Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Apr., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 30th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb., 1900
turer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The means or apparatus for determining the gear-ratio of cycles consists of
(1) A surface on which the driving wheel of a cycle travels when the crank is
turned. Such surface may be plane or on the outer circumference of a wheel
which turns about a fixed centre.
(2) A scale marked with a starting point 0 (zero) and with numbers to indicate
the gear.
ог
(3) The turning of the crank of the cycle for some given whole frictional
and
number of revolutions causes the outer circumference of the driving wheel to
move through a greater or less distance on the surface mentioned in (1) according
as the gear of the cycle is higher or lower. This distance determines the gear
of the cycle.
In its simplest form the means or apparatus for determining the gear-ratio of
cycles consists of a plane surface along or near the ground with a scale along it
or raised slightly above it. The scale is marked 0 near one end and further
on with figures to indicate gear. A cycle is placed parallel to and near the scale
with one pedal at its lowest point exactly over or opposite to the mark 0. The
cycle is then wheeled on parallel to the scale, and when the same pedal is again
at its lowest point the figure on the scale opposite to it is the gear of the
cycle. In this case the pedal is used as an indicator or pointer to the scale.
In a more compact form of the means or apparatus for determining the gear ratio
of cycles the cycle itself is stationery, having its driving wheel in close contact.
with the outer circumference of a wheel which turns on a fixed centre. The crank
is turned one complete revolution. The driving wheel of the cycle will turn the
circumference of the wheel with which it is in contact a distance equal to that
which the cycle would move along a road for one turn of the crank. This deter-
mines the gear as before which is indicated by a scale and index.
A coin freeing attachment may be used in connection with the means or appara-
tus for determining the gear-ratio of cycles.
Cycle means bicycle, tricycle, tandem cycle, sociable and the like in which the
power is applied to a crank and not directly to a driving wheel.
Crank means the crank to which the pedals of a cycle are attached.
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MAT VIT 1000.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
D
WILLIAM HOOD.
I, WILLIAM HOOD, of 16, Southfield Road, Middlesbrough, Mineral Water
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
¡Price 8d1

page_text: the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement;
The invention consists of apparatus and of methods of using such or other
apparatus for determining or for testing the gear-ratio of cycles. By this inven-
tion the gear-ratio of cycles may be determined or tested by any one of the
following methods.
1ST METHOD.
By the cycle being wheeled or moved upright on a plane surface near or upon
a scale
a scale.
2ND METHOD.
L
-By the driving wheel of a cycle being placed in contact with the cylindrical
circumference of a drum or wheel.
3RD METHOD.
By determining or testing the diameter of the driving wheel of a cycle by
either of the above named methods, and from the diameter so found deducing the
gear-ratio of the cycle.
In the 1st method the apparatus consists of a scale, written, printed, stamped,
painted, cast or otherwise marked or shewn on any lath, plank, tape, wall, floor, or
other substance or surface. Such scale has for each and every unit of division
the number, or x times π, or of in inches or metres. Each unit of the
scale may be divided into a equal parts.
The method of using the above described apparatus is as follows,
Place the cycle in an upright position parallel with and near to or upon the
scale, having a crank or pedal at its highest or lowest point or in any other definite
position over or near the mark 0 of the scale. Wheel the cycle along or upon
the scale until the same crank or pedal has made as many revolutions as a repre-
sents in the scale, the same crank or pedal above named will now be over or near a
number or mark on the scale which indicates the gear-ratio of the cycle.
In the 2nd method the apparatus consists of a drum or wheel free to move
around a fixed centre. Upon the cylindrical outer surface of the drum or wheel
the scale above described may be marked or shewn together with a pointer or
indicator or the drum or wheel may, by simple mechanical means, be made
to transmit its motion to the hand or hands of a dial or other indicator.
The method of using the above mentioned apparatus is:-Fix the cycle upright
so that it is not free to move from its place, its driving wheel resting upon the
outer cylindrical circumference of the drum or wheel and the axis of the driving
wheel of the cycle being parallel to the axis of the drum or wheel, the indicator
of the scale or dial pointing to 0. Turn the crank of the cycle a revolutions
when the indicator will point on the scale or dial the gear-ratio of the cycle.
In the 3rd method the apparatus is the same as that used in the 1st or 2nd
methods. With the apparatus described as belonging to the 1st method place the
cycle parallel to and near or upon the scale with its driving wheel upright opposite
or over the mark 0 of the scale. Make a mark on that part of the tyre of the
driving wheel which is opposite or over the mark 0 of the scale. Wheel the cycle
as described before until the driving wheel has made one complete revolution. when
the mark made on the tyre will be over or opposite the figure or mark on the scale
which indicates its diameter.
With the apparatus described as belonging to the 2nd method the description
for determining the gear ratio of a cycle applies to the determining of the
diameter of the driving wheel, with the following alterations-For crank read
driving wheel: for gear ratio of a cycle read diameter of the driving whee!
From the diameter of the driving wheel so determined the gear ratio of the
cycle is determined or tested by arithmetic calculation.

page_text: DEFINITION OF SOME TERMS EMPLOYED IN THE FOREGOING.
Cycle. Any bicycle, tricycle, quadricycle, sociable, tandem motor-car or other
machine now in use or hereafter to be in use for the purpose of locomotion having
wheels with pneumatic or other non-rigid tyres.
Gear. When a cycle resting in an upright position upon its wheels is propelled
along a surface in a straight line until its crank has made one complete revolution
it will, during such revolution, move over a distance of m inches where m
is any number or fractional or whole and fractional. If the number m be con-
sidered as the number of inches in the lineal circumference of a circle, the lineal
diameter of the same circle in inches is the gear of the cycle.
is the number by which when the lineal diameter of a circle is multiplied the
product is the lineal circumference of the same circle. Approximately π is
3.14159.
a means any whole number.
Driving wheel of a cycle is that wheel or wheels to which motion is com-
municated from the crank by means of a chain around a toothed wheel on the same
axis or by other modes of transmission.
Crank is that part of a cycle to which the pedal or other contrivance for receiv-
ing the motive power is attached.
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:-
1. The scale marked with consecutive numbers starting from 0 and having
for unit, a being any whole number.
2. The surface or substance on which the scale is marked.
3. The drum or wheel with accompanying fittings and indicator.
4. The operations of determining or testing the gear ratio of cycles, viz.,
(a) The wheeling of the cycle along the scale.
(b) The turning of the crank or wheel around its axis for the purpose of deter-
mining gear ratio.
(c) The use of the crank or pedal as an indicator to the scale.