Improvements in Driving Clutches particularly applicable for Cycles and such like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1899
1000
1000
Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Oct., 1899—Accepted, 4th Nov., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Clutches particularly applicable for Cycles
and such like.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD POOLE, Works Manager to The Desideratum Brake and
Fork End Company Limited, of 58, Ludgate Hill, in the City of Birmingham,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is an improved driving clutch particularly adapted for use on cycles
and similar vehicles for giving free pedals when descending an incline and a rigid
forward driving motion when ascending an incline or when a forward pedalling
action is set up to drive forward the machine, but, further, is applicable in every
case in a cycle where two rotating parts are desired to move in one direction as
rigid, but the one part to run, or move free, around the other part while the
said other part remains stationary or moves in a reverse direction.
In the improvements according to this invention a number of balls are sub-
stituted for rollers, and the inclined parts or seatings within which they work are
formed and fitted in a manner, hereinafter described, which will ensure a more
noiseless and positive clutch action that hitherto, whilst the construction of the
whole of the driving mechanism is rendered more simple and neat.
The improvements hereinbefore referred to can be either applied to that part
of the driving mechanism upon the hub of the rear wheel or to the bottom bracket
or crank axis, and can be either used in connection with any well known back-
pedalling brake, or by themselves so as to give free pedals only, in which last
named case an ordinary hand-applied brake might be used.
In carrying the invention into effect upon the hub of the back wheel of a
chain-driven cycle so as to give free pedals, a circular disc, plate, or its equivalent
is carried rigidly upon the said hub to rotate with the cycles back wheel. The
periphery of this disc or circular plate is formed with a number of grooves or
recesses, inclined at bottom so that each is considerably deeper at one end
than the other, the deepest end being of a semi-circular or half-ball section and
the other end running off if desired into the plain periphery of the disc. These
grooves do not run all round the periphery of the disc, but are short length
ones arranged at intermediate distances apart in one circular line in the centre
of the disc or plate.
Fitting nicely and loosely over the grooved periphery of this disc or plate is
a ring or annulus, externally formed with teeth to constitute a chain wheel,
and internally formed with a circumferential semi-circular sectioned groove or
half-ball race forming the counterpart to the deepest ends of the inclined grooves
in the disc, to constitute with the said grooves a complete ball race, the half ball
race in the ring and the inclined grooves in the disc coming coincidently together
or nearly so to form races and pockets for anti-friction balls which are placed
between them to work and rest in. The inclined grooves in the disc may be of
any number, but three or four are deemed sufficient, and in each of them, so
as to run in each groove and the half-ball race of the toothed ring, is a small
steel ball or sphere backed up by a small coil spring, which also lies within the
groove and ball race, and which always tends to keep each ball close to a wedging
point between its inclined groove and the ball race in the ring. The grip of
the clutch is caused by the jamming of each ball on its inclined groove and

page_text: Improvements in Driving Clutches particularly applicable for Cycles
and such like.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD POOLE, Works Manager to The Desideratum Brake and
Fork End Company Limited, of 58, Ludgate Hill, in the City of Birmingham,
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 is an improved clutch for use on cycles and similar vehicles
for giving free or stationary pedals when descending an incline, or when
coasting," and a rigid forward driving motion from the pedals when ascend-
ing an incline, or when a forward pedalling action is set up to drive forward
the machine, but further is applicable in a cycle in every case where two parts
are desired to rotate in one direction as rigid but in the reverse direction as
independent such, for example, as the one part to run or move free around the
other part whilst the said other part remains stationary or rotates in a reverse
direction. The clutch according to this invention is of the type well known in
the trade as "free-wheel clutches" and is applicable to either chain or gear
wheel driven cycles, and can be fitted and applied either upon the hub of the
rear wheel or to the bottom bracket or crank axis, and can be either used in
conjunction with any well known back-pedalling brake, or by itself, so as to
give free pedals or a free wheel only, in which last-named case an ordinary hand-
applied brake might be used upon the cycle.
The clutch according to this invention follows the principle of the clutch well
known in which rollers work upon inclined planes to cause a jamming action
of the said rollers between the two parts of the clutch, but according to the
present improvements a number of balls are substituted for rollers and the
inclined parts, planes, or seatings, within or upon which they work, are formed
and fitted in a particular manner, hereinafter described, which will ensure a more
noiseless and positive action of the clutch than hitherto, whilst the general
construction and fitting of the whole of the parts of the said clutch renders
the latter extremely simple, neat, and not liable to get out of order.
The clutch according to this invention will be best understood by the aid
of the sheets of drawings herewith which show the invention as applied to the
hub of a cycle's rear and driving wheel. In this sheet of drawings a longi-
tudinal elevation of the hub with the clutch in position upon it and in section
is shown in Fig. 1, whilst a side section of Fig. upon the dotted line * *,
is illustrated in Fig. 2. Figs. 3, 4, and 5, are separate views of some of the
parts of the clutch to show more effectively its general construction and fitting.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9, are similar sections as Fig. 2 of various modification
according to this invention whilst Fig. 10 is a transverse section of a portion
of the clutch showing a simple manner of making it dust proof.
With reference to the clutch shown in Figs. 1 to 5 the hub a, which is of a
well known pattern, has screwed cylindrical bosses a², a³, upon its one end for
the attachment of a chain wheel, which is fashioned as a clutch according to
this invention.
Upon the screw bosses a² of the hub is rigidly carried a circular disc, or a
plate c, to rotate only with the said hub. The periphery c² of this disc or plate
is formed with a number of grooves or recesses ³, inclined at their bottoms
so that each groove is considerably deeper at the one end than at the other
end; the said grooves at the ends being of a semicircular or half-ball
cross section and being formed with a decided end, preferably a quarter of a circle

page_text: The form of clutch, Fig. 9, is the same as the one, Figs. 1 to 5, with the
exception that the balls and springs are introduced into the grooves and half-
ball race by way of a hole i closed by a screw plug m².
The clutch is kept dust-proof by felt facings s, s, covering the joint between
the parts c and d; the said facings being carried by one of the parts through
clamping plates s², 2. I wish it to be distinctly understood that balls or spheres
are used as distinct from rollers, and that the number of inclined grooves can
be more or less than three as shown, and also that if the inner part of the clutch
is the driven one the outer part would then have formed within it the inclined
grooves.
A clutch constructed according to the foregoing is an extremely sensitive one,
and its operation is more positive than those hitherto, and its action is also
noiseless. In fitting the clutch to the crank axis of a cycle the inner part c
would be the driver and the outer part d the driven.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. In clutches for cycles, the combination of a driving part having within
it a ring half-ball race, a driven part formed with inclined grooves or recesses
to come coincident with the said half-ball race, balls working between the said
half-ball race and the grooves so as to be free at one time and wedged at another
time between them, and springs located at the back of the said balls and within
the grooves and half-ball race to keep the said balls up to the jamming point,
substantially as described.
Second. In clutches for cycles, the combination of a driving part having
within it a ring half-ball race, a driven part formed with inclined grooves or
recesses which come coincident with the said half-ball race, and jamming and
steadying balls e and g working within and between the said half-ball race and
the grooves, substantially as described and set forth.
Third. In clutches for cycles, the combination of a driving part having within
it a ring half-ball race, a driven part formed with inclined grooves or recesses
to come coincident with the said half-ball race, balls e, g, and springs &², working
within and between the said half-ball race and the grooves, and means for intro-
ducing said balls and springs into position, substantially as described.
Fourth. In clutches for cycles, the combination with the hub a, of a disc c
formed with grooves or recesses c³ fast on said hub, a ring or annulus d having
within it a half-ball race and fitting over the said disc so that its half-ball race
comes coincident with the grooves, balls e and g and springs e² lying within
said groove and ball race, and means i, 2, formed within the disc c for intro-
ducing the said balls and springs, substantially as described.
Fifth. In clutches for cycles, the particular means described and set forth in
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, for introducing the balls and springs, for forming the
inclines for the jamming of the balls, for providing abutments for the springs,
and for making dust-proof the joint between the parts.
Dated this 30th day of September 1899
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also at Liverpool, London and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
11, Burlington Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
Also at Liverpool, London and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.