Improvements in Chain or Belt Gearing Adjustments.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan., 1895
Improvements in Chain or Belt Gearing Adjustments.
I, THOMAS VALATIEN HANDLOSER, of 314 East 119th Street, in the City,
County and State of New York, in the United States of America, Superintendent,
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 has reference to improvements in devices for adjusting the
tension of chains or belts and especially the chains commonly used for connecting
the driving gears or sprocket wheels of bicycles.
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the tension of the chain
may be readily adjusted in the usual manner by shifting one of the wheels without
the use of screw studs or bolts, which soon become worn and are liable to work
loose.
With this object in view my invention consists essentially in the combination
with the frame of a bicycle of an eccentric mounted to turn in said frame and
carrying the wheel axle, combined with means for securing the eccentric after it is
adjusted. The nature of my said invention will be best understood when described
in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of the chain adjustment.
:-
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the eccentric in a different position from
Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a section in the plane 3-3 Fig. 2.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings, the letter A designates the rear axle of a bicycle,
upon which is mounted the sprocket wheel B connected by a chain (not shown)
with the sprocket wheel on the crank axle, all as usual. The axle A has its
bearings in two eccentrics C mounted to turn in straps D at the respective ends of
the rear fork E. The straps D are constructed in any usual way to permit the
same to be drawn tightly about the eccentrics. In this example the straps are
shown provided respectively with a half section d hinged at d¹ to the opposite
stationary section and connected to the latter by a bolt a. By turning the
eccentrics in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, slack in the chain is taken up and
the chain can be brought to the proper tension. After adjustment, the nut
engaging bolt a is screwed down, thereby securely holding the eccentric by
friction.
In the drawings the eccentric is shown provided also with a series of peripheral
notches t, and the strap with a socket arranged in the line of the notches and
adapted to receive a pin c. By this means the eccentric can, if necessary, be
positively held and all danger of slipping is avoided.
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 :-
=
1. A chain or belt adjustment consisting of an eccentric supporting the wheel
shaft, combined with means for securing the eccentric after adjustment, substantially
as described.
2. A chain adjustment for bicycles, etc., consisting of one or more eccentrics
mounted in the frame and supporting the wheel shaft, and means for securing the
eccentrics after adjustment, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. A chain adjustment for bicycles, etc., consisting of two eccentrics mounted in
split hinged straps and supporting the wheel shaft, and bolts for drawing up the
straps, substantially as described.
4. A chain adjustment for bicycles, etc., consisting of one or more eccentrics
mounted on the frame and supporting the wheel shaft, frictional means for securing
the eccentrics after adjustment, series of notches in the eccentrics, and pins adapted
to enter stationary parts and said notches, substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of December 1894.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.