Improvements in and connected with Cycle and similar Driving Mechanism.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Feb., 1897
1
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in and connected with Cycle and similar Driving
Mechanism.
I, JOHN GASCOIGNE SQUIRE, of 19, Grosvenor Place, Jesmond, in the City and
County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a spring band or chain for use especially with that
type of cycle driving mechanisni wherein ball, ratchet or other clutches are fixed
on the driving wheel or axle and connected by a flexibly coiled band or chain
to a pedal or operating member so that on the actuation thereof the band is
unwound and the clutch and axle engage and revolve together.
In this type of mechanism the difficulty heretofore has been to obtain sufficiently
quick return of the parts to initial positions for which purpose some auxiliary
attachment has generally been employed which is at once clumsy and unreliable,
the object of my invention is to provide a driving band which will be self-coiling
and uncoiling in each direction either with or without the aid of supplemental
devices.
To this end, according to my invention, I employ a chain with vertical flat
side links pivoted together and on or about each or each alternate pivot I fit and
apply a spring or springs or combination thereof so arranged that by their mutual
action the tendency of the chain is always to coil up or retract after it has been
extended and in so doing the coils may lie one upon another or side by side
spirally and of equal diameters.
By one arrangement I coil round the jointing pins, spring wires or flat strips
of resilient metal of such length as to overlie and act upon the two adjacent pivots
or link ends.
There may be one, two or more independent springs at each joint. Or I may
employ flat springs of suitable shape each attached to the underside of the inner
links of block shape preferably and extended to bear upon the upper sides of
the adjacent links at each side; or these flat springs may terminate between each
link and have their abutting ends flanged or bent so as to co-act with each other
so that a helical coiling will be effected; or by another method I may fix to the
outer links a base plate supporting a spiral spring which in turn is united to
the adjacent ends of flat or substantially flat springs connected to the inner
links and extended over same on both sides.
If desired by a simple reversal of the springs one part of the chain may be
adapted to be self-coiling in one direction and another part in an opposite
direction.
In order to prevent the chain being bent and thereby injuring its springs it
is advantageous to provide on the links, shoulders or parts to form locks or stops
to limit their movement in one direction.
Self-acting chains so constructed are well adapted for cycle driving when con-
nected at one end to and wound round the clutch boxes and at the other to discs,

page_text: segments or pulleys fastened to the pedals and operated by an up and down motion
in the usual way.
To secure the efficient return of the parts with the aid of supplemental means
I use an auxiliary retracting device in the form of a pressure roller or added
resistance fixed to the machine in such manner as to deflect the band thus
causing it to uncoil from the pedal disc on the release of the pedal and return
same at the completion of the stroke and at this part of the chain a flat resilient
band suitably connected thereto may be conveniently substituted:
Crank pedal devices and driving gear thus arranged can work. independently
of one another or at any angle with regard to each other thus avoiding dead
centres.
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Agent.
Improvements in and connected with Cycle and similar Driving
Mechanism.
I, JOHN GASCOIGNE SQUIRE, of 19, Grosvenor Place, Jesmond, in the City and
County of Newcastle-on-Tyne, 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:
-
This invention relates to a spring band, chain or transmitting member for use
especially with that type of cycle driving mechanism wherein ball, ratchet or
other clutches are fixed on the driving wheel or axle and connected by a flexibly
coiled band or chain to a pedal or operating member so that on the actuation
thereof the band is unwound and the clutch and axle engage and revolve together.
In this type of mechanism the difficulty heretofore has been to obtain a
sufficiently quick return of the parts to initial positions for which purpose some
clumsy and unreliable auxiliary attachment has generally been employed; the
object of my invention is to provide a driving band or member which will be
self-coiling and self-uncoiling in each direction, either with or without the aid
of supplemental devices.
To this end according to my invention, I employ a chain with vertical flat
side links pivoted together and on or about each or each alternate pivot I fit and
apply a spring or springs or combination thereof so arranged that, by their mutual
action, the tendency of the chain is always to coil up or retract after it has been
extended and in so doing the coils may lie one upon another or side by side
spirally and of equal diameters.
The improved self-acting chains are, in practice, connected at one end to and
wound round the clutch boxes and at the other to discs, segments or pulleys
fastened to the pedals operated by an up and down motion in the usual way, the
parts resuming the original positions after each operation under the influence of
the springs only.
I find it, however, beneficial to secure such return action with the aid of simple
supplemental means and for this purpose I use a roller or the like so disposed on
the machine as to offer a slight resistance to the chain, and at this part a resilient
band is an advantageous substitute for the chain. This is the arrangement I
prefer and it is illustrated in the accompanying drawings to which I will now
refer in full explanation of my invention.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 are side elevations partly in section showing several

page_text: constructions of my improved band or chain, Figures 1, 2, 4ª are plans and
Figure 6 an end sectional view of same respectively. Figure 7 represents details
of a link construction. Figure 8 is a general elevation of a bicycle of the rear
driven safety type fitted with one form of the said driving member and
Figures 9 and 10 are enlarged plan (partly in section) and side views respectively
of parts thereof.
"
The same reference letters designate corresponding parts in all the figures.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7, A A2 are vertical flat sided links pivoted together
by pins a in the usual way, and according to one form of my invention, I coil
round each pivot a spring wire or strip B of length such that its ends 66' overlie
and act upon the adjacent pivots at either side as shown in Figures 1, 1, 2, 2ª
and 3. There may be one or more independent springs at each joint; in Figures 1
and 1* I have shown the spring B in a continuous piece commencing at one side
of the pivot a, coiled round same, then looped and returned in the opposite direc-
tion, but it will be evident that if the loop be cut, two springs will result, while
in Figures 2 and 24 the use of one simple spring is represented.
In a modified form shown in Figures 4 and 4*, I illustrate the employment of
flat diagonal-shaped springs B fixed by rivets 62 to the underside of the inner
links A3, which in this instance I prefer to make block-shaped. The ends 66' of
these springs are extended to the upper sides of the adjacent links A and adapted
to overlie and act upon same as before described; or these flat springs B may
terminate between each link A2 and have their ends 66' flanged or bent up at an
inclination, but when assembled the ends abut and assume the position shown in
Figure 5 coacting with each other to accomplish the desired retractive action.
By a further modification, I form on or attach to the outer links A¹ a platform
or base plate a¹ to which a spiral spring a2 is attached whose free end is united
at 63 to the adjacent ends of the flat or substantially flat springs B connected by
pins to the upper side of the inner links A2 and extended over same on both
sides all as illustrated in Figures 6 and 6^.
The springs B may act either about the upper or lower surfaces of the pivots
or links, dependent on the desired direction of coiling and in the above arrange-
ments, with the exception of that described in Figure 3, the springs act on the
upper parts whereby the tendency of the chain is to coil downwardly, but in
Figure 3 the springs act on the underside of the chain thus producing an upward
coiling.
The figures show each joint provided with springs but if desired, as before
mentioned, the alternate joints only may be so fitted or there may be even greater
intervals dependent on the strength of the springs.
In order to prevent the chain being bent in a direction liable to cause injury
to the springs, I form the ends of the links with square or shouldered parts a³ to
form stops limiting their movement in one direction as exemplyfied in Figures 1, 3,
4, 5, 6 and 7.
In the construction of the chain described in reference to Figures 1 to 3 I may
encircle the pins a with a loose ferrule a thus forming a bearing or contact for
the ends of the springs B, while, instead of arranging the links as illustrated,
I may adopt the construction shown in Figure 7. According to this alternative
form I cut in the inner member only, or if desired in both members, of each outer
or double link A' a slot s into which a projection or tongue s¹ on the inner link A²
is adapted to enter and fit whereby a very efficient and substantial construction
results.
or axle.
Referring now to Figures 8, 9 and 10, C is a chain made in accordance with one
of my improved forms, that selected being of the type represented in Figures 1
to 3 and 1 is the box of a clutch of any suitable kind fitted to the driving wheel
E is the supplemental retracting roller or equivalent device, F the
resilient band used in connection therewith instead of the chain C; G is the pedal
dise and the crank all mentioned above, suitable stops, such as g¹g' on the cycle
frame and 2 g on the disc G being provided to determine, by their contact, the maxi-

page_text: mum length of the pedal stroke. The band F may be either single or compound,
the latter possessing greater resiliency; a simple band is shown in Figures 1
and 1 and a double one, consisting of the bands ff, in Figures 2, 24, 8, 9 and 10:
The band F is connected to the disc G in a manner opposing its normal tendency,
that is the side next the disc is that, which has the larger diameter or is the
exterior side if the band were detached and allowed to follow its natural inclination.
The chain C is fastened to the clutch box D by a bifurcated strap c and to the
band F, when single, by an eyed strip f¹ and when double by balanced links
72f2 centered on the last pivot a or its equivalent of the chain and pinned to the
straps.f3f each connected to the adjacent band f, but in both cases the band F
is attached to the disc G by simple pinning all as clearly represented respectively
in the aforesaid figures, though of course these fastenings may be otherwise
equivalently effected..
The roller Eis, carried on ball or other bearings in the bracket e fixed to the
cycle frame and it is so arranged as to slightly deflect the combined chain C and
band F or exert a small pressure thereon during the return stroke.
As will be understood there is a clutch at each side of the driving wheel and
a disc, segment or pulley at each pedal both joined together by a driving member
under the influence of a roller or the like whereby the pedals can work inde-
pendently of one another or at any angle with regard to each other.
In use, on pushing down the pedal crank g, the band F is wound or coiled on
the disc G and concurrently the chain C is unwound or uncoiled from the clutch
thereby causing its part 1) to revolve and then establish the gearing with the axle
required to drive the cycle. On the completion of the stroke and the consequent
freeing of the pedal crank g the parts assume their normal positions by reason of
the natural resiliency of the chain C and band F, the former coiling itself upon the
box D synchronously with the uncoiling of the band F from the disc G aided by
the action of the roller E the combined action effecting the desired return action
in a positive and efficient mechanical manner.
I have described my improved transmitting member as a combination of a
resilient chain and band co-acting with a roller, but of course the latter may be
dispensed with or the chain may be employed alone or with the roller.
For example, one end of the chain may be connected to the clutch as described
and illustrated in Figure 10 and act in the same way, and the other end attached
to the underside of the pedal disc, the chain thus being arranged diagonally
between the parts it connects, therefore the side next the pedal disc is the one
remote from the clutch whereby the natural tendency of the chain is to coil up
and accomplish the return to initial positions after an operation, this result being
also effected on the same disposition of the combined member. Again the chain
may be fitted to the clutch box D) as in Figure 10 its tendency being to coil down-
wardly, and its other end connected to the pedal disc G as in Figure 3 so that the
coiling tendency thereat, as before explained, is in the reverse direction whereby
the required retractive action at each end of the chain is obtained on the com-
pletion of a stroke of a pedal.
The several parts of the driving mechanism herein described may be made in
any suitable material and slightly modified as regards details without departing
from the nature of my invention, and in practice I have found it to give very
efficient and useful results as dead centres are entirely obviated and friction is
reduced to a minimum.
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. The improvement in cycle and similar driving mechanism of the type above
referred to, consisting in the use and arrangement of a driving band or chain
wherein all or some of the intermediate pivots or links situated between the side
links are connected with each other by a spring or springs or combination thereof

page_text: overlying and acting upon the two adjacent pivots or links in such manner that
the tendency of the band or chain is always to automatically coil up or retract
after an operation, substantially as-and for the purpose described and illustrated.
2. The several constructions and arrangements of bands or chains for use in
cycle and similar driving mechanism of the kind referred to, substantially as
described in reference to and illustrated in the drawings hereto annexed and sub-
ject to the modifications set forth in reference thereto.
3. In cycle and similar driving mechanism such as above alluded to, the
arrangement, in combination with the improved band or chain above claimed of
an adjacently disposed roller such as E adapted to act upon the band or chain,
substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 4th day of November 1897.
For the Applicant,
J. C. CHAPMAN,
Chartered Patent Agent,
3, St. Nicholas' Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, and
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.Č.