Improved Cycle or Velocipede Driving Gear.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Cycle or Velocipede Driving Gear.
We JACOB LOUIS LÖB of Rundle Street Adelaide Machinist, GEORGE
HORNSBY BARLOW of Rundle Street Adelaide Machinist, and ADOLPH WILHELM
ROBERT DRABSCH, of Main Street, Mannum, Farmer all of the Province of
South Australia do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "Improved
cycle or velocipede driving gear" 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 this invention is to provide an improved method of propelling
cycles or velocipedes and of applying brake power as and when required."
There have been many attempts to produce a machine in which the power shall
be applied by working the feet with an up and down motion in place of rotary
motion, but so far none of them have come into general use.
Among the advantages of this method of propulsion are the following:-Much
longer pedal levers may be used giving a greater result either in speed or ease in
proportion to the power expended. As there are no dead centres, whatever
position the pedal levers are in upon power being applied to the upper one the
machine will be driven forward. The seat may be placed farther forward thus
distributing the weight of the rider more equally between the two wheels.
We have discovered a method of communicating motion from the pedal levers to
the large sprocket wheel by means of friction clutches acting upon suitable steel
rings which is a great improvement on anything heretofore accomplished in this
direction as the action is instantaneous and certain, there being no loss of power
through slipping. The motion is communicated from the large sprocket wheel to
a smaller one on the driving wheel in the usual way. A feature of this invention
is that no separate or distinct brake is required, the clutches when desired being
utilized as a brake, thus economising construction and avoiding the wear and tear
upon the tyre which takes place with the brakes generally in use.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will describe the same
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a side view of a bicycle with our invention applied thereto.
Figure 2, is a front view with the cases K and K' in section and with the front
portion of the left pedal lever removed.
In this
Figure 3, is a side view of portion of a bicycle shewing our invention.
figure the left pedal and its attachments is omitted for the sake of clearness.
Figure 4, is a horizontal section at the centre of the bottom bracket.
Figure 5, is a perspective view of the clutch mechanism on the right side of the
machine.
Figures 6 and 7 are sectional views of the same. Figure 6 shews the ring
gripped by the clutches and wearing plates, while Figure 7 shews the ring released.
In these two figures the clutches and wearing plates are shewn in section.
The large sprocket wheel A, which is connected to the small sprocket wheel on
the driving wheel by any suitable form of chain, is secured to the axle B which is
carried in the bottom bracket C by any suitable arrangement of ball bearings. On
the outside of the sprocket wheel A is formed or secured a steel ring D which is
accurately turned. On the other side of the bottom bracket C a similar ring D1
is secured to the axle B by means of a suitable boss and arms. The pedal

page_text: levers E El are pivotted upon the ends of the axle B by ball bearings. Each of
the pedal levers E and E' is provided with two clutches FF and FF respectively.
One end of the clutch rests in a recess behind a shoulder e formed in the boss of the
pedal lever, and near the other end is a notch f which fits over the ring D.
Between the faces of this notch and the ring is inserted a light steel wearing
plate H of U form. Upon the outside of each of the bosses of the pedal levers
are secured cases K and K¹ respectively. These serve as guards to enclose the
clutches and each carries two pins L L one of which is placed slightly in front of
each of the clutches. Upon the inner side of the pedal levers are secured toothed
quadrants M and M' respectively both of which gear with a bevel pinion N which
is fitted by ball bearings upon a pin or stud P projecting from the bottom
bracket C. This stud also carries a cross piece R at the ends of which are studs
or pins upon which antifriction rollers S and S are jourualled. These antifriction
rollers are situated just outside the backs of the toothed quadrants M and M. In
order to prevent the levers being accidentally depressed too far buffers W are
provided to receive the ends of the quadrants. Each of these buffers consists
of a piece of rubber or spring supported in a suitable socket secured to the
tubing of the machine.
We will first describe the action of the clutches referring more particularly to
Figures 5 and 6. Upon pressure being put on the pedal E the shoulders e e
engage the inner ends of the clutches F throwing them forward into the position
shewn in full lines. In this position it will be seen that the upper and lower parts
of the shaped wearing plate H are gripped together upon the outer and inner
side of the ring D between the opposite edges of the notch f. The continued
movement of the pedal lever E will therefore carry the ring D with it. Upon the
motion of the pedal being reversed the inner ends of the clutches are thrown
backwards, the clutches taking up positions similar to those shewn in dotted lines
in which it will be seen that the edges of the notch f do not press upon the
U shaped wearing plate and the ring is therefore free to revolve in a forward
direction. The clutches are prevented from moving too far forward and binding
in the opposite direction by the pins L L which are carried by the case K. The
expressions forward and backward used above relate to the direction of rotation of
the ring and sprocket wheel.
The general operation of the machine is as follows:-
The pedal levers being always ready for action the rider may mount the machine
in any position without giving it any other start. He presses at once with his foot
upon say the pedal on the lever E. This as already described causes the
clutches F F and wearing plates H H to engage the ring D. The ring D and the
large sprocket wheel A are thus rotated and by means of a chain motion is
communicated to the driving wheel. As soon as the pedal lever E has reached
its bottom position the rider presses upon the other pedal lever E¹ when a similar
action takes place the clutches F¹ F¹ and wearing plates H'H' engaging the ring D'
and thereby continuing the movement of the axle B the spocket wheel A and the
ring D. As the one pedal lever descends the other is raised by means of the
quadrants M M¹ and bevel pinion N. The antifriction rollers S S¹ are a precaution
against the quadrants being thrown out of engagement with the bevel pinion by
sudden shocks. As the pedal lever is being raised its clutches are disengaged
as previously described so that the ring on that side may rotate freely in a forward
direction.
When it is desired to stop or brake the speed of the machine it is only necessary
to bring a slight pressure to bear on both the pedal levers and all of the clutches
are caused to grip upon the rings thereby retarding rotation.
The Ushaped wearing plates H may be dispensed with if desired and the
clutches allowed to bite direct on to the rings. In addition to the pins L L
projecting from the cases K and K¹ springs may be employed to further secure
the action of the clutches.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The method of propelling cycles or velocipedes by means of friction clutches
actuated by pedal levers substantially as described.
2. In mechanism for the purpose described the combination with pedal levers
having an up and down motion, of the clutches such as F F and F F and rings
such as D and D' substantially as described.
3. In mechanism for the purpose described the combination with pedal levers
having an up and down motion and operating clutches as described, of the
quadrants M and M' and the bevel pinion N as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In gearing for cycles and velocipedes having operating clutches, rings,
quadrants and bevel pinion as described the use of such clutches in the manner
described for the purpose of a brake.
5. In cycles or velocipedes, the combination and arrangement of parts substan-
tially as described and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 28th day of September 1896.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.