Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1899 -Accepted, 29th Apr., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles.
1, CILARLES ARONDALE BOND, of 85, McGee Street, in the City of Toronto, in
the County of York, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Clothing Cutter, 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 mechanism for bicycles and
the object of the invention is to design a simple and effectual form of drive by
which the power can be applied advantageously with but a minimum amount
of lost motion and with a greater leverage to what is generally employed in the
common form of crank drive and it consists essentially of a gear pinion secured
on the end of the rear drive wheel axle of the bicycle and having meshing there-
with a gear wheel suitably journalled on a stud on the frame and a pair of bell-
crank shaped levers suitably journalled having segmental gears designed preferably
to mesh with an oscillating double segmental gear, the upper end of one of the
bell-crank levers being connected by a pitman to a pin on the gear wheel and the
front end of each lever being provided with a suitable pedal as hercinafter more
particularly explained.
Fig. 1, is a perspective view of portion of the bicycle to which my invention
relates showing the construction of my driving gear.
Fig. 2, is a plan view partially in section.
Fig. 3, is a cross section through the double gear and bearing for the bell-
crank lever.
Fig. 4, is a perspective detail of the double segmental gear...
In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in each
figure.
A is the rear wheel, B the axle thereof, C the rear driving pinion secured
to the rear hub and D the driving gear wheel meshing with the pinion C and
suitably journalled on a stud E held in the frame.
FF are bell-crank levers secured on the end of the divided axle G G, which
is suitably journalled in a casing H at the lower apex formed by the lower reach
and rear standard. The apexes of the bell-cranks are provided with segmental
gear, which mesh with the roller teeth of the double segmental gear I, which
is journalled in a suitable vertical ball bearing as indicated in Fig. 3.
The forward ends of the bell crank levers are provided with pedals f' and the
upper end of one of the bell crank levers is connected by the pitman J to a pin
on the gear wheel D.
Of course it will be understood that instead of the double segmental gear I,
I might provide a pitman J and gear wheels D and pinion C at each side of the
main gear, but this would add too much to the weight of the machine and I
preferably use instead the segmental gear f and double segmental gear I mesh-
ing therewith.
It will of course be understood that when one pedal is up the other will be down

page_text: and consequently the segmental gears at different points of mesh at each side
of the double segmental gear I.
When the rider is on the seat the downward
pressure alternately on each side will drive the pitman J and consequently the
gear wheel D and pinion C continuously. The journal box at the apexes of the
lower reach and rear standard may be placed much closer to the wheel and con-
sequently bring the foot of the rider to about the same position as that which
he usually rides in in the ordinary crank drive and yet enable him to use much
greater leverage on the ends of the pedal crank lever.
From this description it will be seen that my form of drive can be used advan-
tageously by the rider and a maximum amount of the power of the rider utilized
in propelling the machine.
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 :-
1. The combination with the rear drive wheel axle and pinions secured on the hub
and the gear wheel journalled on a stud. on the frame and meshing with the gear
pinion, of the bell-crank lever provided with pedals at the forward end and
suitably journalled, means for connecting the levers together, so that when one
is depressed the other is raised, and a pitman connecting the upper end of the
bell-crank to a pin on the gear wheel as and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with the rear drive wheel axle and pinions secured on the
hub and the gear wheel journalled on a stud on the frame and meshing with the
gear pinion, of the bell-crank lever provided with pedals at the forward end and
suitably journalled, the segments on the apexes of the crank levers and the double
segment suitably journalled with which the segments mesh and a pitman con-
necting the upper end of the bell-crank lever to a pin on the gear wheel as and
for the purpose specified.
3. The combination with the rear drive wheel axle and pinions secured on the
hub and the gear wheel journalled on a stud on the frame and meshing with
the gear pinion, of the bell-crank lever suitably journalled in the frame and
provided with a pedal and a pitman connecting the upper end of the bell-crank
lever with a pin on the gear-wheel as and for the purpose specified.
DL 11th day of 1h 1890
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicants.