Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear and Brakes for Velccipedes and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1899
Complete Specification Left 21st Aug 1900 Accepted 29th Sept.
1900
Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1899
Complete Sporification Left, 21st Aug 1900-Accepted 29th Sept. 1900
PROVISIONAL DIUINICATIO
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear and Brakes for
Velccipedes and the like.
We, THOMAS DEAKIN, of 25, Parrin Lane, Monton, Eccles, near Manchester,
Mechanical Engineer, and CHARLES HERBERT DEAKIN, of 233, Regent Road, Sal-
ford, Sanitary Inspector, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention relates to driving gear and brakes for velocipedes and the like
and consists, firstly, in an improved form of rope driving; secondly, in free
wheel devices; thirdly, in reverse-pedalling brakes; fourthly, in means for
changing certain variable gears from one speed to another; and fifthly, in vari-
able speed gears.
In carrying out our invention as applied to rope driving we prefer to employ
wire rope and to join the ends of a suitable length by any convenient and
efficient means. The rope engages with suitable grooved pulleys on the driving
and driven parts and may be tensioned by jockey pulleys carried by a bracket
pivotted on a sleeve fitted on one of the frame members. To increase the ten-
sion of the rope the bracket is turned out of or further out of the perpendicular,
thus deflecting the two runs of the rope further from straight lines, and at the
same time increasing the lengths of contact between the pulleys and the rope.
We prefer however to increase the said lengths of contact between the pulleys
and the rope by fitting a pair of idle grooved pulleys between the working
pulleys, and to pass the lower run of the rope over one idle pulley, and the upper
run thereof under the other idle pulley.
Either the driving or the driven pulley may be provided with suitable mech-
anism, whereby two or more speeds may be obtained. A single rope may be lead
twice round the gear, one or both of the working pulleys being in two parts of
differing diameters, and either or neither part of such pulley being thrown into
gear as required. Or two separate ropes may be employed to give one or two
speeds as required; and such separate ropes may be arranged either on the same,
or on opposite, sides of the machine, as desired.
The above described rope gearing may be applied centrally to a velocipede
resembling a rear driving safety bicycle but having two rear wheels. The said
two wheels are arranged near together within the frame, with the driven pulley
or pulleys mounted between the hubs, and the driving pulley or pulleys mounted
on the crank axle between the parts of the crank axle bearings.
In providing for what is commonly called a free wheel gear, we prefer to
mount the grooved pulley, sprocket ring or corresponding outer part on an adjust-
able ball bearing on the inner part. Sometimes we provide the periphery of the
inner part with a series of inclined surfaces terminating in shoulders and form-
ing a rack. We provide the outer part with one or more pawls and impel the
said pawls into contact with the rack by an encircling serpentine spring.
forward driving the pawls engage positively with the shoulders of the rack; at
other times the pawls trip over the rack against the action of the spring.
In

page_text: Sometimes we divide the grooved, toothed or the like portions of the outer part
into sectors and pivot the said portions on transverse pins. The inner ends of
the sectors may all be formed into pawls adapted to engage with the rack on the
inner part, or some only of the inner ends of the sectors may be formed into pawls
and the other inner ends be adapted to overlap the said pawls. On forward
driving the outer ends of the sectors are carried forward relatively to the pivots
until the inner ends are in full engagement with the shoulders of the racks when
the inner part of the clutch is carried round with the outer; at other times the
inner ends of the sectors run clear of or trip over the rack, but we prefer to
employ a suitable spring or springs to hold the inner ends of the sectors normally
in contact with the rack.
In combining with a free wheel device a brake to be operated by reverse-
pedalling we provide the sprocket ring or the like with a series of grooves on one
or both sides. The grooves are concentric with the ring and have inclined
bottoms. In each groove lies a ball which also bears against a fixed disc or the
like. In forward driving and while the rider is "coasting," the balls are idle,
but on the rider reverse pedalling the balls mount up to the shallower parts of
the recesses and exert a powerful lateral pressure which is utilised to apply a
cone brake, a friction disc brake or some other suitable form of brake acting on
the hub of the driving road wheel.
Each
On
According to another method of constructing a clutch for a free wheel we take
one or more, say two, curved pawls and insert these in a concentric recess in the
inner part of the clutch, which recess is formed into an internal rack.
pawl is jointed near its engaging end to a link which passes nearly diametrically
across the clutch and is jointed by its other end to the outer part of the clutch.
On forward driving the pawls engage with the shoulders of the rack and motion
is transmitted through the links; and springs may be employed to hold the pawls
in readiness at other times. A brake, adapted to be brought into action by
reverse-pedalling may be constructed on somewhat similar lines. The internal
surface of the recess is left plain instead of being racked, and the pawls or shoes
are preferably connected to the outer part of the clutch by short links at their
otherwise free ends in addition to the longer links above mentioned.
reverse pedalling the shoes are thrown into close frictional contact with the
recessed portion of the inner part and the revolution of the hub and road wheel
is retarded. In some cases the hub body may be made in two telescopic parts
adapted to rotate together. Each of the said parts is provided with a flange
and the sprocket ring or the like lies between the said flanges, so that when
the brake is put in operation pressure is exerted directly against the flange on
the outer part of the hub body and indirectly against a stationary disc through
the flange on the inner part of the hub body. A spring washer may be intro-
duced between the latter flange and the stationary disc to hold the said flange
normally back against the brake actuating balls. If a ratchet and pawl device
be employed, the pawls may be sunk in recesses formed in the outer ring of the
clutch.
Our improved means for changing variable gear from one speed to another,
consists of a plate or the like mounted at the free end of one of the pedal cranks
preferably concentric with the pedal pin. This plate is geared by crossed or
parallel bridle rods or other suitable means to a disc or the like mounted on the
corresponding end of the crank axle between the crank and bottom bracket.
This disc has a sleeve projecting into the bottom bracket and provided with a
quick, multiple pitch screw or corresponding grooves or the like engaging with a
laterally movable bolt. This bolt is adapted to engage with either or neither of
two loosely mounted driving sprocket wheels, grooved pulleys or the like, so as
to lock one or other of them to the crank axle, or to leave them both free of the
said crank axle, as desired. The plate on the free end of the crank is provided
with projections suitable for engagement by the rider's foot, so that by turning
the plate he also turns the disc on the crank axle and operates the locking bolt

page_text: in such a way as to provide high speed, low speed or disconnection of the gear,
as he may prefer for the time being. Either the plate or the disc is preferably
provided with a spring plunger device to hold the parts at "high speed," "low
speed," or out of action as the case may be, until re-set.
<
3
According to another part of our invention we provide the driving wheel hub
with two friction or spur wheels of different diameter, one at each end. On the
frame of the machine, near the ends of the hub, we mount two short axles in
suitable bearings. Each axle carries a gear wheel engaging with the wheel on
the corresponding end of the hub; and each axle also carries a crank the free end
of which is linked to the corresponding pedal crank by a suitable connecting rod.
On the rider pedalling forward the motion is transmitted through the rods or
links from the pedal cranks to the rear cranks which, with their respective gear
wheels, are rotated in the reverse direction, thus rotating the hub and road wheel
in the forward direction. Only one of the gear wheels in fast on the hub at a
time, suitable means being provided for freeing either or both gear wheels as
desired, so that the rider can have high or low speed or can sever the driving
connection, as he may prefer.
According to another method we provide the two speed mechanism at the crank
axle end of the driving gear. We mount a sun spur wheel loosely, preferably
on ball bearings, in the plane of the chain or the like. The adjacent crank
is preferably of the three-arm variety and carries a disc or the like. The arms
of the crank carry three planet spur pinions gearing with the sun wheel and
with internal teeth on the chain or the like gear ring which is mounted on say
three rollers carried by the disc. The sun wheel is provided with one or more
slots or equivalent stops adapted to be engaged by a laterally sliding bolt
mounted on the bottom bracket or some other suitable part of the machine. The
bolt may be controlled by a three-arm lever, one arm of which is jointed to the
bolt and the other arms of which are connected by bridle rods to another lever
situated on some convenient part of the machine and provided with a retaining
spring or the said bolt may be controlled by any other suitable means. The
sun wheel may be locked by the bolt so that it cannot rotate, or it may be locked
to the crank so as to rotate therewith. For the latter purpose we may provide
the said sun wheel with internal teeth adapted to be engaged by corresponding
teeth on a bar mounted across the back of the crank. One end of the bar is
pivotted to the crank and the other end thereof is connected by a rod to a plate
or the like adapted to be moved by the foot for changing the gear as herein-
before described. When the plate is moved to one position the bar is drawn
into engagement with the sun wheel which is thereby locked to the crank;
when the plate is moved to another position the bar is disengaged from the sun
wheel which is thereby rendered rotatively independent of the crank. A spring
catch engaging with radial recesses in the plate, or other suitable means are pro-
vided to hold the bar in or out of action. When the sun wheel is locked to the
bottom bracket, the planet pinions revolve forward on their axes and the gear
ring is speeded up relatively to the pedals; when the sun wheel is locked to the.
crank, the planet pinions do not revolve on their axes and the gear ring rotates
at the same rate as the pedals; when the sun wheel is locked to neither bracket
nor crank the gear is free and the rider may hold the pedals stationary using
them as footrests.
According to a modified construction of the above we provide means for prevent-
ing the rotation of the planet pinion mounted on the crank to effect the produc-
tion of the lower gear, instead of locking the sun wheel to the crank. We form
the end of the boss of the said pinion of hexagonal or other suitable non-circular
transverse section and we mount a slide on the back of the crank. This slide
has an opening adapted to receive the said boss, one end of the said opening being
shaped to the form of the boss and the other end being large enough to allow the
said boss to rotate freely therein. The guide is preferably moved by the above
described plate and the pinion is fixed or freed according to the end of the open-

page_text: ing approached thereto. The plate is provided with a suitable retaining catch.
The sun wheel may be locked and freed as before. All the gear wheels are pre-
ferably feathered up to or nearly up to the pitch line to prevent relative lateral
movement.
We do not confine ourselves strictly to the above description which is intended
to indicate the nature of our invention without excluding modifications or other
suitable applications thereof.
Dated this 20th day of October 1900
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, and
Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear and Brakes for
Velocipedes and the like.
We, THOMAS DEAKIN, of 25, Parrin Lane, Monton, Eccles, near Manchester,
Mechanical Engineer, and CHARLES HERBERT DEAKIN, of 233, Regent Road, Sal-
ford, Sanitary Inspector, 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:-
Our invention relates to driving gear and brakes for velocipedes and the like
and consists, firstly in free wheel" devices; secondly, in reverse pedalling
brakes and lastly in variable gears and means for changing the same from one
speed to another.
And in order that our invention may be properly understood we will describe
the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure I is a side elevation of one form of free wheel clutch in position on
a hub, the interior being partly disclosed to show the construction.
Figure II is a rear elevation, partly in section, of another form of free wheel
clutch.
Figure III is a section on the line III-III in Fig. II.
Figure IV is a similar view to Fig. III showing a modification.
Figure is a similar view to Fig. II showing a modification.
Figure VI is a section on the line VI-VI in Fig. V.
Figure VII is a similar view to Fig. I showing another form of free wheel
clutch.
Figure VIII is a similar view showing a reverse pedalling brake.
Figure IX is a rear elevation, partly in section, of a combined free wheel
clutch and reverse pedalling brake and Figure X is an elevation of the outer part
of the said clutch.
Figure XI is a side elevation of a variable speed gear and means for changing
the same.
Figure XII is a front elevation of the same partly in section.
Figure XIII is an inside elevation, and Figure XIV is a front elevation partly
in section, showing a modified construction of the speed changing gear.
Like numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In providing for what is commonly called a
gear, we sometimes
provide the periphery of the inner part 2 with a series of inclined teeth 3 (Fig. 1).
6
free wheel

page_text: We provide the outer part 4 with one or more pawls 5 and impel the said pawls
into contact with the rack by an encircling serpentine spring 6. In forward
driving the pawls 5 engage positively with the teeth 3 and motion is transmitted
by them from the outer part 4 to the inner part 2 and thence to the road wheel;
at other times the pawls trip over the teeth against the action of the spring.
The outer part may, if desired, be mounted on a ball or roller bearing on the
inner part.
Sometimes we divide the toothed or like portions of the outer part into
sectors 7 and pivot the said portions on transverse pins 8 supported by loose side
plates 9. The inner ends of the sectors may all be formed into pawls 5 adapted
to engage with the teeth 3 on the inner part 2 as shown in Figs. II and III ;
or some only (5) of the inner ends of the sectors may be formed into pawls and
the other inner ends 10 be adapted to overlap the said pawls, as shown in
Fig. IV. On forward driving the outer ends of the sectors are carried forward
relatively to the pivots 8 until the inner ends 5 are in full engagement with the
teeth 3 when the inner part 2 of the clutch is carried round with the outer 4;
at other times the inner ends 5, 10 of the sectors run clear of or trip over the
teeth 3. If desired a suitable spring or springs may be employed to impel the
inner ends of the sectors normally inwards.
A modification of the lastly described device is shown in Figs. V and VI where
the end of the hub body 15 is provided with two flanges 25, 26 the edges of which
are cut into inclined teeth 3. The sectors 7 are pivotted on transverse pins 8
supported by side plates 9 which either rest on or are connected to the ring 27
which in turn is mounted on the antifriction rollers 28. The action is similar
to that described with reference to Figs. II and III.
According to the method of constructing a clutch for a free wheel shown in
Fig. VII we take one or more, say two, curved pawls 5 and insert these in a
recess 12 in the inner part 2 of the clutch, which recess is formed with internal
teeth 3. Each pawl is jointed near its engaging end to a link 13 which passes
nearly diametrically across the clutch and is jointed by its other end to the outer
part 4 of the clutch. On forward driving the pawls 5 engage with the shoulders
of the teeth 3 and motion is transmitted from the outer part to the inner part
through the links 13. Springs such as 6 may be employed to hold the pawls
in readiness at other times. A brake, adapted to be brought into action by
reverse pedalling and constructed on somewhat similar lines is shown in
Fig. VIII. In this case the internal surface of the recess 12 is left plain instead
of being toothed, and the pawls or shoes 5 are preferably connected to the outer
part 4 of the clutch by short links 14 at their otherwise free ends in addition to
the longer links 13. On reverse pedalling the shoes 5 are thrown into close
frictional contact with the recessed portion 12 of the inner part 2 and the revo-
lution of the hub and road wheel is retarded. The inner (2) and outer (4) parts
may be connected for forward propulsion by a free wheel clutch such as shown
in Fig. I or by other suitable known means.
Figs. IX and X show in combination with a free wheel device, a brake
operated by reverse pedalling. The hub body is made in two telescopic por-
tions 15, 16 adapted to rotate together by any suitable means such as the bolt
and slot device 17, 18. Each of the said portions is provided with a flange 19, 20.
and the sprocket ring or the like 4 lies between the said flanges. The said
sprocket ring or the like may be connected to the outer portion 15 of the hub
body by any suitable free wheel'device, such as the inclined teeth 3 and pawls 5.
the said pawls being sunk in recesses 21 in one side of the part 4. In the other
side of the part 4 we form a series of grooves 22 curved concentrically with the
ring and having inclined bottoms. In each groove 22 lies a ball 23 which also
bears directly or indirectly against the flange 20. In forward driving and while
the rider is free wheeling the balls 23 lie idle in the deep ends of the grooves 22;
but on the rider reverse pedalling the said balls mount up to the shallower parts
of the grooves and exert a powerful lateral pressure tending to separate the

page_text: flanges 19 and 20 and cause the flange 191 on the other end of the outer por-
tion of the hub body to bear against a conical or flat stationary friction disc 24,
the flange 20 acting as an abutment. The grooves 22 may be made in either face
of the ring 4 or in either of the faces of the flanges 19, 20 adjacent to the said
ring.
Our improvements in variable gear and means for changing from one speed
to another are shown in Figs. XI to XIV and consists of a plate or the like 31
mounted at the free end of the pedal cranks 32, preferably concentric
with the pedal pin 33, and connected by one or more rods 34 to the locking and
releasing device of the gear. The said gear may comprise a sun spur wheel 36
mounted loosely, preferably on ball bearings in the plane of the chain or the
like. The adjacent crank 32 is preferably of the three arm variety and carries
a disc or the like 38.
The arms of the crank carry three planet spur pinions 39 gearing with the sun
wheel 36 and with internal teeth on the sprocket or like gear ring 40, which is
mounted on say three rollers 41 carried by the disc 38. The sun wheel is pro-
vided with one or more slots 42 or equivalent stops adapted to be engaged by a
laterally sliding bolt 43 mounted on the bottom bracket 44 or some other suitable
part of the machine. The bolt may be controlled by a three arm lever one arm 45
of which is jointed to the bolt and the other, arms 46, 46 of which are connected
by bridle rods 48 to a rocking lever 49 situated on some convenient part of the
machine and provided with a retaining spring 50, or the said bolt may be con-
trolled by any other suitable means. The sun wheel may be locked by the bolt
so that it cannot rotate, or the said sun wheel may be locked to the crank so as
to rotate therewith. For the latter purpose we provide the said sun wheel with
internal teeth 51 (Figs. XI and XII) adapted to be engaged by the correspond-
ing teeth on a bar 52 mounted across the back of the crank. One end of the
bar is pivotted (53) to the crank and the other end thereof is connected by the
rod 34 to the plate 31 which is provided with projections 35 to facilitate its
movement by the foot of the rider. When the plate is moved to the position
shown the bar 52 is drawn into engagement with the sun wheel 36 which is
thereby locked to the crank; when the plate is moved back in the direction
of the arrow the bar is disengaged from the sun wheel, which is thereby rendered
rotatively independent of the crank. A spring catch 54 engaging with radial
recesses 55 in the plate, or other suitable means are provided to hold the bar 52
in or out of action. When the sun wheel 36 is locked to the bottom bracket 44
the planet pinions 39 revolve forward on their axes and the gear ring 40 is
speeded up relatively to the cranks; when the sun wheel is locked to the crank 32,
the planet pinions do not revolve on their axes and the gear ring rotates at the
same rate as the cranks; when the sun wheel is locked to neither bracket nor
crank the gear is free and the rider may hold the pedals stationary using them
as footrests.
According to the modification shown in Figs. XIII and XIV we provide means
for preventing the rotation of the planet pinion 39 mounted on the crank 32 to
effect the production of the lower gear, instead of locking the sun wheel 36 to the
said crank. We form the end of the boss 56 of the said pinion of hexagonal
or other suitable non-circular transverse section and we mount a slide 57 on the
back of the crank. This slide has an opening adapted to receive the said boss,
one end 58 of the said opening being shaped to the form of the boss and the
other end 59 being large enough to allow the said boss to rotate freely therein.
The guide is preferably moved by the above described plate 31 and rod 34, and
the pinion 39 is fixed or freed according to the end of the opening in the slide 57
approached thereto. The sun wheel may be locked and freed relatively to the
bottom bracket as before.
Or the ring 40 may be adapted to be locked to the crank by a device similar
to that shown in Figs. XI and XII the bar 52 being adapted to engage with
teeth projecting laterally from the said ring.

page_text: All the gear wheels 36, 39, 40 are preferably feathered up to, or nearly up
to, the pitch line to prevent relative lateral displacement.
We do not confine ourselves strictly to the above descriptions but hold ourselves
at liberty to make such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of our
invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. A free wheel" clutch for the driving gear of velocipedes and the like com-
prising an outer driving part, an inner driven part, one or more pawls on the
outer part, inclined teeth on the inner part, and an encircling serpentine spring
impelling the pawls into engagement with the teeth, substantially as set forth.
2. A free wheel" clutch for the driving gear of velocipedes and the like com-
prising an outer driving part, divided into sectors pivotted on transverse pins, one
or more of the inner ends of the said sectors being adapted to engage with
inclined teeth on the inner part, substantially as set forth.
3. A free wheel clutch for the diving gear of velocipedes and the like com-
prising an outer driving part, an inner driven part, a recess in the said inner
part, one or more internal teeth in the said recess, one or more pawls lying in
The said recess and adapted to engage with the said teeth, each pawi being
jointed to one end of a link the other end of which is jointed to the outer part or
the clutch, substantially as set forth.
4. A free wheel clutch for the driving gear of velocipedes and the like con-
structed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with
reference to Fig. I of the accompanying drawings.
5. A free wheel clutch for the driving gear of velocipedes and the like con-
structed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. II and III of the accompanying drawings.
6. A free wheel clutch for the driving gear of velocipedes and the like, con-
structed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with
reference to Fig. IV of the accompanying drawings.
7. A free wheel clutch for the driving gear of velocipedes and the like con-
structed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with
reference to Figs. V and VI of the accompanying drawings.
8. A free wheel clutch for the driving gear of velocipedes and the like con-
structed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with
reference to Fig. VII of the accompanying drawings.
9. A reverse pedalling brake for velocipedes and the like comprising an outer
part and an inner part, a recess in the inner part, curved shoes lying in the
recess and jointed by links to the outer part, substantially as set forth.
1
10. A reverse-pedalling brake for velocipedes and the like constructed,
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference
to Fig. VIII of the accompanying drawings.
a hub
11. A reverse-pedalling brake for velocipedes and the like comprising
body made in two telescopic portions adapted to rotate together and provided
with flanges, a gear ring lying between the said flanges, a series of curved grooves
with inclined bottoms in the said gear ring or one of the adjacent flanges, balls
in the grooves, and a fixed disc or the like adapted to be pressed against by a
flange on the hub body on reverse pedalling, substantially as set forth.
12. In a velocipede or the like, a reverse pedalling brake in combination with
a free wheel device, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. IX and X of the accompanying
drawings.,
13. In a velocipede or the like, a variable gear and means for changing from
one speed to another comprising a plate or the like mounted at the free end of one
of the pedal cranks, a sun wheel, means for preventing the rotation of the said

page_text: sun wheel and for releasing the same, one or more planet pinions carried by the
crank and gearing with both the sun wheel and an internally toothed sprocket or
like ring, internal teeth on the sun wheel, and a toothed bar pivotted to the
crank, linked to the plate and adapted to engage with the internal teeth on the
sun wheel, substantially as set forth.
14. In a velocipede or the like, a variable gear and means for changing from
one speed to another comprising a plate or the like mounted at the free end of
one of the pedal cranks, a sun wheel, means for preventing the rotation of the
said sun wheel and for releasing the same, one or more planet pinions carried by
the crank and gearing with both the sun wheel and an internally toothed sprocket
or like ring, lateral teeth on the said ring, and a toothed bar pivotted to the
crank, linked to the plate and adapted to engage with the lateral teeth on the
said ring, substantially as set forth.
15. In a velocipede or the like, a variable gear and means for changing from
one speed to another comprising a plate or the like mounted at the free end of
one of the pedal cranks, a sun wheel, means for preventing the rotation of the
said sun wheel and for releasing the same, one or more planet pinions carried
by the crank and gearing with both the sun wheel and an internally toothed
sprocket or like ring, a non-circular boss on one of the said pinions, and a slido
linked to the said plate and adapted to engage with the said boss, substantially
as set forth.
16. In a velocipede or the like, a variable gear and means for changing from
one speed to another constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. XI and XII of the accompanying
drawings.
17. In a velocipede or the like, a variable gear and means for changing from
one speed to another constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially
as herein described with reference to Figs. XI, XIII and XIV of the accompany-
ing drawings.
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
87, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.