Improved Means for Obtaining Two Speeds in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application 29th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Obtaining Two Speeds in Bicycles, Tricycles,
and other Velocipedes.
1 SEPTIMUS JOHN COLLIER Cycle Agent 7 West Cliff Blackpool do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention applies to bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes. The chain wheel
box contains in its internal circumference a number of cogs or teeth, and in its
periphery a number of teeth of the same pitch as the chain required for driving
purposes, on the sides of the chain wheel box are bosses to act as bearings. The chain
wheel box is bored to such a gauge as to allow a cylinder to pass through which
carries the crank spindle out of the centre of the chain wheel box.
On each end of the crank spindle is fixed a crank. A pinion wheel containing
fewer teeth than the chain wheel box is fixed on the crank spindle in such a position
as to bring both the teeth of the pinion and the internal teeth of the chain wheel box
into gear.
When it is desired to drive the machine as it is geared by the chain wheels for
speed, the pinion wheel and chain wheel box must be locked together so as to prevent
the pinion wheel revolving in its own centre, and pressure brought to bear on the
cranks will cause the entire gear to revolve on the centre of the chain wheel box,
thus driving the machine as it is geared by the chain wheels.
When it is desired to gear the machine down so as to gain power, the cylinder
containing the crank spindle out of the centre, must be locked to the frame of the
machine and held stationary, and the chain wheel box unlocked from the pinion on
the crank spindle so as to leave the pinion wheel on the crank spindle free to revolve
on its own centre. The teeth remain in gear with the chain wheel box and as the
cranks are revolved each being (viz. the chain wheel box and the crank spindle with
pinion) free to move on their respective centres the chain wheel box is revolved at a
slower speed.
The speeds may be varied by varying the number of teeth on the pinion wheel or
chain wheel box.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Obtaining Two Speeds in Bicycles, Tricycles,
and other Velocipedes.
I SEPTIMUS JOHN COLLIER Cycle Agent of 7 West Cliff, Blackpool 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 applies to bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes.
The chain-wheel-box contains in its internal circumference a number of cogs or
teeth and in its periphery a number of teeth of the same pitch as the chain required
for driving purposes. On the sides of the chain-wheel-box are bosses to act as
bearings. The chain-wheel-box is bored to such a gauge as to allow a cylinder to
pass through, which carries the crank-spindle out of centre of the chain-wheel-box.
On each end of the crank-spindle is fixed a crank. A pinion wheel containing fewer
teeth than the chain-wheel-box is fixed on the crank-spindle in such a manner
as to bring both the teeth of the pinion and the internal teeth of the chain wheel
into gear.

page_text: When it is desired to drive the machine as it is geared by the chain wheels for
"speed" the pinion wheel and the chain-wheel-box must be locked together so as to
prevent the pinion wheel revolving in its own centre and pressure brought to bear
on the cranks will cause the entire gear to revolve on the centre of the chain-wheel-
box, thus driving the machine as it is geared by the chain wheels.
When it is desired to gear the machine down so as to gain power the cylinder
containing the crank-spindle out of the centre must be locked to the frame of the
machine and held stationary and the chain-wheel-box unlocked from the pinion on
the crank-spindle so as to leave the pinion wheel free to revolve on its own centre.
The teeth always remain in gear with the chain-wheel-box and as the cranks are
revolved each being (viz. the chain-wheel-box and the crank-spindle with pinion) free
to move on their respective centres the chain-wheel-box is revolved at a slower
speed.
The speeds may be varied by varying the number of teeth on the pinion wheel or
chain wheel box.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side
view of one side of the apparatus constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the other side of the said apparatus. Fig. 3 is a plan and
Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of the said apparatus. Fig. 5 is a cross section of a
portion of the said apparatus. Fig. 6 is an end view of certain parts detached.
Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a side view and a plan of a certain portion detached.
Fig. 9 is a side view showing a "safety bicycle" with my invention applied thereto.
Fig. 10 is a front view showing certain parts detached. Fig. 11 is a diagram
illustrating the manner in which certain parts should be arranged.
In the accompanying drawings my invention is shown as applied to a "safety
bicycle."
a is the chain-wheel-box provided on the periphery with teeth a' which gear into
or engage with the links of the chain b. I provide the chain-wheel-box a with a
plate a to which the part on which the periphery a³ and teeth a' are formed, is
secured by means of set screws or bolts a. The plate a³ is provided with a boss a
and is capable of being turned upon a cylinder c capable of being rotated in bearings d, d¹
secured to the framework e of the machine. In the interior of the cylinder c is formed
a hole A at the ends of which are portions c¹ in which are formed holes in which is
mounted the crank-spindle upon which the cranks f¹ are mounted. The crank
spindle fis excentric to the cylinder c and has its axis parallel to that of the cylinder c.
On the plate a² are secured studs g which form as it were the teeth of an "internal
wheel" into which "internal wheel" gear the teeth of a pinion h mounted fast upon
the crank-spindle f. In holes formed in the portions c¹ at the ends of the cylinder cis
mounted a bolt which has its axis parallel to that of the cylinder c and which may as
will be hereinafter described be caused to pass into a hole h' formed in the pinion h 4
so as to cause such pinion to be secured to the cylinder c and prevented from
rotating in regard thereto. The bolt is pressed in the direction indicated by the
arrow B by means of a spiral spring j which abuts at one end against the end of one
of the portions c¹ at the ends of the cylinder c and at the other end against a pin i¹
secured to the bolt i. When the bolt i is being placed in position in the cylinder c
the spiral spring j is passed through one of the holes in which the crank-spindle fis
to be afterwards mounted and the bolt i is inserted into one of the holes in which it is
to be mounted and passed through the spiral spring j and into the other of the holes
in which it is to be mounted. A pin which may be what is commonly called a
'split pin" is then passed through a hole c² in the cylinder c and inserted and secured
in a hole formed in the bolt i so that the spring j will be compressed to the extent
necessary. To enable the pin to be more readily secured in the bolt i I form in
the cylinder c, a hole c³ opposite to the hole c².
66
Although I have described this method of securing the spiral spring jupon the
bolt I would have it understood that the bolt i and a spring may be arranged in any
other suitable manner. The bolt is provided with a part or head which serves to
prevent the bolt i from being moved too far in the direction indicated by the arrow B

page_text: and also at times enables the bolt i to be moved in the direction opposite to that indi-
cated by the arrow B as will be hereinafter described. When the "safety bicycle" is
being propelled and it is desired to cause the chain-wheel-box a to make the same
number of revolutions in a given time as the cranks f¹ so that the machine may be
"geared" for "speed" the bolt i is allowed to be protruded into the hole h¹ in the
pinion so that the pinion h will be unable to revolve upon its own axis in regard to
the cylinder c and thus be compelled to impart to the cylinder c and chain-wheel-box a
the same angular velocity as is imparted to the cranks f by the rider of the machine, the
cranks then revolving about the axis of the cylinder c. When it is desired that
the chain-wheel-box a may revolve at an angular velocity less than that imparted to the
cranks so that the machine may be "geared" for "power" the bolt i is withdrawn
from the hole ' in the pinion h so that such pinion h may revolve upon its own axis
in regard to the cylinder c which is then prevented from revolving by suitable means.
The pinion will then while being rotated impart motion to the plate a* by means of
the studs which at such times act as the teeth of an "internal wheel" and thus
cause the chain-wheel-box a to revolve with an angular velocity less than that imparted
to the cranks f¹ which then revolve about the axis of the crank spindle f, the rider of
the machine being then able to propel it more easily than when the chain-wheel-box a
and cranks have the same angular velocity.
To enable the bolt i to be readily protruded into the hole h¹ in the pinion and
withdrawn therefrom whenever desired I employ the arrangements to be next
described.
k is a lever mounted and capable of being turned upon a stud / secured to one (¹)
of the bearings d, d' in which the cylinder c is mounted. m is a spring secured at one
end to the lever k and at the other end to a stud secured to the bearing d'aforesaid or
to one of the set screws or bolts d² by means of which the said bearing d' is secured
to the framework e of the machine. The spring m tends to turn the lever k in the
direction indicated by the arrow C. The lever k is connected by a rod n to a lever o
near to the handle-bar p or other suitable part of the machine which lever o is so
arranged and provided with a suitable catch or detent o' to hold it in position, that
when such lever o is held in one position the lever k will be held in the position in
which it is indicated in Fig. 1 and when the lever o is released the lever k will be
turned by the spring m into the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 6. The
lever is provided with a notch g and with inclined portions r, which are shown
more clearly in Figs. 7 and 8 which are respectively a side elevation and a plan of
the lever detached.
When the machine is being driven for "speed" as above described, at which time
the bolt i is protruded into the hole in the pinion, the lever is held by means of
the catch of above mentioned, in the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 1, so that
as the cylinder c revolves the part or head of the bolt i will not come in contact
with the lever k. When the rider of the machine desires that such machine may be
"geared" for "power" the lever may be released from the position in which it was
previously held and allowed to turn into the other position so that the lever & may be
turned by the spring m from the position in which it is indicated in Fig. I to
the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 6. The part or head of the bolt i
will then either at once or after some portion of a revolution of the cylinder c
during which the said part or head may have arrived against and turned the
lever k so that it may pass under the part of such lever pass into the notch s
between the inclined portions r, . The direction in which the rider propelling the
machine "drives" the "crank spindle" by means of the cranks f' is indicated by
the arrow D. After the part or head of the bolti has passed into the notch sa
further rotation of the cranks and cylinder e will cause the part or head to pass
along the inclined portion in the direction indicated by the arrow E and so cause
the bolt i to be withdrawn from the hole in the pinion h. So soon as the bolt i is
withdrawn from the hole h' in the pinion h, the actions and reactions taking place
between the parts transmitting motion from the cranks to the chain b will cause
the part or head of the bolt i to move in the direction opposite to that indicated by

page_text: "
C
the arrow E, along the inclined portion r, into the notch s along the inclined portion r
and into the notch q. When the part or head of the bolt i has passed into the
notch gr such part or head is so held by the said notch q that the cylinder c will be
prevented from revolving in the bearings d, d'. The crank-spindle will then be
caused, by the pressure exerted upon the cranks f, to revolve within the cylinder c
and cause the pinion h to impart rotary motion to the plate a³ and chain-wheel-box a
by means of the studs which then act as the teeth of an "internal wheel." When
the rider of the machine desires that such machine may again be "geared" for
speed," the lever o is moved back to its first position and thus the lever k is brought
back to the position in which it is indicated in Fig. 1. The lever k will then cease to
hold the bolt i against the thrust of the spring ; which will cause the said bolt i to be
moved in the direction indicated by the arrow B so soon as the hole h' in the pinion h
arrives opposite to the end of the bolt i. The pinion being then secured to the
cylinder c and the turning of the lever & back into the position in which it is indicated
in Fig. 1 having released the cylinder c so that it may again revolve in the bearings d, d¹
the cranks, cylinder c and chain-wheel-box a will again revolve together. I would
point out that if when the cylinder c and cranks are revolving together the axis of
the crank spindle f and the axis of the cylinder c are not in a plane at right-angles to
the plane in which are the centre lines of the cranks, it will of necessity happen
that when the cranks f¹ and cylinder c revolve together the pedals attached to one of
the cranks will be nearer to or farther from the axis about which the cranks
revolve than the other pedal and thus one of the rider's feet will have to describe a
circle of larger radius than the circle described by his other foot. I therefore so
arrange the locking of the pinion h by the bolt i that when the cranks and cylinder c
are caused to revolve together and the machine is "geared for speed" the centre
lines of the cranks f¹ shall be in a plane at right angles or approximately so, to the
plane passing through the axis of the cylinder c and the axis of the crank-spindle f
The relative positions of the axis of the cylinder c and the axis of the crank spindle f
are illustrated in the diagram Fig. 11 which illustrates the positions of the parts when
the cylinder c is caused to revolve with the cranks f¹. In Fig. 11 F is the axis of
the cylinder c, G is the axis of the crank spindle and the line H H indicates the
plane in which are the centre lines of the cranks. By so arranging the relative
positions of the axis of the cylinder c, the axis of the crank spindle and the centre
lines of the cranks f' I cause the radii of the circles described by the axes of the
pedals secured to the cranks to be alike when the machine is geared" for
speed.
"
"
The number of teeth in the pinion h and the number of the studs 9 secured in the
plate a and intended to act as the teeth of an "internal wheel as hereinbefore
described will require to be adapted to the purpose for which the machine is to he
used and to the size of the driving wheel and the relative sizes of the chain wheels of
such machine. I find that for use with a driving wheel which is "geared" to "run" as
a "60 inch" wheel a pinion h provided with twelve teeth and a plate a² provided with
fifteen studs g is suitable for ordinary use.
Although I prefer to use a plate a³ with studs g secured therein, a plate, or wheel a
provided with "internal teeth" may be employed instead of a plate a² provided with
studs g.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown the chain-wheel-box a as being
formed with a part on which the periphery a³ and teeth a' are formed and which is
secured to a plate a² by means of set screws or bolts a. This arrangement
facilitates the application of my invention to a machine having chain wheels of
different sizes and having chains of different pitches but if it be desired the periphery a³
and teeth a' may be formed in one piece with the plate a².
66
In Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings I have shown
my invention as applied to what is known as a safety bicycle" but it is obvious that
my invention is also applicable to what are known as "central geared" tricycles and
other "central geared" velocipedes.
An arrangement of my invention specially applicable to "central geared” tricycles

page_text: "
and other "central geared" velocipedes but applicable also if it be desired to what
are known as safety bicycles" is illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying
drawings in which figures I apply to parts corresponding to parts shown in.
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 the same letters of reference as are applied to tl:e-
corresponding parts in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10. Fig. 12 is a longitudin..I'
section and Fig. 13 a cross section.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 the cylinder c instead of being
mounted in the bearings d, ' is mounted in a tube or boss a of which the boss a" of
the plate a² forms a part and which tube or boss a³ is mounted and capable of being
revolved in the bearings d, d' with which the framework of the machine is provided..
Upon the tube or boss as at any suitable part thereof but preferably between the
bearings d, d' is secured the "chain-wheel" a which in this instance is separate from
the plate a². The chain-wheel a is secured upon the tube or boss as by means of a.
suitable key t or in any other suitable manner. The chain-wheel a may if it be desired,
be formed upon the tube or boss a' instead of being secured thereon and the periphery ³:
bearing the teeth a' may instead of being formed in one with the body of the chain-
wheel a be formed separate therefrom and be secured thereto in a method similar to.
that employed in the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10..
The operation of the arrangement shown in Figs. 12 and 13 heing in all essential
respects the same as that of the arrangement shown in and described in reference to
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 10 and 11 no further description of the arrangement illus--
trated in Figs. 12 and 13 is necessary but it may be pointed out that when the machine
is "geared" for "power" and the cylinder c is prevented from revolving by the part
or head of the bolt i, engaging with the notch 7 formed in the lever k the tube or
boss a will revolve upon the outer surface of the cylinder c and that when the
machine is "geared for "speed" the cylinder c and tube or boss a revolve
together. The cylinder c may in this arrangement be mounted if desired in "ball
bearings" or "roller bearings" provided at any portion of the tube or boss a. The
arrangement illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13 is preferable to that illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 in that the tube or boss a revolves in the "* ball
bearings" d, d¹ whether the machine be "geared" for "speed" or for "power," and
in that it is possible to place the chain-wheel a between the bearings d, d' instead of
"outside" the bearing d and thus to more equally distribute the strains between the
bearings d, d'.
"
I would point out both in regard to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4,
5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 and in regard to the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13.
that instead of the crank-spindle f being mounted in " plain bearings" formed in
the ends of the cylinder e such crank-spindle may be mounted in "ball bearings
or "roller bearings" or "roller bearings" with which the ends of the cylinders c aro
provided.
"
In place of the "ball bearings" d, d', "roller bearings" or any other suitable
bearings may be employed if it be so desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said irven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
"
1. The hereinbefore described arrangement of apparatus for enabling "two speeds
to be obtained in what are known as "safety bicycles" and "central geared
tricycles and other "central geared" velocipedes, which arrangement of apparatus
consists in a cylinder such as c in which are mounted a bolt such as i and a crank-
spindle such as provided with a pinion h gearing into an "internal wheel" or an
equivalent therefor, formed upon or secured to the chain-wheel or chain-wheel-box a ;
and other necessary parts employed, arranged and operating substantially in the
manner herein before described and so that at one time the chain-wheel or chain-
wheel-box a may be caused to revolve with the same angular velocity as the cranks f
of the machine, the cranks of the machine then revolving about the axis of the
cylinder c and at another time the chain-wheel or chain-wheel-box a may revolve more
.

page_text: slowly than the cranks f¹ of the machine, the cranks f¹ of the machine then revolving
about the axis of the crank-spindle and the cylinder c being then prevented from
being revolved around its own axis.
2. The herein before described arrangements of apparatus consisting in the
cylinder c, crank-spindle f, bolt i, and lever k all constructed, arranged, employed and
operating for the purposes and substantially as herein before described.
3. The hereinbefore described arrangements of apparatus consisting in the
cylinder c, crank spindle f, bolt i, and tube or boss a, all constructed, arranged,
employed and operating for the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described
in reference to and indicated in and by Figs. 12 and 13 of the accompanying
drawings.
"
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of February 1890.