Improvements in Driving Gear of Bicycle and Tricycle Machines and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1900-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear of Bicycle and Tricycle Machines
and the like.
ALEXANDER DICK STEWART, 32, Moray Place, Strathbungo, Glasgow, Scotland,
Fancy Dress Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
as,
The object of this invention is to increase the speed of bicycles, tricycles,
and such like machines, by making the driving wheel, or wheels, count for more
than their real diameter for each full turn of the pedals. The construction is
simple and compact and consists of an outer metal rim surrounding, and equi-
distant, from, the axle centre of the wheel to be driven, having teeth all round
pointing towards the axle centre. The rim is firmly fastened to the frame of
the machine, so, that: the ring of teeth stands out clear of the frame of machine.
The nave of the wheel to be driven consists of a tube of suitable material, such
steel, and that tube extends on one side to the flush of outside of bearing
in which wheel turns, and on the other side projects beyond the bearing
sufficiently, to allow a small pinion to be fastened firmly on tube. The teeth
in this pinion, and the teeth in outer rim already described, are exactly in a
vertical line with one another, a gap of some dimensions being between the two
sets of teeth. Through the hole in tube in centre of wheel to be driven, a stee!
axle is put, having a crank firmly fastened to each end, pointing away in a
straight line from one another. On the inside of the crank next driving motion,
and at the proper distance from axle centre, to bring it exactly midway between
the outer toothed rim, and the small pinion, on tube, in centre of wheel, a stud
is firmly fixed, on which a small toothed intermediate pinion is placed. This
pinion is of the proper size to gear exactly the right depth, into the outer toothed
rim, and the small pinion on wheel. These are the essential parts of motion,
and the result of the arrangement is, that; when you turn the pedals round,
the small pinion on stud on crank, runs round backwards in the toothed rim,
and drives the small pinion fastened to tube in centre of wheel round forwards.
and that; of course carries the wheel round with it. The number of turns the
wheel gives for one turn of the pedals, depends on the relation of the number
of teeth in outer rim, to the number of teeth in small pinion on centre of wheel,
the teeth in intermediate pinion counting for nothing, but: connecting the
other two; to which must always be added, the turn given by the cranks them-
selves. For example if the outer rim has forty two teeth, and the small pinion
in centre fourteen teeth, the wheel will revolve four full turns for every full
turn of the pedals. By an alteration in details a double set of gearing can be
used, one on each side of the wheel to be driven. The outer toothed rim for
each of these gearings is the same as already described and the same applies to
the intermediate pinion, but; there are of course two pinions, one on the inside

page_text: of each crank. The wheel to be driven is firmly fixed to the axle, and the cranks
instead of being fixed have rather long paps to keep them steady and run freely
on the axle, on outside of, and close to the small pinions fixed on axle, and are
kept in position by washers and pins, or nuts, or similar appliances. Having
now given a short description of the invention, the drawing will be described.
The part in drawing marked with an A at each end represents one of the sides of
the front fork of a bicycle, the gearing in the drawing being supposed to be
driving the front wheel of a bicycle. The parts marked B and C respectively,
represent two branches from bottom of A, and the outer toothed rim E is firmly
fastened to A, B and C so, that; the teeth project horizontally outwards from
machine. H is a small pinion fastened firmly to the one end of a metal tube
the position of the pinion being between the junction of the framings A, B
and C and the pap of the crank D and close to each. The tube to which the
pinion H is fastened passes right through and is firmly fastened to the wheel
to be driven, and the bearing in the other side of fork and forms the journals
on which the driven wheel turns. The axle V passes through and revolves in
this tube and to the ends of it the cranks, D, D, (only one of which is shewn in
drawing) are firmly fixed pointing directly away from one another. To the
inside of the one of these cranks next gearing a stud is firmly fixed at the
point X, and on this stud the intermediate pinion J, which connects the outer
toothed rim E, and the centre pinion H turns. The intermediate pinion J,
can always be made of the proper size to gear exactly the proper depths in the
outer toothed rim E, and the centre pinion H, respectively, as it does not matter
what number of teeth it has in circumference, the number of turns the wheel
being driven, gives for each full turn of the pedals, being decided by the relation
of the number of teeth in the rim E, to the number of teeth in the centre
pinion H, adding one turn for the revolution of the cranks themselves. In the
example given in drawing, the toothed rim E has 42 teeth, and the centre
pinion H has 14 teeth, and the wheel being driven consequently gives four
revolutions, for each full turn of the pedals, as 42 teeth, divided by 14 teeth,
gives three, which, added to the turn given by cranks themselves, equals four
turns in all. When a gearing is wanted on both sides of the front wheel, or
on both sides of any other wheel, or part of a machine, the details are different.
There are two complete sets of gearing similar to the drawing, one on each side
of machine, but; the driven wheel, and the two pinions H, are all fastened firmly
to the axle V direct, without the intervention of a tube, and the cranks D on
each side of machine have long paps to steady them, and closely fit the ends of
the axle V, but; are not fixed to it, being kept on by ruffs and pins, or flatheaded
screws, or washers and nuts, or some similar appliances. When the cranks
of the double gearing are once set in position, the crank on the one side of the
machine being geared by means of its pinion J, at exactly the opposite extreme
of its rim E, to that at which the other crank D, is geared by its pinion J, to
its rim E, they always keep the same relative positions from the nature of the
gearing. When the single gearing is used the rim E and the pinions H and J
may be of any form of circumference from straight or curved surfaces working
by friction only, up to the deepest spur or bevel gearing, but; when the double
gearing is employed frictional surfaces cannot be used, so, that; the rims and
pinions must have fine or coarse spur or bevel teeth up to crown teeth, or points
and holes, or teeth and slits, or similar projections and recesses to keep the
cranks in their proper relative positions. By putting thin flanges on the sides
of the pinion J up to points of teeth the rim E and wheels H and J may be
made very thin and light. The gearing both single and double may be used
on the front wheel of a bicycle, or between the two wheels of same, in which
case it is connected to the back wheel by a simple connecting rod attached at
the gearing end to a small double sided crank between the pedals and at the
wheel end to a small single sided crank of same radius, or an endless chain may
be used passing over two small equal sized and toothed pinions. In the case of

page_text: tandem bicycles, or when still more wheels than two are driven, the gearing
single or double can be applied to, front and back, or more wheels separately,
thus enormously increasing the frictional and driving power.
Dated this 2nd dor of August 1899
Improvements in Driving Gear of Bicycle and Tricycle Machines
and the like.
ALEXANDER DICK STEWART, 32, Moray Place, Strathbungo, Glasgow, Scotland,
Fancy Dress Manufacturer, 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:-
The object of this invention. is to increase the speed of bicycles, tricycles,
and such like machines, by making the driving wheel, or wheels, count for
more than their real diameter for each full turn of the pedals. The construction
is simple and compact, and consists of an outer metal rim, surrounding and
equi-distant from the axle centre of the wheel to be driven, having teeth all
round, pointing towards the axle centre. This rim is firmly fastened to the
frame of the machine, so that; the ring of teeth stands out clear of the frame of
machine. The nave of the wheel to be driven consists of a tube of suitable
material, such as; steel, and that tube extends on one side to the flush of outside
of bearing in which wheel turns, and on the other side projects beyond the
bearing sufficiently, to allow a small pinion to be fastened firmly on tube. The
teeth of this pinion, and the teeth in outer rim already described, are exactly
in a vertical line with one another, a gap of some dimensions, being between the
two sets of teeth. Through the hole in the tube in centre of wheel to be driven,
a steel axle is put, having a crank firmly fastened to each end, pointing away
in a straight line, from one another. On the inside of the crank next the driving
motion, and at the proper distance from axle centre, to bring it exactly midway
between the outer toothed rim, and the small pinion on tube in centre of wheel,
a stud is firmly fixed, on which a small toothed intermediate pinion is placed.
This pinion is of the proper size, to gear exactly the right depth into the outer
toothed rim, and the small pinion on wheel. These are the essential parts of
motion, and the result of the arrangement, is that: when you turn the pedals
round, the small pinion on stud on crank runs round backwards in the toothed
rim, and drives the small pinion fastened to tube in centre of wheel round
forwards, and that of course carries the wheel round with it. The number of
turns the wheel gives for one turn of the pedals, depends on the relation of the
number of teeth in the outer rim, to the number of teeth in the small pinion
in centre of wheel, the teeth in the intermediate pinion counting for nothing,
but connecting the other two, but the turn given by the cranks themselves
must always be added. For example if the outer rim has forty two teeth, and
the small pinion in centre fourteen teeth, the wheel will revolve four full turns
for every full turn of the pedals. By an alteration in details a double set of
gearing can be used, one on each side of the wheel to be driven. The outer
toothed rim for each of these gearings, is the same as already described, and
the same applies to the intermediate pinions; but there are of course two
pinions, one on the inside of each crank. The wheel to be driven is firmly fixed
to the axle, and the cranks instead of being fixed, have rather long paps to keen
them steady and run freely on the axle on outside of, and close to, the small

page_text: :
pinions fixed on axle, and are kept in position by washers and pins, or nuts, or
similar appliances. Having now given a short description of the invention,
the drawing will be described. The drawing referred to, was left with the
Provisional Specification. The part in drawing marked A, represents one of
the sides of the front fork of a bicycle, the gearing in the drawing, being supposed
to be driving, the front wheel of a bicycle. The parts marked B and C respec-
tively represent two branches from bottom of fork, and the outer toothed rim E,
is firmly fastened to A, B and C, so that; the teeth stand out clear of A, B and C,
the teeth being all equi-distant from, and having their points towards, the axle
centre. H is a small pinion, fastened firmly to the one end of a metal tube, the
position of the pinion being outside the junctions of the framings A, B and C,
and inside the pap of the crank D, and close to each. The tube to which the
pinion His fastened, passes right through and is firmly fastened to the wheel
to be driven, and also through the bearing in the other side of fork, that is;
the opposite side of machine from gearing, and forms the journals, or shell
axles, on which the driven wheel turns. The axle V, passes through and revolves
in this tube, and to the ends of it the cranks, D, D (only one of which is shown
in drawing) are firmly fixed, pointing directly away from one another. To the
inside of the one of these cranks next gearing, a stud is firmly fixed at the
point X, and on this stud the intermediate pinion J, which connects the outer
toothed rim and the centre pinion H, turns. The intermediate pinion J,
can always be made of the proper size to gear exactly the proper depths in the
outer toothed rim E and the centre pinion H respectively, as it does not matter
what number of teeth it has in circumference, the number of turns the wheel
being driven gives, for each full turn of the pedals, being decided by the relation
of the number of the teeth in the rim E, to the number of teeth in the centre
pinion H, with one turn added for the revolution of the cranks themselves. In
the example given in drawing the toothed rim E has 42 teeth, and the centre
pinion H has 14 teeth, and the wheel being driven consequently gives four
revolutions for each full turn of the pedals, as 42 teeth divided by 14 teeth gives
three revolutions, which added to the turn given by the cranks themselves, equals
four revolutions in all. When a gearing is wanted on both sides of the front
wheel, or both sides of any other wheel or part of a machine, the details are
different. There are two complete sets of gearing similar to the drawing, one
on each side of machine, but; the driven wheel and the two pinions H are all
fastened firmly to the axle V direct, without the intervention of a tube, and
the cranks D on each side of machine, have long paps to steady them and closely
fit the ends of the axle V, but; are not fixed to the axle, being kept on by ruffs
and pins, or flat headed screws, or washers and nuts, or some similar appliances.
When the cranks of this double gearing are once set in position, the crank D
on the one side of the machine, being geared by the pinion J, at exactly the
opposite extreme of the rim E, to that at which the other crank D, is geared by
its pinion J, to its rim E, they always keep the same relative positions from
the nature of the gearing. When the single gearing is used, the rim E, and
the pinions H and J, may be of any form of circumference from straight or curved
surfaces working by friction only, up to the deepest spur, or bevel gearing,
but when the double gearing is employed, frictional surfaces cannot be used,
so that the rims E and pinions H and J on the two sides of machine, must
have fine, or coarse, spur or bevel teeth up to crown teeth, or points and holes,
or teeth and slits, or similar projections and recesses, to keep the cranks 1 in
the proper relative positions. By putting thin flanges on the sides of the pinion J
up to points of teeth, the rim E, and wheels, or pinions, H and J may be made
very thin and light. The gearing both single and double may be used on either
the front or back wheel of a bicycle, or between the front and back wheels,
that is in the ordinary position. When used between the wheels, the single
gearing requires to be connected to the back wheel by an endless link chain
in the ordinary way, the only difference being, that; the chain instead of passing

page_text: over a large and small toothed wheel, passes over two small equal sized toothed
wheels, the speed being raised by the motion itself. When the double gearing
is used, between the wheels, the connection with the back wheel may be made
by both an endless chain and a simple connecting rod. The endless chain passes
over two equal sized toothed wheels, on the gearing and back wheel axle respec-
tively, and the connecting rod is geared at each end to an equal sized small
crank, on the gearing and back wheel axle respectively. In the case of tandem
bicycles, or when still more than two wheels are driven, as in a unicorn tricycle
for example, (which is a machine with one front steering wheel and two back
wheels, side by side, but; some distance separate. Each of the wheels has a
separate gearing of its own, the riders sitting astride the respective wheels, and
driving the gearings separately, but; all adding to the driving power of the
machine) the gearing single or double, can be applied to the front, or back,
or more wheels separately, thus enormously increasing the frictional and driving
power.
}
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 single gearing as shown in drawing, and described in specification, as
a new combination.
2nd. The double gearing as partially shown in drawing, and described in
specification, as a new combination.
3rd. The metal rim with teeth pointing inwards, surrounding axle, when
applied to bicycle, and tricycle, and the like machines.
4th. The pinion attached to the inside of crank, to gear rim and centre wheel,
when applied to bicycle, and tricycle, and the like machines.
5th. The method of working the solid axle, inside the hollow axle or tube,
when applied to bicycle, and tricycle, and the like machines.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1900.
ALEXANDER DICK STEWART.