Improvements in Gear Cases or Protective Covering and Lubricant Retainer for Drive Chains of Bicycles and other Velocipedes and Motor Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 8th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 8th June, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gear Cases or Protective Covering and Lubricant
Retainer for Drive Chains of Bicycles and other Velocipedes and
Motor Vehicles.
I, GEORGE ELI WHITNEY, of 88, Falcon Street, East, Boston, in the State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
1
Bicycles and motor vehicles are usually provided with an endless chain for
transmitting the power from the primary or driving sprocket wheel to the
secondary or driven sprocket wheel, and in order that the parts may work easily
and smoothly it is highly desirable that the chain, the sprockets and the
peripheries of the sprocket wheels should be protected and maintained in a well
lubricated condition.
Such parts, any or all, if left unprotected, collect dust and dirt and the lubricant
soon becomes thick and clogged therewith, making a very material increase in
propulsive force necessary.
If a protective covering be employed it must be sufficiently tight to permanently
retain the lubricant, or the latter must be frequently renewed at considerable
inconvenience, and furthermore, an escaping lubricant not only soils the clothing
of a rider but also spreads over other parts of the apparatus, retaining dust and dirt
coming in contact therewith.
My invention aims to provide simple and effective means for protecting and
shielding the chain, sprockets, and the peripheries of the sprocket wheels from
dust and dirt, keeping them perfectly lubricated and retaining the lubricant in its
proper place, so that it may have the effect desired without frequent renewal, and
withal presenting a device which will but slightly increase the weight of the
wheel.
In carrying out my invention each sprocket wheel is surounded by a tube-like
protective cover, the inner circumference of the cover having an annular opening
wide enough to freely admit the rim of the sprocket wheel, so that the cover may
span the sides of the rim without actually touching them.
Such covers are suitably attached to a convenient part of the frame of the
bicycle or other vehicle, and the runs of the chain, that is the parts between the
sprocket wheels, enter tubular protective coverings which at their ends meet
the chain entrances of the fixed covers.
There are various ways of constructing the curved cover portions for the
sprocket wheels, and of attaching them to the protective portions for the chain
runs.
The cover portion for the sprocket wheel is best made in two portions to facilitate
its application and attachment, and the run protectors may be made as a part of
one member of the curved cover portion for either sprocket wheel.
Lubricating material, such as vaseline or other non-fluid lubricant, is introduced

page_text: into the protective covering through a suitable inlet provided with a convenient
closure.
Such non-fluid lubricant should effectively cover the chain, the sprockets and
peripheries of the sprocket wheels, and in such case it will last for many miles of
use without renewal.
At the outset any excess of the lubricant over what the protecting covering may
conveniently retain is soon forced out at the small annular openings or spaces
between the sides of the sprocket wheel rims and the edges of the openings in the
cover portions thereof and may be wiped off. Fine particles of dust soon mix with
that portion of the lubricant which is left exposed in the annular openings or
spaces above mentioned, and dries or hardens it sufficiently to form a species of
greasy seal, so that the remaining lubricant is sealed up and retained within the
covering, the curved portions thereof being thus made substantially tight from
within and substantially dust proof from without.
When it is found advisable to make use of an auxiliary protection or closure for
the annular spaces between the edges of the annular opening in the cover and the
sides of the rims of the sprocket wheels, I may attach to either or both of the
wheels an annular shield or movable member of the covering, projecting beyond
the rim of the sprocket wheels and cooperating with the adjacent fixed curved
members of the covering.
This movable annular member may be straight in cross section, or it may be
bent or curved outwardly in cross section to move over or within the fixed curved
tube-like portions having inner circumferential openings as herein before described,
or said movable member may be so bent or curved outwardly in cross section that
the edges thereof may run substantially against the edges of said fixed curved
tube-like portions.
Such auxiliary movable member is usually needed, if at all, on the driving
sprocket wheel.
To obviate noise the run receiving portions of the covering may be provided
with a non-metallic lining.
As the covering is only applied where it is needed it is unencumbered with
useless portions, and consequently is very light, and furthermore presents but
little more obstruction to wind pressure than do the chain and sprocket wheels
when unprotected.
In use on ladies' bicycles the protective covering serves in addition as a
positive dress guard.
It is usual to support the driven sprocket wheel covering on the axle of said
wheel, and to connect the run receiving portions of the covering to the fixed
portions by telescoping joints, which may be readily lengthened or shortened to
conform to adjustment of the chain.
Dated the 8th day of June 1897.
Improvements in Gear Cases or Protective Covering and Lubricant 4
Retainer for Drive Chains of Bicycles and other Velocipedes and
Motor Vehicles.
I, GEORGE ELI WHITNEY, of 88, Falcon Street, East Boston, in the State of
Massachusetts, one of the United States of America, Inventor, do hereby declare

page_text: 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: -
In the use of bicycles and motor vehicles wherein an endless chain is used to
transmit the power from the driving to the driven sprocket wheel, the chain, the
sprockets and the peripheries or rims of the sprocket wheel should be protected
and lubricated in order that the parts may work easily and smoothly, for if any of
such parts be left unprotected and accessible to dust, the lubricant used thereon
soon becomes clogged with dust and dirt, and the power required to drive the
machine is increased materially.
If the protective covering of the said operative parts be not sufficiently tight to
permanently retain the lubricant, the latter must frequently be renewed at some
inconvenience, and what is more important, the lubricant leaking out soils the
clothes of the rider and spreading itself over other parts of the machine retains
any dust or dirt coming in contact with it.
This invention has for its object the production of simple and effective means for
protecting and shielding the chain, sprockets and the rims of the sprocket wheels
from dust and dirt, keeping them perfectly lubricated, and especially retaining
the lubricant permanently in its proper place, so that it may have 'the effect desired
without frequent renewal, said improved protecting means or gear case being
nowhere in rubbing contact with the sprocket wheel and having no cooperating
cover parts, flexible or otherwise in rubbing contact one with the other.
I am aware that the sprocket wheels of bicycles have been covered with disc like
boxes having circular openings at the centre on each side, which openings were
slightly larger than the respective shafts, extended through them, and that such
circular disc-like boxes so enclosing the sprocket wheels have had openings near
the top and bottom, into which openings have been fitted nozzles or tubes, one
covering the upper and one the lower run of the chain between the sprocket wheels.
I am further aware that such and similar constructions have been spoken of as
"dirt and oil tight" or "oil containers," but it is manifest that in none of them
as shown is it possible or feasible to keep any substantial or permanent supply of
oil in the covering in all positions of the machine, as for instance when the bicycle
is laid on its side or inverted to repair a puncture in the tire, or to clean the parts,
as is frequently the case.
In accordance with my invention I run the chain through a tubular or tube-like
protective covering, to be hereinafter described, it enclosing all parts of the chain,
the sprockets and the rims or peripheries of the sprocket wheels, and this covering
permanently contains a suitable non-fluid lubricant.
Fig. 1 in side elevation, represents a sufficient portion of a bicycle with its chain
and sprocket wheels to be understood, with my invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the chain covering in connection with the rear
sprocket wheel.
Fig. 3, a like view of the covering in connection with the pedal sprocket wheel.
Fig. 4, a section in substantially the line ¹¹, Fig. 1.
Fig. 5, a like section in the line -x, Fig. 1.
Fig. 6, a detail of the tubular covering, showing one way in which the lubricant
may be introduced.
Fig 7, is an enlarged section of the tubular covering chiefly to show its non-
metallic lining which is shown in the other figures by merely a thickened black
line.
Fig. 8 is a sectional view, substantially the same as Fig. 4, but enlarged.
Figs. 9, 10, 11 and 12, are transverse sectional views of the sprocket wheel rim
and the chain thereon, showing special modifications of the covering to be
described.
In carrying out my invention I take a piece of preferably metal tubing of the
proper size, and by usual processes bend or shape it into a semi-circular or U-
shaped form as shown at c, Figs. 1 and 3, the inner circumference thereof being
open, such opening being conveniently made by slotting the tube longitudinally,

page_text: the opening being wide enough to freely admit the rim of the pedal sprocket wheel,
so that the adjacent portion of the tube may span the sides of the rim of the
sprocket wheel without actually touching them.
I then fit the U-shaped piece cover the rim of the pedal sprocket wheel and the
chain thereon, as shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4 and in an enlarged section in Fig. 8,
and suitably attach such part of the cover to the frame of the machine, as by a
suitable bracket 3 and suitable screws 2.
The ends of this U-shaped cover project as at c¹, e, see Fig. 3, and in this
instance they have telescopically connected therewith the ends of two tubes d
and d¹.
The other ends of said tubes in this instance of my invention are shown as bent
into circular form as at d², d³, Figs. 1 and 2, the inner sides of said bent portions
having suitably formed openings therein to embrace the sprockets and sides of the
rim of the rear sprocket wheel a¹ with the chain upon it.
The portions 3, 3, of this cover are suitably united and as herein shown I
provide said portions each with a lug which is entered by a screw d, the said
portions 2 and 3 constituting a smaller U-shaped tube-like covering for the rear
sprocket wheel.
To protect or cover the portion of the pedal sprocket wheel which is not engaged
by the chain, as at a¹, see Fig. 3, I insert a short piece of tube e between the ends c¹ 2
of the U-shaped portion c, bent and having an opening as above described to com-
plete the cover for the said sprocket wheel, the ends of the piece e being properly
shaped to embrace the portion c and held in place in a suitable manner, as by the
screws 10, 12 and 13.
Similarly, to completely cover and protect the rear sprocket wheel as at a¹, I bend
and fit a second shorter piece of tubing, open on its inner side or circumference, to
make the cover portion f which may in turn be held in place by suitable
screws 14, 14.
The two tubes d, d¹, and the ring like cover for the rear sprocket wheel are
further connected or braced by a support shown as a strip of metal g, Figs. 1 and 5,
screwed to said ring-like cover at the top and bottom, and passing diametrically
across it, said support having a hole through it at the centre to receive the axle
of the wheel and to hold centrally and otherwise in place the rear portion of the
tubular covering as shown at j in Fig. 1.
The lower tube d¹ is herein shown as provided with a hole 16, see Fig. 6,
for introduction of the lubricant, which preferably is vaseline, and a ferrule h
on the tube may be slid back to uncover the said hole when it is desired to fill the
covering with the nonfluid lubricant.
In using vaseline it may be melted and poured into this hole whenever desired.
The said non fluid lubricant moving in the covering with the chain, the 4
sprockets and the rims of the sprocket wheels, will last for several months without
being renewed.
The larger part of this lubricant adheres to the chain and travels with it making
it appear like a greasy rope, if a part of the covering be cut away so that it may
be observed.
The non-fluid lubricant has at first a slight tendency to escape in small
quantities in the small annular spaces between the sides of the rims of the
sprocket wheels and the edges of the openings at the points k, k, shewn in the
sectional drawing Fig. 8, but in practice fine particles of dust mix with the small
portion of the lubricant thus tending to escape at the points k, k, and dries or hardens
it somewhat in or just outside of the said small openings or spaces between the
sides of the rims of the sprocket wheels and the edges of the opening or slot, thus
soon making a greasy seal, which forms a continuous or annular greasy bearing
at the sides of the rims of the sprocket wheels, vizat the points k, k, in the
section shown in Fig. 8.
Thus the non fluid lubricant is sealed up within the covering, and the curved
portions are made tight from within and dust proof from without.
4

page_text: I have found in practice that the non-fluid lubricant is thus so thoroughly sealed
within the cover that the chain may be used for a long time without once renewing
the lubricant, and without any appreciable amount of dust or dirt finding its way
into the cover and thus reaching the chain, the sprockets, and the peripheries of
the sprocket wheels which it is desired to protect and keep lubricated.
In some instances it may be advisable to make use of an auxiliary protection for
the annular openings or spaces k, k, and for this purpose I attach to either or both
sprocket wheels, in suitable manner, an annular shield or movable member a* of
the covering, see Figs. and 8, projecting beyond the rims of the sprocket wheels
and cooperating with the fixed curved members of the covering, thus serving to
further protect the openings k, k, from the dust, mud and dirt.
The movable member a is preferably placed as near as possible to the edges of
the inner circumferential opening at k, k, without actually touching them.
A like shield may, if desired, be put upon the rear sprocket wheel, but since the
latter is removed a considerable distance from the front wheel, and the dust, dirt
and mud thrown by the rear wheel is thrown outwardly and away from its centre,
it is not found necessary in practice to add such protection to the rear sprocket
wheel.
When the machine is in operation in the ordinary way, the pull comes upon,
and the work is performed by that portion of the chain which is engaged in the
sprockets of the sprocket wheels and the upper run of the chain, while the lower
run of said chain performs no work, but hangs comparatively loose and with a
slight sag.
I have therefore slightly bent or sagged that portion of the tube like covering
which is intended to receive the lower run of the chain.
To obviate any noise which might result when the chain is out of its proper
adjustment, occasioned by the striking of the runs of the chain against the interior
of the tubular covering, I prefer to provide the run receiving portions of the
covering with a non-metallic tubular lining n see Fig. 7, it being preferably made
by rolling a strip of raw-hide into tubular form and drawing it longitudinally
through said portions of the covering and rivetting it firmly to the interior thereof.
Believing myself to be the first to enclose the runs of the driving chain in tube-
like portions and the peripheries of the sprocket wheels for their entire circum-
ference in tube-like coverings having inner circumferential openings, as heretofore
described, and also believing myself to be the first to provide one or both sprocket
wheels with a movable member to cooperate with the inner circumferential
openings of said coverings, to thereby close such openings in the manner described,
my invention is not restricted to the exact construction and arrangement of parts
as herein shown and described, as it will be obvious that the covering may be
variously sub-divided and applied to the chain and sprocket wheels in a somewhat
different manner without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and
that the movable member may be varied in shape or construction, or in the manner
of attachment to the sprocket wheel.
I have shown the tube-like covering as circular in cross section, but it may
equally well and without departing from my invention be square or of any other
irregular cross section through which the chain may travel, and so also the cover-
ing may be in one or more pieces, the main thing being that the protective covering
shall be so shaped as to completely cover the chain, the sprockets and the rims
of the sprocket wheels in such a manner as to practically permanently retain a
non-fluid lubricant placed therein and after a short time to seal the annular
openings in the manner above described, and to prevent the egress of the non-fluid
lubricant or the ingress of the dust and dirt to the parts which it is desired to shield
and protect.
This invention possesses further great merit, because of its lightness and because
it presents but little, if any, more obstruction to the wind, and especially a side
wind, than do the chain and sprocket wheels if left unprotected.
My invention when used upon ladies' bicycles serves as a positive dress guard,

page_text: and for ladies' wheels the open spaces between the spokes of the sprocket wheels
may, if desired, be filled with cords or strands of raw-hides, as at n', said strands
being suitably connected with the movable member a* carried by and upon the
rims and spokes of the pedal sprocket wheel, and running substantially against
the opening in the tube surrounding and enclosing the parts above described,
etcetera, see Figs. 3 and 4, said strands being also connected with the central
part a*, of the sprocket wheel.
To shield the outer side of the rear sprocket wheel the cord or raw hide strands, n,
may, if desired, be interlaced between small staples or projecting eyes on the
exterior of the covering and eyelets in the supporting piece 9, although with my
invention it is believed that it will be found unnecessary to have any further pro-
tection than the metal tubing as above described.
With the telescoping tubes d, d', which may be readily lengthened or shortened,
it is manifest that the chain may be tightened or loosened and so adjusted, by the
screw in the usual manner.
In Fig. 9, the tube-like curved portion c of the cover is substantially as herein-
before described, but the inward shield or movable member a50 secured to or
forming a part of the sprocket wheel, is up-curved on each side to extend con-
centrically with and part way round the curved part c of the cover, and outside of
the same but not contacting therewith.
In Fig. 10, the curved tube-like portion of the cover, is substantially semi-
cylindrical, and in this instance an annular member or shield a secured to or
forming a part of the sprocket wheel, is up curved on opposite sides of the wheel,
and extends within the edges forming the inner circumference of the fixed part 25
of the cover, it being noted that the edges of the fixed and movable members,
overlap as at SS, but they do not contact with each other.
In Fig. 11, the shield or movable member of the sprocket wheel, is bent at
its edges to form troughs or seats a, and in these seats slightly curved flanges a56
are secured, extending upward outside of and adjacent the edges of the fixed
part 3 of the cover.
In Fig. 12, the fixed cover c, and the movable member or shield a, are each
slightly less than a semicircle in cross section, and have the same curvature, while
a flange secured to the fixed portion of the cover at its inner edge extends across
the space or clearance 30 between the fixed and movable parts of the cover, the
said flange being shown as out of contact with the movable member ato.
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 cover for the chain carrying wheel of bicycles and motor vehicles, consist-
ing of an annular tube-like portion having a longitudinal slot in its portion of
smallest diameter, whereby said cover may surround and enclose the teeth of the
sprocket wheel and the chain thereon, substantially from one to the other side of
the wheel rim, the edges of the cover being turned into close proximity to the sides
of the wheel adjacent the buses of the teeth and within the base line thereof, and
being nowhere in rubbing contact with the sprocket wheel, substantially as
described.
2. A chain covering for bicycles and motor vehicles, comprising portions to
enclose the upper and lower runs of the chain, a protective covering for the driving
sprocket wheel, said member having a longitudinal slot in its portion of smallest
diameter, whereby said member may surround and enclose the teeth of the driving
sprocket wheel and the chain thereon substantially from one to the other side of
the wheel rim, the edges of the cover being turned into close proximity to the sides
of the wheel adjacent the bases of the teeth and within the base line thereof, and
being nowhere in rubbing contact with the sprocket wheel, substantially as
described.
3. A. chain cover for bicycles and motor vehicles, comprising portions to enclose

page_text: the upper and lower runs of the chain, a protective covering for the driven sprocket
wheel, an annular tube-like member for the driving sprocket wheel, having a
longitudinal slot in its portion of smallest diameter, whereby said member may
surround and enclose the teeth of the said driving sprocket wheel and the chain
thereon, substantially from one to the other side of the wheel rim adjacent the
bases of said teeth, and a movable annular member carried by the driving sprocket
wheel to cooperate with the adjacent fixed annular member of the cover and com-
plete the closure of the circumferential opening therein, substantially as described.
4. A protective cover for power transmitting gears of the kind stated consisting
of a fixed annular tube like member having a longitudinal slot in its portion of
smallest diameter, whereby said cover may surround and enclose the teeth of the
gear, substantially from one to the other side of the rim adjacent the bases of said
teeth, and a movable annular member carried by the gear to cooperate with the
adjacent portion of the fixed member, substantially as described.
5. A chain, or chain gear, covering for bicycles and other velocipedes, and motor
vehicles, comprising portions to enclose the upper and lower runs of the chain,
and a two part annular protective covering for the peripheries of the driving-
sprocket wheel to enclose the chain thereon and the wheel teeth substantially from
their base line outwards and from one to the other side of the wheel rim, one of
said parts of the covering being fixed and the other carried by the sprocket wheel
adjacent to the bases of its teeth at or within the base line thereof and extended
at each side of the wheel rim into close proximity to the edges of and to cooperate
with the fixed part of said covering.
6. The peculiar construction and use of parts of gear cases for the purpose
stated so that the driving mechanism is protectively encased and shielded from
dust and dirt and a suitable non fluid lubricant is retained thereby in its proper
place to attain the effect desired without frequent renewal irrespective of the
position of the bicycle or vehicle, said parts being nowhere in rubbing contact with
the sprocket wheel and having no cooperating cover parts, flexible or otherwise
in rubbing contact one with the other, as set forth.
DL
Ja of Man 1808
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.