Improved Chainless Interchangeable Gear for Velocipedes and other Wheeled Conveyances.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Chainless Interchangeable Gear for Velocipedes and other
Wheeled Conveyances.
I, AUGUSTINE JOHN MADDEN, of Union Lane, Melbourne, in the Colony of
Victoria, Metal Worker, 'do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-:
In applying the invention to bicycles, the pedals are supplied with an attached
wheel taking the place of what is known as the large sprocket" wheel, with
teeth cut on its outer or inner edge preferably diagonal, but may be either bevel
or straight cut. Into this wheel a pinion in bearings is made to run, this pinion
is either fixed to or made part of a worm or screw shaft the screw thereon having
any given number of threads but preferably three, four or five. Under or over,
this worm a correspondingly wormed wheel runs in gear therewith.
The spindle of the worm wheel points to the centre of the bevel wheel that
is fixed to the frame of the machine and runs in gear with a second bevel wheel
attached to the hub of the back or driving wheel of the machine. This second
wheel is fixed in such a manner by screws, nuts or other contrivance that it may
be removed and replaced by a larger or smaller one with a greater or lesser
number of teeth so as to alter the proportion of gear. The aforesaid bevel wheel
attached to the frame of the bicycle is provided with either one or more sets
of ball bearings, and in case two such sets are used' one is placed at either side
of the bevel wheel the cups or cones being attached to jor forming a part of the
wheel shaft, said shaft extends through a metal plate and through which latter a
screw, drilled to form a tube passes and extends and having on its inner end
either a cone or cup, on or in which the balls revolve.
The tube is further supplied between the cone or cup with a cover for the ball
bearings, and either one or more check nuts. On the outer end of the threaded
tube provision is made for enabling it to be screwed backward or forward to
adjust the ball bearings; the plate being secured to the wheel frame by bolts
or screws and the back wall of the wheels frame supplied with the necessary
ball cone or cup.
The extreme end of the frame forms a fork the opening of which, for about
two thirds of its length, is dovetailed whilst about a quarter of an inch more
or less from the extreme end a notch is cut on both sides of the inner sides of the
fork, the bottom or nearest portion of forks opening to the back wall of the
frame the dovetail terminates into a straight opening a little wider from the step
than the bottom of the dovetail.
An adjusting piece is made to fit between the forks, one end having a bevelled

page_text: edge to fit the dovetail and slide therein, the other end being a screw on which
a notched or plain nut works, this nut fits the adjusting screw and works in
the notches on both sides of the inner face of the fork, while a further nut or
nuts work on the extreme or outer end of the screw and butt against the end of
the fork. A hole is provided at the bottom end or dovetail portion of the adjusting
piece and the spindle of the back or driving wheel of the machine passes through
same. Suitable notches are arranged in the said spindle to assist in retaining it
in its proper position. One or more nuts, at the extreme end of the spindle,
securely fastens or fasten the whole of the frame of the wheels and to the
frame of the machine.
The adjustment of the different sizes of interchangeable gear wheels, is ob-
tained by the tenon or dovetail piece sliding up and down in its place by means of
the adjusting screws and the opposite end of the spindle being adjusted precisely
the same as the ordinary chain gear.
The shaft of the bevel wheel extends through the said threaded or screwed tube
in alignment with the shaft of the worm wheel, while the two shafts are
connected with one another by means of a connecting rod provided with a ball or
universal joint, or one of either of the shafts may run right through from wheel
to wheel. Alternatively the wheel taking the place of the large sprocket wheel
may be cut as a worm wheel either on its edge or side of the outer rim with a
worm running therein thereby altering the action from the worm driving the
worm wheel to that of the large (or sprocket) wheel becoming the worm wheel
and by its reversed arrangement driving the worm. In the latter case ball or
other bearings are supplied to the worm at both ends of the screw holding the
same parallel with the face of the large wheel, the shaft of the said worm being
in alignment with the shaft of the back bevel wheel and secured to the same.
It will be seen that a direct action is thus obtained from the large wheel to the
worm and thence to the back bevel wheel thereby dispensing with the pinion of
the worm and the worm wheel itself, its ball bearings &c. In either case the
pedals by their connection with the wheels have complete control of the speed
of machine and can be brought into action, as a modifier of speed or as a break
appliance to allow speedy stoppage and that without fear of rider being thrown.
I preferably, but not arbitrarily employ ball bearings throughout the apparatus.
The worm shaft may be drilled right through and provided with an oil holder at
one end. Small holes may then be drilled in the worm, between the threads,
so that the oil can escape from the holder into the shaft and through the small
holes on to the threads of the worm. The surplus oil can pass through the worm
shaft down the connecting rod and through a hole drilled in the bevel wheel shaft
thence into a cavity in front of the bevel wheel and escape into the teeth of the
bevel wheels and their bearings. Lubrication may alternatively be accomplished
by packing the cases of the different parts of the gear with lubricant so as to
become lubricating wells.
An outer casing or tube may be placed over the long shaft or connecting
rod to conceal same or the whole or any part of the gear may be encased if
desired.
The interchangeable wheels hereinbefore referred to are provided with holes in
their outer rims so that they may be secured to the back or driving wheel of the
bicycle. In some cases a plate may be provided by means of which the wheel
may be fixed to the driving wheel of the machine and a depression arranged in the
centre to receive the different sized gear wheels. The fixing of the wheels to the
plate may be performed by their being drawn into the depression by one or more
screws or they may be let into the plate by square keys or the like.
This Diftranth love of Navambar 1907
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.

page_text: Improved Chainless Interchangeable Gear for Velocipedes and other
Wheeled Conveyances.
I, AUGUSTINE JOHN MADDEN, of Union Lane, Melbourne, in, the Colony of
Victoria, Australia, Metal Worker, 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 provides improvements in the driving gear of bicycles and other
cycling machines in which the chain is dispensed with and in place thereof motion
is communicated from the pedal axle to the driving wheel axle by means of a
rotating shaft and gearing connected therewith.
In order to make my invention clear I will now refer to the accompanying sheet
of drawings in which Figure 1 shows an elevation of the complete mechanism
embodying my improvements, Figure 2 shows an end elevation of same, Figure 3
shows plan of a portion of Figure 1, Figure 4 shows plan (with casing removed)
of the gearing connected with the toothed wheel upon the pedal axle, and
Figure 4 shews sectional plan corresponding thereto, Figures 5 and 6 show details
of parts of the mechanism.
"A" represents a wheel (which takes the place of the usual main sprocket
wheel) and is set upon the pedal axle "B" and has the pedal lever "C" intimately
attached to it. The periphery of this wheel is provided with teeth which are set
in a diagonal manner but may if preferred be either bevelled or straight cut.
Above this wheel "A" a worm D" (Fig. 4) is set, the end of this worm carries a
pinion "E" which gears with the aforesaid toothed wheel". A." The worm "D"
is arranged to operate a worm wheel "F" set beneath it, such worm wheel being
set upon the end of a rod "F1" to which the main connecting rod "F2" is
secured.
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The worm "D" (with attached pinion "E"), and the worm wheel "F" are set
within a dust tight casing which may be formed of two cylinders, "G, G1" set at
an angle to each other (such angle being controlled by the width of tread and the
hub of driving wheel of the machine) and connected together, the cylinder "G"
has openings of such a shape and disposition as to permit of the engagement of.
the pinion "E" and the worm "D," with the toothed wheel "A",and the worm
wheel "F" respectively. The end of the worm "D" and the end of the
pinion "E" are formed with cups D¹, "E" to carry the balls forming the
bearings, while the ends of the cylinder "G" carry cones to complete such bear-
ings, and these are adjusted by being screwed in or out alternately by means of
cross bolts "H" "H" "H" which pass through lugs "G" in each end of the
casing G and through framing which supports the said casing (as hereafter
described). The worm wheel "F" is attached to the shaft F which is provided
" D"
with cups ZZ similar to the ends of the worm "and pinion "E," one end of
the cylinder "G₁" carries an adjustable cone whilst the other end has an
adjustable bearing formed by a sleeve "G3" which terminates in a cone X, the
said sleeve being set at the required position by means of a nut, "G," which
screws up against the cylinder "G." The rod "F1" aforesaid passes through
this sleeve and is attached to the worm wheel "F."
The casings "G," "G" are supported above the centre bracket of the machine
by means of stays set at any required position. I have illustrated particular
framing to carry the casings but it will be understood that such construction is
not arbitrary. J," "J" (Fig. 3) are rings which encircle the centre bracket "K"
of the machine, the ring "J" having an upwardly extending arm "Ja" carrying
ہے

page_text: a ring "J" which encircles the cylinder "G" at one end whilst the other end of
the cylinder is supported from stays "J" which are connected with the ordinary
framing "L" of the bicycle, the whole is bolted together by the necessary bolts so
as to form a staunch construction.
The connecting rod or tube "F2" is secured through the medium of a universal
joint at "F3" to shaft "M" which is practically a continuation of "F2." The
universal joint is formed so as to allow of a radial movement in any direction for
the rod and in addition to such movement, a slight horizontal movement is
permitted, this latter is made effectual by means of a pin "F" which is set
through the ball head of the rod "F2" and which passes through a slot formed in
a casing in which the ball head is placed. The rod or spindle "M" passes through
the sleeve M² in the framing "R" and a cup "M" is mounted thereupon in which
the ball bearings are arranged while a bevel wheel "0" is also secured thereupon,
which gears with a corresponding bevel wheel "P" connected with the hub "S" of
the driving wheel of the bicycle.
The ball bearing at "M" is completed and made adjustable by means of the
screw sleeve "M2" which carries a cam M' at its extremity. Lock nuts "M" are
provided to secure the sleeve M2 at the required position in the framing R.
M3" represents a cover which may be screwed upon the sleeve M2 close up against
the cup "M" to protect the bearing from dust. A second bearing for the rod or
spindle "M" is provided at "M5."
The framing which carries the rod or spindle "M" is preferably formed of a
plate "R" set in a recess between framing "R"" and hinged piece "R" and being at
its bottom ends secured with movable piece "R" by nut and bolt to the portion "R"
which latter is carried round so as to form a double bearing for this end as described.
This frame also carries recessed lug "R5" through which the axle "T" of the
driving wheel "T¹" of the machine passes and is secured by means of
nuts T," "T" and collar "T" (Fig. 6.).
"
I provide means of adjusting the position of the bevel wheels "0," "P"
relatively to one another which consists of a threaded bolt "V" whose enlarged
end Vis arranged to encircle the enlarged portion "T" of the axle "T," the side
of such end being arranged to enter dovetailed recesses "R" in the lugs "R5"
as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. The axle "T" is moved back or forward
by the operating nut "V3" upon the bolt "V" which nut lies within lateral
recesses in the lugs "R5" and movement of bolt "V" is precluded except in
rotation of the nut V3. The axle may be locked in position by means of a nut "V"
acting against sleeve "V5" which is thus screwed up against the ends of the
lugs. Any lateral movement is prevented by the bolt "V" whose end "V" falls
into a recess "1" of the enlarged portion "T" of the axle "T" (see Fig. 6.).
The bevel gearing is preferably set within a dust tight casing and the connecting
rod or tube "F2" may be enclosed to prevent such parts when revolving from
catching the clothing of the rider.
By means of the universal joint at "F3" a certain amount of play is allowed to
the connecting rod "F2" so that the shocks caused by travelling over rough
surfaces or by slight accidents to the machine will not have the tendency to put the
mechanism out of gear."
**
I may secure the bevel wheel P to the hub of the driving wheel by providing
such bevel wheel with a base flange P¹ which faces a corresponding lateral flange P2
of the driving wheel, and by connecting the coincident flanges by means of nuts
and bolts as indicated in Figure 2. Such means of securing the bevel wheel P
permits of the change of gear in the substitution of a wheel with practically the
same pitch and shape of teeth but of a greater or less number as may be required.
The adjustment of the different sizes of interchangeable gear wheels is attained by
the dovetail end sliding in its place by means of the adjusting screws and the
opposite end of the spindle being adjusted precisely as in the case of an ordinary
chain gear.
I have found that by the use of gear as hereinbefore described the motion of the

page_text: cycle may be rapidly regulated while the stoppage of the machine when running
at normal speed can be effected in a minimum distance without fear of fracture of
teeth while the gear works easily and noiselessly, and this advantage I attribute
to the distinctive features of my invention as herein specified.
Alternatively the wheel taking the place of the large sprocket wheel A may be
cut as a worm wheel either on its edge or side of the outer rim with a worm
running therein thereby altering the action from the worm driving the worm wheel
to that of the large (or sprocket) wheel becoming the worm wheel
and by its reversed arrangement driving the worm. In the latter case ball or
other bearings are supplied to the worm at both ends of the screw holding the same
parallel with the face of the large wheel, the shaft of the said worm being in
alignment with the shaft of the back bevel wheel and secured to the same.
It will be seen that a direct action is thus obtained from the large wheel to the
worm and thence to the back bevel wheel thereby dispensing with the pinion of the
worm and the worm wheel itself, its ball bearings, etc. In either case the pedals
by their connection with the wheels have complete control of the speed of
machine and can be brought into action as a modifier of speed or as a brake
appliance to allow speedy stoppage and that without fear of rider being thrown.
Lubrication may be arranged for throughout the wearing parts either by per-
forating or grooving same in any approved manner.
I may dispense with the use of the universal joint at "F3" and connect the
shaft "a" directly to the rod or spindle "M" in lieu thereof.
In operation when the pedal cranks "C," "C1" are rotated the toothed wheel "A"
revolves and operates "E" and therewith the worm "D." "D" transmits its
rotary motion to the worm wheel "F" so as to revolve "FI," the rod or tube "F2"
(which is attached thereto) and through the medium of the universal joint at "F³,”
the rod or spindle "M" and bevel wheel "0." This latter in its turn causes
the corresponding bevel wheel "P" to revolve carrying with it the driving
wheel "N" of the machine.
I do not confine myself to any sizes nor proportions of the parts to one another
nor to the details of construction as I may vary same without departing from my
invention, neither do I confine myself to any particular material for constructing
the parts but have found steel to be a suitable metal for the purpose.
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 combination gear wheel as "A" carrying pedal lever as: "C," pinion
as "E," worm as "D" and worm wheel as "F" connected with shaft as "F"
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In combination rebated and recessed lugs as R5," bolt as "V" having
enlarged end "V" encircling axle end and entering recess as "T5" in same nut
as "V" sleeve as V5," and nut as V" substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
66
66
3. In combination a short spindle as "M" a connecting universal joint of the
kind herein described, a rod as "Fa" and means for connecting same with the
propelling gear, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. The combination and arrangement of the several parts constituting my
improvements in driving gear, substantially as illustrated on the accompanying
sheet of drawings.
Datod this 20th day of October 1807
AUGUSTINE JOHN MADDEN,
Marks &Clerk,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant