Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes and Carriages or other Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 5th Oct., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes and Carriages or
other Vehicles.
We, GEORGE BUTLER, of 1, Lombard Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick,
Bicycle Fittings Manufacturer and LLEWLLEYN AUGUSTUS PARROCK, of 52,
Alma Street, Aston, near Birmingham aforesaid, Manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has special reference to pedals for bicycles, tricycles, and other
velocipedes but it is equally applicable to all parts of velocipedes and carriages or
other vehicles where bearings are required.
We will describe our invention as applied to a velocipede pedal. In an ordinary
pedal the bearing surfaces are at either end of the pin or spindle on which the said
pedal revolves, but we propose to use one bearing surface only which we form in the
centre of the pedal.
In order to acccomplish this we make the pedal pin about half the ordinary length
and pass it through one of the pedal plates, but the said pedal pin is not allowed to
bear on or touch the pedal plate. On the end of the pedal pin, which reaches about
the centre of the pedal we place a bearing having two lugs formed on its centre with
suitable holes therein for the pins which carry or support the rubber bars to pass
through. It will be seen that the rubber bars which are either made in two pieces or
In one piece as usually with a slot formed therein so as to allow the lugs to fit on the
pin will act as washers thereby rigidly holding the central bearing.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1889.
GEORGE BUTLER.
LLEWLLEYN AUGUSTUS PARROCK.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes and Carriages or
other Vehicles.
We, GEORGE BUTLER of 1 Lombard Street, Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Bicycle Fittings Manufacturer and LLEWLLEYN AUGUSTUS PARROCK of 52 Alma Street
Aston near Birmingham aforesaid Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our Invention has special reference to pedals for bicycles tricycles and other veloci-
pedes but it is equally applicable to all parts of velocipedes and carriages or other
vehicles where bearings are required.
We will describe our invention as applied to a velocipede pedal. In an ordinary
pedal the bearing surfaces are at either end of the pin, or spindle on which the said
pedal revolves, but we purpose to use one bearing surface only, which we form in the
centre of the pedal.
In order to accomplish this, we make the pedal pin about half the ordinary length,
and pass it through one of the pedal plates, but the said pedal pin is not allowed to
bear on, or touch the pedal plate-On the end of the pedal pin, which reaches to about
the centre of the pedal, we place a bearing, having two lugs, formed on its centre with
suitable holes therein for the pins, which carry or support the rubber bars to pass
through It will be seen, that the rubber bars, which are either made in two
pieces, or in one piece, as usually with a slot formed therein so as to allow the luga
o fit on the pin, will act as washers; thereby rigidly holding the central bearing.

page_text: Our Invention has special reference to pedals for bicycles, tricycles, or other
Velocipedes, but it is also applicable to other parts of Velocipedes and carriages where
bearings are required.
The object of our Invention is to substitute one central bearing, which we term,
"The Centrum :" for two bearings as at present used in the situations, and for the
purposes, above mentioned.
To effect this, we carry the part which is to be supported by the bearing, on a frame.
open at one or both ends. Through this open end, projects inwardly the Spindle on
which the bearing is formed, this Spindle extends about as far as the longitudinal
centre of the frame-On the end of the Spindle is formed the journal which is carried
by the bearing, which may be a plain parallel bearing, a cone bearing, ball bearing,
of other suitable kind. The bearing is attached to a cross-piece of the frame before
any
mentioned.
We will more particularly describe our Invention as applied to its most obvious use
as a bicycle pedal-It is well known, that ordinary bicycle pedals, consist of a
rectangular frame, the ends being formed of metal plates, solid or open, and the sides
serrated as in rat trap pedals or provided with India-rubber foot pieces carried on
pins passing through the end plates. The crank pin passes through the longitudinal
centre of the frame forming the pedal, and it has two journals, carried in two bearings
one at each end of the pedal.
In a pedal constructed according to our Invention, the end plate nearest the crank,
has a comparatively large aperture in its centre, and through this aperture the
crank pin projects without touching it, to a little beyond the middle of the pedal.
At the middle of the pedal there is a strong metal plate extending transversely
across the pedal, and having at its centre, a boss, large enough to contain the bearing
and near its ends holes for the Rubber Pins.
The journal, which is at or near the end of the crank pin, is carried by this bearing.
The bearing itself, may be of any kind, suitable for the purpose such as above
described, or a spherical bearing, one advantage of our Invention attained by the
use of the latter form of bearing being, that the bearing would accommodate itself
to the side strain set up by some riders.
The outer end plate of the Pedal, wo make preferably, though not necessarily,
of the same shape as the inner end plate. Both the end plates of the Pedal may
be of comparatively thin metal, the principal part of the driving strain being taken
by the stronger plato in the middle of the pedal which plate contains the bearing.
And in order that this our said Invention, may be more clearly understood-We
will now proceed to describe the same, reference being made to the sheet of drawings,
to the various figures and letters marked thereon that is to say :-
-
Fig. 1. is a view in elevation of a pedal with central bearing for a bicycle and
velocipedes generally with certain modifications applicable to other similar purposes.
Fig. 2. is a view from one end of same.
Fig. 3. is a view in elevation sectional of our Invention a central bearing applied to
a metallic hub of a carriage or vehicle.
The rectangular frame known and used for bicycle and similar pedals, consists of the
metal plates, a, b, known as the inner end plate, and the other the outer end plate, the
latter being farthest from the crank upon which the pedal is adjusted, this inner end
plate a is provided with an aperture in its centre and through this passes the crank
pin c. (working freely without touching it) to a short distance beyond the centre of
the pedal as shewn in Fig. 1. d is a strong metal plate extending transversely across
the pedals, through the plates a. d. b. pass the pins e. e. and upon which are
affixed the rubbers g. g. g. g the said pins e. e. are screwed at each end and the
nuts h. hhh fed thereon holding the said rubbers in a firm or rigid position-
In some cases the rubbers or the serrated metal plates are affixed by the rivetting
over the ends of e. e. This plate d is provided at its centre, with the boss i and receives
the tearing of any suitable kind, and the journal at, or near the end of the crank
pin c.

page_text: In Fig. 3 are shewn, a metal hub 1, of that class known and used to "Spider
Wheels," we have dispensed with the two side bearings as hitherto used, by substituting
our central bearing, fitted in, and adjusted by, any suitable means.
It is obvious that a bearing constructed according to our Invention as a central
bearing either applied to the pedal of a bicycle or velocipede, or as a bearing applied
to metallic hubs or hubs of other construction for carriages or vehicles of the greatest
advantage, and meets all the requirements, the friction being reduced from the surface
of two bearings to one, and the cost in manufacture being reduced also.
The above being our said Invention we wish to observe in conclusion that we do
not confine ourselves to the precise detail or arrangement of parts as shewn on the
accompanying sheet of drawings, but that we hold ourselves at liberty to alter or modify
the same without departing essentially from our said Invention-We do not claim
the construction of the several parts as herein before specified taken separately and
apart from each other.
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 construction of a Pedal for bicycles, tricycles, and velocipeds, having one
central bearing in place of two side bearings, substantially as hereinbefore set forth
and described.
2. The construction of a metallic or other hub for carriages or vehicles having one
central bearing in place of two side bearings, substantially as hereinbefore set forth and
described.
3. The general combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinbefore
described in the foregoing Specification and shewn upon the accompanying sheet of
drawings the whole forming, "Improvements in and relating to velocipedes and
carriages or other vehicles."
Dated 26th August 1889
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent for Applicants.