences
to ascend a gradient, and power rather than speed is desired, the operation of the
lever M, and the corresponding parts, would be reversed, relatively to that just
described, until I, was thrown out of gear with F, and G, and the polygonal axle,
or so much of it as is represented by A", would be firmly fitted within the polygonal
hole in D, C would then be revolved with, and directly by, the chain wheel D, so
that the revolutions of the one would be identical with, that of the other. By the
foregoing description and by reference to the accompanying drawings, it will be
understood, that I am enabled to quickly and easily change the operations of the
machine so that the energy imparted by the rider may be utilised, either for
increasing the speed of the machine without increasing the rapidity of the move-
ments of the driver, or for power when needed without excess of energy. The
chain wheel D being of course driven by a larger chain wheel upon the pedal crank
in the usual way.
may in certain cases, or where desirable, construct the axle of the pedal crank
in such a manner that the ends thereof, are polygonal in cross section, and slide
within suitable ball bearings carried upon or within the frame of the machine, and
construct the chain wheel thereof in a similar manner to that of D, described, in
which case the actions of the gearing for speed, or power, would be reversed,
relatively to that as described upon the track, or driving wheel.
A suitable casing may be provided for the chain and quadrant L to keep out
dust and dirt.
My invention is equally applicable for velocipedes and other vehicles driven by
mechanical power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In an improved variable speed gearing for velocipedes and other vehicles,
the mechanism herein described, constructed, combined and operating as set forth,
substantially as, and for the purposes specified, and shewn by the accompanying
drawings.
2nd. In an improved variable speed gearing the employment of a recessed chain
wheel D, having internal teeth a, geared by means of intermediate wheels E, F, G, H,
with a wheel I, mounted upon a polygonal axle C, within the hub A of a driving
wheel, or pedal crank, formed internally to receive C. The manner of mounting D
by means of a flange d, engaging with a flange e, upon the hub. A, or frame B,
substantially as described and shewn by the appended drawings.
"
3rd. In an improved variable speed gearing, the construction and use of a
polygonal sliding axle C, for manipulating the gearing mentioned in the preceding
claim, so as to be used for speed, or power. The manner of operating C, by means
of a collar K fixed thercon, engaging with a pivotted toothed quadrant L, actuated
by a lever M, sliding within a non resonant guide and lock n, and operated by the
hand or foot of the rider, substantially as herein described and shewn by the
drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 11th day of July 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.