AN IMPROVED DOUBLE DRIVING AND STEERING GEAR FOR VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH Engineer of High Road Tottenham in the County
of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
DOUBLE DRIVING AND STEERING GEAR FOR VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER VEHICLES to
be as follows :—
My Invention relates to a novel arrangement of gear, constructed to transmit the
power applied equally between two Driving wheels when travelling in a straight
course; and more particularly to steer the machine at the will of the rider, who
can by one, or more Steering Handles connected with the gear, impart moro or
less speed to one Driving wheel than the other for the purpose of turning a
curve to the right or left. Both wheels driving under all circumstances. The gear
can be applied for steering a pair of wheels in connection with any motive power.
In fitting a Velocipede with my Invention I mount a pair of wheels on
independent axles, one fitted as a sleeve running loose on the other; on the inner
end of the sleeve, I fix a cog wheel with teeth shaped to fit an endless screw
which has a bevil cog pinion attached revolving together at right angles with
the axles, in bearings placed inside a chamber, which may be formed as a hub,
driving pulley, or chainwheel, which chamber is keyed to the axle of the other
Driving wheel transmitting the power applied to it equally between the wheels,
thus keeping a straight course.
In order to steer the machine it is necessary to revolve the endless screw,
I accomplish this by fitting two hollow pullies with a circle of cogs on the inner
sides loose on the axles, one each side of the said chamber.
•
Between these and the endless screw I fit suitable cog pinions to impart rotary
motion from one to the other. Then by a band or other suitable friction applied
from the steering Handle (or Handles) to either one of the said loose pullies,
I check or stop their motion and the endless screw immediately revolves, which
has the effect of making one Driving wheel gain speed on the other, thus making
a curve to the right or left.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH Engineer of High Road Tottenham in the County
of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED
DOUBLE DRIVING AND STEERING GEAR FOR VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER VEHICLES
and in what mauner the samo is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
5
My invention relates to a novel arrangement of gear so constructed as to
transmit the power applied for propulsion absolute and equal between two driving
wheels when required to travel in a straight line; and more particularly to steer the
machine at the will of the rider or driver, who can by one or more Steering handles
connected with the gear impart more or less speed to one or other of the driving 1
wheels for the purpose of turning a curve to the right or left, both wheels driving
under all circumstances. This gear can be applied for double driving and steering
a pair of wheels in connection with any motive power.
Having thus stated the nature of my invention I will now proceed to describe in
what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the accompanying 1
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figs 1 and 2 show my gear in section as fitted in the centre of an axle
connecting 2 driving wheels.
A is the axle, on which I key the chain wheel or driving pulley B on each side 2
of this and running loose on the axle A I fit the sleeves C. C. the outer ends of
which are firmly secured to the hubs of the driving wheels; on the inner ends of
the sleeves CCI key the toothed wheels D D (hereinafter termed the screw
wheels) in perpetual gear with these are the endless screws E E. which with mitre
cog pinions forming part of the same (see fig 2) revolves at right angles with the
sleeves C. C. in suitable bearings secured by nuts F F to the chain wheel B. at
right angles and in gear with the mitre pinions on endless screws E E. I loosely fit
double cog pinions G G which revolving freely on bearing pins fixed to the chain
wheel B are also in gear with the cog wheels H H (hereinafter termed the fulcrum
wheels) these fulcrum wheels with the pullies I I firmly secured together are fitted
loosely on the sleeves C C.
Outside the pullies I I I fit the bands J J (which may be lined with leather or
other suitable material) these are connected by a Lever K and a rod L to the
steering handle or handles; If now power is applied to the chain wheel B with the
steering handle or handles straight thus holding the bands J J from contact with
either of the pullies II the whole will revolve as one with the driving wheels thus
keeping a straight course.
In order to steer the driving wheels the steering handle or handles must be
moved this applies one or other of the bands J J to one of the pullies I I the
friction of which causes the fulcrum wheel H or H to check or entirely stop its
motion with the chain wheel B this immediatly sets the pinion G or G revolving

page_text: round the fulcrum wheel H or H by this means motion is imparted to the endless
screw, causing the driving wheel connected thereto to retard thus making a curve
to the right or left as desired.
Fig 3 shows a modification of the above gear as applied to the hubs of driving
wheels revolving on short axles A fixed to a frame (commonly known as the hay
fork frame) and receiving power for propulsion of the said driving wheels from two
endless chains fitting chain wheels keyed to the ends of a cranked pedal shaft one
cach side of the rider the only difference between this gear and that shewn in
Fig 1. is that this gear is divided, half working in each hub, the wheels are double
driven and steered by retarding in precisely the same manner as described in
Fig 1. No clutches being required.
Fig 4 shows a further modification of my invention in which the gear is divided
and fitted into the hub of each driving wheel (only one of which is shown in the
drawings) A is the axle which may be cranked or straight; on the ends of this
I loosely fit the hubs B which are deeply recessed to accomodate the gear, inside
and forming part of the hubs B are the screw wheels D, in perpetual gear with
these are the endless screws E which with nitre cog pinions forming part of the
same (see Fig 2) revolve at right angles with the axle A in bearings provided in
the frames C and firmly keyed to the axle A, at right angles and in gear with the
mitre cog pinions on the endless screws E I loosely fit the transmitting pinions G
which revolving on bearing pins fixed to the frame C are also in gear with the
fulcrum wheels H these fulcrum wheels with the pullies I firmly attached revolve
freely on the axle A, outside those pullies I. I fit the bands J which are connected
by the levers K and rods L to the steering handle or handles.
If power is now applied to the cranked axle A with the bands J free from
contact with the pullics I the whole will revolve together with the driving wheels
thus keeping a straight course. In order to steer the driving wheels the steering
handle or handles must be moved; this applies one or other of the bands J to one
of the pullies I the friction of which causes the gear to retard the driving wheel in
precisely the same manner as described with reference to Figs 1 and 2.
Fig 5 shows my gear in section as applied to each end of the crank shafts of
Traction engines or other self impelled vehicles, and also by what means the same
is put in and out of action.
A is the crank shaft (half of which only is shown) in the Drawings) on or near
the ends of this I loosely fit the cog wheels B which are suitably geared with the
driving wheels; inside these cog wheels and forming part of the same are the screw
wheels D these are in perpetual gear with the endless screws E which are provided
with mitre cog pinions. Firmly keyed to the crank shaft A are the frames C these
carry the bearings in and on which the endless screws E and the double cog
pinions G revolve, in gear with the pinions G are the fulcrum wheels H which
forming part of the pullies I are fitted loose on the crank shaft A. Outside these
pullies are the friction bands J attached to the levers K. these are connected to the
steering handle M by the rods L L. By applying power for propulsion to the
crank shaft A with the steering handle M set straight (as shewn in drawing)
the friction bands J will be held free from contact with the pullies I the whole of
the gear on each end of the said shaft A will revolve together with the driving
wheels so keeping a straight course.
In order to steer the machine the steering handle M must be moved in the
direction it is required to move, this applies friction by means of either of the
bands J thus checking or stopping one of the fulcrum wheels H round which
the pinion G immediatly revolves imparting motion through the mitre cog pinions
to the endless screw E causing the driving wheel connected thereto to retard, thus
making a curve to the right or left as applied.
The endless screws may be arranged in my gears to accelerate the driving wheels
for the purpose of steering if required, but I prefer to retard in all cases where
possible.

page_text: I would have it distinctly understood that my gears can be applied for the
purpose of double driving and steering all self propelled road vehicles also the
paddle wheels of Steam Boats.
If desired, or found necessary the pressure of steam, or other motive force used
for the propulsion of such Vehicles as described above may be utilised for the
purpose of setting my gear in motion when it is required by the steersman to turn
a curve to the right or left, this method will make Traction Engines and other
such heavy vehicles as easy to steer as the light built Velocipede.
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
1st. The application of the Endless Screws and toothed wheels in such manner to
the Axle or Axles of a pair of wheels, as that they can be driven absolutely equal
in a straight course; and at will can be steered by retarding or accelerating one or
other of the wheels to which the gear is applied.
2nd The means of revolving the Endless Screw-Namely by checking or
stopping a toothed wheel revolving with Axle or Axles, thus creating a fulcrum
round which pinions will revolve, transmitting motion to the endless screw.
3rd The means of checking or stopping the fulcrum wheel:-
Namely, By applying friction to a pulley connected therewith either by baud as
described or other similar appliance under the control of the driver.
And 4th The arrangement of gear as herein set forth aud described with any
mere modification thereof.
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