AN IMPROVED BALANCE GEAR FOR VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I HENRY USHER of 124 Vauxhall Bridge Rd London, S.W. Engineer do
declare the nature of the said invention for AN IMPROVED BALANCE GEAR FOR
VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
I make a cylinder or drum having on the periphary or outside teeth for the
purpose of carrying a chain or Belt driven from the Crank Axle by the feet and
having on the inside teeth (which I call an internal gearing) geared into a wheel
running on a stud fixed to the axle of one wheel of the velocipede. This I call an
intermediate wheel. The intermediate wheel I gear into a wheel fixed to the axle
of the other wheel of the velocipede with the result that I get a reversible action
on the two wheels of the velocipede in turning corners and drive both wheels when
running straight.
I can also increase the number of the intermediate wheels in order to distribute
the strain on the teeth.

page_text: I HENRY USHER of 124 Vauxhall Bridge Rd London, S.W. Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of said invention for AN IMPROVED BALANCE GEAR FOR
VELOCIPEDES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
I make a cylinder or Drum having on the outside teeth to carry a chain or Belt
in the usual manner for driving the Velocipede and having on the inside teeth,
which I call an Internal Gear Wheel, and I gear this wheel direct into a tooth wheel
running on a stud fixed by means of a crank to the left hand Wheel of the
Velocipede. The crank is formed either solid on the axle of the wheel of the
Velocipede as shown in section on Drawing or may be a seperate piece keyed or
otherwise fixed but cannot move except with the wheel of the Velocipede. This
tooth wheel I call an Intermediate Gear Wheel. The intermediate gear wheel I
gear by means of a tooth Pinion wheel running on a stud fixed to the same crank,
into a tooth wheel fixed to the Right hand Wheel or axle of Wheel of the
Velocipede The Axles of the Velocipede have no connection with each other but
one axle may be a tube and the other axle carried through it in order to prevent
side or bearing strain on the Gear.
I have now a train of three wheels working in a direct line and surrounded by
the Internal Gear Wheel (see Drawing Drum with cover removed.) The Internal
Gear Wheel having a cover, works loose on the axles of the Velocipede by taking
out the intermediate wheel but when the Gear is all together and nothing to
disturb the balance the whole locks and turns as if solid. As soon as the balance
is disturbed by means of the steering Wheel of the Velocipede it allows the
intermediate wheel and pinion wheel to travel round the centre wheel and
compensate for the difference travelled by the two wheels of the Velocipede on a
curve, or turning a corner.
I am aware the internal wheel has been used before as a driver wheel in balance
gear, also the drum (without the internal teeth) as a driving wheel but the novelty
in this gear is combining the driving drum with the Internal wheel in one piece,
running entirely free on the axles of the Velocipede (except when in gear) as the
driving wheel of the gear. In the Drawing I have shown only one Intermediate
wheel & Pinion wheel but I can use duplicate sets of intermediate tooth wheels
and tooth Pinion wheels running on extra studs fixed to the same crank and geared
in the same manner in order to distribute the strain of the teeth.
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 use of the Internal Gear Wheel as the Driving wheel of the gear in the
manner described.