Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear for Cycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear for Cycles.
I THOMAS GRANT of 11 St. James Street Brighton in the County of Sussex
Dealer in Domestic Labour Saving Machinery Cycles etr. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to he as follows:-
This invention has for its object a driving gear for bicycles, tricycles or the like,
which will enable a lady or gentleman to drive a machine at a greater speed, with
less exertion & expendature of power than hitherto.
The particulars of my invention consists of providing an eccentric on either side
of the back wheel hub, the same being fitted with ball eccentric straps & adjustable
eccentric rods connected to two triangular oscilating pedal levers fixed to the bottom
bracket, or in any other convenient position, the same levers being actuated upon by
two hand levers so as to enable the rider to apply extra power at will when ascending
hills, racing etc.
Dated thin 12th dow of July 1805
Improvements in or relating to Driving Gear for Cycles.
I THOMAS GRANT of 11 St. James Street Brighton in the County of Sussex
Dealer in Domestic Labour Saving Machinery Cycles etc. do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be perforined, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention has for its object, a driving gear for bicycles & tricycles, which will
enable a lady or gentleman to drive a machine at a greater speed, with less exertion
& expendature of power than hitherto.
The particulars of my invention consists of providing an eccentric on either side
of the back wheel hub, the same being fitted with ball eccentric straps & adjustable
eccentric rods connected to two triangular oscillating pedal levers, fixed to the bottom
bracket, or in any other convenient position, the same levers being actuated upon by
two hand levers so as to enable the rider to apply extra power at will when ascending
hills racing, etc.
In carrying out my invention the plan I prefer is to make the horizontal & vertical
portion of the treadle levers slotted so as to enable the rider to adjust the treadle
and hand levers working on the top front stay to any convenient distance from the
centre of the bottom bracket & to enable the rider to obtain a greater or less amount
of leverage as the case may require. The centres of the driving eccentrics may be
placed lineable or at right angles or in any other position on the opposite sides of
the back wheel. hub.
The mode of action is as follows:-
In driving the machine the driving levers will oscillate on their axes & impart
their force through the eccentric rods to the ball strapped eccentrics on the back hub
causing the eccentrics to rotate in a circular motion.
The hand levers may also be used at will to give extra power if required.

page_text: .
I have described one way in which my invention can be carried into effect, but
it is obvious that alterations may be made in the construction & arrangements of
various parts without departing from the object of my invention. Thus instead of
forming the driving levers slotted they may be made solid so that sliding blocks
may be attached to the ends of the hand levers & made to slide over the outside of
the treadle levers, or they can be made with a series of holes radiating from the
centre of the bearings or axes so as to allow the spindles & the pins of the hand
levers to..be fixed at any definite distance from the axes. The fulcrum or axes
upon which the hand or treadle levers work may be attached to any convenient
part of the framework.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings.in-which-
Figure 1 side elevation of machine.
Figure 2 elevation of driving gear part in section.
Figure 3 plan of driving gear part in section.
Figure 4 part sectional elevation of oscillating treadle lever.
In these A is part of the front top stay of the machine, B the hand lever C the
connecting rod between the hand & oscillating treadle levers D the treadle levers
E the boss of the bottom bracket F the adjustable connecting rod between the
treadle levers & the eccentrics G the eccentrics & H is the back hub or axle.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my invention &
in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I claim is
1. The improvements in the driving gear for cycles by dispensing with the
ordinary chain used.
2. The use of oscillating pedal levers instead of rotary cranks & driving chain
wheel.
3. The use of connecting rods instead of a chain.
4. Two eccentrics instead of a chain wheel.
5. Two hand levers to assist propulsio