A New or Improved System of Gearing to Obtain an Increase or Diminution of Speed in Bicycles, Tricycles, or other Vehioles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved System of Gearing to Obtain an Increase or
Diminution of Speed in Bicycles, Tricycles, or other Vehioles.
.
I, FREDERICK WILLIAM MORRIS, of 234, Upper Mary Street, Balsal Heath,
Birmingham, England, Bicycle and Tricycle 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 :-
The object of this invention is a new or improved system of gearing to obtain an
instant increase or diminution of speed in bicycles, tricycles or other vehicles.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood, reference is made to
the annexed drawing in which :
Fig. 1 is a view of a bicycle provided with iny new system of gearing.
Fig. 2 is a plan view of the sprockets and hub of the rear wheel.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross section of the hub of the rear wheel and
Fig. 4 is a cross section of a gear wheel of the rear wheel.
lo all these figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts:
A and A' are gear wheels of unequal diameters fixed loosely on the hub D of
the rear wheel, seo Fig. 3-and running on balls C. In these gear wheels four or
more holes B', B' are punched.
This hub is provided with a sliding sleeve B having four or more arms
terminating in clutches B B intended to catch in the holes B' B of the gear
wheels A, A'.
This sleeve B is actuated by a connecting sleeve K sliding along the axle F and
provided with a connecting clutch passing through the hub D in which slots are
made, allowing said clutch to move from right to left according to the direction of
the length of the hub, but not according to its circumference, so that all these
different parts combine in the direction of the rotation. This said clutch is solidly
fixed to the sleeve B.
The connecting sleeve K is screwed interiorly-see Fig. 3-and is the he-screw
of a she-screw of a left-hand screw cone H which is actuated by a rod T which
is itself set in motion by the bicyclist by means of a handle R, Fig. 1, placed on
the horizontal tube of the bicycle frame. The gear wheels A A' gear by endless
chains with corresponding sprockets fixed on the axle of the pedals.
My mechanism works in the following manner :-
When the bicyclist wants to make use of either of the gear wheels A A' he
lowers or raises the handle R on the horizontal tube of the bicycle frame and by
either of these movements which is transmitted by rods T.-see Fig. 1-to the
screwed cone H, he screws or unscrews, to a convenient length, the connecting
sleeve K which moves from right to left a corresponding length, carrying along
with it by means of the clutches L the sliding sleeve B and consequently the
clutches B B2 penetrating into the holes B' B' of either of the gear wheels A A
which at once sets either of said gear wheels to work, that is the gear wheel seized
by the clutches makes one immediately with the hub D and alone transmits the
propelling movement.
These clutches are thus suddenly submitted to a strong pressure so that in order
that they may be able to resist it, they are passed through the apertures made in
the collars N of the hub D and their upper ends are provided with a projection o
sliding in a groove P, cast or otherwise fixed on the said collars.

page_text: The pedal axle as has been already stated is provided with two sprockets,-see
Fig. 2 of unequal diameter; these sprockets gear by endless chains with the gear
wheels A and A' and the two sprockets being keyed on the axle of the pedals turn
together and likewise cause the two loose wheels: A and A' toiturn; then according
to rapidity required, either of these gear wheels A A' is set into action and the
other running loosely.
This disposition may also serve as a brake by acting on the pedals and by using
the smallest multiplication and even going down hill, the pedals may serve as
footrests for which it is only necessary not to set in action either of the gear
wheels, for in this case, the chains no longer turn and consequently the sprockets.
neither.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :
1. In a gearing mechanism for the increase or diminution of the multiplication of
a bicycle, tricycle or other vehicles, the combination of two gear wheels, A A' of
unequal diameters, running on ball bearings, each gearing by an endless chain with
two sprockets on each side of the pedal axle as above described and illustrated in
the annexed drawings.
2. The combination of two gear wheels A A¹ of a sliding sleeve B provided
with clutches B catching at will in the holes B₁ of the gear wheels A A' of
Connecting sleeve K actuating the sliding sleeve B by a clutch L, passing through
the hub D as above described and illustrated.
3. The connecting sleeve B screwed internally and receiving a left band
screwed cone H actuated by rods T terminating in a handle R placed at any
Convenient part of the bicycle, tricycle or other vehicle as above described and.
illustrated in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 28th day of December 1896
FREDERICK WILLIAM MORRIS..