Year: 1896

page_text: I, GEORGE WYATT of Effingham House, Arundel Street, Strand, in the County of
Middlesex, Architect and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to driving mechanism for cycles, and is so arranged that the
proportions "gearing" between the crank axle and the road wheel of the vehicle
can be varied. In carrying out the invention I prefer to proceed as follows:-
Upon the crank axle I provide a wheel or disc having a series of rings with pins,
teeth or equivalent projecting from the face of each, three rings being a convenient
number; the small ring will give a low gear to the road wheel and the large ring
will give a high gear. Upon the hub of the road wheel, or if tho axle turns, it may
be upon a disc or equivalent thereof, I have a ring of teeth corresponding to those
already described, and between the two wheels I have an axle carried in suitable
bearings in or upon the framework, each end of the axle being provided with a
toothed wheel adapted to engage with the respective sets of teeth upon the crank
axle driving wheel and the road wheel. The wheel upon the connecting axle, which
engages with the crank axle wheel, is adapted to slide upon its axle, but always turns
with it, a convenient way of effecting this being to square the end of the axle and
have a square hole in the wheel. The wheel may be reciprocated upon the axle by
any convenient arrangement of clutch lover, sliding catch or the like. One way of
arranging this is to pivot upon any convenient portion of the frame the clutch lever,
which may have a quadrant and spring detent, or other fixing mechanism, by which
it can be fixed in any of the required positions.
The engagement wheels I prefer to make with two solid flanges with pins between
and rollers upon the pins, so as to reduce the friction; the flanges are preferably formed
starfish-wise so that each pin connects a projection of each Hange, a space between
the succeeding teeth being left open for convenience of passage of the teeth of the
driving wheel when the roller wheel is shifted.
The sliding wheel may be provided with a spring stop mechanism to retain it in the
varying positions, the spring stop being. operated by the clutch or other lever or
equivalent, so as to release the wheel when it is desired to move it.
Dated this 00th day of Animus 1000
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, GEORGE WYATT formerly of Ellingham House, Arundel Street Strand, in the
County of Middlesex, now of 21 Benedict Road, Brixton in the County of London,
Architect and Surveyor, 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 stateinent:--
This invention relates to driving mechanism for cycles and the like and is so
arranged that the proportions "gearing" between the crank axle and the road wheel
can be varied.
The invention is carried out by means of a wheel or disc upon the crank axle,
having two or more rings with pins, or teeth, projecting from the face of each ring,
the small ring giving the low gear to the road wheel, the larger ring or rings a higher
gear. The hub of the road wheel, or if the axle turns it may be upon a disc or
equivalent thereon, is furnished with a ring of similar pins, and between the two
wheels or discs an axle is placed, carried on suitable bearings. Each end of this axle
is provided with a wheel adapted to engage with the respective rings of pins, the
wheel on the crank end being arranged so as to engage at will with any one of the
various rings of pins on the crown wheel.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side view of the apparatus applied to a safety bicycle.
Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1, partly in elevation.
Figures 3 and 4 are sections on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 respectively of Figure 2.
Figure 5. is a side view of the gear wheels in position.
Figure 6 is a section of one of the gear wheels, and
Figures 7 and 8 show details of portions of the mechanism for changing the
gear.
Like letters refer to similar parts in all the drawings.
The driving or crown wheel A fixed on the crank shaft is shown with three grooved
or recessed rings A' A2 A3 placed on a hevel so as to be parallel with the line of the
axle Chereafter described. Threaded holes are formed through the hottom of the
recesses to receive pins or teeth A. Each pin has a square head, with a thread cut
immediately below the head, and is screwed home in the recess, the plain body of the
pin projecting through on the other side of the wheel, as shown in Figures 2 and 3.
Although preferably pins with round bodies are employed, as shown in the drawings,
the shape of these pins or teeth may be varied. Flat rings A', preferably made in two
or more pieces are fitted into the recesses of the rings A1 A2 A and fastened by
countersunk screws A°. The flat rings A, are furnished with square holes
corresponding to the heads of the pins A+ and lock the latter in position. This
arrangement allows of a pin being readily replaced if broken.
The back hub has a wheel or disc B, furnished with a single ring of pins B' similar
to those described on the crown wheel A.
The bottom stay on that side of the machine on which the driving gear is placed,
forms a casing for the connecting axle O, and consists of a hollow tube D with
enlarged ends D D forming boxes for the bearings of the axle C and is fixed by
brackets D³ D' to the opposite bottom stay and down tube and the back hub axle
respectively.
The axle C is hollow and has formed on the back hub end a collar C (Figure 2)
which with the cap C screwed into the end D' of the bottom stay forms the race for
the balls of one of the axle end bearings. A similar bearing is provided at the
crown wheel end, but in this case the collar C is removable and fixed on the axle by

page_text: screws Can opening may be provided in the head D¹ to permit of the putting
together of this fitting.
The back hub end of the axle C is square to receive the star wheel E hereafter more
fully described which engages with the pins of the back hub disc B. The crown
wheel end of the axle C is fitted internally for a certain portion of its length with a
piece of metal Co shaped in cross section as shown in Figure 4, and receives the sliding
spindle F made to slide readily within it, whilst forming a good fit. It is evident
that the spindle F' and the portion of the axle which receives it, may be of any cross
section which allows the spindle to slide but not to rotate within the axle. One end of the
sliding pin F is made square to carry the star wheel F which engages with the pins
of the crown wheel A. The wheel I has a solid body and projecting lugs connected
by pins Is carrying steel rollers F. One end of the wheel body is prolonged and
threaded to take the nut F forming a recess to receive a shifting ring G. The sides
of the recess and the sides of the ring are furnished with corresponding curved grooves
forming the races G1 G for a ball bearing. The ring G is provided with lugs G
carrying a pin G, by which it is connected with the reciprocating cord or
wires I, J, through the shackle H, into the caps H' of which the ends of the cords are
fastened.
The shifting ring G may be connected with a lever or other reciprocating
mechanisin in place of the device described herein; and instead of having lugs as
shown, the ring may be adapted with a fork or jaws to connect it with the operating
mechanism.
The wheel E before referred to is constructed with projecting lugs E¹, pins E' and
rollers E3 like the wheel F' just described.
The mechanisin for reciprocating the wheel F and spindle F' in the axle C, comprises
a wheel L, constructed with a flat web 1 having a central boss I which forms the
bearing for the pin L and carries an arın M by which the wheel is turned. The pin L'
is preferably fixed on the upper part of the steering tube by a hinged band so as to be
capable of adjustinent.
A grooved flange L' runs round the edge of one side of the web L' with an opening
at one point preferably with curved edges as shown at I. (Figure 7). The cords I J
before referred to are led round the groove, one on either side, and fastened to the
inside of the flat plate preferably by tightening devices, such as are shown at I¹ JI
Figure 7. A light cover I may be provided fastened by screws on the flange I^.
The cords I Jare led from the shackle H to the wheel L by guiding pulleys K
preferably fastened to the frame of the cycle by hinged bauds.
The arm M has a handle M' hinged on the pin M, and provided with a short
arm M³ any convenient form of spring may be employed to hold the handle M and
arm M' normally in the same straight line, as shown in full lines in Figure 8. A
quadrant N with notches N' corresponding in number with the sets of pins on the
crown wheel, three in the apparatus now being described, is fastened, conveniently
by screws, to the bicycle frame, so that the arm M³ of the handle M' can engage
with either of the notches at will. By pulling back the handle M' to the position
shown in dotted lines in Figure 8, the arm M³ is raised so as to clear the notch N' and
the wheel I may be turned so that the arm Ms engages in the next notch of the
quadrant. The distance between the notches must be such that by this movement of
the wheel the portions of the wires I and J wound on the wheel L are respectively
lengthened and shortened, so that the shackle H will traverse the distance separating
two adjacent rings of pins on the crown wheel, and by its connection with the
shifting ring G slide the pin F1 within the axle C so as to move the wheel F
from engagement with one set of pins on the crown wheel to engagement with
an adjacent set.
By this arrangement the gear can be readily varied by the rider without stopping
the machine; the change of gear taking place with equal facility whether the machine
be in rapid or slow motion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said

page_text: invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In variable driving gear for cycles and the like a wheel such as A, with two or
more sets of pins or teeth, such as A and rings such as A' substantially as and for the
purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In variable driving gear for cycles and the like the combination with a wheel
such as A of a wheel such as F sliding spindle F and axle C substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. In variable driving gear for cycles and the like the combination with an axle
such as C, of a wheel F sliling spindle F and wheel E substantially as and for the
purpose described.
4. In variable driving gear for cycles and the like the combination with a sliding
wheel of a shifting ring or jaw, such as G, carried on ball bearings on the wheel.
5. In variable driving gear for cycles and the like the combination with a sliding
wheel and its shifting ring or jaw of operating mechanism comprising a flexible
cord IJ, and pulleys substantially as described.
6. In variable driving gear for cycles and the like the complete gear changing
mechanisin substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete variable
speed gear for cycles substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 51st day or Nay 1897.
GEORGE WYATT.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.