Improvements in Devices for Cleaning Bicycle Chains.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Devices for Cleaning Bicycle Chains.
We, CHARLES GEORGE POLLEYS, and JOHN THOMAS REAGAN, residing
respectively at Nos. 153 and 480 Thames Street, Newport, in the County of
Newport, and State of Rhode Island, United States of America, Merchants, 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 attachments
for bicycles, and especially to a brush designed to clean the chain of the propelling
mechanism, the brush being designed to rotate against the chain and in an opposite
direction from that which the chain is moving, thus causing all foreign matter to
be thoroughly cleaned out from the links of the chain.
A further object of the invention resides in the provision of two rotary brushes
which are journaled on spindles which are mounted in a frame secured to the frame
of the bicycle at such a location that the spindles will frictionally contact with the
tire of the rear wheel of the bicycle, and the brushes bear against the upper and
lower sides of the chain and by positive contact of the spindles with the tire
the brushes are caused to revolve at a greater rate of speed than that of the
sprocket chain.
A further object of the invention resides in the construction of a rack for holding
the spindles which is adapted to be secured to the frame of the bicycle in advance
of the rear wheel by means of thumb-screws suitable packing being interposed
between the plates of the rack and the members of the bicycle so as to protect the
same from being marred.
To these ends and to such others as the invention may pertain, the same consists
further in the novel construction, combination and adaptation of the parts as will
be hereinafter more fully described and then specifically defined in the appended
claims.
We clearly illustrate the invention in the accompanying drawings which, with
the letters of reference marked thereon, form a part of this Specification and in
which drawings,
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device as attached to the frame of a
bicycle.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of the cleaning device detached from the
wheel.
Reference being had to the details of the drawings by letter, A designates the
rear wheel of a bicycle having the rubber tire B. C designates the sprocket chain
and D, D, the forked member having its free ends extending to the hub of said
wheel.
F designates a rack which is riveted or otherwise secured to the plate G, the
said rack being adapted to carry the spindles J in perforations in its side walls.
At corresponding ends of the said spindles are secured the rotary brushes K, K,
designed to be held in contact, one above and the other below the chain C. The
raised portion L of the spindles may be of rubber or any other material and said
raised portion is designed to contact with the tire of the wheel as the latter is
revolving.
M is a plate which forms with the plate G a clamp through which plates thumb-
screws 0, 0, pass, one plate being placed above and the other beneath the forked

page_text: members D, D, and designed to hold the spindles and the brushes in such positions
that the raised portions of the spindles will frictionally contact with the tire of the
wheel A and the brushes with the upper and lower sides of the chain, as will be
readily seen.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. A sprocket chain cleaner for bicycles consisting of spindles designed to have
contact with the tire of a bicycle wheel, combined with rotary brushes secured to
said spindles and adapted to bear against the sprocket chain in their revolutions.
2. A rotary brush for cleaning sprocket wheel chains of bicycles, consisting of
two spindles having raised friction bands, a rack for holding said spindles secured
to the frame of the bicycle, rotary brushes secured at corresponding ends of said
spindles one below the other above the chain and adapted to bear against the
said chain, combined with the tire of a wheel adapted to frictionally contact with
the said raised portions of the spindles, substantially as shown and described.
3. In combination with the tire of a bicycle wheel, the rack F secured by clamps
to the forks D, D, of a bicycle, the spindles J carried by said rack, the raised
bands L on said spindles adapted to frictionally contact with the said tire, the
rotary brushes K K, secured to corresponding ends of said spindles and designed
to bear against an upper and lower side of the chain whereby when the machine is
in motion the brushes will make more rapid revolutions than the sprocket chain,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 10th day of September 1895.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.