Improvements in Cycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles and similar Vehicles.
I, SHERWOOD HARRY WATTS, of 23 Sabina Street, in the Town and County of
the Town of Nottingham, Stone-carver, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say-
My invention relates to improvements in bicycles, safeties, tricycles and similar
vehicles, whereby the speed gear is made to occupy less space, or is rendered more
effective than heretofore, the chain, or equivalent connection, between the front and
back wheels together with the diamond frame being dispensed with and greater
facility in working the cycle obtained. .
For the purpose of this invention I attach to the fork or fixed framework of the
cycle, or similar vehicle, or form thereon, a box or case, preferably circular, and, if
necessary, support the same from suitable parts of the framework of the cycle by
means of wires or tie-rods, or in any suitable manner according to the design of the
cycle, or vehicle, to which my invention is to be applied. The box or case is
eccentric to the axle or centre of the driving wheel, or wheels, and is provided with
a circular groove or channel, or annular space for the reception of a ring or driving
band, said driving band having holes around it, or an equivalent therefor, for the
purpose of gearing with teeth or cogs upon a pinion keyed to, or formed on, the
driving axle of the cycle. The pedal is attached to the said driving band in such a
manner that the band may, by the application of the power of the rider to the
pedal, be caused to turn round within the annular space in the box or case, and by
so turning to rotate the driving axle by means of the pinion thereon at a greater
rate, or so that it shall make several revolutions to one of the pedal, the speed of
the driving axle depending on the relative diameters of the driving band and the
said pinion. The box or case is preferably provided with a cover, or covers, for
the exclusion of dust, &c. The pinion is arranged within the box, and the driving
band and axle of the driving wheel preferably run on ball bearings. I prefer to
arrange a box or case containing the speed mechanism above described at cach side
of a safety bicycle to equalize the strains on the driving axle.
cycles constructed according to this invention may be arranged to move freely, in
any well known manner, for the purpose of steering the vehicle.
The wheels of
And in order that my invention may be readily understood and carried into
effect, I will describe the same fully with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the driving wheel of a cycle with the box and pedal
arranged thereon.
Fig. 2 is a view showing the inside of the box or case, with driving band
removed.
Fig. 3 is a section taken through the centre of the box or case.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the driving band and pedal, and Fig. 5 is a plan
showing the driving axle, part of the wheel and fork, and the boxes, and pedals of
a cycle constructed according to my invention.
a is the axle of the driving wheel, the box or case which is attached to the
fork ', and c is the groove or channel therein. The driving band d has holes e for
the teeth or cogs of the pinion to take into, and between these holes, are other
holes, or recesses, g, for the reception of balls g', to facilitate the motion of the
driving band d, in the channel c. The pedal, is preferably attached to the
driving band d, by a crank bar i, affixable to cars or lugs j, on the driving band,
1

page_text: The
and is fixed in position, after a thin lid or cover k, has been fixed to the driving
band d, to exclude dust, &c., from the mechanism. The driving band d, is retained
within the channel by a thin band 7, preferably of steel brazed or rivetted to the
outer edge of the box 6, after the band d, has been placed in the channel c.
lugs, are slightly grooved at m, for the reception of the band l. A slot n, is
formed in the inner wall of the box b, so that the teeth of the pinion, can pass
through it, in order to gear with the driving band:
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. The means or mechanism for actuating cycles and similar vehicles, consisting
of a box or case connected to the framework of the machine and arranged eccen-
trically to the driving wheel axle, said box being formed with a circular groove,
channel, or annular space, adapted to receive a ring or driving band secured to the
pedal crank and provided with holes into which engage the teeth of a pinion on the
driving wheel axle, and with other holes, or recesses, for the reception of balls for
facilitating its revolution within the said box or case, when actuated through the
pedal, substantially as hereinbefore described and as shown in the drawings.
2. The combination of parts constituting the improved means for connecting
the pedal with the driving axle of cycles, substantially as herein described and as
shown in the drawings.
3. My improvements in cycles substantially as herein before described and shown
by the annexed drawings, and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 26th day of August 1805
ERNEST DE PASS,
Chartered Patent Agent,
78, Fleet Street, London, and 6, Victoria Street, Nottingham,
Agent for the Applicant.