Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1886.
Complete Left, 18th Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 20th May, 1887.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, JAMES HARRISON CARTER of The Cottage, Hurst Road, Bexley in the County of
Kent, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
At the present time the axis of the driving wheel or wheels of bicycles and
tricycles has motion transmitted to it from a pedal axis by an endless chain working
over chain wheels on the two axes. The chain and chain wheels are exposed to dust
and dirt and not only do they rapidly wear in consequence but a considerable amount
of friction and consequent loss of power also results.
To avoid these evils I'enclose the endless chain and chain wheels in a casing kept
filled with oil or other lubricating liquid and carry the pedal axis and the axis of the
driving wheel or wheels through stuffing boxes in the sides of this casing. In this
way the endless chain and wheels are kept constantly lubricated and are effectually
protected from dust and dirt.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I, JAMES HARRISON CARTER of The Cottage, Hurst Road, Bexley in the County of
Kent, 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 :-
At the present time the axis of the driving wheel or wheels of bicycles and tricycles
has motion transmitted to it from a pedal axis by an endless chain working over
chain wheels on the two axes. The chain and chain wheels are exposed to dust and
dirt and not only do they rapidly wear in consequence but a considerable amount of
friction and consequent loss of power also results.
To avoid these evils I enclose the endless chain and chain wheels in a casing
containing oil or other lubricating liquid and carry the pedal axis and the axis of the
driving wheel or wheels through stuffing boxes in the sides of this casing. In this
way the endless chain and wheels are kept constantly lubricated and are effectually
protected from dust and dirt. If an intermediate wheel is used instead of an endless
chain I adopt the same means for protecting and lubricating the wheels.
Figure 1 of the drawings hereunto annexed shews a longitudinal section of an oil
containing casing enclosing as above described an endless chain and chain wheels of a
bicycle or tricycle.
Figure 2 is a side view of the same, and
Figure 3 an edge view of one of the two divisions in which it is formed.
Preferably as the drawings show I form the casing in two parts A, B, meeting
together in a plane in which the central lines of the pedal axis and driving wheel
axis of the bicycle or tricycle also lie-so that the two divisions of the casing may be
put on or removed without interfering with any other parts.
Where the two parts meet together they may be formed with a thickened rim all
around their abutting edges and may be held together by screws passed through
lugs C projecting at intervals from the thickened rims. A thin layer of suitable
packing may if desired be placed between the rims of the two parts to make a perfectly
tight joint. Escape of oil at the points where the axes of the chain wheels pass
through the casing is by preference prevented by guards which deflect the oil away
from the openings in any ordinary manner.
At the top of the casing is a small opening for admission of oil and which can be
closed by a screw D. At the bottom of the casing is also a small screw E by removing
which dirty oil may be allowed to run off. Sufficient oil should be poured into the
casing to allow the lowest point of the chain to just dip into it so that when the chain
revolves all the parts within the casing become thoroughly lubricated.
When as is the case in some tricycles the upper chain wheel is allowed to turn
loosely upon the axle of the driving wheels and carries a bevil pinion to gear with two
bevil wheels one of which is fast on a sleeve which is free to turn on the axle and
which forms the hub of one of the wheels and the other of which bevil wheels is fixed

page_text: to the axle on which the other wheel is fast-these toothed wheels as well as the chain
and chain wheels may be enclosed in the casing as shewn in the vertical section,
figure and if it be also desired that the upper chain wheel should also have upon
it a pulley to be encircled by a band break-then such pulley may be made to project
out from the side of the chain wheel through the casing as shewn at E an annular
groove being formed in the side of the casing as shewn at figure 5 for the periphery
of the pulley to pass through. The portion of the side of the casing which is
surrounded by this annular groove may be in one piece or may be in two halves as
desired. There will be little if any tendency for oil to escape through the annular
opening and this may be reduced to a minimum by an inwardly projecting rim being
provided at the top of the opening to deflect from it any oil which may be running
down the side.
Other ways than those shown may be adopted for forming the oil tight casing-
but the way shewn is a convenient one for the purpose.
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. In bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes in which motion is transmitted by
an endless chain or intermediate wheel from a toothed wheel on a pedal axis to a
toothed wheel on the axle of the driving wheels I claim enclosing the chain or
intermediate wheel and the toothed wheels in an oil containing casing substantially as
described.
2. The construction of the oil containing casing substantially in the manner herein
before described.
JAMES HARRISON CARTER,
82, Mark Lane, London.