Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles.
A communication from JAMES LOCHRIE, Manufacturer, of 1405, Bloor Street
West, in the City of Toronto, County of York, Province of Ontario, Canada.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 :-
The object of the invention is to design a treadle attachment for a cycle by
which the said cycle may be propelled with ease at a rapid pace, and it consists of
a foot-lever pivotted on the frame of the cycle and having a segmental rack
connected to it and meshing with a pinion loosely journalled on the axle of the
driving wheel which is itself loosely journalled on its axle, a ratchet connection
being formed between the hub of the driving wheel and the pinion, so that the
motion of the pinion may be conveyed to the said driving wheel substantially as
hereinafter more particularly explained.
-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cycle provided with the treadle attachment.
Figure 2 is an enlarged detail of the treadle attachment.
Figure 3 is a sectional detail showing the ratchet connection between the hub of
the wheel and pinion.
To each side of the machine a treadle A is suitably connected to a lever B which
is pivotted at a to the frame C of the cycle.
D is a segmental rack fixed to the end of the lever B and arranged as indicated
to mesh with the pinion E, which is loosely journalled on the axle F of the main
driving wheel, the hub G of the driving wheel being also loosely journalled on it.
His a ratchet preferably connected to the pinion E, and I is a pawl preferably
pivotted on the hub G and designed to engage with the ratchet H. It is preferred
to arrange the ratchet and pawl as indicated but practically the same effect may be
produced by reversing their order, viz. by putting the ratchet on the hub and the
pawl on the pinion.
The lever B extends between quadrant bars J which are fixed to the frame C
and are formed so as to act as a guide and steady brace for the lever B. Each
lever B is provided with a spiral spring K connected so that its tension shall
support the treadle end of the lever so that it is only necessary to press down on
the treadle, the spring K carrying the treadle back the moment that the pressure
of the foot is removed.
Owing to the connection and arrangement of parts described the treadles may be
worked together, one after the other or one short stroke and one long stroke,
sometimes one way, sometimes the other, in fact practically in any way so as to suit
the taste of the driver or nature of the ground to be passed over, and as a stroke
will always be up and down practically in a vertical position, the wheel is made to
spin rapidly on its axle with the minimum of exertion on the part of the rider.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. An improved driving power for a cycle consisting of a foot lever pivotted on
the frame of the cycle and having a segmental rack connected to it and meshing
with a
pinion loosely journalled on the axle of the driving wheel which is itself
loosely journalled on its axle, a ratchet connection being formed between the hub
of the driving wheel and the pinion so that the motion of the pinion may be
conveyed to the said driving wheel substantially as and for the purpose specified.
n

page_text: 2. As an improved driving power for a cycle a lever B supported by the spring K
pivotted on the cycle frame and having a segmental rack D fixed to it and arranged
to mesh with a pinion E loosely journalled on the axle F in combination with the
hub G loosely journalled on the driving shaft and connected to the pinion E by a
pawl and ratchet connection substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 10th day of July 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.