Improvements in the Chain Wheels and Chains Used for Driving Safety Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 27th Feb., 1896-Accepted, 27th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Chain Wheels and Chains Used for Driving
Safety Bicycles.
BENJAMIN RILEY MILLS, 15, Borough Road, London, Bicycle Maker, do
hereby declare the nature cf this invention to be as follows:-
For making the chain wheels adjustable to the chain, so that after the chain is
stretched or worn in the joints of the links, and become of a different pitch to the
pitch line of the wheel, the chain wheel can be adjusted so as to again become of
the same pitch as the chain, thus causing the chain to work much more smooth
in its action than it otherwise would.
I make use of two methods of adjustment, one I call end-way adjustment, in a
direction backwards or forward to or from the end of the axle; the other method
I call circular adjustment, that is in the direction of the circumference of the
wheel.
For the chain known as the block chain I use the end way adjustment, I make
the chain wheel in two parts. One part I make similar to the ordinary chain
wheel with cogs to enter the links of the chain and keep it in line, but I make the
spaces between the cogs half an inch deeper than usual, so that the blocks of the
chain do not rest upon this part of the chain wheel. This cog part of the chain
wheel I fix securely upon the axle, by brazing, or other suitable method; upon or
at the side of this cog wheel I fix another wheel or rim of a wheel with projections
upon its side, these projections enter the spaces between the cogs and underneath
the blocks or that part of the chain which falls between the cogs. These
projections are made wedge shape or inclined in the direction of the axle and are
for the chain to rest upon. The underneath part of the chain which rests
upon these projections are likewise made wedge shape, or inclined to correspond
so that by slide movement of these inclined projections underneath the chain,
the chain is pushed outwards until a place is found in which the pitch of the chain
and the pitch line of the adjustable chain wheel correspond that is, the chain
wbeel and chain are of the same pitch, the adjustable part is then fixed securely to
the cog part of the chain wheel.
An important part of my invention is to make the incline projections with a
raised part in the centre; this raised part projection fits and enters a corresponding
space in the underneath part of the chain that is resting upon it. The object of
these raised parts or tongues upon the inclined projections is by entering the
space in the chain they keep the back sash out of the chain and likewise pull or
drive the chain and chain wheel upon the hub of the driving wheel. This end-
way adjustment can likewise be used for the roller chain, by the rollers being
set at an incline to the axle, the adjusting projections having spaces to receive
them.
In making the adjustable chain wheels for the roller chain I prefer to use the
circular method of adjustment that is by turning the moveable part in the direction
of the circumference of the wheel. I make the wheel in two parts, one part
having the same number of cogs as the other. One part I fix securely to the
axle by brazing or other method. I make one part similar to the other and I place.
them side by side so as to have the appearance of the ordinary roller chain wheel ;
commencing to use a new chain the cogs upon one part would be opposite the cogs
of the other part, the adjustable wheel having the appearance of an ordinary

page_text: roller chain wheel, but when the chain becomes worn in the links and joints so
that the pitch of the chain is altered and longer, the adjustable part is turned in
the direction of its circumference right or left. This will have the effect of
making the cogs longer pitch and lessen the spaces of the cogs into which the
rollers fall, so that the rollers cannot fall so near to the centre of the wheel. The
improvement is for the combination of increasing the pitch of the chain wheel,
without increasing the back lash of the chain by the methods described.
Dated this 25th day of May 1895.
Improvements in the Chain Wheels and Chains Used for Driving
Safety Bicycles.
BENJAMIN RILEY MILLS, 15, Borough Road, London, Bicycle Maker, 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 :-
For making the chain wheels adjustable to the chain, so that after the chain is
stretched or worn in the joints of the links and become of a different pitch to the
pitch line of the wheel, the chain wheel can be adjusted so as to again become of
the same pitch as the chain, thus causing the chain to work much more smoothly in
its action than it otherwise would.
I make use of two methods of adjustment. One I call end way adjustment in a
direction backwards or forward to or from the end of the axle. The other method
I call circular adjustment, that is in the direction of the circumference of the
wheel.
For the chain known as the block chain I use the end way adjustment. I make
the chain wheel in two parts, one part I make similar to the ordinary chain wheel
with cogs to enter the links of the chain and keep it in line, but I make the spaces
between the coge about half an inch deeper than usual so that the blocks of the
chain do not rest upon this part of the chain wheel. This cog part of the chain
wheel I fix securely upon the axle, by brazing or other suitable method. Upon
or at the side of this cog wheel I fix another wheel or rim of a wheel with
projections upon its side. These projections enter the spaces between the cogs
and underneath the blocks or that part of the chain which falls between the cogs.
These proiections are made wedge shape or inclined in the direction of the axle
and are for the chain to rest upon. The underneath parts of the chain which rest
upon these projections are likewise made wedge shape or inclined to correspond so
that by slide movement of these inclined projections underneath the chain the
chain is pushed outwards until a place is found in which the pitch line of the
chain and the pitch line of the adjustable chain wheel correspond, that is, the chain
wheel and chain are of the same pitch. The adjustable part is then fixed securely
to the cog part of the chain wheel by bolts or screws.
An important part of my improvement is to make the inclined projections with
a raised part in the centre. This raised part projection fits and enters a
corresponding space in the underneath part of the chain that is resting upon it.
The object of these raised parts or tongues upon the inclined projections is by
entering the space in the chain they keep the back lash out of the chain and
likewise pull or drive the chain and chain wheel upon the hub of the driving
wheel. This end way adjustment can likewise be used for the roller chain by the
rollers being set at an incline to the axle, the adjusting projections having spaces
to receive them
In making the adjustable chain wheels for the roller chain I prefer to use the

page_text: circular method of adjustment, that is by turning the moveable part in the
direction of the circumference of the wheel. I make the wheel in two parts, as
shewn in Figs. 5 and 6 one part having the same number of cogs as the other.
One part I fix securely to the axle by brazing or other method. I make one part
similar to the other and I place them side by side so as to have the appearance of
the ordinary roller chain wheel. Commencing to use a new chain the cogs upon
one part would be opposite the cogs of the other part, the adjustable wheel having
the appearance of an ordinary roller chain wheel. But when the chain becomes
worn in the links and joints so that the pitch of the chain is altered and longer,
the adjustable part is turned in the direction of its circumference right or left.
This will have the effect of making the cogs longer pitch and lessen the spaces of
the cogs into which the rollers fall so that the rollers cannot fall so near to the
centre of the wheel. The improvement is for the combination of increasing the
pitch of the chain wheel without increasing the back lash of the chain by
the methods described. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2 in which I shew a
modification of the circular adjustment; on the fixed half of the chain wheel
I fix a portion of each cog of full breadth, (parallel with the axis) that is, if for a
quarter inch chain, the cogs will be quarter inch thick, but will consist of less
than half the cog in thickness, (across the axis) that is. a great portion of half
that part of the cog which enters between the links of the chain to keep it in line,
and of that part of the cog which forms the gap or recess into which the rollers
fall. These cogs are upon the fixed portion of the adjustable chain wheel which
is fixed to the axle. The adjustable part of the chain wheel contains likewise the
same number of half cogs. These half cogs fit into the gaps or spaces between
the half cogs that are upon the fixed portion of the chain wheel, so that the half
cog upon the fixed wheel and the half cogs upon the adjustable wheel, or rim of a
wheel, form when combined together, a complete cog wheel having recesses into
which the rollers fall and projections to enter the links of the chain and keep it in
line. There is end play between the end of the cogs upon the fixed part of the
chain wheel and the cogs upon the adjustable part of the chain wheel, so
that by turning that end of the adjustable cogs which forms one side of the
recess or gap into which the roller falls, towards the sides forming the recess
upon the fixed cogs the rollers will not fall so near the axle, thus increasing
the pitch of the chain wheel as a whole. The adjustable cogs turn around the
axle as a centre during adjustment, there being a suitable guide (not shewn) to
keep the adjustable cogs concentric with the axle. Such suitable guide may
consist of a ring of metal projecting from the side of that part of the chain wheel
that is brazed or secured to the axle, the ring of metal being turned true and
circular and concentric with the axle, an inner portion of the ring of cogs forming
the adjustable part of the chain wheel is likewise turned true and circular and
near the same diameter to fit accurately upon the circumference of the ring of
metal upon the fixed part of the chain wheel after and before adjustment, and
when in use, the two principal portions, namely the adjustable and fixed part are
fastened securely together by a screw passing through a slot or hole in the side of
the adjustable part of the chain wheel and screwing into the side of the fixed part
of the chain wheel or bolts and nuts.
I have three or more of these bolts or screws placing them at equal distances
from each other and at the same distance from the axle.
1 will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which,
Fig. 1 shows an elevation of my improved chain wheel wherein I use circular
adjustment, and intended more particularly for use with roller chains but it could
be used for block chain if required.
Fig. 2 shows a partial side view of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 shows an elevation of another form of my improved wheel for block
chain in which I use end way or wedge adjustment.
Fig. 4 shows a vertical section on line - Fig. 3.

page_text: Fig. 5 shows a further form of my wheel for roller chains. The dotted lines
indicate the method of adjustment and its effect on the chain.
Fig. 6 shows a partial side view of Fig. 5.
a, a', Figs. 1 and 2 are two wheels, placed side by side on the pedal bracket both
provided with half teeth a' projecting inwardly into each other as shown in Fig. 2, the
long faces of each half tooth coming into contact when the chain and wheel are new
and unworn. One of the wheels is provided with two or more short circumferential
slots b, b, containing the ordinary tightening screwed bolt, screwing into the other
half. Thus when one of the wheels is moved round a short distance the chain will
be forced further from the centre thus increasing the pitch.
In Figs. 5 and 6 the method is similar to that above described but the form of
the teeth being rather different.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4 the usual wheel c, with rather longer teeth c² and
wider pitch is used, and to this is secured in any suitable way another wheel or
rim c', provided with lateral projections d, on the circumference, of the same pitch
as the teeth of the other wheel c. The projections d, are placed one between two
of the teeth c³, and are on their upper faces made of wedge shape to correspond
with the block e, of the chain. Thus when c', is screwed nearer to c, the wedge
action set up will cause the chain to move farther away from the centre of
wheel.
Washers on the screwed bolt are used of varying thickness between c, and c¹ to
hold c', in place between the bolt head and washer (see Fig. 4).
I can make use of this method of circular adjustment for the Humber pattern
block chain as now in use, by making the gaps or spaces much longer in the
direction of the circumference than is required by the rollers of the roller chain,
the ends of the block resting upon the ends of the gaps and not upon the part of
the block nearest to the axle as in the ordinary inajustable chain wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. Application of end way adjustment by wedge shape projection sliding under-
neath the blocks of the chain in such a manner as to keep out lash as described in
my method of end way adjustment.
2. Circular adjustment for roller and block chain by contracting the ends of a
gap or recess into which the rollers or blocks fall as described in my method of
circular adjustment.
Dated this 97th day of Febru1806