Improvements in Gear Cases for Velocipedes and other Light Vehicles."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements in Gear Cases for Velocipedes and other Light
Vehicles."
I, OLIVER SCHOFIELD RUDDOCK, of 51 Chelsham Road, Clapham, in the County of
Surrey, Manager of Factory, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to extensible gear cases, that is to say, gear cases in which
one part is capable of longitudinally sliding telescopically within the other for the
purpose of varying the length of the case, and relates particularly to extensible gear
cases consisting of two circular ends enclosing the gear wheels and of two horizontal
members (an upper one and a lower one) through which the driving chain works.
The said horizontal members are each divided vertically and the contiguous ends are
so formed that the upper ones and the lower ones respectively slide telescopically
within the other.
According to my invention I construct the telescopically sliding ends of the
aforesaid members in such a manner that they lie parallel to each other and to an
imaginary line joining the centres of the gear wheels; and I also construct the said
members in such a manner that the sliding, end of the rearward portion of the upper
member enters the end of the forward portion thereof, and that the end of the
lower member enters the end of the rearward portion thereof. In other words the male
and female telescopic connection of the upper meinber is the reverse of that, of the
lower member.. This arrangement permits adjustment of the length of the case
without altering or impairing the fit or dustproof quality of the telescopic joints, by
reason of their being parallel to the line in which they are extended or shortened;
and moreover should the chain be loose or have lateral play sufficient for it to touch
the sides of the case, it will not be caught by the interior edge of either of the
telescopic members, owing to the opposite male and female arrangement above
described.
Obviously, in cases where a chain is run with its driving side below the slack side,
as may occur in a motor car for instance, the male and female arrangement of the
telescopic portions will be reversed.
Each of the circular portions at the ends of the case, is divided vertically, so that
either of the semi-circular pieces, forming the extremities of the case, can be readily
removed for the purpose of attaching the case, or when it is desired to inspect the
chain or sprocket wheels. Said semi-circular pieces are secured in place by suitable
fastenings at top and bottom. These fastenings preferably consist of small butt
pieces or shoulders on each of the opposing edges of the semi-circular pieces and the
body of the case, which butt pieces or shoulders have projections or tongues
overlapping one another, and secured by a screw, stud or pin passing through both
pieces and arranged vertically or otherwise. The fastenings are entirely on the
outside of the case.
.
In attaching my improved gear case to the velocipede fraine I employ two clips,
the rear one being of the ordinary construction and placed over the fork end. The
forward clip, which is situated just behind the crank bearing, comprises two
projecting pieces of flat metal forming a clip which partially embraces the nearer

page_text: fork of the frame. A single piece of flat metal may be used to form this clip and
be suitably bent, and secured to the case at its middle by soldering or otherwise.
Two bolts are pivotally and detachably connected to this clip, one to each extremity
thereof, preferably by hooks or shoulders on the ends of the bolts that take into holes
in the said clip. The said bolts pass through holes in a yoke or cross piece that fits
over the other fork of the frame, and are tightened up by nuts in the usual manner.
Obviously, if desired, I may use four bolts and two separate yokes or cross pieces.
This clip readily adapts itself to any inclination or slant of the forks, and at the same
time gives a broad base or surface for the grip; moreover the tightening nuts are
much more easily accessible than in the constructions of clip at present in use.
Dated this 15th day of May 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, W.C. Agents for the Applicant.
68
Improvements in Gear Cases for Velocipedes and other Light
Vehicles."
I, OLIVER SCHOFIELD RUDDOCK, of 51 Chelsham Road, Clapham in the County of
Surrey, Manager of Factory, 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 extensible gear cases, that is to say, gear cases in which
one part is capable of sliding telescopically within the other for the purpose of varying
the length of the case, and more particularly to extensible gear cases consisting of
two circular ends enclosing the gear or chain wheels and of two approximately
horizontal members (an upper one and a lower one) through which the driving chain
works, the telescopic joints being formed in these horizontal members.
According to my invention I construct the telescopically sliding ends of the afore-
said members in such a manner that they lie parallel to each other and to an
imaginary line joining the centres of the gear wheels, and I also construct the said
members in such a manner that the sliding end of the rearward portion of the upper
member enters the end of the forward portion thereof, and that the end of the forward
portion of the lower member enters the end of the rearward portion thereof. In
other words the male and female telescopic connection of the upper member is
the reverse of that of the lower member.
Each of the circular portions at the ends of the case, is divided vertically so that
either of the semi-circular pieces, forming the extremities of the case, can be readily
removed for the purpose of attaching the case, or when it is desired to inspect the
chain or sprocket wheels. Said semi-circular pieces are secured in place by suitable
fastenings at top and bottom.
In attaching my improved gear case to the velocipede frame I employ two clips,
the rear one being of the ordinary construction and placed over the fork end. The
forward clip, which is situated just behind the crank bearing, comprises two projecting
pieces of flat metal forming a clip which partially embraces the nearer fork of the
frame. A single piece of flat metal may be used to form this clip and be suitably
bent, and secured to the case at its middle by soldering or otherwise. One or more
bolts are pivotally and detachably connected to each extremity of this clip, preferably
by hooks or shoulders on the ends of the bolts that take into holes in the said clip.
The said bolts pass through holes in a yoke or cross piece that fits over the other fork
of the frame, and are tightened up by nuts in the usual manner.

page_text: In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect I
will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved gear case as applied to an ordinary safety
bicycle; and
Figure 2 is a detached view showing the clip for securing the front portion of the
gear case to the frame of the velocipede.
a is the rear circular portion of the gear case adapted to receive the chain ring or
sprocket wheel on the hub of the driving wheel, and b is the front circular portion of
the case for receiving the crank sprocket wheel. Attached to the rear circular
portion a are the approximately horizontal members a¹, a²; and attached to the front
portion bare the corresponding members 61, 62. The ends of these members fit
telescopically one within the other as shown, and are arranged parallel with each other
and with a line joining the centres of the two gear wheels, that is to say the line in
which the case is extended. By reason of this arrangement adjustment of the length
of the case can take place without altering or impairing the fit or dustproof quality of
the telescopic joints.
The rear portion a¹ of the upper member enters the front portion 61 of the said
member, whereas the front portion 62 of the lower member enters the rear portion a²
of this latter member. By reason of this opposite male and female arrangement,
should the chain be loose or have lateral play sufficient for it to touch the sides of the
case, it will not be caught by the interior edge of either of the telescopic members,
as such edges extend in the direction in which the chain travels past them.
Obviously, in cases where a chain is run with its driving side below the slack side,
as may occur in a motor car for instance, the above described arrangement of the
telescopic portions will be reversed.
Each of the circular portions a and b is divided vertically, and the outer semi-
circular pieces a³ and 63 are secured to the body of the case by fastenings consisting of
small butt pieces c, c¹ and studs d. The pieces el have projections that overlap the
pieces c and fit against shoulders thereon. The stud d is adapted to be screwed
into both pieces, thereby forming an efficient and readily disconnected fastening,
which is entirely outside of the case. It is obvious however that I may arrange the
overlapping portions of the pieces c and c' in a vertical plane, and adapt the studs d
to be screwed into such portions in a horizontal direction: or I may use other means for
securing the butt pieces together.
e is the clip for securing the rear portion of the case to the frame of the bicycle.
It consists of a flat plate perforated at each end and secured to shoulders or bosses at,
formed on the gear case, by studs or bolts el; the fork end f¹ being clasped between
the case and the plate e, in the usual manner.
The clip for securing the front portion of the gear case to the bicycle frame is shown
in Figure 2. It may consist of a strip of metal g brazed or otherwise fixed to the gear
case at its middle, and having its ends bent so as to project outwardly from the side
of the case.
These ends, are adapted to partially embrace or clip the fork f of the
bicycle. One or more holes are formed in each end of the strip g into which holes
bolts g engage by means of shoulders or the like formed on their extremities. Said
bolts pass through holes in a yoke or cross piece h that fits over the other fork f*,
and said bolts are provided with nuts for the purpose of tightening up the yoke
against said fork and thereby securing the gear case in place. In cases where I use
four bolts I may use a single yoke piece h, or two separate yoke pieces, as desired.
This clip readily adapts itself to any inclination or slant of the forks, and at the same
times gives a broad base or surface for the grip, whilst, furthermore the tightening
nuts are very readily accessible.
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. An extensible gear case provided with separate telescopic members for the unner

page_text: and lower portions of the chain, having the sliding ends of such telescopic members
arranged parallel with the line in which the case is extended, substantially as
described.
2. An extensible gear case of the kind referred to in claim 1, the upper member of
which has a telescopic joint arranged in the reverse way to the telescopic joint of the
lower member, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3. The combination with a gear case for velocipedes of a clip consisting of one or
more flat metallic strips having bolts pivotted thereto that carry a yoke piece or yoke
pieces, substantially as and for the purposes described.
4. A gear case for velocipedes and other light vehicles constructed substantially as
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C. Agents for the Applicant.