An Improved Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 29th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
We, GEORGE GATTON MELHUISH HARDINGHAM, of 191, Fleet Street, in the
County of Middlesex, and ALBERT JOSEPHI DE PIMENTEL HARGREAVES, of 14, Rue
Balzac (Champs Elysées), Paris, in the French Republic, Civil Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to driving mechanism of the type in which a pedal lever
is employed in place of the usual chain gear to transmit motion from the foot
to the propelling wheel of a cycle.
In applying our improved pedal lever mechanism to a rear-driven bicycle, we
employ a pair of levers carrying at their forward extremities pedals and connected
at their after extremities to crank pins located on opposite sides of the rear wheel,
arranged radially opposite to one another, and coupled together. The fulcrum
for each lever may be a fixed guide in or on which the lever is free to slide longi-
tudinally, or the fulcrum may be suspended from the frame by means of a vibrat-
ing link. Between one of the crank-discs and the hub of the road-wheel is
arranged an epicyclic gear comprising a central pinion, a surrounding internally-
toothed wheel and an intermediate toothed wheel or series of wheels, the latter
meshing with the central pinion and with the internally-toothed wheel. The crank
pin is mounted in the outer face of the internally-toothed wheel, the central pinion
is secured to the hub of the road-wheel, whilst the pins on which the intermediate
toothed wheels are mounted are fixed in or secured to the frame of the machine.
Under these circumstances, the direction of rotation of the road-wheel relatively
to that of the crank-disc is reversed whilst the speed of rotation is increased in
such degree as may be desired by suitably proportioning the diameter of the central
pinion to that of the surrounding toothed wheel.

page_text: hereby declare the nature of this 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 driving mechanism of the type in which a pedal-lever
is employed in place of the usual chain-gear to transmit motion from the foot to
the propelling wheel of a cycle.
The application of our invention to a rear-driven bicycle is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings, whereof Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the complete machine,
Fig. 2 a horizontal section through the hub of the driving wheel, shewing the
driving mechanism, Fig. 3 a vertical section shewing portions of the driving gear,
as also one of the pedal-levers, in elevation, and Fig. 4 a similar vertical section,
certain parts being however removed so as to expose the intermediate-wheel-
carrier.
A pair of levers A A¹ carry at their forward extremities pedals a a¹ and are con-
nected at their after extremities to crank-pins B B¹ located on opposite sides of
the rear wheel; the said crank-pins being arranged radially opposite to one
another and keyed to the shaft C. The fulcrum for each lever may be a fixed guide
such as an oscillating thimble in which the lever is free to slide longitudinally
as well as to vibrate in a vertical plane; or a floating fulcrum may be employed
as shewn in the present design, the lever being suspended from the frame by
means of a vibrating link D. Between the crank-shaft C and the hub E of the
road-wheel is arranged a toothed gear of the epicyclic type, comprising a central
pinion F, a surrounding internally-toothed wheel G and an intermediate toothed
wheel H or series of such wheels, the latter meshing with the central pinion F
and with the internally-toothed wheel G. The crank-shaft C is secured by means
of the sleeve g and key c to the internally-toothed wheel G, the central pinion is
connected by means of the sleeve f to the hub E of the road-wheel, whilst the
studs hon
the intermediate toothed
are
wheels H
are carried in a disc which is secured by means of the sleeve h²
and feather to the frame K of the machine. Under these circum-
stances, the direction of rotation of the road-wheel relatively to that of the crank-
shaft is reversed, whilst the speed of rotation is increased in such degree as may
be desired by suitably proportioning the diameter of the central pinion F to that
of the surrounding toothed wheel G. The studs h are preferably supported at
their outer extremities in a ring which is secured to the disc or carrier h¹ by
means of studs h. The chamber which encloses the gear and forms the hub of
the road-wheel may be partially charged with lubricating fluid, the gear thus
running in an oil-bath; the lubricant being introduced or discharged by way
of the screw-plugged orifice e.
which
mounted
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we claim:-
1. The improved driving mechanism for cycles, arranged or operating sub-
stantially as herein described.
2. The herein described driving mechanism for cycles, comprising a pair of
pedal-levers of the 'first order,' which, by means of a crank-shaft, operate the
outer wheel of a toothed gear of the epicyclic type, the intermediate wheel-carrier
pertaining to the said gear being secured to the frame, whilst the central pinion
thereof is connected with the hub of the road-wheel.
3. In pedal-lever driving mechanism for cycles, the employment of a toothed
gear of the epicyclic type, having its elements arranged and connected substan-
tially as herein described, whereby the speed imparted to the road-wheel is
increased and its direction of rotation reversed.
. 4. In driving mechanism for cycles, the combination with a central pinion in
connection with the hub of the road-wheel, of an intermediate wheel carrier pro-
vided with a sleeve extending axially in one direction and a toothed driving wheel

page_text: provided with a sleeve extending axially in the opposite direction, the road-wheel
being journalled upon respective sleeves substantially as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of December 1897.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM,
Chartered Patent Agent, 191, Fleet Street, London, E.C.