Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Propulsion of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1898- Accepted, 1st Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Propulsion of Velocipedes
and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM SHEARS, of No. 8, Andrew Villas, New Station Road, Byfleet, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means for facilitating the propulsion
of velocipedes and other vehicles, and has for its object to lighten the work of
the rider or other source of power.
In carrying the invention into effect, as applied to the driving wheel of a
velocipede or the like, the axle has eccentrically fixed therewith two discs, and
around these discs the hub of the wheel revolves, suitable ball bearings being
preferably interposed between the parts.
The hub of the wheel is driven through a chain wheel fixed therewith, or through
other intervening mechanism, from a pedal shaft or the like.
The hub is, according to one form, interiorly formed with a circumferential
groove or race and loosely mounted upon the axle, through the interposition of ball
bearings, and within the hub, is arranged a disc or wheel, which at its periphery
is shaped to run in the said race, or, the interior of the hub may present a plain
surface, and the periphery of the disc or wheel may be correspondingly formed.
In lieu of forming the interior of the hub with a race or groove, or with a
plain surface, the interior of the hub may be toothed and in lieu of the disc or
wheel, a toothed pinion, carried by a sleeve mounted loosely on the axle, may be
employed, adapted to engage the teeth of the hub, and this sleeve is driven
through a chain wheel or other means located outside the hub.
The hub bears upon the periphery of the internal disc or toothed pinion. and
the latter thus sustains the principal weight of the vehicle and rider or other load.
By the arrangement of parts hereinhefore described. the axle of the wheel is
always in advance and slightly below the axis of the wheel, and the work of the
rider or other source of power is thus materially reduced.
Dated this 1st day of February 1898.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Facilitating the Propulsion of Velocipedes
and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM SHEARS, of No. 8, Andrew Villas, New Station Road, Byfleet, in
the County of Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
DQ.71

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My said invention relates to improvements in means for facilitating the propulsion
of velocipedes and other vehicles and has for its object to lighten the work of the
rider or other source of power.
In carrying the invention into effect, as applied to the driving wheel of a
velocipede or the like, the axle has eccentrically fixed therewith two discs, and
around these discs the hub of the wheel revolves, suitable ball bearings being
preferably interposed between the parts.
The hub of the wheel is driven through a chain wheel fixed therewith or through
other intervening mechanism from a pedal shaft or the like.
The hub is, according to one form, interiorly formed with a circumferential.
groove or race and loosely mounted upon the axle through the interposition of ball
bearings and within the hub is arranged a disc or wheel which at its periphery
is shaped to run in the said race, or, the interior of the hub may present a plain
surface, and the periphery of the disc or wheel may be correspondingly formed.
In lieu of forming the interior of the hub with a race or groove or with a
plain surface, the interior of the hub may be toothed and in lieu of the disc or
wheel a toothed pinion carried by a sleeve mounted loosely on the axle, may be
employed adapted to engage the teeth of the hub and this sleeve is driven
through a chain wheel or other means located outside the hub.
The hub bears against the periphery of the internal disc or toothed pinion and
the latter thus sustains the principal weight of the vehicle and rider or other load.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and
readily carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings,
more fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a vertical section taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2 and longi-
tudinally of the axle, representing a portion of a velocipede or like wheel having
the present invention applied thereto..
Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, parts of
said figure being omitted.
Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a somewhat similar view to Figure 1 but representing a slight
modification.
Figure 5 is a similar view to Figure 1, representing a further modification.
Figure 6 is an end view thereof with the chain removed and parts broken away,
and,
Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 5.
In the several figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3, a represents the fork or frame, and represents
the axle which is at its ends adjustably fixed with the fork for the purpose of
regulating the chain in the well known manner and which regulating device it is
therefore not thought necessary to illustrate.
The axle b of the wheel has eccentrically fixed therewith near to the ends thereof
two discs and around these discs the hub d of the wheel revolves, suitable ball
bearings being interposed between the parts, that is to say, the usual adjustable
cups d', screw into the ends of the hub and the eccentric discs e form the usual
cones to co-act with the cups d', a race being formed between the parts in which
run the halls c.
The hub d of the wheel is provided with the usual flanges to which the spokes
are fixed but in this case the spokes are preferably cranked at their ends and
passed through horizontal perforations in the flanges where they are fastened by
rivetting them over washers, and the hub d is driven through a chain wheel d
screwed upon one end of the hub d and fixed against working back by means of
a uut d screwing upon the cup d¹.

page_text: Or, when the device is applied to a front driving wheel it might be otherwise
driven, for example, by means of a pedal and ratchet wheels in the well known
manner.
The hub d is interiorly formed with a circumferential groove or race do and
within this race is provided a lining or wearing surface and in order to get this
lining and other parts of the apparatus hereinafter referred to into position the
hub is formed in two parts and said parts are internally threaded to engage a
corresponding thread * formed upon the corresponding face of the lining de
so that the lining is first screwed into position in one half of the hub and the
other half of the hub d is then screwed thereon.
Loosely mounted upon the axle b within the hub d is a disc or wheel f' which
is perforated at intervals for the sake of lightness and this disc f is provided with
a central boss f' at its ends formed with recesses 2 which constitute cups which
together with cones f³ adjustably fixed with the axle form races in which are
placed a number of balls f* thus constituting ball bearings between the disc f and
the, axle b.
The rim or periphery f* of the internal disc or wheel f is spread out or flanged
to run upon the wearing surface or lining ds of the race d, and by reason of the
eccentric arrangement of the parts, the periphery f* of the disc or wheel f
through said lining bears upon the hub at only a comparatively small part of
its circumference and the disc f in this manner sustains the principal weight of the
vehicle and rider or other load.
In the example given at Figure 4, the device is substantially the same as that
herein before shown and described except that the race in the hub is dis-
pensed with and said hub is formed cylindrical from end to end thereof whilst
the internal wheel or disc f is at its periphery f* suitably shaped to run upon the
interior of the cylindrical hub 7.
In the example given at Figures 5 to 7, the hub d is also shown cylindrical but
in lieu of forming the interior of said hub with a race or groove such as that
represented at Figures 1 to 3, or with a plain surface such as that shown at
Figure 4, in this case, the interior of the hub d is provided with a circle of teeth
and in lieu of the disc or wheel a toothed pinion f carried by a sleeve mounted.
loosely on the axle bruns in engagement with the ring of teeth 7 of the hub d
and the sleeve f is driven through a chain wheel located outside the hub d
and fixed with the sleeve f by screwing thereon, a nut 4 also screwing upon the
sleeve f being employed to secure the chain wheel in position.
C
In this case, the eccentric discs c are fixed with the axle b and frame or fork a
as hereinbefore described with respect to the previous figures but inasmuch as the
sleeve f intervenes between the axle b and one of the discs c and the chain wheel
also intervenes between said disc c and the frame a said disc c is formed with a
square c¹ thereon upon which is fitted a loop shaped bracket g which bridges over
the chain wheel and is attached to the frame a as hereinafter described and
thus serves to fix the disc c with the frame a and consequently with the axle b.
Beyond said chain wheel the bracket g is provided with threaded holes g¹ into
which are screwed bolts g* which pass through slots a³ in a laterally enlarged part a³
of the frame or fork a, one of said screw holes g¹ being formed in a lateral offset
from the bracket the object of this peculiar construction being to admit of the
usual shifting of the wheel of the vehicle to admit of the adjustment of the chain
wheel with relation to the chain.
It will be obvious that instead of driving the sleeve f³ through a chain and
chain wheel as hereinbefore described any other suitable means may be employed
for this purpose.
Although the invention is herein before shown and described as applied to a
velocipede it will be understood that it is equally applicable to other vehicles driven
by human or other power, whilst it is not necessarily confined to the driving wheels
of such vehicles but may also be applied to the carrying wheels.
By the arrangement of parts herein before shown and described, the axle 6 of

page_text: the wheel is always in advance and slightly below the axis of the wheel and the
work of the rider or other source of power is thus materially reduced.
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. Means for facilitating the propulsion of vehicles, comprising a wheel provided
with a hollow hub, discs eccentrically fixed with a stationary axle around which
dises the hub revolves, a disc or wheel mounted loosely upon the axle within the
hub and by its periphery taking a bearing against the interior of the hub at its
lower part, and a chain wheel or other means fixed with the hub for giving motion
to the wheel, said axle being arranged at a point below and in advance of the axis
of the wheel, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. Means for facilitating the propulsion of vehicles, comprising a wheel pro-
vided with a hollow hub, discs eccentrically fixed with a stationary axle around
which eccentric discs the hub revolves, a ring of teeth around the interior of the
hub; a toothed wheel engaging said ring of teeth at the lower part said. toothed
wheel being fixed with a sleeve mounted loosely on the axle and passing through
one of the eccentric discs and there provided with a chain wheel or other means
through which motion is given to the sleeve and means such as a bridge-like
bracket for fixing said eccentric disc with the fork or frame, the axle being
arranged at a point below and in advance of the axis of the wheel, substantially
as herein shown and described.
3. Means for facilitating the propulsion of vehicles, comprising an axle, a wheel
having its hub eccentrically mounted with relation to the axle, means for giving
motion to the hub and a disc or wheel loosely mounted upon the axle and running
upon the interior of the hub, said axle being arranged at a point below and in
advance of the axis of the wheel, substantially as herein shown and described and
for the purpose stated.
Dated this 1st day of November 1898.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.