IMPROVEMENTS IN CRANKS OR TREADLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I JOHN EDWARD ROGERS of Poplar Street Smethwick in the County of Stafford
Machinist do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CRANKS OR TREADLES to be as follows:-
The chief use of my Invention would be in connection with velocipedes I shall
therefore describe a Crank or Treadle constructed according to my Invention as
applied to one of these machines.
Round the end of the driving spindle to which the ordinary Crank is keyed for
giving motion to the machine, is fitted an ordinary chain wheel central with the
spindle, but fixed to the frame of the machine, and remaining stationary while the
spindle revolves through and beyond it to receive the remaining parts of my
Invention,
On the end of the spindle would be keyed in the ordinary way what I shall call
the first length of my Crank or Treadle, the outer end of this first length is bored
out to receive a spindle on which is keyed a second chain wheel linable with the
first chain wheel fixed on the frame of the machine, on this spindle is also keyed
one end of what I shall call the second length of my Crank or Treadle.
This spindle on which is keyed the second chain wheel and one end of second
length of Crank is free to revolve in the outer end of the first length of Crank or
Treadle,constructed according to my Invention.
The outer end of second length of my Crank or Treadle is constructed in the
ordinary way to receive the tread or pedal.
Round the two chain wheels passes the chain governing the action of the Crank
or Treadle constructed according to my Invention.
The distance between the two chain wheels may be made adjustable.
The operation of a Crank or Treadle constructed according to my Invention
would be as follows: Supposing the two lengths of the Crank or Treadle to be in
an extended position on a horizontal line forward they would on having been
moved round to the backward position have been shortened or folded up by the
action of the chain so that in each revolution the leverage of the Crank or Treadle
is given out and taken up which may be done at any point in the sweep of the
Crank or Treadle by setting the parts accordingly.
In place of the two chain wheels and chain I may use three cog wheels for
governing the action of my Crank or Treadle, two of the cog wheels fixed in the

page_text: place and manner of the two chain wheels, and the third between the two and
geared into both and working on a stud fixed in the first length of my Crank or
Treadle..
Another method of carrying out my Invention would be as follows:-Fixed to
the frame in the same manner as the first chain wheel (though not central with the
spindle) would be an eccentric with its throw in the desired position, round this
eccentric is fitted a strap from which projects a rod having an eye that works on a
stud fixed on the second length of my Crank or Treadle.
In this case the two lengths of my Crank or Treadle never come into a horizontal
line but in their most extended positions would remain at an obtuse angle so that
in working the eccentric would have a purchase to take up or shorten the leverage
of my Crank or Treadle which it would do to a greater extent than the actual
throw of the eccentric.
Should it be desirable for the two lengths of my Crank or Treadle to come into
a perfectly horizontal line (when governed by an eccentric) a projection would have
to be made on the second length to receive the stud on which the eye of the
eccentric rod works.

page_text: I JOHN EDWARD ROGERS of Poplar Street Smethwick in the County of Stafford
Machinist do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CRANKS OR TREADLES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Figs. (1) and (2) shew elevation and plan of my Invention when the motion is
governed by chain gear.
Figs. (3) and (4) shew plan and elevation of my Invention when the motion is
governed by a train of toothed wheels.
Like numbers and letters shew corresponding parts in each Fig.
The motion of a Crank or Treadle constructed according to Figs. (1) and (2).
would be as follows.
(a) (B) and (c) are the centres of the two parts of crank.
Round the centre of (a) and fixed to the frame of mashine (5) is chain wheel (1).
The shaft (6) is keyed to boss of crank (a) and is free to revolve through wheel (1)
fixed to frame (5).
(2) is chain wheel keyed to inside end of spindle (7) and linable with chain
wheel (1).
The spindle (7) of chain wheel (2) is keyed to boss of length of crank (8) leaving
length of crank (8) and chain wheel (2) keyed to spindle (7) free to revolve in
centre (b) under the control of fixed chain wheel (1) and chain (3).
The motion of the crank Fig. (1) and (2) is as follows
The power is applied a (c) through any desirable attachment.
The dotted circles shew the paths of the different parts of the cranks, and the
arrows (for the purpose of this description) the direction of their movements.
Travelling the first quarter of the circle (c) would move to (c¹), (b) to (61)
(a) remaining the centre of revolving shaft (6).
At the half revolution of Crank the points would be (a) (b2) and (c²).
At three parts of the revolution the points would be (a) (b³) and (C³).
On finishing the revolution the points would resume the horizontal line (a) (b) (c).
The cranks may be set or adjusted to resume the horizontal line (a) (b) and (c) at
any point in the circle no matter which direction the cranks are moved.
The movements of the crank shewn in Figs. (3) and (4) are identical with
Figs. (1) and (2) only that they are governed by the intermediate wheel (2) working
on stud pin (4) fixed in (a) (b) length of crank instead of chain wheel (3) Fig. (1)
and (2).
In modification Fig. (3) and (4) I do not bind myself to any number or arrange-
ment of toothed wheels in the train; nor to the particular design of cranks as
shewn in Fig..(1) (2) (3) and (4).

page_text: 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.) In Cranks or Treadles the combination of a fixed wheel (1) arm (8) and
parts connecting the same in which the arm (8) serves for receiving and imparting
power applied to it to the shaft (6), substantially as herein described and shewn in
Fig. (1) (2) (3) and (4).