Improvements in Driving Gear applicable to Velocipedes and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 2nd Apr., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear applicable to Velocipedes and other
similar Vehicles.
We, WILHELM FALKENBERG and FRITZ BÜSING, both of Dortmund in the
German Empire, Manufacturers, 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 refers to driving gear applicable to the wheels of velocipedes and
other similar vehicles, whereby an increased speed is obtained, as well as transference
of power, in a more satisfactory manner, and with less loss than heretofore, the
mechanism constructed according to our invention as hereafter described possessing
great advantages over many other constructions or arrangements, such, among
others, for example, as the sprocket and chain gear commonly employed, the
disadvantages of which are well known.
Our invention will be readily understood by the following description, having
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference refer
to like parts in the several figures.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation, in partial section, of a portion of a wheel and
framework having driving gear constructed according to our invention applied
thereto.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, and
Fig. 4 is a side sectional elevation of a portion of the mechanism detached.
a is the axle of the wheel h, carried in bearings from the framework p p of the
vehicle or machine. bare toothed pinions mounted upon the ends of the axle a.
cc are the pedal cranks mounted on shafts d d carried preferably in ball bearings,
supported by a clasp or bracket m from the framework or forks pp, the shafts & d
being situated eccentrically to the axle a of the wheel h. Upon the inner ends of
the shafts d are mounted flanged discs e having a cover or inner rim fand carrying
a suitable number of pins g, which gear into the teeth of the pinions bb as is shewn
in the view of these parts detached at Fig. 4. By these means, a complete revolution
of the cranks will cause a manifold revolution of the wheel h, or in other words, an
increased speed relative to the initial speed of the cranks, because the diameter of
the disc or the number of teeth or equivalents formed or fixed therein is or are
greater than the diameter or number of teeth of the pinions bb. In addition to
other advantages, in gear constructed according to our invention, the position of the
centres of revolution of the cranks being eccentric to the axis of the driven wheel,
allows, in some classes of velocipedes, for example, of the use of a wheel of larger
diameter, even by persons whose bodily proportions may not have hitherto allowed
of such.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In driving gear applicable to velocipedes and similar vehicles, the pinions,
on driven axle a, gearing with the teeth or equivalents of discs e e, the latter being
carried by shafts d d mounted eccentrically to axle a, and operated by cranks c c
all constructed and acting substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. In driving gear applicable to velocipedes and similar vehicles, the combination
with the driving mechanism claimed by Claim 1, of the construction and arrangement
of the supporting parts, especially including the clasp or bracket m substantially
as set forth.

page_text: 3. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing our improved
driving gear for wheels of velocipedes and similar vehicles, essentially composed of
or distinguished by, a driven axle a,a pinion b fixed thereto, a toothed disc é gearing
with the pinion, an eccentrically mounted shaft d carrying the disc and rotated by a
crank c, all acting as and for the purposes herein described with reference to the 5
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of February 1899
BREWER & SON,
Agents.