Improvements in Auxiliary Driving Mechanism for Bicycles, Tricycles and like Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Jan., 1899-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Auxiliary Driving Mechanism for Bicycles, Tricycles
and like Vehicles.
I, FREDRICK GEORGE RHODES, of 103, Victoria Road, Swindon, Wilts, Musical
Instrument Tuner, &c., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-;
This invention has for its object an improved gearing for use on bicycles, tri-
cycles, and other like vehicles by which the vehicle can be readily propelled by
means of the feet with the assistance of a spring.
According to this invention on the frame a suitable spring barrel is fitted con-
nected by suitable gearing with the pedal axle and thence to the driving axle.
The spring is so arranged as to tend to turn the pedal axle and to drive the
machine and is used as an auxiliary to the pedal driving. A suitable catch or
the like is fitted whereby the spring can be put out of gear and prevented from
unwinding when the machine is not in motion, or this may be automatically
allowed for. Suitable means are provided for winding up if necessary. Suitable
brakes are fitted to the machine and preferably a fly wheel is arranged on the
frame so as to contact with the wheel rim and the rotation of this brake wheel may
be utilised for winding up the spring if desired.
It will be understood that the spring does not act as a driving power but as an
auxiliary to assist the pedal driving.
Datod this 23rd day of Anvil 1808
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Auxiliary Driving Mechanism for Bicycles, Tricycles
and like Vehicles.
I, FREDRICK GEORGE RHODES, of 103, Victoria Road, Swindon, Wilts, Musical
Instrument Tuner, etc., 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 has for its object an improved gearing for use on bicycles, tri-
cycles and other like vehicles by which the vehicle can be readily propelled by
means of the feet by the assistance of a spring.
According to this invention on the frame a suitable spring barrel is fitted con-
nected by suitable gearing with the pedal axle and then to the driving axle. The
Price 1

page_text: spring is so arranged as to turn the pedal axle and drive the machine and as
used as an auxiliary to the pedal driving.
In order that this invention may be more readily understood reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings on which Fig. 1 is a cross
section through the spring barrel showing a mechanism according to this invention
fitted to a bicycle. Fig. 2 is a plan of the same and Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views
showing parts of the mechanism.
The pedal spindle A is mounted in the bottom bracket B and carries at each
end the pedals CC. Towards one end of it a spring barrel D is mounted but is
not rigidly attached to the pedal spindle. A spring E is attached at one end to
the pedal spindle A and at the other end is attached to the inner surface of the
spring barrel D. To this spring barrel D an internally toothed wheel F is attached
so as to rotate therewith and this internally toothed wheel F is in gear with a
similar wheel G mounted on the spindle H also mounted in the bracket B which
is constructed so as to receive the two spindles A H. On the other side of the
bracket B a chain wheel I is mounted geared with a chain wheel on the driving
axle of the bicycle in the usual manner. The chain wheels on the spindle H and
on the driving spindle are preferably equal in size and the gearing up is obtained
by means of the gearing ratio between the internally toothed wheel and the wheel
with which it gears.
On the other end of the pedal spindle A a ratchet wheel J is mounted and a
pawl K gears with it, the said pawl K being mounted on a bracket L attached
to the frame of the bicycle. On the side of the spring barrel D a Geneva stop
mechanism M is mounted somewhat similar to that used in watches and other
machines. This stop mechanism. M serves to regulate the winding up of the
spring E and prevent over winding.
The spring E supposing the pedal spindle A to be stationary tends to turn
the spring barrel and consequently the internally toothed wheel F in a direction
to drive the bicycle but its force is not sufficient to cause the bicycle to go along.
It will therefore be understood that when the bicycle is propelled in the usual
way by means of the pedals CC, the spring which also tends to drive the machine
assists the propulsive effort of the rider and acts as an auxiliary driving gear.
To wind up the spring the pedals are turned in a forward direction. In running,
the pawl K slips over the teeth of the ratchet wheel J when the bicycle is working
in the ordinary way.
When the spring has been wound up it is found in practice that it is a consider-
able time before it again requires winding. Preferably the brake to be used with
this arrangement is of the class which act upon the rim of the wheel.
This arrangement is not shown on the drawing as it is not part of this invention
and any suitable arrangement of such brake may be employed.
Preferably the brake is normally in engagement with the rim of the wheel so
that if there should be any tendency on the part of the spring to move the bicycle
it may be restrained and a spring clip or other suitable device is fitted to the
handle-bar by which the brake operating lever is held in such position that the
brake is kept out of engagement with the rim of the wheel. When running, the
brake is held away from the rim of the wheel and allowed to resume its normal
position to apply the brake.
This arrangement can also be fitted to cycles driven by means of hand cranks
and also to other vehicles driven by man power or by means of a suitable motive
power engine, the application and action of the auxiliary driving mechanism being
practically the same in all cases.
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) An auxiliary driving mechanism for bicycles, tricycles and like vehicles 5
comprising a spring barrel, the spring of which is attached at one end to the

page_text: barrel and at the other end to the pedal spindle, gearing connecting said spring
barrel with the driving wheel axle, a ratchet wheel and pawl and a stop mechanism,
all arranged and operating substantially as described.
(2) An auxiliary driving mechanism for bicycles, tricycles and like vehicles,
comprising spring barrel D, spring E, one end of which is attached to the spring
barrel D and at the other end to pedal spindle A, gear wheels F, G and chain wheel 1
serving as gearing for transmitting motion to the driving wheel, ratchet wheel J,
pawl K and stop mechanism M, all arranged and operating substantially as
described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1809.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.