Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1896-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, HEINRICH JOSEPH KLOOS of 99, Metzgerstrasse, Coub a/Rh. in the Empire
of Germany, Merchant, 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 driving gear for velocipedes and of
mechanism for operating the same and it has for its object imparting motion to the
driving wheel or wheels from the pedal-crank axle at two different speeds according
as speed or power is required and enabling the said change to be effected while the
machine is travelling.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates this invention:-
Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation showing its application by way of
example to a rear-driving bicycle.
Figure 2 is a view in rear elevation of the same partly in section, and
Figures 3 and 4 are views of details.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The hub a of the driving wheel p is mounted on an axle f and runs on ball
bearings b. On either side of the hub a are mounted chain wheels c of equal size,
the said chain wheels being mounted on sleeves e forming distance pieces between
the ends of the frame and the ball bearings and adapted to be clamped tight by
means of the usual nuts d on the ends of the axle f. In the boss of each of the
chain wheels c is cut or formed a groove 9 with which engage rollers carried by
forked levers pivotted to snugs n carried by the main frame. To each of the
forked levers h is fixed a cross lever i the outer end of which carries a foot plate o
and the inner end is connected to a rod or link m the other end of which is
connected to one of the ends of a rocking lever q pivotted to the main frame at r
above the driving wheel thereby establishing a connection between the two chain
wheels.
The adjacent faces of the chain wheels c and of the hub a are notched or toothed
so as to form clutches k. It will thus be seen that as one of the clutches is
disengaged from the hub the one on the opposite side is engaged and vice versa thus
coupling up to the hub one or other of the chain wheels.
Under the ends of the rocking lever q are mounted spring clips or other suitable
clamping devices which are adapted to let go at the proper time and which are
intended to prevent either one or other of the clutches from moving accidentally
out of gear.
On the pedal crank axles are mounted two chain wheels t and u of different
diameters which are geared with the chain wheels on the axle of the driving wheel
by means of the ordinary chains t¹ and u'.
The moving parts of this gear are preferably arranged or mounted on ball
bearings.
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 :-
A driving gear for velocipedes characterized by two sets of chain gear of
different ratios of gearing one arranged on one side of the driving wheel and the

page_text: other on the other side, and of clutch couplings connected together in such a
manner that as the one driving chain gear is thrown into operation the other is
thrown out of operation, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of May 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.