Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Treadle, Hand, or Power Operated Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 14th Mar., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Treadle, Hand, or Power
Operated Vehicles.
I, CORA ANN SLOCOMB DI BRAZZA SAVORGNAN, of Castello di Brazza
Moruzzo, Italy, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 bicycles or similar wheeled vehicles, and more especially
to the driving mechanism therefor, the object being to reduce the friction of the
working parts to a minimum. The invention consists in the novel form of
bearings, which will be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in
the claims; and it further consists in the novel arrangement of parts, all as will
further appear and be pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
Specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts
in all the views.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevation on a larger scale, showing an operating lever and the
bearing connections therefor;
Figure 3 shows the same parts, partly in section on the line 3-3 of Figure 9;
Figure 4 is a side elevation of said parts with the side plate of the frame
removed;
Figure 5 shows a portion of the frame with the lever and one side plate
removed;
Figure 6 is a partial elevation and partial section on the line 6-6 of Figure 8,
illustrating a modification;
Figure 7 is a side elevation showing a portion of the frame and a portion of the
lever having its bearing therein;
Figure 8 is a section on the line 8-8 in Figure 6;
Figure 9 is a section on the line 9. -9 of Figure 2;
Figure 10 is a partial side elevation and partial section of an operating lever and
its connection with a guide and with a cam block for driving the vehicle;
Figure 10 is a front view of the guides, parily in section on the line 10*—10* in
Figure 10;
Figure 11 is a section on the line 11-11 of Figure 10;
Figure 12 is a side elevation on a larger scale, showing a cam block and its
bearing connections with the frame;
Figure 13 is a side elevation showing a modification of the driving mechanism;
Figure 14 is a plan view thereof;
Figure 15 is a partial elevation and a partial section on the line 15--15 of
igure 13;
Figure 15 shows a shifting rod employed in this modification;
Figure 16 shows another modified form of driving mechanism ;
Figure 17 is a side elevation thereof;
Figure 18 is a section on the line 18-18 of Figure 17;
Figure 19 is a side elevation showing still another modification ;
Figure 20 shows another modified form of bearing for the operating levers, the.
ame being in section on the line 20-20 of Figure 21; .

page_text: ✓
Figure 21 18 a section on the line 21-21 of Figure 20;
Figure 22 is a section on the line 22-22 of Figure 20;
Figure 23 is a section on the line 23-23 of Figure 24, showing another
modification;
Figure 24 is a partial plan and partial section on the line 24-24 of Figure 23;
Figure 25 is a section on the line 25-25 of Figure 23;
Figure 26 is a section on the line 26-26 of Figure 24;
•
Figure 27 is a sectional view of another modified form of bearing for the lever ;
Figure 28 is a horizontal section thereof;
'Figure 29 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 29-29 of Figure 30,
of a bicycle in which the wheels are arranged parallel to each other on the same
axial line;
Figure 30 is a vertical section taken on the line 30-30 of Figure 29;
Figure 31 is a front elevation of a bicycle arranged to be driven by hand and
steered by the feet;
Figure 32 is a partial side elevation of the same ;
.
Figure 33 is a plan view of the steering apparatus employed in this modification;
Figures 34, 35 and 36 are modifications of the driving mechanism, showing
different forms of pedal levers;
Figure 37 is a side clevation and partial section of a modification in which a
motor is employed for imparting power, and as applied to a four wheeled vehicle;
Figure 38 slows a similar driving power as attached to a bicycle.
Referring first to the example of my improvement embodied in Figure 1,
A designates the front or steering wheel of the bicycle, A³ the rear or power
wheel, and A the frame, comprising the rearwardly-extended side members a a¹
which are projected from the portion a² having connection with the front post a
within which the steering rod operates.
Vertical bars a extend between the
portions a a' at each side of the wheel A'.
The axle of the driving wheel A' has affixed to it on each side of said wheel
beveled pinions 1, meshing with horizontally arranged bevel gears 2, mounted
on a cam block 3, which carries a continuous spiral cam groove 4. The axle
of the driving wheel A¹ has its bearings in the arms or portions a of the
frame, and the journals of the vertical cam blocks 3 have bearings in the arms a a¹.
The upper journal 5 of the cam block shaft is conical or extended to a point
This
at its end, as shown at 6 (Figure 12) and has a bearing in the arm a.
journal is also provided with an annular channel 7 within which ball bearings 8
engage, a portion of these ball bearings 8 being within an annular groove 9
formed in the arm a. The annular channel 7 is shown as V-shaped in cross
section, and the annular groove 9 is shown substantially rectangular in cross
section, and one wall of said groove is formed by a removable block 10 engaging
an interior screw thread in the chamber formed for the bearing in the arm a.
The lower journal 11 of the cam block shaft is formed similarly to the journal 5
and similar ball bearings are employed. The pointed end of this journal,
however, engages with an adjustable block 12, here shown in the form of a screw,
movable vertically in a tapped hole in the arm a¹ in line with the shaft of the
cam block.
.
B, B', designate the operating levers or foot pedals arranged at opposite sides of
the wheel A', and having journal bearings in the upright portions a² of the frame,
as will be hereinafter more fully described, and having roller bearings in curved
guide rods b extended between the portions a a¹ of the frame, and these
levers also have roller bearing connection with the cam groove in the cam
blocks 3, and at these bearing points it is very desirable to have as little
friction as possible, and as the said bearings are similar for both levers, I will
confine my description to the bearings for one lever, which are more plainly shown
in the enlarged views Figures 10, 104 and 11.
1-
From the upper side of the lever B, a journal arm 13 extends upward and
rearward, and from the lower side of said lever a journal arin 14 extends

page_text: downward and rearward, and the respective arms 13, 14, have journaled on them
anti-friction rollers 15 and 16. These for each roller consist of an inner sleeve
comprising two segmental sections 17, and in this sleeve annular grooves 18 are
formed, and the journal arms are provided with annular grooves 19 and ball
bearings 20 are placed in these grooves. The several grooves 18, 19, are shown as.
substantially V-shaped in cross section. Surrounding the sleeve formed by the
section 17 is the outer cylindrical shell of the roller, preferably having end
flanges 21 which engage respectively the front and rear edges of the guide b
or . The outer shell is secured to the section 17 of the sleeve by means of
screws 22. By this construction the ball bearings may be put in place, that is, the
said balls may be placed in the grooves formed in the journal arms, then the two
halves or sections of the sleeve placed over the same, and then the outer cylindrical
shell may be slid over the sleeve and the screws inserted. It will be seen that
the rollers 15 and 16 are arranged eccentrically one with relation to the other, so
that the roller 15 will bear only on the guide rod b, and the roller 16. will bear
only on the guide rod 6. By so placing the rollers there will be no binding effect
when the lever B is rocked on its pivot.
The end of the lever B is provided with an anti-friction roller 23, for engaging
in the cam groove 4 of the cam block 3. This roller 23 comprises an outer shell
or ring, and annular blocks 24, 25, which surround the journaled end of the lever B.
The blocks 24, 25 are made in sections or halves similar to the sleeve 17 heretofore
described and for the same purpose. The block 24 is shown as affixed by means of
screws 25° to the ring or shell of the roller 23, but the block 25 is designed to be
moved longitudinally within said shell or ring, and relatively to the annular
block 24, for the purpose of adjusting the annular grooves 26, 27, in said blocks
relatively to annular bearing grooves 28 formed in the journal end of the lever B,
and within which grooves bearing balls 29 are placed. To permit of adjustment
of the block 25, I employ screw rods 30, which extend transversely through
holes in the annular block 24, and have a screw threaded engagement with the
annular block 25.
I will now describe a pivot or fulcrum mechanism for the levers B B', referring
particularly to Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 7, 8 and 9. The upright portion a' of the frame
of the bicycle is provided with a transverse recess 31, and a plate 32 adapted to be
secured thereon by means of screws or otherwise, is also provided with a transverse
recess 32 (Figures 8 and 9), so that when the plate 32 is secured to the upright at,
a transverse opening is formed for the passage of the operating lever.
The outer
wall of the recess 31 is provided with are-shaped slots 33, 34, and the plate 32 is
provided with similarly shaped openings or slots. Blocks 35, 36, are secured to
the respective sides of the lever B, and these blocks are shown as wedge-shaped in
cross section, with their knife edges in line with the axis of the fulcrum point of
the lever, and bearing upon blocks 37 which are integral with the upright at of the
frame. The knife edges of the blocks 35, 36, in all cases are preferably of
ordinary steel, and the blocks upon which they oscillate are also of steel or faced
with steel. By this construction it will be seen that there is a very narrow fulcrum
bearing for the operating lever, and therefore the resistance or friction is reduce.
to a minimum.
To prevent an upward movement of the lever during its rocking operation,
I attach to it knife-edged bearing blocks 38, adapted to engage at their edges with
the under side or point of blocks 39 attached to the upright portion at of the
frame. The blocks 37, 39, at each side of the lever are arranged with the
blocks 37 within the vertical plane of the blocks 39, and their apexes are of
course, on the same horizontal plane and in line with the axis of the lever. The
knife-edged bearing blocks 38 are removably secured to the lever by means of a
screw 40 (Figure 9) and their base portions are in the form of flanges extended
iuward through the arc-shaped slot 34.
To prevent lateral movement of the operating lever relatively to the upright
portion a* of the frame, I provide brackets 41 which are secured to the frame and

page_text: extend upward, and at their upper ends have adjustable bearing points 42, which
engage against fingers 43 extended downward from the lever, as plainly shown in
Figure 9.
Referring now to the modification shown in Figures 6, 7 and 8, the lever B has at
its upper portion laterally-extended bearing blocks 44, which are similar in shape
to the bearing blocks heretofore described, and engage in the apex of openings 45
formed in the parts 31, 32, and in this example of my improvement, as a means of
preventing an upward movement of the operating lever B, I provide anti-friction
rollers 46 which are placed in a recess 47 formed in the top or wide portion of the
bearing block 44, and adapted to engage with the wall at the top of the
openings 45. It will be seen that normally the rollers 46 do not engage with
the said wall of the opening 45, but there is a provision for a slight upward motion
of the shaft, thereby obviating any tendency of the balls or rollers 46 to cause
friction or binding of the parts.
I provide means for cushioning the operating lever at the end of its extreme
downward stroke so as to prevent a jarring or an abrupt termination of the stroke.
In Figure 2 this means is shown as a spring 48 extended from the part a', and
with which the lever is adapted to engage. In Figure 6 this means is shown as a
cushion 49 of yielding material, such for instance as rubber, secured in a socket
formed in the end of an arm 50 extended rigidly from the part at. To prevent a
lateral movement of the lever in the example of my improvement shown in
Figures 6 and 8, I employ ball rollers 51, seated in recesses 52 formed in the
inner side of the parts a and 32 of the upright, and bearing slightly against the
sides of the lever. It may be here stated that I employ the separable piece 32, as
shown in the examples of my improvement above described, to provide an easy
means of inserting the lever and the several bearing balls.
Between
Referring now to the example of my improvement shown in Figures 20, 21
and 22, the lever B is provided with wedge-shaped bearing blocks 53 arranged one
at each side of the lever and extended with their knife edges in line with the axis
of the fulcrum point of the lever, and bearing in the apex of recesses 54 formed in
the top of the transverse shaft 55. These recesses are V-shaped in cross section,
and the knife edges of the blocks engage in the apex of the recesses.
the recesses 54 the shaft is provided with an upwardly-extended knife-edged
bearing block 56, which passes into a recess 56", V-shaped in cross section and
formed in the lever B between the blocks 53. The lever B is provided with
another block 57, extended upward from the lower wall of the opening through
the lever, into a V-shaped recess 58 formed in the shaft 55, at the lower side
opposite the block 56.
It will be observed that the blocks 53 form a fulcrum for the lever B, and the
block 57 on the lever projecting in the opposite direction from the blocks 53, and
bearing against the apex of the recess 58 in the shaft 55, will prevent an upward
movement of the lever relatively to the shaft, and to prevent a lateral movement
of the lever on the shaft, bearing points 59 of hardened material, such for instance
as steel, are secured to the sides of the lever and adapted to engage their points
against the outer walls of the recesses 54. In this example, as a means for
placing the parts in operative connection, the lever B is provided at its under
side with a removable block 60, forming one half of the bearing portion of the
lever.
The example of my improvement shown in Figures 23, 24, 25, is quite similar to
the construction first described as relates to the location of the bearings; but in
this case the bearing blocks 61 which engage in recesses formed in the shaft 55 are
secured to the lever by means of screws 62, and the block 63 for preventing an
upward movement of the lever is also secured to the lever by means of screws 64.
For preventing a lateral movement of the lever in this example, collars 65 are
rigidly attached to the shaft 55 at each side of the lever, and these collars are
provided with annular grooves 66, in which bearing balls 67 are loosely placed and
adapted to engage with the sides of the lever.

page_text: one side
In the examples of my improvement heretofore described, the driving (power of
the driving wheel is located on each side of said wheel; in the example shown in.
Figures 13, 14 15 and 15ª, however, I provide such driving power on
only of the wheel, and also in this example there is a modified construction of the
bearing points or blocks of the operating lever C, which has connection with
the cam block 3, which is similar in construction to the cam block heretofore-
described.
The operating lever Ċ is rigidly mounted on a rock shaft 68, having bearings in
the upright at of the frame, and another operating lever C₁ is loosely fulcrumed
on said rock shaft 68 at the side of the machine opposite the lever C. This lever C
has a short rearward extension 69. 70 is a vertically-reciprocating rod having a
vertically elongated opening 71 in its central portion surrounding the shaft 68, and
its ends are designed to pass loosely through guide openings in guide fingers 72
rigidly attached to the frame of the machine. At its opposite ends this rod 70 is
provided with bearing blocks 73, 74, which are provided with recesses 75, V-shaped.
in cross section. The rearwardly-extended end 69 of the lever C' is provided with
a similarly. shaped recess 76, and within this recess 76 the knife-edged end of a
rod 78 engages, and the upper knife-edged end of the rod 78 engages within the
recess 75 of the block 74 on the rod 70. From the block 73 on the rod 70, a rod 79.
similar to the rod 78 extends upward and engages with its upper end in a recess.
formed in an arm 80 extended rigidly from the rock shaft 68.
It will be seen by this construction that when the forward end of the lever C is
forced downward, its rear end will of course be moved upward to rotate the cam.
block 3, and during this motion the rod 70 will be moved downward, causing the
pressure end of the lever C¹ to be moved upward through the agency of the rod 78,.
which engages with the projection 69 of the said lever on the side of the shaft 68
opposite that of the arm 80 with which the rod 79 engages.
From the above description it will be seen that the two levers C, C¹, will be
perfectly balanced, and the kuife-edged bearings will if provided have a very small
amount of friction. The rods 78, 79, are in effect, bearing blocks similar to those.
heretofore described.
In the example of my improvement shown in Figures 16, 17 and 18, an operating
lever C is adapted to engage with the driving cam block 3, and the opposite
lever C is loosely mounted on a shaft 81 to which the lever C' is rigidly attached.
This shaft 81 has bearings in the side frames or rails of the machine. The lever C
is provided with a segmental bevel gear 82, meshing with a bevel segmental gear 83.
on one end of an arm 84 extended horizontally and having a bearing on a stud
from a yoke 85 supported on the machine frame. The opposite end of the arm 84
is provided with a segmental bevel gear 86, meshing with a segmental gear 87
attached to the lever C³. Obviously in this example, when the foot end of the
lever C is forced downward to rotate the cam block 3,.the foot end of the lever C³
will be rocked upward through the agency of the segmental gears just described,
and when the lever C³ is forced upward by pressure, the lever C' will be rocked in
the opposite direction, thus causing a constant rotary motion of the block 3.
In the modification shown in Figure 19, a lever 88 is shown, having a roller
connection with the cam block 3, in the manner heretofore described, and at its.
opposite end this lever 88 is provided with a segmental gear 89 engaging with a
segmental gear 90 on the foot lever 91, and a segmental gear 92 on a foot lever 93
also engages with the segment 90. By this construction it will be seen that when
the lever 91 is rocked downward, the end of the lever 88 engaging with the cam
block will also he rocked downward, and the free end of the lever 93 will be rocked
upward, and then of course the reverse action will take place as the foot lever 93.
is rocked downward.
In Figures 27 and 28, I have shown the foot lever B as provided with wedge-
shaped bearing blocks 53, engaging in wedge-shaped recesses 53b in the shaft 55,
substantially. as in the constructions heretofore described. In this modification,
however, to prevent lateral play of the foot lever, I provide longitudinally-.

page_text: extended wedge-shaped blocks 54, the points of which engage in the apex of
recesses formed in the shaft 55 at right angles to the recesses 53b.
In Figures 29 and 30, I have shown gearing applied to bicycle wheels which
are arranged on the same axial line, and in which the seat is placed between the
wheels, the cams 10 being placed on shafts connected with the bevel wheels 18¹
In this
which are in mesh with bevel wheels on the hubs of the bicycle wheels.
example of my improvement the shafts upon which the cams 103 are mounted have
bearings at the lower ends in hangers depending from the axle, and the foot
levers 16, having the pedals 192, are pivotally connected to these hangers. Instead
of foot pedals, hand levers may be employed, as indicated in dotted lines in
Figure 30.
In the example of my improvement shown in Figures 31 32 and 33 the cams 10'
The cam-
are mounted on U-shaped bars 21¹ formed on or attached to the fork 21.
operating levers 24' in this case are angled, with their longer arms extending
upward and provided at their upper ends with a handle which is grasped by the
rider of the bicycle. In this case the rider uses his feet for guiding the bicycle.
Upon the head of the backbone 5¹ is formed a cam 251, having diagonal slots in its
opposite sides, the slots being oppositely arranged with respect to each other, and
in guides formed on the arms of the fork 21 are placed bars 26' having at their
lower ends foot pieces 271, and the upper ends of the bars 26' are angled and
provided at their extremities with studs which enter holes in the opposite ends of
the lever 29, which is pivoted to an arm 30¹ projected from the upper part of the
fork 2'. Studs extend from the lever 291 to points opposite the centre of the
cam 25¹, and are provided with rollers which work.in the slots of the cams.
means of this device the bars 26¹ are connected so that they move simultaneously
in opposite directions. The feet of the rider are placed upon the foot pieces 271,
and by pressing one or the other of them, the wheel is turned in ene direction or
the other by virtue of the engagement with the cam of the rollers carried by the
lever 29'
By
In the one
In Figures 34, 35 and 36, different forms of pedal levers are shown.
In
shown in Figure 34, the power is applied between the fulcrum and the cam.
the one shown in Figure 35 the power is applied at one side of the fulcrum and is
utilized at the other side, the lever being angled. In the form shown in Figure 36,
the power is applied and used on the same side of the fulcrum, the point of
application of the power being outside of the point of utilization.
It is obvious that other modifications of the bicycle may be made without
departing from the spirit of my invention, one of which, for instance, is providing
for two seats, and connections whereby two riders may operate the cam and driving
mechanism by foot pedals or hand levers.
Another modification is shown in Figures 37 and 38, in which a suitable
motor 34 is shown for rotating the cam 10. This motor may consist of a steam
engine, an electric motor or a gas engine, either one of which may be easily
adapted for the purpose. In Figure 37 the piston rod 34% is shown as extended
through a suitable guide, and having an anti-friction roller extended into the slot
of the cam, and in Figure 38, the piston rod 342 has a link connection 34" with a
pedal lever fulcrumed on the frame of the bicycle in the manner as heretofore
described.
In Figure 37, the device is shown as attached to a four-wheeled vehicle, and it
is to be understood that the driving power may be connected with both of the rear
wheels thereof, or with only one as indicated in the drawings. It may be further
stated that the motor and its attachments is applicable to tricycles as well as
bicycles.
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. In a bicycle, a cam block, a foot-operating lever, and an anti-friction roller

page_text: journaled on the said lever and engaging with the cam block, substantially as
specified.
2. In a bicycle, a cam block having a spiral cam groove, a foot-operating lever,
and an anti-friction roller carried on the said lever, comprising an outer shell, two
segmental sections within said shell, bearing rollers movable in grooves formed in
said segmental sections and also in grooves on the supporting parts extended
from the foot lever, and a guide for said anti-friction roller, substantially as
specified.
3. In a bicycle, a cam block, a foot lever engaging therewith, anti-friction
rollers journaled on portions projecting from said lever, the said anti-friction rollers
being eccentric one to the other, and a guide track for each of said anti-friction
rollers, substantially as specified.
4. In a bicycle, a block having a spiral cam groove therein, a foot lever, an
anti-friction, roller on the said lever engaging in the said cam groove and comprising
an outer shell, segmental blocks secured therein, other segmental blocks in said
shell movable relatively to the first named blocks, means for causing said movement,
and bearing rollers in said blocks, substantially as specified.
5. In a bicycle, a foot-operating lever having a fulcrum comprising knife-edged
bearing blocks, substantially as specified.
6. In a bicycle, an operating foot-lever having a fulcrum comprising knife-edged
bearing blocks having a bearing on a portion of the frame, and means for pre-
venting an upward movement of the lever relatively to the frame, substantially as
specified.
7. In a bicycle, a foot lever having a fulcrum comprising a portion of the frame
provided with recesses substantially V-shaped in cross section and having their
apexes at the ends of the fulcrum of the lever, bearing blocks having knife-edged
bearings in the apex of the said recesses, means for preventing a vertical movement
of the lever relatively to the frame, and means for preventing a lateral movement
of said lever, substantially as specified.
8. In a bicycle, a foot lever, knife-edged bearing blocks on said lever, recesses
in the frame in which said blocks engage, bearing blocks rigidly mounted on the
frame and engaging in recesses formed in the lever, for preventing an upward
movement of the lever relatively to the frame, and adjustable bearing points for
preventing the lateral movement of the lever relatively to the frame, substantially
as specified.
9. In a bicycle, a foot lever fulcrumed on the frame, and a cushion carried by
the frame, for receiving the impact of the lever on its down stroke, substantially-as
specified.
10. In a bicycle, a spirally-grooved block having gear connections with the
driving wheel of the machine, a fulcrumed foot lever having an engagement in said
spiral groove, and a second foot lever having operative connection with the first
named foot lever, substantially as specified.
11. In a bicycle, a spirally grooved cam block having pivot bearings in a portion
of the frame of the machine, the said bearings comprising anti-friction rollers and
bearing points, and a vertically adjustable block for one of said bearing points,
substantially as specified.
12. A bicycle, comprising a frame portion having recesses therein, each pro-
vided with an annular groove, one wall of which consists of a removable ring, a
cam block having a journal provided with annular grooves, and anti-friction rollers
in said grooves, substantially as specified.
13. A driving mechanism for a bicycle, comprising a spirally grooved cam
block having gear connection with a wheel of the vehicle, a motor carried by the
vehicle, and a connection between the motor and the cam block, substantially as
specified.
14. A driving mechanism for a four wheeled vehicle comprising cam blocks
having gear connection with the rear wheels of said vehicle, and a motor located

page_text: in the body of said vehicle and having a piston rod connection with the cam blocks,
substantially as specified.
Dated this 5th day of November 1895.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
53 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.