Improvements in Cycle Propelling Mechanism.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycle Propelling Mechanism.
I, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan & Co., of
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London W.C., Patent Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by
Thomas J. Armstrong, of Troy in the County of Miami, State of Ohio, in the
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The invention relates to improvements in cycle-propelling-mechanism; and it
consists in certain features of construction, and combinations of parts, hereinafter
described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a view of a bicycle provided with the improved mechanism.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the propelling-mechanism and adjacent portion of
the frame-work of the machine.
Fig. 3 is a right hand side elevation relative to Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 shows a slightly modified construction.
Referring to the drawings, A designates the forward main wheel of the machine;
B, the rear main wheel; C, the stationary seat-bearing-frame or frame-work of
the machine, and D the. steering fork.
E. represents the operating crank-shaft that is horizontally arranged and suitably
supported from frame C at any suitable point between wheels A and B. Shaft É
is provided with two cranks E¹ E2 located at opposite ends, respectively, of the
shaft, and at opposite sides respectively, of the machine. Cranks E¹ E are
arranged preferably exactly diametrically opposite each other. Two levers G'G'
are horizontally pivoted, at or near one end, to the outer end and outer side of
cranks EE, respectively. The two levers G1 G2, in the case illustrated, extend
forwardly from their connection with the crank-shaft, and each of said levers at
its forward end, bears a pedal G. A sprocket-wheel e is operatively mounted
upon the shaft at the inner side of one of the cranks, and said sprocket-wheel is
operatively connected, by means of a chain e' with a sprocket-wheel b operatively
connected with the rear main wheel of the machine. Wheel e is shown in dotted
lines in Figs. 1, 2, and 4, and wheel b and chain e are shown in Fig. 1. The
erank-shaft-supporting-barrel or member C¹ that is rigid with frame C, is provided
with two depending-arms or brackets C C rigid with opposite ends, respectively,
of said nember . Two vertically swinging bars H, arranged uprightly in the
case illustrated, have their lower ends horizontally pivoted, at H', to the different
members C2, C3, respectively, of the machine's frame, and said bars have, their
upper or opposite ends horizontally-pivoted, at H, to the different operating levers,
respectively, a short distance from the attachment of said levers to the different
cranks, respectively, of the crank-shaft. Preferably the arrangement of parts is
such that the axes of the two vertically-swinging bars H, H, are coincident, and
that the point of connection of said bars with the operating levers shall be in, or
approximately in, the horizontal plane that contains the crank-shaft, and the
connection of said bars with the stationary frame shall be below, and preferably
approximately perpendicularly below, said shaft.

page_text: The arrangement of parts is furthermore essentially such, that the cranks, during
the downward and upward movements of the operating-levers shall be carried
over the dead centers. Suppose, for instance, that the lever G¹ is in its extreme
upper position, as shown in Fig. 1. In this position, as shown in said figure, the
axis of the pivotal connection between said lever, and the connected crank has
been carried beyond a line connecting the crank-shaft's axis with the axis of the
vertically-tilting bar connected with said lever, and when said lever is in its
extreme lower position the axis of said pivotal connection between the lever and
the attached crank has again been carried beyond the aforesaid line, as shown in
Fig. 2. By this arrangement of parts the strain upon the vertically-tilting bars
is reduced to a minimum, and the operation of the mechanism is facilitated.
In Figs. 1 2, and 3, bars H H incline rearwardly from their bearings H and have
their upper ends connected to the operating-levers rearward of the shaft's axis.
By this construction, there is, in the operation of the machine, a tendency to draw
together the shaft bearing and bearings of arms H H and hence the strain upon
the supporting-frame is reduced to a minimum, and said frame's strength need not
be as great as required in the constructing exhibited in Fig. 4, wherein arms H
incline forwardly and have their upper ends connected to the operating levers
forwardly of the shaft's axis.
.
The improved bicycle propelling mechanism not only facilitates the operation of
the machine and enables the rider or operator to assume an erect and comfortable
attitude during the machine's operation, but possesses great simplicity and durability
in construction.
Having now particularly described and
tion and in what manner the same is to
claim is :-
ascertained the nature of this inven-
be performed I declare that what I
1. In a machine of the character indicated, the combination with the relatively
stationary frame and driving crank-shaft provided with two cranks at opposite
sides, respectively; of the two operating levers operatively connected, at or near
their inner ends, with the different cranks, respectively; two vertically-swinging
bars horizontally pivoted at one end, respectively, to the aforesaid frame and
horizontally pivoted at their opposite ends, to the different levers, respectively, and
the arrangement of parts being such that the axis of the pivotal connection between
each crank and attached lever shall during the downward and upward movement
of the lever, be carried beyond the line connecting said crank's axis with the axis
of the bar attached to the lever, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a machine of the character indicated, the combination with the relatively
stationary frame and driving crank-shaft provided with two cranks at opposite
sides, respectively of the two operating levers operatively connected, at or near
their inner ends, with the outer sides of the different cranks, respectively two
vertically-swinging bars. horizontally pivoted, at one end, respectively, to the
aforesaid frame and horizontally pivoted, at their opposite ends, to the different
levers, respectively, rearward of the shaft's axis, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
3. In a machine of the character indicated, the combination with the relatively
stationary framework and driving crank shaft, provided with two cranks at
opposite sides, respectively of the two operating-levers horizontally pivoted at
their inner ends to the different cranks, respectively, the two vertically-swinging
bars horizontally pivoted, at one end, respectively, to the aforesaid frame, and
baving their opposite ends horizontally pivoted to the different levers, respectively,
in, or approximately in, the horizontal plane, that contains the shaft, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a machiue of the character indicated, the combination of the relatively
stationary frame, and the crank-shaft provided with two cranks at opposite sides,
respectively; of the two operating levers, horizontally pivoted at their inner ends
to the different cranks, respectively; the two vertically-swinging upright bars

page_text: horizontally pivoted, at their lower ends, to the stationary frame a suitable-
distance below the shaft, and horizontally pivoted, at their upper ends, to the
different levers, respectively, a short distance from the shaft, substantially as.
and for the purpose set forth.
1
1000
R. HADDAN..