Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1895-Accepted, 4th July, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes and other
Vehicles.
We, JOHN PRICE, Mechanical Engineer, THOMAS HANN, Mechanical
Engineer, and WILLIAM BROMLEY, Commercial Traveller, all of 18 Upper
Kennington Lane in the County of Surrey, 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 for improvements in or connected with velocipedes and other
vehicles especially refers to the driving gear therefor and to the framework so
constructed as to enclose or partially enclose such driving gear.
So
According to our invention we provide upon each side of the crank axle, a
grooved cam; these cams act on bowls carried by connecting rods, (or by
pivotted arms,) the rods extending to the driving wheels, or wheels. The axle
of the rear wheel or wheels is or are provided with cranks or discs on to which
the ends of the connecting rods have bearings, the cams we employ are
formed as to communicate to the connecting rods, two, three or more recipro-
cations for each revolution of the crank axle. The ends of the connecting rods
near the cams are supported each by a swinging, or rocking arm fulcrummed
on the fixed framework. The crank axle is provided with pedals, when driven
by manual power, but obviously the crank axle may be driven by steam, explosive,
or electric motor. When desired, and especially when applied to bicycles, with
ordinary or usual construction of framework, such framework is or may be readily
adapted to cover or partially enclose the connecting rods and cranks of the
driven wheel, the connecting rods passing within (in a safety or rear driven
bicycle) the bottom stay tubes, while the cranks are enclosed in an enlarged recess
formed on the brackets carrying the driven wheel axle.
Our invention will be readily understood by the following description referring
to the accompanying drawings, which shew, by way of example, the invention
applied to a rear driven safety bicycle.
Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing our improved driving gear and with the
frame adapted to encase or partially encase such driving gear. Figure 2 is a plan
view of the parts shewn at Figure 1. Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on
the line X. Y. of Figure 1. Fig. 4 is a plan section of a portion of one of the
cams shewing the bowl in attachment with the end of the connecting rod, and
Fig. 5 shows the gear cover detached.
In describing the driving arrangements we should have it understood that similar
parts are provided upon each side of the machine, and these being thus
symmetrical it will only be necessary to describe the mechanism upon one side
thereof.
A is the cam grooved at A¹ and as shewn of somewhat trefoil configuration.
The said cam A is fixed upon the pedal axle or driving shaft B; C, are the cranks
which are provided with pedals as usual, when applied to velocipedes, and by
which the shaft B is rotated.
D is the connecting rod pivotted at D¹ to the swinging or rocking arm E, the
latter carrying an inwardly projecting roller or bowl F shewn detached at Fig. 4,
and located within the groove A¹ of the cam A. The rocking arm E is itself

page_text: pivotted at El upon a bracket or lug fixed to, or extending from, the framework of
the machine. The said arm E may carry the bowl F above its fulcrum or be
arranged as shewn in a pendant manner with the bowl at its lower end as at
Fig. 1.
At the end, opposite to the cam A the connecting rod D is fitted or formed
with a bearing to take on to the pin of the crank arm or disc G fixed to, or
formed with, the axle of the driven wheel H. As has been stated the parts upon
the opposite side of the driven wheel are identical with those here described, the
crank pin upon one side being set at right angles with the crank upon the other
side, as in the plan view. By this duplication of the parts of the driving
mechanism, we are enabled to obtain an improved & well balanced driving
action.
Upon the pedal axle B being rotated once the driven wheel H will receive three
revolutions by reason of the cam A being of three-throw character, but if the cam
was but two-leaved it will be understood the driven wheel would be revolved but
twice.
When desired we so combine such a driving gear with a frame between the
crank axle and the driven wheel that the connecting rods D D and cranks G G
are or may be entirely encased therein. To this end we form the stay tubes of a
C section best seen at Fig. 3. and marked J. These tubes J are carried by a
suitable cross bracket K, near the driving axle B, and are open ended to allow
the connecting rods D D to pass through the interior of the tubes J. The
opposite ends of the tubes J take into brackets L which have a circular recess
to allow of the free revolution of the cranks G. G, and are formed or fitted
with bearings to carry the driven wheel shaft, and also with lugs for the attachment
of the rear tubes M of the framework.
The open sides of the casing tubes J J may, and preferably are, closed by plates
such as N Fig. 5. and the open recesses of brackets L are or may also be covered
by the same plates, fitted say in grooves and secured. We do not limit ourselves
to the particular arrangement of the machine as a whole, for instance the driven
wheel may be either a leading or rear wheel and the vehicle may have more than
two wheels.
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 velocipedes and other vehicles, the combination with a pedal or motor
operated driving shaft, a pair of two, or three, or more throw cams on the driving
shaft, and a pair of cranks set at right angles one with another on the axle of
the wheel to be driven; of a guide or rocking arm (for each cam) carried from
the framework, a roller mounted on each rocking arm and located one within each
cam groove, a connecting rod pivotted to each rocking arm, the opposite ends of
the rods taking on to the cranks of the driven wheel, substantially as set forth.
2. In velocipedes and other vehicles, the driving gear composed of two cams
fixed on the pedal or motor driving shaft, adapted to communicate reciprocating
motion, a rocking arm for each cam carrying a roller located in the cam groove
and pivotted at the opposite end to the framework, connecting rods from the
recking arms to cranks set at right to each other on the axle of the driven
wheel, in combination with a pair of stay tubes supported by brackets from the
pedal or motor shaft bearing, adapted to wholly or partially enclose the con-
necting rods, and bearing brackets at the ends of the stay tubes, to support the
axle of the driven wheel, and formed with a casing to wholly or partially enclose
the cranks substantially as described.
3. In velocipedes and other vehicles, the improved framework, characterized
by the stay tubes between the crank or driving axle bearing and the driven
wheel, being formed of an enlarged C section and of increased size towards the
driven wheel to receive and enclose, wholly or partially, the connecting rods

page_text: while the bracket carrying the rear wheel axle is enlarged and hollowed to encase
the cranks substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 21st day of December 1895.
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicants.