Improvements in and connected with Means of Adjusting the Driving Chains of Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 20th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 8th May. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Means of Adjusting the Driving
Chains of Cycles.
We, JOHN HARPER AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of Albion Works, Willenhall in the
County of Stafford, Ironfounders and Cycle Manufacturers, and ROWLAND ARTHUR
TOMSON, of the same address, Cycle Works Manager, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to facilitate the adjustment of the tension of
driving chains of cycles, and to accomplish this in a manner which enables the
construction of the lower stays of the framing and the connection of the upper
stays therewith to be improved and simplified.
According to this invention, each end of the hinder spindle is carried in the ears of
a clip which surrounds the lower back stay on the corresponding side of the machine.
The hinder end of each lower back stay is left quite plain except for a slit or slot
which is cut through the lower side thereof for some distance from the end.
A plug
is fitted to slide within the tube of each lower back stay, and is formed with a screw
on its outer end, and with a key or portion which is entered within the slit or slot of
the stay and allows the plug to be slid endways within the tube, but prevents it from
turning therein. A portion projects from the plug through the slot or slit and
between the two ears of the clip, and the end of the spindle passes through such
projecting portion from the plug as well as through the ears of the clip. A nut,
which may be formed with a milled edge for convenience in manipulation, is screwed
upon the outer end of the plug, and when the clip is slackened by slackening the
nut on the outer end of the spindle, the plug together with the clip and spindle may
be drawn back by screwing up the nut on the plug, and the tension of the chain
be thus tightened. When the chain has thus been sufficiently tightened, the clip is
tightened up again to hold securely around the stay, and the nut on the end of the
plug is securely tightened up to prevent it jarring loose. The projection from the
plug which passes between the ears of the clip may act also as the key aforesaid, in
which case it is of course rigidly fixed to the plug, but it is preferred to form it
as a thin steel clip, of which the main portion is carried within a groove formed to
receive it around the plug and of which the ears pass through the slit and come
between the ears of the clip which passes around the stay. This thin steel clip is
passed of course with the plug into the tube, only the ears thereof projecting through
the slit of the tube.
The upper stay on each side is fixed to the corresponding lower back stay by
means of a clip which is passed over the plain end of the lower stay and which is
formed with an inward flange which abuts against the end thereof. The lower end of
each upper stay is flattened and fixed by means of a screw or bolt between the
ears of the corresponding clip. The nuts by means of which the chain adjustment
is effected bear against the hinder ends of the clips to which the upper stays are
attached.
Dated this 17th day of July 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Means of Adjusting the Driving
Chains of Cycles.
We, JOHN HARPER AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of Albion Works, Willenhall in the
County of Stafford, Ironfounders and Cycle Manufacturers, and ROWLAND ARTHUR
TOMSON, of the same address, Cycle Works Manager, 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 for its object to facilitate the adjustment of the tension of
driving chains of cycles, and to accomplish this in a manner which enables the
construction of the lower stays of the framing and the connection of the upper stays.
therewith to be improved and simplified.
According to this invention, each end of the hinder spindle is carried in the ears of
a clip which surrounds the lower back stay on the corresponding side of the machine.
Each clip is tightened around the corresponding stay by screwing up the nut on the
corresponding end of the spindle. The hinder end of each lower back stay is left
quite plain except for a slit or slot which is cut through the lower side thereof
for some distance from the end. A plug is fitted to slide within the tube of each
lower back stay, and is formed with a screw on its outer end, and with a key or
portion which is entered within the slit or slot of the stay and allows the plug to be
slid endways within the tube, but prevents it from turning therein. A portion
projects from the plug through the slot or slit and between the two ears of the clip,
and the end of the spindle passes through such projecting portion from the plug as.
well as through the ears of the clip. A nut is screwed upon the outer end of each
plug, and when the clips which are around the lower stays of a cycle have been
slackened by slackening the nuts on the outer ends of the spindle, the plugs together
with the clips and spindle may be drawn back by screwing up the nuts on the plugs,
and the tension of the chain be thus tightened. When the chain has thus been
sufficiently tightened, the clips are tightened up again to hold securely around the
stays, and the nuts on the ends of the plugs are securely tightened up. The
projection from each plug which passes between the ears of the clip may act also as.
the key aforesaid, in which case it is, of course, formed with or rigidly fixed to the.
plug or it may be formed as a thin steel or other sheet metal clip, of which the
main portion is carried within a groove formed to receive it around the plug, and of
which the ears pass through the slit and come between the ears of the clip which
passes around the stay.
The upper stay on each side is fixed to the corresponding lower back stay by means
of a clip which is passed over the plain end of the lower stay and which is formed
with an inward flange which abuts against the end thereof. The lower end of each
upper stay is flattened and fixed, by means of a screw or bolt, between the ears of
the corresponding clip. The nuts by means of which the chain adjustment is
effected bear against the hinder ends of the clips to which the upper stays are
attached.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we will proceed to describe
the same with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which Figure 1 is a side
elevation of the hinder end of one of the lower back stays of a cycle, shewing the
connection in the manner of this invention of one end of the hind spindle, and also
one of the upper back stays, therewith, the lower stay being fitted with our improved
chain adjustment, a similar arrangement being, of course, adopted at each side of the
nachine. Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on line xx of Figure 1. Figure 3 is

page_text: a plan of the parts shewn by Figure 1; and Figure 4 is a longitudinal section, taken
on line y y of Figure 3. The rear chain wheel is shewn in Figure 1, but is omitted::
in the other views.
The end of the hind spindle A is carried in the ears b of a clip B which passes
around the back stay C. This clip is tightened up hetween a washer a at the outer-
face of the outer ear and a shoulder c of the spindle A which is against the outer
face of the inner ear, by means of the nut d which is screwed upon the outer end of
the spindle; and, when this nut is slackened back, the clip B is slackened also so that
it may be capable of being moved endways along the back stay C. e is a slit or slot
which is cut through the bottom of the back stay C from the hinder end thereof."
D is the plug, conveniently formed hollow, as shown, which is fitted to be capable of
sliding within the back stay C, and is the portion thereof which projects through
the slot e and comes between the ears bb of the clip B. The end of the spindle A
passes, as shewn, both through the ears and through a hole formed therefor
through the projection f, and thus when the clip B is tightened up the plug D cannot.
be moved end ways within the stay C. Apart, however, from the fact that the plug
is thus fixed direct to the clip, the grip of the clip around the slit portion of the
tube causes the tube to grip tightly around the plug. E is a cap which fits over
the hinder end of the stay U, and is formed also as a clip having ears g between."
which the lower flattened end of the upper back stay F is held by means of the
pin i which passes through the ears of the clip and through the part of the stay,
and by means of which the clip is tightened up around the hinder end of the back
stay C. The clip E is formed at its hinder end with an annular portion & which
comes against the hinder end of the stay, and which forms a guide for the hinder
end D' of the plug D, such end being cf a less diameter than the inner diameter of
the stay C. A short annular plug / projects from the face of the annular portion k,
and fits within the end of the stay and supports it against the surrounding pressure.
of the clip E. The hinder end D of the plug D is screwed externally and passes
out through the back end of the clip E, and has a nut G screwed thereon which
takes its bearing against the hinder end of the clip E. When it is desired to.
tighten up the driving chain, the nut d is first slackened, and then the nut G is
screwed up to draw back the plug D, and with it the clip B, along the stay C, until
the desired tension bas thus been imparted to the chain. The nut is then screwed
tightly up to cause the clip B to clip firmly around the stay and thus securely hold
the plug in the position within the tube to which it has been drawn by the nut G,
and the nut G is tightened up to lock it securely against the back of the clip E.
The portion of the plug, passing through the slit e, prevents the plug turning on
the stay as the nut G is turned. A slit m is cut clear through the upper half of the.
portion of the clip E which surrounds the stay C, immediately at the inner side of the
annular portion of the clip. This slit is for the purpose of leaving the upper
portions of the opposite sides of the clip free to be tightened sufficiently together to.
cause the clip to grip tightly around the stay. The portion of the plug D which is a
sliding fit within the stay, is preferably formed with a portion of reduced
diameter, for the sake of lightness and to avoid unnecessary friction in moving it.
along the tube.
Figure 5 shews, in side elevation, and Figure 6, in transverse section on line a
of Figure 5, a modification of the plug and means of connecting the same with the
clip B above described.
n is a short projection from the plug D which just passes through the slit e, its!
purpose being simply to prevent the plug turning within the stay. H is a thin
steel or other metal clip which passes around the portion r of reduced diameter of
the plug, and its two ends p are formed as ears and pass through the slit e of the.
The end of the hind spindle passes through the ears p as well as through
the ears of the clip B, the ears p being of course between the ears of the clip.
when the clip is in position around the stay. This clip is, of course, passed into.
the tube with the plug.
stay.

page_text: 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. The means of adjusting the driving chain of a cycle, which comprise, clips
around the lower back stays, to which the ends of the hind spindle are fixed, and
screw devices by which the clips may, when slackened around the stays, be drawn
back to draw back the hind spindle, substantially as described.
2. The means of adjusting the driving chain of a cycle, which comprise plain
tubular hinder ends of the lower back stays, plugs or portions capable of sliding
within such ends and each connected with an end of the hind spindle, and screw
devices by means of which such plugs or portions may be drawn back within the
tubes, substantially as described.
3. The means of adjusting the driving chain of a cycle which comprise plugs
capable of siiding within tubular lower back stays, slits or slots formed through the
thickness of metal of the tubes forming such stays, portions which project from the
plugs through the slits or slots, clips which surround the lower back stays and are
each connected both with one end of the hind spindle and with the corresponding
plug and which will move endways with the plugs, screw devices which pass out
through the back ends of the lower stays and by means of which the plugs Day
be drawn back within the stays, substantially as described.
4. The improvements in and connected with m ans of adjusting the driving chain
of a cycle which comprise, clips around the lower back stays, to which the ends
of the hind spindle are fixed, parts piaced around the back ends of the lower back
stays and connected with the lower ends of the upper back stays, and screw devices
by which when the clips to which the ends of the hind spindle are fixed are slackened
around the lower back stays, such clips may be drawn back to draw back the hind
spindle, substantially as described.
5. The improvements in and connected with means of adjusting the driving chain
of a cycle which comprise, plain tubular hinder ends of the lower back stays, plugs
or portions capable of sliding within such ends and each connected with an end of
the hind spindle, parts placed around the back ends of the lower back stays and
connected with the lower ends of the upper back stays, and screw devices by means
of which such plugs or portions may be drawn back within the tubes, substantially as
described.
6. The improvements in and connected with means of adjusting the driving chain
of a cycle which comprise, plugs capable of sliding within tubular lower back stays,
slits or slots formed through the thickness of metal of the tubes forming the lower
back stays, portions which project from the plugs through the slits or slots, clips
which surround the back stays and are each connected both with one end of the
bind spindle and with the corresponding plug and which will move endways with
the plugs, clips which surround the back ends of the lower stays and have portions
which bear against the back ends of the stays, and screw devices, which pass out
through the back ends of the lower stays and through the back ends of the clips
which surround the ends of the lower stays, and by means of which the plugs may
be drawn back within the stays, substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting improvements in and
connected with the means of adjusting the driving chains of cycles, substantially as
described and shewn by the drawings herewith.
Dated this 17th day of April 1897.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.