US627977A - Bicycle-gearing. - Google Patents

Description

. Patented my 4, kaas. J. A. CALDWELL.

BICYCLE GEARING.

(Application led May 26, 1897. Renewed Nov. 28, 1,898.)

(No Model.)

/NVENTOH l rom/5y TH: Nonms PETERS cannon-uwe., wAsHxNrnoN. D. c.

UNiTnD STATES APATENT Ormea.

JOHN A.- CALDWELL, OF VANCOUVER, CANADA.

BICYCLE-Gemme'.

SPEQIFICATIQN forming part of Letters Patent o. 627,977, dated July 4, 1899'. Application filed May 26, 1897. Renewed November 28, 1898. Serial No. 697,711. (No model.)

To all whom Z715 may concern..-

Be it known that I, J oHN A. CALDWELL, of Vancouver, in the Province of British Columbia and Dominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bicycle-Gearings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in drive-gear mechanism for bicycles or other manually-propelled vehicles of that class in which a multiple or fast speed is imparted to the drive-wheel from a crank-axle rotating at a somewhat slower speed.

Among other objects this invention seeks to provide a drive-gear of this character of a very simple but effective construction, by which a great speed and power with a minimum amount of friction is obtained with a slow and small foot-leverage power, in which the gearing is compact, arranged dust-proof, and capable of being applied to any form of bicycle or other manually-propelled vehicle.

The invention comprehends the peculiar combination and details of constructionsuch as will be first described in detail and then be specifically pointed out in the appended' claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a safety-bicycle equipped with myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a face view of the operating-gear devices, part of the casing being removed to the more clearly illustrate the parts. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section taken on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4t is a detail view of a portion of pinioncarrying ring-frame, hereinafter specifically referred to.

In the practical application my improved gear mechanism may be applied to any form of bicycle. When to a front drive-wheel, the cranks can be of a sufficient length to receive the ordinary propelling-pedals. When applied to the modern or safety style of bicycles, the crank-axle is arranged to be rotated by means of swinging levers having foot members.

Generally the drive-gear devices comprise a iiXedly-held internally-toothed annulus, a

rotary hub having a drive-gear, an axle held to rotate within the hub having anannular ring or frame iixedly connected thereto to turn therewith, which carries a plurality of drive-pinions held to mesh with the internallygeared fixed annulus and by contact therewith rotated in a directionreverse to the direction of movement of the frame supporting them, whereby to rotate the hub-pinionin a direction (forward) with the rotation of the shaft at a greater speed and increased power.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

in which like numerals indicate like parts in all the figures, 1 indicates the rear-wheel hub,

which runs freely on the ball-bearings 5, en

gaging the crank-axle 3, which is also held to rotate. The hub l carries at one end a cogpinion 2, held in a vertical plane with. the internally-toothed annulus 12, fixedly secured to a rigid part 19 of the bicycle-frame, it being incased at both sides by the disk-plates 13 12, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

7 and 8 indicate a pairof rings, each having inturned portions 7 and 8a, which are joined by rivets or screws 10,whereby to form the tworings in an annular frame, having a series of intervening openings or bifurcated portions 10, in each of which is journaled a pinion 11, adapted to mesh with the internally-toothed annulus 12 and the hub-pinion 2, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The pinion-carrying frame has radial arms 9, terminating in a hub portion, which is fixedly secured to the crank-axle to turn therewith. Y

14. and 15 indicate the cranks, which are secured to the threaded ends 6 of the aXle 3. These cranks have roller lcrank-pins l6,which work in the longitudinal slots 20 of pedal-levers 17 18, fulcrumed on the bicycle-frame, as shown in Fig. 1.

By constructing a drive-gear as described and shown it is manifest that When'the 1evers 17 and 18 are reciprocated vertically a rotary motion is impart-ed to the crank-axle, which is rotated forward, as indicated by the arrow X. As the frame carrying the pinions 11 is fixedly connected to the crank-axle, it fol- IOO in a reverse direction, (see arrows y,) which movement imparts a forward movement (see arrow z) to the hub-pinion 2.

By providing a IiXed internal gear, a central gear 2, and the planet-movement gea'rs 11, arranged as shown, it is manifest that a multiple speed, the degree of which `is dependent on the relative diameters of the pinions lland 2, is imparted to the pinion 2, the leverage power of which is also increased in accordance with the number of gears held to engage it and the annulus l2.

I am aware that speed-gearing for bicycles has been provided in which a central or axis gear and series of ixedly-held rotary gears operated from the central gear, which in turn c engage a drive-wheel, having internal teeth "to impart increased speed and power to such Wheel. but

Wma-t I` do claim', and desire to secure by Letters-Patent, is-

l'. A'drive-gearing comprising a stationary interna-lily-toothed annulus, a hub-pinion, a frame composed of a pair of rings having inturned portions arranged at intervals, sev This construction I do-not claim;

cured together and forming intervening openi-ngs 10, and pinions journaled in the openings 10, and meshing with the annulus and the hub-pinion, substantially as described.

2. A drive-gear, comprising a crank-axle having a crank; a hub on the crank-axle having a pinion xedly held thereon; a stationary disk having an integrally-formed internally-toothed annulus; a second disk opposing-the annulus-disk and secured thereto; a frame mounted on the crank-axle consisting of a pair of rings held ixedlyconnected at intervals and separated at the intervening points; pinions journaled on the said frame in Jthe separated portions thereof meshing with the annulus and the hub-pinion, all being arranged substantially as shown and for the purposes described. I

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J Oli-1N A. CALDWELL.

itnesses:

D. R. G. BALLANTYNE, G. S. MASON.

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