Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1897-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 generally to improvements in cyclometers, for use in
registering the distances traveled by wheeled vehicles.
The drawings illustrate a particular form of embodiment of the invention which
is adapted especially for use in connection with velocipedes or bicycles, to count,
register and indicate the number of miles and decimals of a mile which the
bicycle travels.
The development of the art and the tremendous increase in the use of bicycles,
together with the accompanying demand for a distance measuring instrument
in connection therewith have led to the creation of a demand for the manufacture
and distribution of cyclometers possessed of certain requisites which it has been
attempted by this invention to satisfy. To this end this invention consists in the
production of a cyclometer small in size, of a construction compact and simple, so
arranged as to exclude dust and dirt from the operating parts, positive in action,
accurate in results, and very simple and inexpensive in manufacture.
A cyclometer of the form which it is attempted to illustrate must be carried
upon the frame or hub of the bicycle contiguous to the revolving bicycle spokes
and in such relation thereto as that a trip secured to one of the spokes may strike
a star wheel arranged at one end of the cyclometer. The star wheel is fixed upon
the end of a shaft which extends through the cyclometer and thus forms the
actuating mechanism. The case for the cyclometer is a small metal cylinder and
is provided about the surface of its interior circumference with a strip of trans-
parent membrane fitted to the case in such a way that the ends butt against
each other. It is of such width that the end plates of the cyclometer butt against
the edges of said membrane and thus is formed an air tight interior. The
mechanism consists of index rings which have their bearings through their exter-
nal circumference upon this transparent membrane. They are provided with
internal gears on one side. On the other side are grooves, continuous about the
circumference with the exception of two interior teeth placed in the path of the
groove. Within the index rings is provided means to support a shaft, carrying
a series of pinions, said pinions upon one side engaging the internal gear of the
corresponding index ring and on the other side having alternate teeth cut away so
CD 071

page_text: as to be locked from turning by engagement with the internal plane of the
adjacent ring.
By means of the peculiar reducing mechanism hereafter to be described the
first index ring is caused to revolve slowly and continuously and to indicate the
tenths of a mile traveled by the machine. Through the broad and narrow teeth
of the pinions each index ring is caused to revolve one tenth of its circumference
upon the complete revolution of the index ring before it.
The form of improved construction illustrated in the drawings will be fully
described hereinafter with reference thereto.
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings and the letters and figures
marked thereon, the same figures designating the same parts or features wherever
they occur.
Figure 1 is a sectional view of the cyclometer taken lengthwise on the line 1-1
of Figure 2, a small part on the upper right corner being broken away to show
the gears in elevation.
Figure 2 is an end view of the cyclometer with the head removed and showing
the actuating pinion, gears and spring.
Figure 3 is a view of the cyclometer in cross section on the line 3--3 of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the means herein shown to support the shaft
carrying the pinions.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the star wheel.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of the chambered nut.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of one of the index rings viewed from the posterior
side of the cyclometer.
Figure 8 is a similar view of an index ring viewed from the anterior side of the
cyclometer.
Figure 9 is a perspective view of one of the index ring, actuating pinions.
Figure 10 is a perspective view of the cyclometer in position upon the bicycle
wheel.
A is a cyclometer case, made preferably as above stated of metal and, as repre-
sented in the drawings, cylindrical in form.
C and C¹ are heads which inclose the ends of the cyclometer and protect the
parts from the intrusion of air or dust.
J is a membrane, transparent of course, formed into shape and forced into the
interior of the case, with the ends butting tightly together as shown plainly, in
Figure 3, J. The membrane is cut to such a size as that the heads or end inclos-
ing means butt tightly against its edges around the circumference. In this way a
perfectly tight lining as it were is formed for the interior of the cyclometer, forming
a smooth interior circumferential surface and having joints perfectly tight where
the ends come together and where the edges meet the heads or means for inclosing
the ends of the cyclometer.
K is the body part of an interior grooved core illustrated plainly in Figure 4
as a means for supporting the shaft H. The upper portion is milled out as here
illustrated, leaving a plane surface which is marked h². The shaft B provides a
means for actuation between the star wheel A' fixed upon its anterior end and the
mechanism for operating the index rings. A chambered nut L is screwed upon a
projection of the core between the star wheel and cyclometer head. In the chamber
of the nut is placed a packing of felt, leather, or other substance M to protect the
interior from the intrusion of dust. The core has no support at its posterior end
as illustrated in the drawings but is held in position against the head by the
mut and is held against rotation by upsetting the metal in the head as at 11. k¹ in
Figure 4 represents a recess across the end of the core to accommodate a spring
which is forced into place against the core by screwing a pinion D on the posterior
end of the shaft B. In this way the internal support is maintained in position and
the star wheel A' and chambered nut L are held yieldingly against the anterior
end of the cyclometer so, that there is sufficient friction in the turning of the star
wheel A¹ to prevent accidental displacement. E is an intermediate gear preferably

page_text: loose which meshes on one side with the teeth of the pinion D. This gear E may
be fixed to a plate at the end of the core by a pin, but it is illustrated, and it is
preferably used, loose as shown.
F is a ring fixed within the head C and provided with an internal gear with
teeth marked f. Next this internal fixed gear is an index ring G which is loose
and has its bearings exteriorly upon the inner circumference of the membrane
heretofore described. In the drawings are shown five of these index rings. - Each
index ring is provided upon the right, or posteriorly to the actuating means, with
an internal gear provided with teeth marked g. Upon the left each index ring
as shown in Figure 8 has a groove except where it is broken by the projection of
two teeth and g³. H is a shaft rotating in bearings at its ends formed by the
slots in the core at h h¹. As represented in the drawings and for the denominations.
to be used in this cyclometer, this shaft carries four pinions I represented more in
detail in Figure 9. Each pinion has each alternate tooth cut off on the posterior
side as shown in the drawing Figure 9. The shaft carrying the pinions and
the pinions rest inside the circumference of the index rings. Posteriorly the cut
away portion of the pinion 3 engages the internal plane surface g of each index
ring, each alternate tooth being cut away, and therefore the two teeth i each side
of the cut away tooth resting against the surface of the plane form a locking
arrangement by which the pinion is held from turning as the shaft B is revolved
and the index ring is carried around resting upon the pinion without turning
the pinion upon the shaft H. Anteriorly the teeth of the pinion engage the
gear on the posterior side of the index ring G so that whenever the pinion is
permitted to revolve it will turn the next anterior index ring. The intermediate
gear E is thick enough as shown in Figure 1 to engage at once both the teeth on
the fixed gear F and the teeth on the interior gear of the index ring G next to
the fixed gear F. These gears upon F and G are differential. That is, in
this illustration the gear on G has one less tooth than the gear on F.
The cyclometer must of course be provided with some means of attachment to
the bicycle adjacent to the spokes and a mode of adjustably attaching it thereto
is shown in Figure 10. r is a trip fixed to a spoke of the bicycle wheel. P-0 is
It is
a clamping device attached to the axle and fixed there securely by the nut Q¹.
a dovetailed rib upon the outside of which are fastened the clamps by means of a
screw in such a way that the cyclometer can be affixed at a point nearer to or
further away from the spokes within the limits of the length of the cyclometer.
The operation of the device is as follows: As the bicycle wheel revolves the
trip will strike the points of the star wheel A' and move the same through one
point at each revolution. Thus the shaft B is caused to revolve and with it the
pinion D. This pinion, engaging with the intermediate pinion E causes it to
revolve upon the teeth of the fixed gear F. As before remarked the pinion E is
thick enough to engage not only the teeth of the fixed gear F but also the teeth
of the gear fixed to the index ring G. The pinion E will therefore rotate upon
the gears of both F and G. Upon making one revolution upon the fixed gear F
the index ring G will be caused to rotate one tooth because it has one tooth less
than the fixed gear F. This rotation will also he continuous, it will be observed,
because of the relationship of the teeth of the gear F to the teeth of the gear G
which is illustrated by the broken away part in the posterior upon part of
Figure 1. This revolution, therefore, of the first index ring G will be very slow
and as it revolves the pinion I upon the shaft I will continue stationary because
locked from movement by the contact of the teeth i with the internal plane surface
of the index ring . When the index ring, however, shall have rotated so that a
tooth shall come in contact with a tooth in the path of the groove, the pinion
will he caused to turn, this being allowed by a tooth i dropping into the depres-
sion g'. Therefore until the index ring shall have moved around so that a tooth i
of the pinion shall have been introduced into the depression between the teeth g³, g
which will permit the pinion I to rotate past the depression in the gear gi formed
by the teeth and the pinion is locked against turning and with it the series

page_text: of index rings and pinions anterior thereto. The depression g', of course, extends
entirely across the width of the index ring.
As the pinion is thus caused and permitted to rotate, its teeth being' in engage-
ment with the teeth 92 of the internal gear of the second index ring, said second
index ring will be caused to rotate through two teeth, or as the teeth are arranged
in the cyclometer illustrated in the drawings through one tenth of its circumference.
When the second index ring shall have thus been caused to complete one rotation
the next pinion will rotate in the same way as heretofore described of the first
pinion and cause the third index ring to rotate through one tenth of its circum-
ference, and this will be true of each succeeding index ring and pinion. Each
index ring is provided upon its circumference at regular intervals with figures
representing decimal notation. These figures can be seen through the transparent
membrane which forms an interior lining to the cyclometer case as heretofore
described through a rectangular aperture in said case shown in Figure 3 by letter g.
As shown in the drawings the first posterior index ring will indicate decimals of
a mile, the second index ring will represent units, the third index ring will repre-
sent tens, the fourth index ring will represent hundreds, and the fifth index ring
will represent thousands.
The cyclometer therefore will measure up to 9999 9. A cyclometer can of
course be made upon this principle to record any greater or less number of miles
by the addition or exclusion of a corresponding number of index rings.
It is manifest that there may be sundry modifications of the construction illus
trated in the drawings which may be introduced without changing the principle
of the mode of construction which may be prefered by different makers or which
may be necessary to adapt the instrument for use under different conditions.
It will be seen, however, that the cyclometer herein illustrated and described is
exceedingly simple in construction, positive in action, and certain in result.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is:-
:-
1. A cyclometer case comprising in its construction a metal cylinder with an
opening along its length, a transparent membrane fitting closely to the interior
circumference of said cylinder with ends butting against each other, and heads
fastened into the ends of said cylinder and butting against the two edges of said
membrane, substantially as described.
2. A cyclometer comprising in its construction a cylindrical case, a series of
index rings within the same, a series of transmitting pinions upon a shaft located
within the circumference of the index rings, adapted to transmit motion from one
index ring to the next in order, and means to support the shaft, a stationary
internal gear, an actuating shaft provided with a pinion, and an intermediate gear
meshing with said actuating pinion on one side and on the other with the internal
fixed gear and with an internal gear formed on the first index ring differential
to said fixed gear, as herein set forth.
3. The combination within a cyclometer case of index rings bearing externally
upon the interior circumference of said case, a series of pinions upon a shaft sup-
ported within the circumference of said index rings, adapted in combination with
said index rings to actuate and control successively the movements of said index
rings, of an actuating shaft provided with a pinion, a fixed internal gear, an
internal gear formed on the first index ring, and an intermediate gear meshing
on one side with the actuating pinion and upon the other with both the
fixed internal gear and the gear upon the index ring, said gears being differential,
whereby a slow continuous movement is induced in said first index ring and by
the transmitting mechanism a fixed intermittent motion to each of the succeeding
index rings, substantially as described.
4. A cyclometer comprising in its construction means adapting it for actuation

page_text: in connection with the wheel of a vehicle, means to transmit motion so produced
to a reducing mechanism, a reducing mechanism consisting of a pinion attached
to the transmitting mechanism, differential gears, one fixed and the other loose,
and an intermediate gear meshing on one side with the pinion and on the other
with the differential gears, a series of index rings, and a series of pinions, each
being constantly in engagement with internal teeth on one index ring and inter-
mittently in engagement with internal teeth on the adjacent ring, as herein set
forth.
5. The combination in a cyclometer of a series of index rings and a grooved core
within them provided with a series of pinions on a shaft adapted to transmit move-
ment from each of said index rings to the next in order, of a transmitting and
reducing mechanism, consisting of a pinion fixed to the actuating shaft, a fixed
internal gear adjacent to the first index ring whose teeth are coincident with, but
differ in number from, the teeth of a gear formed on said index ring, and an
intermediate gear meshing with said pinion and the differential gears, whereby
a slow continuous movement is induced in said first index ring as herein set
forth.
6. A cyclometer comprising in its construction a cylindrical case with an opening
along its length and provided with a rib by which it may be adjustably attached
through a clamp to the axle of the bicycle, a transparent membrane formed into
shape and forced into the interior of the cylindrical case so that the ends butt
tightly against each other, heads to inclose the end of the cylinder to butt tightly
against the edges of said membrane, an actuating, reducing, and transmitting
mechanism consisting of a shaft caused to rotate by means of a trip on the spoke
of a bicycle coming in contact with the star wheel fixed to the anterior end of said
shaft, a pinion on the posterior end of said shaft, a fixed ring provided with an
internal gear, a first index ring loose in the case adjacent to said fixed ring,
provided with an internal gear having a different number of teeth from the fixed
gear, an intermediate gear meshing on one side with the pinion and on the other
side at once with the gears on the fixed ring and the gear on the loose index ring,
and
a series of index rings each provided posteriorly with an internal gear,
anteriorly with a groove in whose path is a spur gear, a series of pinions upon a
shaft supported within the circumference of said index rings, each alternate tooth
being cut away posteriorly, so that posteriorly the pinion is locked against motion
by contact with the internal plane of the index ring and permitted to turn by
engagement of a broad tooth with a recess in the index ring only upon the spur
gear coming in contact with a short tooth, anteriorly the teeth of said pinion
being in engagement with the posterior gear of the index ring next in order,
means to provide against accidental movement of the star wheel, all so arranged
and combined that with each revolution of the wheel the shaft may be actuated, a
slow continuous movement be given to the first index ring, and a fixed inter-
mittent motion to each index ring successively, substantially as described.
7. The combination with a cyclometer case consisting of a metal cylinder with an
opening along its length, a membrane formed into shape and forced to fit closely
the interior of said cylinder with ends butting tightly together, heads inclosing
the ends of the cylinder butting closely against the edges of the membrane, of an
actuating shaft, and reducing and transmitting mechanism to actuate index rings
as herein set forth.
8. The combination of parts herein before described and illustrated by the accom-
panying drawings, forming an improved cyclometer.
9. The combination of a cyclometer case with actuating means and a series of
index rings adapted through appropriate mechanism to be rotated successively, of a
reducing mechanism intermediate of said actuating means and said series of index
gear, and
rings, consisting of a pinion connected with said actuating means, a fixed
a loose gear, whose teeth are substantially coincident but differ in number, said
Loose gear being connected with said series of index rings, and an intermediate gear

page_text: meshing on one side with the pinion and on the other at once with the fixed gear
and loose gear, whereby a slow continuous motion is produced in said loose gear as
herein set forth.
Dated this 31st day of December 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.