Improvements in or relating to Variable Speed Gear for Velocipedes, applicable to other purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1897-Accepte 1, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Variable Speed Gear for Velocipedes,
applicable to other purposes.
"
I, ALFRED TINGLE of Okeleigh, Cheshunt, in the County of Herts,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
or "differential
This invention relates to what is known as "variable speed gear
gearing" for changing speed whilst running and has for its object to produce such
gear or gearing of a greatly improved character especially for use in connection
with chain driving gear of cycles although speed changing gear according to my
present invention may be employed or used in any other way or for any other
purposes for which same may be applicable.
The speed changing gear according to my present invention is as follows:-
On the side face of a circular disc or ring or equivalent I provide a circular ring
of teeth of suitable depth and strength this toothed faced ring or disc being fixed
to some working part through which the power is to be applied for instance in the
case of a bicycle this toothed faced ring or disc may have a boss or sleeve formed
or mounted thereon or it may be otherwise arranged to fix on the axle or have one
of the cranks keyed or fixed concentrically to said disc or ring the other said crank
being connected up from the other side so as also to drive said toothed faced
disc or the power may be otherwise suitably applied to said toothed faced disc
or ring.
Gearing with said toothed faced disc are three or other suitable number of
radially arranged pinions journalled or carried so as to be free to revolve in a
central mount or device to which latter is permanently attached the means for
giving off the power for instance in the case of a bicycle or other chain driven
machine or apparatus the chain driving wheel is permanently secured in any
suitable manner to this said mount or device carrying the said radial pinions-the
inner end of these said radially arranged pinions each having a second and
separate bevelled toothed wheel or pinion thereon with which last-named toothed
wheels the teeth of a second toothed faced disc or ring gear (which said second
100thed faced dise or ring is of smaller diameter than the first-named ring of
teeth) and is so arranged and mounted as to be gripped and held stationary by a
clutch or gripping device so as to operate in the manner hereinafter described.
This last-named toothed faced disc or ring having a central opening therein
concentric to the opening in the aforesaid mount or device carrying the radial
pinions so that both these are free to turn on a boss or sleeve extending from the
first-named toothed faced ring or disc or on the axle itself.
The aforesaid mount or device carrying the radial pinions is normally locked or
secured to the first-named toothed faced disc or ring by means of three or other
suitable number of locking bolts or pins pivoted or otherwise carried in said mount
in which the radial pinions are journalled and extending from said mount into
engagement with studs or blocks (or it may be holes or recesses) in or on the face
of the first-named toothed faced disc or ring in such manner that the two are
normally held locked together and although the teeth of said radial pinions are at
the same time normally meshing or in gear with the teeth on the face of said ring
or disc yet by reason of the aforesaid locking pieces thereby all strain (i.e. the
driving power applied to said toothed faced ring or disc) is through said locking

page_text: pins applied (without any strain on the teeth of the pinions) to the chain driving
wheel so that when running at normal speed the power is applied direct without
putting strain on the teeth of the gearing by which the speed is reduced as herein-
after explained with reference to chain driving gear for cycles.
Instead of the aforesaid locking bolts or pins being pivoted as aforesaid any
other equivalent or suitable means may be employed for normally locking said
mount to said toothed faced ring as desired, for instance devices somewhat of the
shape of a cross adapted to slide radially in said mount with one arm of the cross
extending into gear with or so as to lock the toothed faced ring or disc to said
mount the other arm of each said cross extending in the opposite direction to be
operated by the clutch or clutch operating device.so as to throw the locking
devices out of gear as hereinafter explained.
On the side of the aforesaid mount in which the radial pinions are journalled
opposite to that side on which the ring of teeth on the aforesaid toothed faced
ring or disc meshes with the said pinions the aforesaid second and smaller toothed
faced ring or dise is mounted and the ends or other parts of the aforesaid locking
pins extend or are arranged concentrically around this said second toothed faced
ring or dise which latter is adapted to be gripped and held (after the locking pins
have been first thrown out of gear so as to unlock or release the mount carrying
the aforesaid radial pinions from the first-named toothed faced disc or ring) by any
suitable clutch or other equivalent or in any suitable manner for instance same
may have a series of equi-distant studs or projections around the periphery or on
the side face thereof into or over or onto which the clutch or gripping device
(which for example, may be adapted to slide longitudinally-but so that same
cannot rotate on the axle bearing or other suitable fixed part of the machine
or apparatus; for instance on the bottom bracket in the case of a cycle) is
adapted to be moved and again removed (ie. reciprocated) by any suitable clutch
operating counection or device advantageously by a system of levers or connections
from a handle in convenient position for the rider or operator to move said
clutch into or out of connection with the said small toothed faced ring or disc.
This said clutch or device is of such a character and so arranged that before
same can reach so as to grip and hold or engage the small toothed faced ring
or disc it first comes into contact with and pushes or otherwise operates the
aforesaid locking pins or devices so as to throw the latter out of gear and in this
mid-position the driving power is entirely disconnected from the part to be driven
that is to say in a cycle the pedals will remain stationary while the driving chain
wheel is free to revolve as the machine runs along.
If now the motion of the clutch be continued until the aforesaid smaller toothed
faced ring or dise has been gripped and firmly held or otherwise secured in or to
said clutch it will be obvious that the revolution of the driving chain wheel will
carry round the aforesaid radially arranged pinions the toothed wheels on the inner
end of which latter meshing with the ring of teeth on the aforesaid small toothed
faced ring or disc and the latter being now held stationary thereby the radial
pinions will revolve and consequently the toothed wheels on the outer end of said
radial pinions will revolve in the ring of teeth on the first-named toothed faced
ring or dise to which the driving power is applied. Therefore per contra if the
driving power is now applied through the first-named toothed faced ring or disc it
will transmit motion to the driving chain wheel only at such a speed as the afore-
said radial pinions are caused to travel round by meshing with the aforesaid fixed
ring of teeth and according to the relative diameters of the two said rings of teeth
and the size of the radial pinions meshing with each of same thereby will the speed
be reduced accordingly for instance for cycling purposes I can thus readily reduce
the gear from 70 down to 50 or any other desired variations.
An alternative arrangement of clutch or means for causing the change in the
two-speed gear or placing the latter in mid-gear or in such a position that the
cranks can rest while the gear runs on is as follows:-
Two discs (one of which is a fixture and the other capable of being rotated by

page_text: any suitable operating lever or connection) are mounted and combined together
with studs or beaded pins fixed to gripping devices adapted to move radially on
one disc said studs working in slots in the other disc so that when rotary movement
is imparted to one said disc thereby the said slots acting on said studs therein
will cause the ring of said gripping devices to move synchronously towards or
away from the centre.
These gripping devices may be of any suitable form or arranged in any suitable
manner to first engage with and throw the aforesaid locking pins out of gear and
either gear or engage directly with the herein before-mentioned small toothed
faced ring or disc to change the speed as before described or if desired these
gripping devices (adapted to be moved as aforesaid or in any equivalent manner)
may be arranged to operate on a pawl or pawls mounted and arranged in a circle
on one of these clutch discs said pawls being adapted to engage with a ring of
ratchet teeth on the back face of the said small toothed faced ring or disc so that
rotary motion thereof in the other direction can take place even while the said
pawls (which would be spring-mounted) are held in gear with said ratchet
teeth.
Any suitable dust-proof covers on the sides or round the edges of this variable
speed gear may be arranged so as to keep out mud and dust etc. or said covers or
casing may be built on to or combined with the various parts so that when
put together there will be no fear of such covers or casing becoming loose or
otherwise.
Instead of using two bevelled toothed wheels (or radial pinions as I have termed
them) on the radial shafts as hereinbefore described I may use one toothed wheel
only or more than oue wheel on each said radial shaft and where more than one
said pinion or toothed wheel is so used same may be of different diameters and also
bave different numbers and pitch of teeth thereon as desired.
Also the two aforesaid toothed faced rings or discs may be of equal diameters
or of any different diameters as desired-for instance by arranging them vice versa
to the above described arrangement the speed would thus be geared up instead of
being geared down.
The aforesaid locking pins or devices are returned into their normal position to
lock the toothed faced disc or ring to the aforesaid mount (on withdrawal of the
clutch) by any suitable springs or equivalent.
Dased thin and down of A1 1806
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
31, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Variable Speed Gear for Velocipedes,
applicable to other purposes.
I, ALFRED TINGLE, of "Okeleigh" Cheshunt, in the County of Herts,
Manufacturer, 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 to what is known as "variable speed gear" or "differential
gearing" for changing speed whilst running and has for its object to produce such
gear or gearing of a greatly improved character especially for use in connection
with chain driving gear of cycles although speed changing gear according to my
present invention may be employed or used in any other way or for any other
purposes for which same may be applicable.

page_text: For the sake of example I will proceed to describe the speed changing gear
according to my present invention as applied to a bicycle.
Referring to the accompanying drawings:-
Fig. 1 is a view of a bicycle having my variable speed gear applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is same view of said speed gear (only on a much enlarged scale and
shown detached from the bicycle) i.e. looking in the direction of arrow 2 Fig. 3.
Fig. 3 is a vertical section of Fig. 2 on line 3-3-the chain wheel or sprocket
wheel being removed as also in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is view of inner face of one part of the mount or device in the interior
of the apparatus forming the bearings for certain parts of the operating mechanism,
Fig. 5 being an edge view thereof louking in the direction of the arrow 4 (Fig. 4)
and Fig. 6 being a cross sectional view on the line 6-6 Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 is a view of the inner face of the counterpart of Fig. 4, and
Fig. 8 is edge view thereof i.e. looking in the direction of the arrow 8 Fig. 7-
these inner faces of these two parts Figs. 4 and 7 being adapted to be laid flush
together and secured to one another by screws or locking pins or in any other
suitable manner.
Fig. 9 is a view of the flanged ring by which the variable gear is operated as
hereinafter described, Fig. 10 being a cross section on line 10-10 (Fig. 9) and
Fig. 11 an edge view thereof.
Fig. 12 shows the longitudinally slotted ring or device which fits within and is
rigidly fixed to the said flanged ring (Figs. 9 to 11) Fig. 13 being a cross section
on line 13-13 (Fig. 12) and Fig. 14 is edge view thereof.
Fig. 15 shows the inner face of the side check or disc which is rigidly fixed to
the bottom bracket or other suitable fixed part of the bicycle.
Fig. 16 is edge view of Fig. 15 looking in the direction of the arrow 16.
Fig. 17 shows the bevel teeth on a large toothed-face disc or ring, Fig. 18 being
a cross sectional view thereof on line 18-18.
Fig. 19 shows the hevel teeth on a second and smaller toothed-face disc or
ring, Fig. 20 being an edge view thereof.
Fig. 21 shows one of the double pinions i.e. with bevel teeth at each end as
hereinafter described, Figs. 22 and 23 being end views thereof.
Figs. 24, 25 and 26 (Sheet 2) show the locking pins or devices by means of which
the large toothed-face disc aforesaid (Fig. 17) is connected to or disconnected from
the central mount aforesaid.
Figs. 27, 28 and 29 (Sheet 2) show the radially sliding jaws or means by which
the aforesaid locking pins are operated and also the small toothed-face disc (Fig. 19)
clutched or held so as to prevent the latter revolving in order to vary the speed as
hereinafter described.
Figs. 30 and 31 (Sheet 4) show lock nut.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
On the inside face of the circular disc A (or it may be a ring or equivalent)
1 provide a circular ring of teeth A' of suitable depth and strength this toothed
faced disc A being fixed to some working part through which the power is to be
applied for instance in the case illustrated this toothed faced disc A has a boss or
sleeve A formed or mounted thereon or it may be otherwise arranged to fix on
the axle (not shown) or have one of the cranks keyed or fixed concentrically to
said disc the other said crank being connected up from the other side so as also to
drive said toothed faced disc or the power may be otherwise suitably applied
to said toothed faced disc A.
Gearing with said toothed faced disc A are three or other suitable number of
radially arranged pinions (see Figs. 3 and 21) the shank B of each of which is
journailed or carried so as to be free to revolve in bearings formed by the
channels B in a central mount or device Figs. 4 to 8 to which latter is permanently
attached the means for giving off the power for instance in the case of a bicycle
or other chain-driven machine or apparatus the chain driving wheel Z (shown in
Fig. 1) is permanently secured in any suitable manner to this said mount or device

page_text: carrying the said radial pinions for instance the ring of teeth Z (for driving the
chain) may be rigidly bolted or otherwise rigidly secured to the radial arms or
lugs CC on the said central mount see Figs. 1 to 5.
Both the inner and outer ends of the shanks B respectively carry separate
bevelled toothed wheels or pinions D and E thereon with which last-named toothed
wheels E the teeth F1 of the second and smaller toothed faced disc F gear this.
disc F being adapted and arranged so as to be gripped and held_stationary by the
clutch pieces or gripping jaws G of the radially sliding devices H operated in the
manner hereinafter described-see Figs. 3 and 27 to 29.
This last-named toothed faced disc F has a central opening Fx therein concentric
to the opening C* in the aforesaid mount or device (Fig. 4) so that both these are
free to turn on the boss or sleeve A' extending from the first-named toothed faced
disc A (or on the axle itself).
The aforesaid mount or device Fig. 4 is normally locked or secured to the first-
named toothed faced disc A by means of three or other suitable number of locking
bolts or pins I (Figs. 3 and 24 to 26) sliding in the grooves I* in the mounts
Figs. 4 to 8 these said pins or bolts I having an arm I extending (through the
slots I** in the mount Fig. 7) towards the large disc A and an oppositely extending
1 which extends through the slot 1xxx in the mount Fig. 4 and on this
extending arm 1' is carried the saddle piece 18 by which latter the said sliding pin I
is operated inwardly as hereinafter described.
arm
J is a
spring (see Fig. 3) to keep said pin or bolt I normally pressed outwards.
The said arms I extend from said mount into engagement with holes or
recesses A or it may be studs or blocks in or on the face of the said toothed faced
disc A in such manner that the two (ie. the disc A and the mount Figs. 4 to 8)
are normally held locked together and although the teeth D of said radial pinions
are at the same time normally meshing or in gear with the teeth A¹ on the face of
said ring or disc A yet by reason of the aforesaid locking pieces II' thereby all
strain (ie. the driving power applied to said toothed faced disc A) is through said
locking pins II applied (without any strain on the teeth of either of the pinions).
to the chain driving wheel so that when running at normal speed the power is
applied direct without putting strain on the teeth A' DE or F¹ of the gearing by
which the speed is reduced as hereinafter explained.
Instead of the aforesaid locking bolts or pins I l' being used as aforesaid any
other equivalent or suitable means may be employed as desired for normally locking
said mount (Figs. 4 to 8) to said dise A.
On the side of the aforesaid mount in which the radial pinions (Figs. 21 to 23).
are journalled opposite to that side on which the ring of teeth on the aforesaid
toothed faced disc A meshes with the said pinions D the aforesaid second and
smaller toothed faced disc F is mounted and the ends or other parts of the aforesaid
locking pins II extend or are arranged concentrically around this said second
toothed faced disc F which latter is adapted to be gripped and held (after the
locking pieces I I have been first thrown out of gear or moved so as to unlock or
release the mount (formed by Figs. 4 to 8) carrying the aforesaid radial pinions
(Figs. 21 to 23) from the first-named toothed faced disc A.) by any suitable clutch
or other equivalent or in any suitable manner for instance same may have a series
of equi-distant recesses F and projections F (Fig. 19) around the periphery (or
on the side face thereof) into or over or onto which the clutches or gripping
devices G on the aforesaid radial slide pieces H are adapted to be moved and again
removed (ie. reciprocated) by any suitable clutch operating connection or device
that shown in the drawings being as follows:-
The said radially sliding devices H are each provided with dovetail edges H¹
adapted to fit and slide in corresponding dovetailed grooves M radially arranged
in the fixed disc M (Figs. 15 and 16) and said slides H are also provided with a
pin or stud H* thereon which latter are adapted to enter and slide in the
longitudinal slots N₁ in the slotted ring N (Figs. 12 to 14) by which slots N¹.

page_text: said studs are controlled and operated viz.: when said ring N is revolved with
respect to the fixed disc M (by any suitable means such as a lever or connection.
acting on the crank arm or lug 01 on the aforesaid flanged ring O (Figs. 9 to 11)
which latter is rigidly fixed to said slotted ring N as aforesaid and it will readily
be seen that the said slots N' acting on the said studs H will consequently force
said slides H inwards or outwards radially in the slots M-the plate M being
placed loosely within the flange Ox of the said flanged ring O and then the slotted
ring N is rigidly attached to said flange Ox so as to hold loosely between it and
the said ring O the said radially slotted disc M (see Fig. 3).
On the back of the disc or plate M the curved bracket M* is cast formed or
mounted (see Figs. 3 and 15 and 16) by which same is rigidly fixed to the cycle
bottom bracket or other fixed part of the machine.
These slides H bear the sectors L fixed thereto which are adapted (when said
slides are pushed inwards as above explained) to engage with and thereby force
iuwards the saddle pieces 13 which consequently moves inwardly the locking
pins and thus forces the aforesaid arm 1 thereof out of engagement with the
disc .A.
Any suitable levers or connections from a handle in convenient position for the
rider may be used (for instance as shown in Fig. 1) to operate or move the
aforesaid lng O¹ and thus operate this speed gear.
These said clutches or jaws G are of such a character and so arranged that
before same can reach so as to grip and hold or engage the small toothed faced
disc F as aforesaid the said sectors L first disengage as aforesaid the locking pins
or devices I 1¹ from the disc A. so as to throw the latter out of gear i.e. the chain
wheel (on the arms C Figs. 4 and 5) is free to revolve freely and independently
of said disc A. and in this mid-position the driving power is entirely disconnected
from the part to be driven that is to say in a cycle the pedals may remain
stationary while the driving chain wheel is free to revolve as the machine runs
along.
If now the clutches or jaws G be moved further inwardly until the aforesaid
smaller toothed faced disc F has been gripped and firmly held by said clutches it
will be obvious that the revolution of the driving chain wheel will carry round the
aforesaid radially arranged pinions (Figs. 21 to 23) the toothed wheels E on the
inner end thereof meshing with the ring of teeth F on the aforesaid small toothed
faced disc F and the latter being now held stationary thereby the said radial
pinions will be revolved and consequently the toothed wheels D on the outer end of
said radial pinions will revolve in the ring of teeth A' on the first-named toothed
faced disc A. to which the driving power is applied. Therefore per contra if the
driving power is now applied through the first-named toothed faced disc A it will
transmit motion to the driving chain wheel only at such a speed as the aforesaid
radial pinions (Figs. 21 to 23) are caused to travel round by meshing with the
aforesaid fixed ring of teeth F and according to the relative diameters of the two
said rings of teeth A' and F1 and the size of the bevel pinions D and E meshing
with same respectively thereby will the speed be reduced accordingly for instance
for cycling purposes I can thus readily reduce the gear from 70 down to 50 or any
other desired variations.
Any suitable alternative means to disengage the toothed disc A and thereafter
to lock and hold stationary the smaller toothed disc F may be employed as
desired.
Any suitable dust-proof covers on the sides or round the edges of this variable
speed gear may be arranged so as to keep out mud and dust etc. or said covers or
casing may be built on to or combined with the various parts so that when
put together there will be no likelihood of such covers or casing becoming loose or
otherwisc.
Instead of using two bevelled toothed wheels D and E on the radial shafts B
as hereinbefore described I may use one toothed wheel only or more than one

page_text: wheel on each said radial shaft and where more than one said pinion or toothel
wheel is so used same may be of different diameters and also have different
numbers and pitch of teeth thereon as desired.
Also the two aforesaid toothed faced rings or discs may be of equal diameters or
of any different diameters as desired-for instance by arranging them vice versa to
the above described arrangement the speed would thus be geared up instead of
being geared down.
R is lock nut or locking ring which fits against the disc F on the sleeve A'
(on which latter said nut R is screwed) and advantageously said disc F is counter-
sunk (as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 20) to receive said nut R therein.
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 :-
1. In variable speed gear having two toothed faced rings or discs mounted
concentrically and with the teeth thereof facing one another and in gear with an
intermediate pinion or pinions the combination therewith of means to apply the
driving power directly to one of these said discs means to detachably connect said
driven disc directly to the wheel (such as the chain wheel) or pulley or the like to
be revolved and means to disconnect the latter and thereafter to lock and hold
stationary the other said disc or ring whereby the speed is varied substantially in
the manner and for the purposes herein before described.
2. In variable speed gear-the combination of two toothed faced discs or rings
such as A and F mounted concentrically with one another and in gear respectively
with pinions such as D and E the latter being both rigidly fixed on the same
shaft B means to connect one such toothed disc directly to the wheel or pulley or
the like to be revolved (such as the sprocket wheel in chain driving gear) and to
disconnect same when desired and means to grip and hold the other said toothed
disc only after the said disconnection of the first-named toothed disc has been
effected whereby the speed is varied substantially in the manner and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3. The improved variable speed gear constructed and arranged to operate
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 2nd de- of February 1897
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.