Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1898
Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Bicycles and
similar Vehicles.
I, GUSTAV BEIT, of Adolphsbrucke, Borsenhaus, in the City of Hamburg, in
the German Empire, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The present invention has reference to bicycles and other similar vehicles, the
pedals of which are replaced by levers, which by means of any suitable pawl and
ratchet or equivalent device are made to act only one way and act directly upon
the axle of the driven wheel. The frame of the bicycle is considerably extended
beyond the axle of the driving wheel (which is preferably the rear wheel) to obtain
a point of support for foot levers which are to act upon the axle of the said driving
wheel. The frame tubes are for this purpose extended beyond the driving wheel
and carry at their extremities an axle which forms the bearing for the foot levers.
The foot levers are connected with one another by means of a cord passing over
a roller fastened to the top bar of the frame in such mauner that while one foot
lever is moving downwards, the other will be moving upwards. The said levers
carry internally toothed quadrants on their inside which engage with toothed
wheels running loosely upon the axle of the driving wheel. Pawls held in position
by springs are arranged on the toothed wheels. In depressing one lever the
respective toothed wheel will be caused to rotate in such a manner that through
the pawl the ratchet wheel is forced to partake in the rotation. The ratchet wheel
is fast upon the axle of the driving or rear wheel so that in depressing the foot
levers the driving wheel will only move in one direction.
The advantage derived from the present invention consists mainly in the greater
amount of power which may be produced through the aforesaid lever arrangement,
thereby enabling a greater speed to be obtained.
Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Bicycles and
similar Vehicles.
I, GUSTAV BEIT, of Adolphsbrucke, Borsenhaus, in the City of Hamburg, in
he German Empire, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
Pic 8d1

page_text: and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention has reference to bicycles and other similar vehicles the
cranks of which are replaced by levers, which by means of any suitable pawl and
ratchet or equivalent device are made to act only one way and act directly upon the
axle of the driving wheel.
The invention is shown in the annexed drawings in Figures 1 and 2.
The frame of the bicycle is considerably extended beyond the axle of the driving
wheel (which is preferably the rear wheel) to obtain a point of support for foot
levers which are to act upon the axle of the said driving wheel. The frame
tubes a a¹ are for this purpose extended beyond the driving wheel and carry at
their extremities an axle which forms the bearing for the foot levers b. The foot
levers are connected with one another by means of a cord c passing over a roller
fastened to the top bar of the frame in such manner that while oue foot lever is
moving downwards the other will be moving upwards. The said levers carry
internally toothed quadrants e e¹ on their inside which engage with toothed wheels f
running loosely upon the axle of the driving wheel. Pawls g held in position by
springs are arranged on the toothed wheels f. On depressing one lever the respective
toothed wheelf will be caused to rotate in such a manner that through the pawl g
the ratchet wheel h is forced to partake in the rotation. The ratchet wheel his
fast upon the axle of the driving or rear wheel so that in depressing the foot levers
the said wheel will only move in one direction.
The advantage derived from the present invention consists mainly in the greater
amount of power which may be produced through the aforesaid lever arrangement,
thereby enabling a greater speed to be attained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
The mechanism for driving a cycle, or other like vehicle, consisting of driving
levers, pivoted or hinged to an extension of the frame, carrying internally toothed
quadrants the teeth of which engage with a toothed wheel fast on the axle of the
driving wheel and capable of being rotated in one direction only, the driving levers
being connected with one another by a cord passing over a pulley in such manner
as to cause their action to be reciprocated.
Dated this 7th don of Wali
1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.