Improvements in Gearing, especially intended for Use with Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 19th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gearing, especially intended for Use with
Cycles.
I, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER of 31, Furnival Street, London, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in connection with gearing, and is
especially intended for application to cycles, but may also be employed for any
other mechanism.
For the purpose of this specification I will describe my invention when employing
three racks, and I will refer hereinafter to the wheel which drives the racks forward
as the "crank wheel and the wheel which is driven forward by the racks I will
refer to as the "smaller wheel," although this so called smaller wheel will be larger
than the crank wheel when the device is arranged to gear down instead of gearing
up which is now always required in the ordinary safety bicycles.
The crank wheel is provided with a number of studs or teeth, placed in sets or
rows (in different planes) and for the purposes of this specification I find that teeth
set equidistant on the periphery of the wheel make a suitable division. Three rows
of these teeth are employed when a triple rack is used, the teeth being placed at
regular distances apart, the tooth of one row being arranged to be intermediate and
alternate with those of the other rows so that the side elevation of the wheel shows
a regular division of teeth although the teeth are in different planes. The wheel
carried on the rear axle of the driving wheel of the cycle, and which I herein refer
to as the smaller wheel, is formed in a similar manner, and it is preferably of
considerably smaller dimensions. The teeth are placed around the periphery of
this small wheel in corresponding positions and are placed at the same distances
apart a smaller number being employed according to the size of the wheel.
I prefer to vary the size of the teeth when the diameters of the wheels are different
in order to secure better engagement.
or
Each rack or sliding bar is preferably provided at one end with a forked or
hooked extension which partly encircles the smaller wheel and a recess
perforation is provided at each end of the straight portion of each rack corre-
sponding to and arranged to engage with each of the teeth fitted to the wheels.
When two or more teeth take the place of one tooth now referred to an equal
number of recesses are provided at each end of the rack, and also upou the hooked
extension. The teeth and recesses are so arranged that when one rack is fully
engaged by the crank wheel, another is just commencing to engage this wheel,
while the third rack is just being released and ready to be drawn back and thus the
drive is continuous.
When the stud or tooth of the crank wbeel engages with one rack, this rack is
drawn forward and the rear wheel is at the same time arranged so as to cause its
tooth to engage in the recess at the opposite end of the straight portion of the rack.
One rack is thus drawn forward and at the same time revolves the smaller wheel
until the teeth of both wheels simultaneously release it. Immediately the rack is
released the tooth on the opposite side of the smaller wheel engages with the recess
provided in the other side of the fork, which as above described partly encircles the
wheel. The rack which has become disengaged from the crank wheel is now drawn

page_text: back to its former position by the continued motion of the smaller wheel and is
ready to engage with the next tooth on the crank wheel in the same plane. This
recess on the forked extension acting to draw back the rack, is similar to and
corresponds with that one which engages to drag the smaller wheel round.
Immediately one rack is released and begins to be drawn back the second rack is
in active driving operation, and the third rack is ready to engage for driving
purposes. These racks thus oscillate and serve to transmit the motion easily and
continuously from one wheel to the other.
To utilise the impulse or momentum of these racks when they are drawn back,
I may provide to each a pin or stop preferably adjustable in position by means of a
screw. This stop may be arranged to strike against the periphery of the smaller
wheel (or in a small recess in the said wheel) in the direction of its motion, so as to
transmit the impulse of the moving bar to the wheel, and assist it in its revolution.
This at the same time brings the bar to a stationary position without any sudden
shock, thus reducing any noise caused by the operation. To prevent the bar being
drawn too far forward the fork may be provided with a small curved extension,
also furnished with a stop or pin which strikes against the opposite portion of
the small wheel operating for the same purpose.
Instead of using a forked extension acting for the purpose of withdrawing the.
racks in preparation for their re-engagement with the wheels, I may employ when
using two or a multiple of two racks a lever or system of levers in connection with
these racks by means of which the forward motion of one rack will reciprocally act
to force back another rack. This can be readily accomplished by pivoting two
lever arms upon a pivoted cross bar, when the forward motion of one rack will
thrust back another rack ready for re-engagement by the wheels.
The racks may be held in position by any suitable means, such as small rollers,
or spring bearings.upon the surface opposite to the surface engaging in the wheels.
This prevents the racks rising out of contact with the studs or teeth upon the
wheels, but when the forked extensions are employed they will assist to hold them
in position, and no rigid connections will be essential, the racks being held together
by suitable means such as bands or sleeves which serve as guides and which may be
rendered as frictionless as possible by roller bearings or the like.
Although I have described my invention as employing three racks, it is obvious
I may vary the number of racks employed.
Dated this 24th day of June 1896.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gearing, especially intended for Use with
Cycles.
1, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER of 31, Furnival Street, London, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in connection with gearing, and is
especially intended for application to cycles, but may also be employed for any
other mechanism.
For the purpose of this specification I will describe my invention when employing
three racks and I will refer hereinafter to the wheel which drives the racks forward

page_text: as the "crank wheel" and the wheel which is driven forward by the racks I will
refer to as the "smaller wheel."
The crank wheel is provided with a number of studs or teeth, placed in sets or
rows in different planes. The teeth are set equidistant from each other on the
periphery of the wheel. Three rows of these teeth are employed when a triple
rack is used, the teeth being placed at regular distances apart, the tooth of one
row being arranged to be intermediate and alternate with those of the other row
so that the side elevation of the wheel shows a regular division of teeth although
the teeth are in different plaues. The wheel carried on the axle of the driving
wheel of the cycle, and which I herein refer to as the "small wheel" is formed in
a similar manner, and it is generally of considerably smaller dimensions. The
teeth are placed around the periphery of this "small wheel" in corresponding
positions and are placed at the same distances apart a smaller number being
employed according to the size of the wheel. I prefer to vary the size of the
teeth when the diameters of the wheels are different in order to secure better
engagement.
Each rack or sliding bar is provided at one end with a forked or curved extension
which partly encircles the smaller wheel and a recess is provided at each end of the
straight portion of each rack corresponding to and arranged to engage with each of
the teeth fitted to the wheels.
When the stud or tooth of the crank wheel engages with one rack, this rack is
drawn forward and the rear wheel is at the same time arranged so as to cause its
tooth to engage in the recess at the opposite end of the straight portion of the
rack. One rack is thus drawn forward and at the same time revolves the small
wheel until the teeth of both wheels simultaneously release it. Immediately the
rack is released the tooth on the opposite side of the smaller wheel engages with the
recess provided in the other side of the curved extension which as above described
partly encircles the wheel. The rack which has become disengaged from the crank
wheel is now drawn back to its former position by the continued motion of the
smaller wheel and is ready to engage with the next tooth on the crank wheel in
the same plane. This recess on the forked extension acting to draw back the rack,
is similar to and corresponds with that one which engages to drag the smaller
wheel round.
Immediately one rack is released and begins to be drawn back the second rack
is in active driving operation, and the third rack is ready to engage for driving
purposes. These racks thus oscillate and serve to transmit the motion easily and
continuously from one wheel to the other.
To utilise the impulse or momentum of these racks when they are drawn back,
I may provide to each a pin or stop preferably adjustable in position by means of
a screw. This stop may be arranged to strike against the periphery of the smaller
wheel (or in a small recess in the said wheel) in the direction of its motion, so as
to transmit the impulses of the moving har to the wheel, and assist it in its
revolution. This at the same time brings the bar to a stationary position
without any sudden shock, thus reducing any noise caused by the operation.
To prevent the bar being drawn too far forward the fork may be provided
with a small curved extension, also furnished with a stop or pin which
strikes against the opposite portion of the small wheel operating for the same
purpose.
The racks may be held in position by any suitable means, such as small rollers,
or spring bearings upon the surface opposite to the surface engaging in the wheels.
This prevents the racks rising out of contact with the studs or teeth upon the
wheels, and the forked extensions also assist to hold them in position, and no rigid
connections will be essential, the racks being held together by suitable means such
as bauds or sleeves, which serve as guides and which may be rendered as frictionless
as possible by roller bearings or the like.
Although I have described my invention as employing three racks it is obvious
that I may vary the number of racks employed.

page_text: In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows a cycle fitted with my invention,
Figs. 2 and 3 are an elevation and plan respectively to a larger scale of gearing
-constructed according to my invention, and
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the wheels employed.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, three racks or rods A are employed, these rods being
laced side by side. The guide a carried by the crank spindle allows the rods to
slide past each other freely but at the same time keeps them in place preventing
them moving sideways, and keeping them close to the wheel B.
Fig. 4 is a view of a wheel made in accordance with my invention, and is
divided into three planes in which the teeth C are placed. These teeth are
equidistant from each other, and the teeth belonging to each division of the
wheel are situated equidistantly between those of the other divisions, so that
in side elevation according to Fig. 4 nine teeth are seen at regular intervals.
The three sets of teeth correspond to the three racks A, the latter being placed
so as to be situated respectively over the divisions of the wheels. The racks are
provided with the recesses D and D', the recesses D being placed in the upper or
straight portion of the racks, and D¹ in the curved or hooked extensions. These
curved extensions partially encircle the smaller wheel B' so that the lower part of
the rack extends under the wheel assisting in keeping the racks in place. As
above described the teeth and recesses in the racks are situated relatively to each
other so that the racks are engaged successively. While one rack is being drawn
forward by the revolution of the crank wheel B a second rack is being withdrawn
to its rear position by means of a tooth at the underside of the wheel B' engaging
in the recess D. The third rack is in an intermediate position so that there is
always one rack fully engaged and another being withdrawn.
To prevent the racks being drawn too far back and also to utilise the momentum
of the racks a small pin a' is employed at the underside of the curved extension
adapted to strike against the underside of the wheel B between the teeth.
The
wheel is provided with small recesses 6 to receive this pin or projection so that the
action will tend to push the wheel round and add in the propulsion. A corre-
sponding pin a² is placed at the upper side which strikes against the top of the
wheel and prevents the rack being drawn too far forward.
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.) In gearing mechanism for cycles the combination of two wheels, each with
teeth in different planes, and acting one upon the other through the agency of
rods or bars made to engage with one or more teeth on each wheel at the same
time.
(2.) In driving mechanism for cycles, wheels having teeth on different planes.
(3.) In gearing mechanism for cycles, the arrangement, of wheels and racks
substantially as described in this specification and illustrated in the accompanying
-drawings.
Dated this 4h 1
1 2005
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.