Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1897-Accepted, 2nd June, 1897
WILLIAM JAMES BAIRD 4 Mountview Terrace Cupar Street Belfast Mechanic
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This novel arrangement of driving gear for bicycles consists of a pair of levers
or pedals which have a reciprocatory motion communicated to them by the feet of
the rider. These levers are carried upon centres fixed to the framing of the
machine.
At the opposite ends to the pedals of these levers are joined connecting rods
which at their other ends are joined to cranks which are fastened to each end of a
shaft running in bearings in the framing of the machine.
Fixed to this shaft is an internal spiral toothed wheel which geers into an
intermediate external spiral toothed pinion the axle of which is at right angles to
the axis of the internal wheel and shaft. The intermediate axle is carried upon
one or two wings projecting from a socket which surrounds the shaft and extends
out to the framing of the machine to which it is fixed and forms at the same time,
a bush or bearing for the crank shaft.
The intermediate external spiral toothed pinion geers into and drives an external
spiral toothed wheel which revolves upon a sleeve or bush fixed in the framing of
the machine. This external spiral toothed wheel is attached to one of two hollow
discs which revolve upon the fixed sleeves or bushes in the framing of the machine.
These hollow discs have on their outer surfaces rims or flanges to which are
attached the spokes of the driving wheel of the machine of which the discs forms
the boss.
The two discs are firmly joined together at their periphery and form an oil
tight cover for the toothed geering which thus can practically work in an
oil bath.
By the relative sizes of the internal spiral toothed driving wheel and the external
spiral toothed driven wheel the revolutions of the driving wheel of the machine
are multiplied on those of the cranks in any desired degree preferably three to one
or thereabouts more or less so that by one up and down movement of the pedal
levers an increased number of revolutions are communicated to the driving wheel of
the machine.
By this arrangement of pedals and geering driving chains are dispensed with and
the wear and tear thereon avoided and a multiplying geer provided which is
dustproof and perfectly lubricated.
If desired balls can be introduced into the sleeves to form the bearings for the
crank shaft and also outside the sleeves between them and the discs which forms the
bub of the driving wheel of the machine.
CM 1006
WILLIAM JAMES BAIRD.

page_text: A Novel Arrangement of Driving Gear for Bicycles.
I WILLIAM JAMES BAIRD 4 Mountview Terrace Cupar Street Belfast in the
County of Antrim Ireland Mechanic 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 relates to the driving of velocipedes, bicycles, tricycles or other
machines of a similar nature. Secondly to the particular method whereby the
gearing is attached to or carried from the framing of the machine. Thirdly to the
novel arrangement whereby the brakeing or dragging of the machine can be
accomplished.
Heretofore the most usual method of driving and gearing these machines has
been by means of the pedal crank, combined with sprocket wheels and endless
chain.
Now according to this my said invention the sprocket wheels and chain are done
away with and in their place are substituted a novel arrangement of spiral toothed
gearing in combination with pedal levers, connecting rods and cranks, whereby the
machine is driven with greater facility and ease than has before been possible; and
consists of a pair of pedal levers of the first order, the power and motion being
communicated at one end by the feet of the rider, and with the fulcrum, fixed to
the framing of the machine, at such a distance from the power and weight as is
considered necessary for efficient driving, while at the opposite ends, are attached
conuecting rods which at their other ends are fastened to small cranks which are
themselves fixed, in the usual manner, to what I will hereinafter term the crank
spindle, and which is free to revolve in bearings in the framing of the machine.
Fixed rigidly to the said crank spindle is an internal spiral toothed driving
pinion which gears into an intermediate external spiral toothed pinion, the axle of
which is at right angles to the axis of the internal spiral toothed driving pinion,
and is carried on one or two wings, of convenient form, which project from a socket
which surrounds the said crank spindle and extends out at each end to the framing
of the machine to which it is fixed and forms a bush or bearing for the crank
spindle.
The intermediate external spiral toothed pinion gears into and drives an external
spiral toothed wheel which is rigidly attached to the boss of, and imparts its motion
to one of two hollow discs, which are free to revolve upon the socket surrounding
the crank spindle.
These two discs are placed with their hollow surfaces facing each other, and when
firmly joined together, at their periphery they form a hollow oil-tight casing
enclosing all the aforementioned spiral toothed gearing, as well as all the bearings
and journals in connection therewith, and being kept partially filled with oil or
other lubricating substance, the said gearing is always working in a lubricating
bath.
The said two hollow discs also form the hub of the driving wheel of the machine
and have on their outer surfaces rims or flanges to which are attached the wires
or spokes of the said driving wheel.
According to the relative numbers of teeth in the internal spiral toothed driving
pinion and the external spiral toothed driven wheel, the revolutions of the driving
wheel of the machine are multiplied on those of the crank in any desired degree,
preferably three to one or thereabout, more or less, so that by one up and down
movement of the aforementioned pedal levers an increased number of revolutions
are given to the driving wheel of the machine.
The body of the aforesaid internal spiral toothed driving pinion forms a hollow

page_text: disc the convex surface of which fits accurately into the concave surface of one of
the aforesaid hollow discs which form the hub of the driving wheel. In its ordinary
working position the convex surface of the body of the said internal spiral toothed
driving pinion is about one thirty second part of an inch distant from and therefor
free of the concave surface of the said hollow disc, but when it is desired to apply
a brake to the machine, the crank spindle carrying the internal spiral toothed
driving pinion has imparted to it, by means of a brake lever, a slight lateral
movement, thus pressing the convex surface of the internal spiral toothed driving
pinion against the concave surface of the aforementioned hollow disc which forms
part of the hub of the driving wheel of the machine, and as the said internal spiral
toothed driving pinion has always a slower motion than the said hollow disc, the
said hollow disc and with it the driving wheel of the machine, will therefore be
retarded and braked thereby.
If desired balls can be introduced into the socket to form the bearings of the
crank spindle and also outside the socket between it and the boss of the discs which
form the hub of the driving wheel of the machine.
To make foregoing plain the drawings herewith shew in Fig. 1: a section of
driving wheel and gear Fig. 2: side elevation of same. a, frame of the machine;
a' fulcrum fixed to frame of machine; b, pedal levers. c connecting rods. d, cranks
on crank spindle d'; e, internal spiral toothed driving wheel attached to crank
spindle d'.
f, external spiral toothed intermediate pinion carried in wings f' upon socket 12
fastened to the frame a of the machine by nuts f. The intermediate pinion f
drives the external spiral toothed pinion g which is attached to the boss of one of
the hollow discs g' the two discs g' forming together an oil chamber and also the
hub of the driving wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A particular arrangement for applying spiral toothed gearing for driving
velocipedes, bicycles, tricycles, or other machines of a similar nature substantially
as set forth.
2. The particular method by which said gearing is enclosed in a dust proof casing
which forms the hub of the driving wheel of the machine and serves as a
lubricating bath for said gearing as well as all bearings and journals in connection
therewith, in the manner and substantially as set forth.
3. The particular method whereby the internal spiral toothed driving pinion is
made to act as a brake, in the manner and substantially as set forth.
Dated this 26th day of February 1897.
WILLIAM JAMES BAIRD.