An Improved Driving Gear for velocipes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Sept., 1899
Complete Spécification Left, 16th June, 1900-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1900
An Improved Driving Gear for velocipes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY HIRST, of 29, Buckingham Street, Holderness Road, Hull,
in the County. of Yorkshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to construct an improved driving gear for
velocipedes by means of which more power can be obtained with less exertion
on the part of the rider than is possible with existing gears, also a high gear
made according to my invention is as easy or easier to drive than a medium
gear is with the present construction of chain wheels and chain; my improved.
gear may be either chainless or it may have a chain, as desired.
For the purpose of my invention, when my improved gear is used for safety
bicycles, I fit a pinion wheel on the hub of the wheel of the cycle which, in rear.
driven machines, would take the place of the small chain wheel which has
hitherto been fitted in such hub.
I employ a circular or other suitably shaped plate or disc which is attached
to preferably the back fork of the cycle, this disc is provided with a projecting
ring or flange running all the way around it to act as a cover for other parts
of the gear this plate or disc is provided with a bracket which forms a recess
or box with an open side for the pinion wheel to work within, the end of the
axle of the cycle wheel passes through this bracket and is secured on the outside
by means of a nut or in any other suitable manner. I employ a large hollow...
wheel having internal teeth preferably of the kind known as roller teeth, this
wheel is movably attached to the plate or disc which is connected to the rear fork,
of the cycle, and by being movable it turns on the pin which secures it to such
plate or disc ball or other suitable bearings being employed to prevent friction
and to allow of it turning easily.
A stud is mounted on this wheel out of centre and projects from it, a con-.
necting rod runs from such stud to the treadle, and by turning the treadle an
eccentric motion is obtained, the internally toothed wheel turns and the pinion
runs in gear with the teeth of such wheel and thus imparts mction to the back
wheel of the cycle, thus driving the machine.
If the cycle is to be chainless, two of these gears are employed, one on either
side of the wheel or frame, but if it is to be driven by means of a chain, the
connecting rods are dispensed with, the internal wheel is provided with ar..
additional set of teeth which would by preference be on its outer periphery, a.
chain wheel is mounted on the treadle crank axle in the ordinary way, and a
chain employed for connecting the internal toothed wheel and the chain wheel.
on the treadle crank axle.
When connecting rods are used each one may be provided with projections
at its rounded or bearing ends to take screws having cupped bottoms in which
balls in the bearing part fit, by this means the friction on those bearing parts
is considerably reduced.
For machines driven from the front wheel, of the class having a large wheel
and a small wheel, the connecting rods are also dispensed with and the treadle.
cranks connected direct to the internally toothed wheel.

page_text: For tricycles, the gear would be the same in principle but the method of
attaching would be varied owing to the various kinds of frames employed.
Dated this Sixteenth day of September 1899.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant,
An Improved Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM HENRY HIRST, of 29, Buckingham Street, Holderness Road, Hull,
in the County of Yorkshire, Engineer, 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 construct an improved driving gear for
velocipedes by means of which more power can be obtained with less exertion
on the part of the rider than possible with existing gears and driving mech-
anism; also a high gear made according to my invention is as easy or easier
to drive than a medium gear is with the present construction of chain wheels
and chain; my improved gear may be either chainless or it may have a chain as
desired.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevation of my improved driving or gear box.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of my improved driving or gear box mounted upon
the hub of a velocipede, showing connecting rod attached.
Fig. 3 is an end view of one of the pedal cranks employed when connecting
rods are used in place of chains.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation of my improved gear box, showing connecting rod
attached.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of pedal cranks, employed where connecting rods
are used.
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a bicycle showing my improved driving gear
applied in connection with connecting rods.
Fig. is a side elevation of a bicycle showing my improved driving or gear
box operated by chain.
For the purpose of my invention, when my improved driving gear is used for
safety bicycles, I fit a pinion wheel A on the hub B of the wheel of the cycle,
which in rear driven machines would take the place of the small chain wheel
which has hitherto been fitted on such hub, this pinion is preferably screwed
on to the hub.
I also employ a circular or other suitably shaped plate or disc C which is
attached to preferably the back forks D of the cycle, this disc is provided with
a projecting ring or flange E running all the way around it to act as a cover
for other parts of the gear, and make the same dust proof and oil retaining,
this plate or disc is provided with a bracket F which forms a recess or box
with an open side for the pinion wheel A to work within, the end of the axle G
of the cycle wheel passes through this bracket and is secured on the outside by
means of a nut H or in any suitable manner.
Further, I employ a large hollow wheel J having internal teeth K, preferably
of the kind known as roller teeth, this wheel is movably attached to the plate
or disc C which is connected to the rear fork of the cycle, and by being movable
it turns on the pin L which secures it to such plate or disc,

page_text: Ball or other suitable bearings M being employed to prevent friction and to
allow of it turning easily.
A stud N mounted on the wheel J projects from it, and a connecting rod P
runs from such stud to the treadle crank R, so that by turning the treadle
crank axle R an eccentric motion is obtained, the internally toothed wheel
turns and the pinion A runs in gear with the teeth of such wheel, and thus
imparts motion to the back wheel of the cycle, so driving the machine.
When the cycle is chainless, I preferably employ two of these gears, one on
each side of the wheel or frame (see Fig. 6), and two connecting rods are
employed, one to each wheel J and pedal crank R, but when a chain is employed
for driving purposes the connecting rods are dispensed with, and the internal
wheel provided with an additional set of teeth S upon its external periphery, a
chain wheel T (see Fig. 7) is mounted on the treadle crank axle R¹ in the ordinary
way, and a chain U employed for connecting the wheel J with the wheel T on
the crank axle R¹.
When connecting rods are used (see Figs. 2 and 4) the projection or stud N
may be screwed into the outer side of the hollow wheel J, and a sleeve Z placed
upon it, the connecting rod is slid on to the sleeve, this rod has holes in it to
receive screwed plugs X having cupped bottoms in which balls Y are placed,
such balls bearing on the sleeve Z; by these means the friction on the bearing
parts is considerably reduced.
Also see Figs. 3 and 5, where connecting rods are employed I make the pedal
crank in two pieces, a short piece R2 having a pin R. and a longer piece R with
a hole through to fit on pin R³, the connecting rod P fits on to the pin in the
space between the parts.
Further I find it desirable in this case to bend the pedal cranks to the segment
of a circle as shown at Fig. 4. Should it be necessary when chain driving is
employed to tighten or slacken the chain, this operation may be effected by
making the back fork D adjustable within the sleeve C of the plate or disc C,
or any other suitable means may be employed.
By this arrangement of driving gear, besides requiring less power, the gear
box is dust-proof and oil retaining, there is a minimum amount of friction and
in back pedaling it gives the rider full control of the machine, thus allowing
of a brake being dispensed with if desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A driving gear for velocipedes consisting of an internally toothed wheel J.
operated by connecting rod P and stud N from the pedal crank axle U. said
wheel gearing with an operating wheel A, on the axle or hub of the driving
wheel, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and described.
2. A driving gear for velocipedes consisting of an internally and externally
toothed wheel J operated by chain and chain wheel from the pedal crank axle,
such wheel gearing with and operating wheel A upon the axle or hub of the
driving wheel, in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and
described.
3 The combination of plate or disc C and bracket F with wheels J and A.
in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and described.
4. Constructing the pedal cranks in two parts and bending and mounting
same in the manner and for the purposes substantially as shown and described.
Dated this Fifteenth day of June 1900
JOHN E. WALSH,
Savile Street, Hull, and Crossley Street, Halifax,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.