Improvements in Driving-gear for Bicycles and other. Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving-gear for Bicycles and other. Velocipedes.
I, ARTHUR THOMAS COLLIER, of Gonvena, St. Alban's, in the County of Herts,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in driving-gear for bicycles and other
velocipedes, of the kind or class in which compound cranks are employed so that
a greater leverage will be obtained during the downward movement of either pedal
than during the upward movement thereof.
In the Specification filed in respect of my Application for Letters Patent dated
10th January 1896 No. 721, I have described improved means for accomplishing such
result without unduly increasing either the weight of the bicycle or other machine
or the friction between the relatively moving parts.
In one arrangement of the driving-gear described in my said former specification, the
eccentric lever of the compound crank, which is provided with a strap that turns
about a stationary disc, is pivotally connected to an extension of the treadle-pin which
is formed with or rigidly attached to a slide-block or head arranged to slide to and
fro upon the concentric lever of the said compound crank.
"
My present invention comprises improvements in such driving-gear, whereby I am
enabled to obtain a greater range of movement through which the force applied to
the treadle can be usefully exerted for driving the machine.
One feature of my present invention consists in so constructing and combining
the parts that the joint or pivot connecting the concentric and eccentric levers of
the compound crank will be at or near the periphery of the aforesaid strap.
I sometimes pivotally connect the said strap to an arm extending inwardly from the
slide-block or head.
I find it advantageous to provide the said slide-block or head with another arm
extending outwardly therefrom and to attach the treadle-pin to the end of this arm
instead of directly to the said block or head, the said block or head being arranged
nearer to the centre of rotation than the treadle-pin, so that the concentric lever
will not protrude so far beyond the treadle in the operation of the driving-gear.
According to another part of my present invention I employ two slide-blocks or heads
suitably connected to each other; and both arranged to slide upon the concentric
lever. In this case one of the said slide-blocks or heads is connected by a pivot or
other suitable joint to the strap at or near the periphery thereof, and the treadle-pin
is attached either directly to the other slide-block or head or to an arm or extension
thereof.
According to another part of my present invention I construct the driving-gear
as follows, ri. I make the crank-shaft or driving-shaft hollow and divide it at a
suitable part of its length to obtain a fixed bearing for a bar which is arranged within
it and is provided at each end with an arm which extends forward and carries the
pivot for the corresponding eccentric lever. In this arrangement I sometimes use a
divided chain-wheel so that a bearing bracket attached to the frame of the machine
can extend between the two parts of the said wheel. The two parts of the chain-
wheel are, in this case, coupled together by the engagement of the chain with the
teeth on both of the said parts; or the hollow spindle is connected by means of

page_text: .
toothed gearing in any convenient manner on each side of the divided hollow
spindle.
Dated the 21st dow of Mar 1906
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, ARTHUR THOMAS COLLIER, of. Gonvena, St. Alban's, in the County of Herts,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this. invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
My invention relates: to improvements in driving-gear for bicycles and other
velocipedes, of the kind or class in which compound cranks are employed so that a
greater leverage will be obtained during the downward movement of either pedal than
during the upward. movement thereof..
In the Specification of former Letters Patent granted to me and dated 10th January
1896, No. 721, I have described improved. means for accomplishing such result without
unduly increasing either the weight of the bicycle or other machine or the friction
between the relatively moving parts. And in one arrangement of the driving-gear
described in.my said former specification, the eccentric lever of the compound crank,
which, is, provided. with a strap that turns about. a. stationary disc, is pivotally
connected to a longitudinal extension of the treadle-pin which is formed with or
rigidly attached to a slide-block or head provided with. roller or ball bearings of
peculiar construction and arranged to slide to and fro upon. the. concentric lever of the
said compound crank.
My present invention. comprises improvements in such driving-gear, whereby I am
enabled to obtain a greater, range of movement through which the force applied to
the treadle can be usefully exerted for driving the machine; and also to prevent undue
protrusion of the concentric lever through. the slide-block or head..
According to one part of my present invention, I so construct and combine the parts
that the joint or pivot connecting the concentric and eccentric levers of the compound
crank is at or near the periphery of the aforesaid strap,, the said strap being pivotally
connected to an arm extending inwardly from the slide-block.or head; and I provide
the said, slide-block or head with. another arm extending outwardly therefrom, and
attach the treadle-pin: to the end of this arm instead of directly to the said block or
head, the said block or, head being arranged nearer to, the centre of rotation than the
treadle-pin, so that the concentric lever need not, protrude so far beyond the treadle in
the operation of the driving-gear.
According to another modification of my present invention,. I. employ two slide-
blocks, or heads, suitably connected, to each other, and both arranged to slide upon the
concentric lever; or a single slide-block or head provided with four continuous series
of rollers or balls.,
According to another part of my present invention. I construct the driving-gear as
follows, vi. I. make the crank-shaft or driving-shaft hollow and divide it at one or
more suitable points. in its. length to obtain a fixed bearing or fixed bearings for a bar
which is, arranged within it and which is provided at each end with an arm extending
forward and carrying the pivot for the corresponding eccentric lever. In this
arrangement I sometimes use a divided chain-wheel so that a bearing bracket attached
to the frame of the machine can extend between the two parts of the said wheel, which
are fixed on adjacent parts of the spindle. The two parts of the chain-wheel are, in
this case, coupled together by the engagement of the chain with the teeth on both of

page_text: toothed gearing in any convenient manner.
In the a companying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation, and
Figure 2 a plan, partly in horizontal section, showing one form of my improved"
driving-gear.
Figure 3 is a central transverse section through the slide-block or head.
Figure 4 is a sectional side elevation, showing a modified form of my improved.
slide-block or head.
Figure 5 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation illustrating one form of my double slide-block"
or head.
Figure 7 is a side elevation illustrating a further modification of my invention.
Figure 8 is a sectional elevation, showing a still further modification thereof, and
Figure 9 is a plan, partly in horizontal section, illustrating the arrangement in
which I mount the eccentric levers on arms fixed on a rod extending through a
divided hollow crank-shaft or pedal-shaft.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
In the arrangements shown in Figures 1 to 8, the slide-block or head e is made
with two arms or extensions e, e. The inwardly extending arm e' is coupled to the
strap that revolves about the stationary disc or eccentric e secured to the frame of
the machine, the pivot-pin b being mounted with two roller or ball bearings r, in
a lug on the strap b. These two bearings prevent relative lateral movement of the
parts and angular movement or sagging of the treadle-pin d and slide-block or head e
relatively to the said strap. The strap b with its lug 63 forms the eccentric lever of.
the compound crank.
The treadle-pin d is fixed in the end of the outwardly extending arm e³, the said
block or head being arranged nearer to the centre of rotation than the treadle-pin,
and the concentric lever f, which is fixed on the crank-shaft or pedal-shaft B, is made
of such length that it will protrude but slightly beyond the treadle in the operation of
the driving-gear. The bearings and the return passages for the rollers or balls g
are, in the arrangements shown in Figures 1 to 3, and in Figures 4 and 5, Figure 6:
and Figure 7, formed in two cheeks or discs e, e2, forming the slide-block or head,
one of which fits within the other, the two cheeks or discs e¹, e2 being secured together
by bolts e provided with nuts, as shown, whereby they can be adjusted relatively to
each other to compensate for wear. I prefer to provide the said cheeks or discs with
hardened bearing surfaces es, Figures 4 and 5, made separately and secured in place
by screws e so that they can be readily renewed.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 4 and 5, the balls 9 are shown smaller than
in Figures 1 and 2. By making them smaller, I am enabled to provide a more
extended bearing for the concentric lever f without increasing the diameter of the
slide-block or head e.
In Figure 6 I have shown a modification of my said invention in which I use a
double slide-block or head, that is to say, a slide-block or head having four continuous
sets or series of rollers or balls g, instead of only two as in the preceding figures. By.
this means I am enabled to obtain a greatly extended bearing for the concentric
lever without greatly increasing the number of rollers or balls required. I some-
times arrange two of such sets or series of rollers or balls in each of two slide-blocks
or heads which are rigidly connected in any convenient manner.
I find it advantageous to arrange the arms or extensions e, e of the slide-block or
head and their pivotal connections, below instead of above the slide-block or head e,
as shown, for example, in Figure 7, as by this means I avoid the protrusion of the
concentric lever beyond the treadle-pin when the treadle is on the top centre.
In Figure 8 I have shown a modification of my invention wherein I provide the
slide-block or head with wheels w mounted on ball-bearings w¹, instead of with the
continuous series of rollers or balls shown in the preceding figures. I can employ

page_text: "two or more of these wheels above and an equal number below the lever f, or one
ahove and two or more below the said lever, or vice versa.
In Figure 9 I have shown an arrangement in which the crank-shaft is made hollow,
and is divided into three parts B, B', B2, the concentric levers 7 being fixed on the
outer parts B, B³. Within the said divided hollow crank-shaft is mounted a rod or
"bar & which is provided at each end with a forwardly-extending arm l, and is prevented
from turning by being fixed in brackets m, me by means of keys or in any other
-convenient manner. The brackets m, m' are rigidly attached to the frame A, and
extend between the adjacent parts B, B1, B2 of the divided shaft. Between the outer
parts B, B2 of the divided shaft and the rod k are provided ball-bearings p, the balls
of which are introduced through apertures in the divided shaft, closed by means of
screw-threaded plugs p'. The arms are provided with pins y which serve as centres
for the eccentric levers a, a ball-bearing 9 being provided at the inner end of each of
such levers to reduce the friction between it and the corresponding pin g. The
parts B', B2 of the divided crank-shaft are connected together by means of the
driving-chain which engages with the two halves or portions s, s' of a divided
sprocket-wheel, situated on opposite sides of the bracket m, the part s being rigidly
secured to the part B' of the crank-shaft, and the other part being rigidly secured
to the part B of the said shaft. The parts B, B' of the said shaft are connected by
two toothed wheels t, t' situated on opposite sides of the bracket m' and geared to
each other by means of a pinion u mounted on a pin or stud attached to the frame of the
machine. The treadle-pin and the two levers of the compound crank are connected
by a slide-block or head substantially as described in my said former specification; or
they may be connected as above described.
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 :-
First. A compound crank of the kind or class hereinbefore referred to, wherein the
slide-block or head is made with an outwardly extending arm in which the treadle-pin
is rigidly secured, and with an inwardly extending arm which is pivotally connected
to the eccentric strap, substantially as bereinbefore described and for the purposes
specified.
Second. The improved slide-block or head having the arms or extensions and
constructed substantially as herein before described.
Third. The modification of my invention wherein I employ four continuous series
of rollers or balls and bearing surfaces and return passages for the same, substantially
as described.
Fourth. The modification of my invention wherein I employ, in my improved
slide-block or head, wheels mounted on roller or ball bearings, substantially as
described with reference to Figure 8.
Fifth. A compound crank wherein the eccentric lever is pivoted to an arm fixed
upon a rod extending through the crank-shaft and rigidly secured to the frame of
the machine, substantially as hereinbefore described.
Sixth. The improved driving-gear constructed substantially as described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, or to Figures 4 and 5, or to Figure 6 or Figure 7,
or to Figure 9 of the accompanying drawings, and operating as and for the purposes
⚫specified..
Dated the 28th day of Janar 1907
ARTHUR T. COLLIER.
D. Young & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.