Improvements in Gear Cases for Cycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gear Cases for Cycles.
WALTER BIDDLES 40 Humberstone Road, Leicester Cycle Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is for an improved method of fixing the foundation strips of gear
cases to cycles as described in Patent No. 18621 '93 and the like. Instead of being
compelled to solder the foundation strips to the frame as therein described
propose to make it optional to have the foundation strips detachable if preferred.
This I propose to do by having the centre of the foundation strips holiowed so
as to fit round the compression stay such hollow part to be large enough to leave a
little space between itself and the compression stay. A slide at the back fork end
fitting on the back hub spindle and foundation strip will hold the foundation strip
firm at the hub end. A clip on the bottom bracket or on the compression tube
close to bracket, or a small strip on the bracket may be soldered to hold it firm at
bracket end.
One or two clips along the compression tubes as desired will complete their
fixing to the frame.
Dated this Second day of May 1895.
WALTER BIDDLES,
Applicant.
Improvements in Gear Cases for Cycles.
I, WALTER BIDDLES of 62, Humberstone Road, Leicester, in the County of
Leicester, Cycle Manufacturer, late of 40 Humberstone Road Leicester 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 method of attaching and fixing the
foundation strips for carrying and supporting gear cases formed in two parts, an
upper and a lower part. In a prior Patent-No. 18621 of 1893-I described and
claimed a foundation strip for carrying the two parts of such a divided gear case,
the said part being adapted to be soldered to the frame of the machine, and the
two parts of the case being fixed to the foundation strip by means of one or more
transverse screws.
Now according to my present invention I construct the foundation strip so that
it can readily be detached from the frame of the machine whereby the attachment
and detachment of such cases to cycles is materially facilitated.
According to this invention the foundation strip is formed in two parts by
dividing it transversely and each part is hollowed or channeiled longitudinally on
one side so that when the two parts are fixed together the grooves or channels so
formed make together a longitudinal opening to receive the compression stay of
the frame, the two parts of the said strip being fixed in position on the said
compression stay by one or more clips adapted to embrace the said stay, either
alone or in conjunction with a slide adapted to fit over the axle carrying the
ID |

page_text: driving wheel, and with a bracket strip adapted to be fixed to the pedal-crank axle
bracket.
In the accompanying drawings which illustrate this invention:-
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation showing the two parts of the
case and the foundation strip separated.
Figures 2 and 3 Sheet No. 1 are views in side elevation of the front and back
respectively of a case embodying my invention mounted in position.
Figures 4 and 5 Sheet No. 2 are views-on an enlarged scale-in plan of the
foundation strip, the former in position and the latter separated.
Figure 6 Sheet No. 2 is a view in transverse section on line x x Figure 4.
Figures 7 and 8 Sheet No. 2 are views-on an enlarged scale-in plan of a
modification in the construction in the foundation strip, the former in position and
the latter separated.
Figure 9 Sheet No. 2 is a view in transverse section on line & Figure 7.
Figures 10, 11 and 12 Sheet No. 2 are views showing further modifications.
Figures 13 and 14 Sheet No. 3 are views in plan of another form my invention
may assume, the former showing the strip in position and the latter with its parts
separated.
Figure 15 Sheet No. 3 is a view in transverse section on line xx Figure 13, and
Figures 16 and 17 Sheet No. 3 are views in side elevation and plan respectively
of a further modification.
Figure 18 Sheet No. 3 is a view in plan of the parts separated, and
Figure 19 Sheet No. 3 is a view in transverse section on line x x Figure 16.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The foundation strip is formed in two parts B and B' each consisting of three
essential parts, viz. :-the part B of a portion c of the front plate C of the strip, a
portion d of the back plate D of the strip, and of a trough or channel shaped
piece e connecting the portions c and d of the plates C and D. Similarly the
part B' of the foundation strip consists of a portion c¹ of the front plate C of the
strip, a portion d' of the back plate D of the strip, and of a trough or channel
shaped piece el connecting the portions and d' of the plates C and D). The
grooves made by the trough or channel shaped pieces e and are such that when
the two parts B and B' of the foundation strip are attached or fixed to each other
they form a longitudinal opening E for the compression stay X of the frame to
pass through.
It will be understood that the portions cand of the plates C and D only
extend beyond the junction of the two parts of the case for à unfficient distance to
enable au overlapping joint to be made with the two parts A and A' of the case es
described in my prior Patent hereinbefore referred to.
The two parts Band 13 of the foundation strip may he attached to each other
and held together by may convenient form of joint. For instance plates F and Fi
may be formed on or fixed to the divided edges of the two parts B and B of the
strip, openings being formed in the said plates to agree or coincide with the grooves
or channels formed by the pieces e and e¹ of the said parts. The plates F and F¹
may be temporarily held together by dowel pins as shown by Figures 4, 5 and 6
and the two parts be firmly secured together by the screw C³ which passes through
a portion of each half A and A' of the case and through a hole c' in the two plates
to hold them together and fix them to the foundation strip as described in my prior
Patent herein before referred to.
As as alternative construction the plates F and F inay be fixed together by
means of screws as shown by Figures 7, 8 and 9.
Another method of connecting the two parts B and B of the case together is to
hinge the two plates Fend together shown by Figure 10 and to draw them
together either by means of the screw passing through the holenid
or by an additional screw. This constriction is convenient one when it is
intended to the plate. F and F clip to attach the foundation strip to
the compression stay X.

page_text: A further modification consists in cutting the abutting faces of the plates F
and Fi on the bevel or at an angle as shown by Figure 11.
A further modification consists in cutting the abutting faces of the plates F
and F¹ to form a halved joint as shown by Figure 12.
The two parts B and B' of the foundation strip may be conveniently attached
to the compression stay X by clips such as G, but I prefer to use such a clip for
the front part B1 of the strip as shown by Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4, and to attach the
rear part B to the frame of the machine by means of the usual slotted slide H
mounted in the back end of the part B in the usual manner to provide for the
adjustment of the driving chain, the said slide being clamped between the shoulder
or cone on the axle and the fork side in the well-known manner.
As a further modification instead of the clip G on the part B₁ a small bracket
such as J may be fitted on the pedal-crank axle bracket Z to which the front end
of the portion of the plate of the part B₁ of the foundation strip may be attached
by means of a screw or its equivalent as shown by Figure 13.
If it is desired that the gear case shall be oil tight the openings in the plates F
and F must be made to fit tightly round the compression stay X in which case the
said plates can be conveniently used as a clip for attaching the foundation strip to
the compression stay.
As a modification the plates C and D of the foundation strip may each be
formed in two parts c and c and d and which are fixed together and to the
compression stay X by clips such as G as shown by Figures 13, 14 and 15.
As a further modification the parts c and d and c¹ and d¹ of the plates C and D
forming respectively parts of the two parts B and B¹ of the strip may be slotted
longitudinally and have the edges of the said slots connected by plates e top and
bottom thereby forming a skeleton strip, as shown by Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
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 improvements in gear cases for cycles as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
(2.) In a gear case for cycles, a foundation strip formed in two parts in the
manner and for the purpose as hereinbefore set forth.
(3.) In a gear case for cycles, the combination with the two parts of the case, of
a foundation strip formed in two parts having longitudinal troughs, channels or
grooves therein, so that when the two parts of the strip are placed together the
said troughs, channels or grooves form by and between them a longitudinal opening,
as and for the purpose set forth.
(4.) In a gear case for cycles, the combination with the two parts of the case, of
a foundation strip divided transversely into two parts each of which is troughed,
channelled or grooved longitudinally but inversely to each other, the abutting
edges of the two parts being fixed together, aud to the compression stay of the
frame of the machine, by screws or the like, as and for the purpose set forth.
(5.) In a gear case for cycles, the combination with the two parts of the case, of
a foundation strip divided transversely into two parts each of which is troughed,
channelled or grooved longitudinally but inversely to each other, the two parts of
the said strip being connected together in any convenient manner and attached to
the compression stay of the frame of the machine by one or more clips, slides or
brackets, as and for the purpose set forth.
(6.) In a gear case for cycles, the combination with the divided parts of the
case, of a foundation strip consisting essentially of two plates such as C and D
each divided into two parts c and c and d and d' respectively, the parts c and d

page_text: and the parts c and d being respectively attached to each other and to the
compression stay of the frame by clips such as C, as and for the purpose set forth.
(7.) In a gear case for cycles, the combination with the divided parts of the
case, of a skeleton foundation strip formed in two parts B and B¹, as hereinbefore
set forth and illustrated by Figures 16, 17, 18 and 19 of the accompanying
drawings.
ed this 3rd day of March 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.