Improvements in or connected with Machinery or Apparatus for Varying the Speed of Velocipedes with Chain Driving Gear.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 19th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 24th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Machinery or Apparatus for
Varying the Speed of Velocipedes with Chain Driving Gear.
We, RAPHAEL SCHWEERS, of 2-3 Faulgraben, Danzig, in the Empire of
Germany, Architect to the Government, and CARL FUCHS, of the Imperial
Russian Consulate-General at Danzig aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to velocipedes provided with two chain-driving gears, and
whereby the relative speed between the crank (or pedals) and the driving axle,
can be varied by throwing one or the other chain gear into operation, an arrange-
ment being provided for shifting the coupling device that connects one or other of
the chain gears, the said arrangement being composed of two levers pivoted to the
frame of the machine and acting on the coupling device; these levers being
connected by means of rods with a two armed lever operated by hand. A coupling
device is provided for throwing into action one or the other chain gear, the said
coupling device being located between the spokes of the driving wheel and
consisting of a sliding coupling bolt, which rotates with the boss of the driving
wheel, being carried in a stirrup shaped piece, fixed to or forming a piece with the
rear wheel boss. The said coupling bolt is under the influence of a spring which
is under the greatest strain when the coupling bolt is in its middle position, so that
the bolt, when it passes beyond the middle position, is forced by the spring into
one or the other end position, and thereby couples the respective chain wheel with
the boss of the driving wheel. The two chain wheels on the pedal crank shaft are
fixed on said shaft, whilst the two chain wheels of the driving wheel are mounted
loosely on the boss of the latter.
In apparatus constructed as aforesaid and adapted to a bicycle of safety type,
the rear chain wheels (there being two such) are mounted loosely on the rear wheel
boss, which latter is provided with the stirrup shaped piece fixed thereto, and the
rear chain wheels have each a projecting arm and are formed with a coupling
opening adapted to receive a coupling bolt carried in the stirrup piece. On the
sides of the projecting arms of the rear chain wheels there are inclined guide
surfaces. The coupling bolt is capable of being moved to the right and to the left
in the stirrup piece by means of a two-armed lever or cross piece, which engages
with the coupling bolt; the cross piece is acted upon by a spring which causes the
coupling bolt to be forced to one side or the other, and this cross piece is operated
by levers acting as tappets, which are arranged on both sides of the frame of the
machine, and which can be moved by pull-rods and lever whilst the velocipede
is in motion.
After the coupling bolt has been moved beyond its middle position, and is forced
by the spring into the end position, the coupling bolt strikes the inclined surface of
the arm of one of the chain wheels to be coupled, the end of the coupling bolt
moves up along the said inclined surface until it is pressed by the spring into the
coupling opening.
1
r
1000

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Machinery or Apparatus for
Varying the Speed of Velocipedes with Chain Driving Gear.
We, RAPHAEL SCHWEERS cf 2-3 Faulgraben. Danzig in the Empire of
Germany, Architect to the Government and CARL FUCHS of the Imperial
Russian Consulate-General at Danzig aforesaid, 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 velocipedes provided with two chain-driving gears and
whereby the relative speed between the crank (or pedals) and the driving axle can
be varied by throwing one or the other chain gear into operation, an arrangement
being provided for shifting the coupling device that connects one or other of the
chain gears, the said arrangement being composed of two levers pivotted to the
frame of the machine and acting on the coupling device, these levers being
connected by means of rods with a two-armed lever operated by hand. The
coupling device provided for throwing into action one or the other chain gear is
carried by or from the hub of the driving wheel, being located say between the
spokes of the driving wheel, and consists of a sliding coupling bolt which rotates
with the boss of the driving wheel being carried in a stirrup-shaped piece fixed to
or forming a piece with the rear wheel boss. The said coupling bolt is under the
influence of a spring which is under the greatest strain when the coupling bolt is in
its middle position, so that the bolt, when it passes beyond the middle position, is
forced by the spring into one or the other end position, and thereby couples the
respective chain wheel with the boss of the driving wheel. The two chain wheels
on the pedal crank shaft are fixed on said shaft, whilst the two chain wheels of the
driving wheel are mounted loosely on the boss of the latter.
We will now more particularly describe our invention with reference to the
accompanying drawing showing the same by way of example, applied to a
velocipede of the safety or rear-driven bicycle type.
Fig. 1 shows the right hand half of the rear or driving wheel axle in longitudinal
section, the left hand half being shown in elevation.
Fig 2 shows the rear axle in cross section, and also shows the front portion and
framework of the machine in side elevation.
Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the crank bearing, showing the chain
wheels a and b fixed on the shaft.
In apparatus constructed according to our invention and adapted to a bicycle of
safety type the rear chain wheels e and f (there being two such) are mounted
loosely on the rear wheel boss d, which latter is provided with the stirrup shaped
piece c, fixed thereto, and the rear chain wheels ef have each a projecting arm y
formed with a coupling opening or recess r adapted to receive the coupling bolt i,
carried in the stirrup piece c and sliding in holes k therein. On the sides of the
projecting arms g of the rear chain wheels ef, there are inclined guide surfaces h.
The coupling bolt is capable of being moved laterally either to the right or to the
left in the said holes k, by means of the three armed lever or cross piece / carrying
a pin m which takes into a groove on the coupling bolt ; the lever is acted upon
by a spring n which causes the coupling bolt to be held on one side or the other
of the central position, the three armed lever being rocked sufficiently to throw
the bolt beyond the centre by levers o acting as tappets on both sides of the frame
of the machine, and which tappet levers can be moved by rods and lever
P
whilst
the velocipede is in motion.

page_text: The change apparatus is shown with the coupling bolt engaging the right hand
gear wheel, and by changing the position of the coupling parts, the left wheel may
be coupled with the boss of the rear wheel, and the right hand gear thrown out of
action. When one of the arms of lever is brought into contact with one of the
tappet levers o, the said arm of lever I will slide along the inclined surface of tappet
lever o, Fig. 2, and will be depressed until the coupling bolt has been moved
beyond its middle position, and is forced by the spring n into the end position, the
coupling bolt i striking the inclined surface of the arms g of one of the chain
wheels to be coupled, when the end of the coupling bolt i moves up along the said
inclined surfaces h until it is pressed by the spring into the opening
locking one gear and releasing the other.
r
therein, thus
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. In a velocipede with double chain driving gear having two chain wheels of
differing diameters (or numbers of teeth) adapted to be coupled alternately with the
driving wheel or wheels, the combination with the said chain-wheels each being
provided or rigidly connected with a coupling arm, of a movable coupling bolt
carried by or from the hub of the driving-wheel or axle, said hub carrying also &
three-armed lever, the one arm thereof being adapted to act upon or change the
position of a coupling bolt upon either of the other arms being operated by movable
tappet arms or levers, mounted upon the frame of the velocipede substantially as
and for the purposes herein described.
2. In a velocipede with double chain driving gear having two chain wheels of
differing diameters (or numbers of teeth) adapted to be coupled alternately with
the driving wheel or wheels, the combination with the said chain wheels, each being
provided or rigidly connected with a coupling arm of a movable coupling bolt,
carried by or upon the hub of the driving wheel or axle, said hub carrying also a
three armed lever, the middle arm thereof being adapted to act upon or change the
position of a coupling bolt, upon either of the other arms being operated by movable
tappet levers or arms mounted upon the frame of the velocipede, said middle arm
of the three-armed lever having hinged to it a rod adapted to slide in a movable
sleeve, said rod being fitted with a spring tending to overcome the dead point of the
joint, substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
3. In a velocipede with double chain driving gear, having two chain-wheels of
differing diameters (or numbers of teeth) adapted to be coupled alternately with
the driving wheel or wheels, the combination with the said chain-wheels each being
provided or rigidly connected with a coupling arm, of a movable coupling bolt
carried by or upon the hub of the driving wheel or axle, said hub carrying also a
three armed lever, the middle arm thereof being adapted to act upon or change the
position of a coupling bolt, upon either of the other arms being operated by movable
tappets mounted upon the frame of the velocipede, said tappets forming parts of
doubled-armed levers adapted to be turned from a second double-armed lever by
connecting rods, the latter lever being provided or connected with a hand lever
situated in the proximity of the seat or saddle of the cycle, all substantially as and
for the purposes herein set forth.
4. In a velocipede with double chain driving gear having two chain wheels of
differing diameters (or numbers of teeth) adapted to be coupled alternately with
the driving wheel or wheels, the combination with the said chain-wheels each being
provided or rigidly connected with a coupling-arm, of a movable coupling-bolt
carried by or upon the hub of the driving wheel or axle, said hub carrying also a
three-armed lever, the middle arm thereof being adapted to be turned by movable
projections or tappets held by the frame, said projections forming part of double-
armed levers adapted to be turned from a second double-armed lever by connecting
rode, the latter lever being provided or connected with a hand lever situated in the
proximity of the seat or saddle of the velocipede, the middle-arm of the three-

page_text: armed lever having hinged to it a rod adapted to slide in a movable sleeve, said rod
being fitted with a spring tending to overcome the dead point of the joint,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
Dated thin 10th day of February 1001
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for Applicants.