Improvements in or relating to Chain Driving Wheels for Velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Chain Driving Wheels for
Velocipedes.
I, EDWARD AYEARST REEVES, 1, Savile Row, London, W., Assistant Map Curator to
the Royal Geographical Society, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
This invention consists of improvements in or relating to chain driving wheels for
velocipedes, the object being to so arrange the chain driving wheel upon the spindle
that it will adjust its position thereon according to the strain upon the chain.
Instead of having the chain driving wheel fixed in the ordinary way to the axle it is
carried upon a slide fixed to the axle or spindle, upon which it may move in two
directions, being normally maintained in its central position by means of springs of
any suitable form. The relative position of the pedals with regard to the direction
in which the wheel may move is so arranged that when an extra strain is put upon
the driving pedals the driving wheel will move in such a direction as to reduce the
distance between the teeth and the spindle, thus giving increased leverage.
Dated thie 1st day of October 1898.
E. EATON,
Agent for Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Chain Driving Wheels for
Velocipedes.
I, EDWARD AYEARST REEVES, 1, Savile Row, London, W., Assistant Map Curator to
the Royal Geographical Society, 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:-
This invention consists of improvements in or relating to chain driving wheels for
velocipedes, the object being to so arrange the chain driving wheel upon the spindle,
that it will adjust its position thereon, according to the strain upon the chain.
Instead of having the chain driving wheel fixed in the ordinary way to the axle, it is
carried upon a slide fixed to the axle or spindle, upon which it may move in two
directions, being normally maintained in its central position by means of springs of
any suitable forin. The relative position of the pedals with regard to the direction
in which the wheel may move, is so arranged, that when an extra strain is put upon
the driving pedals, the driving wheel will move in such a direction, as to reduce the
distance between the teeth and the spindle, thus giving increased leverage.

page_text: For purposes of illustration I will now refer to the annexed drawing in which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing my invention.
The spindle a is provided with the guide piece b, upon which the chain driving
wheel c is adapted to slide in the direction of the arrows 1 and 2, according to the
pressure exerted by the pedals. d are springs of sufficient strength to maintain the
driving wheel c in a central position upon the spindle a when normally driving. The
chain e passes between the small wheels or rollers f and g, the upper roller g sliding
in the holder or clip h, and being controlled by a spring i. The movement of this
wheel or roller g is guided in a vertical direction, by means of the projecting pin 1,
which engages in the slot in the clip or bearing . This clip or bearing is secured
to the machine in any convenient manner, and is for the purpose of preventing the
chaine what is termed mounting the teeth on the wheel m, in the event of what is
known as "sagging" or slackening.
When climbing a hill or descending one, and back pedalling, the relative position
of the cranks n and the slot in the driving wheel c is so arranged that upon an excess
of pressure beyond the normal being put upon the cranks n, the driving wheel c will
tend to move in the direction of either the arrow 1 or 2 and thus giving the increased
leverage in either direction, owing to the central axis of the driving wheel c being
removed from the centre of the driving spindle d upon the exertion of abnormal
pressure upon the driving pedals or cranks, n.
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. In driving gear for velocipedes of the class herein described, the combined
construction and arrangement of the various parts, substantially as described and
illustrated herein and for the purpose set forth.
2. In driving gear for velocipedes in combination, a spindle carrying a guide upon
which the driving wheel slides or travels, said guide driving or turning the driving
wheel through the medium of a slot or slide therein; a spring for maintaining the
driving wheel in its normal position, that is to say, the centre of the driving wheel
coinciding with the longitudinal axis of the driving spindle, for the purpose of enabling
the centre of the driving wheel, to be removed from the centre of the driving spindle, for
the purpose of obtaining increase of leverage when abnormal pressure is exerted upon the
driving pedals or cranks; a clip or guide carrying rollers between which the driving chain
passes, in combination with the controlling spring for the purpose of preventing
mounting of the chain through sag or slackening, substantially as described and
illustrated herein and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of July 1800