An Improved Driving-gear for Velocipedes."
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1897
(AMENDED).
"An Improved Driving-gear for Velocipedes."
I, CARL WENIGMANN, of 6, Herderstrasse, Koln-Lindenthal, in the German Empire,
Engineer, do hereby declaro 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 improved means applicable for use in driving cycles and
similar vehicles.
"
The method-most-commonly-in-use-for-driving-velocipedes by means-of-a-erank
presents-the-disadvantage that the "dead-centre has to be overcome. -Attempts
have been--made-to-overcome-this--objection-by-employing-foot-levers, the back
Amongst the devices of this class was one-for--example in which a-band was
arranged-about-a-gripping mechanism-attached-to-the-hind wheel, the--band-being
nawound-by means of the lever. Such a contrivance-rotates the wheel-in-one
direction only, the-gripping-or-locking--mechanism-being-then-turned-backward-by
means of a-spiral-spring-or-other-contrivance,-an-arrangement-which-involves--se
ende-of-which-effected-the-rotation-of-the-driving wheel
much-wear-as-to-render-the-apparatus-unsuitable for-practical-use
In-the-present invention, a similar-principle-prevails,-but-instead of the drawing
and unrolling-bands-a-drag spring or strap-is-applied which, after-the-uneoiling-and
operative-movement, recoils-itself automatically- and, in so doing-turns backward
the-onter-coller-of-the-gripping-mechanism.
Figs. 1 and 2 illustrate a bicycle embodying my invention; the former repre-
senting the machine at rest, and the latter representing it in motion.
A is the pedal or foot-lever which vibrates about the point a; B is the drawing
spring, and C the gripping mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a view of the latter in transverse section. D is a collar, attached to the
hub or nave of the wheel to be driven, aud furnished on its circumference with
recesses fff", in which the balls g g g lie. Around this collar D is arranged the
enclosing ring or casing H, which is provided with cavities iii, each of which, at
one extremity, terminate abruptly, and, at the other, by a gradual taper. Fig. 4 is
a vertical section through the casing, shewing the balls arranged, in the present
instance, in two parallel rows. Fig. 5 is a part face view of the collar D.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-If pressure be applied to the pedal
(see Fig. 2) the strap or drawing-spring B will be tightened around the ring H, and
in tightening will.cause the ring H to revolve, the balls g gl or gll being caught in
the cavities iior and acting as teeth whereby the collar D (and with it the
driving wheel) is carried round. Upon releasing the pedal, the foot-lever A assumes
the position indicated in Fig. 1, and the band B being released from tension recoils
itself on the ring H; thereby permitting the latter to revolve in the reverse direction
and to force the balls g g¹ &c. into the recesses ff &c. in the collar 1).
It will thus

page_text: be seen that by repeatedly depressing and releasing the pedal of the foot-lever A
the revolution of the collar D and consequently of the road-wheel will be main-
tained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The improved driving gear for eveles-and-the-like, constructed or operating
substantially as herein described, and comprising a strap-or-drawing-spring B
connected-at-one-end with a lever-A-and-nt-the-other end with gripping mechanism
of sneh-a-nature-that-upon-the-foot-lever-being-depressed-the--strap is partially
unwound and the forward revolution-of the-driving-wheel-is-ellected,-whilet,-up
the font lover being-released; the strap-rewinds itself-about-the-gripping-device-nud
the-font-lever resumes-its-original-position.
2. In driving-gear for cycles and the like, the employment of gripping mechanism
constructed substantially as herein described and comprising balls g arranged in
recesses formed in a coliar D enclosed within a ring or casing H; the ring H being
free to rotate in one direction upon the collar D, whilst upon the ring being rotated
in the opposite direction the balls lock between the cavities i and the walls of the
recesses, rotative motion being thereby imparted from the ring H to the collar D.