Improvements in the Driving Gear of Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in the Driving Gear of Bicycles and the like.
I, EDWARD JAMES WARMINGTON, of Dengie Rectory, Southminster, in the County
of Essex, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements on my Patent No. 18358 of 1897,
in which power is applied to the chain driving wheel, only on the effective part of
its revolution.
il
The present invention is devised with the object of providing
simple and
effective way of forming gripping and releasing devices or the dises or the like
affixed to or formed upon the spindle of the sprocket wheel.
Accordingly I turnish each of the crank arms with a simple or compound lever or
levers arranged in such a manner that the cord or chain, arranged over the pulley
and connecting with both pedals for causing them to retrace their path, when used,
is attached to a suitable part of the lever, while the side lever or pedal direct is
attached to another suitable part.
The slight resistance of the cord on the pedal descending is sufficient to cause
the lever, by means of a shoe, block or roller, or block and roller, as desired, to bind
upon or engage the disc and thereupon to move it down through the limited arc
required; when however the stroke is completed and the tension of the cord is
in the reverse direction by the effect of the power being applied to the other pedal,
the lever is moved out of contact with or control of the disc so that it is free to
ascend to the top of the stroke and be again in position for engaging the disc. In
lieu of the cord a spring may be used if desired in which case each pedal would be
worked independently of the other.
Improvements in the Driving Gear of Bicycles and the like,
I, EDWARD JAMES WARMINGTON, of Dengie Rectory, Southminster, in the County
of Essex, Clerk in holy Orders, 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 folowing statement:-
-
This invention relates to certain improvements on my Patent No. 18358 of 1897
“improvements in driving mechanism for bicycles, tricycles and the like.” In

page_text: this patent discs are connected with the chain driving wheel and are gripped by
suitable devices at the downward stroke of the pedals and released at the upward
stroke; the pedals being caused to travel to and fro in a limited arc.
My present invention is designed to provide simple and effective means for
gripping and releasing the discs and will be readily understood upon reference to
the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1, shews the gripping and releasing device for one disc made according
to this invention.
Figure 2, is a similar view to Figure 1 but shews a spring instead of a cord for
causing the pedal to retrace its path, and
Figure 3, shews an alternative form.
In carrying out my invention 1 attach to each crank arm (A) a double ended
lever (B), as in Figure 1. At the end of the long arm of this lever is the pedal (C)
and upon the end of the short arm is a block (D) or other suitable contrivance
for binding upon or engaging the disc (E) at the downward stroke of the pedal.
This engagement is effected by the connection of the cord or chain (F) or the
spring (G) as shewn in Figure 2 with the long arm of the lever, forming a slight
resistance to the pressure exerted on the pedal, and thus acts as a fulcrum, so that
when the pedal is pressed downward the block at the other end of lever slightly
rises and binds firmly upon the disc and thereupon moves it round until the end of
the down-stroke is reached. At this point the pressure on the pedal is removed
and the action of the cord through the downward stroke of the other pedal, or the
spring pulling the long arm of the lever upward, causes the block on the short arm
to be moved away from the disc so that it becomes released and thus is allowed
to ascend free to the end of the up-stroke.
A disc (E) is securely fastened upon each end portion of the spindle (H) of the
chain wheel (I) and is used in each set of operating mechanism. Both the crank
arms are loose upon the said spindle (H). The chain or cord (F) (Figurel) is
arranged over the pulley (J) which is secured to the frame of the machine, and is
fastened at its ends to both sets of operating mechanism. The said mechanism
is so constructed that when no pressure is exerted on the pedals the blocks are
free. In lieu of the cord, a spring (G) as in Figure 2, secured to a fixed sup-
port (G) may be used at each side so that the pedals may be worked either
separately or together, as in this case the movement of one pedal is independent of
the other.
The pedals move to and fro in a suitable are the length of which can be varied
at the will of the rider.
The block (1) moves from the disc (E) at the up-stroke of the pedal a limited
distance; this being effected by a stop (K) on the lever and a recess (L) in the
crank arm.
The modification shewn in Figure 3 consists in connecting with the crank
arm (A) the compound levers (M) and (N); the lever (M) being jointed to the
said crank arm and the lever (N) jointed to the movable block (D) or other device
for the disc (E). The pedal (C) connects with these levers by the link (O). The
spring (G) or if desired the cord or chain herein-mentioned connects with the
crank arm (A); a small spring (P) or other suitable device being used to force
the levers upward so as to cause the block to be disengaged when the pressure
is removed from the pedal.
The operating mechanism may be encased, if desired, so as to protect the work-
ing parts from dust or other foreign substance.
The gripping device herein explained can be used as an effective brake by press-
ing upon both pedals simultaneously.
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:-
:-
Firstly In driving gear for bicycles and the like, the improved mechanism

page_text: for gripping the discs (E) connected with the driving wheel at the down-stroke
of the pedals and releasing the same at the up-stroke, arranged and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Secondly-In driving gear for bicycles and the like in which are employed
gripping and releasing devices for discs such as (E) the formation of a temporary
fulcrum in the lever (B) produced in the manner and for the purposes substan-
tially as herein set forth and as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
Thirdly: In driving gear for bicycles and the like the operating mechanism
for use as a brake substantially in the manner as herein set forth.
W. D. ROWLINGSON,
7, Quality Court, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.