Improvements in, and relating to, Variable Speed Gears for Cycles and the like

14,106. Alltree, A. June 19. Driving-mechanism for motor and other cycles &c. In the type of hub three-speed gear employing two epicyclic trains, the direct drive is furnished by locking one sun-pinion to the driving-member and the other tu the driven member, while the high and low gears are obtained by the engagement of one of the sun-pinions with an internally-toothed fixed clutch-piece placed between them. As shown in Fig. 1, the clutch-piece B pinned to the axle supports by ball bearings a cage C carrying two sets of planet-pinions D, E, the sun-pinions K, L being adapted to engage teeth b, b , i, h. The sun-pinions are pressed to their outermost positions by springs m, n, their movement inwards being effected by pieces o, p upon a rod Q engaging loosely-mounted cross-pieces O, P. The hub S is connected to the internally-toothed member I, J by the engagement of pins R upon one member with holes or slots in the other, a locking-ring U being provided to secure the connexion. The gear may thus be detached as a whole. A screwed cone f permits the assembling of the part C and balls F, F . As a modification, the part B may rotatably support a member carrying the two internal rings J, G, the planet-pinions being mounted on members connected to the driving and driven members. In this case, for additional support, the studs of the planet-pinions may be screwed to plates supported by the ball bearings upon the fixed clutch-piece, while the carrier of the pinions D may be connected by a one-way clutch to the part I secured to the hub. The clutch-piece may be mounted upon a squared portion of the axle, or it may be in the form of two parts screwed upon the axle, the member C being supported by balls in a race formed by the two parts, In lieu of the springs m, n, a single spring within the axle may bear upon the cross-pieces sliding upon the rod Q ; or springs one on each side of a central abutment piece within the axle may be used.