Improvements in Velocipedes and Auto-motor Carriages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
2200 Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Oct., 1896-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL DI MOIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes and Auto-motor Carriages.
I, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON, of 8 Lancaster Gate, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention applies especially where the driving of the main wheel is effected
by an endless chain encircling a toothed wheel and pinion. For the purpose of
altering the speed of the gearing two or more pinions of different sizes are
provided and arrangements are made for shifting the driving chain from pinion
to pinion. The pinions are set side by side. rigid with each other and free to
revolve on a tubular spindle which passes centrally through the hub of the wheel
of which indeed the spindle forms a part. The pinions can be slidden along the
spindle, the driving chain having first been lifted from the pinions to put them
out of gear. The hub of the main wheel is hollow and of such dimensions that
the pinions which are out of use can when required be received into the hub. To
lift the chain off the pinions and to replace it upon them when the position of the
pinions has been adjusted an instrument or chain lifter is provided; it can be
moved along guides or otherwise towards the pinions and preferably has two
limbs; these coming against the chain on either side of the pinion, press the chain
off from the pinion and retain it. The chain is sufficiently long to admit of being
thus passed from pinion to pinion and a suitable tension is maintained by a spring
jockey roller which rides upon the chain.
Thus the change of gear is effected by advancing the chain lifter to the pinion,
thus lifting the chain, then moving the pinions laterally along the spindle and
finally retiring the chain lifter leaving the chain now engaged with the pinion.
which it is desired to employ.
The pinion block has projections which enter slots in the hub of the wheel and
carry the wheel round. The projections may be inclined at their ends and
provided with springs which admit of their retiring within the hub; the pinions
in this case may cease to rotate in descending a hill whilst the vehicle runs on, the
driving pedals also remaining at rest.
A clamping screw may also be provided to temporarily lock the pinions to the
bub of the wheel. Sometimes it is so arranged that the change of gear can be
made whilst riding by the movement of a lever and of a slider thereon. The
lever is pivotted at its lower end to the frame and is moveable about this pivot in
a vertical plane. The lever serves to move the pinion block whilst the slider
when shifted along the lever actuates the chain lifter. The slider has a rib upon
it which engages with notches in a corresponding stationary guide, and the lever
cannot be moved until the slider has first been drawn up along the lever so far
that the rib is disengaged from the retaining notch.
:
Thus by means of the slider first the chain lifter is made to set the pinions free,
and then by shifting the lever the pinions are placed as required bringing either
a larger or smaller one into position for use, and finally the slider is placed in
another notch and returned to the lower end of the lever; the chain then regains
its working position.
Another way in which the chain lifter may be actuated is by means of the chain
itself; a tooth is then provided upon the chain lifter which is caught when the

page_text: chain is made to travel in the reverse direction; the upper part of the chain then
becomes slack and dropping on to the tooth by its own weight carries the chain
lifter into action. On again moving the chain in the forward direction, the tooth
escapes and a spring withdraws the chain lifter.
In some cases an emergency brake is provided in addition to the ordinary
service brake; it is a pad or block jointed to or forms part of the mudguard and
so placed that the rider can with the foot press it against the tyre of the wheel.
Dated this 22nd day of January 1896.
. Improvements in Velocipedes and Auto-motor Carriages.
I, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON, of 8 Lancaster Gate, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 applies especially where the driving of the main wheel is effected
by an endless chain encircling a toothed wheel and pinion. For the purpose of
altering the speed of the gearing two or more pinions of different sizes are provided
and arrangements are made for shifting the driving chain from pinion to pinion. The
pinions are set side by side rigid with each other and free to revolve on a tubular
spindle which passes centrally through the hub of the wheel of which indeed the
spindle forms a part. The pinions can be slidden along the spindle, the driving
chain having first been lifted from the pinions to put them out of gear. The hub
of the main wheel is hollow and of such dimensions that the pinions which are out
of use can when required be received into the hub. To lift the chain off the
pinions and to replace it upon them when the position of the pinions has been
adjusted an instrument or chain lifter is provided.
The change of gear is effected by advancing the chain lifter to the pinion, thus
lifting the chain, then moving the pinions laterally along the spindle and finally
retiring the chain lifter leaving the chain now engaged with the pinion which it is
desired to employ.
The chain is sufficiently long to admit of being thus passed from pinion to
pinion and a suitable tension is maintained by a spring jockey roller which rides
upon the chain.
The pinion block has projections which enter slots in the hub of the wheel and
carry the wheel round. The projections may be inclined at their ends and
provided with springs which admit of their retiring within the hub; the pinions
in this case may cease to rotate in descending a hill whilst the vehicle runs on, the
driving pedals also remaining at reat.
A clamping screw may also be provided to temporarily lock the pinions to the
hub of the wheel. Sometimes it is so arranged that the change of gear can be
made whilst riding by the movement of a lever and of a slider thereon. The
lever is pivotted at its lower end to the frame and is moveable about this pivot in
a vertical plane. The lever serves to move the pinion block whilst the slider when
shifted along the lever actuates the chain lifter. The slider has a rib upon it
which engages with notches in a corresponding stationary guide, and the lever
cannot be moved until the slider has first been drawn up along the lever so far
that the rib is disengaged from the retaining notch.
Thus by means of the slider first the chain lifter is made to set the pinions free,
and then by shifting the lever the pinions are placed as required bringing either a

page_text: larger or smaller one into position for use, and finally the slider is placed in
another notch and returned to the lower end of the lever; the chain then regains
its working position.
Another way in which the chain lifter may be actuated is by means of the chain
itself; a tooth is then provided upon the chain lifter which is caught when the
chain is made to travel in the reverse direction; the upper part of the chain then
becomes slack and dropping on to the tooth by its own weight carries the chain
lifter into action. On again moving the chain in the forward direction, the tooth
escapes and a spring withdraws the chain lifter or without this aid the chain
carries the lifter back with it.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carriel into
effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle to which my change speed driving gear
is applied.
Figure 2 shows to a larger scale a portion of the driving chain, the chain lifter
and one of the pinions on the axis of the driven wheel and some other parts.
Figure 3 shows the same parts as seen from the front.
Figure 4 is a side view of the lever and slider with handle upon it for actuating
the chain lifter and for shifting the pinions upon the spindle of the driven wheel.
Figure 5 shows the same parts as seen from the front.
Figure 6 is a plan of the same.
Figure 7 is a section through the hub of the driven wheel looking rearwards.
Figure 7 is another section through the hub but in another plane.
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8.8 in Figure 7 looking from the left hand side
of the machine.
Figure 9 is a side elevation showing a portion of the mechanism employed when
the chain lifter is actuated by the driving chain itself.
Figure 10 shows the parts indicated in Figure 9 as seen from the front.
Figure 11 is a side view of the handle employed in connection with the parts
shewn in Figures 9 and 10 for the purpose of shifting the pinions on the axis of
the driven wheel.
Figure 12 shows this bandle as seen from the front.
I will first describe the drawings Figures 1 to 8, 1 is the pedal axis, 2, 2, the
pedals driven by the rider who occupies the seat 3, 4 is the chain wheel on the
pedal axis. 5 is the endless driving chain. 6, 6, 6, are three chain pinions on
the spindle of the driven wheel 7. 8 is the chain lifter, it is pivoted to a bracket 9
upon the frame. 10 is a jockey roller, carried by an arm, which also is pivoted to
a bracket 11 fixed to the frame. 12 is a spring which presses the jockey roller
downwards and keeps the chain taut. 13 is a rod for actuating the chain lifter
and passing up from an arm 8* upon the chain lifter to lever mechanism which is
conveniently placed in front of the rider. 14 is another similar rod passing to the
same mechanism and serving to shift the pinions 6 upon the spindle of the driven
wheel. As is seen in Figure 7, the three pinions 6, 6, 6, all form part of one
block and this block can slide upon the hollow spindle 15, which forms a part of
the hub of the driven wheel. o, is a surface on the hub to receive a brake strap.
16. 16 are the spokes of the wheel and 17 is the stationary axle on which the wheel
revolves ball bearings being provided as the drawing indicates. 18 is a chamber
or recess in the hub of the wheel into which the pinion block can be caused to
enter more or less to bring either pinion 6, 6, 6, to range with the driving chain 5
and ready to be engaged by it. 19 is a finger which enters an annular groove on
he pinion block, this finger is carried by a rocking lever 21 to which at its other
nd the rod 14 is jointed.
The pinion block also carries two spring catches 22, which enter corresponding
ecesses in the hub of the wheel, these parts are so formed that when the pinion

page_text: block turns in a forward direction it carries the driven wheel round with it, but
when the pinions are at rest or turning in a backward direction the wheel is still
able to run forward. The pinion block can however when desired be locked fast
with the hub of the wheel by inserting a locking screw 23, as seen in Figure 8.
24 is the lever for shifting the pinions, it has its fulcrum on the frame at 25. It
also has an arm 26, and to this arm the rod 14 is jointed. 27 is the slider upon
the lever: the rod 13 is jointed to its lower end. 28 is a guide fixed to the frame,
it has notches upon it with which a rib 29 on the slider can engage. Dotted lines
in Figure 4 show the slider in its lower position and engaged with the rearward
notch in the guide; this would be the position of the parts when the chain is upon
the smallest of the three pinions 6, 6, 6, that is to say when the fastest speed of
gear is in use. To shift the gear to another speed the slider is first drawn up the
lever until the rib 29 is free from the notch in the stationary guide; during this
movement the chain lifter operates, then the lever is thrust forward and the rib 29
is brought to correspond with another of the notches in the guide, this shifts the
pinions 6, 6, 6, and brings that one under the chain which is to be next used;
finally the slider is thrust down again which throws the chain lifter out of use and
places the chain upon the pinion. The parts are now locked fast the rib 29 being
in a notch of the guide. The chain lifter 31, shown in Figures 9 and 10 is some-
what differently arranged it is carried by an arm 32, which is able to turn about
the axis of the driven wheel: as shown in full lines, it is in the position it occupies
when out of use; and by dotted lines, in the position it assumes when it comes into
operation; the driving chain also is shown in two positions as also is the dotted
roller which presses upon the chain. 33 is a spring tooth upon the chain lifter. The
chain when driving the wheel passes the tooth 33 freely but when the rider
commences to back pedal whilst the wheels continue to run forward the tooth
engages with the chain, and the chain lifter makes a semi-rotation about the axis,
it reaches a stop against which it comes to rest. The chain being now disengaged
from the pinions 6, 6, 6 these are then placed as required by means of the finger 19
and the chain lifter comes back to a stop in its original position when the rider
works the pedals in a forward direction.
The handle 34, shown in Figures 11 and 12 is simply a prolongation of the
rod 14, it has a tooth 35 upon it which can be lodged in either one of the three
notches 36 in the guide 37 which is fixed upon the frame of the vehicle.
A
spring 38 holds the tooth engaged with the notch but the rider can shift the handle
freely by drawing it back against the resistance of the spring and then after
moving it up or down, placing it in another notch as the case may require.
Occasionally in the case of an automotor and tricycles in the place of the tubular
spindle on the wheel having a stationary axle passing through it the axle of the
wheel or wheels may be carried in external bearings upon the frame and some of
the details of construction will be varied accordingly.
When in this specification I refer to driving chains, chain lifters, chain pinions
and so forth I intend to include driving belts and bands and lifters and pulleys
adapted to work with belts and bands.
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 :-
1. Change speed gear for velocipedes and motor carriages, consisting of an endless
driving chain and chain pinions a chain lifter and mechanism for shifting the
pinions and the chain lifter; the whole so arranged that whilst the carriage is
travelling the driving chain may be passed from pinion to pinion substantially as
described.
2. Mechanism for operating change speed gear in accordance with Claim 1 and
consisting of a lever serving to shift the chain pinions, a slider on the lever serving
to move the chain lifter, a guide, and interlocking parts upon the slider and upon
the guide; the whole arranged and operating substantially as described.

page_text: 3. Change speed gear for velocipedes and auto-motor carriages, consisting of an
endless driving chain and chain pinions, mechanism for shifting the pinions, a.
chain lifter and a tooth upon the chain lifter; the whole so arranged that whilst
the carriage is travelling the driving chain may be made to engage with the tooth
and actuate the chain lifter to permit the chain pinions to be changed one for
another substantially as described.
4. The combination of parts consisting of the driven wheel, its spindle, [the
pinion block sliding along the spindle, and the recess or chamber in the hub of the
wheel which receives the pinion block.
5. The improvements in velocipedes and auto-motor carriages substantially as
described and illustrated by the annexed drawings.
Dated this 21st day of October 1896.
E. H. HODGKINSON.