Improved Means and Apparatus for Two Speed Gears and Free Wheel Appliances for Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd June, 1900-Accepted, 14th July, 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Two Speed Gears and Free Wheel
Appliances for Cycles.
I, HENRY LESLIE, of Stanley Villa, 16, Lincoln Road, East Finchley, County
of Middlesex, Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be
as follows:.
This invention has for object so arranging a two speed gear next to and as
part of the sprocket mechanism that by the shifting of a pinion by a hand or
other lever said pinion carried by a separate shaft or axle can be readily thrown
into and out of gear the sprocket wheel having a clutch or other equivalent
appliances connected for release in order that the sprocket wheel with its chain
can run free.
To carry my invention into practice I arrange in connection with the ordinary
pedal bracket of a cycle a branch through which a separate axle is free to run.
This axle has a toothed wheel fixed at one end to gear into a toothed wheel on
the main axle such wheel being part of the sprocket.
The inner portion of this sprocket has the usual or any kind of slip pawl
mechanism engaging ratchet teeth of the disc fixed on the main axle for
onward travel of the machine and if the pedals be arrested the pawl will ride
over the teeth of the ratchet dise and the sprocket chain and rear wheel will
run free. The other end of the supplementary axle has a pinión capable of end
on motion by a hand lever to throw it in gear with a second toothed wheel on
the main axle for communicating the main axles motion to the toothed wheel
fixed to the sprocket wheel and thus cause the sprocket wheel to revolve at a
greater speed than when driven direct by the toothed disc and pawl.
The diameters of the wheels and pinions are in proper ratio to the change of
speed to be decided upon when fitting up the machine.
I have referred to toothed gear but it may be frictional gear if desired.
55
ր
1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said H. Leslie.
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said H. Leslie.
Improved Means and Apparatus for Two Speed Gears and Free Wheel
Appliances for Cycles.
I, HENRY LESLIE, of Stanley Villa, 16, Lincoln Road, East Finchley, County
of Middlesex, Traveller, 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 has for object so arranging a two speed gear next to and as

page_text: part of the sprocket mechanism that by the shifting of a pinion by a hand or
other lever, said pinion carried by a separate shaft or axle can be readily thrown
into and out of gear, the sprocket wheel having a clutch or other equivalent
appliances connected for release in order that the sprocket wheel with its chain
can run free.
My invention will be understood from the following description aided by the
accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a plan of the appliances with the
bracket part of the frame, the gear wheels being arranged outside the frame.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 with one set of gear wheels arranged
within the bracket.
Figure 3 is an elevation of the driving sprocket with a portion of the chain
attached.
Figure 4 is an elevation of portion of a frame showing an arrangement of
levers for altering the gear.
Figure 5 is a plan of the gear lever situate at the bracket portion.
To carry my invention into practice, I arrange in connection with the ordinary
pedal bracket A of a cycle, a branch B through which a separate axle C is free
to run. This axle Chas a toothed wheel D fixed at one end to gear into a
toothed wheel E on the main axle F such wheel E being part of the sprocket G.
The inner or outer portion of this sprocket G has the usual or any kind of slip
pawl mechanism H engaging ratchet teeth of the disc I fixed to the main axle F
for onward travel of the machine, and if the pedals be arrested the pawl H will
ride over the teeth of the ratchet dise I and the sprocket, chain and rear wheel
will run free.
The other end or other part of the supplementary axle G has a pinion J capable
of end on motion by a hand lever to throw it in gear with a second toothed
wheel K on the main axle F for communicating the main axles motion to the
toothed wheel E fixed to the sprocket wheel G and thus cause the sprocket G
to revolve at a greater speed than when driven direct by the toothed disc I or
pawl H.
The diameters of the wheels and pinions are in proper ratio to the change of
speed to be decided upon when fitting up the machine.
I have referred to toothed gear but it may be frictional gear if desired.
Instead of operating the wheel J to increase or decrease the gear, a clutch J¹,
Figure 2, may be employed and this is splined upon the driving axle F to revolve
with it and for connection by pins J2 or other means with recesses formed in the
wheel K which with its corresponding gear wheel C is fitted within the bracket A,
so that by contact with the wheel K, which otherwise runs free upon the axle,
the gear will be thrown into action and the sprocket wheel G caused to travel
at a greater speed.
Instead of the ratchet and pawl, other means of communicating motion to the
sprocket G in one direction such as a roller friction clutch, may be employed.
The wheel J or the clutch J¹ carries a collar L which is encircled by a sleeve M
of a bell crank lever N, this being attached by a rod P to another bell crank
lever at about right angles for enabling the necessary side movement of the
wheel J or clutch J to be effected from the handle bar or top cross tube through
the rod R, Figures 4 and 5, but other means for operating the clutch or gear
mechanism may be employed.
S is the driving chain which is fitted over the sprocket and driving wheel cog
as is usual.
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. The improved means and apparatus for two speed gears and free wheel appli-
ances for cycles consisting of the combination with a bracket A, B, of a cycle,
of wheel D gearing with wheel E running loose, a crank axle F, movable gear

page_text: wheel J meshing with wheel K fixed on crank axle F, chain sprocket G running
loose on axle and carrying pawl H, or friction mechanism for engaging
ratchet I and wheel E, all arranged and acting substantially as set forth.
2. The improved construction of two speed gear and free wheel appliances for
cycles, consisting of a chain sprocket G carrying toothed wheel E and pawl H,
loose running wheel K, axle F carrying clutch J, supplementary axle carrying
wheels D, J, for gearing with wheels E and K respectively, axle F carrying
ratchet I, all arranged and acting substantially as set forth.
3. In two speed gears and free wheel appliances for cycles, the means herein-
before set forth, whereby on the shifting of a wheel or clutch into gear with
another wheel, the chain carrying wheel is caused to move at a greater speed
than the crank axle, as set forth.
The 2nd day of Jun 1000
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet- Street, London,
Agent for the said Henry Leslie.
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet- Street, London,
Agent for the said Henry Leslie.