An Improved Hand Driving Mechanism for Velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 21st Jan., 1899
[Communicated from abroad by GEORG STECHER, of No. 1, Alsterdamm, Hamburg,
in the Empire of Germany, Director.]
An Improved Hand Driving Mechanism for Velocipedes.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45, Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 an improved velocipede hand driving mechanism and it
consists essentially of an independently movable propelling and steering handle
bar, a crank shaft connected therewith and driving connections between the latter
and the wheel or wheels of the velocipede and the object of this invention is to
provide a crank mechanism which perfectly corresponds to the anatomical struc-
ture of the hand and wrist of the driver and effects an excessive exertion of force
analogous to that of the motion of the feet.
I obtain this object by the mechanism illustrated by the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the fore part of the frame of a bicycle provided
with my improved hand-driving mechanism.
Figure 2, a front view of Figure 1.
Figures 3, a similar view, showing a modification of the driving mechanism;
and
Figure 4-6 show diagrammatical views illustrating the action of the hands
and feet upon and the position of the several parts of the driving mechanism of
a velocipede constructed according to my invention.
Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.
The handle-bar 6 only connected by means of connecting rods or links cc
(Figure 1 and 2) to the crank-shaft a a is controlled by the hands of the driver in
such a manner, that a guide-lever or the like may be entirely dispensed with,
provided, that the connection between the working point and the handle-bar
does not essentially exceed half the length of the latter. The crank shaft is
journalled in a suitable bearing d of the front fork tube passing through the
neck tube n of the frame.
It is however of great importance that the handles of the handle-bar occupy
such an angle to the direction of the connecting links c that the working point of
the force remains in a plane passing through the centre of and being rectangular
to the handle-bar.
In this position, Figure 6, the body of the driver rests in a position of support
without being obliged to unduly strain the muscles of the hand.
In the modification, Figure 3, the handle-bar b is provided with one connecting
link or pitman
c which is connected to the crank of the crank-shaft a. The
latter being journalled in the eyes d of the bifurcated front fork tube passing
through the neck-piece n of the bicycle-frame.
In the construction, Figures 1 and 2, two connecting rods or pitman c c are

page_text: provided, being connected to two lateral cranks of the crank-shaft a a which is
journalled in the transverse bearing or cross-head d at the upper end of the front
fork tube. This construction is particularly preferred, where an extremely low
position of the handle-bar is desirable, since in this case a bent crank-shaft, such
as in Figure 3, is not admissible, although the exertion of force is the same in both
constructions.
The rotating motion applied to the crank-shaft aa by the handle-bar, as herein
described, is transmitted with the aid of chain-gearings 2 and 3 to the hub of
the front wheel v, so that the handle-bar may be used as means to aid in pro-
pelling the bicycle besides the usual foot-driving mechanism.
The chain wheel on the hub of the front wheel may be provided with a ratchet
gearing, so that the hand-driving mechanism may be at any time set at rest by
only holding the hands quiet. As soon as the hands again start to move, the
chain-wheel will be coupled to the hub of the running wheel by the ratchet
gearing, so that the wheel is properly actuated.
The foregoing invention is based upon the fact that, while the feet by partly
inclining their fore-part, Figure 5, are actuating the pedal and consequently the
legs need not to follow the crank-movement to the entire extent, the hands are
compelled to follow such crank-movement on its whole path. The arms of the
driver will thus be affected, particularly at great speed, up to the shoulder joints,
which has proved very disadvantageous in regard to the entire organism of the
driver. The aforesaid improved mechanism is therefore arranged in such a
manner, as to form an artificial extension of the hands to the effect, that the hands
are compelled to remain in the only correct line of force xx, Figure 6, and con-
sequently to continuously control the actual working-point k of the mechanism
on its circular path.
I am aware that prior to my invention mechanism for driving the front wheel
of bicycles by the hands of the driver with the aid of the handle-bar have been
employed, I therefore do not claim such combination broadly.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is: ---
1. In a hand driving mechanism for velocipedes the combination of a crank shaft
journalled in a suitable bearing or bearings of the front fork tube, a propelling
and steering handle bar connected with the crank shaft by means of a suitable
connecting link or links, and suitable driving or transmitting connections betwe
the said crank shaft and the wheel or wheels of the velocipede, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
2. The improved hand driving mechanism for velocipedes constructed, arranged
and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown
in the annexed drawing.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.