Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear for Autocars and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 23rd Dec, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear for Autocars and the like.
I, JAMES SIDNEY CRITCHLEY, Member of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, of Wyley House, Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
―.
My invention relates to driving gear for autocars and the like, and has for
its principal object to provide a toothed-wheel variable gear, the respective
wheels of each pair of which are always in engagement
I will describe my invention as applied to a four speed gear though it may
also be applied to gears of fewer or more speeds in a similar manner. The first
or clutch shaft is preferably connectable to and disconnectable from the motor
by suitable means, such as a double conical fiction clutch operated by a slight
longitudinal movement of the said clutch shaft. On the said clutch shaft is
fixed a graduated series of four spur wheels (hereinafter referred to as the first
wheel, the second wheel, the thud wheel and the fourth wheel, respectively).
These four wheels may be connected on separated by sleeves or distance pieces.
Parallel to the clutch shaft and at a suitable distance therefrom I arrange a
countershaft, and on this countershaft I mount loosely an inversely graduated
series of four spui wheels (hereinafter referred to as the fifth wheel, the sixth
wheel, the seventh wheel and the eighth wheel respectively) The first wheel
is permanently in gear with the fifth, the second with the sixth, the third with
the seventh, and the fourth with the eighth Between the sixth and seventh
wheels, I mount a collar on the countershaft. This collar is movable lengthwise
on the countershaft (by a grooved flange and forked lever or other suitable.
means) but is forced to rotate therewith by a key and key-way or equivalent
device. The bosses of the fifth and eighth wheels take the form of sleeves pro-
jecting towards the sliding collar, and the inner ends of these sleeves are pro-
vided with suitable recesses Renewable bushes may be introduced between
these sleeves and the counter shaft. The bosses of the sixth and seventh wheels
take the form of sleeves projecting away from the sliding collar and surrounding
the sleeves of the fifth and eighth wheels respectively. The sixth wheel is kept
at a minimum distance from the fifth, eg by an inwardly directed divided ring
flange bolted to the fifth wheel engaging in a groove turned in the sleeve of the
sixth wheel. The seventh and eighth wheels are similarly distanced There
are annular spaces between the countershaft and those parts of the sixth and
seventh wheels which come nearest the centre of the sliding collar, the said
parts have notched or recessed flanges directed towards the said countershaft,
but not reaching the same by a distance not less than the thickness of the wall
of the collar The said collar is provided with one or more perpendicular pro-
jections on each end: such projections being adapted to engage in the recesses
in the above described flanges of the sixth and seventh wheels and in the inner
ends of the sleeves of the fifth and eighth wheels. There is a space between the
flange on the sixth (or seventh) wheel and the end of the sleeve of the fifth (or
eighth) wheel measuring not less than the thickness of each of the said projec-
tions on the ends of the sliding collar.
The countershaft is provided with a crown wheel or other suitable means for
transmitting its motion to the driving road wheel or wheels.

page_text: Supposing the first and eighth wheels to be the smallest of their respective
sets, the action is as follows: The clutch shaft being disconnected from the
motor, the central planes of the gear wheels on the said clutch shaft stand
slightly out of plane with the central planes of the corresponding wheels on
the countershaft, but the teeth of the respective pairs of wheels remain in gear.
On sliding the clutch shaft lengthwise to operate the friction clutch the respec-
tive central planes of the two sets of wheels are made to co-incide, or nearly so,
and the clutch shaft and both sets of wheels are caused to rotate. But if the
sliding collar be in its central position no motion is yet transmitted to the
countershaft. If now the sliding collai be moved a certain distance in one diiec-
tion its projections on that end will engage in the recesses of the flange of, say,
the sixth wheel and motion will be transmitted from the clutch shaft, through
the second and sixth wheels and the collar, to the countershaft, at the second
speed. If the collar be moved a certain further distance in the same direction
its projections will leave the recesses in the flange of the sixth wheel and will
pass into the space between the said flange and the end of the sleeve of the fifth
wheel, so that motion will cease for the time being to be transmitted to the
countershaft. If the collar be again moved further in the same direction its
projections will engage in the recesses in the end of the sleeve of the fifth wheel
and motion will be transmitted from the clutch shaft, though the first and fifth
wheels and the collar, to the countershaft, at the first speed. In a similar
manner, by sliding the collar in the opposite direction the projections on the
other end thereof will necessarily be engaged in the recesses in the flange of
the seventh wheel, will be released therefrom, and will engage in the recesses
in the end of the sleeve of the eighth wheel, giving the third and fourth speeds
respectively.
If desired the pans of wheels giving the two lower speeds may be located
fearest the sliding collar and the pairs of wheels giving the two higher speeds
may be located furthest from the said collar. Or the various speeds may be
otherwise arranged.
My invention also relates to the construction of the transverse shaft carrying
the sprocket pinions whence motion is transmitted to the driving 1oad wheels
through endless chains. The ends of this shaft are commonly mounted on a
part of the fiaming different from that on which the main or middle portion is
mounted. Consequently the three parts of the shaft are sometimes subjected
to strains tending to disturb their perfect alignment. To accomodate this
tendency without interfering with the proper transmission of motion from the
middle part of the shaft to the ends thereof, I interpose washers or blocks
between the adjacent extremities of the parts. Each washer is provided with
Bay a projection across each face, the projection on the one facé being at right
angles to the projection on the other face. These projections are adapted to
engage somewhat loosely with corresponding recesses formed across the faces
of flanges provided on the said extremities of the parts of the shaft. It will be
obvious that the washer may be reduced to the form of two bars laid crosswise,
or that the respective projections and recesses may be interchanged. The engag-
ing parts are preferably made thoroughly hard to resist wear
I do not confine myself strictly to the above description, which is intended to
indicate the nature of my invention without excluding modifications.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M Cy.E I.,
Fellow of the Institution of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
ncery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: CUMPLEIE DITUITUATION
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear for Autocars and the like.
I, JAMES SIDNEY CRITCHLEY, Member of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, of Wyley House, Coventry, Warwickshire, 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 driving gear for autocars and the like and has for
its principal object to provide a toothed wheel variable gear, the respective
wheels of each pair of which are always in engagement And in order that
my invention may be properly understood I will describe the same with the
aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein
Figure I is an elevation, partly in section of a four speed gear constructed
according to my invention
Figure II, is an elevation of part of a three-piece shaft carrying the sprocket
pinions, and
Figure III is a plan of one of the joints in the said shaft
The first or clutch shaft 2 is preferably connectable to and disconnectable
from the motor by suitable means, such as a double conical friction clutch operated
by a slight longitudinal movement of the said clutch shaft. On the said clutch
These four
shaft is fixed a graduated series of four spur wheels, 3, 4, 5 and 6.
wheels may be connected or separated by sleeves or distance pieces 7, 8, 9
respectively. Parallel to the clutch shaft and at a suitable distance therefiom I
arrange a countershaft 10, and on this countershaft I mount loosely an inveisely
graduated series of four spur wheels 11, 12, 13 and 14.
The wheel is per-
manently in geat with the wheel 11, the wheel 4 with the wheel 12, the wheel 5
with the wheel 13, and the wheel with the wheel 14. Between the wheels 12
and 13 I mount a collar 15 on the counter shaft 10. This collar is moveable.
lengthwise on the countershaft (by a grooved flange 16 and forked lever or other
suitable means) but is forced to rotate therewith by a key 17 and keyway or
equivalent device The bosses of the wheels 11 and 14 take the form of sleeves 19
and 20 projecting towards the sliding collar 15, and the inner ends of these
sleeves are provided with suitable recesses 21, 22. Renewable bushes 23 may
be introduced between these sleeves and the countershaft 10. The bosses of the
wheels 12 and 13 take the form of sleeves 24, 25, projecting away from the
sliding collar 15 and surrounding the sleeves 19, 20 of the wheels 11 and 14
respectively The wheel 12 is kept at a minimum distance from the wheel 11,.
cy by an inwardly directed divided ing flange 26 bolted to the wheel 11 engag-
ing in a groove 27 turned in the sleeve 24 of the wheel 12. The wheels 13
and 14 are similarly distanced There are annular spaces 28 between the
countershaft 10 and those parts of the wheels 12 and 13 which come nearest the
centre of the sliding collar 15 the said parts have notched or recessed flanges 30,
31 directed towards the said counter shaft, but not reaching the same by a dis-
tance not less than the thickness of the wall of the collar. The said collar is
provided with one or more perpendicular projections 32, 33, such projections
being adapted to engage in the recesses in the above described flanges 30, 31 of
the wheels 12 and 13 and in the inner ends of the sleeves 19, 20 of the wheels 11
and 14. The space 28 between the flange on the wheel 12 (or 13) and the end
of the sleeve on the wheel 11 (or 14) measures not less than the thickness of
each of the projections 32, 33, on the ends of the sliding collar. The above
mentioned sleeves form long bearings and greatly contribute to the steadiness
of the respective releasable wheels and to the efficiency of the gear as a whole.
The countershaft is provided with a crown wheel 34 or other suitable means
for transmitting its motion to the driving road wheel or wheels,

page_text: 80,
Supposing the wheels and 14 to be the smallest of their respective sets as
shown, the action is as follows,The clutch shaft 2 being disconnected from
the motor, the central planes of the gear wheels on the said clutch shaft stand
slightly out of plane with the central planes of the corresponding wheels on the
countershaft 10, but the teeth of the respective pairs of wheels remain in gear.
On sliding the clutch shaft lengthwise to operate the friction clutch, the res-
pective central planes of the two sets of wheels are made to co-incide, or nearly
and the clutch shaft and both sets of wheels are caused to rotate But if
the sliding collar 15 be in its central position no motion is yet transmitted to
the countershaft If now the said sliding collar be moved a certain distance
towards the crown wheel 34 its projections 32 on that end will engage in the
recesses of the flange 30 of the wheel 12 and motion will be transmitted from the
clutch shaft, through the wheels 4 and 12 and the collar 15, to the counter-
shaft 10, at the second speed If the said collar be moved a certain further
distance in the same dnection its projections will leave the recessed flange 30
and will pass into the space 28 between the said flange and the end of the
sleeve 19 of the wheel 11, so that motion will cease, for the time being, to be
transmitted to the countershaft If the collai be again moved further in the
same direction its projections will engage in the recesses 21 in the end of the
sleeve 19 of the wheel 11 and motion will be transmitted from the clutch shaft 2,
through the wheels and 11 and the collar to the countershaft, at the first speed.
In a similar manner, by sliding the collar in the opposite direction the projec-
tions 33 on the other end thereof will necessarily be engaged in the recesses in
the flange 31 of the wheel 13, will be released therefrom, and will engage in
the recesses 22 in the end of the sleeve 20 of the wheel 14, giving the third and
fourth speeds respectively
If desired, the pairs of wheels giving the two lower speeds may be located
nearest the sliding collar and the pairs of wheels giving the two higher speeds
may be located furthest from the said collar. Oi the various speeds may be
otherwise arranged Gears having more or less than four speeds may be con-
structed in a similar manner.
My invention also relates to the construction of the transverse shaft carrying
the sprocket pinions 35 or the like, whence motion is transmitted to the diving
road wheels through endless chains. The ends 36 of this shaft are commonly
mounted on a part of the Iraming different from that on which the main oi
middle portion 37 is mounted. Consequently the three parts of the shaft are
sometimes subjected to stiams tending to disturb their perfect alignment. To
accommodate this tendency without interfering with the proper transmission of
motion from the middle part of the shaft to the ends thereof, I interpose washers
or blocks 38 between the adjacent extremities of the parts Each washer is
provided with say two projections 39, 40, one across each face, the projection on
one face being at right angles to the projection on the other face. These pro-
jections are adapted to engage somewhat loosely with corresponding recesses 41,
42 formed across the faces of flanges 43, 44 provided on the said extremities of
the parts of the shaft. It will be obvious that the washer may be reduced to
the form of two bars laid crosswise, or that the respective projections and
recesses may be interchanged The engaging parts are preferably made thor-
oughly hard to resist wear.
I do not confine myself strictly to the above description, as modifications and
other suitable applications may be made without exceeding the fair scope of
my invention.
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:

page_text: adapted to operate substantially as herein described, or as illustrated by Figure I
of the accompanying drawings
2. A toothed wheel variable gear for autocars and the like in which the res-
pective wheels of each pair are always in engagement, one wheel of each pair
being fixed to its shaft, and the other wheel of each pair being adapted to be
fixed to its shaft by a projection on a sliding collar, rotating with such shaft,
engaging in a recess formed in the boss or the like of such other wheel; two
or more of the releasable wheels of the gear being provided with overlapping
sleeves forming long bearings for the same, substantially as set forth.
3 In driving gear for autocars and the like; a thiee part shaft having
washers or the like interposed between the parts, constructed, arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as herein described, or as illustrated by Figs. II
and III of the accompanying drawings.
4. In driving gear for autocars and the like, a three part shaft, the end parts
of which are adapted to carry sprocket pinions or the like and which are con-
nected to the middle part so as to revolve therewith by washers or the like, each
washer or the like having a projection or recess across each face thereof, the
projection or recess on or in one face being at right angles to the projection or
recess on or in the other face, such projections or recesses on or in the washers
or the like being adapted to engage somewhat loosely with corresponding recesses
or projections formed across the faces of flanges on the adjacent extremities of
the parts of the shaft, substantially as and for the purpose set forth
1000
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.C.EI,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
15, Chancery Lane, London, WC, Patent Agent for the Applicant.