Improvements in the Driving Gear of Cycles, Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Loft 24th Sont 1907
6th Nove 4007
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Gear of Cycles, Motor Cars, and other
Vehicles.
I, JOHN RICHARD KIDSTON LAW of 20, Ashton Gardens, Hillhead, in the County
of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Iron Merchant, do hereby declare the
nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to Improvements in the driving gear of cycles, motor
cars and other vehicles and has for its object to enable the rider or occupants to
alter and adjust the gear to whatever amount of work per revolution he desires
to do or is required to be done, irrespective of the condition of the road, on
which the machine is travelling, whether it be on a level road, up or down hill,
or against wind. According to my Invention the machine is propelled by two
impulses per revolution of the pedal or other shaft. The action consists of two
independent parts, viz., first, storage of the energy of the foot during half a revolu-
tion and during which time the foot contributes nothing directly to the momentum
of the machine, and secondly, the release and transmission of such stored energy
to the machine.
In carrying out my Invention. I gear to the same shaft as the rear wheel of the
machine a ratchet wheel, the teeth of which engage with a pawl pivoted to a lever
connected to one end of a rigid bar, the other end of the bar being connected to
the treadle. This rigid bar is so arranged that an adjustable spring is connected
to it and the rod which extends from the treadle shaft to the axle of the rear
wheel. By sliding the spring backwards and forwards the amount of energy
stored per half revolution is increased or diminished as the tension on the spring
is greater or less according to the position in which it is set, and this remains
constant whether the machine is running on a light or heavy road, and for each
set position the amount of work the rider has to do per revolution remains the
same, that is to say, the amount of energy stored in each half revolution is constant
but he distance each impulse drives the machine depends on the resistance caused
by the state of road on which the machine is travelling, the head wind, or other-
wise. A similar arrangement is applied to each side of the machine.
The spring is lifted by a roller to reduce friction, and a simple arrangement
for quick release is provided for.
!
Loosely carried on the shaft of the ratchet wheel there is a lever, the other end
being connected to the pawl to prevent it going altogether out of gear with, the
ratchet wheel.
Of course it is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
arrangement of gearing as described as there are other ways of carrying out my
Invention without deviating from the principle involved therein.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Gear of Cycles, Motor Cars, and other
Vehicles.
1.
I, JOHN RICHARD KIDSTON LAW of 20, Ashton Gardens, Hillhead, in the County
of the City of Glasgow, North Britain, Iron Merchant 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:-
.
My Invention relates, to improvements in the driving gear of cycles, motor
cars and other vehicles, and has for its object to enable the rider or occupant to
alter and adjust the gear to whatever amount of work per cycle of operations he or
they desire to do or is required to be done irrespective of the condition of the road
on which the machine is travelling whether it be on a level road, up or down hill,
or against wind, etc.
J
According to my Invention the machine is propelled by successive impulses.
The 'action consists of two independent parts, viz., first storage of energy equal
to the work set to be done during a complete cycle of operations or some definite
part thereof (in which time the motive power is not contributing immediately to
the momentum of the machine) and secondly the release and transmission of such
stored energy to the machine.
In order that my Invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect I have hereunto appended one sheet of drawings, of which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of bicycle constructed in accordance with
my Improvements.
Figure 2 is a front view.
In carrying out my Invention as applied to bicycles I attach to the hub of the
rear wheel B a ratchet wheel C, the teeth of which engage with a pawl D. The
pawl Dis pivoted firstly to the extremity of the radial guide bar K (K being
free to turn in the boss of the ratchet wheel). At a point somewhat behind the
first pivot the pawl I) is secondly pivoted to the upper end of the connecting rod E.
The lower end of the connecting rod E is pivoted to the rear end of the bent
lever F. The other end of this lever F in its up and down motion just clears the
treadle shaft. This lever F is so arranged that an adjustable spring G is con-
nected to it and the rod H which extends from the treadle shaft I to the axle of the
rear wheel. By sliding the spring G backwards and forwards the amount of
energy stored per half revolution is increased or diminished as the distension.
of the spring G is greater or less according to the position in which it' is set, and
this amount of energy and the work required to store it remains constant whether
the machine is running on a light or heavy road so that for each set position the
amount of work the rider has to do per revolution remains the same, that is to
say, the amount of energy stored in each half revolution is constant but the
distance each impulse drives the machine depends on the resistance caused by
state of road, gradient, wind, etc. A similar arrangement is applied to each side
of the machine as shewn in Figure 2.
The lever F which causes the tension on the spring G is lifted by a roller J
to reduce friction, and so soon as a half revolution of the treadle is made the
bar F is released from the roller J and the stored energy given off. While the
tension is being put on the spring the pawl D is (owing to its eccentric pivotting)
out of gear with the ratchet wheel or lightly touching, the, tips of the teeth as
shown in the Drawing, whilst the first effect of the released spring is to throw it
(the pawl) into instant gear as the pressure is applied through the rear pivot. In
lieu of the ratchet wheel as described; a friction' or clutch wheel might be used.

page_text: Of course it is to be understood that I do not confine myself to the precise
arrangement of gearing as described as there are other ways of carrying out my
Invention without deviating from the principle involved therein.
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:-
In the driving gear of cycles, motor cars, and other vehicles, so constructing
it as to enable the rider or occupants to alter and adjust the gear to whatever
amount of work per cycle of operations he or they desire to do or is required to be
done irrespective of the condition of the road on which the cycle or other machine
is travelling, substantially as described.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1897.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.