Improvements in or relating to the Driving Gear of Velocipedes, Motor Cars and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1900-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Gear of Velocipedes,
Motor Cars and the like.
I, WILLIAM FREESTONE CAVE, of 5, Avenue Villas, Station Street, Foleshill,
Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
It is well known that force may be more economically employed in drawing
a load than in carrying it, and my invention consists in driving velocipedes,
motor cars and the like by means of an independent road wheel, or wheels, the
ordinary road wheels being employed for carrying the weight and not for driving.
According to one method of applying my invention to a safety bicycle I
dispense with the ordinary driving gear and mount, between the two ordinary
wheels, a driving road wheel which may be lowered into contact with the ground
or raised therefrom. This driving road wheel is adapted to be rotated at any
desired speed by the rider. For example, it may be provided with a roller
toothed pinion geared up by a spur wheel which is also provided with a roller
toothed pinion adapted to be operated in driving by a spur wheel on the crank
axle. The axis of the driving road wheel may be suspended by links from the
axis of the second roller pinion, so that the driving road wheel may be moved
about the axis of the said second roller pinion into and out of contact with the
ground. This movement of the driving road wheel may be operated from the
Handlebar, through suitable connections.
Before mounting the machine, the driving road wheel would, be raised from
the ground. The rider would propel the machine a short distance in the action
of mounting and by rotating his pedals and cranks would revolve the driving
road wheel at a high speed. He would then lower the said driving road wheel
into contact with the ground causing the said wheel to bear thereon with only
sufficient pressure to ensure a driving grip and without materially relieving the
ordinary road wheels of the weight of the rider.
According to one method of applying my invention to a motor car, I mount
a disc, which preferably consists of the fly wheel of the motor, transversely to
the car.
In contact with the face of the said disc I arrange the driving road
wheel which is driven by the said disc by frictional contact. Means are pro-
vided for raising the driving road wheel, while out of contact with the disc and
also for moving the driving road wheel diametrically across the face of the
disc. When the driving road wheel is in contact with the ground the axis of
the disc and the driving road wheel preferably lie in the same
horizontal plane. By moving the driving road wheel across the face of the
disc the speed of the said wheel may be raised or lowered or its direction of
rotation reversed as required.
Before starting the car the driving road wheel would be raised from the
ground. The motor would then be started and the driving road wheel brought
into contact with the face of the disc and then, when the driving road wheel has

page_text: attained a proper speed the same would be lowered into contact with the ground
and the car propeiled. As before, the driving wheel is caused to bear on the
ground with only sufficient pressure to exert a driving grip, the weight being
borne by the ordinary wheels of the car.
I do not confine myself strictly to the above descriptions which are given in
order that the nature of my invention may be more readily understood but not
so as to exclude modifications or other suitable applications.
Dated this 16th day of November 1899.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy. E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Gear of Velocipedes,
Motor Cars and the like.
I, WILLIAM FREESTONE CAVE, of 5, Avenue Villas, Station Street, Foleshill,
Coventry, Warwickshire, 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: -
It is well known that force may be more economically employed in drawing a
load than in carrying it, and my invention consists in driving velocipedes, motor
cars and the like by means of an independent road wheel or wheels, the ordinary
road wheels being employed for carrying the weight and not for driving.
And in order that my invention may be properly understood I will describe
the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings which show, by way of
example, three applications thereof.
Figure I is a side elevation of a bicycle provided with driving gear according
to my invention.
Figures II, III and IV are respectively a plan, rear elevation and side eleva-
tion of a motor car driving gear.
Figures V and VI are respectively side and rear elevations of a motor tricycle.
Like numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
Referring to Fig. I, I dispense with the ordinary driving gear and mount,
between the two ordinary wheels 2, 3 a driving road wheel 4 which may be
lowered into contact with the ground or raised therefrom. This driving road
wheel is adapted to be rotated at any desired speed by the rider, and for this
purpose may be provided with a sprocket wheel 5 geared up by a chain 6 running
over a sprocket wheel 8 on the crank axle 9. The axis 10 of the driving road
wheel may be suspended by links 11 from the bottom bracket 12, so that the
driving road wheel may be moved about the said axis of the crank axle 9 into
and out of contact with the ground. This movement of the driving wheel 4 may
he operated from the handlebar, through any suitable connections, such as the
cord 14 and lever 15 which allow the wheel 4 to be raised when required.
Before mounting the machine, the driving road wheel 4 is raised from the
ground. The rider then propels the machine a short distance by the act of
mounting, and by rotating his pedals 16 and cranks 17 revolves the said driving

page_text: road wheel at a high speed through the intermediate gearing. He then lowers
the said driving road wheel into contact with the ground and the machine is
propelled. The driving action tends to carry the wheel 4 backward and down-
ward against the ground with sufficient pressure to ensure a driving grip but
without materially relieving the road wheels 2, 3 of the weight of the rider.
Referring to Figs. II, III and IV I mount, transversely to the car, a disc 20
which is driven by the motor 21 and preferably consists of the fly wheel of the
said motor. In contact with the face of the said disc I arrange the driving
road wheel 4 which is driven by the said disc by frictional contact. Suitable
means are provided for raising and lowering the driving road wheel and also
for moving the said wheel transversely across the face of the disc. In the draw-
ings the said wheel is mounted on a shaft 22 in bearings 23 fitted in vertical
slides 24 impelled strongly towards the disc 20 by the adjustable springs 25 on
the fixed rods 26. The bearings 23 are carried by a frame 27 which may be
raised and lowered by the driver rotating the screw 28 so as to lift the wheel 4
from, the ground or depress it into frictional contact therewith. The said
wheel 4 is movable transversely on the face of the disc 20 by a fork lever 29
engaging the grooved collar 30 fixed on the shaft 22, which is adapted to move
lengthwise in its bearings 23. When the driving road wheel is in contact
with the ground the axes of the disc 20 and the driving road wheel 4 preferably
lie in the same horizontal plane, as shown, and the point of contact between
the driving road wheel and the ground preferably lies in the same transverse
line as the points of contact between the two rear wheels of the car and the
ground, or between the two front wheels and the ground if the car be steered
by the rear wheels. By moving the driving road wheel across the face of the
disc the speed of the said wheel is raised or lowered or its direction of rotation
reversed, as required.
Before starting the car, the driving road wheel 4 is raised from the ground
and moved to or near to the centre of the disc. The motor is then started and
the wheel 4 gradually moved out a suitable distance from the centre of the disc
and when it has attained a proper speed, the said wheel is lowered into contact
with the ground and the car propelled. As before, the driving wheel is caused
to bear on the ground with only sufficient pressure to exert a driving grip, the
weight being borne by the ordinary wheels of the car. The said grip may be
regulated by the screw 28, an interposed spring or other suitable means.
Referring to Figs. V and VI, I dispense with the usual main axle and mount
each of the two rear wheels 3, 3 on separate short axles carried by a duplex
framework 32. I mount the driving road wheel 4, which is preferably of about
the same diameter as the wheels 3, in links 11 pivotted at the bottom bracket 12
and in a fork 33 which may be normally pressed downwards by a spring 13
introduced between the crown of the said fork and the cross bar 34 of the frame,
so that the wheel 4 makes contact with the ground in the line of the points of
contact between the wheels 3, 3 and the ground. The motor 33 may be mounted
in the front of the machine as shown and drive the wheel 4 through two
chains 35, 36 both of which gear with sprocket wheels on the crank axle 9.
The chain gearing is preferably adapted to effect a suitable reduction of speed
between the motor and the driving road wheel and the sprocket wheels are con-
nected to the crank-axle by a free wheel clutch or equivalent device, so
that the pedals may be held stationary and used as footrests while the machine
is running. A Bowden mechanism or other suitable means 14, 15 are employed
to raise the wheel 4 from the ground when required.
66
"
The rider mounts the machine and raises the driving road wheel 4, he then
starts the motor by pedalling. The motor in turn rotates the driving wheel 4
and, when a proper speed has been attained, the said wheel is let down into
contact with the ground and the machine is propelled. The pressure of the
wheel on the ground arising from gravity may be increased, as already intimated,
by the spring 13.

page_text: In each case the driving road wheel 4 may be provided with a leather, pneu-
matic or other suitable tyre 31.
I do not confine myself strictly to the above descriptions but hold myself at
liberty to make such modifications as fairly fall within the scope of my invention.
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:-
1. Driving gear for velocipedes, motor cars and the like constructed, arranged
and adapted to operate substantially as herein set forth.
2. A velocipede, motor car or the like having a driving road wheel or wheels
independent of the weight-carrying road wheels.
3. In driving gear for velocipedes, motor cars and the like, comprising a
driving road wheel or wheels independent of the weight-carrying road wheels,
means for raising and lowering the said driving road wheel or wheels, sub-
stantially as set forth.
4. In driving gear, for motor cars and the like, comprising a driving road
wheel independent of the weight-carrying road wheels, the employment of a disc
to actuate the said driving road wheel and means for moving the said driving
road wheel vertically and transversely relatively to the said disc, substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
5. Driving gear for velocipedes, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as herein described with reference to Fig. 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
6. Driving gear for motor cars and the like constructed, arranged and adapted
to operate substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. II, III
and IV of the accompanying drawing.
7. Driving gear for motor tricycles and the like constructed, arranged and
adapted to operate substantially as herein described with reference to Figs. V
and VI of the accompanying drawings.
Dotad thin 1541
J
1000
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy. E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
87, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Patent Agent for the Applicant.