Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
We CHARLES PITT BYRNE of 16 Montagu Street London W. Esquire & FREDERICK
HAISMAN of High Street Hanwell Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows viz. :-
To provide a reversal speed gear that may be easily converted, & quickly adjusted
with a certain amount of rigidity added to driving portion of machine.
We place two chain-wheels or pulleys of different sizes either to crank axle or
driving axle or both, & we effect the change of gearing by reversing either axle,
or chain.
In order to effect this object-To crank axle are fixed ball bearings, outside or inside
chain wheels or pulleys having crank ends.
The said bearings are then fastened in the ordinary way to brackets of special
design brazed to a hollow steel fork.
The fork is preferably made of one piece of steel tubing bent in the middle until
the two sides lio parallel to oach other but at a sufficient distance to admit the driving
gear between them.
The fixing & adjustment of this fork, forming as it does a complete support to the
driving gear, is effected as follows.
To the axle, if without ball bearings, are placed two split lugs, through which we pass
the free ends of said fork, which, when the lugs are tightened, is firmly gripped &
when loosened can be adjusted to the required length.
The fork further enables us to add greater rigidity to the machine by fastening to
it the remainder of framework leading to steering post.
When ball bearings are used, the lugs as above mentioned are made to fit bearings
instead of axle.
When the change of gearing is effected by reversing the chain we provide a special
coupling which is described thus.
Into the links forming the coupling we make a key way or slot cut into the metal
from the hole, through which we pass a pin ; & at end of pin is formed a feather or
key which must pass through said key way or slot either to fasten or unfasten
chain.
Dated this 5th day of October 1888
.
C. PITT BYRNE.
F. HAISMAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
We CHARLES PITT BYRNE of 16 Montagu Street London Esquire & FREDERIOK
HAISMAN of High Street Hanwell Machinist 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 :-
Our invention is with the object of providing in Velocipedes a variable speed gear
which may be easily converted & quickly adjusted, with a certain amount of rigidity
added to the machine & is designed more particularly though not exclusively to effect
improvements in a class of velocipede described in a patent granted to the said
Charles Pitt Byrne No. 9588 of the year 1887.
In order to clearly explain our improvements which may be effected in various
forms, reference is made to accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 represents in plan our variable speed gear where the bearings are outside &
[DQ77

page_text: Fig. 2 the same where the bearings are contained within the hub of driving wheel
& within the bottom bracket respectively it being understood that variations may be
made by combinations of either form.
In either case we provide a fork (herein called the "bottom fork" FEF either
made in one piece of steel tubing or of parts firmly brazed together so as to form
substantially a rigid support to the whole driving gear.
From this bottom fork as at an axis A A which we prefer to place close to, but
not coincident with, the axis of the driving wheel we pivot a fork or other framework
(herein called the "upper fork") leading to the steering axis Figs. 1, 2, 3.
For the purpose of this pivot we sometimes use slotted fork ends Fig. 3 similar to
those in ordinary use excepting that they are provided with bearing surfaces as at A
to which we pivot the upper fork as above stated.
From the bottom fork at another axis at or near the crank centre we pivot the
seat pillar as described in said Patent No. 9588.
We might use only one rod or stay in place of this bottom fork if desired, & we
are aware that rods or stays have been used to maintain a required distance between
a crank axis & the driving axis of a velocipede & we make no claim to the mere use
of a stay or stays for this purpose, unless the same oscilate from the driving axis &
yet rigidly hold the bearings of the driving gear; that is unless it, with the bearings
be rigid from end to end, having no working joint between itself & any of the said
bearings as hereinafter still further explained; & yet he free as a whole to oscilate at
one end from the driving axis independently of the upper fork or nearly so.
We claim moreover as novel our arrangement of pivotting the upper fork or main
framework of the machine onto the said bottom fork that is at an axis not being the
axis of the wheel yet close to it as above described.
We provide two chain wheels (or pulleys) of different sizes to crank axle; or
2 chain wheels of different sizes C. C to driving axle Fig. 1 (or to hub of driving
wheel Fig. 2) or to both the essential point being that all are firmly keyed or other-
wise permanently secured to said axles or hub.
Outside bearings Fig. 1 are fastened in the ordinary way to lugs or brackets fixed
to the bottom fork at B B or B₁ B¹, one or other being adjustable along the said fork
as is well understood to control the tension of the chain (or belt); but all when
adjusted & tightened being rigid with said fork as mentioned above.
With bearings within the hub Fig. 2 we prefer to pass the ends of the spindle
through special fork ends such as above described & secure the same B Fig. 3 by
nuts as is well understood-or we may pass the ends of the spindle through split lugs
sliding upon the tube forming said fork & secure by nuts as before; either method
allowing of the adjustment of the chain.
It will now be seen that by sliding the driving wheel completely away from fork &
then replacing it in the reverse position, either of the chain wheels CC can be brought
to engage through the chain with either of the chain-wheels CC & likewise by
detaching crank axle from its bearings & reversing it, the same effect is produced.
Now wherever inside bearings are adjusted by a loose cone screwed onto the
spindle; the reversing of said bearings could not hitherto be effected by reason of
the liability of the said cone (if not placed on the proper side) to run up & tighten upon
the ball or other bearing.
In order to explain our improvement, reference is made to Fig. 4 representing a
sectional view of our hub with toothed rings of two different sizes CC; K L is the
spindle D' the fixed cone & D the moveable cone.
On the outside face of said movable cone we form a stud or other projection P
designed to pass into but not through the slot in fork end, or abutting against any
rigid portion of said fork, so that when in position the said cone cannot revolve in said
fork Now in order to adjust the bearing; at either end of spindle as at K we form
a square or provide other means by which said spindle may be easily held by a key,
or such contrivance-It will be seen that though the said cone be held in slot, the
spindle with fixed cone can be screwed in or out of said moveable cone to adjust the
bearing. The nuts can then be tightened onto outside of fork in the usual manner.

page_text: It is clear that our improvement is applicable to bearings adjustable by conical or
curved surfaces screwed onto the spindle, whether with or without the intervention
of balls.
We are well aware of the previous use of anti-friction balls in wheel or other
bearings, as well as the lateral adjustment of an annular "ball race" by means of
screws or bolts-Notably a method described in a patent now expired & which has
since been in use by makers of velocipedes.
We do not make any claim of novelty us to the use of such balls: nor as to the
lateral adjustment of the ball race nor as to the use of cones for the adjustment of
ball or other bearing-Any previous method however of adjusting ball hubs, not
being capable of running either way equally is obviously useless for the purpose of
our variable speed gear, without our improvement viz. the method of preventing the
said cone from turning together with the arrangement for more easily turning the
bolt or spindle as described.
When the change of gearing is effected by reversing the chain we make use of a
special coupling.
Fig. 5 shews the front view of the female portion with a key way or slot cut into
the metal from the hole. Fig. 6 shews the male portion with a similar slot but cut at
a different angle. Fig. 7 is a pin with a feather formed at the end.
To couple the two portions, they are brought together at such an angle that the
slots coincide-The pin when passed through cannot be withdrawn unless the slots are
again brought to coincide.
The relative positions of the slots are preferably at an angle which is not obtained
in the ordinary working of the chain, & a punch mark is made on the outside to
indicate the angle to which the links must be deflected for coupling or detaching the
same.
The pin may of course be made in various forms e.g. with a second key or feather
in the centre to remain in the male portion & cause said pin to revolve with it, or
vice versa, or a feather may be formed at both ends dispensing with the head of pin ;
also a recess may be cut in the face of the links to receive said feathers—or any mere
modification of the above forms.
This coupling which we use in connexion with our variable speed gear may be used
for coupling links or chains of any description.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed-we declare that what we
claim is in Velocipedes
1. The use of the "bottom fork" as described & explained upon which all the
bearings of the driving gear are, when adjusted, held rigid with the said fork; but
which is yet free to oscilate as a whole from one end upon the driving axis independently
of the upper fork or nearly so.
2. The removal from the driving axis of the axis upon which the "
pivotted as described & explained.
upper fork" is
3. The hinging of the "upper fork" or main framework of the machine onto the
bottom fork at a point near to but not actually being the axis of driving wheel; as
described & explained.
4. The use, for the last named purpose, of the fork ends of special make as described
& explained.
5. The use of more than one chain wheel (or pulley) permanently secured to crank
axle substantially in the manner & for the purpose described & explained.
6. The use of more than one such chain wheel to driving axle.
7. The use of more than one such chain wheel or ring to a hub having within
itself ball or other bearings in the manner & for the purpose described & explained-
that is to say
in combination with the improvements to moveable cone or to spindle
or both as described & explained.
8. In combination with the variable speed mechanism above described & claimed-
the use of a stud or projection upon said moveable cone as described & explained.

page_text: 9. In combination with the variable speed mechanisin above described &
claimed the means of more easily turning the spindle as described & explained.
10. The link for coupling chain & any mere modification of the same for the purpose
as described & explained.
:
:
11. The use of said coupling for chains of any description.
12. The combination of all or any of the above features substantially in the manner
or for the purpose above described & explained.
Dated this 5th doir of Jul 1000
CHAS. PITT BYRNE.
FREDERICK HAISMAN,
High Street, Hanwell.