IMPROVEMENTS IN SPEED GEAR OR DRIVING MECHANISM OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE TAYLOR of Whittall Street Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPEED GEAR OR DRIVING MECHANISM OF VELOCIPEDES" to be as follows:—
My invention has reference to the speed gear or driving mechanism of Tricycles
and other Velocipedes and consists of the construction and arrangement of
mechanism hereinafter described for increasing and decreasing the rate of motion
of the driving wheels, which allows the rider at his will to increase or decrease the
speed of the machine or in other words to allow the driving wheels to move at the
same rate as the pedal axis and at different rates of motion according to the ratio
of the wheel gearing employed; thus for our purpose we will describe gearing that
will impart motion either at the same rate as the pedal axis or at a greater or less
velocity, the gearing up, down or level depends entirely as before described upon
the diameters and position of the gear wheels.
I will describe my invention as applied to what is known as a Humber tricycle.
The crank pedals are mounted in the usual way upon a pedal axis situated
below the axle of the driving wheels. Motion is communicated to the driving axis
by ordinary chain gearing; and also mounted upon the middle of the pedal axis
are two chain wheels of different diameters; that is, for convenience of descrip-
tion, the right hand wheel has 16 teeth; while the left hand wheel has only
10 teeth or other number according to the differential speed required These are
mounted and fixed upon the pedal axis, which is supported and works in the
usual bearings or brackets.
Mounted and fixed upon the driving axle are two clutch bosses or toothed
wheels which are situated preferably at or about the middle of the said driving
axle. These bosses are provided on their inside faces with notches or teeth in
which corresponding projections or depressions upon the outer faces of toothed
wheels herinafter described and working between the clutch bosses described are
two chain wheels of varying diameters, the one of larger diameter gearing with
the smaller one on the pedal axis by an endless chain, while the one of smaller
diameter on the driving axle gears with the larger one, on the pedal axis, and
situated between the said toothed wheels on the driving axis, a sliding clutch carrier
turns freely and is capable of sliding to and fro by means of a clutch lever worked

page_text: in the usual way; so that by changing the position of the lever, the respective
chain wheels on the clutch carrier are taken into or out of gear alternately with
the clutch bosses on the outer sides of the chain wheels; that is, a central clutch
carrier rotates and slides freely upon the driving axle and upon both sides of the
said clutch carrier, chain wheels of different diameters rotate freely but are only
capable of sliding with the clutch carrier. These respective chain wheels are
provided with clutch teeth which take into clutch depressions on the bosses which
are fixed and move with the driving axle so that when the chain wheels lie evenly
between the clutch bosses, the driving wheels rotate at the same rate of motion as
the pedal axis; but when it is required to impart increased velocity to the
driving wheels, the clutch carrier is moved to the right engaging the chain wheel
of small diameter with the clutch boss, so that the driving axle and clutch
mechanism move together, but when it is wished to acquire power, the clutch
carrier is moved to the left, engaging the clutch on the power chain wheel with the
clutch depression in the left hand fixed axle boss, and so compelling the driving
axle and clutch mechanism to move together for power. The last named chain
wheel of large diameter gears with the chain wheel of smaller diameter on the
pedal axis, so that a rider has only to determine what speed he wishes to travel,
when on working a lever attached to the clutch mechanism, he either gears up,
down or level according to his requirements.
The clutch bosses herein before described serve as brake drums by a steel or other
band partially embracing their peripheries; so that on the brake band being
applied by a lever or other source of power, the bands are brought into intermate
contact with the drums peripheries and so retard the axle of the driving wheels
upon which they are mounted..
GEORGE TAYLOR.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham,
Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: I, GEORGE TAYLOR of Whittall Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN SPEED GEAR OR DRIVING MECHANISM OF VELOCIPEDES and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :—
My invention has reference to the speed gear or driving mechanism of tricycles
and other velocipedes; and consists of the construction and arrangement of
mechanism hereinafter described for increasing and decreasing the rate of motion
of the driving wheels, which allows the rider at his will to increase or decrease the
speed of the machine; or in other words, to make the driving wheels move at the
same or at different rates of motion.
I will describe my invention as applied to what is known as a Humber tricycle.
The crank pedals are mounted in the usual way upon a pedal axis situated below
the axle of the driving wheels. Motion is communicated to the driving axis by
ordinary chain gearing; and mounted upon the pedal axis are two chain wheels, of
different diameters; that is, for convenience of description, the right hand wheel
has 16 teeth, while the left hand wheel has only 10 teeth or other number according
to the differential speed required. These are mounted and fixed upon the pedal
axis, which is supported and works in the usual bearings or brackets supported by
the machine framing.
Mounted and fixed upon the driving axle are two clutch bosses or fixed toothed
wheels, situated preferably at or about the middle of the driving axle. These
bosses are provided on their inside faces with notches or teeth in which corre-
sponding projections or depressions upon collars on the outer faces of two chain
wheels of varying diameters take-The chain wheel of larger diameter gearing
with the smaller one on the pedal axis by an endless chain, while the one of
smaller diameter gears with the larger one, on the pedal axis, and situated between
the said chain wheels on the driving axis, a sliding clutch carrier moves and is
capable of sliding to and fro by means of a clutch lever worked in the usual way,
so that by changing the position of the lever, the respective chain wheels are taken
into, or out of gear alternately with the clutch bosses on the axle; that is, the
chain wheels of varying diameters with clutch teeth upon their outside bosses, slide
laterally to a small extent upon the main axle; so that when either one or other of
the clutch sides are in gear with one or other of the axle clutches, then the chain
wheels move with the driving axle; but when the chain wheels and their clutches
are in an intermediate position, and out of gear with the axle clutches, then the
machine is not driving; the pedals acting as foot rests in descending hills; thus
when it is required to impart increased velocity to the driving wheels, the clutch
carrier is moved to the right engaging the chain wheel of small diameter with the

page_text: clutch boss, so that the driving axle and clutch mechanism move together, but when
it is wished to acquire power, the clutch carrier is moved to the left, engaging the
clutch on the power chain wheel with the clutch depression in the left hand fixed
axle boss, and so compelling the driving axle and clutch mechanism to move
together for power. The last named chain wheel of large diameter gears with the
chain wheel of smaller diameter on the pedal axis, so that a rider has only to
determine what speed he wishes to travel, when on working a lever attached to the
clutch mechanism he either gears up, down or in a non-acting position according to
his requirements.
The clutch bosses hereinbefore described serve as brake drums by a steel or other
band partially embracing their peripheries; so that on the brake band being applied
by a lever or other source of power, the bands are brought into intermediate contact
with the drum's peripheries and so retard the axle of the driving wheels upon which
they are mounted.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in front elevation a tricycle provided with speed gear
constructed according to my invention; this view shows the clutch arrangement
on both sides of the speed gear out of action, which allows the connected speed
wheels on the driving axle to run perfectly free or without any effect; this is the
position which the moving sleeve or bush carrying the speed wheels occupies when
the machine is descending gradients, as will be hereinafter fully described-
Figure 2 represents on an enlarged scale, the speed mechanism upon the driving
shaft, the gear being shown partly in section and partly in elevation, so as to better
exhibit the clutch and sliding action of the sleeve or bush carrying the driving
chain wheels of varying diameters; the speed clutch on the face of the speed wheel
being shown in action with the shaft; thus imparting speed to the driving axis,
the speed and power wheels run independently of each other, although they slide
together by the confining collars of the sleeve upon which they rotate-Figure 3
represents a plan of figure 2, to better exhibit the anti-friction roller on the end of
the operating lever-The position of the speed wheels in the said figure 3 are
shown out of action with the clutch bosses on the driving shaft-Figure
is the
clutch on the driving axle and figure 5 the clutch on the face of the speed wheel-
Figure 6 represents a diagram of the speed arrangements on the respective pedal
and driving shafts.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of
the Drawings.
a is the pedal axis situated below the axle b of the driving wheel c c³, the latter
being fixed to its axle, while the former is provided with balance or other gear for
allowing it to move independently of the axle upon which it turns, on the machine
taking a curvilinear course-Motion is communicated from the pedal axis a to the
driving axle 6 by the chain wheels de of varying diameters, which move together
when the machine is being driven; thus, the wheel d of larger diameter,
communicates motion through the chain f to the wheel g of smaller diameter on
the driving shaft, while the smaller wheel e on the said pedal axis, communicates
motion through the chain wheel f' to the wheel h of larger diameter on the driving
shaft, the wheel g being for speed, and the wheel .h for power, which rotate
independently of each other upon the sleeve k, which slides upon the driving shaft
between the clutches or forked bosses carried by the said driving shaft-g is the
clutch on the outside face of the speed wheel g, and h³ is the clutch or fork on the
outside face of the power wheel h-6 is the driving shaft clutch on the speed
side of the gear, and 6 is the same on the power side of the said gear; the said
clutches 6 6 rotate with the driving shaft-i is a jointed lever, turning upon a
fulcrum, which gives the requisite lateral sliding motion to the combined speed
wheels in throwing their respective clutches in and out of gear with the clutches
on the driving shaft-j is an anti-friction roller confined between the inner faces

page_text: of the speed gear; so that the turning of the lever i on its fulcrum to the right or
to the left, the speed or power clutches are engaged with one or other of the
clutches on the shaft, thus imparting speed or power as may be desired is the
joint of the handle, and is the said handle is a rack, attached to the framing m
of the machine; the said rack is provided with three notches 11, into which a
ward or short rib o on the back of the stem 15 takes, for holding the lever in
positionnn are the pedals for driving the machine.
The speed gear hereinbefore described, is operated as follows, when speed is
required The handle is pressed forward, and then turned laterally upon the
joint in the direction of the arrow, when the turning of the lever upon its
fulcrum locks. the speed clutch g' with the clutch 63 on the brake side of the gear,
which is marked p, as represented in the enlarged view figure 2; and on releasing
the handle, the rib o is pressed into the speed notch * of the rack by a spring,
thereby retaining the lever in the said position, and holding the clutches locked
within each other, motion generated at the pedal axis from the pedals n n is
imparted to the large chain wheel d which communicates its motion through the
chain wheel f to the small chain wheel g on the driving shaft, thus imparting
speed to the driving wheels, in consequence of the varying ratios of the driving
wheels.
To acquire power, remove the handle from the speed notch to the power notch
in the rack when the lever is turned in the reverse direction, sliding the coupled
wheels in the direction of the arrow, and engaging the clutch h³ of the power
wheel h, with the clutch 63 of the driving shaft or axle, and at the same time
removing the speed clutch on the other side of the gear; so that motion is now
communicated from the pedal axis through the chain wheel ƒ from the wheel e of
small diameter, to the wheel h of larger diameter, thereby decreasing speed and
gaining power for hill climbing or for ascending steep gradients-When a rider is
descending hills, he moves the lever handle into the neutral or middle notch of the
rack, when both clutches on the respective sides of the power and speed wheels
are out of gear with the clutch teeth or depressions on the driving shaft or axle,.
which allow the wheels to run free or independent of the gear, as represented in
figures 1 and 3, the pedals when in the last named position are utilized as foot
rests.
Although I have described that clutch teeth are employed for
to the driving shaft for speed or for power, yet toothed wheels
the same effect, they simply being an equivalent of the forks
clutches herein before described.
locking the gear
may be used with
and gaps of the
Instead of the gear on the driving axis being combined or moved together, they
may be moved if necessary by independent levers, or they may be separated or
divided in order to apply them to a front or back steerer; and further, the brake
mechanism may cover or be attached to the clutches on both sides of the gear
instead of on one as represented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First The improvements in speed gear hereinbefore described and set forth in
the several figures of the Drawings; consisting of coupled sliding chain wheels of
varying diameters provided with clutch like bosses or forks on their outer sides
which alternately engage with fixed clutches or wheels on the driving shaft of the
machine, the respective speed wheels which are thus capable of being alternately
put into gear with the driving shaft or axle, receive their motion from a pair of
chain wheels of varying diameters upon the pedal axis, the driving mechanism
being thrown into gear for power or speed, and out of gear of both for non-driving,
by a lever, the parts of the differential driving gear being arranged, combined and
carried out and operating in the way and for the purpose substantially as describęd
and illustrated.

page_text: Secondly. Mounting speed or differential wheels for gaining speed and power
upon a sliding sleeve or bush which couples and slides the wheels to and fro, and
at the same time allows the said wheels to have independent motions of each other
for the purposes as described and set forth.