Improvements in or relating to Variable Speed Driving Gear.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Variable Speed Driving Gear.
I, ENOCH JOHN WEST, Managing Director of the Progress Cycle Co., Ltd.
Progress Works, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereb
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to variable speed driving gear and has for its object to
provide a simple and effective two speed gear suitable for light autocars and
other machinery.
In carrying out my invention as applied to an autocar, I introduce a secondary
shaft between the motor and the axle of the driving road wheel or wheels. This
axle is mounted in suitable bearings preferably provided with antifriction balls
One of
and carries three gear wheels or pulleys preferably sprocket wheels.
these wheels is fixed to the shaft. The other two are loosely mounted thereon
preferably with ball bearings. Between these loose wheels a double ended cone
is mounted on the shaft so as to be movable lengthwise thereon in either direction
Each of the loose
but without being capable of rotation relatively thereto.
wheels is provided with a cylindrical flange or drum on its inner side; and
surrounding each drum is a flexible band the ends of which are connected to two
horizontal studs mounted on the outer ends of levers fulcrummed on horizontal
axes carried on suitable brackets radiating from collars fixed on the shaft. These
levers are of angular form with their angles back to back, and their lower
ends carry inwardly directed adjustable screws the points of which are adapted
to bear, directly or indirectly, on the inclined surfaces of the double cone.
inner ends of the levers are normally pressed inwards by springs introduced
between their outer surfaces and bosses carried by lateral extensions of the
brackets or collars.
The
The two loose gear wheels may be connected with two corresponding wheels on
the motor shaft and the fixed gear wheel may be connected with a single corre-
sponding wheel on the shaft of the road wheel or wheels; or the fixed wheel may
be connected to a single wheel on the motor shaft and the loose wheels may be
connected to corresponding wheels on the shaft of the road wheel or wheels. In
either case the loose wheels or those with which they gear, or both, are made of
different sizes so as to obtain the desired variations in gear and the road wheels
shaft is provided with a balance gear if connected to two road wheels. And I
prefer to use chain gearing throughout though it will be understood that belt
or spur tooth gearing may be employed wholly or in part, if preferred.
The action of the gear is as follows. So long as the double cone continues in
its central position no power will be transmitted from the motor to the shaft
of the road wheel or wheels; but upon sliding the double cone to right or left
one of its inclined surfaces will come in contact with the inner ends of one of
the pair of levers and being forced between them will draw together the outer
ends of the same levers and thus contract the band around the drum of one of the
loose gear wheels. The effect of this is to bind the gear wheel carrying the drum
in question to the band and hence to the bracket fixed to the shaft. The gear

page_text: wheel is thus forced to rotate with the shaft and so transmit motion between the
motor and the shaft of the road wheel or wheels. To alter the gear the double cone
is moved in the opposite direction along the shaft so as to release the first loose
gear wheel and then connect the other loose wheel to the shaft in a similar
manner. The above mentioned springs release the band and hence the gear
wheel on withdrawal of the double cone, and the introduction of the inclined
surface of the cone between the inner ends of the levers having a gradual effect
the motion is taken up gradually and the risk of breaking the parts through the
sudden shock is removed. The double cone may be provided with a central groove
to receive the forked part of the shifting lever in the ordinary way or other
suitable means may be employed for moving the cone.
I do not confine myself strictly to the above description which is intended
to indicate the nature of my invention without excluding modifications.
Dated this 19th day of April 1899.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered
Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
I, ENOCH JOHN WEST, Managing Director of the Progress Cycle Company,
Limited, Progress Works, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, Warwickshire, 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 follow-
ing statement:-
-1
My invention relates to variable speed driving gear and has for its object to
provide a simple and effective two speed gear suitable for light autocars and
other machinery.
The accompanying drawings show, by way of example, a form of my gear
suitable for a light autocar.
Figure I is an elevation, partly in section, of the said gear.
Figure II is a front elevation of a drum, friction band and levers for operating
the said band.
Figure III is a plan of the levers.
The same numerals indicate the same parts throughout the drawings.
Between the motor axle and the axle of the driving road wheel or wheels I
introduce a secondary shaft 2. This shaft is mounted in suitable bearings 3, 3
preferably provided with antifriction balls, and carries three gear wheels or
pulleys, preferably sprocket wheels 4, 5 and 6. The wheel 4 is fixed to the
shaft, but 5 and 6 are loosely mounted thereon, preferably with ball bearings.
Between the loose wheels a block 7 is mounted on the shaft so as to be moveable
lengthwise thereon in either direction but preferably without being capable of
rotation relatively thereto. The block has two conical parts 17, 18 preferably
separated by a parallel portion 23; the ends of the block are preferably more
steeply inclined than the parts 17 and 18 to facilitate their introduction between
the screws 22 hereinafter referred to. Each of the loose wheels 5, 6 is provided
with a cylindrical flange or drum (8, 9) on its inner side and surrounding each
drum is a flexible band (10, 11) the ends of which are connected to two horizontal

page_text: studs 12, 12 mounted on the outer ends of levers 13, 13, 14, 14 fulcrummed on
horizontal axes 19 carried on suitable brackets 15, 16 radiating from collars fixed
on the shaft 2. These levers are of angular form with their angles back to back;
their lower ends carry inwardly directed adjustable screws 22, 22 the points
of which are adapted to bear, directly or indirectly, on the double cone 7. The
inner ends of the levers are normally pressed inwards by springs 20 introduced
between their outer surfaces and bosses 21 carried by lateral extensions of the
brackets or collars.
The two loose wheels 5, 6 may gear with two corresponding wheels on the motor
shaft and the fixed wheel 4 may gear with a corresponding wheel on the shaft of
the road wheel or wheels; or the fixed wheel may gear with a single wheel on
the motor shaft, and the loose wheels may gear with corresponding wheels on the
shaft of the road wheel or wheels. In either case the loose wheels 5, 6 or those
with which they gear, or both, are made of different sizes so as to obtain the
desired variations in gear, and the road wheels shaft is provided with a balance
gear if connected to two road wheels. I prefer to use chain gearing throughout,
though it will be understood that belt or spur tooth gearing may be employed
wholly or in part if preferred.
The action of the gear is as follows. So long as the double cone 7 remains
in a central position no power will be transmitted from the motor to the axle of
the road wheel or wheels, but upon sliding the said cone to say the right, its
conical part 18 will come in contact with the screws 22 in the inner ends of one
of the levers 14, 14 and being forced between them will draw together the outer
ends of the same levers and thus contract the band 11 around the drum 9 of the
loose gear wheel 6. The effect of this is to bind the said gear wheel to the
band 11 and hence to the bracket 16 fixed to the shaft 2. The gear wheel 6 is
thus forced to rotate with the shaft and so transmit motion between the motor
axle and the axle of the road wheel or wheels. To alter the gear the double
cone 7 is moved in the opposite direction along the shaft so as to withdraw the
conical part 18 from the levers 14, thus freeing the band 11 from the drum 9 and
releasing the
wheel 6;
gear
a further movement of the said cone
in the same direction causes the conical part 17 to operate the
levers 13 and tighten the band 10 on the drum 8 and connect the
other loose wheel 5 to the shaft in a similar manner. The springs 20 tend to force
the outer ends of the levers apart and so release the band, and hence the gear
wheel, on withdrawal of the double cone. The introduction of the inclined
surfaces of the cone between the inner ends of the levers having a gradual effect.
the motion is taken up gradually and the risk of breaking the parts through
sudden shock is removed. The double cone may be provided with a central
groove 24 to receive the forked part of a shifting lever in the ordinary way or
other suitable means may be employed for moving the block along the shaft 2.
By moving the block so far as to bring the parallel part 23 between either
pair of screws 22, the shifting gear may be relieved from strain; and the said
screws may be adjusted so that a proper grip will be obtained by the band
on the drum under these conditions."
Other suitable applications of my invention and modifications may be made
without exceeding the fair scope of my said invention.
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 variable speed driving gear constructed, arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as herein described, or as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a variable speed gear, the combination of a motor axle, a secondary snaft
and a road wheel (s) axle, fixed gearing between the shaft and one of the axles,
and changeable gearing between the shaft and the remaining axle, such changeable
gearing comprising a double cone moveable lengthwise on the said shaft, two

page_text: gear wheels or the like free on the shaft, brackets fixed to the shaft and carrying
studs on which are mounted pairs of levers, bands connected to the outer ends
of the said levers and surrounding drums or flanges carried by the said gear
wheels, and means for moving the said double cone along the said shaft in either
direction so as to operate the corresponding pair of levers and contract the band
carried thereby around its drum and lock the corresponding gear wheel to the
shaft, either or neither of the gear wheels being capable of being locked to the
shaft at one time, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of January 1900.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.