Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, PETER NICOLAI HOLST of Blegdamsvej 60, Copenhagen, Denmark, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The chain gear usually employed in velocipedes to transmit motion from the
crank axle to the driving wheel is open to serious objection in practice not only
because the chain in the course of time lengthens by use and because it gathers
dirt and is very difficult to clean but also because the dirt causes it to wear by
reason of the great frictional resistance that ensues. Furthermore the weight of
the rider is unequally distributed upon the wheels falling chiefly upon the back
wheel. The cycle is much more difficult to steer, when the back wheel is
employed as a driving wheel, than when the front wheel used as a steering
wheel has also to serve as a driving wheel. These inconveniences are avoided in a
cycle according to my invention in which I.dispense with chain gear and substitute
therefor toothed speed gearing similar to that used in turning lathes, the crank
axle passing through the hub of the front wheel and being connected therewith by
means of the said gearing, the front wheel serving both as the driving wheel and as
the steering wheel.
An arrangement according to my invention as applied to a bicycle is as
follows:-
The crank axle runs in ball bearings at the lower ends of the ordinary fork and
has at one end two rings screwed upon the axle after the manner of nuts, and at the
other end a similar ring held in place by another ring or nut. Upon the axle is
fixed a spur wheel. The hub at one side of the front wheel runs in ordinary ball
bearings kept in place by a nut or nuts screwed upon the crank axle. At the other
side of the front wheel the hub has fixed to it a spur wheel that runs in ball
bearings formed partly by the boss of the before mentioned spur wheel on the axle.
To one branch of the fork is fixed a pin on which is screwed a ring, the arrange-
ment being such as to form, in conjunction with a number of antifriction balls, a ball
bearing for a combined spur wheel and pinion of which the pinion engages with the
spur wheel fixed on the crank axle whilst the spur wheel engages with the pinion
fixed on the hub. The pin above mentioned also serves to carry a hood or casing
that completely encloses the gearing and thus protects it against dirt.
The spur wheels and pinions can be so relatively proportioned as to obtain any
suitable number of rotations of the driving wheel for each rotation of the crank
axle as with the chain gearing heretofore employed.
Dated this 2nd day of December 1891.
TTAT am
F. N. HOLST,
By L. W., per F. B.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, PETER NICOLAI HOLST of Blegdamsvej 60, Copenhagen, Denmark, Manu-
facturer, 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 :-
The chain gear usually employed in velocipedes to transmit motion from the
crank axle to the driving wheel is open to serious objection in practice not only
because the chain in the course of time lengthens by use, and because it gathers,
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dirt and is very difficult to clean, but also because the dirt causes it to wear by
reason of the great frictional resistance that ensues. Furthermore the weight of
the rider is unequally distributed upon the wheels, falling chiefly upon the back
wheel. Finally the cycle is much more difficult to steer, when the back wheel is
employed as a driving wheel, than when the front wheel used as a steering wheel
has also to serve as a driving wheel. These inconveniences are avoided in a cycle
according to my invention in which I dispense with chain gear and substitute
therefor double spur gearing similar to that used in turning lathes, that is to say a
gearing with two pairs of spur wheels so arranged that the first and the last spur
wheel of said double spur gearing work around the same axis which passes through
their centres, the crank axle passing through the hub of the front wheel and being
connected therewith by means of the said gearing, the front wheel serving both as
the driving wheel and as the steering wheel.
In the accompanying drawing,
Fig. 1 is a vertical transverse section through the centre of the crank axle; and
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of an arrangement of gearing according
to this invention suitable for a bicycle.
The crank axle runs in ball bearings R at the lower ends of the front fork Y.
The nut o screwed upon the axle is held fast by means of a lock nut p. T is one of
the crank arms. The hub N at one side of the front wheel runs in an ordinary ball
bearing not shown. At the other side of the front wheel the hub N has fixed to it
a spur wheel D which works on ball bearings formed partly by the boss of a
wheel A fixed to the crank axle V. In one branch of the front fork Y is fixed a
pin W on which is screwed a nut m the arrangement being such as to form, in
conjunction with a number of antifriction balls, a combined spur wheel and pinion C
and B. The pinion B gears with the spur wheel A fixed on the crank axle V
whilst the spur wheel C gears with the pinion D fixed to one end of the nave N.
The pin W also serves to carry a hood or casing K which encloses the gearing and
thus protects it against dirt. The proportions of the spur wheels and pinions A B
C and D can be so relatively proportioned as to obtain any suitable number of
rotations of the driving wheel for each rotation of the crank axle as with the chain
gearing heretofore employed.
This construction is more simple than others hitherto proposed for the purpose
of being employed on front drivers; it is cheaper to make, only occupies a small
space and may most advantageously be employed in about the ratio 2/1, which ratio
with front drivers of 32-36 inches gives the usual gearing for cycles.
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 :-
A velocipede having its front wheel driven from a crank axle passing through its
hub by double spur gearing, constructed arranged and operating substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to and shewn in the drawings annexed.
Doted this 26th day of February 1809
P. N. HOLST,
By L. W., per F. B.