Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application 8th May 1897
1000
0601
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1898--Accepted, 19th Mar.,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles.
I, SAMUEL STEPHEN ABURN, residing at the Consolidated Main Reef Gold
Mining Company, Limited, and Estate, Maraisburg, near Johannesburg, in the
South African Republic, Blacksmith, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the driving gear of bi-cycles, tri-cycles and the like.
It is designed with the object of providing a gear which will enable the sprocket
chain ordinarily employed for transmitting the power from the sprocket wheel
affixed to or connected with the crank or crank spindle to the sprocket wheel
affixed to or connected with the hub of the rear or driven wheel to be dispensed
with, and consequently avoid the waste of power and the many other disadvantages
experienced where it is employed, and at the same time permit of a comparatively
wide range of different or alternate gears being used.
In the carrying out of the invention one of the back horizontal stays or rear forks
is formed in two parts, and the inner ends of these two parts are provided with
holes through which a screwed pin or spindle is passed.
This spindle
is preferably provided with cones between which and recesses or
races bored or otherwise formed at either side in the boss of
the intermediate wheel, which is supported by it, balls are inserted for the purpose
of reducing friction. This intermediate wheel at the one side gears the sprocket
wheel affixed to the crank or crank spindle, which is increased somewhat in
diameter as compared with the sprocket wheel now usually employed, and at the
other it gears or engages the sprocket affixed to or connected with the hub of the
driven wheel.
The intermediate wheel is preferably constructed with a U shaped peripheral or
circumferential groove or recess through which a number or series of pins are
inserted at right angles to the plane of the wheel upon which rollers or the like
are mounted with which the teeth of the other wheels mesh or engage. This
construction ensures the meshing of the teeth, and at the same time materially
reduces friction.
In order to obtain a firm or rigid joint or connection between the two central
extremities of the horizontal stay or fork, and also, if desired, at the outer or
adjustment extremities of the same, they may be formed with serrations or flutes
running vertically and also with two or more recesses or ribs running horizontally,
with which serrations or flutes and ribs or recesses a washer or block passed over
the end of the spindle and formed with corresponding serrations or flutes and ribs
or recesses engages. Nuts screwed on the outer ends of the spindle keep the
washers in position. A small pin, key or the like passing through a lug or
projection formed on the washer engages one of a series of holes formed in the
sides of the nut to lock it or prevent the possibility of its working loose when
screwed up. The pin is preferably provided with a small flat or other suitable
spring to retain it in position.

page_text: Instead of forming the connection between the extremities of the stays, upon
which the intermediate wheel is mounted, as above described, it will be evident
that it might have the form of a double knee piece, one bend of which will permit
the wheel to pass round it. The knee piece would preferably have formed upon it
screw threads of different diameters for each cone. Into either bend two con-
centric tubes may be braized or otherwise affixed, the inner one being formed with
slits or slots and fitted with a conical or wedge shaped piece, which is connected
with a rod or bolt passing through the knee piece, and provided with a nut to
expand the slotted end of the inner tube to tighten or bind it upon the inner
walls of a tube braized or otherwise affixed in the end of the horizontal stay which
telescopes between the two concentric tubes in the knee-piece. The ends of the
horizontal stay and the outer tube of the knee-piece are of the same diameter, and
are screwed to receive a nut screwed over one joint or connection.
The horizontal stays or rear fork may by means of any suitable form of cross
or X shaped piece fitted in proximity to the bottom bracket be strengthened or
stayed at this point.
By changing the sprocket wheel connected with the driven wheel a wide range
of different or alternate gears may be used, and if desired this variation may be
.considerably augmented by changing the intermediate wheel, both of which
changes may be readily effected.
Dated this 9th day of Mar 1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles.
I, SAMUEL STEPHEN ABURN, residing on the property of the Geldenhuis Deep
Level Gold Mining Company, Limited, Elandsfontein, near Johannesburg, in the
South African Republic, formerly at the Consolidated Main Reef Gold Mining &
Estate Company, Limited, Maraisburg, near Johannesburg aforesaid, Blacksmith,
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 more particularly to a driving gear for bicycles but it
may also be adapted to tri-cycles and other like vehicles.
It is designed with the object of providing a driving gear which will enable the
sprocket chain ordinarily employed for transmitting the power from the sprocket
wheel affixed to or connected with the crank or crank spindle to the sprocket wheel
affixed to or connected with the hub of the rear or driven wheel to be dispensed
with, and consequently avoiding the waste of power and the many other disadvantages
experienced where it is employed, and at the same time of permitting a
comparatively wide range of different or alternate gears being used.
The invention will be more readily understood on reference to the annexed sheet
of drawings, in which sufficient of a bicycle is shewn to fully illustrate my invention,
and in which
Fig. 1, is an elevation of the improved driving gear with parts in section.
Fig. 2, a plan of same also partly in section.
A is the rear and driven wheel of the bicycle, B the bottom bracket supporting
the crank spindle C and D D¹ the cranks, all of which may be of any ordinary
or suitable construction.
EE are the back horizontal stays. The horizontal stay E, or the one on the

page_text: driving gear side of the machine, is formed in two parts e e', which parts at their
inner extremities are constructed as shewn to receive any ordinary form of
adjustable piece or block carrying the screwed pin or spindle F. The spindle
is formed with conical surfaces f, between which and corresponding recesses formed
in the bushes g balls are inserted for the purpose of reducing friction, or otherwise
suitably fitted with ball bearings.
On the spindle F the intermediate wheel G is mounted and free to rotate on the
bail bearings contained within the bushes 9 which are screwed into its boss g³.
The intermediate wheel G, in the construction shewn in the drawings, which is the
one I, at present, prefer, consists of two main parts hh. The part h, which
comprises the boss g³ connected with the outer ring or rim g' by the arms g' has
screwed around its circumference a number of studs upon which rollers k are
mounted. The studs j are formed with heads j' projecting beyond the ends of
the rollers k. On several of the arms 9 lugs or projections h h are formed in
pairs in or between which small catches or levers are pivoted. The other main
part of the wheel G comprising the front ring or flange h' is constructed with a
number of key-hole slots g¹ around its circumference corresponding in number
to the studs j. This ring or flange h¹ is employed for the purpose of staying or
supporting the studs at their outer extremities. The ring or flange h¹ is also
formed with bifurcated projections or notches or recesses ³, directed towards the
centre of the wheel; which coincide with the lugs h2h when this part h¹ is passed
over the studs j and slightly turned until the heads 1 of the studs ; take up a
position at the bottom of the key-hole slots gl. The catches or levers are then
in line with the notches or recesses and may be drawn forward to place their
extremities within the same. By this means the parts h and h¹ are firmly
locked together, the part h¹ being prevented working back to disengage the studs j
by the catches k².
It will be evident that the intermediate wheel G may, if preferred, be constructed
with a U shaped peripheral or circumferential groove or recess through which the
studs may be screwed transversely of the plane of the wheel to support the
rollers k.
The intermediate wheel G as shewn gears the sprocket wheel H affixed to the
crank D or crank spindle C on the one side, and on the other the sprocket wheel J
removably connected to the hub of the driven wheel A. The sprocket wheels H
and J may be of any ordinary form, the only variation required being an increase
in the size of the wheel H as compared with the sprocket wheel now usually
employed at this point. The rear axle K will be made adjustable as shewn or
in other suitable manner to permit of any desired changes of the sprocket wheel J
being effected.
L are stays rigidly attached to the rear fork M and to the extremities e² of the
back horizontal stay E for supporting or strengthening the frame at this point.
These stays are preferably employed at either side of the wheel G to strengthen
both of the inner extremities of the stay E.
By changing the sprocket wheel J which is removably connected with the driven
wheel A a wide range of different or alternate gears may be used, and if desired
this variation may be considerably augmented by changing the intermediate
wheel G both of which changes may be readily effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a driving gear for bicycles the combination of the sprocket wheel H affixed
to the crank or crank spindle, the intermediate wheel G fitted with the friction
rollers and the sprocket wheel J attached to the driven wheel A, said intermediate
wheel G gearing sprocket wheels H and J substantially as described and shewn.
2. In a driving gear for cycles the combination of the back horizontal stay E
formed in two parts e e¹ and constructed to receive the adjustable pin or spindle F,

page_text: the intermediate wheel G mounted thereon fitted with the friction rollers k, the
sprocket wheel H attached to the crank or crank spindle and the adjustable sprocket
wheel J connected with the driven wheel A, said intermediate wheel G gearing
sprocket wheels H and J substantially as described and shewn.
3. A driving gear for cycles having the several parts constructed and arranged
in combination substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 24th day of January 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.