Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Bicycles, Tricycles, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1892
Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Bicycles, Tricycles,
and the like.
We, CHRISTIAN WOER, Manager, CORNELIUS STEFFENSEN, Merchant and
INGO KOLMEYER, Manufacturer, all of 5 Raadhusstrade, Copenhagen, Denmark
do bereby 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 :-
These improvements in the driving mechanism of bicycles, tricycles and the like
consist mainly in that the connection between the pedal axle and the driving wheel
axle as heretofore by means of an endless chain and sprocket wheels is superseded
by bevil tooth wheel gearing of special construction. We thus obtain an easier
motion of the cycle as the frictional resistance becomes much less than with the
endless chain and moreover various drawbacks inherent in the use of the chain are
avoided, the latter being liable to get out of order, and having especially the chief
defect of needing frequent regulation that is to say tightening or loosening
according to circumstances.
Fig. 1. of the drawings is a side view of a bicycle with the improvements.
Fig. 2. is an enlarged plan section on line A A Fig. 1.
The connection between the pedal axle a and the driving wheel is formed by a
bevil wheel d on the pedal axle a and another bevil wheel on the driving wheel
axle which two bevil wheels gear with corresponding bevil wheels i and on the
ends of a spindle which runs in a somewhat slanting direction in bearings on the
framing g. These wheels i and are of special construction, as stated, whereby
casy motion or reduction in frictional resistance is attained. The teeth in these
wheels consist of conical rollers k which run freely in bearings in the cone
plates, the latter being fixed to the sides of the body of the tooth wheel. The
rollers work in against a series of balls n at each end, which balls are kept in
place in their recesses or bearings m by the flanges and, the flanges being
on the rollers k, while the flanges are screwed on to screwed necks of the
rollers and held fast by check nuts as shewn or otherwise. The rollers have
the same taper as the teeth would have if used. The tooth wheels and c have
fixed teeth which are shaped to gear with the rollers. By placing the tooth
wheels d and i as shown in Fig. 2, between the side pieces of the framing upon
which the bearings, and for the pedal axle and driving wheel axle are
contained, we get the advantage that the tooth wheels are not in the way of the
rider, while the wheels themselves in this part may easily be enclosed in a casing
for protection against dirt. The bearings for the spindle h as well as the
bearings and for the axles a and should be ball bearings of any suitable
construction. We may of course instead of the tooth wheels c and d with solid
teeth use tooth wheels with rollers of the described form so that all the tooth
wheels are made of the same construction as the tooth wheel i and j.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Forming the connection between pedal axle and driving wheel axle in
bicycles, tricycles and the like by pairs of bevil wheels the teeth of one wheel in
each pair consisting of cone rollers which can rotate freely on their length axis
in ball bearings at the front and back of the tooth wheel, while the other tooth
wheel in each pair has solid teeth which are made to gear with the tooth rollers.

page_text: 2. Forming the connection between pedal axle and driving wheel axle in
bicycles, tricycles and the like by pairs of bevil wheels, the teeth in both wheels
consisting of cone rollers which can rotate freely on their length axis in ball
bearings at the front and back of the tooth wheel.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.