Improvements in Cycles, the Gearing Up, and Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles, the Gearing Up, and Manufacture of
the same.
1, WILLIAM BURGES of 105 Weston Street, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the uature of this invention to be as
follows
An improved method of gearing up cycles for the purpose of obtaining the
additional power required in mounting or ascending hills or inclined roads, and also
simplifying the requisite gear in attaining that result. To enable me to do this I
cause the hub or boss of the driving wheel to be of the requisite configuration, on
the ends of which I form extensions or necks, on which said necks I cause to be
placed chain wheels of approved size, one on either neck, these chain wheels run
loose on the necks but are prevented by suitable means from working off their
bearings.
The hub or boss of the driving wheel is made hollow but having suitable grooves
or recesses formed in the interior, or in a portion of the same, the said hub or boss
is made to rotate or revolve on a hollow shaft or arbor which runs or revolves in
the two bearings provided for the purpose in the frame or fork of the cycle. In
a suitable position on this shaft I cut or form one or more slots of the proper size
and shape through which is passed a key, the said key being secured to an inner
shaft of suitable length and diameter, this key actuates horizontally another key
situated in the hub or boss and between the same and the hollow shaft before
described.
This second or outer key is formed with a thick circular but hollow centre, having
one or more webs radiating from the said centre which webs slide or move in the
grooves or recesses formed on the interior of the hub or boss, these grooves being
extended beyond or through the ends of the hub or boss proper into the necks
which carry the chain wheels. In the bosses of the chain wheels I form recesses
into which the second key (passing through the extended grooves) may engage at
the will of the rider who works the same into position by approved levers and
rods attached to the end of inner shaft to which the first key is secured, by moving
this shaft in the required direction the chain wheels, on one side or the other (as
may be required) are engaged with, and actuate the said driving wheel, the power
being transmitted by two chains working on suitable wheels fixed on the treadle
shaft or arbor and secured to the same by ordinary means. The ball bearings are
arranged to work inside and between the necks or extensions on driving wheel
hub, and the beforementioned hollow shaft or arbor, and revolve upon steel or
other suitable metal bushes fitted into the said necks of boss or hub. No material
difference is made in the configuration of the frame of the machine, and any
ordinary cycle can be fitted with my improvement by merely replacing the hub
or boss of driving wheel and fixing the required levers or rods to the frame.
When not already provided with two chain wheels on treadle arbor I then attach
a second wheel of suitable size to the arbor or fix the same on the boss of the
treadle lever.
The hub or boss together with the two loose chain wheels, hollow shaft, keys,
with the exception of levers and rods, are contained in or between the fork carrying
driving wheel of cycle.
All working parts are covered up and secured from dirt and dust by being
placed inside the hub or boss of wheel. The inner solid shaft which is secured to
the first key is not carried right through the hollow shaft (in which it works in au
horizontal direction) unless found of advantage to do so.

page_text: If found advisable I can insert a spring inside the said hollow shaft to impinge
on the end of the solid shaft thus working the keys in one direction without effort
by the rider.
Dated this Twenty-sixth day of July 1900
WILLIAM BURGES.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles, the Gearing Up, and Manufacture of
the same.
I, WILLIAM BURGES of 105 Weston Street, Sheffield in the County of York,
Mechanical Engineer, 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 improvements in the mechanism by means of which the
rider of a cycle can alter the driving gear so as to vary the speed, or obtain
additional power over the machine when required, such as for example when
ascending or descending inclines.
I have illustrated my invention in the annexed sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1, is an elevation of the hub of wheel in vertical section with clutch
mechanism.
Fig. 2, end view of bolt.
Fig. 3, end elevation of chain pinion.
The hub A, of the wheel is made hollow, and from the rings or collars B, to
which the spokes are attached is reduced in diameter, these reduced ends being
marked C, and shown white in the drawing as the division cuts through
longitudinal slots made through them and through the side walls into the central
part of the hub, and not through the metal. These slots permit the passage of
the sliding bolt D, to be passed into the interior of the hub as shown, and keep it
in position when moved to and fro.
Upon the outside periphery of these reduced ends C, I place the chain pinions E,
which are free to revolve until engaged with the bolt D, and they are retained in
position by the collars F.
The hub revolves upon two circles of antifriction balls G, working between the
annular bearing collars H, fitted into the reduced ends of the hub, and an adjustable
thimble 1.
The hub with the thimble, and antifriction balls is carried by a tubular shaft J,
which is supported in the forks of the machine K, to which it is secured by the
nuts and other mechanical details.
The object of the sliding bolt D, which is shown free in the drawing, is to
engage with either one or the other of the chain pinions E, the chains from which
pass over wheels of different diameters upon the crank shaft; and in order to do
this it must be moved laterally so that its blades may enter the slots L, any number
of which may be formed in the edge of the chain pinion.
To move the bolt by outside mechanism, I make the shaft J, tubular and fit
within it a sliding rod M, to which is connected a suitable lever or arrangement of
levers conveniently placed to be worked by the rider.
This rod M, is provided with a cotter hole to receive a cotter N, which also
passes through an elongated slot O, in the tubular shaft J, to prevent the lateral
movement.
0
Upon the shaft I place a tubular thimble P, also provided with a cotter hole to
receive the extreme ends of the before mentioned cotter N, and having its ends of
sufficient diameter to bear against the ring shaped part of the bolt seen in Fig. 3.
When the various parts are so constructed and are put together in the position
shown in the drawing, the hub with the wheel and the sliding bolt can freely
revolve upon the antifriction ball bearings, but if the sliding rod M, be moved in

page_text: either direction, the cotter which is secured to the rod and to the tubular thimble P.
causes the bolt to move and eventually to enter the slots or recesses I, of one of
the chain pinions E, as the case may be, according to the direction in which it is
moved, and thus will instantly change the gear as desired.
In this improved arrangement all the working parts of the clutch action except.
the end of the sliding rod are concealed within, and covered by the hub, and are
thus protected from dirt which would clog the parts and prevent them from moving
with the required freedom.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1 The mechanism constituting a means for changing the transmission of power
from either one or the other chain driving wheels of cycles, namely the rod M,
hollow shaft J, connected thimble P, and winged sliding bolt D, enclosed within
the hub A, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
2-In a clutch for changing the driving power in bicycles, a sliding bolt D, con-
sisting of two wings connected by annular centre pieces, through which the wheel
shaft is passed, for the purpose specified and substantially as described and shown.
3-In clutch mechanism for varying the speed or power in cycles; a hub with
an enlarged hollow interior, arranged to receive and guide a two winged sliding
bolt D, and thimble P, with other parts of the actuating mechanism, substantially
as hereinbefore described, and as shown in the drawings annexed.
Dated the ... CA 1902
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicant.