Improvements in Gear Wheels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 18th Dec., 1889--Accepted, 18th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gear Wheels.
1, CHARLES LOCK of 5 Peckham Terrace, Prestbury Road, Upton Park in the
County of Essex, Pianoforte Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
J
My invention relates to gear wheels which are especially applicable for the
driving mechanism of bicycles and other velocipedes but which can also be put to
other uses.
According to my said invention I construct a toothed gear wheel the teeth of
which are composed of balls. The said balls are located in sockets in the wheel
rim and project beyond the same for a distance slightly less half their diameter 50
that the balls will not drop out of their sockets.
The wheel which works in conjunction with the gear wheel last described is
formed with a series of recesses in its periphery into which the projecting portions
of the balls of the other wheel can enter..
The advantage of using wheels constructed as herein before described is that
there is very little friction owing to the fact that the balls rotate in their
sockets.
Driving chains can be used in conjunction with the said gear wheels.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Gear Wheels.
I, CHARLES LOCK, of 5, Peckham Terrace, Prestbury Road, Upton Park, in the
county of Essex, Pianoforte 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 :-
My invention relates to gear wheels which are especially applicable for the
driving mechanism of bicycles and other velocipedes but which can also be put to
other ures.
According to my said invention I construct a toothed gear wheel the teeth of
which are composed of balls. The said balls are located in sockets in the wheel rim
and project beyond the same for a distance slightly less than half their diameter, so
that the balls will not drop out of their sockets.
The wheel which works in conjunction with the gear wheel last described is formed
with a series of recesses in its periphery into which the projecting portions of the
balls of the other wheel can enter.
The advantage of using wheels constructed as hereinbefore described is that
there is very little friction owing to the fact that the balls rotate in their
sockets.
Driving chains can be used in conjunction with the said gear wheels.
To enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same with
reference to the accompanying drawing, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation of a pair of wheels geared together according to my
invention, and
Figure 2 is an elevation of a wheel provided with my improvements and shown
in conjunction with a chain.

page_text: Figure 3 is a sectional view illustrating a detail of construction, and
Figures 4 and 5 are a plan and edge view of one of the links of the chain shown
in Figure 2.
a is my improved gear wheel and b, bare the balls forming the teeth thereof.
These balls are located in sockets in the rim of the wheel a and are inserted for
slightly more than half their diameter to prevent them from falling out of their
sockets.
In order to permit the. introduction of the balls into their sockets I form the rim
with a loose ring e, for instance as shown in figure 3, which ring is secured to the
other part of the rim by screws d, d.
e is the wheel which works in conjunction with the wheel a and are the
recesses formed therein to receive the projecting portions of the balls b, b of the
wheel a.
Instead of using two wheels, one of which is provided with balls and the other
with recesses, I may provide cach wheel with alternate balls and recesses, the balls
of one wheel entering the recesses of the other wheel and rice versa.
When the improved wheel is to gear with a chain, as shown in Figure 2, recesses g. 9
are formed in the said chain (as shown in figures 4 and 5) to receive the projecting
portions of the balls. The chain which I have shown in the drawing is that forming
the subject of Letters Patent granted to me and dated 24th August A.D. 1888
No. 12240 but it is to be understood that any other suitablo form of chain may be
employed.
With gear wheels of the kind hereinbefore described it may sometimes be found
that the teeth formed by a single circumferential row of balls will not be close enough
together. In such cases I advantageously form wheels with two or more
circumferential rows of balls the balls of each row being opposite to the spaces of the
other rows;-
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
'claim is :-
(1.) A wheel having a series of balls located in its rim, the said balls projecting
sufficiently far to form teeth for gearing with another wheel or with a chain,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
(2.) The manufacture and use of gear wheels substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 18th day of December 1889.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.