Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 15th Feb., 1899-Accepted, 25th Mar., 1899
HENRY PARSONS, 27; George Street, Lozells, Birmingham, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
My improvement relates to the chain adjustment used on cycles and is made
and fixed in the following manner.
I take a piece of flat metal and cut out a plate of siutable size; in one end of
the plate I cut or punch out a hole about one-inch; at the other end I cut out
one or more holes the size of the axle of the wheel. In the inch blank that is
cut out of the plate I bore a small hole near the edge which makes an eccentric
disc and place it in the metal plate it was previously cut out of. The said disc
may have pin holes put in or a head fixed on for the purpose of turning the
same round. To fix the same to the fork end I drill and tap the fork end and
fasten the disc with a pin. The disc carries the plate the axle of the wheel being
placed in the hole made in the plate. The usual nut on the axle keeping the
plate in position; by turning the eccentric disc the wheel which carries the chain
is forced back by the plate on the axle and the adjustment is effected.
If desirable the aforesaid parts may be stamped or forged.
HENRY PARSONS.
crocipedes.
I, HENRY PARSONS, of 27, George Street, Lozells, Birmingham, Warwickshire,
Engineer 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 improvements in chain adjusters for velocipedes, and
has for its objects, cheapness of manufacture and facility in adjusting the driving
chain. And in order that my invention may be properly understood I will
describe the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings, which show it as
applied to the fork-end of a rear driving safety bicycle.
Fig. I is a side view of a fork-end fitted with a chain adjuster constructed
according to my invention, the wheel spindle being in its innermost position.
Fig. II is a similar view showing the position the parts assume when the wheel
spindle is moved somewhat to the rear, and
Fig. III shows the two parts of the chain adjuster separated.
Like reference numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
To make a chain adjuster according to this invention I take a piece of suitable
sheet metal and cut out a plate 2 of suitable form and size. At one end of
this plate I cut or punch out a circular hole 3 of say 1 inch diameter, which
operation also produces the disc G. At the other end of the plate I form a hole 4
the size of the axle 5 of the wheel. In the said disc 6 I bore eccentrically a

page_text: small clearance hole 7 and I also provide the disc with pin holes 10, a hexagonal
projection, or other suitable means whereby the same may be rotated.
'
I fasten the disc 6 to a suitable part of the fork end 8 of the machine by a
screw pin 9 which passes through the eccentric hole 7 in the said disc and takes
into a suitable tapped hole in the fork end; the said pin may be locked by a nut
bearing against the back of the said forkend. The plate 2 is then slipped on to
the end of the wheel axle 5 by the hole 4, and the ring formed therein by the
hole is fitted around the disc 6. The usual nut 11 on the axle keeps the plate 2
in engagement with the disc 6. The device is applied to each end of the wheel
axle in the same way:
To adjust the chain, the axle nuts 11 are first slackened, and then the discs 6
are rotated (swinging on the pins 9) by means of a peg spanner or the like until
the chain is brought to the required tension; when the parts are locked in
position by retightening the nuts 11. If the provision of a greater range of
adjustment be required, the shank of the plate 2 may be extended and provided
with additional axle holes 14, as indicated in dotted lines at Figs. I and III.
Thus when the spindle 5 has been set back as far as the limits of the eccentricity
of the disc 6 and its hole 7 will allow, the plates 2 may be removed from the
spindle 5 and replaced thereon with the said spindle passing through the holes 14
instead of the holes 4, when the distance back to which the spindle may be set
will be increased by the distance between the centres of the holes 4 and 14. And
so on.
If desired the plate 2 and disc 6 may be stamped, forged or otherwise suitably
formed, but they are preferably pressed, as by this process the plate and disc are
produced with a minimum of labor and waste.
While describing and illustrating this invention as applied to a rear driving
safety bicycle I wish it to be understood that it may be applied to other suitable
velocipedes in a similar manner and that I do not limit myself to the precise
details herein described as modifications and variations may be made, e.g., to
suit special circumstances without exceeding the fair scope of my invention.
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. A chain adjuster for velocipedes constructed, arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. In means for adjusting the tension of driving chains in velocipedes, the
employment of a disc pivotted eccentrically to a suitable part of the frame and a
plate attached to the wheel spindle, the said disc closely fitting and being adapted
to be rotated within a hole formed in the said plate.
3. The combination with a velocipede fork end, of a rotatable disc eccentrically
mounted thereon, a plate surrounding the disc and attached to the wheel spindle
and means for rotating the said disc, all arranged and adapted to operate sub-
stantially as set forth.
4. In the manufacture of chain adjusters of the kind herein referred to, form-
ing the disc and plate by cutting or punching the former out of the latter at one
operation.
Dated this 14th day o1
nary 1899.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, and 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
Patent Agent for the Applicant.