Improvements in Gearing for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Gearing for Bicycles and the like.
I, THOMAS JAMES HARPER, of 60, Ravensdale Road, Stamford Hill, Wholesale
Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in gearing for bicycles and the like relates
to a gearing of that class in which a driving band is used in place of a chain and
consists essentially of the use of a steel band passing round the toothed and
sprocket wheels, openings being formed in the band at regular intervals within
which the teeth, which are specially formed engage. A special means for con-
necting the ends of the band together and for taking up slackness is also pro-
vided.
.-
The
According to this invention a band of steel is provided with openings formed
at regular intervals along its centre, and this band is placed round the toothed
and sprocket wheels in the same manner as the chain at present in use.
toothed and sprocket wheels are formed with a number of projecting pins which
form the teeth and these pins are of a rounded conical shape so as to permit of
their ready engagement and disengagement with the openings in the band during
working. Side flanges are preferably formed on the toothed and sprocket wheels
upon which the steel band rests at each side of the teeth.
In a modified arrangement the openings in the band are formed at the edges
instead of at the centre and two series of pins or teeth are provided on the toothed
or sprocket wheels. The two sets may be opposite one another or may be arranged
alternately.
In a further modification the band is divided down its centre, half openings
being provided on each portion the teeth or pins being engaged with both.
In order to connect the ends of the driving band two or three small strips of
metal are inserted transversely in slits formed through the ends of the band
which are overlapped, and the edges of these small strips are turned over on the
other side to secure the ends of the band together. It will be seen that the
fastening is secure while at the same time the strips can be readily detached or
loosened. In order to take up slackness of the band the fastening strips aré
loosened or detached and the end of the band cut off or moved up one division
and the ends again secured together.
3000

page_text: Improvements in Gearing for Bicycles and the like.
I, THOMAS JAMES HARPER, of 60, Ravensdale Road, Stamford Hill, London, N.,
Wholesale Ironmonger, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in that class of driving gear in which
motion is imparted from one driving shaft or wheel or other rotating body to
that of another, by the means of a chain or chains, such for instance as that of the
driving gear of a cycle, my said improvements consisting of the use of a steel
band or bands in lieu of the, said chain or chains, and in which are formed, at
regular intervals, circular or other shaped holes, with which engage specially
formed teeth upon the peripheries of the sprocket wheels of both the driving
shaft or spindle (which in the case of cycle gearing would be the spindle of the
bottom bracket) and the driven shaft or spindle (which in the case of cycles would
be the spindle of the back or driven wheel or wheels) the 'object of my invention
being to provide a means of transmitting power in the manner stated at a
cheaper rate of production, of less weight, and with less frictional wear and tear
than that which obtains with the said chain-gear hitherto used..
In order that my said invention and the manner in which I prefer to carry
the same into effect may be fully and clearly understood, reference is hereinafter
made to the accompanying sheet of drawings, and in which I have chosen to
illustrate my invention as applied to the propulsion of cycles.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of part of a sprocket wheel, constructed according
to my invention, and which is assumed to be such a one as would be mounted
upon the driving spindle upon the bottom bracket of a cycle, Fig. 2 being an
edge or circumference view of same.
Fig. 3 is an outer surface view of a short length of my improved steel-band for
use in connection with such a sprocket wheel, Fig. 4 being an internad and edge view
of the joined ends of Fig. 3, while Fig. 5 is a view of the form of double pin or
clip which I prefer to use for forming the junction between the said ends of the
band, as hereinafter explained.
Fig. 6 is an elevational or side view of the front and back sprocket wheels of a
cycle, driven by a band according to my invention.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of a piece of driving band according to my invention,
illustrating an alternative construction of same, while Fig. 8 is an edge or cir-
cumference view of a sprocket wheel adapted for use with a band such as Fig. 7.
Assuming my invention to be employed for cycle driving, I carry the same into
effect (according to the method of construction illustrated by Figs. 1 to 5 inclu-
sive) by providing of suitably tempered metal, preferably steel, a band A, of
convenient width according to the width of the peripheries of the sprocket wheels
with which it is to be employed, the said band having provided therein, at suit-
able intervals, and centrally of its width, preferably circular holes, the diameter
of which may vary according to the diameter and other conditions of the teeth
of the said sprocket wheels, the said holes being either raw-edged as when leaving
the punching or other tool by which they are produced, as at B, or lined or
bound with brass, gun, or other metal as at B Fig. 3, whichever may be desired.
The said band may be produced of indefinite length and be cut off in such lengths
as may be found necessary, and the two ends of each said cut-off length, I may
connect together by welding, rivetting, brazing or other suitable means, care of
course being observed, that in making the said joint the first hole from each end

page_text: are precisely of the same distance apart as the remainder. In order to effect
this more accurately, I purpose punching or otherwise forming in the said ends,
or if desired between each hole B and its neighbour, two or more fine slits such
as C, these being arranged in pairs, so that when the one end of A is placed over
the other, the holes C in the one or upper end absolutely coincide with those in
the other or under end, and the two ends so placed I then connect by the means
of one or more double pin-clips such as D, (Fig. 5) the two ends of one being
passed through the double pairs of holes C in the overlapping ends of A (as at a
and a while the second or third clip (if used) is or are passed through the next
double pair or pairs of holes, (as at 6 and 6 in Fig. 3) the said ends of a, a, b
and being then turned up or burred over upon the under surface of A, as
illustrated by Fig. 4. By this means of joining up the ends of A, should the
band by wear become more slack 'than can be taken up by the ordinary means pro-
vided in all cycles for adjusting elongated chains, I am enabled by removing the
placed clip or clips D, and causing the holes in one end of A to cover the next or
the second set of holes in the opposite end of A, to connect these in like manner,
by using a like clip or clips D, thus taking up the slack of the band a distance
equal to that between one hole B and the next.
I do not confine myself to any design of sprocket wheel E for the bottom
bracket spindle F, or G for the back or driven wheel, so long as the width of
their peripheries are sufficient to provide seatings for the band A, but where such
sprocket wheels have hitherto been used for chain-gear, and their peripheries H
are too narrow for the purposes of my invention, I provide flanges H¹ and H³
which I rivet, screw, or otherwise fix, one upon each side of H, so as to increase
the width of the periphery of the wheel suitable for carrying, and to approxi-
mately coincide with, the width of the band A, this application of flanges H
and H being adapted to both wheels E and G, but of course, where such wheels
are made specially for the purposes of my invention, their respective peripheries
would be of the required widths without the need of the flanges H² and H
I do not confine myself to any distance at which to place apart the holes B in
the band A, but which may conveniently be that that usually divides the teeth
in the sprocket wheels in present use, which again permits me to employ the
ordinary sprocket wheels for the purposes of my invention, but to facilitate a
more graceful engagement with, and disengagement from, the holes B, I prefer
that the teeth of both the wheels E and G shall be of rounded conical formation
irrespective of whether such teeth be cast upon or otherwise connected to the
wheel, or whether such wheels be newly made or converted as described.
Fig. 6 fully illustrates the application of my invention in the propulsion of a
cycle, or for conveying power from one driven shaft to another for other
purposes.
As an alternative arrangement for cycle propulsion and other purposes, I may
so arrange the band A, that instead of having circular or other shaped holes
therein, centrally of its width as in Fig. 3, I may arrange semi-circular or other
shaped openings in the edges of same, as indicated by 12 and B3 in Fig. 7, and
such openings may be so arranged that those 12 may alternate with those B3, or
these may be, and preferably would be placed immediately facing each other as
shewn, the said bands being provided with slits C, for the whole or any desired
portion of their lengths, for the same purposes as that described in the previous
arrangement. The formation of the band A as at Fig. 7, would necessitate the
use of semi-circular or half coincal teeth J¹ and J2, which may be cast upon or
otherwise connected to, the peripheries of the wheels E and G, or in the case of
converted wheels, upon the flanges II and H³, but where such wheels are made
for the purposes of my invention, and to facilitate casting, I should prefer to
make these in two parts, E and E², as at Fig. 8, these being joined together as
shewn, by screws, pins, rivets brazing, soldering or other convenient means.
Although I have chosen to describe and illustrate my invention as applied to
cycles for conveying motion from the driven spindle thereof to the hind wheel

page_text: or wheels of the machine it is obvious that the principle of my invention is
equally applicable for use upon, or in connection with, any kind of machinery
in which it is possible to convey motion from one rotating body to another by
the means of a chain or chains, rope or ropes, and I reserve to myself the right
to employ my invention for such purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. The employment of an endless steel or other metal band for conveying
motion from one rotating body to another, hitherto actuated by a chain or chains,
rope or ropes, the said band having holes or openings centrally of its width, r
upon its edges, adapted to engage with correspondingly placed suitable teeth or
part teeth upon the peripheries of the said revolving bodies, or upon wheels keyed
or otherwise fixed upon the said revolving bodies, substantially as herein described
and shewn.
2nd. In an improved driving gear for cycles and the like, the combination of
a steel or other metal band such as A, rendered endless and adjustable by the
means of clips such as D, engaging with slots C, and having circular or other
shaped equidistant holes such as Bor B¹ provided centrally of its width, or
openings such as B2 133 provided upon the edges of same, the said holes or openings
being adapted to receive and make contact with conical pins J, or half pins such
as J, upon the peripheries of the sprocket wheels H and G of the machine, the
said peripheries being of a width approximating to that of the width of the
band A, or rendered so by the addition of flanges H and H2, substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth and shown by the appended drawings.
day of
1899.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.