IMPROVED APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND DETERMINING THE SPEED THE SPEED OF BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES BY THE RIDER WHEN MOUNTED
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John George Horsey and Thomas Bell both of Copperfield
Road, Mile End in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of IMPROVED
APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING AND DETERMINING THE SPEED
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John George Horsey and
Thomas Bell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th August
1882.
JOHN GEORGE HORSEY and THOMAS BELL both of Copperfield Road Mile
End in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVED APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR
REGULATING AND DETERMINING THE SPEED OF BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES BY THE
RIDER WHEN MOUNTED
"
This Invention relates to improved appliances or apparatus for regulating and
determining the speed of bicycles and tricycles by the rider when mounted.
According to our Invention we fit a box or casing around an axle between the
fork of a bicycle, and in this box we fit a series of toothed wheels which are capable
of being put into gear by a cam or eccentric under the action of a lever whose
handle is within reach of the rider when mounted said lever operating the cam or
eccentric by a ratchet like motion to regulate and determine the speed of travelling
such as when moving on a level, down a gradient, or up a hill.
By one arrangement we fix one toothed wheel on the inner side of the box and
by a movement of the lever we put another wheel into or out of gear with it, said
second wheel being on a socket or collar on the axle which in our Invention is not
a fixture to the wheel as in ordinary bicycles.
To the socket or collar we also fit intermediate wheels to gear into wheels on the
axle so that the motion of one is imparted to the other according to the position at
which the cam or eccentric is arranged by the lever.
In fitting our Invention to a tricycle we fix two toothed wheels adjoining on the
inner side of the box or casing and throw a large or a small wheel into gear by a
lever, the wheels being on either side of the fixed wheels so that the throwing in of
one causes the other to be thrown out of gear and vice versa.
When we use bevil gear in our box or casing we fit the movable gear on a
forked or slotted stirrup through which the axle passes, the stirrup being shiftable
by the lever,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John George Horsey and Thomas Bell in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 5th February 1883.
JOHN GEORGE HORSEY and THOMAS BELL both of Copperfield Road, Mile End in
the County of Middlesex IMPROVED APPLIANCES OR APPARATUS FOR REGULATING
AND DETERMINING THE SPEED OF BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES BY THE RIDER WHEN
MOUNTED
This Invention relates to improved appliances or apparatus for regulating and
determining the speed of bicycles and tricycles by the rider when mounted.
According to our Invention we fit a box or casing around an axle between the
fork of a bicycle and in this box we arrange a series of toothed wheels which are
capable of being put into gear by a cam or eccentric under the action of a lever
whose handle is within reach of the rider when mounted, said lever operating the
cam or eccentric by a ratchet like motion to regulate and determine the speed of
travelling, such as when moving on a level, or down a gradient, or up a hill.
Figure 1 of the annexed drawings shows our Invention as applied to a bicycle in
which two speed motions can be obtained. A is the hub of box form within which
at one side is a wheel B fixed to it and disconnected from the axle C. R is a wheel
fixed to the axle C and capable of rotating therewith under the action of the
treadles E F in the usual manner. G is an eccentric strap also within the box
hub A but attached to a collar H which passes through to the outside of the hub
where the collar carries a notched disc I. This notched disc is encircled by a ring
formed on the lower end of a lever J whose handle is arranged close to the top of
the fork K to be readily moved to and fro by the rider. The lever J is provided
with a spring paul to engage into notches formed on the periphery of the disc I as
to engage therein and be moved round to the desired extent to throw one or other
of a series of pinions L M N P into gear according to the desire of the rider when
moving over level ground or in ascending a hill. The pinions L M N P are carried
by a plate G which can be moved by the eccentric formed on the inner end of
the collar H. The pinions are of different diameters in series mounted on axle
pins QQ and carried by the disc G.
If the disc is set for ordinary travelling, that is to say, one revolution of the hub
and main wheel to each revolution of one treadle the disc is moved round to throw
the two pinions L M into gear with the wheels R D and give off a motion
corresponding to the revolutions of the treadles; but if the disc G be moved round
to put the pinions P R and wheels N B into gear the speed of the main wheel
decreases in proportion to that of the revolutions of the treadles.
Figure 2 shows bevil gear mechanism within the box hub. In this arrangement
-which is operated by a lever and notched disc as before explained-the eccentric H
moves the plate G as to set the pinion R into gear with the wheel P fixed on the
spindle Q, and the pinion N also on the spindle Q gearing into the wheel B to
attain a given speed in proportion to the rotation of the treadles E F when the
plate G is so moved by the lever and eccentric as to throw the pinión L M into
gear with the two wheels R D which become coupled, the main wheel partakes of
a speed equal to the rotation of the treadles.
The mechanism thus described is particularly suitable to bicycles, but by reversing

page_text: the direction of motion such as that derived from rotating the box or chain wheel
hub on the driving or treadle spindle, it is applicable to tricycles by giving motion by
its series of pinions and wheels to the axle or driving spindle, as will be understood
by reference to Figure 3.
In Figures 3 and 4, four different motions are shown capable of being applied to
a bicycle or a tricycle; B is the wheel attached to the chain wheel A which gives
motion to the four gear wheels D RST the wheel B giving motion to the
wheels N P, P giving motion to the wheel R fixed upon the spindle C for driving
the machine.
The two other motions work exactly the same. Opposite the wheels B D is the
wheel L M when thrown into gear engages with the wheel B upon the chain
wheel A and with D upon the driving spindle C thereby causing D to revolve at
the same speed as B attached to chain wheel A. Upon the spindle C is placed
loosely the cam or eccentric H free to turn upon it. Working upon the eccentric H
is the plate G. To this plate G is fixed the studs upon which work the four
different speed gear wheels 1, 2, 3, 4, as shown in Figure 4 so that by altering the
position of the cam H either of these wheels may be thrown into position or into
the intermediate space between each, the spindle C being then free to revolve
independently of either.
The lever J which actuates the cam or eccentric H through the notched collar
holds the cam firmly in position. Where only two motions are preferred to a
tricycle a simple lever a and clutch 6 as at Figures 5, 6 and 7 are used.
A is the chain wheel running loosely upon the spindle C but carrying with it
and fixed thereto the gear wheel B and toothed clutch wheel c and upon the driving
spindle C is fixed the gear wheel D and the toothed clutch wheel c'.
Between the clutch wheels c c¹ Figures 5 and 6 the sliding clutch b is placed
free to revolve when engaged to both clutch wheels c c¹. When this clutch plate b
is in position as shown in Figure 5 it engages with the clutch wheel c fixed to and
upon the gear wheel B upon the chain wheel A and with the clutch wheel c¹ fixed
to and upon the wheel D and spindle C. When the lever a is thrown into the
position of the dotted lines the clutch plate b is thrown into the position also
shown in dotted lines by the ring d so holding the clutch plate in position.
A fixed plate e is recessed at f to allow the clutch b to be held clear of the clutch
wheels cc, while the intermediate wheels g h are engaged by the wheel B upon
the chain wheel A and by the wheel D upon the driving spindle C as shown by
the dotted lines, thereby increasing the power of the machine. The lever a holds
the ring d, d and gear wheels g h in position by notches in quadrant j.
We have in the previous description referred to the application of our speed
devices to the wheel axles or spindles or to the chain wheels of tricycles; but it
will be evident that the arrangements shown at Figures 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, are applicable
to the treadle, pedal, or crank axle chain disc which can be of box form as hitherto
mentioned.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, We declare that we claim :-
First The particular form or arrangement of speed gear within a box hub of
a bicycle as at Figure 1, and the method of controlling its action without
necessitating the rider dismounting or shifting from his seat, as and for the purposes
described.
Secondly we claim:-The modification or bevil gear arrangement shown at
Figure 2 for the box hub of a bicycle, as and for the purposes set forth.
Thirdly we claim: The particular form or arrangement of four motion gear
within a box chain wheel of a bicycle or a tricycle, as shown at Figures 3 and 4 of
the annexed drawings, said gear and box being on the wheel, on the wheel spindle,
or on the treadle spindle, as described for the purposes set forth.
Fourthly we claim :-The arrangement of gear with sliding clutch plate actuated

page_text: by a throw over lever as shown at Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings and as
described for the purposes set forth.
İn witness whereof we the said John George Horsey and Thomas Bell have
hereunto set our hands and seals this Third day of February in the year of
our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
.
JOHN. G. HORSEY.
THOMAS BELL.
TL.S.)
(L.S.)