Improvements in Adjusting the Chains of Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Adjusting the Chains of Cycles and other Vehicles.
CHARLES BINKS, 7, The Avenue, York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the methods of tightening and loosen-
ing the chains of cycles and motor cars. I do away with the usual slots in the
ends of the back portion of the frame and drill two holes to secure the ends of the
spindle which pass through the hub; in place of the ordinary straight axle I
make one that is straight in its entire length through the hub, but
at a suitable distance where it protrudes out at each end I crank it
down a suitable distance, and then carry
on the ends a suitable
distance
in a direction in line with the spindle. On one of these ends I file a square and
on this square I fit a small worm wheel, immediately beyond this worm wheel
hoth ends are screwed. I then put the axle and hub into the frame and slip
the worm wheel into its place and secure each side with a nut. I prefer to make
the fork ends of the frame much thicker than usual, and bore one end out to
receive the worm wheel, and so put it out of sight, and of sufficient depth to
allow of the securing nut being sunk into the frame. I now drill a hole through
the end of the fork end and insert and secure in position a small worm or screw
in such a position that it engages and actuates the worm wheel. All the work-
ing parts are now out of sight and protected from dust, &c. Now to tighten the
chain I unscrew both side nuts and turn the worm which turns the worm wheel.
and so cause the hub to move to and fro in a part circular motion, and so tighten
or loosen the chain.
:
When the requisite adjustment of the chain is effected both side nuts are
tightened. The axle is prevented from turning by the friction resistance of the
nuts and the positive resistance of the worm geared into the wheel. I am aware
that chains are adjusted by means of eccentrics fixed on the ends of the axle,
the rotation of which adjusts the chain, and in Smith's Patent Specification 1661,
'97, two eccentrics, both eccentrics are actuated by worm wheels, which system
allows of a displacement of wheel in the frame; also of Mills's Specification 7264,
'97, which consists of an axle similar to what I propose to use.
Dated this 30th day of Tuns 1808
Improvements in Adjusting the Chains of Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, CHARLES BINKS, of 7, The Avenue, York, in the County of York, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
[Price 8d.1

page_text: formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in tightening and loosening the driving
chains of cycles, motor cars and the like.
In carrying my invention into effect,,
I do away with the usual slots in the ends of the back portion of the frame and
drill two holes to secure the ends of the spindle which pass through the hub;
in place of the ordinary straight axle I make one that is straight in its entire
length through the hub, but at a suitable distance where it protrudes out at each
end I crank it down a suitable distance, and then carry on the ends a suitable
distance, in a direction in a line with the spindle. On one of these ends I file a
square and on this square I fit a small worm wheel, immediately beyond this worm
wheel both ends are screwed. I then put the axle and hub into the frame and
slip the worm wheel into its place and secure each side with a nut, I prefer to
make the fork ends of the frame much thicker than usual, and bore one end out
to receive the worm wheel, and so put it out of sight, and of sufficient depth to
allow of the securing nut being sunk into the frame. I now drill a hole through
the end of the fork end and insert and secure in position a small worm or screw
in such a position that it engages and actuates the worm wheel. All the working
parts are now out of sight and protected from dust, etcetera. Now to tighten
the chain I unscrew both side nuts and turn the worm which turns the worm
wheel, and so cause the hub to move to and fro in a part circular motion, and so
tighten or loosen the chain. When the requisite adjustment of the chain is
effected both side nuts are tightened. The axle is prevented from turning by the
friction resistance of the nuts and the positive resistance of the worm geared into
the wheel.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is a view partially in section of the back hub and portion of the fork
of a cycle as seen from the back;
Figure 2 a side view of the same partially in section with a portion of the
mechanism removed;
Figure 3 an end view of the axle separated from the fork;
Figure 4 a key for turning the worm. and worm wheel.
In these, A is the back fork of a cycle, in which instead of the usual slots,
are holes B to receive the ends C of the axle. Dis the axle, which is straight
in its entire length through the hub E but cranked at the ends C which pass
through the fork A, or in other words I form such portions eccentric to the axis
of the driving wheel. On one of these end portions C I form a square F on which
is mounted a small worm wheel G and thread both ends as shown in Figure 1,
to receive nuts H. The ends of the fork A are made much thicker than usual
in order that they may be bored out sufficiently to admit the worm wheel G and
to allow of the nuts H being sunk into the frame. In a hole I in the fork I in-
sert and make secure therein a worm J which gears with the worm wheel G, the
spindle K of which worm projects through to the outside and is formed to receive
a key L, Figure 4, or a spanner or any other tool whereby the worm can be turned.
M is the chain wheel, and N the chain.
The mode of operation is as follows:
-
To adjust the chain, I slacken both side nuts H, then turn the worm J by means
of the key or in any other manner, thus partly rotating the worm wheel G, and
the axle on which it is mounted. This throws the hub of the driving wheel either
forward or backward in a circular path according to the direction in which the
worm is turned, thereby either loosening or tightening the chain. When the
requisite adjustment has been effected both side nuts H are then screwed up. By
this arrangement all the working parts are out of sight and protected from dust.
The axle is prevented from turning by the frictional resistance of the nuts H and

page_text: the positive resistance of the worm and worm wheel which is an important feature
of this invention.
Having now particularly described the nature of my said invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I am aware that driving
chains have hitherto been adjusted by means of worm wheels fixed on both ends
of the axle and also by axles with cranked or eccentric ends. In one case the
worm wheels at both ends had in adjusting to be revolved an equal amount, thus
rendering it easy to get the axle out of alignment if one worm was revolved more
than the other, while in the other case there was no proper provision for locking
the axle, as if the nuts worked loose, the pull of the chain would cause the axle
to turn. My invention avoids these defects, the entire axle being kept in perfect
alignment, notwithstanding that there is a worm wheel at one end only. What I
claim is:-
1. The improvement in devices for adjusting the tension of the driving chains
of cycles, which consists in forming both ends of the axle that are mounted in
the frame eccentric with the part that carries the driving wheel hub, and in
mounting on one end only of said axle a worm wheel having a worm gearing
therewith, whereby by rotating this worm at the one end by a key in one direction
or the other, the axle at both ends will be so moved as to tighten or loosen the
chain, while keeping in perfect alignment, substantially as described.
2. In cycles or the like, in which that part of the axle which carries the driving
wheel hub is made eccentric with the ends that are mounted in the frame, mount-
ing on one end only of said axle, a worm wheel having a worm gearing therewith
whereby by rotating this worm at the one end, the axle will be adjusted equally
at both ends, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved device for adjusting the driving chains of cycles or like vehicles.
Dated th
2041
נ'
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London.