GB190608261A - A New or Improved Three-speed Gear for Bicycles and the like. - Google Patents

Abstract

8261. Cope, A. W. April 5. Variable-speed gearing; clutches.-In the type of cycle three - speed sun- and-planet gear, with or without back - pedalling brake mechanism, wherein the sun-pinion is adapted to turn freely or to be clutched to the stationary spindle, while the planetpinion carrier and the internally - toothed ring are each adapted to be clutched to the sprocketwheel or to the hub, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, an intermediate flanged ring I, recessed at i<2> to receive external projections h upon the internal ring H, has internal clutch teeth i<1> to be engaged by a ring E mounted loosely upon a piece D which at d<1> receives the free ends g of the planet-pinion spindles. With the parts in the position shown, the sun-pinion is free to turn and the hub is driven direct through teeth a<4>, d, piece D, carrier sleeve F, and the nut X. When the sun-pinion is pressed to the left by a spring T, the pinion becomes locked by a stationary clutch piece b, and the hub is then driven at high speed through the carrier, the planet-wheels, the ring H, and the conical clutchnut K, the nut X being overrun. Further motion of the gear-changing mechanism Y to the left causes movement of the sun-pinion sleeve C and with it a ring T' and the piece D, so that the teeth a4, d are disengaged and the ring E engaged with the teeth a<3>, i<1>. The sun-pinion is still held stationary, and the internally-toothed ring becomes the driving-member of the gear, so that the hub is driven at low speed through the carrier and nut X. To prevent the clutch K, L from coming into operation when the low gear is being used, the cone K has two or more internal studs k, Fig. 3, engaging slots i<3> in the flange i of the ring I. Finger springs a5, m are arranged between the sprocket-wheel and the ring I and between the hub and the clutchcone K, respectively. In a modification, the cone K is formed with internal projections to engage helical grooves upon the ring H, projections at the left end of each groove being provided to engage recesses in the ring I. With the parts in either position, back-pedalling applies the brake through the nut X. Figs. 9 and 11 show a three-speed gear without back-pedalling brake mechanism. In this case, pawl-and-ratchet clutches are provided at i<4> and m<2> between the ring I and the chain-wheel and between the carrier and the hub, respectively. The chain-wheel has dogs a<6> to engage projections d<2> upon the part D. In another arrangement, described in the Provisional Specification, a friction clutch and a separate intermediate ring are not employed. The internally-toothed ring, capable of lateral displacement, has face ratchet teeth at both ends to engage similar teeth upon a ring in one-way clutch connexion with the hub and teeth upon the chain-wheel.