Improved Mechanism for Propelling Vehicles, Boats, and the like, especially adapted for Use with Cyoles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mechanism for Propelling Vehicles, Boats, and the like,
especially adapted for Use with Cyoles.
I, JOHN WILLS, of Holyrood House, Ventnor, Isle of Wight, Engineer, do
bereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to inechanism such as is used in vehicles, boats, and the
like which are propelled by pedomotive or manumotive power; and consists in an
arrangement of levers, springs, hands, wheels, and ratchets which enables the
reciprocating, or oscillating movement of pedals or haud levers to be converted
into continuous rotary motion.
My invention is applied to the propulsion of a bicycle in the following manner;
To a convenient part of the frame is fixed a pin which serves as a fulcrum about
which the pedal lever oscillates. The pedal end of the lever is much longer than
the other end to which one end of a strong helical spring is attached, the other end
of this spring being hooked to any convenient part of the machine frame in such
mauner as normally to pull down the short end of the lever. The lever is arranged
just below the bottom bracket of the machine, and upon the end of the spindle
which runs in this is fixed a wheel which has its periphery formed into ratchet
teeth. Concentrically by the side of this is arranged a disc or ring which is free
to oscillate upon the bottom bracket spindle, and pivoted to this disc or ring is one
or more pawls the point or points of which engage with the teeth of the ratchot
wheel. A band, chain, or cord has one end attached to the rim of the disc or
ring, and wrapping round it, has its other end fixed to the pedal lever at a point
about half way between its fulcrum and the pedal. Fixed to and wrapping round
the edge of this disc or ring, or round an integrally formed smaller ring, is a band,
cord, or chain which is fixed to one end of a light helical spring, the other end of
which is attached to an arm which forms part of and projects at about right angles
from the short end of the pedal lever.
The operation is as follows:-The pedal and lever occupying their highest
positions, the foot presses down the pedal lever and by means of the band or cord
pulls round the disc which by means of the pawl or pawls forces round the bottom
bracket spindle which being counected by a chain to one of the road wheel hubs,
propels the machine. The same movement extends the strong spring and allows
the light spring to contract and shorten, thus permitting its band, chain, or cord to
be wound upon the edge of the disc or ring. The pedal having been pushed down
its full stroke is allowed to rise and in so doing allows the dise or ring to oscillate
in the opposite direction and the points of the pawls to slip over the ratchet teeth.
The strong spring pulls the pedals up and acts as a fulcrum, the arm of the
lever pulls the light spring, and its band, or cord, thus causing the disc to oscillate
in the opposite direction.
A similar set of mechanism being attached to the other side of the machine and
connected to the other end of the bottom bracket spiudle in a similar manner,
the working of both pedals produces a continuous rotation of the pulley and
spindle, and consequently the propulsion of the machine, in a manner which is
infinitely superior to the method in which cranks are employed.
My invention can equally well be applied to the propulsion of a tricycle or other
vehicle, or to rotate the paddle-wheel or screw shalt of a boat.

page_text: Improved Mechanism for Propelling Vehicles, Boats, and the like,
especially adapted for Use with Cycles.
I, JOHN WILLS, late of Holyrood House, Ventnor, Isle of Wight but now
of 17 Hugon Road, Wandsworth Bridge Road, Fulham London S.E. Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide improved mechanism for propelling
vehicles boats, and the like, more especially applicable for use in driving cycles.
According to my invention, I make use of ratchet and pawl movements to be
operated upon by levers in combination with bands, chains, springs and drums or
wheels, whereby a reciprocating motion of the levers causes a continuous rotary
motion to the driving wheel or wheels, screw propeller, paddle wheel or analogous
means of propulsion.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings, in which
similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts, and in which the
mechanism is shown applied to a safety or rear driving bicycle.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of my improved mechanism as applied for propelling a
cycle.
Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of the brake portion of the mechanism.
Fig. 3 is a detail view.
a is the frame of the cycle which is provided with a bottom bracket in which
the axle & revolves. The axle carries a chain wheel c and a ratchet wheel d fast
thereon and a double drum e loosely mounted thereon, f is a pedal lever suitably
pivoted at g to an extension of the frame. This pedal lover is formed with a
short arm which is acted upon by a spring i in order to return the lever to its
upper position. This spring is preferably connected at its upper end to a bar k
suitably pivoted, socketed in or resting on the short arm h whereby one spring
is utilised to act on the short arm of both levers or one spring may be fitted for
each lever and in either case the springs may be fitted to act above or below the
levers. is a band chain or the like suitably pivoted at m to the lever the upper
end of the band wrapping round and being attached to the larger drume, 18
shown, in such a manner that a downward stroke of the pedal lever unwinds
the band from the drum causing the latter to revolve. This intermittent rotary
movement of the drum is transmitted to the ratchet wheel d and chain wheel c by
a suitable number of spring controlled pawls a pivoted to the drum or to a disc
fitted thereto. Preferably however I fit one pawl n as shown in Fig. 3 and control
its action by the springs ry that is to say when the tension is on the band / the
spring y is forced inward by the lapping of the band thus causing the pawl to
engage with the ratchet wheel. On removing pressure from the leverthe
spring causes the pawl to again disengage itself from the ratchet wheel, whereby
I obvinte the clicking noise usually unavoidable with the use of ratchets and
pawls. is a small drum or pulley fixed to the larger drum. Attached thereto
and wrapping round the same is a band, cord or the like p, suitably connected with
a spring pivoted or connected to the fulcrum of the levers. By this means, when
the pressure on the pedal lever is removed and the spring is returning the same
to its upper position, the drums e and o are caused to revolve back again thereby
currying the pawls over the teeth of the ratchet wheel and again wrapping or
winding up the band, chain or the hke ready for the next downward stroke of the
pedal lever.

page_text: It will thus be seen that pressure being applied to the levers alternately a
reciprocating action is conveyed to the drums, which in their turn set up a con-
tinuous rotary movement of the ratchet wheel and chain wheel. From thence
motion is transmitted to the driving wheel by a chain as shown or by other suitable.
means.
It will be understood that a similar set of mechanism is fitted on the other side.
of the cycle; but both drive the one chain wheel by preference.
In Fig. 2 is shown an end view, partly in section of a method of applying
brake to my improved mechanism, shown also in Fig. 1 a, a, are two guides suitably
and rigidly connected to the frame, the lower end of the guides boing formed with
slots t, in which the ends of a bar work. This bar is pivoted to a rod v pivoted
to a band brake lever w, the latter being suitably pivoted to any convenient part.
of the cycle frame. In the ordinary propulsion of the cycle by my improved
mechanism the levers are depressed alternately whereby the bar u is alternately
tilted on its central pivot; but in order to apply the brake it is necessary to
depress both levers simultaneously whereby the bar is drawn down in its slots-
thus operating the lever w of the band brake, the construction of which needs no.
further explanation.
Many of the details of construction may be modified without departing from the
nature of my invention, one of such modifications being to form the band p of
spring steel or other flexible material whereby the band can operate by itself to
oscillate or return the drums without the intervention of the auxiliary spring r.
My improved mechanism may with suitable modifications, be applied for tho
propulsion of vehicles generally, boats and other moving structures.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I deolare that what [
claim is :—
1. The improved mechanism for propelling vehicles, boats, and the like,.
especially adapted for use with cycles, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination with a ratchet and pawl gear of the pedal levers f, bands
or chains 1, drums e and o band p and spring or springs i severally arranged and
operating substantially as and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated by the drawings.
3. In combination with the mechanism herein claimed, the arrangement of
springs, y, and pawl u relatively to the drum and baud, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
4. In combination with the mechanism claimed in Claim 2 the brake mechanian,.
operating substantially, as set forth.
Dated 20th January, 1907