Improvements in Change Gearing for Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 15th June, 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Change Gearing for Bicycles.
We, VICTOR BÉLANGER, of No. 17 Marlborough Street, Boston, in the County
of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, Gentleman,
and Miss MARY ELLEN BRADY, of No. 17 Marlborough Street, in Boston
aforesaid, 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 relates to change gearing for bicycles; that is to say, gearing
capable of adjustment for speed or power at the will of the rider.
The present invention involves numerous novel constructions and combinations of
parts calculated to make a mechanism of this character superior to its prede-
cessors in the matter of compactness, durability, and reliability. The claims
which are appended hereto will be found to recite the characteristics of the
invention.
An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
whereof
Figure 1 shows in side elevation the principal parts of a bicycle provided with
our improvements.
Figure 2 shows an axial section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figures 3, 4, and 5 show sections taken respectively on lines 3-3, 4-4, and
5-5 of Figure 2.
Figure 6 shows a section on line 6-6 of Figure 2, and an elevation of the
mechanism at the left of said line.
Figure 7 shows a modification.
Figure 8 represents a section on line 8-8 of Figure 7:
Figure 9 represents a side view of the seat and parts of the frame, showing means
for holding the detent in its operative position.
Figure 10 represents a section on line 10-10 of Figure 9.
Figures 11 to 18, inclusive, represent views of a different construction embodying
the invention.
The letter a represents the rear wheel of the bicycle, whose hub a' is mounted as
usual to rotate on a fixed axle fastened in the frame c. In the present instance
there is fastened to the hub an annular casing d forming a part of the hub and
having a flange to which one set of spokes is fastened. A sleeve e is mounted
loosely on the hub a¹ within the casing d, one end of the sleeve projecting from the
casing. To the outer end of said sleeve outside the casing is affixed a small
sprocket-wheel for engagement with the driving-chain f¹, and on the inner end of
the sleeve within the casing there is formed a pinion g. Loosely mounted on the
sleeve e within the casing there is an eccentric h which has a hub ' extending
outside the casing. A strap i embracing the eccentric is enlarged and extended to
receive an internal gear 2, which is in mesh with the pinion g, said gear being
affixed to the strap i. Said eccentric strap carries an arm having an anti-friction
roller, which is movable in a radial slot in an ear or bracket affixed to the
casing d, said roller and slotted bracket constituting a self-adjusting connection
between the eccentric and the wheel.
7 represents a coupler which is movable in a guide in the eccentric-flange k and
s adapted to lock the eccentric to the casing and through the latter to the wheel a.

page_text: Said coupler is arranged to interlock with the inner surface of the casing d, the
latter being internally milled or knurled to form a corrugated surface d' (Figure 5),
adapted to engage the correspondingly corrugated outer surface of the coupler n.
A spring n normally presses the coupler outwardly into engagement with the
corrugated surface d. When the coupler n is interlocked with the casing, the
eccentric is constrained to move with the wheel as a part of it. A stud n' projects
from the outer side of the coupler n through a slot in the flange k, and is arranged!
to be moved inwardly by the detent hereinafter described, the arrangement being
such that when the said detent is operated to hold the eccentric stationary, the
coupler n is disengaged from the casing.
The eccentric is provided with a plate or flange k, which closes the outer side of
the casing d and is provided for engagement with a detent controlled by the rider,
whereby the eccentric may be locked or held stationary. Said detent is shown in
Figures 1, 2, 5, and 6 as a flexible strap or band brake encircling a peripheral
face on the eccentric-flange k, one end of said brake being attached to a holder &
affixed to an arm or bracket c¹ hereinafter described on the frame c, while its other
end is pivotally connected with a lever k which is pivoted at 4 to the arm c¹.
Means are provided whereby the rider may move the lever ; and when said
lever is moved in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 6, it compresses
the brake or detent upon the face of the eccentric-flange k, thus preventing
rotation of said flange and of the eccentric connected therewith, the compressed brake
at the same time bearing on the stud n and pressing the coupler n inwardly
out of engagement with the casing d, so that the eccentric is disengaged from
the casing and from the wheel a at the same time that it is being locked.
An operating-rod k is connected with the lever k' and extends upwardly on the
frame c.
Said rod may be engaged at its upper end with a keyhole-shaped slot 16
in a lug kaffixed to the frame c directly under the saddle c³, the rod having a fixed
enlargement adapted to pass through the larger part of the slot and arranged so
that when the brake, or detent is loose and inoperative the enlargement will be
below the lug k. When the operator pulls the rod upwardly until the
enlargement 18 passes through the slot, he makes the detent operative to lock the
eccentric, as above described; and by moving the enlargement over the narrower
part of the slot, he engages the rod with the lug 4, so that it cannot fall back
and release the detent, the latter remaining operative without attention from the
rider.
In Figure 1 we show the operating rod k connected by a lever k², rod k³, and
lever with a hand-lever A10 pivoted at k to the handle-bar e' of the bicycle, said
hand-lever bearing at one end on the lever and being arranged so that when its
outer end is drawn toward the handle-bar its inner end will transmit motion to the
detent through the described connections.
The detent-supporting arm c' is clamped between the frame c and a collar c
secured upon the axle b, as shown in Figure 2, said arm having a hole through
which the axle passes.
A modified form of detent is shown in Figures 7 and 8, in which the detent is a
lever pivoted at to a suitable part of the bicycle frame and having at one
end a tooth adapted to enter a recess in the eccentric-flange k. An operating
rod is connected to the other end of said lever and is adapted to move the toothed
end of the lever into engagement with the slot k". An arm is affixed to the
lever and is arranged to bear on the coupler stud n' and displace the coupler
when the lever is being moved to lock the eccentric.
It will be seen that in the construction shown in Figures 2 and 6 the stud n'
constitutes a means for displacing the coupler when the detent is operated to hold
the eccentric stationary, and that in the construction shown in Figures 7 and 8
equivalent means for the same purpose are found in the stud n' and the arm k
The operation is as follows: In the normal condition of parts, when the eccentric
is locked to the wheel by the coupler, power applied to rotate the pinion g is
transmitted directly to the wheel a, the pinion and internal gear remaining in

page_text: engagement at one side of the axis, and the bicycle is propelled the same as though
the sprocket-wheel was affixed to the hub of the rear wheel as usual.
To obtain increased power for hill-climbing or other purpose, the rider by moving
the operating rod as described engages the detent with the eccentric-flange k. When
this takes place, the eccentric is held stationary, the coupler n being at the
same time displaced to disconnect said eccentric from the wheel, and then the
pinion g turns the internal gear on the eccentric and the motion is transmitted
through said gear to the wheel, the slotted projection * on the casing and the roll
on the eccentric strap constituting a self-adjusting connection between the casing
and the internal gear, which permits the internal gear to move laterally or at
right angles to its axis as required by its rotation on the fixed eccentric.
By arranging the change gearing on the rear wheel instead of on the crank-
axle, we are enabled to reduce the difference in number of teeth between the
driving pinion and the internal gear, and consequently the amount of radial
movement of the internal gear with respect to the pinion; and yet we accomplish
the same result in the matter of increasing power, for the reason that the rear
sprocket-wheel is considerably smaller than that on the crank-shaft, and makes a
number of revolutions to one of the larger sprocket.
Another advantage resulting from reducing the difference between the driving
pinion and the internal gear in the number of their teeth is that these gears are
more inclined to remain interlocked, while the eccentric is free to rotate.
The construction is exceedingly compact, and the gears are thoroughly protected
from dirt.
We do not limit ourselves to the details of construction here shown, and may
variously modify the same. The eccentric-locking detent and the self-adjusting
connection between the internal gear and the wheel may be constructed in a variety
ways without departing from the spirit of the inventiou.
of
It will be seen that the casing d is in effect simply an enlargement of the hub a¹
and may properly be considered as a part of said hub.
Our improvement can be readily applied to the existing standard bicycles, and
requires no adaptation of the frame of the bicycle, excepting to secure the arm c¹
thereto.
We do not limit ourselves to the location of the improved change gearing on the
shaft of the rear or driving wheel. In Figures 11 to 18, inclusive, we show a
different construction, in which the change gearing is used in connection with the
crank-shaft B, which is journalled in a bearing A forming a part of the frame of
the bicycle and is provided with the usual crank-arms B' B' having pedals B* B*.
The driving pinion E is affixed rigidly to the crank-shaft B, which in this
construction is the equivalent of the sleeve e in the construction first described. A
sprocket-wheel C is mounted to rotate on a sleeve D, which is loose on the crank-
shaft and is a part of the eccentric D. Said sprocket-wheel, which is the
equivalent of the rear wheel hub d' and its casing d, is connected by a chain C
with a smaller sprocket-wheel C₁ affixed as usual to the rear wheel of the bicycle.
The internal gear E is affixed to the band D' on the eccentric D, and meshes as
before with the driving pinion.
This
The self-adjusting connection between the sprocket-wheel C and the band D.
comprises a sliding block C³ on a stud C affixed to a spoke of the sprocket-wheel,.
and an arm D formed on the band D¹ and containing a slot D³ which receives the
block C, the latter sliding freely in the slot. There is sufficient space between
the adjusting cone J' of the ball-bearings and the end of the crank-shaft bearing
to receive a clutch device and permit the required movement of the same.
clutch device is in the form of a bar F, which straddles the hub D', as shown in
Figure 5, and is provided with pivot-pins F journalled in notches in the end of
said hub. There is a ring or annular flange G formed on or attached to the
sprocket-wheel on its inner side and provided with a series of notches G¹ formed
to receive one arm of the clutch-bar F when the eccentric and the wheel are to be
rotatively connected. A spring G³ tends to create such engagement, said spring,

page_text: being fastened to the arm of the clutch-bar on the side of its pivot opposite
that engaging the notched flange of the wheel and bearing against the adjusting
cone J
The clutch-bar is disengaged from the wheel by means of a sleeve which slides
longitudinally on the crank-shaft bearing A' and is composed of heads H fitted to
said bearing and slotted at H' to embrace portions of the frame A, and a partly
tubular connecting shell H2. By the engagement of the heads H with the frame,
the sleeve is held from rotation. Said sleeve is designed to act against the short
arm of the clutch-bar and thereby disengage its long arm from the sprocket-
wheel; and the head H is formed with a notch H³ to receive the long arm of the
clutch-bar.
When the clutch-bar is in engagement with the sprocket-wheel, it will be seen
that power applied to the pedals is transmitted directly from the crank-shaft to
the sprocket-wheel, and the intervening gears are dormant, for. the internal gear
cannot rotate on the eccentric while the latter is locked to the sprocket-wheel.
This may be considered the normal condition; and while it obtains, it is as though
the machine were of the ordinary construction, and the effect in propulsion is the
same. When it is desired to obtain more power and less speed, the sleeve H H2
is operated to disengage the clutch-bar from the sprocket-wheel and engage it
with the sleeve. The eccentric is now prevented. from rotating, and rotation of
the crank-shaft causes the pinion affixed thereto to rotate the internal gear on the
eccentric, and motion is transmitted to the sprocket-wheel through the slotted arm
of the internal gear and the roller-equipped pin on the wheel. Now the crank-
shaft and sprocket-wheel do not rotate turn for turn, but motion is transmitted
from the small gear on the shaft to the large gear on the wheel, and power is
thereby derived, the wheel turning less rapidly than the shaft.
The shifting-sleeve is controlled from the handle-bar through the following
connections: A lever I is pivoted to the under side of the handle-bar, and is
connected with a pendant rod I' which is jointed to a bell-crank lever I' supported
by a bearing on a convenient portion of the frame: A rod I jointed to.the other
arm of said bell-crank lever is connected at its lower end with a bent-lever I'
pivoted to a bearing on the frame and engaging a socket in one of the heads H of
the sleeve.
It is evident that the invention is capable of being embodied in different forms
than that here shown, and is not, therefore, limited in this respect.
It will be seen that the sleeve e supported on the axle of the rear wheel in the
construction shown in Figures 1 to 10 is in effect a tubular shaft transmitting
motion to the driving pinion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. In a safety bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a driving pinion loose
on the hub of said wheel, a rotatable eccentric having the same axis as the pinion
and wheel, an internal gear journalled on the eccentric and meshing with the
driving pinion, a self-adjusting connection between the internal gear and the wheel
with provision for independent lateral movement of the gear, and a detent for
holding the eccentric stationary.
2. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel having a casing on its hub, a
sleeve loose on the said hub and provided with a driving pinion within the casing,
an eccentric loose on the sleeve within the .casing, an internal gear journalled on
said eccentric and in mesh with the driving piniou, a self-adjusting connection
between the internal gear and the casing with provision for lateral movement of
the gear, and a detent for holding, the eccentric stationary.
3. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel having a casing on its hub,
a sleeve loose on the said hub and provided with a driving pinion within the casing,
an eccentric loose on the sleeve within the casing, an internal gear journalled on

page_text: said eccentric and in mesh with the driving pinion and having an arm or projection
and an anti-friction roll thereon, a slotted arm on the casing receiving said roll,.
and a detent for holding the eccentric stationary.
4. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel having a casing on its hub,.
a sleeve loose on the hub of the wheel and provided with a driving pinion within
the casing, an eccentric loose on the sleeve within the casing and carrying a flange.
outside the casing, an internal gear journalled on the eccentric and in mesh with
the driving pinion, a self-adjusting connection between the internal gear and the
wheel with provision for lateral movement of the gear, and a detent supported by
the frame of the bicycle and adapted to engage the eccentric-flange.
5. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a sleeve loose on the hub of
the wheel and carrying a driving pinion, an eccentric loose on the sleeve, an
internal gear journalled on said eccentric and in mesh with the driving pinion, a
self-adjusting connection between the said internal gear and the wheel with
provision for lateral movement of the gear, a detent for holding the eccentrio
stationary, and a coupler for locking the eccentric to the wheel.
6. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a sleeve loose on the hub.
of the wheel and carrying a driving pinion, an eccentric loose on the sleeve, an
internal gear journalled on said eccentric and in mesh with the driving pinion, a
self-adjusting connection between the said internal gear and the wheel with
provision for lateral movement of the gear, a detent for holding the eccentric
stationary, a coupler for locking the eccentric to the wheel, and means for
displacing the coupler when the detent is operated to hold the eccentric
stationary.
7. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel having a casing on its hub, a
sleeve loose on the hub of the wheel and extending into the said casing where it
carries a driving pinion, an eccentric loose on the sleeve within the casing, an
internal gear journalled on said eccentric and in mesh with the driving pinion, a
self-adjusting connection between the said internal gear and the casing, a coupler
carried by the eccentric and adapted to interlock with the casing, a detent on the
frame of the bicycle and adapted to engage the eccentric, means whereby the
coupler is displaced when the detent is applied, and an operating rod or device
on the frame connected with said detent, substantially as and for the purpose
described.
8. In a safety bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a driving pinion loose.
on the hub of said wheel, a rotatable eccentric having the same axis as the pinion
and wheel and provided with a flange, an internal gear journalled on the eccentric
and meshing with the driving pinion, a self-adjusting connection between the
internal gear and the wheel, a band brake supported by the frame of the
bicycle and encircling the flange on the eccentric, and means for applying.
the brake to said flange.
9. In a safety bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a driving pinion loose
on the hub of said wheel, a rotatable eccentric having the same axis as the pinion
and wheel and provided with a flange, an internal gear journalled on the eccentric
and meshing with the driving pinion, a self-adjusting connection between the
internal gear and the wheel, a detent supported by the frame of the bicycle.
adjacent to the flange on the eccentric, and means for locking said detent to the
frame in its operative position.
10. In a safety bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a driving pinion
loose on the hub of said wheel, a rotatable eccentric having the same axis as the
pinion and wheel and provided with a flange, an internal gear journalled on the
eccentric and meshing with the driving pinion, a self-adjusting connection between
the internal gear and the wheel, a detent supported by the frame of the bicycle
adjacent to the flange on the eccentric, an operating device extending from the
detent along the frame of the bicycle, and means for locking said operating device
to the frame to hold the detent in its operative position.
11. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a casing affixed to the hub.

page_text: of said wheel and provided with a corrugated internal surface, a sleeve loose on
said hub and provided with a driving pinion, an eccentric loose upon the sleeve
and carrying a movable spring-pressed coupler formed to engage the corrugated
surface of the casing, an internal gear journalled on said eccentric and in mesh
with the driving pinion, a self-adjusting connection between the internal gear and
casing, and a detent for holding the eccentric stationary.
12. In a bicycle, the combination of a driven wheel, a casing affixed to the
hub of said wheel and provided with a corrugated internal surface, a sleeve loose
on said hub and provided with a driving pinion, an eccentric loose upon the
sleeve and provided with a flange, a spring-pressed coupler movable on said flange
into and out of engagement with the corrugated surface of the casing and
provided with a stud projecting through a slot in said flange, a band brake
encircling the flange and arranged to press upon said stud when compressed,
means for operating said brake, an internal gear journalled on the eccentric and in
mesh with the driving pinion, and a self-adjusting connection between the internal
gear and casing.
13. In a bicycle, the combination of the axle, the frame secured thereto, the
arm c¹ secured to the frame and axle, the driven wheel rotatable on the axle, the
casing affixed to the hub of the wheel, the loose sleeve having the driving pinion,
the loose eccentric having an internal gear at one end and a flange at the other
end adjacent to said arm, and a detent supported by said arm in position to engage
said flange.
14. In change-gearing, the combination of a driving pinion, an internal gear in
mesh therewith, a support for said internal gear loosely mounted concentrically
with the said driving pinion and holding the internal gear eccentric thereto, a
driven wheel concentric with the driving pinion, a self-adjusting connection
between the internal gear and the driven wheel, with provisions for relative
radial movement, and means for holding the internal gear-support stationary.
15. The combination of a sleeve or shaft carrying a pinion affixed to it, an
eccentric on the shaft, an internal gear mounted on the eccentric and meshing with
the pinion, a wheel concentric with the shaft and independently rotatable
respecting the same, the said internal gear and the said wheel having a self-
adjusting connection, with provisions for relative radial movement, and a clutch
device for holding the eccentric stationary, leaving the internal gear free to
rotate upon it, and establishing rotative connection between the eccentric and
the wheel.
1
1 100%
VICTOR BÉLANGER.
MARY ELLEN BRADY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.