Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1893—Accepted, 1st July, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
WILLIAM FREDERICK FAIRWEATHER of 34 Eagle Wharf Road, New North
Road, Hoxton, London, N. Printers Joiner, 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 an improved gearing for bicycles, tricycles and similar
velocipedes, and applies more particularly to that class of machine known as front
driven safeties or geared ordinaries.
In the many modifications of front driven machines hitherto made and used, the
gearing has invariably been in some way arranged, so as to be located at one or the
other end of the hub of the front wheel, and it has been found in practice that
many of the ruptures that have occured, or the short life of the gearing employed,
has arisen from the uneven strain upon the wheel, or upon the gearing or both,
occasioned by the gear being upon one side of the wheel only, and the object of my
invention is to overcome these difficulties, which I attain by constructing and using
a gearing in the manner hereinafter explained, which shall be central or nearly
central upon and within the hub of the front driven wheel.
In order to render my invention more clear and easily understood I have appended
hereunto a sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section of a front driven wheel constructed according to
my invention.
Fig. 2 is a section of the same taken upon the line A B, while Fig. 3 is a like
section taken upon the line BC of the same figure.
I carry my invention into effect by constructing of any suitable metal or metalloid
a hub A, somewhat broader in cross sectional diameter than those in general use,
to the flanges of which may be connected the spokes B by any of the well known
methods, but preferably as shown in the drawings. Within the said hub A, and
centrally of its length or thereabouts, I fix a cast or otherwise constructed wheel C,
by the means of a suitable number of screws or bolts D, or their equivalents, which
pass through holes or longitudinal slots in A, and engage with internally threaded
holes in C. The axial centre of C is bored, or so formed during casting, that the
pedal spindle E may pass freely therethrough without being in touch therewith,
and upon C is formed a circle of teeth or cogs F, in mitre or other form, or at such
an angle as to gear with the teeth of two or more mitre or other pinion wheels G,
each mounted upon a stud H, fixed to, or cast or otherwise formed integrally with
and upon a metal boss or collar I, previously shrunk upon, or fixed by screws, bolts
or their equivalents K to, the axle E.
Each end of the hub A is threaded internally, and into these I screw externally
threaded collars a a¹ and b b¹ which may be retained in position by lugs c, d,
screwed upon the flanges of A, or by any other suitable means. Within the
collar a a¹ and loosely surrounding E, I place a collar L, and within 6 6' a similar
collar M, and between a a¹ and L, and bb' and M I interpose balls c', as bearings
to reduce friction. Or I may find it more convenient to place the collars a a¹
and 6upon L and M, before screwing a a¹ and 6 into position within A.
Upon L and M are formed or connected thereto radial extensions L' and M'
respectively, which are attached by bolts or their equivalents f, to the bifur-
cations L" and M" of the front or steering fork of the machine, and by this it will
be understood that L and M always remain stationary.
Upon the inner surface of L'an anuular rack or toothed circle N is formed,
similar to, but of larger diameter than F on C, and which is so arranged that
when L is fixed in position the teeth N gear with the teeth of the bevelled or other
pinion wheels G before mentioned.

page_text: The axial portions of the outer surfaces of L and M are recessed or cupped for
the reception of collars O and P respectively, which are screwed upon the threaded
ends of the spindle E, and between L and O, and M and P I interpose balls e for
the reduction of friction.
The pedals R and R¹ may be of any of the approved forms, and be fixed upon F,
by the special means applicable thereto, these forming no part of my invention, but
I may if needed, interpose between these and the collars O and P suitable lock
nuts S, to retain O and P in position. The manner in which the said gearing
operates is as follows.
The rotation of the spindle E by the pedals R and R', would carry with it the
boss I, this being, as previously stated, fixed thereto, and consequently the mitre
or other pinions & mounted upon 1, and these being in gear with the rack N, upon
the fixed collar L, would be rotated thereby, and motion would be imparted by G
to the toothed wheel C, which being fixed within and to the hub A, motion would
be thereby given to the track wheel in the same direction as that of the rotation of
the spindle E, the difference of the speed of A relatively to E, being governed by
the difference in the number of teeth on N, relatively to the number of teeth on C,
and which would be further reduced or increased by the more or less number of
teeth on the pinions G.
For example, let it be supposed that the fixed rack N has sixty teeth, and the
rack F thirty, while the pinions G have but fifteen teeth each, one revolution of E
would therefore cause four revolutions of each of the pinions G, which in
combination with the epicycloidal motion of the said pinions would cause three
revolutions to be made by the rack on C, and consequently three revolutions of
the track wheel to one of the pedal spindle, and it will be understood that if the
number of teeth on N be more, and the number of teeth on C less than that stated,
that A would attain a greater speed relatively to E or vice versa if their differences
were reversed.
I am thus euabled to construct a motion whereof the initial thrust is given off
from the centre or thereabouts of the pedal spindle, which is imparted to the centre
or thereabouts of the hub of the driven wheel.
I may provide wherever required suitable oil cups arranged to lubricate all the
parts where friction would be likely to occur.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is.
1st. The construction and use of the herein described mechanism, and the several
parts constituting the game, connected, combined and operating as a direct speed
gearing for the propulsion of bicycles, tricycles and similar vehicles, by a thrust
imparted to the centre or thereabouts of the hub of the wheel driven, substantially
as herein set forth and shown by the appended drawings.
2nd. In an improved speed gearing for bicycles, tricycles and similar vehicles,
the construction and use of a hub A carrying internally a centrally fixed toothed
wheel C, in gear with two or more mitre or other pinion wheels G, mounted upon
studs H, connected to, or forming part of a boss or collar I, screwed or otherwise
fixed upon the pedal spindle E. The fixed collars L and M, the former provided
with a circular toothed rack N, arranged to gear with the pinions G, and both
connected by their extensions L' and M respectively to the bifurcation L" and M
of the front or steering fork of the machine. The manner of retaining L and M
within A by the means of collars a a and b b and upon E by the collars O and P,
the whole connected and operating in combination with suitable pedal cranks R
and R' and ball bearings wherever applicable, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shown by the accompanying drawings.
Tinted thin 19th CM1000
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.