Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 27th July, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1895
Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
I, HUGH WHYTE, of Enockashur, Castle-Island, Co. Kerry, Ireland, Caretaker,
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 improvements in driving gear for velocipedes, the object
of which is to reduce the length of the gear chain to a minimum and to increase the
power of the machine.
For this purpose I mount the large chain wheel upon the lower fork of the frame
instead of upon the crank axle, and close to the small chain wheel on the hind axle,
so that the length of gear chain is reduced to a minimum. To the axis of the large
chain wheel is fixed a ratchet wheel with which gears a spring pawl, carried by a
bar pivoted at one end to the said axis and connected through another bar to the
pedal crank pin. These bars carry pins each engaging with slots formed in the
said bars to permit of a sliding and vibrating motion thereto, thus causing the pawl
to actuate the ratchet wheel for a part of a revolution. A similar arrangement of
gear is connected to the other pedal which completes the revolution of the driving
wheel of the machine.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of my improved
driving gear fitted to a bicycle and Fig. 2 is a plan thereof.
a is the lower fork or limb of the frame upon which is mounted the large chain
wheel b close to the small chain wheel c. Upon the axis of the wheel a is fixed the
ratchet wheel d into which gears the spring pawl d'. This latter is carried by a
bar e loosely mounted upon the said axis and formed with a slot e. f is a similar
bar pivoted at one end to the pedal crank pin g and having a slot f₁. The bars e
and carry respectively headed pins 2, f engaging with the said slots so as to
keep them rigidly connected whilst at the same time permitting the bar f to slide
along the bar e as the pedal is revolved. There is similar driving gear connected
to, and driven by the other pedal of the machine. The downward motion of the
pedal and bars e, f, causes the pawl d¹ to engage with and turn the ratchet wheel d
which latter through the chain and small wheel e causes the driving wheel i to
revolve, and as soon as the pedal begins to rise the other pedal acts in a similar
manner upon the gear on the other side of the wheel i causing the latter to continue
its revolution.
Instead of the aforesaid arrangement of sliding bars a single bar, formed with a
slot, in which engages and slides the pedal crank pin, may be used on each side of
the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be I declare that what I claim is.-
(1.) In driving gear for velocipedes placing the large chain wheel in close
proximity to the small one and driving the former by means of a ratchet wheel and
pawl operated by a sliding bar connected to the crank pin of the pedal substantially
as described and for the purposes specified.
(2.) The combination of the chain wheels b, c ratchet wheel d, pawl d¹, bars e
and formed with slots e¹ and f¹ and carrying pins e2 and f2 and the pedal crank

page_text: ping the whole fitted to each side of the machine substantially as described and for
the purposes specified.
(3.) The improved driving gear for velocipedes substantially as described and
shown in the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of July 1895.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.