Improved Two-speed Gearing for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left 10th Doc. 1806 Accepted 20th Feb. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Two-speed Gearing for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
1, JEAN BENAZET of Verviers in the Kingdom of Belgium, Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a mechanical device for changing development and is
especially adapted to velocipedes or cycles of every kind.
It allows of an instantaneous change of development being effected while in
motion, and irrespective of the rate at which the rider is travelling, in other words,
the gearing or development of the drive-wheel is at once altered and the speed
imparted by each stroke of the pedal is changed.
This change of development, or multiplication, giving two rates of speed without
any increase of effort on the pedals, is of great value to excursionists on their
cycling tours, because it enables them to ascend, without difficulty the steepest
hills, simply by changing the development of their machine.
My mechanism is enclosed in a small case which occupies the place of the usual
bracket and consists of two sets of gearing, or chain-wheels, arranged parallel to
each other and constituting the two different developments.
In the case is arranged the axle of the pedals which traverses the box from
end to end and turns on balls as do, in fact, all the movements of the machine.
On this axle inside the box, disks are keyed to the right and left, and pierced
with holes which are preferentially circular and formed at the circumference.
On the inside face of the disks a circular groove is formed round a circular
shoulder on which is loosely placed a toothed crown-pinion also furnished with
openings which correspond to those of the disk. This pinion, instead of being
toothed, may carry nipples for chain transmission of movement. The right and
left disks and pinions differ in diameter. Between them, loosely secured on the
axle of the pedals, is a piece which may be called a pin-bearer, furnished on each
side with a plate on which pius are fixed. These correspond with the openings
on the disks and pinions, so that they engage alternately to the right and left
with the said disks and pinions, in consequence of the pins inserting themselves
in their coinciding openings, thus uuiting the pinions with the disks and making
them, so to speak of a piece, the latter being in their turn keyed to the axle
of the cranks and thereby set in motion. The movement is transmitted either
by chain, or by an intermediate toothed-wheel work on pinions keyed on a second
axle located in the box at the opposite end and passing through the latter on one
side to receive the usual chain-wheel which transmits the movement to the
drive-wheel.
The intermediate toothed-wheel work turns on eccentric axle-trees of a support
placed in the middle part of the box. The pin-bearer is actuated by a fork,
having at each of its extremities a transverse pin which retains the fork between
the plates of the pin-bearer and allows the latter to turn freely.
The head of the fork passes through the upper side of the box and rests against
the end of a spiral spring carried by a support secured on the box.
At the head of the fork there is fixed a wire-cable or a rod made of several
pieces and connected by corner plates suitably pivoted.
The rod, passes through the head of the fork of the front wheel which is made
hollow for this purpose and terminates in a lever against which a spring-plate

page_text: bears, provided with a projection to hold the lever when it is raised and when
traction has been exercised on the rod to change the development. In order to
restore the first or previous development all that is required is to press against
he end of the spring-plate whereupon down falls the lever and the spiral spring
again exercises its pressure on the head of the fork.
In accordance with the principle above described, two developments can be
communicated to all cycles and such like vehicles, whilst only the same degree
of ferce, or exertion, is demanded of the rider. To vary the relation between
these developments one has merely to change the relation of the disks and pinions.
It will be readily understood that when the pin-bearer is engaged on the right,
the left hand pinion revolves freely and vice-versa.
The engagement of the pins is instantaneously effected and that without any
shock, since the free pinion shares in the movement of the engaged pinion.
Dated this 9th day of March 1896.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.
I, JEAN BENAZET, of Verviers in the Kingdom of Belgium, 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:-
My invention relates to a mechanical device of change of gear and is especially
adapted to velocipedes or cycles of every kind.
It allows of an instantaneous change of gear being effected while in motion, and
irrespective of the rate at which the rider is travelling, in other words the gearing
or development of the drive-wheel is at once altered and the speed imparted by
each stroke of the pedal is changed. This change of development, or multiplication,
giving two rates of speed without any increase of effort on the pedals, is of great
value to excursionists on their cycling tours, because it enables them to ascend,
without difficulty the steepest hills, simply by changing the development of their
machine. My mechanism is enclosed in a small case which occupies the place of
the usual bracket and consists of two sets of gearing, or chain-wheels, arranged
parallel to each other and constituting the two different developments.
In the annexed drawings:
Figs. 1 to 6 and Fig. 9 represent the pieces of mechanism detached.
Figs. 7 and 8 represent respectively a side-view and a top-view of the toothed
wheel mechanism in position, in the open case.
Figs. 10 and 11 represent similar views of the chain-wheel mechanism.
Fig. 12 is a complete view of a velocipede to which my device is attached.
Fig. 13 is a front-view of the guiding bar of the cycle, with the means of
working my device.
Fig. 14 is a side-view of the case, or box, closed, showing the governing or
actuating device.
Fig. 15 shows the case, or box, in section exposing the gearing and the
governing device.
In the case (1) which is attached to the ordinary cycle frame by the
tubes (L, J, K) is arranged the crank-axle (B), which traverses the box from end
to end and turns on balls as do, in fact, all the movements of the machine. On
this axle inside the box (1), the disks (A) are fixed to the right and left, and
pierced with holes (E), which are preferentially circular and formed at the

page_text: circumference. On the inside face of the disks, a circular groove (D¹) is formed,
round a circular shoulder (D), on which is loosely placed the toothed crown-
pinion (C), also furnished with openings (E), which correspond to those of the
disk. This pinion, instead of being toothed, may carry nipples for chain trans-
mission of movement. The right and left disks and pinions differ in diameter.
Between them, loosely mounted on the axle of the pedals, is a piece (N), which
may be called a pin-bearer, furnished on each side with a plate (G) on which
pins (X) are fixed. These correspond with the openings (E) on the disks and
pinions, so that they engage alternately to the right and left with the said disks
and pinions, in consequence of the pins inserting themselves in their coinciding
openings, thus uniting the pinions with the disks and making them, so to speak of
a piece, the latter being in their turn keyed to the axle (B) of the cranks and
thereby set in motion. The movement is transmitted either by chain, or by an
intermediate toothed-wheel work on pinions (Y) keyed on the axle (H), located in
the box at the opposite end and passing through the latter on one side to receive
the usual chain-wheel (U), which transmits the movement to the drive-wheel.
The intermediate toothed-wheel work turns on the eccentric axle-trees (F) of a
support (S) placed in the middle part of the box. The pin-bearer (N) is actuated
by a fork (M), having at each of its extremities a transverse pin (m) which retains
the fork between the plates (G) of the pin-bearer, by means of annular recesses
provided in said plates, and allows the pin-bearer to be rotated.
The head of the fork (M) passes through the upper side of the box and rests
against the end of a spiral spring (R), carried by a support (R'), secured on
the box.
At the head of the fork there is fixed a wire cable or a rod (O) made of several
pieces and connected by corner plates (Q) suitably pivoted.
The rod shown in the drawings, passes through the head of the fork of the front
wheel which is made hollow for this purpose and terminates in a lever (P) against
which a spring-plate (P1) bears, provided with a projection (p) to hold the lever
when it is raised and when traction has been exercised on the rod to change the
development. In order to restore the first or previous development, all that is
required is to press against the end of the spring plate (P), whereupon down falls
the lever and the spiral spring (R) again exercises its pressure on the head of the
fork (M).
In accordance with the principle above described, two developments, can be
communicated to all cycles and such like vehicles, whilst only the same degree of
force, or exertion, is demanded of the rider. To vary the relation between these
developments one has merely to change the relation of the disks and pinions.
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) A system of changing development or of speed-multiplication, adapted to
cycles and such like vehicles, distinguished by the arrangement and fixing of two
disks and two pinions of different diameters on the crank-axle, the said disks
and pinions being perforated with holes corresponding, or coincident, with each
other so as to admit of their being united and made as if of one piece, to share
the movement of the axle, by means of pins fixed or formed on a piece which
slides freely on the axle between the said disks and pinions, the movement of
the latter being transmitted to a second axle carrying the usual chain-wheel, by
means of an intermediate toothed-wheel work, or of a chain, the lateral movement
of the pin-bearer being effected by a fork and a rod, furnished with a lever within
reach of the hand.
2) A mechanical device for development, or speed-multiplication as described in
Clains 1) and distinguished by a box (1) occupying the usual bracket, the said box
being pierced by the crank-axle (B), and containing keyed on the same axle, the
disks (A), perforated with holes (E) and furnished with a circular groove (D¹)

page_text: around a shoulder (D); the toothed crown-pinions (C), revolving on the said
shoulder and perforated with holes which correspond to, or are coincident with
those on the disks, a pin-bearer, sliding freely on the axle (B) and provided with
plates (G) and pins (X) alternately engaging the right and left-hand disks and
pinions; a fork (M) provided with pins (m) actuating the said pin-bearer;
intermediate toothed-wheel work (T) turning on the eccentric axle-trees (F) of a
support (S); and the pinions (Y) keyed on the axle (H), which carries the usual
-chain-wheel (U).
3) A mechanical appliance for development or multiplication of speed as specified
in Claim 1), distinguished by a box (I) fixed in the place of the usual bracket
through which passes the crank-axle (B); the disks (A) keyed on the said axle,
perforated with holes (E) and furnished with a circular groove (D) surrounding a
shoulder (D); the chain crown-pinions (C) revolving on the said shoulder and
perforated with holes corresponding to those of the disks; a pin-bearer, turning
freely on the axle (B) and provided with plates (G) and pins (X) which alternately
engage in the openings, or holes, of the left and right-hand disks and pinions;
a fork (M), furnished with pius (m) actuating the said pin-bearers, chains and
pinions (Y), keyed on the axle (H), which carries the usual chain-wheel (U).
4) In the system of development or speed-multiplication specified in the
preceding claims, a device for actuating or controlling the fork (M), distinguished
by a spiral spring (R), secured on the box (1) and the end of which bears against
the fork (M); a support (R¹) a rod (O) divided into sections, these sections being
united by corner-plates (Q); a lever (P); and a spring-plate (P1), the whole as
described and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 9th day of December 1896.
L. DUVINAGE,
Agent for Applicant.