17,234. Boys, C. V., and Williams, W. Aug. 6. Driving-mechanism; clutches.-Relates to motor and pedal driven epicyclic toothed variable-speed gearing applicable to tricars, quads, and motor cycles used in combination with detachable fore and side carriages. The driving-pulley a, Fig. 1, is secured to an epicyclic frame b carrying axles g which turn connected planets c, d, e, f, which gear with sun-pinions m<1>,j, s, t. The high-speed sunpinionj has a hub, which, formed in disconnectible parts k, k<1> turning upon a sleeve h on the frame b, is provided with a brake band q. The low-speed sun-pinion m<1> turns on a backward-driving treewheel on a sleeve m which carries a brake band r. The brake rims may be concentric, so that one brake band may act upon both. The driven sun-pinion t is connected to the part 4, which may form the hub of the road wheel or may carry a driving- wheel 3. The middle-speed sun-pinion s is connected by a hub s<1> through a backward-driving free-wheel to a brake rim on which bears a brake band u<1> or a ratchet-and-pawl device, and by means of a clutch, shown in Fig. 3, to the pedal-driven sprocket v. In the rim fits a nearly cylindrical pawl 13, to which is secured a spring arm 15 with a bent head 16 adapted to engage V-shaped grooves 17, 18, 19 in the flange 14. If the arm 15 is in the groove 17, that is, in the forward-driving position, and the wheel rim is turned backwards, a projection 22 on the flange 14, which may be formed as a star-wheel, engages the edge 21 of the pawl 13 and turns it free of the flange into the free-wheel position ; and at the same time the arm 15 passes into the notch 18. To move the arm into the notch 19 for backward drive, an arm 25, operated by a lever 27 and wire 28, is turned up to engage the arm 15 and the rim is back-pedalled. The arm 15 automatically comes into the notch 18 when the pedals are held stationary. If it is desired that the pawl 13 should not be automatically re-set in one direction of drive, the sloping face leading from the bottom of the groove 17 to the ridge between the grooves 17, 18 is made long enough to prevent the arm 15 from passing it. The three engine speeds are obtained by braking the corresponding sunpinion, the low-speed band r being normally kept in engagement, and the rim m<1> being free to turn forward on its free-wheel when either of the other bands is in engagement. The levers operating the brake bands q, u<1> are connected so that both brakes cannot operate at one time. With all brakes released and the arm 15 in the notch 18, a freeengine position is obtained. In this position, the engine may be started by means of the pedals or by a hand-wheel, if preferred. The ordinary brakes are put on the vehicle, the arm 15 is moved into the notch 19 for backward drive, and the feet are back-pedalled, driving the engine forward. The vehicle is then started by braking the sun-pinion m<1>. Four forward and three backward pedalling speeds may also be obtained. By braking the high or low speed sun-pinion and pedalling in the direction desired or in the opposite direction, respectively, two speeds forward and one backward may be obtained, the low-speed backward being prevented by the free-wheel in the sun-pinion m<1>. The brake rim carrying the band u<1> is provided with a lug 31 into which a pin 30 on the hub 4 may be passed, securing a direct drive forwards or backwards. A very low non-epicyclic gear may be obtained by locking the frame b by clipping the belt or using the compression of the engine. The whole gear may be mounted on a tube turning freely on the axle i. In modifications, the low or middle speed sun-pinion may be dispensed with. Or again, one sun-pinion, such as the low-speed pinion m<1>, may be made larger than the driven sunpinion t, and the clutch be omitted, in which case a reverse speed is obtained while the other forward speeds remain as before.