Improved Means for Converting Reciprocating Movements into Rotary Motion.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1896
10th Cont 1907 Accented 23rd Oct
1807
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Converting Reciprocating Movements into
Rotary Motion.
I, CHARLES GORDON, of No. 90, Ledbury Road, Paddington, in the County of
London, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means for applying manu-motive or
pedo-motive or other force in the production of rotary motion.
In carrying the invention into effect, two discs are fixed either concentrically
or eccentrically upon the shaft to be driven and each disc is formed with a
circumferential groove in its periphery and in this groove is loosely fitted a strap
or band in such manner that it will admit of the free rotation of the disc.
In the periphery of the disc at diametrically opposite points in the circumference
thereof are formed two (or there might be more than two) ratchet notches and to
the before mentioned strap or band are loosely connected a corresponding number
of blocks, catches or drivers, which at the times desired are caused to engage the
ratchet notches of the disc. These notches are at one side formed with a bevel
so that the loose blocks, catches, or drivers may readily slide out of engagement
with the notches on the return movement of the levers, pistons or rods and the
strap or band.
To one of the said loose blocks is pivotally connected a piston, lever or rod
adapted to be acted upon by foot or otherwise, or, a pedal might be directly
connected with the loose block and acted upon by the foot to depress the same,
whilst to the opposite loose block is pivotted a piston lever or rod adapted to be
acted upon by hand or otherwise to raise it.
By this arrangement of parts, upon the levers or rods being operated, one of
the loose blocks will be depressed and engaging one of the ratchet notches of the
disc will under the influence of the strap or band follow it through a considerable
arc, whilst the other loose block will be raised and correspondingly act upon the
other ratchet notch, and thus by reciprocating the levers or rods a continuous
rotary motion will be given to the disc and consequently to the shaft the strap
or band in the return movements of the parts turning loosely on the disc.
As a modification of the device hereinbefore described, the number of ratchet
notches of the disc may if desired be increased.
if desired, the strap or band may be dispensed with and the ratchet catches
may be carried by the ends of a bar centrally and pivotally mounted upon the
shaft of the disc.
In some case, a number of discs and connecting parts may be employed in
connection with a single shaft.
By the means hereinbefore described, a simple and inexpensive device is obained

page_text: by the aid of which axles or shafts or the like may be primarily driven or the
rotation of crank driven axles or shafts may be assisted.
Dated this 17th day of December 1896.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Converting Reciprocating Movements into
Rotary Motion.
.
I, CHARLES GORDON, of No. 90, Ledbury Road, Paddington, in the County of
London, Gentleman, 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 said invention relates to improvements in means for applying manu-motive
or pedo-motive or other force in the production of rotary. motion.
In carrying the invention into effect, two or more discs are fixed upon the shaft
to be driven and each disc is formed with a circumferential groove in its periphery
and in this groove is loosely fitted a band or strap in such manner that it will
admit of the free rotation of the disc.
In the periphery of the disc at suitable points in the circumference thereof are
formed two (or there might be more than two) ratchet notches and to the before
mentioned strap or band is loosely connected a corresponding block, catch or driver
which at the times desired is caused to engage the ratchet notches of the disc.
Thésé notches are at one side formed with a bevel so that the loose block, catch
ör driver may readily slide out of engagement with the notches on the return
movement of the lever, piston or rod and the strap or band."
To each loose block is pivotally connected a lever or rod adapted to lie acted
upon by foot or otherwise.
By this arrangement of parts, upon the levers or rods being operated one of the
loose blocks will be depressed, and; engaging one of the ratchet notches of the disc,
will, under the influence of the strap, band or guide, follow it through a
considerable arc whilst the other loose block will be raised, and, when, in turn,
depressed; will correspondingly act upon the other disc, and thus by reciprocating
the levers or rods a continuous rotary motion will be given to the dise and
consequently to the shaft, the strap or band in the return movements of the parts
turning loosely on the disc.
As a modification of the device hereinbefore described, the number of ratchet
notches of the disc may, if desired, be increased.
If desired, the strap or band may be dispensed with and the ratchet catches may
be carried by the ends of a bar centrally and pivotally mounted upon the shaft of
the disc or a fixed grooved or slotted guidé may be employed to effect the same
purpose, and, in this latter case, the band may, if desired, also be employed.
In some cases, a number of discs and connecting parts may be employed in
connection with a single shaft.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more
fully to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a road vehicle having the present invention
applied thereto.

page_text: Figure 6 is an end view thereof, and,
Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of
Figure 5.
In the several figures, in which" like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 5 to 7 are drawn to an increased scale with respect to the other
figures of the drawings.
a represents the driving wheel, 6 represents the front or steering wheel and c
represents the frame of the machine.
From the frame c depend two brackets el provided with bearings in which
is mounted by its ends a shaft d upon which are fixed two discs d¹ each of which
is provided with a circumferential groove in its periphery formed in any
suitable manner, and in this groove d is loosely fitted a guide band or strap e¹
in such manner that it will admit of the free rotation of the disc d¹.
In the periphery of each disc at suitable points in the circumference thereof
are formed three, or there might be less or more than three ratchet notches d³ and
to the guide strap or band el is pivotally connected a block, catch, or driver e which
at the times desired is caused to engage one or other of the ratchet notches of the
disc and the ratchet or bevelled formation of the notches permits the ratchet
blocks, catches, or drivers e to readily slide out of engagement with the shoulders
of the notches 3 on the return movement of the strap or band e¹ as hereinafter
described.
To each of the loose blocks or drivers e is pivotally connected a connecting
rodearticulated or pinjointed at to a rod e³ or it might be a lever which
at its upper part is pinjointed to a rocking lever mounted upon an axis of
motion at e* and provided with handles e whilst at a suitable point the links or
connecting rods e2 are provided with pedals e**.
By this arrangement of parts, upon one of the handles e³ of the rocking lever e¹
being depressed aided if desired by pressure upon the corresponding pedal e²** one
of the ratchet blocks e will be depressed and engaging one of the ratchet notches d³
of the disc d will under the influence of the guide strap or band el follow it
through a considerable arc whilst the other loose ratchet block e will be raised
and in the next movement will act in a similar manner upon a ratchet notch d
of the other ratchet disc and thus by reciprocating the rods e and links
continuous rotary motion will be given to the discs d and consequently to the
shaft d the guide straps or bands el in the return movements of the parts turning
loosely in the grooves of the discs d'.
a
In order that the rotary motion of the shaft d may be communicated to the
driving wheel a, a chain wheel d is fixed upon the shaft d and through a chain f
gives motion to a smaller chain wlieel a¹ fixed upon the hub or axle of the driving
wheel a.
It will be obvious that the handle e and pedals may be operated either
together or separately at the will of the rider."
Instead of employing the straps or bands e to cause the ratchet blocks e to
traverse in the arc of a circle so as to engage the ratchet notches d³ of the discs d'
at the times desired the straps or bands e¹ may be dispensed with and radial arms
loosely mounted upon the shaft d may be substituted therefor, whilst, as a further
modification, the ratchet blocks e may be kept up to their work by means of
guides fixed to the brackets c¹ and curved to the arc of the discs d', and, in this
case, the straps or bands e¹ may also be employed, but, inasmuch as these
arrangements will be readily understood by a competent mechanic, it is thought
unnecessary to illustrate them here.

page_text: It will be understood that the number of ratchet discs and means for giving
motion thereto may be multiplied, if desired.
Although the invention is shown and described in connection with a road vehicle
it will be obvious that it may also be employed for driving marine or other shafts,
and that the device hereinbefore described may be used as an auxiliary motor in
conjunction with crank driven machinery whilst any suitable force other than
manu-motive or pedó-motive force may be employed to actuate the same.
By the means hereinbefore descibed, a simple and inexpensive device is
obtained by the aid of which axles or shafts or the like may be primarily driven
or the rotation of crank driven axles or shafts may be assisted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
Means for converting reciprocating movements into rotary motion, comprising
two or more notched or ratchet discs fixed with the shaft to be driven, a ratchet
block or driver, pivotally mounted upn a loose band encircling each disc, or
otherwise guided in the arc of a circle, a rod or lever pivotally connected with each
driving block and hand levers, pedals or other means for imparting a reciprocating
movement to the drivers and consequently rotary motion to the discs, substantially
as herein shown and described.
Dated this 16th day of September 1897.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.