Bicycles
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1895-Accepted 29th June 1895
Bicycles
We, JOHN MCLEOD MURPHY, Hatter and WILLIAM JAMES DIXON Merchant
both residents of 66 River Street, Danbury in the County of Fairfield, State of
Connecticut, United States of America, 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
Our invention relates to improvements in bicycles and it refers more particularly
to means for increasing the leverage power of the crank axle and the speed of the
machine and such invention primarily has for its object to provide a bicycle
having multiple gear mechanism directly connecting the crank axle and the axle of
the rest or main drive wheel
It also has for its object to provide a bicycle of this character of a simple and
inexpensive structure, in which the general arrangement of the main frame, the
main drive wheel, and the guide wheel is substantially like that of the ordinary
machine now in use, and in which the drive chain and sprocket wheel devices are
dispensed with
With other minor objects in view my invention consists of such novel features of
construction and peculiar combination of parts such as will be first described in
detail and then specifically pointed out in the appended claims-reference being
had to the accompanying drawing in which
Fig 1, is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed in accordance with my
invention
Fig 2, is a transverse section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig 1, looking in
the direction indicated by the arrow and
Fig 3, is a side elevation of a portion of the machine illustrating in detail the
arrangement of the crank axle and rear drive wheel axle and the main or power
wheel
Referring to the accompanying drawing by letters of reference A, iudicates the
nin frame, which in its general appearance is substantially like the standard
machine now in use, and such frame has mounted in the front member B, the
steering head C, also of the ordinary construction on the lower end of which is
Journaled the front guide wheel D
In the construction shown however the lower or diagonal brace E, of the frame
connects at e, with a short diagonal brace bar E' the junction of such hars E,
and E' forming a bearing for the crank axle which is disposed as will be
seen at a point somewhat higher than the axle of the rear or drive wheel G,
such arrangement of the axle F, being provided to raise the crank axle to a
point somewhat higher than that usually found in bicycles for purpose presently
explained
The axle bearing E² is braced and sustained from the upper bars H, of the
main frame by the downwardly extending folked bars J J₁ the upper ends of
which may be welded together or otherwise journaled with the said bir H It will
be observed by reference to kg 2, the bar J, extends outward at one side beyond
the plans of the main frame its lower end forming a bearing for an extended
portion of the ciank axle F, which axle in the practical construction of the
machine is provided with ball bearings

page_text: I, indicates what we term the main power or drive wheel which is fixedly
held on the extension f, of the crank axle to turn between the frame numbers 1
and J¹
This wheel L has an internal cogged rim L', and is of diameter sufficiently
large to permit of its rim L, being held in gear with a small cog wheel M, secured
on the axle of the rear drive wheel as shown
It will be manifestly understood that by airanging the crank axle F, at a point
above the axle of the rear drive wheel ample room will be provided to permit of
the use of a power wheel of a large diameter without having its lower end rim too
close to the ground
As shown in Fig 1 a suitable guard O which may be in a nature of open net
work or a close wire screen is fitted over the upper part of wheel and the rear drive
wheel it being obvious that if desired that said guaid may extend entirely over the
power wheel as indicated in dotted lines in Fig 1
We are aware that multiple gearing for bicycles is not new and we therefore
broadly make no claim for such but so fu as we know such gearing has been
employed to form an indirect connection between the ciank axle and the ear drive
wheel, this we particularly seek to avoid first, because there is always lost motion
when power is transmitted through a series of geais, Secondly it renders the
manufacture of the machine expensive, thudly it renders the machine liable to
readily get out of running order
These objections we overcome by the mechanism heretofore described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings as I make a direct gear connection
between the crank axle and the axle of the ear drive wheel This not alone over-
comes all lot motion and reduces the danger of breakage and the cost of
manufacture to a minimum but also provides a means whereby the machine can be
speeded up to a very high rate owing to the varying diameter of the power and
rear or main dive wheck
Having thus described our invention what we claim and desite to secure by
Letters Patent is
1 As an improvement in bicycles, the combination with the cıank axle and the
rear drive wheel having a cog gear, of a toothed wheel fixedly held on the crank
axle held in engagement with the said cog gear to rotate it in a forward direction
substantially as shown and described
2 As an improvement in bicycles the combination with the main flame and the
main drive wheel having a toothed wheel on the axle at one side and the crauk
axle having an extension at the corre pouding side of a wheel fixedly held on such
extended portion of the shaft having an internal toothed rim held in mesh with the
toothed wheel on the rear axle all arranged substantially as shown and for the
pui pose described
3 An improved bicycle comprising the front and rear wheels, the axle of the
rear having a cog wheel at one side, the main frame having a crank axle beating
at a point above the said cog wheel the crink axle journaled therein having an
extension at the side in line with the aforesaid cog wheel and a single drive
gear carried on such extension held to engage the sud cog wheel and rotate the
rear wheel in a forward direction as herein before described
4 As an improvement in bicycle with the rear dive wheel an the crank axle,
of a single gear wheel having the said axle as its axis and rotated thereby,
arranged to connect directly with the axle of the rear drive wheel and rotate it
in a direction similar to its own rotation substantially as shown and for the pripose
described
5 As an improvement in bicycle the combination with the main fiame A. the
front and rear wheels the rear wheel having a toothed axle member M-and the
fiame section JJ' one of which J¹ projects to one side of the main frame of
the cran axle having an extension f, Journaled in the lower end of the frame
section I said section J1 being also joined with the lower bar of the main fraine

page_text: and the power wheel L Journaled on the extension f, of the crank axle-and
having an internal cog rin L to mesh with the member M all arranged
substantially as shown and for the purpose described
Tlated this fith das at May A D 1895
E PALEXANDER & SON
Chartered Patent Agents,
19 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane, London, WC, Filing Agents