Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Folding Cranks for Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 22nd July, 1898-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Folding
Cranks for Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE ANNIBAL LEGE, of Nos. 31 and 32, Kirby Street, Hatton
Garden, in the City of London, England, Engineer and Scientific Instrument
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved means of constructing and arranging
folding cranks, the principal objects being to construct a folding crank or cranks,
which shall have greater rigidity of connection, combined with simplicity of
parts than heretofore.
For the purpose of carrying out my invention, I form a crank the fulcrum end
of which, being either forked or of any other suitable shape or form, comprising
or forming as it were a part of an elongated block-hinge, this forked crank
being free to turn on its axis or fulcrum (which may be a pivot, pin or any other
bearing) this pivot or pin acting also as a key, and forming a connection between
the said crank and sprocket wheel thus enabling the crank, with pedal attached,
to be turned (by an outward transverse motion) from the working position to
the folding position, or in the same plane as the frame of the cycle, so that the
machine shall take up, or require, less space than usual.
To provide for the locking of the crank in its two aforesaid positions, I fix or
key on the arbor or driving spindle, a pyramidically or wedge-shaped driving
block or stay, the shape of which corresponds and fits in and between the opening
formed by the fork of the crank, one end of which block or stay forming the other
portion of the above-mentioned block-hinge, and at the other end of the same is
a recess, into which is pressed automatically by means of a spring, or otherwise
a wedge-shaped pawl or key, this pawl sliding in a hole formed or drilled in the
bottom of the crank fork.
To disengage or unlock the crank from its working position, a button or pro-
jecting piece is fixed or attached to the pawl, projecting preferably outside the
crank-fork, by which the pawl or key can be released from the recess in the driving
block, thus allowing the crank to turn freely upon the pivot or fulcrum to its
inward or folding position.
Obviously should it be advisable, other modifications or devices may be used
for this same particular purpose.
This invention can also be used in conjunction, with a loose sprocket wheel
in which case I fix or form a solid or forked lug on the crank-rod, which is used
in the same sense as a carrier, to engage with or embrace one of the arms or
spokes of the sprocket wheel, thereby forming a junction or connection with and
driving the same.
Dated this 26th day of October 1897.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction and Arrangement of Folding
Cranks for Velocipedes and Motor Cycles.
I, JEAN BAPTISTE ANNIBAL LEGE, of Nos. 31 and 32, Kirby Street, Hatton
Garden, in the City of London, Engineer and Scientific Instrument Manufacturer,
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 improved means of constructing and arranging
folding cranks, the principal objects being to construct a folding crank or cranks
which shall have greater rigidity of connection combined with simplicity of
parts than here-to-fore.
For the purpose of carrying out my invention, I form a crank-arm, the fulcrum
end of which is either forked or of any other suitable shape or form and com-
prising or forming as it were a part of an elongated block-hinge. This forked
crank is free to turn on its axis or fulcrum (which may be a pivot, pin, or any
other bearing), this pivot or pin acts also as a key and constitutes & connection
between the said forked-crank and a sprocket driving wheel spindle, thus enabling
the crank with pedal attached to be turned (by an outward radial motion), from
the working position to a folded position, that is, within the same width of space
and in the same plane as that of the frame of the cycle, so that the machine shall
take up or require less space than usual, either when stored or in transit other than
being ridden.
To provide for the locking of the crank in the said positions, I fix or key on
the arbor or driving-spindle a pyramidically or wedge-shaped driving-block or
stay, the shape of which corresponds with, and fits in and between the opening
formed by the forked lower ends of the crank-arm, one end of said block; or stay
forming the other portion of. the above-mentioned. block-hinge, and at the. other
end of the said block or stay there is a recess into which recess is pressed. auto-
matically, by means of a spring or otherwise,. a. wedge-shaped pawl or key. This
pawl slides within a channel or slot formed. by elongation of the opening between
the crank-fork.
To disengage or unlock the crank from its working position, a button or. finger-
piece is screwed or otherwise attached to the said pawl or key, and projecting
preferably outside the crank-fork, and by which the locking pawl or key.can
be withdrawn and released from the recess in the driving-block, thus allowing
the crank-arm to be turned freely upon its said pivot or crank cotter-pin or key-
bolt and outwardly to the inward or folding position of the treadle that is, within
the same plane or width of space as the frame of the machine occupies.
Obviously should it be advisable modifications of this locking: finger-piece or
catch device, may be used for this same purpose.
This invention can also be used in conjunction with (or without)..a loose sprocket
driver-wheel, in which case, I fix or form a solid or forked lug, pin, or nose-piece
on the said crank-arm, which is used in the same sense as a stop-catch or carrier,
to engage with or embrace one of the arms or spokes of the chain wheel, thereby
forming a junction or connection with, and for driving the same, but movable
when the arm is folded up, to allow of the driver-sprocket-wheel remaining free.
In order that my invention may be readily ascertained, I will describe the
same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, like letters and figures
representing like parts throughout in each drawing.

page_text: Figs. and 2, are respectively front and side vertical views of the folding crank
complete, engaged or in connection with a loose sprocket driver or chain-wheel
showing the same in its working position, its folding position being depicted by
the dotted lines below the figures, and effected in direction of the arrow Fig. 2.
Figs. 3, and 4, are detailed front and side vertical views (Fig. 3, partially in
section) of the forked crank-arm, with the engaging sprocket-wheel-carrier-lug,
or nose-piece thereon.
Fig. 4 shows a portion of the crank-arm showing the forked, carrier lug or
nose-piece as would be seen from right-hand side of Fig. 4.
Figs. 5, and 6, are front and side elevations, partly in section, of the driving
hinge-block showing the recess in which a locking pin or pawl is pressed by a
spring for locking the crank-arm, with the crank axle in its working position.
Fig. 6 is a top view of Fig. 6.
Figs. 7, and 8, are front and side views of the locking pin or pawl sliding in the
channel of the crank-arm fork opening, and engaging with the end recess of the
driving hinge-block.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal view of the crank cotter pin or key-bolt, and
Fig. 10, a diagrammatic view representing the crank-arms and pedals turned
inwards to their folding position.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 4, A is a crank-arm the bottom extremity of which is
forked, the two ends or arms A1 and A2 of which constituting the outer leaves
of an elongated block-hinge, the crank-arm being free to turn upon the axis A³
formed by the crank-cotter-pin (Figs. 1, 2, and 9), which also serves a key to
connect the driving-block B, to the driving or chain-wheel spindle D, (Figs. 1
and 2).
The remaining part or leaf of the said hinge is formed by the boss of the pyra-
midically or wedge-shaped driving block B, which is of a shape and size corre-
sponding to and fitting in and between the recess or opening formed by the fork-
arms A, and A3, of the crank A, the said driving-block B, (Figs. 5 and (i) having
its fulcrum or bearing, and screwed or otherwise fixed and keyed on the chain-
wheel spindle D see Figs. 1, and 2.
By an outward radial motion, indicated by the arrow, Fig. 2, the crank and
pedal can be turned from their working position to the folding position or
vice-versa, see diagram Fig. 10.
At the top of the opening formed by the fork A1 and A2 of the crank A, a channel
or hole E, (Figs. 3 and 4) is made, in which slides the wedge-shaped pawl F,
Figs. 7 and 8, the bottom tapered or wedge-shaped end of which is automatically
pressed or thrust by a spiral spring G (Fig. 4,) into the recess H, formed at the
top or apex of the driving-block B (Fig. 6) by which means the crank A, becomes
automatically locked to the driving-block B, thus securing the crank in its working
position as shown in Figs. 1, and 2.
To disengage or release the pawl F (Figs. 7 and 8) from the recess H, (Figs. 5
and 6), so as to allow the crank to be turned to the folding position, as in diagram
Fig. 10, a button or projecting-piece f, is screwed into the pawl F, (Figs. 7 and 8)
said button projecting at the side and sliding in a small slot or groove I, (Figs. 3
and 4) cut in the crank A.
A stop-piece or shoulder b is formed at the top of the block-hinge B. (Figs. 5,
and (,) against which the crank-arm is pressed which prevents the pawl F, being
pressed or forced beyond its proper location in the recess H, of the block-hinge B,
(Figs. 1 and 2.) when the crank is brought to its working position. To allow
of this invention being used in conjunction with a loose chain-wheel a movable
connection between the folding-crank A, and chain-wheel M, is effected by means
of a solid or forked nose-piece, carrier-lug or pin L, (Figs. 4 and 4") which will
be made of a piece with the said crank-arm. This lug or pin (when the crank
is brought to its working position) will engage with or embrace any one or other
of the spokes of or a recess in the chain-wheel M (Figs. 1 and 2) and so become
disengaged or released only when the crank is turned to its folded position. This

page_text: will allow of the machine being wheeled along with the pedal-cranks folded
back out of the way and out of use.
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. The use of a crank arm having a forked extremity in conjunction with a
pyramidically wedged or other shaped driving-block formed to correspond with
and fitting between the recess or opening between the fork of the said crank-arm,
constituting together a block-hinge which enables the said crank to be turned
from its working position to its folding position or vice-versa constructed, com-
bined and operating as and for the purpose herein set forth.
2. In a folding crank as set forth a pawl, pin, or bolt, sliding in a groove,
channel or hole, cut at the top of the opening formed by the fork of the folding
crank, and which said pawl or pin is automatically pressed by a spring into a
recess or hollow in the driving-block, as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a folding crank, the adoption of a solid or forked nose-piece, carrier lug,
or pin, of a piece with the said crank-arm, and which engages with, and is dis-
engaged from one or the other of the spokes of, or recess in a loose chain-wheel,
as herein set forth and shown by the drawings.
4. In a folding crank, a cotter pin, pivot or bolt forming a bearing or fulcrum
for the said crank, and also at the same time serving as a key to connect the block
to a chain-wheel spindle as herein described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 92nd day of July 1808