Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes and other Machines Driven by the Feet or Hands.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Mar., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes and other Machines
Driven by the Feet or Hands.
We WILLIAM JAMES FREEMAN and EDWIN FREEMAN, both of No. 99 York
Road, Battersea, in the County of Surrey, Sanitary Engineers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to driving gear for velocipedes and other machines driven
by the feet or hands, said gear being of the pin and slot type in which the motion
of the pedal or other cranks is transmitted to the chain or driving wheel by means
of pins in the pedal or other cranks aforesaid, or in cranks secured to the crank
axle, which pins engage with slots in the said wheel or wheels, and the objects of
our invention are, first, to construct the driving gear in such a manner as to cause
the power applied to the pedals or cranks to be transmitted to the driving wheel
during the descent of the pedal or crank at the greatest possible mechanical
advantage and to ensure the least possible resistance to the upward motion of the
pedals or cranks. Secondly, to enable the action of the mechanism to be easily
reversed, so as to form a powerful arresting apparatus, and thirdly, to enable our
improved driving mechanism to be readily affixed to existing machines without
entailing much alteration of the frames.
In carrying our invention into practice we employ a chain or other driving
wheel which freely revolves upon a suitable bearing attached to the frame of the
velocipede or other machine. Said wheel has a projecting face or disc in which are
arranged guide slots, placed radially and opposite to each other, inside the outer
diameter of said wheel. A crank, or pedal spindle is placed in suitable bearings
within a slot or slots in the frame, so that it may be moved longitudinally in either
direction so that its centre may be in front or to the rear of or coincide with the
centre of the wheel. This movement may be effected by means of a forked bell
crank, the forked end of which embraces the spindle or its bearings, and the other
is connected to a lever upon or contiguous to, the handle or steering bar. Or we
may use a spring tending to maintain the spindle at one end of the slot, and a
mechanical movement similar to that before described to produce the other position,
a suitable catch or catches being arranged to maintain it. Any like device may
be employed to effect this movement. Upon one end of said crank or pedal
spindle is fixed a pedal or crank, and a similar pedal or crank is arranged to
revolve loosely upon the opposite end of said spindle. The latter pedal or crank is
provided with an extension beyond its centre, which carries a pin or roller working
in one of the radial guide slots in the wheel, herein before described. Inside the
slotted face or disc, a short crank is placed, and keyed or pinned upon the spindle.
The stroke of this crank coincides with that of the extension of the loose pedal or
crank, and it carries a pin or roller which works in the opposite radial guide slot.
This crank is placed oppositely with regard to the fixed pedal or crank at the
other extremity of the spindle.
When the spindle is at the end of the slot in the frame which is adapted for
forward pedalling or other action, the pedal or crank which is descending exerts
the maximum leverage upon the wheel, by reason of the pin or roller actuated by
it being at the farthest extremity of the radial guide slot in which it works, and
the ascending pedal or crank exerts the minimum of resistance to the motion of
said wheel because the pin or roller actuated by it is at the end of the radial slot
corresponding to it which is nearest to the wheel centre. When it is desirable to

page_text: retard the motion, ns in the ense of "back pedalling," the spindle is moved to the
other end of the slot in the frame and held there by a stop or the like, as herein-
before described.
Dated this 14th day of October 1895
FREDK.
WALKER,
73, St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E.,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes and other Machines
Driven by the Feet or Hands.
We WILLIAM JAMES FREEMAN and EDWIN FREEMAN buth of 99 York Road
Battersea in the County of Surrey Sanitary Engineers, 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 relates to driving gear for velocipedes and other machines driven
by the feet or hands the said gear being of the pin and slot type in which the
motion of the petal or other cranks is transmitted to the chain or driving wheel or
wheels by means of pins in the said cranks or in cranks secured to the crank axle
or both which pins engage with slots in the said wheel or wheels and the objects of
our invention are First to construct the driving gear in such a manner as to cause
the power applied to the pedal or cranks to be transmitted to the driving wheel
or wheels during the descent of the pedals or cranks at the greatest possible
mechanical advantage and to ensure the least possible resistance to the upward
movement of the pedals or cranks.
Secondly to enable the action of the mechanism to be easily reversed so as to
form a powerful arresting apparatus or to be used as a variable power and speed
gear.
Thirdly to enable our improved driving apparatus to be readily affixed to
existing machines without entailing much alteration of the frames.
In carrying our invention into practice as applied to velocipedes we employ a
chain or other driving wheel which freely revolves upon a suitable bearing attached
to the frame of the velocipede or other machine the said wheel has a projecting
face or disc in which are arranged guide slots placed radially and opposite to each
other inside the outer diameter of the said wheel.
The crank or pedal spindle is placed in suitable bearings within a slot or
stop in the bottom bracket in order that it may be moved longitudinally in either
direction so that its centre is in front or to the rear of the centre of the driving
wheel.
This movement may be effected by means of a forked bell crank the forked end
of which embraces the spindle in its bearings and the other end is connected to a
lever upon or contiguous to the handle or steering bar.
Or we may use a spring tending to maintain the spindle at one end of the slot
and a mechanical movement similar to that before described to produce the other
position a suitable catch or catches being arranged to maintain it.
Any like device may be employed to effect this movement. Upon one end of
the crank or pedal spindle is fixed a pedal or crank and a similar pedal or crank is
mounted loosely upon the opposite end of the spindle.
This latter pedal or crank is provided with a extension beyond its centre which
carries a pin or roller working in one of the radial guide slots in the wheel
hereinbefore described.
Inside the slotted face or disc a short crank is keyed or otherwise secured to the
crank or pedal spindle.

page_text: The stroke of this crank is equal to that of the external portion of the loose
crank or pedal and this crank is provided with a pin or roller which works in the
radial guide slot opposite to that in which works the pin or roller carried by the
extended portion of the loose crank.
This crank is placed opposite to or at an angle of 180° with the pedal or crank
which is attached firmly to the crank spindle.
When the spindle is at that end of the slot in the crank bracket which is
adapted for forward pedalling the pedal or crank which is descending exerts the
maximum leverage upon the driving wheel by reason of the pin or roller actuated
by it being at the extremity of the radial guide in which it works furthest from
the centre of the wheel and the ascending pedal or crank exerts the minimum of
resistance to the motion of the said wheel because the pin or roller attached to the
ascending pedal or crank is at that end of the slot in which it works which is
nearest to the centre of the driving wheel.
When it is desired to use the gear as a brake for example "back pedalling" the
bearing carrying the spindle is moved to the other end of the slot in the crank
bracket and held there by a stop or other suitable means the maximum mechanical
advantage is then in favour of the ascending pedal.
And in order that our said invention may be fully understood we will proceed
to explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings in
which:--
Fig. 1 represents side elevation of a driving gear for velocipedes constructed
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is section of same.
Fig. 3 is side elevation of a bicycle fitted with a reversible driving gear
constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 4 is vertical section through crank bracket shewing action of locking gear.
Fig. 5 is front view of locking bolt.
The same letters denote the same parts in all the figs.
A is the crank or pedal spindle or shaft Ba short crank keyed or otherwise
secured thereto opposite to or at an angle of 180° with the pedal rank C which is
keyed or otherwise secured to the spindle A. C' is the other pedal crank
oscillating on the spindle A and secured thereto by a washer A' having a D or
other suitably shaped hole therein fitting the said spindle and a screw A" tapped
into the spindle. t are the pedal pins D the chain wheel T the teeth or sprockets
thereon.
The wheel is annular and provided with a slotted face or skeleton frame d in
the front thereof which frame forms slots a a' in which work rollers whereof r
is free to rotate on the pin of the crank B while rotates on a pin or stud inserted
in the extended portion C" of the crank C which oscillates on the shaft A.
The wheel Dis provided with an internal flange D' at the side opposite the
skeleton frame the said flange being bored to fit the ring R. The outside of the
ring and inside of the flange are formed into a ball race and the usual steel balls
are inserted in the said race and kept in place by the adjusting ring R' thus
forming a ball bearing on which the wheel D rotates. Any other suitable bearing
may be used but preferably one which is fitted with appliances for reducing
friction to a minimum.
The centres of the crank shaft and chain wheel do not coincide as shewn at
Figs. 1. 2. & 3 when in position for driving the centre of the chain wheel is in
front of the centre of the crank shaft and when the apparatus is used as a brake
the centre of the chain wheel is behind the centre of the crank shaft.
As an example with driving gear of the type usually adopted with chain driven
bicycles having the radius of the pedal cranks equal to the diameter of the chain
wheel the maximum mechanical advantage in favour of the rider is two to one but
with our improved gear with the same length of crank and diameter of chain wheel
by making the distance of the centres of the rollers rr¹ from the centre of the
crank shaft one third the length of the pedal crank the excentricity of the pedal

page_text: shaft being one sixth of the crank length the maximum mechanical advantage in
favour of the rider is three to one.
As increasing the mechanical advantage of the pedal over the chain wheel
during the downward motion of the crank decreases to the same extent the
mechanical advantage on its upward movement it is necessary in order to give the
rider control over the machine when back pedalling" to reverse the action of
the gear that is to give him the benefit of the increased mechanical advantage
during the ascent of the pedals the reversal being effected as follows:-
As shewn at Figs. 1. 2. 3 & 4 the pedal shaft revolves in bearings in a block K
sliding in a slotted guide at each side of the crank bracket which is preferably
formed of sheet steel as shewn at Figs. 2 & 4 the guides being formed in the loose
plates 2. L is a bolt to hold the block K at either end of the slots or in any
suitable intermediate position. In the drawings the gear is shewn in the driving
position but if the block K be moved to the other end of the slots and held there
the action of the gear will be reversed and the apparatus may be used as a brake.
The block may be moved in either direction by any suitable mechanism which
will move the block from end to end of the slotted guides and hold it there or in
nny intermediate position.
The reversing gear which we prefer to use as being simple and very effective is
constructed as follows:-
The block K is normally held in the driving position by means of a spring
and the holt L. having the rod P attached thereto which bolt is forced downwards
by the spring O.
A rod is attached to the block K at the opposite side to the spring and to
this rod is attached one end of a chain, wire or cord K" passing over guide
pulleys M M and the other end of the said card chain or wire is attached to a hand
lever N pivotted to the handle bar. The bolt 1 is lifted against the pressure of
the spring O by means of a second cont wire or chain fastened to the rod P.
which cord wire or chain after passing over guide pulleys QQ is attached to a
hand lever N also pivotted to the handle bar it being understood that the
levers NN are adapted to be operated by different hands the lever to lift
the bolt being actuated by the left hand and the reversing lever N by the right
hand.
When it is desired to use the gear as a brake-for example when descending a
hill the bolt is lifted by pulling the cord or chain attached thereto by raising
the lever N with the left hand.
The right hand then pulls the block K forward by raising the lever N and the
lover is let go allowing the bolt to fall behind the said block locking the gear
in the position for "back pedalling."
The lever N may then be released leaving the gear locked. On reaching the
bottom of the hill the lever N is raised lifting the bolt and allowing the block to
be returned to the driving position by the spring J.
On releasing the lever N the gear will be locked in the driving position.
If however it is desired to use the gear as a substitute for a variable speed gear
the maximum mechanical advantage inny he utilized for hill climbing and while
riding on level ground the gear may be locked in an intermediate position by
allowing the bolt L. to drop into one of a series of slots or holes in the block K.
The inachine will then to all intents and purposes become nu ordinary safety
bicycle with a high gear when in mid gear and equal to a higher geared machine
in the intermedinte position of the bluck and a still higher geared machine when in
full gear.
The full power of the rider may be utilized for "back pedalling" or the gent
may be put in an intermediate position when going down hill.
When applying our invention to existing machines in order to avoid alterations
to the frames we dispense with the reversing gear and retain the existing crank
bracket.
The ring is secured to the frame of the machine by clips or straps or it may

page_text: be brazed or otherwise secured to the crank bracket or it may be secured to the
bracket and the frame the centre of the ring being in advance of the centre of the
crank spindle. Similar gearing may be applied to sewing machines lathes and
other machines driven by the hand or feet.
In conclusion we would remark that we are aware that prior to our invention
driving mechanism for velocipedes has been made in which the motion of the
cranks is transmitted to the chain wheel by means of pins and slots we do not
therefore claim this combination broadly but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In a driving gear for velocipedes and other machines the combination of a
chain wheel D. having a slotted face or skeleton frame d with cranks B and C
secured to the axle A and a crank C' mounted loosely thereon the crank B and a
backwardly extending portion of the crank ( being provided with rollers >
engaging with slots a. a in the face d substantially as herein before described and
for the purpose stated.
2. In a driving mechanism for velocipedes and other machinery the combination of
a chain wheel D rotating on a ring R attached to the crank bracket with a crank
spindle A excentric to the centre of the said ring and a means for varying the
excentricity of the said axle substantially as and for the purpose stated.
3. In a driving gear for velocipedes and other machines the combination of a
chain wheel D having a slotted face with an axle A excentric to the centre of the
wheel D crank C. cranks B and C having rollers rr engaging with slots a in the
face d of the chain wheel and a means for varying the excentricity of the axle A
all substantially as and for the purpose stated.
4. In a driving mechanism for velocipedes and other machines the combination of
a bracket J having slotted guides formed in or attached thereto a block K sliding
freely therein having a spring and rod R' attached thereto and a locking bolt L
with a chain cord or wire K attached at one end to a hand lever N and at the
other end to the rod K' and a cord, wire or chain attached at one end to a rod P
and at the other end to a hand lever N' all substantially as specified and for the
purpose stated.
5. In a driving gear for velocipedes and other machines the combination of a
crank bracket J having guide slots formed in or attached thereto and a block K
sliding freely in the said slots and provided with bearings to receive the spindle A
with a bolt L and a means for moving the said block backwards and forwards in
the said slots and raising and lowering the said bolt for the purpose stated.
6. In a driving mechanism for velocipedes and other machines the crank C'
having a backwardly extending portion C" and a roller rotating on a pin or
stud in the portion C the said roller being adapted to engage with a slot in the
face of a chain or driving wheel D substantially as herein before specified.
7. The construction of driving mechanism for velocipedes as shewn by the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 3rd day of March 1896.
T. E. HALFORD,
Agent for Applicants.