Improvements in and relating to Driving Chains.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application. 24th Jan., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st July, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Driving Chains.
I, ADOLPH KOTIN, of 24 Clifton Road, Maida Vale, in the County of London,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to driving chains and wheels designed more especially for
use on velocipedes or the like, but which are also applicable for other driving
purposes, and my said invention comprises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
According to one method of carrying my said invention into practice I provide
in each of the links of my improved driving chain one or more sockets wherein is
or are so mounted suitable hardened steel or other spheres or balls that it or they
will be free to rotate therein in every direction but not to leave the said socket or
sockets, or the said ball or balls may be mounted upon a suitable pin or pins so as
to be free to rotate axially thereon. At the ends of each of the said links or
otherwise suitably disposed are steel or other hooks or projections adapted to
engage with suitable teeth or projections upon the flanges of the gear or chain
wheels.
The above mentioned balls or spheres project sufficiently beyond the sockets
wherein they are mounted to bear against the peripheral surface of the gear or
chain wheels when the chain is working, and roll thereon, thereby greatly
reducing the amount of friction which is otherwise usually experienced in gearing
of this description.
In some instances I dispense entirely with the above mentioned hooks or
projections and the corresponding teeth upon the gear or chain wheels, and
I provide in the latter hemispherical or other suitably shaped depressions into
which will engage and gear the projecting portions of the spheres or balls mounted
in either of the above described manners in the links of the driving chain. I may
for some purposes also combine with this latter arrangement the said hooks or
projections and teeth.
In order that the chain may the more readily adapt itself to its curvature as it
passes around the chain wheels I may make each link to form an arc of the circle
of the chain wheel. If, as is usual in a velocipede, the two chain wheels are of
different diameters I may form the links of the chain to correspond with the
circumference of the one and on the other chain wheel I may form undulations
corresponding with the arc of the chain links.
For the purpose of preventing the ingress of dust and the like I may prefer to
form the links of the chain solid instead of open as is usually the case and when
not in contact with the gear wheels the chain may at those parts that are between
the gear wheels run within troughs made of metal or other convenient material and
held upon the framework of the machine. In this way the working surface of the
chain may be kept free of dust and the like and that reaching the outer surface
cannot pass to the inside or to the gear wheels.
It is obvious moreover that I may somewhat further modify the construction of
my improved driving chain and of the gear or chain wheels therefor, without
however departing in any way from the nature of my said invention. For instance
instead of the hereinbefore mentioned spheres or balls I may in some cases employ
hardened steel or other rollers mounted to revolve upon or with suitable axles
supported on or in the chain links.

page_text: Instead of mounting the herein before mentioned balls or spheres, or the rollers,
upon the links of the chain I sometimes mount them on the periphery of the gear
or chain wheels, in which case I form hemispherical or other suitable depressions
in the links of the driving chain, or construct them in any other suitable manner
that will enable them to engage with the projecting portions of the said balls,
spheres or rollers. In this case (when balls or spheres are employed) I prefer to
form the gear or chain wheel in two parts, divided vertically, one half of each of the
requisite sockets for the said balls or spheres being in one part and the other half in the
other so that when the two said halves or parts are secured together the balls or
spheres will be imprisoned or retained loosely in the said sockets. To allow for wear
I prefer moreover to interpose between the two parts of the said gear or chain wheel
a.washer of some suitable material which can be removed altogether or a thinner
one substituted when required. I may however loosely secure or retain the balls
or spheres in their sockets by means of perforated segmental pieces, or in any
well-known, or convenient manner.
Dated this 24th day of January 1896.
A. F. SPOONER,
124 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, ADOLPH KOTIN, of 24 Clifton Road, Maida Vale, in the County of London,
Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to driving chains and wheels more especially designed for
use on velocipedes or the like, but which are also applicable for other driving
purposes, and my said invention comprises the improvements hereinafter set forth.
In the drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation showing one form or modification of my improved
gear wheels and driving chain.
Figure 2 is an end view of one of the gear or chain wheels thereof.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x Figure 1, drawn to an enlarged
scale, showing a detail of construction hereinafter described.
. Figure 4 is a plan, and
Figure 5 is an underside view drawn to the same scale as Figure 3 showing a
portion of my improved chain.
Figure 6 is a plan and Figure 7 is a transverse section and Figures 8 and 9 are
similar views all drawn to a still further enlarged scale showing two methods of
supporting or mounting the balls or spheres in the rim of the wheel, and
Figures 10 and 11 are respectively a longitudinal and a transverse section of a
portion of a chain wheel showing another slight modification hereinafter described.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is a portion of the frame of a velocipede, B, B are the gear or chain wheels of
the driving mechanism.
In the form or modification illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, I construct
the gear or chain wheels B in two parts or halves divided vertically, and 1 mount
suitable hardened steel or other balls or spheres a in cups, sockets, or recesses,
formed in the enlargements B' on the rims thereof, one half of each cup, socket,
or recess being situated in the one part or portion of the wheel, and the other half
in the other part or portion thereof. The two halves of each of the wheels B may
be secured together by screws B2 or otherwise, and for the purpose of adjustment
to allow for wear I prefer to interpose a washer B³. The bails or spheres a are

page_text: enclosed in the sockets to a point slightly above the centre or half the diameter
thereof and are thus, whilst capable of revolving freely in every direction,
prevented from quitting the said sockets.
To enable the chain gearing with the ball toothed wheels B to more readily
adapt itself to its curvature as it passes around the chain wheels I provide upon
each of the links b thereof a surface 6' that forms an arc of the circle of the chain
wheel or of one of the chain wheels. When the chain wheels are of different
dimensions as shown in the drawing the surfaces & are made to correspond with
the circumference of one of the wheels (the smaller one in this instance) and on the
other chain wheel I form undulations or arcs B each of which is struck with
the same radius as that of the smaller wheel. 62 is a recess formed in each of the
links b for engaging with or upon the projecting portions of the balls or spheres a.
By forming the links solid as shown the ingress of dust and the like from the outer
side thereof is prevented.
e is a metal or other tube or guard which may be used for protecting those
portions of the chain not actually in contact with the gear or chain wheels, from
dust or dirt. The guard c may be of a rectangular form in transverse section as
shown in Figure 3 or of other suitable shape and is secured to the frame A by
lugs cand screws c, or in any other convenient manner.
In the modifications shown in Figures 6 and 7 and Figures 8 and 9 the recesses
or sockets in the chain wheels for receiving the balls or spheres are enlarged below
the point of contact with the latter as indicated at d, and the said balls or spheres
are carried upon smaller balls or spheres e placed in conical or other recesses fin
the enlarged portions d of the main recesses or sockets. In the plan views
Figures 6 and 8 the main or large balls or spheres a are removed, the transverse
sections Figures 7 and 9 show the method of supporting the latter upon the small
or supplementary balls or spheres. Five supplementary balls are used in each
main recess or socket in the form shown in Figures 6 and 7, and one in each main
recess or socket in that shown in Figures 8 and 9, but it is obvious that any other
convenient number of the said supplementary balls or spheres might be employed.
In the form or modification illustrated in Figures 10 and 11 the main balls or
spheres are carried in a circumferential groove B', formed between the two halves
of the chain wheel B the upper inner edges of the said groove being preferably
formed slightly overhanging so as to retain the said balls or spheres in position
therein. 9, 9 are distance pieces or blocks for retaining the said main balls or
spheres at suitable regular distances apart. These distance pieces or blocks may
be secured.or retained in position by steady pins g' or otherwise, and are preferably
somewhat undercut as shown from their points of contact with the main balls or
spheres so as to reduce friction. h, are small balls let into holes drilled partially
in the edges of the upper surfaces of the said distance pieces or blocks so that the
said balls project a certain distance therefrom and form bearings for the curved
surfaces of the chain links to run upon and so reduce friction.
Instead of dividing the chain wheels in two parts vertically I may provide
suitable segmental pieces either to hold the balls or spheres entirely or in
conjunction with the inner portion of the wheel to the periphery of which the
said pieces may be attached by means of screws or in any convenient manner.
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. In chain driving mechanism the combination of two wheels B, B furnished
with secured but rotating balls a with a chain composed of links which are so
formed as to engage the protruding segments of the balls as the wheels rotate and
at the same time curved so as to come in close contact with one of the said wheels
if they are of unequal size or of both of the said wheels if they are of equal size
substantially as herein before described and illustrated.
2. In chain driving mechanism such as that described in Claim 1 hereof when

page_text: the wheels are of unequal size and consequently when the curve given to the links
of the chain will not adapt itself to both wheels, making a succession of curves on
the driving edge of the wheel to which the chain does not adapt itself so that that
wheel shall adapt itself to the links of the chain substantially as described and.
illustrated.