Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Use with Cycles and other Vehicles, also applicable to the Driving of Sewing and other Small Machines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 26th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Use with Cycles and
other Vehicles, also applicable to the Driving of Sewing and
other Small Machines.
I, THOMAS JAMES, of H.M.S. "Narcissus," China, Leading Stoker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an arrangement to be employed mainly in connection
with cycles and other vehicles, and provides a means by which they can be driven,
the arrangement also being adapted for use with sewing and other small
machines.
As applied to cycles I propose to employ the weight of the rider as a means of
propulsion. The saddle is carried upon a spring frame of peculiar construction
fitted to the cycle frame. The apparatus supporting the saddle and through which
the power is to be transinitted consists of a disc placed horizontally and at the
centre of the apparatus. On both sides of this disc a series of spring arms is
employed three at each side being a convenient number. These spring arms extend
at an angle so as to form a double cone in side elevation and are screwed at their
upper and lower ends respectively to heads or blocks. These connecting blocks
through which the tube of the frame passes are carried in caps provided with ball
bearings and preferably of truncated conical form. The saddle is fitted to the
upper one of these so that the arrangement of springs can turn freely.
The disc. is formed with recesses to receive the other ends of the spring arins and
these extremities are of peculiar form, the points being conoidal in shape. The
points do not taper regularly to the extremities the extreme points being situated
towards the outside, the ends of the springs are fixed to the disc. The spindle
through which the power is transmitted passes through both the heads or blocks
and also through the disc. The lower head cap is fixed in. the frame and the head
fixed on the spindle. The disc is keyed on the spindle but is free to move a short
distance up or down. On. the pressure being transmitted from the saddle through
the spring arms owing to their peculiar form, and to the fact that they extend at
an angle they will tend to turn the disc round both sets of arms turning it in the
same direction. This motion is transmitted to the spindle and thence by suitable
gearing to, the chain wheel driving the machine. To the heads is fitted a hand
wheel which serves to pull them. round to start the motion.
To prevent the springs bending in towards the spindle a small collar may be
placed round the spindle provided with notches to receive the springs and to keep
them in proper position.
As applied to a carriage or motor car, the spindle instead of being vertical is
placed horizontally and the motion is transmitted by chain or other gearing to the
driving wheel of the carriage. A convenient arrangement for applying the pressure
to the springs is to employ two hollow tubes fitted on to the end of the spindle and
secured to the frame at each end. These tubes receive the heads and the com-
pressing wheels. The tubes are formed with square threads one right handed and
the other left handed and a compressing wheel is formed with a correspondingly
threaded hole so as to fit on to the tube. The boss of the wheel serves in place of

page_text: the cap belonging to the head in the arrangement described above and the boss is
made sufficiently large to receive the head. Each compressing wheel is provided
with a flange at each side extending for about half the periphery forming a groove
which receives a length of chain. One end of this chain is secured to the wheel
and the other to an elbow lever fitted to the frame. The lever carries the back
seat so that the weight. of the rider or driver is applied to the apparatus. This
seat is adjustable in position by means of a small screw wheel so that the speed
can be regulated.
As employed for driving small machines the power can be obtained by means of
a screw or other similar mechanism in place of the weight of the rider in the
arrangements above described.
Thiel thisa 14th Jan
11007
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
4
COMI DEINDI DUIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Use with Cycles and.
other Vehicles, also applicable to the Driving of Sewing and
other Small Machines.
I, THOMAS JAMES, of H.M.S. "Narcissus," China, Leading Stoker, 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 an arrangement to be employed in connection with
cycles and other vehicles, the arrangement being also adapted for use with sewing
and other small machines.
As applied to cycles I propose to employ the weight of the rider as a means of
propulsion. The saddle is carried upon a spring frame of peculiar construction
fitted to the cycle frame. The apparatus supporting the saddle and through which
the power is to be transmitted consists of a disc placed horizontally and at the
centre of the apparatus. On both sides of this disc a series of spring arms is'
employed, three at each side being a convenient number. These spring arins
extend at an angle so as to form a double cone in side elevation and are screwed
at their upper and lower ends respectively to heads or blocks. These connecting
blocks through which the tube of the frame passes are carried in caps provided
with ball bearings and preferably of truncated conical form. The saddle is
fitted to the upper one of these so that the arrangement of springs can turn
freely.
The disc is formed with recesses to receive the other ends of the spring arms
and these extremities are of peculiar form, the points being conoidal in shape.
The points do not taper regularly to the extremities, the extreme points being
situated toward the outside. The ends of the springs are connected to the
disc. The spindle through which the power is transmitted passes through both
the heads or blocks and also through the disc. The lower head cap is fixed in the
frame and the head fitted on the spindle. The disc is keyed on the spindle but is
free to move a short distance up or down. On the pressure being transmitted
from the saddle through the spring arms, owing to their peculiar form and to
the fact that they extend at an angle they will tend to turn the disc round both
sets of arms turning it in [the same direction. This motion is transmitted to the
spindle and thence by suitable gearing to the chain wheel driving the machine.
The motion is started by the rider on mounting or by any other suitable
means, the motion being continued by the pressure applied as described.

page_text: As applied to a carriage or motor car, the spindle instead of being vertical is
placed horizontally and the motion is transmitted by chain or other gearing to
the driving wheel of the carriage. A convenient arrangement for applying the
pressure to the springs is to employ two hollow tubes fitted on to the end of the
spindle and socured to the frame at each end. These tubes receive the heads and
the compressing wheels. The tubes are formed with threads one right handed
and the other left handed and a compressing wheel at each end is for.ned with a
correspondingly threaded hole so as to fit on to the tube. The boss of the whoel
serves in place of the cap belonging to the head in the arrangement described
above and the boss is made sufficiently. large to receive the head. Each
compressing wheel is provided with a flange at each side extending for about
balf the periphery forming a groove which receives the length of chain. One
end of this chain is secured to the wheel and the other through levers or other
connections to the back seat so that the weight of the rider or driver is applied to
the apparatus. This seat can be adjustable in position by means of a small screw
wheel so that the speed may be regulated.
As employed for driving small machines the power can be obtained by means of
a screw or other similar mechanism in place of the weight of the rider in the
arrangements above described.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is bad to
the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved driving gear fitted to a cycle,
Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view of the upper part of the apparatus,
Fig. 3 is a detail view showing the bevel gearing transmitting motion from the
main spindle to the chain wheel, and
Fig. 4 is a detail view showing an arrangement for use with motor cars and
small machines.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, A is the disc or wheel by which the power is
transmitted, this disc being fixed on the main spindle B. On this spindle the
heads C are fitted one at the upper end one at the lower end. These heads
serve to carry the spring arms D) which are screwed into them and extend at an
angle as shown clearly in Figs. 1 and 2. These spring arms aro tapered at the
points the points projecting into small recesses or holes close to the periphery of
the disc. On the blocks or heads the caps E are fitted, of truncated conical shape,
and the ball bearings e are placed between the cap and head so that they can
turu freely relatively to each other. The rin e prevents the cap becoming
detached.
The arrangement is carried by the frame F of the cycle, the spindle being adapted
to turn freely in bearings in the frame at the top and bottom. The lower end of
the spindle is provided with the bevel wheel b which is adapted to gear into the
bevel wheel g on the chain wheel G. Thus on turning the spindle the chain' wheel
will be turned and the cycle will be driven. The saddle bar or pin H is carried by
the spindle, and is provided with the bearing part which rests on top of the upper
cap E. Thus the weight of the rider pressing on this cap will compress the springs
both at the top and bottom, the disc A being free to move vertically on the
spindle B but of course turning with it. As the springs extend at an angle from
the head and are inclined both at top and bottom in a corresponding manner, the
dise will be turned and will turn the spindle with it driving the cycle by the
connections described.
The detail view Fig. 4 shows a modified compressing arrangement suited for
use with motor cars or with sewing and other small machines. The main
spindle B¹ may be horizontal instead of vertical or may be set at any angle. The
spring arms D are arranged in exactly the same manner and the disc is similarly
fitted, but I prefer to use a larger number of arms in the case of motor cars. 'T'he
compressing arrangement as shown in the detail view consists of a small tube J
fitted on the spindle at each end and having a screw thread outside. The thread
in one case may be right handed and the other left handed. On the tube which

page_text: $
.
is fixed to the frame of the carriage or to any other fixed part a compresser
wheel K is fitted, the boss of which is screwed internally. This wheel is formed
with the cap El serving in place of the separate cap E and when the wheels are
turned the springs will be compressed and the disc and spindle will turn as above
described. To operate the compresser wheels a small chain may be employed,
operated in the case of a motor car from the seat through levers or other connec-
tions, so that the weight of the riders serves to operate the compressing arrangement.
The chain gearing L transmits the motion from the main spindle to the vehicle
wheel or driving wheel of the machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) An improved driving apparatus for use with cycles and small machines,
consisting of a spindle, a disc or wheel carried by the spindle, spring arms at each
side of the said disc engaging with it and extending at an angle and means for
(compressing the said springs so that they will cause the disc and spindle to turn,
substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
(2) An improved driving apparatus for uso with cycles and other vehicles,
consisting of a spindle, a disc or wheel carried by the spindle, spring arms at each
side of the said disc engaging with it and extending at an angle, a head at each side
carrying the said arms, a cap bearing on the said head with ball bearings between
the cap and head and a compressing part on one of the caps.compressing the
springs by the weight of the rider, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(3) The improved driving arrangement for cycles and the like, consisting of the
main spindle B, the disc A carried by the spindle, the heads C.on each side
of the disc, the spring arms D carried by the said heads and engaging with the
disc, caps E bearing on the heads through ball bearings, a seat pin or support
resting on the upper cap and bevel bearing between the spindle and the chain
-wheel of the cycle, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes
-specified.
(4) The improved driving mechanism for use with motor cars or carriages and
small machines, consisting of a main spindle, a disc on the spindle, spring arms
engaging with the said disc on each side, heads carrying the spring arms,
compresser wheels screwing on fixed tubes--covering the heads, and pressing
them together, connections between the compresser wheels and the seat of the
vehicle, and means for transmitting motion from the spindle to the driven parts,
substantially as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.