Improvements relating to Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM A. WRIGHT Inventor of Centreton, Burlington WILLIAM
BROWN Merchant of 556 Benson Street Camden and JAMES ALTON GILMAN
Merchant of 128 State Street Camden all of the State of New Jersey United States
of America, do hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Our invention consists of a bicycle or other vehicle of the order of a velocipede,
constructed to have power imparted to the same when it is desired to ascend steep
grades or hills, or to be driven with increased speed when on flat ground.
For this purpose we employ mechanism which adapts the sprocket or driving
wheel of the bicycle to be rotated directly at the axle, or at the periphery thereof,
as will be hereinafter fully set forth.
In the accompanying drawing -
Figure represents a section of a portion of a bicycle embodying our invention.
Figure 2 represents a partial end view and partial vertical section at a right
angle to Figure 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.
A designates the sprocket wheel of a bicycle, and B designates the chain by
which the bicycle is propelled therefrom said sprocket wheel being hollow.
C designates a ratchet or toothed wheel which is keyed or otherwise secured
to the hub C' of a frame D, said hub and the opposite side of the frame D being
freely mounted on the axle E to which the crank or pedal arins E' are attached.
F designates a pinion which is secured to the axle E, within the frame D, it
being noticed that said frame is within the sprocket wheel A and that said wheel A
is freely mounted partly on the hub C and partly on the axle E.
The frame D carries the idler G and pinion H, said idler meshing with both the
pinions and H, whereby said pinions rotate in the same direction.
The sprocket wheel A has an internal gear A', with which the pinion H meshes.
J designates a lever which is mounted on the frame K of the bicycle, and has
pivoted to its ends respectively the dog or pawl M and rod N, said pawl being fitted
in guides N on the frame K, and being adapted to engage with the toothed
wheel C. The rod N is pivoted to an elbow lever P, whose bearings are on the
frame K, and has its lower end engaged with one member R of a clutch, which
member is adapted to engage with a clutch member R' on the side of the sprocket
wheel.
The operation is as follows:-
When the bicycle is to ascend a hill or steep grade, as increased power is
desired, the lever J is thrown in the present case to the right, whereby the pawl M
engages the toothed wheel C and controls the frame D, so as to prevent rotation
thereof. The axle communicates motion to the pinion F, and consequently to the
pinion H, which engaging with the gear A' of the sprocket wheel communicates
power to said wheel at the periphery thereof, and causes the powerful propulsion
of the bicycle.
Should speed be required, the lever J is thrown to the left, whereby the clutch
is operated, thereby locking the sprocket wheel, with the axle E, so that motion is
imparted to said wheel directly from the axle, the dog M being of course disengaged
from the wheel C.
The frame D is provided with weights opposite to the location of the idler G
and pinion H, to counterbalance the latter as is evident.
As the driving wheel is hollow, it forms a chamber for containing oil, so as to
D

page_text: lubricate the gearing and parts within the same, the interior of the wheel being
also guarded against the entrance of dust or dirt, as is evident. A suitable opening
may be formed in the wall of the wheel to admit oil, the same being afterwards
closed by a cap plug or screw as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
First. A bicycle having an attachment for speed and power independent of each
other, consisting of a driving wheel, an axle freely supporting the same, a pinion
secured to said axle, a gear wheel connectod with said axle adapted to engage
with said driving wheel, means for rendering said gearing operative and inoperative
and a clutch connected with said axle and driving wheel, substantially as described.
Second. A driving wheel having an internal gear, an axle freely supporting said
wheel, a pinion secured to said axle, a frame freely mounted on the axle, and
gearing carried by said frame and engaging with the pinion of the axle, said frame
having a hub which carries a toothed wheel the latter being adapted to be engaged
by a pawl on the frame of the bicycle, whereby the frame may be controlled and
prevented from rotation, and the gearing within the driving wheel peripherally
operates the latter by the internal gear thereof, substantially as described.
Third. A hollow sprocket or driving wheel with an internal gear, an axle on
which one side of said wheel is freely mounted, a frame mounted freely on said
axle, a pinion secured to the axle, and a gear wheel carried by said frame ineshing
with said pinion and internal gear, said frame having a hub on which the other
side of the driving wheel, is freely mounted, and a locking device connected with
said hub, whereby the frame is prevented from rotation, substantially as described.
Fourth. A hollow sprocket or driving wheel and gearing within the same
engaging with an internal gear on said wheel, an axle on which the driving
wheel is freely mounted, and a pinion secured to said shaft and engaging with
said gearing, a frame freely mounted on the axle and carrying said gearing, and a
locking wheel on said frame for preventing the rotation thereof and causing the
operation of the driving wheel at the periphery thereof, said parts being combined
substantially as described.
Fifth. A hollow sprocket wheel an axle freely carrying the same, a clutch
member on said axle, and a clutch member on the side of said sprocket wheel and
means for shifting the clutch member of the axle, said parts being combined,
substantially as described.
Sixth. A bicycle having a hollow driving wheel with gearing therein, an internal
gear on the periphery of said wheel, a pinion on the axle of the driving wheel
and a bearing frame for said gearing in combination with means for locking said
frame and clutching the driving wheel, whereby the latter may be operated directly
from the axle or at the periphery, substantially as described.
Seventh. A bicycle having a hollow driving wheel, a pinion on the shaft thereof
and gearing meshing with the pinion and wheel a toothed wheel on the bearing-
frame of said gearing, and a clutch on the axle and driving wheel, in combination
with a lever, and a dog and elbow lever connected with the ends thereof, said dog
being adapted to engage with the toothed wheel of the aforesaid bearing frame,
and said lever engaging with the movable member of said clutch, substantially as
-described.
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1 1605
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.