Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
1, FREDERICK SAMUEL BUCKINGHAM, of The Elswick Cycle Works
Newcastle-ou-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved method of fixing chain wheels and or
cranks to crank axles, and it consists essentially in drifting the holes in the bosses
or eyes of the cranks and chain wheels so as to leave a semicircular or other
conveniently shaped key therein and in cutting or forming in the crank axle a
longitudinal keyway adapted to receive the said key, by which construction the
key can never become loose or detached. My invention further consists in cutting
the transverse slot in the axle for the cottar pin or key to engage with at an angle,
the slope being towards the centre of the length of the axle so that when the
cottar pin or key is driven in it tends to pull the crank or chain wheel inwards
against the shoulder on the axle.
My invention further consists in mounting the chain wheel and crank together so
that they are fixed by one cottar pin or key in which construction a tapered boss
is formed on the chain wheel and a corresponding recess in the crank, so that when
the cottar pin or key is driven in, it fixes both the chain wheel and the crank to
the axle, and if the slot in the axle is cut at an angle as herein before described it
tends to force the crank tighter on to the tapered boss of the chain wheel and thus
ensure its close and perfect fit.
Dated this 11th day of March 1895
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, FREDERICK SAMUEL BUCKINGHAM, of The Elswick Cycle Works,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of Northumberland, England, 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 an improved method of fixing cranks and chain wheels
to axles, applicable also in part to fixing cranks only to the axles.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my invention;
Figure 1 is a view in end elevation illustrating one method of carrying my
invention into effect, and
Figure 2 is a view in transverse section thereof-partly in section.
Figure 3 is a view in end elevation of my invention as applied to the fixing of
ranks only and

page_text: Figure 4 is a view in transverse section thereof-partly in section.
Figure 5 is a view in transverse section showing a modification in the method of
fixing cranks to axles, and
Figure 6 is a broken view of the axle showing the angular transverse slot.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing, the boss A of the
chain wheel is slightly tapered outwards, and the boss B of the crank is provide l
with a tapered recess B¹ to receive the tapered boss of the chain wheel. The eyes
or holes through the boss B of the crank and through the boss A of the chain
wheel are preferably drifted of a shape other than round, and the end of the axle C
is shaped to correspond with the said eyes or holes so that the crank and chain
wheel can have no rotative motion apart from that of the axle, the object being to
dispense with loose keys. A convenient method of doing this is to drift the eyes or
holes in the crank and chain wheel so as to leave semi-circular projections a and b
therein, and to cut a suitably shaped channel in the axle C to receive the said
projections or key, but I do not bind myself to that particular shape.
Through the boss B of the crank is formed a transverse hole to receive a tapered
cottar pin D, the transverse slot c in the axle being cut at an angle with the centre
of the axle, ie., it is deeper at the inner side or side furthest away from the end of
the axle as shown by Figure 2 instead of parallel thereto as is usual, so that the
tendency of the cottar pin when driven or screwed in is to draw the boss of the
crank inwards, that is, on to the boss of the chain wheel with which it engages
and forces the chain wheel tightly against the collar or shoulder c¹ on the axle.
It will be seen that the function of this cottar pin is merely to draw the boss of
the crank on to the boss of the chain wheel, and not to provide a driving connection
between the crank and the pedal-crank axle, or between the said axle and the
chain wheel,
It is not obligatory but only preferable to make the boss of the crank fit over
the boss of the chain wheel, as it may simply butt up against it in the ordinary
manner.
When this device is applied to fixing cranks to axles as shown by Figures 3, 4
and 5 of the accompanying drawing, the action of the cottar pin and the angular
slot in the axle is to draw the crank up against a collar or shoulder on the axle.
Instead however of forming the axle with a collar or shoulder its end may be made
tapered as shown by Figure 5, the eye of the boss of the crank being tapered to
corrrespond.
Although I prefer to so shape the axle and the eye in the boss of the crank
that no driving strain is thrown on the transverse cottar, yet if desired the axle
may be left truly circular and the eye in the boss of the crank be drilled out round,
in which case the driving strain would be thrown on the cottar D, as shown by
Figure 5.
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.) The hereinbefore described method of fixing cranks and chain wheels to the
axles of velocipedes.
(2.) The method of attaching cranks and chain wheels to the axles of
velocipedes, specifically as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
(3.) The improved method of attaching cranks to the axles of velocipedes,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the
accompanying drawing.
(4.) In a velocipede, the combination of a chain wheel having a tapered boss, of
a crank having a tapered recess in its boss adapted to fit over the boss of the chain
wheel, of a crank axle having a transverse slot cut at an angle with its axis, and of
a tapered cottar pin adapted to pass transversely through the boss of the crank

page_text: and on being driven home to securely draw the crank on to the chain wheel and
the chain wheel up against the shoulder on the axle, as set forth.
(5.) Cutting or forming the transverse slots in axles, to receive the cottar pins
of cranks and the like adapted to be fixed thereto, at an angle with the axis or
centre of the axle, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 11th day of December 1895.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.