Improvements in connection with Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 27th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION."
Improvements in connection with Velocipedes.
We, WILLIAM BOWN, 308 Summer Lane Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer and JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES, Park Lane, Aston
juxta Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist and ARTHUR LOUKS, 68 Park Lane,
Aston aforesaid Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention has reference to improved means for easily and readily adjusting
or truing the pitch line of driving chains of velocipedes.
We will first describe our improvements as applied to an ordinary barrel or
other shaped bottom bracket of a velocipede. Fitted loosely inside the barrel
portion or outer casing of the said bottom bracket and protruding slightly through
at either end is an independent bearing piece provided at each end with half
cones are screwed onto the
ball races, the corresponding half ball races or
Each end or flange of the
bottom bracket spindle in the ordinary manner.
independent bearing piece which protrudes beyond the barrel shaped portion or
outer casing of the said bracket is screwed to receive a lock washer, which said
lock washers butt against the ends of the said barrel shaped portion or outer casing
of the bracket. It will easily be understood that when the lock washers are
unscrewed the independent bearing piece and spindle and consequently the chain
wheel which is secured to the said spindle can be moved either to the right or left
as desired. In order to prevent the independent bearing piece from turning round
when the lock washers are being tightened up we drill and tapp a hole in the
barrel shaped portion or outer casing and insert a screw, which said screw takes
into a corresponding slot or opening formed in the independent bearing piece by
which means the barrel shaped portion or outer casing and the independent
bearing piece are locked together. The screw which locks the two parts together
is formed hollow so as to enable the bearings and spindle to be lubricated.
When applying our improvements to the hub of the driving wheel of a
velocipede we form that portion of the said hub onto which the chain wheel is
screwed or otherwise secured so as to take two left or right hand lock washers or
equivalents, one on each side of the chain wheel and butting against the sides of
the said chain wheel. When it is necessary to move the chain wheel the lock
washers are unscrewed and the said wheel is moved either to the right or left as
required and the lock washers tightened up again. Instead of the chain wheel
being screwed onto the hub it may be so formed as to slide onto one or more
key ways or feathers or vice versa and the lock washers screwed on as before
described for holding the said chain wheel in position.
Dand thie 25th day of January 1894.
WILLIAM BOWN.
JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES.
ARTHUR LOUKS.

page_text: UUMI LETE
Improvements in connection with Velocipedes.
We,
WILLIAM BOWN, 308 Summer Lane Birmingham in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES, Park Lane, Aston
juxta Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist and ARTHUR LOUKS, Park Lane,
Aston aforesaid Machinist 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 reference to an improved means for easily and readily
adjusting or trueing the pitch line of driving chains of velocipedes.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we have illustrated same
on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Fig. 1 is a sectional plan view of a velocipede barrel shaped bottom bracket.
Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1 shewing another method of carrying our
invention into practice, and-
Fig. 3 is a part sectional view shewing our invention as applied to the back hub
of a velocipede.
A is the outer casing or barrel shaped portion of the velocipede bottom bracket
into which is placed an independent bearing B for the bracket spindle C to revolve
in. The ends a of the independent bearing B protrude beyond the edges of the
casing A, which said ends a are screwed to receive the lock washers D. It will be
easily understood that when the lock washers D are unscrewed the independent
bearing B and spindle C and consequently the usual chain wheel which is secured
to the said spindle C can he moved either to the right or left as desired by
which means the pitch line of the driving chain can be adjusted or trued when
necessary.
In order to prevent the independent bearing B from turning round when the
lock washers D are being tightened up we drill or tap a hole in the casing A. and
insert the hollow screw b, which said screw b takes into a slot or opening c formed
in the independent bearing B by which means the said independent bearing B is
prevented from turning inside the said casing A. The said hollow screw b serves
as a means for lubricating the bearings and spindle.
In the method of carrying our invention into practice as shewn at Fig. 2 we
dispense with the lock washers D and use instead two cotter pins E in which case
the edges of the independent bearing B are left plain for the said cotter pins E to
butt against.
At Fig. 3 we have shewn our improvements as applied to the back hub of a
velocipede wheel. F is the body of the hub. The end G onto which the chain
wheel H is fastened is screwed with a right and left hand thread for the washers I
to be screwed onto, which said washers 1 butt against the chain wheel H and
securely hold the same in position. When it is necessary to adjust or true the
pitch line of the driving chain the washers I are unscrewed and the chain wheel H
moved either to the right or left, the said washers 1 are then locked again thus
firmly holding the chain wheel H in position.
Although we have shewn the chain wheel H fastened onto the end G by means
of a key way, the said chain wheel H may if desired be screwed onto the said
end G or secured thereon in any other suitable manner
It will be seen that when velocipede bottom brackets are constructed as shewn
at Figs. 1 and 2 the bearing B can be taken bodily out of the outer casing A when
desired which will be found to be of great benefit to cyclists.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we would have it

page_text: understood that we do not limit ourselves to the precise details as herein shewn
and described as they may be varied without departing from the nature of our
invention, but what we wish to claim is :-
Firstly. The means substantially as herein shewn and described with reference
to Figs. 1 and 2 for adjusting or trueing the pitch line of the driving chains of
velocipedes.
Secondly. The means substantially as herein shewn and described with reference
to Fig. 3 for adjusting or trueing the pitch line of the driving chains of
velocipedes.
Thirdly. Forming an independent bearing in the bottom bracket of a velocipede
in the manner substantially as herein shewn and described with reference to
Figs. 1 and 2 or their equivalent.
Dated this 26th der of Natober 180A
WILLIAM BOWN.
JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES.
ARTHUR LOUKS.
WILLIAM BOWN.
JOSEPH HENRY HUGHES.
ARTHUR LOUKS.