Improvements in the Method of Propelling Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of Propelling Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
I, CHARLES WALTER VOSPER, of 3, Nelson Terrace, Newport Road, Barnstaple,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to novel means or appliance connected with cycles for the
purpose of propelling them.
To carry my invention into practice, I employ two spindles and arrange them in
the bottom bracket of the vehicle, on one of said spindles 1 place a large cogwheel
and the two pedal cranks, and on the other a smaller cogwheel which will gear into
the larger cogwheel.
or
I provide a crank to work inside the pedals and this is connected with a lever
which runs back by the side of the horizontal frame of the machine to another crank
affixed to the axle or hub of the back wheel. In the centre of this lever I place a
pin which will be inserted into a block working within a
groove made in
attached to the horizontal frame, or otherwise, or suspended by a pendulum, the
upper end of which will be attached to some other part of the framework near to
the saddle. The block referred to as working in a groove may have two rollers, one
at each end fixed on pins on which they turn as they move to and fro in the groove.
In the centre of this block will be a hole large enough to take the fulcrum pin which
is attached to the lever. As a modification I may use a friction block of a triangular
shape with a roller at each angle and covered on either side with a metallic frame, the
rollers being mounted on bearings and fixed on a bar inserted between the sides of
the framework and in contact with the rollers, a fulcrum pin being inserted into one
side of the frame.
For matters of speed another lever occupying much the same position as the
above has a crank fixed in the centre but not in a straight line between the pedal
and the hub of the machine but at an angle so as to overcome the possibility of a
dead point.
In the matter of some other improvements, I make a divided pedal with a crank
and to this is attached a lever with a sliding block and groove, or a pendulum and
triangular block as above described but instead of the cogwheels being put on the
pedal and adjacent spindles, I put the cogwheels behind, one of which is attached to
the hub of the back wheel, whilst the larger one is fixed inside of the frame and
geared into the smaller one.
11
LOLL
Mah 1907

page_text: Improvements in the Method of Propelling Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
I, CHARLES WALTER VOSPER, of 3, Nelson Terrace, Newport Road, Barnstaple,
Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improved means for the propulsion of velocipedes and
other vehicles.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I employ two spindles or shafts which
are arranged one in the crank-hanger or bottom bracket of the vehicle-frame and the
other in a bracket parallel therewith; on one of the said shafts, I fix a large toothed
wheel and the two pedal-cranks, and on the other shaft a smaller toothed wheel which
is geared with the larger toothed wheel. This latter shaft I also provide with a crank
arranged to work on the inner side of the corresponding pedal and coupled to one arm
of a pivoted lever, which extends backward by the side of the horizontal back stay or
frame-member of the machine, and has its other arm coupled to another crank fixed
on the axle or hub of the back wheel. This lever is provided with a central pivot-pin
or fulcrum, which is mounted in such a manner that it can move to and fro through
a short distance in a direction approximately parallel with the lever when in its mean
position. According to one method I mount the said pivot-pin or fulcrum on a
sliding block or carriage of approximately triangular shape provided with a roller at
each angle running on the aforesaid horizontal back-stay or frame-member. Or the
said pivot-pin or fulcrum is suspended by means of a pendulum, the upper end of
which is attached to some other part of the frame-work near the saddle. Or I
employ a lever occupying much the same position as the above, which is held by
supporting arms or cranks that turn about centres not in a straight line between the
pedal and the hub of the machine, but at an angle thereto.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a plan showing one arrangement of my improved driving-mechanism
as applied to a bicycle.
Figure 2 is a side elevation thereof, the pedal-cranks being shown in a different
position.
Figures 3 and 4 are side elevations illustrating other forms or modifications of my
invention, and
Figure 5 shows a slight modification of the arrangement illustrated in Figures 1
and 2.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the usual crank-shaft or pedal-shaft of the velocipede, provided with the
pedal-cranks A¹, and turning in ball-bearings in the crank-hanger or bottom
bracket B¹ of the frame B. Parallel to the shaft A and turning in ball-bearings in
another bracket B2 of the frame B, is mounted a shaft C, on which is fixed a toothed
wheel D geared with a larger toothed wheel D¹ on the shaft A, so that the shaft C
will rotate at a higher rate of speed than the crank-shaft A, the velocity-ratio being
chosen in accordance with the particular "gear" required.
On the shaft C is also fixed a crank E which works between the frame and the
inner side of the corresponding pedal-crank A¹, and is connected to a similar crank F
on the hub G of the rear wheel, by means of a lever H arranged in such a manner
that the crank F shall rotate in the reverse direction to the crank E. For this
purpose the lever H is mounted on a stud or pivot-pin J, which, in the arrangement

page_text: shown in Figures 1 and 2, is fixed in an approximately triangular block or carriage K.
This block or carriage is provided with anti-friction rollers K' arranged one at each
corner of the same and engaging with a bar B³ forming part of the frame B, one of
the said rollers bearing against the underside of the said bar and the other two
against the upper side thereof, so that the said carriage can travel to and fro along
the said bar B³ and thus accommodate itself to the movements of the lever H.
By these means, as the pedal-cranks A¹ rotate in the direction indicated by the
arrow in Figure 2, the shaft C will rotate in the reverse direction, whilst the rear-
wheel hub G will rotate in the same direction as the pedal-shaft A, the carriage K'
bearing the pivot-pin or fulcrum J, meanwhile reciprocating along the bar B³. It is
obvious that, if desired, the block or carriage K can be made of other than triangular
form and be provided with four or any other convenient number of anti-friction
rollers.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 3, the pivot-pin or fulcrum J of the lever H
is mounted at the end of a swinging link or pendulum L which swings about a pin or
stud L on the frame B¹, near the saddle of the machine.
In Figure 4 I have shown another form or modification of my invention, in which
the pivot-pin or fulcrum J is mounted on a bar M supported by means of two crank-
arins or links N, N¹ pivoted at N2, N3, respectively, to arms P, P1 projecting from the
back stay, one above and the other below a straight line extending from the pedal-
shaft A to the hub G of the rear wheel. By this means the pivot-pin J is constrained
to move in an approximately straight line as it reciprocates during the oscillation of
the lever H.
Instead of the toothed wheels shown in Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, I some-
times employ a sprocket-wheel D² geared with a larger wheel D³ having pins D+ to
engage with the teeth of the said sprocket-wheel, as shown, for example, in Figure 5.
When the crank F is fixed on the hub of the wheel as shown in the drawings, the
ball-bearings for the wheel-hub are arranged in the rear frame-members in any
convenient manner.
By my improvements above described, I provide in a very advantageous manner
for driving safety-bicycles without the necessity for using a chain.
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 :-
First. The improved driving-mechanism, wherein a crank-shaft parallel with the
pedal-shaft and geared therewith is connected to a crank on the driving-wheel or
wheels by means of an oscillating lever having its fulcrum mounted so as to be
capable of moving through a short distance in a direction parallel with the said lever
when in its mean position, substantially as herein before described.
Second. The modification of my invention in which the fulcrum of the oscillating
lever is mounted on a block or carriage provided with anti-friction rollers engaging
with opposite sides of a fixed guide-bar, substantially as described.
Third. The modification of my invention wherein the fulcrum of the oscillating
lever is supported by means of one or more swinging links, pendulums or crank-arms,
substantially as described.