Improvements in Velocipede or like Driving Chains and Chain Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Aug., 1897--Accepted, 6th Nov., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede or like Driving Chains and Chain
Wheels.
I, RUPERT CECIL CHICKEN of 111 Forest Road West in the Borough of Nottingham,
Surgeon do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates more particularly to improvements in the driving chain and
chain wheels employed in a velocipede or like vehicle, for communicating the
movement of the crank axle to the road driving wheel or wheels, and it has for its
main object the reduction of internal friction in the chain and also the friction
between the chain and chain wheels.
In carrying out this invention each chain wheel is preferably formed with a
double rim, between which there are a number of anti-friction rollers or pulleys
mounted on axes which are parallel to the axis of the rotation of the wheel. The
axis of these anti-friction rollers or pulleys are equidistant from the centre of the
wheel, and the space between each is adjusted according to the pitch of the chain.
The chain rides on the peripheries of the anti-friction rollers and each block, in
what is known as a solid block chain, or every alternate link in a chain formed wholly
of side links, is formed with an extension to engage in the spaces between the
anti-friction rollers in the chain wheels.
I however preferably employ a solid block chain and preferably make the sides of
each extension approximately in the form of arcs of circles, of which the two pivots
of the block are the centres, in order that the said extensions will leave or enter the
spaces between the anti-friction rollers without friction, as the chain leaves or is drawn
on to the wheels. It may however in some cases be more convenient to make the
extensions other than of the form described.
The transverse pins for connecting the blocks to the side links of the chain are
fixed in the latter, and the holes in the blocks are each chambered out to receive a
suitable number of balls which are placed between the walls of the chamber in the
block, and the transverse pins, and thus form ball bearings at each joint in the
chain.
The anti-friction rollers in the chain wheel may be mounted on ball bearings of
the same or other suitable construction.
In an alternative arrangement, each chain wheel is formed with a second set of
anti-friction rollers placed at a greater distance from the centre of the wheel, and
each in a position corresponding to the centre of the space between the inner set.
The inner set of anti-friction rollers are formed broad enough. to receive the
side links of the chain, whilst the orter set are formed narrow enough to pass
between the links of an engage with the chain in the same manner as the teeth of
an ordinary chain wheel.
In order to obtain the greatest diameter for the anti-friction rollers, the
inner broad set may be recessed in the centre to receive the edges of the narrow
outer set.

page_text: Both sets of anti-friction rollers are mounted on pins passing through the
double rim of the wheel and may be formed with ball bearings.
With this arrangement the outer set of anti-friction rollers may engage in the
space between the side links or in openings formed in the solid blocks or both.
In a modification instead of an outer set of rollers in the wheel, transverse pins
may be employed and the said pins engage with rollers on the chain. These rollers
may be mounted on ball bearings of similar construction to those described in
reference to the blocks of the chain.
Dated this 7th day of November 1806
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipede or like Driving Chains and Chain
Wheels.
I, RUBERT CECIL CHICKEN, of 111, Forest Road West, in the City of Nottingham,
Surgeon, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in driving chains for velocipedes or the like,
and has for its object the reduction of internal friction and wear in such chains.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1. is an elevation partly in section, and
Fig. 2. a plan, also partly in section, of a chain constructed according to my
invention.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
The blocks A of the chain are formed with holes or chambers B, of larger diameter
than the transverse pins C, which connect the said blocks to the side plates D, and a
ball race E is formed in each hole or chamber as shown. Antifriction balls F are
placed in the space thus formed between each transverse connecting pins C
and the ball race E in the interior of the corresponding block, thus forming a
ball bearing at every joint in the chain.
Each transverse pin C may be formed with a cylindrical bearing surface for the
balls, or a ball race to correspond with those in the blocks, but I preferably form
an inner ball race G on a boss H mounted on each transverse connecting pin C as
shown. This boss H is divided in the centre in order that it may be conveniently
placed in position. The boss H also forms a distance piece between the side plates
and prevents said plates D from binding on the blocks.
Chains constructed in the manner described may be used in connection with
ordinary toothed chain wheels, or with wheels in which antifriction rollers are
employed instead of teeth, in the latter case the blocks A may be formed with
extensions to engage between the rollers in the wheels. I however find there is no
novelty in the chain wheels described in my Provisional Specification and make no
claim thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what. I
claim is
(1.) In a driving chain the combination with a block such as A formed with

page_text: chamber B of antifriction balls F placed within the chamber in the block and round
the pin C substantially as described.
(2.) In a driving chain the combination with a block such as A formed with a
chamber B and ball race E of side plates D connecting pin C boss such as H mounted
on the pin C and provided with a ball race and antifriction balls F substantially as
described.
(3.) The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete
driving chain substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
: des
RUPERT C. CHICKEN.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.