Improvements in Gearing for Bicycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gearing for Bicycles.
I, VAN DYKE CRUSER, of 1159 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, in the County of
Kings and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman, 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 certain new and useful improvements in bicycles and
more particularly to the gearing thereof, and it has for its objects among others to
provide a simple and cheap attachment for the rear wheel of a bicycle whereby
greater speed may be attained with a less expenditure of power than by the
ordinary construction. I also provide a simple and improved chain-tightener which
operates in conjunction with the gearing whereby the chain may be quickly and
easily adjusted when necessary.
The improvement embodies a gear fast upon the hub of the rear wheel and
meshing with an internal gear on the sprocket wheel, which is detachably connected
with an eccentric on the axle and having a socket for the end of the hub, the said
eccentric being provided with a ring and ball bearings being provided for all of
the parts.
This eccentric is adjustable on the axle and is also provided with means for
connection with the frame of the wheel in such a manner that it can be adjusted
and held relatively to the other parts so as to tighten or loosen the chain as
occasion may require.
A shield or plate may be employed for covering the pinion and gear and protect
the same from the dust and dirt.
Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear and the
novel features thereof will be specifically defined by the appended claims.
The invention is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon form a part of this Specification and
in which:
Fig. 1 is a substantially central longitudinal section through the rear wheel of a
bicycle equipped with my present improvements.
Fig. 2 shows in perspective the parts comprising my invention, separated, but
shown in their relative positions.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the rear wheel with my improvements in place.
Fig. 4 is a sectional view showing a slightly modified construction.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
Referring now to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates a portion
of the frame of a bicycle of known construction except as hereinafter specified:
B is the rear axle having its ends screw-threaded as shown in Fig. 1, to receive the
nuts B in the usual manner. C is the hub of the wheel; it is formed at one end
with a socket or channel C adapted to receive the balls D which are held in place
by the nut D' screwed on the axle and having an annular concave channel d, as
seen in Fig. 1. Upon the hub of the wheel near its other end there is either fast
or integral therewith a pinion E beyond which is a tapered portion E', which is
formed with an annular concave channel e, to receive the balls Fas seen best in
Fig. 1. These balls are retained in a tapered socket f, in an eccentric F' as shown
in Fig. 1, the socket being seen also in Fig. 2, the eccentric having an opening f¹
through the socket through which passes the axle B, the said opening being screw-
threaded as seen in Fig. 1 to engage the threads of the said axle.
The hole is eccentric with the part F' as shown and the said part F¹ is formed
with a peripheral channel F' for the reception of the balls G.

page_text: H is the sprocket, wheel; it is in the form of a ring with an internal gear H
with which the pinion E on the hub meshes, and with an exteriorly threaded ring
portion H, the outer face of which is provided with a tapered wall, as seen best
in Fig. 1, to form a partial channel for the balls G to work in, and the threaded
ring portion is adapted to receive the internally-threaded flange i, of the ring I,
the body portion of which is formed with a bevelled wall i¹, as seen best in Fig. 1,
to form the complement of the channel for the balls G. This ring embraces the
eccentric as seen in Fig. 1. The flange of this ring is secured to the eccentric by
suitable means, as the screws 1, as shown in Fig. 1.
The eccentric F is held to the frame of the machine by a screw J which is
passed through an opening j, in the frame and into the eccentric as shown in Figs. 1
and 3.
A plurality of these openings j, are provided in the frame which is
provided with an enlargement A for this purpose as seen in Fig. 3, the openings
being formed on the are of a circle as seen in Fig. 3.
In operation, the pinion on the hub and the internal gear revolve in the same
direction but at different rates of speed thus causing little or no friction and by the
construction shown and described a rider does not have to pedal so fast or make his
feet go so fast to obtain greater speed and the speed can be attained with greater
ease as the slow movement of the feet is easier and less tiring. The improvement
is applied between the frame and the wheel as seen in Figs. 1 and 3 and simply
necessitates the making of the axle slightly longer than usual. The gearing may
be made any size and any pitch to suit the rider.
By removing the screw J and moving the eccentric backward or forward as the
case may require and then inserting the screw in the proper hole the chain may be
tightened or loosened and the eccentric held in its adjusted position. If desired a
plate or cover K may be employed as shown in Fig. 1 to cover and protect the
gearing and pinion.
In Fig. 4 I have shown a modified form of construction in which the sprocket
teeth are in line with the balls and the eccentric is in two parts held together by a
screw with a piece or pieces of paper, thin brass, or any suitable material W,
between the said two parts of the eccentric so that the same may be easily removed
and the two parts secured together again and thus the wear on the balls is taken
up or compensated for.
Modifications in detail may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of
the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.
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 combination, with the axle and the eccentric thereon, of the sprocket
wheel with internal gear, the wheel hub with pinion meshing with said gear, and
the frame with a plurality of holes and a removable screw engaging one of said
holes and the eccentric whereby the chain may be adjusted by adjustment of the
screw, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with the axle and the eccentric thereon, of the sprocket
wheel with internal gear the wheel-hub with its pinion meshing with said gear and
the plate secured to the eccentric and arranged upon the inner face of the sprocket
wheel, for covering said gear and pinion, substantially as specified.
3. The combination with the rear axle of the eccentric fast thereon, the wheel-
hub with its pinion the sprocket wheel with its internal gear and the ring movable
with the sprocket wheel about the eccentric and a screw removably held in the
frame for engaging the eccentric to adjust the chain, substantially as specified.
Dated this 11th day of September 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.