An Improved Instrument for Indicating the Speed of Cycles and for Checking the Accomplishment of Runs at a Predetermined Speed.
Year: 1897

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by EDWARD GRIFFin Dorchester, of No. 67 North Main
Street, Geneva, in the County of Ontario, State of New York, United States of
America, Merchant.]
[Communicated from abroad by EDWARD GRIFFin Dorchester, of No. 67 North Main
Street, Geneva, in the County of Ontario, State of New York, United States of
America, Merchant.]
An Improved Instrument for Indicating the Speed of Cycles and
for Checking the Accomplishment of Runs at a Predetermined
Speed.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of the Agency for Foreign
Patent Solicitors, 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, 6, Lord Street,
Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, and
Lower Temple Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil 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:-
This invention relates to an instrument designed to be attached to a bicycle for the
purpose of ascertaining the speed at which the bicycle is propelled.
The instrument is provided with a dial and hands or indicators similar to a watch
and actuated by the rotation of one of the wheels of the bicycle, and is designed to
be used in connection with a clock or watch with the time of which the movements
of the hands or indicators of the instrument are to be compared to ascertain if the
bicycle is travelling a predetermined distance during a certain period, as hereinafter
more fully described. Said clock or watch may be carried on the person riding the
bicycle.
In the annexed Drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of that part of a bicycle to
which my speed-indicator is applied, Fig. 2 is an enlarged detached perspective
view of said indicator, Fig. 3 is a perspective detail view of the skeleton supporting-
frame of the enclosing-case of the instrument, Figs. 4 and 5 are vertical transverse
sectional views of the enclosing-case showing the internal mechanisms, Fig. 6 is a
horizontal transverse section on line Z-Z in Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a horizontal transverse
section on line 0-0 in Fig. 5. All of said sectional views are taken in the directions
indicated by the arrows, Fig 8 is a horizontal transverse section on line U-U in Fig. 4,
Fig. 9 is a horizontal transverse section on line V-V in Fig. 5, Fig.10 is a longitudinal
section on line W-W in Fig. 7, Fig. 11 is an enlarged side view of the attachment of
the instrument pulsating-spurs to the wheel of the bicycle, and Fig. 12 is a
longitudinal section on line T--T in Fig. 11.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
This case
A denotes the enclosing-case of the speed indicating instrument.
consists essentially of a cylindrical body sustained revolubly on the exterior of a
skeleton-frame consisting of the two end-plates A² and B2, which are tied to each
other by staves C-C of suitable spring metal fastened at one end to the bottom plate Aª

page_text: and provided at the opposite or free ends with notches C¹-C¹, as shown in Fig. 3 of
the Drawings. The top-plate B2 of the case is provided with notches C2 of such
dimensions as to closely fit therein the narrowed notched portions of the staves, which
are caused to enter said notches by bending the free ends of the staves outward and
then allowing them to spring into the notches C². The staves thus become securely
interlocked with the top plate.
The cylindrical body of the case is sustained revolubly on the exterior of the staves
and prevented from moving longitudinally by the projection of the margin of the
bottom-plate A2 and by the bottom edge of a ring B₁ attached to the top-plate B².
The inner side of the cylindrical body A is provided with spiral grooves a¹ a¹ for the
purpose hereinafter explained.
Longitudinally through the center or axis of the case A extends a shaft a, as
hereinbefore stated, which shaft has fastened to it a pointer b, which, in the rotation
of the shaft, traverses the dial B.
To the shaft is rigidly secured a cone of gears D or a series of gear-wheels of
successively increasing diameters, each individual gear of which is separated from the
adjacent companion gear by interposed disks c c, each of which projects with its
peripheral edge slightly beyond the face of the adjacent larger gear.
Parallel with the shaft is a gear-wheel d, which is of a length equal to the height
of the cone of gears D, and is of a uniform diameter throughout its length and pivoted
to the end-plate of the case A. The gear D transmits motion to the shaft a by means
of an intermediate pinion e, which is sustained movably in two directions, viz: in a
line parallel with the shaft a, and radially toward and from said shaft, so as to allow
it to transmit motion from the gear d to the cone of gears D of different diameters
and in different planes. By changing the position of the pinion e to engage a larger
or smaller gear of the cone D, the speed of the rotation of the latter is increased or
diminished proportionately. For supporting the pinion e adjustably in its position as
.aforesaid, I prefer to pivot it to the free end of an arm el pivoted to a place f, which
is provided with outwardly projecting lugs f, by which it rides in the spiral grooves a¹
in the inner side of the case A, as hereinbefore described.
Two of the staves C-C abutting against opposite sides of two of the lugs f¹ serves to
prevent the plate from turning with the cylinder of the case in adjusting the plate
as hereinafter described. Said staves also serve to guide the plate in its vertical
movement.
By turning the said case about its axis, the said spiral grooves cause the plate f to
move lengthwise of the case. In order to allow the pinion e to be held out of
engagement with the cone of gears D during the aforesaid adjustment of its
supporting-plate f, I pivot to the ends of the case A a post g, which extends through
the case parallel to the axis thereof and is provided with a longitudinal groove g¹
which engages a correspondingly shaped heel on the plate f back of the pivot
thereof, as more clearly shown in Figure 6 of the Drawings. One end of the post g
protrudes from the end of the case A and is squared, as shown at g, or otherwise
suitably shaped, for the application of a suitable instrument by which to turn said
plate so as to cause it to swing the plate f from the cone of gears D. A suitable
spring serves to automatically force the plate f toward the cone of gears.
.
To limit the inward movement of the free end of the arm e¹ so as to prevent the
pinion e from jamming or excessive engagement with the gears of the cone D, I form
'said arm with a guard e² consisting of an enlargement of the width of the arm at the
axis of the pinion e, which bears on one of the disks c, as shown in Fig. 6 of the
Drawings.
The gear d receives motion by means of suitable intermediate gears from a shaft i,
which if pivoted to the case and has one end protruding therefrom and has fastened
to said end a star-wheel I or other suitable device, to be actuated by the wheel V of
the bicycle. When said star-wheel is employed, I attach to the spokes of the wheel V
a suitable spur j, which, during the rotation of said wheel strikes one of the arms of
the star-wheel and thereby imparts an impulse to the shaft i, which, by means of the
aforesaid intermediate gears, transmits motion to the gear-wheel d.

page_text: In order to adapt the instrument to be actuated so as to indicate a greater or less
speed required to be travelled by the bicycle within a predetermined period, I attach
to the wheel V a plate or strap J provided with two lugs or spurs j and j³, one or both
of which are adjustable to and from lateral projecting positions. Said adjustability
5 may be attained in various ways, one of which is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 of the
Drawings, and consists of a section of the plate J heing hinged to the main portion of
said plate so as to allow it to turn at right angles therefrom and provided with a
suitable brace j to sustain it in its projecting position. Suitable latches ¹ are
connected to the plate J for locking the said hinged section or lug in its required
positions.
For transmitting motion from the shaft i to the wheel d with minimum jars to the
mechanisms, I prefer to employ the worm-gear i¹ fastened to the shaft i and meshing
with a pinion fastened to a shaft which is disposed at right angles to the shaft i and
pivoted to suitable supports sustained in the case, as shown in Figs. 4 and 7 of the
Drawings.
To the shaft of the pinion is secured a worm-wheel which meshes with a pinion m
attached to a shaft mat right angles to the shaft of the pinion and has fastened
to it a worm-gear n meshing with the gear-wheel d, which latter wheel is axially at
right angles to the shaft m¹ and parallel with the shaft of the cone of gears D, as
herein before described.
The pointer b on the shaft a of said cone of gears is to indicate on the dial B the
minutes of time consumed in the travel of the bicycle, and by comparing the time
thus indicated with the time indicated on the watch, the rider ascertains if the bicycle
travels at the desired speed.
For indicating the hours, I fasten to the shaft a of the cone of gears, a pinion n';
which meshes with a gear-wheel o pivoted to suitable supports secured to the interior
of the case. The shaft of this wheel projects through the top-plate or dial of the
case A and has fastened to its upper end a pinion o', which meshes with a gear-
wheel o² mounted loosely on the shaft of the cone of gears D.
The top of the wheel o² has marked on it or fastened to it a pointer p, which
indicates the hours on the dial B. To allow the hands or the pointers b and p to be
set to correspond to the time indicated on the watch at the time the rider of the
bicycle starts on his trip, I make the shaft a of the cone of gears D of sufficient
length to protrude from the end of the case, preferably from the lower end thereof,
as shown, and square said end, as shown at a*, or otherwise shape it for the
application of a key by which to turn said shaft.
The described instrument is made adjustable to regulate the movement of the
hands or pointers and p to greater or less speed during the travel of the bicycle
over a certain distance. This adjustment is effected by turning the cylindrical body:
of the case A about its axis, for which purpose I serrate, or otherwise roughen the
exterior of the lower portion of the case A, as shown at R, which affords a good hold
for one hand of the operator to turn the cylindrical body while holding the end of the
case by the other hand of the operator.
By turning said case as aforesaid, the spiral grooves a' thereof causes the plate f,
hereinbefore described, to move lengthwise of the case and in a line parallel with the
shaft a of the cone of gears D. During this operation the shaft g is to be turned so
as to swing the arm e' outward and hold the pinion e out of contact with the cone
of gears, as hereinbefore described. After the arm e¹ has been thus adjusted to
bring the pinion e opposite the desired gear of the cone, said arm is allowed to throw
the pinion into engagement with the gear. Inasmuch as the pinion e serves to
transmit motion to the cone of gears D it is obvious that the shifting of said
pinion from one to another of the gears of the cone, changes the speed of trans-
mission.
'
To lock the cylindrical body of the case to the ends thereof so as to retain the
the pinion e in engagement with the desired sized gear of the cone D, I provide
the top edge of the cylindrical body of the case A with a series of notches ŕ r, one
for each of the successively smaller gears of the cone D. To the underside of the

page_text: top-plate of the case, I connect a sliding bolt in proximity to the side of the upper
end of the shaft g, to which is secured a radially projecting pin s, the free end of
which engages a notch 8 in the side edge of the bolt, as shown in Fig. 7 of the
Drawings.
The outer end of the bolt r' is formed with a tongue r², which passes through
one of the notches r and enters a hole in a lip q, which is secured to and depends
from the exterior of the ring B' attached to the top-plate B2 of the case, as shown in
Fig. 5 of the Drawings.
spring q' secured to the underside of the top-plate B2 and pressing against the
inner end of the bolt, forces the latter outward and holds the same in engagement
with the notch r. In turning the shaft g to throw the pinion' e out of engagement
with the cone of gears D, preparatory to adjusting the instrument for indicating
different speeds, as hereinbefore described, the pin s on,said shaft pushes the bolt
inward so as to withdraw the tongue thereof from both the lip q and notch r, and
thus the cylindrical body of the case A is unlocked from its before described
supporting-frame and allowed to be turned thereon to its desired position, where it is
then locked by the turning of the shaft g to throw the pinion e into engagement
with the cone of gears D, in which operation the pin 8 on said shaft releases the
bolt and allows the spring q¹ to force said bolt outward to engage the notch and
hole in the lip q.
A stop t' is attached to the exterior of the cylindrical body of the case A in proper
position to come in contact with the lip q, and thereby limit the rotation of said.
cylindrical body.
The instrument herein illustrated is to be adjustable for speeds of 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12,
13, 14 and 15 miles per hour by using both spurs ; on the wheel V. By employing
only one of said spurs, it is obvious that the bicycle must be propelled double the
aforesaid speed in order to move the hands or pointers p b of the instrument in
unison with the hour and minute hands of the watch or clock.
The top of the case is provided with a crystal or transparent glass disk t, which is
secured to the ring B' fastened to the top-plate B² of the case.
The bottom-plate A of the case has projecting from it the bifurcated shank A', by
which to secure it in any suitable manner to the axle of the wheel V.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is
1. A speed-indicator consisting of an enclosing-case provided with a dial, a shaft
extending through said case and having affixed to it a pointer traversing said dial,
a plurality of gears of different diameters secured to said shaft, a revoluble spiral
axially parallel with the aforesaid shaft, a plate riding on the helices of the spiral,
vertical guides preventing said plate from turning with the spiral, a pinion supported
on said plate adjustably to transmit motion from the prolonged gear to either of the
aforesaid different sized gears, a pulsator actuated by the wheel to be timed, and
mechanisms transmitting motion from said pulsator to the prolonged gear, as set
forth.
2. In a speed-indicator, the combination of an enclosing-case having a cylindrical
body revoluble on the ends of the case, a dial on one end of said case, a shaft
passing through the center of the dial and case, a plurality of gears of different
diameters secured to said shaft, a pointer on said shaft traversing the dial, spiral
grooves in the inner side of the cylindrical body, a plate riding in said grooves,
vertical guides preventing said plate from turning with the cylindrical body, a
vertical shaft passing through the plate and provided with a longitudinal groove, an
arm pivoted to said plate and formed with a heel engaging said groove to adjust
the arm by the turning of the shaft, a pinion pivoted to the free end of said arm to
engage or release either of the aforesaid different sized gears, an axially prolonged
gear engaging said adjustable pinion, a pulsator actuated by the wheel to be timed,

page_text: and mechanisms transmitting motion from said pulsator to the prolonged gear, as set
forth.
3. In a speed-indicator, the combination of an enclosing-case having a cylindrical
body revoluble on the ends of the case, a dial on one end of the case, a shaft
passing through the center of said dial and case, a pointer on the end of said shaft
traversing the dial, a plurality of gears of different diameters secured to said
shaft, a spiral guide on the inner side of the aforesaid revoluble body, a plate riding
on said guide, vertical guides restraining revoluble motion of the plate, a pinion
supported. adjustably on said plate to engage either of the aforesaid different sized
gears, an axially prolonged gear engaging said pinion, a pulsator-shaft actuated by
the wheel to be timed, a worm-gear on said pulsator-shaft, and intermediate gears
transmitting motion from said worm-gear to the aforesaid prolonged gear to relieve
the instrument from excessive jars in the transmission of motion, as set forth.
4. The combination with the shaft a and gear & axially parallel with said shaft,
of the cone of gears D, interposed disks c c, arm e¹ movable toward and from said
cone and formed with the guard e² and the pinion e pivoted to said arm and
transmitting motion from the gear d to the cone of gears, as set forth.
5. The combination of the case A having its cylindrical body revoluble on the
end-portions of the case, a cone of gears in said case, a gear-wheel axially prolonged
and parallel with the axis of the cone, a spiral way on the inner side of the revoluble
body, a plate riding on said spiral way and restrained from rotating with the afore-
said body to cause said plate to move lengthwise of the cone by the rotation of said
body, a pinion supported on said plate adjustably to transmit motion from the
prolonged gear to either of the different sized gears of the cone, and means for
locking the revoluble body in its adjusted position.
6. The combination of the case A having its cylindrical body revoluble on the
end-portions of the case and provided with a spiral way on its inner side, a shaft
extending through the case parallel with the axis thereof, a plurality of gears of
different diameters secured to said shaft, a plate riding on the helices of the spiral
way and restrained from rotating with the revoluble body, an axially prolonged gear
parallel with the aforesaid shaft, a pinion supported on the aforesaid plate adjustably
to transmit motion from the prolonged gear to either of the aforesaid different sized
gears, a series of bolt-holes in the wall of the cylindrical body and arranged to
indicate the degree of rotation required of said body to carry the adjustable pinion
to the desired different sized gear, and a bolt locking the said body in its adjusted
position, as set forth.
7. The combination of the case A having its cylindrical body revoluble on the end-
portions of the case and provided on its inner side with a spiral groove, a dial on the
end of the case, a shaft passing through the center of the dial and case, a pointer on
the end of said shaft, a cone of gears secured to said shaft inside of the case, an
axially prolonged gear parallel with said shaft, a pulsator actuated by the wheel to be
timed, mechanisms transmitting motion from said pulsator to the prolonged gear, a
plate riding in the helices of the aforesaid groove and restrained from rotating
with the body of the case, an arm pivoted to said plate, a pinion pivoted to the free
end of said arm to transmit motion from the prolonged gear to either of the different
gears of the cone, a post passing through the aforesaid plate and pivoted to the end-
plates of the case and engaging the pivoted arm to adjust the same, a series of
bolt-holes in the wall of the revoluble body, a bolt entering said holes to lock
said body, and a pin on the aforesaid pivoted post engaging the bolt to withdraw
the same from its interlocked position simultaneously with the adjustment of the
pivoted arm to throw the pinion thereof out of engagement with the cone of gears,
as set forth.
8. The case A composed of the end-plates B2 and A², staves C-C tying said plates
together, and a cylindrical body sustained revolubly on the exterior of said staves
between the end-plates of the case, as set forth.
9. The combination with the timing instrument and vehicle-wheel to be timed,
a star-wheel attached to the protruding end of the pulsator-shaft of said instrument,

page_text: a plate secured to the vehicle-wheel, and a plurality of spurs connected to said plate
adjustably into and out of position to come in contact with the star-wheel to
impart more or less impulses to the timing-instrument during each revolution of the
vehicle-wheel.
Dated this 13th day of April 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.