Patent GB-494874-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in supplementary propelling mechanism for bicycles and like foot-propelled vehicles
IPC: B62M1/12
Filed: 1938-02-09
Abstract: 494,874. Auxiliary driving-mechanism for cycles &c. VERCRUYSSE, J. B., and VERCRUYSSE, J. Feb. 9, 1938, Nos. 4050, 4051, and 4052. Convention dates, March 9, 1937, Nov. 13, 1937, and Jan. 26, 1938. [Class 136 (ii)] In supplementary propelling-mechanism for bicycles and like foot-propelled vehicles, the handle-bar or like steering-device comprises two levers arranged for independent upward and downward oscillating movements and each of the levers is associated with a separate transmission, each transmission including one or more flexible members, with or without oscillating levers, and a single free-wheel pinion operatively connected to the normal propelling- mechanism of the vehicle, the flexible members which drive free-wheel pinions having their return movements effected by springs or by a flexible connecting member passing over a fixed pulley. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the steering stem 8 is provided with a forwardly-extending bar 7 having a front cross-piece on which are pivoted two hand levers 11, which are geared together by toothed sectors for alternate oscillation. Each lever 11 is provided with an arm 105 connected by a link 106 to a rocking lever 107, which is pivoted at 108 on a sleeve 109 and is connected by a cable 110 to a bell-crank lever 112 pivoted to a sleeve 114 on the cycle frame 1. Each bellcrank lever 112 is connected to a cable 115 provided with a driving - chain 116 engaging a free-wheel pinion 117, these pinions being mounted, e.g. detachably on opposite ends of the usual pedal-crank axle 3. The chains 116 are provided with return springs 120. The crank bracket may be fitted with a ratchet device to enable the hand drive to be used independently of the pedal drive. The support 7 and the hand levers 11 are telescopic, so that their length may be adjusted to vary the propelling effect. In the form shown in Fig. 3, extensible hand levers 11, pivoted at 10 to the support 7, are outwardly and upwardly bent at their inner ends, and are connected by links 21 to rocking levers 16, ball-headed joints being provided between the parts to permit steering movements. The levers 16 are connected to cables 22, which pass around pulleys 23 and are connected to chains 26 driving free-wheel pinions 27, which drive the usual pedal-crank chain-wheel 4 through a chain-wheel 34 and chain 35. The shaft 32 of the chain-wheel 34 is hollow, and is fitted with a slidable spring-urged dogclutch controlled from a hand lever, whereby the propelling-mechanism may be disconnected. The levers 11 are interconnected for alternate oscillation by a transverse rocking lever 45 fitted with ball-headed joints, and the lever 45 may be locked by a spring-urged bolt sliding in the support 7, thus locking the propelling-mechanism. The two chains 26 are connected together by a flexible member 28 passing over a pulley 29. In two further modifications, the driving-chains 26 are connected to the hand levers 11 by cables only, and in one form the levers 11 have downwardly-bent arms at their forward ends.