Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
I, MARIE HILARION ROUSTAN, of Nimes, (Gard) in the Republic of France,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention consists in a novel mechanism the main object of which is to
enable the foot-cranks to be turned backwardly and a pitch chain to be dispensed
with as in the machines now in use such a chain is the cause of frequent difficulties
and annoyances to the rider.
In employing this improved device the rider himself produces the propelling
power by operating the cranks with his feet. The whole of the mechanism is
arranged on the sides of the driving wheel. It mainly consists of two pairs of gear
wheels of different diameter. The smaller wheels are mounted upon the hub of the
driving wheel beside the shoulders carrying the spokes. The two large toothed
wheels are secured to the inner ends of the two crank axles turning in bearings
fitted with a double set of balls and situated at the lower ends of the two arms of
the fork of the driving wheel extended to a point underneath the axle of the said
wheel where they form two strong continuations. The cranks are set opposite to
each other and connected by the gearing.
In applying the mechanism to tricycles the only alteration necessary is to
provide two loose wheels at the rear instead of one. These wheels will turn
at the ends of a stationary horizontal shaft rigidly secured to the rear end of
the backbone of the machine and symmetrically arranged in relation to the
latter.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1891
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
I, MARIE HILARION ROUSTAN of Nimes (Gard) in the Republic of France,
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 consists in a novel mechanism the main object of which is to
enable a pitch chain to be dispensed with as in the machines now in use such a chain
is the cause of frequent difficulties and annoyances to the rider.
In employing this improved device the rider himself produces the propelling
power by operating the cranks with his feet. The whole of the mechanism is
arranged on the sides of the driving wheel. It mainly consists of two pairs of gear
wheels of different diameter. The smaller wheels are mounted upon the hub of
the driving wheel beside the shoulders carrying the spokes. The two large wheels
are secured to the inner ends of the two crank axles, turning in bearings fitted
with a double set of balls and secured to the shaft of the driving wheel and to two
arms of the fork of that wheel extended to a point underneath the axle of the said
wheel where they form two strong continuations. The cranks are set opposite to
each other and connected by the gearing.
This mechanism is simple in construction and involves less friction than it would
if a chain were used. It should be constructed of steel of the very best quality.
The ball-bearings, muts and balls must be well tempered, while the remaining parts
may be made of soft cast or wrought steel.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a front-driver bicycle provided with the improved
propelling device.
Figure 2 is a section of the pedal.
Figure 3 is a section of the gear-wheels through the pedal and mud guards.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the gear wheels.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a rear driver or safety bicycle constructed according
to my invention.
In Figure 1 A is a frame or backbone consisting of a double bent preferably
steel tube, B is the steering pillar or socket. C is the fork of the driving wheel.
D is the steering-spindle adjustable to the height of the rider.
E is the handle-bar set preferably at an angle of 45° at both ends with the
handles inclined at say an angle of 60° to the perpendicular.
F is the driving wheel, G are the large toothed wheels, H are the small toothed
wheels or pinions. I are the cranks. J the pedals. K the foot rests. L the
mud-guard of the driving wheel. M are the stays of the mud-guard. N is the
saddle pillar or pin also adjustable to the height of the rider. O is the saddle.
P P P P³ is the brake mechanism. Q is the fork of the rear wheel. R is the
rear wheel. S is the mud-guard of the rear wheel. T the stays of this mud-guard,
and U the step.
Mud-guards, foot-rests, and brake mechanism may be omitted when it is desired
to construct a very light machine.
In Figure 2, A is the driving shaft, B the hub carrying two small toothed wheels
or pinions L and at the ends two ball bearings. C are the arms of the fork of the
driving wheel. D designates the extensions of the arms of the fork reaching to a
point underneath the shaft of the driving wheel. E are caps of bearings dovetailed
at the top and bottoni so as to slide within the said extensions D. F are bolts for
securing the caps E in position. G are stationary cones for adjusting the ball
bearings of the nave of the driving wheel, having each a tail-piece which is fitted
between one of the extensions D and the appropriate cap E.
H are bearings with a double set of balls and which may either be removable, as
shown in the drawing, or stationary and integral with the extensions D of the arms
of the fork.
I are crank-axles, J are the cranks, parts of which only are shown, K are
the large toothed wheels the number of whose teeth and whose diameter may
be determined at will according to the rate at which the motion is to be
multiplied.
L are the small toothed wheels or pinions which may be detachable from or
integral with the body of the hub B.
M are the spokes of the driving wheel.
To avoid the breakage of the teeth of the gear wheels I at first somewhat
exaggerated the dimensions of the teeth but in practice it will be best to make the
teeth as light as possible and reduce their pitch as far as practicable to prevent
any loss of power in the act of its transmission though of course these dimensions
will vary according to the special purpose for which the machine is to be used and
to the resistance of the metal employed. The relative size of the parts, as shown
in the drawing, will suit very strong and corpulent riders. The diameter and the
number of teeth of the larger gear-wheels may be adjusted to suit the speed at
which the machine is to travel.
I have found it necessary to protect the toothed wheels from mud. The device
used for this is designated by the letters A in Fig. 3 and L in Fig. 4.
The cones for adjusting the operation of the crauks are engaged by small screws
passing through the cranks. The same result is obtained if nuts and washers are
used instead of screws, being interposed between the cranks and the adjusting
This arrangement will offer the advantage of not weakening the cranks at
the part where they are most strained. The builder may however adopt either of
the two arrangements to suit his convenience.
cones.

page_text: members D and E of frame. G dovetailed cap sliding in the extensions F.
HH' bolts for securing caps G. II fixed cones for adjusting the ball bearings
of the driving wheel hub, with projections retained between the parts F and G.
K stay of driving wheel mudguard. L mudguard for gear-wheels M M¹ lugs
for attaching the mudguard of the gear wheels. N large toothed wheels with
a diameter and pitch proportioned to the rate of speed desired to be obtained by
the gearing.
O adjustable cones with bearings having double sets of balls for the support and
operation of the cranks.
P crank axles, Q cranks part of which only is shown.
R small screws for securing the adjusting cones, which may be replaced by nuts
and washers interposed between the adjusting cones and cranks, and S oil-cups for
lubricating the cranks.
My improved mechanism is applicable to all types of cycle frames now constructed,
with the driving-wheel at the back. All that is necessary is to arrange the cranks
for operation upon the lower members of the frame and where they originally con-
sisted of very slight rods capable of resisting a drawing or pulling strain only, to
make them more rigid.
Such machines while being much stronger are also more complicated and expensive
than ordinary machines with the driving wheel in front. They will chiefly be
preferred where it is desired to attain very high rates of speed. It will however
be somewhat difficult for the rider to keep his equilibrium and stability upon the
saddle which is necessarily carried high up upon the crank axles. The step is also
high, thereby increasing the difficulty of getting upon the machine. The cyclists
will always have to bend over to the front and firmly press upon the handle-bar
which is an excellent position for overcoming the resistance of the wind where high
speed is the object though it is attended by the inconvenience of weakening the
action of the shoulders and bending the spine.
The rims of the wheels may be solid U-shaped or hollow as desired. The spokes
may or may not be stiffened and may extend either radially or tangentially. The
indiarubber fittings may be solid or hollow. The steering may be effected either
by means of a pivot or a socket which latter may or may not be provided with ball
bearings or the like. A separate drawing of each type would be superfluous. This
improved propelling and speed-multiplying device prevents none of the recent
improvements from being applied except the chain which it is the object of this
invention to suppress.

page_text: In applying the mechanism to tricycles the only alteration necessary is to provide
two loose wheels at the rear instead of one. These wheels will turn at the ends of a
stationary horizonal shaft rigidly secured to the rear end of the backbone of the
machine and symmetrically arranged in relation to the latter.
The distance between the two rear wheels may vary between preferably
70 and 90 cm. To make the machine more stable it is advisable to reduce the
distance between the front wheel and rear wheel axles to 65 cm. The brake in a
tricycle will of course have to be placed upon the front wheel.
Advantages resulting from the improved propelling and motion-multiplying
device.
1). The pitch chain is omitted and thereby much of the annoyance which
bicyclists have hitherto experienced in keeping the mechanism in order and repair,
avoided.
2). The main body of the machine is simplified by the removal of the cranks
from between the front and rear wheels, the construction being thus rendered more
economical.
3). The power of the feet is used to greater advantage. In the machines
hitherto used the propelling power of the feet is applied to the treadles in the
forward motion of the leg in which position muscular energy is diminished, and
when it is desired to put to advantage the weight of the body it is necessary to
leave the saddle and to throw the weight on to the handle-bar whereby not only
the position of the rider becomes inconvenient but the operation of the machine is
also slackened the driving wheel tending to turn on the spot without advancing
owing to the diminution of the load it sustains. This improved mechanism enables
the propelling power of the feet to be transmitted to the pedals when the leg is
bent at the knee and exercises its pressure backwardly, which is an excellent and
most natural position for obtaining energetic action. In this position the weight
of the cyclist is taken advantage of as the perpendicular passing through his own
centre of gravity is very near to the axis of the operating pedal. It follows
that without any displacement and without in the least destroying the balance
of the machine the weight of the body is utilized to increase the propelling
power of the feet. All that is necessary is for the rider slightly to rise above
the saddle.
4). The foot-rests are arranged very low which is an excellent position since it
ensures equilibrium to the machine and rest to the feet of the bicyclists.
5). In the case of tricycles the two loose wheels at the rear do away with the
differential movement which is both complicated and expensive.
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,-
The combination with a bicycle tricycle or other velocipede of mechanism for
operating the driving wheel consisting of two gear wheels one of which is secured
to the pedal-shaft turning backwardly and the other to the driving wheel axle
which enables a pitch chain to be dispensed with in the transmission of power
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of January 1892
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.