Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Cycles and for other like purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Cycles and for other like
purposes.
I, WILLIAM GIBSON NICHOLSON, of 113, Grimsby Road, New Cleethorpes,
Grimsby, in the County of Lincoln, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus more especially applicable
for driving cycles, but such improvements may also be employed for other like
purposes.
In applying my invention for the purpose of driving a bicycle, for example,
I attach to the bottom or crank bracket a plate, disc, or wheel, of circular shape
Sur-
but fixed to the bottom or crank bracket in a position eccentric thereto.
rounding this eccentric and adapted to rotate on the periphery thereof, or on
suitable roller or ball bearings provided for that purpose, is a toothed or sprocket
ring, the teeth of which are adapted to carry the ordinary gear-chain which
communicates rotatory motion to the sprocket-wheel on the hub of the driving
road wheel. On the side of this toothed or sprocket ring is a driving pin or
roller which takes into a slot formed more or less from end to end of the ordinary
pedal crank. The eccentricity of the plate, disc, or wheel in relation to the circle
described by the rider's foot permits of the distribution of the power exerted by
the rider to the best advantage, that is to say, the parts are so arranged in
relation to one another that the pin or roller is at the inner end of the slot in
the crank when the position of the foot of the rider is such as to most easily
exert the maximum of power, (as at the downward stroke, for example), and that
the pin or roller is at the outer end of the said slot when the rider's foot and the
pedai are at their lowest position. It will thus be seen that the effective length
of the crank varies, while the pedal describes an invariable circle.
In some cases in order to dispense with the pitch-chain and drive the bicycle
by gearing direct, I mount the before-mentioned eccentric, plate, disc, or wheel
directly on the driving axle or on the adjacent framework, and the ring sur-
rounding same is provided with internal teeth or pins into which gears a toothed
pinion fixed to the hub of the wheel.
In this case it is convenient to have the slotted crank arm inside of the frame-
fork, and the crank carrying the pedal outside the same.
1
በሰ
Al 1900

page_text: Improvements in Apparatus for Driving Cycles and for other like
purposes.
I, WILLIAM GIBSON NICHOLSON, of 113, Grimsby Road, New Cleethorpes,
Grimsby, in the County of Lincoln, Cabinet Maker, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to improvements in apparatus more especially applicable
for driving cycles, but may also be employed for other like purposes. In the
accompanying two sheets of drawings is illustrated the application of my inven-
tion to a bicycle.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 a' plan of so much of the bottom or
crank bracket of a bicycle as is necessary to illustrate one part of my invention,
and Figure 3 is a side elevation and Figure 4 a plan of so much of the central
portion of the driving wheel of a bicycle as is necessary to illustrate another part
of my invention.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 A is the bottom or crank bracket, B the back
fork leg or chain stays, C the lower main tube, and D the diagonal or down tube
of the cycle. To the spindle E is keyed or otherwise fixed a plate, disc, or wheel F
of circular shape but fixed to the bottom or crank bracket A in a position eccen-
tric thereto as shewn. Surrounding this fixed eccentric F and adapted to rotate
freely on the periphery thereof, or on suitable roller or ball bearings G provided
for that purpose, is a toothed or sprocket ring H, the teeth of which are adapted
to carry the ordinary gear chain I which communicates rotatory motion to the
sprocket wheel on the hub of the driving road wheel (not seen in Figures 1 and 2).
On one side of the toothed or sprocket ring H is a driving pin or roller J which
takes into a slot K formed more or less from end to end of the pedal crank L
which carries any ordinary pedal M.
It will now be understood that the eccentricity of the plate, disc, or wheel F
in relation to the circle described by the rider's foot permits the distribution of
the power exerted by the rider to the best advantage. For example, the parts
as shewn in Figures 1 and 2 are so arranged in relation to one another that the
pin or roller J will always be towards the inner end of the slot K in the crank L
when the position of the foot of the rider is such as to most easily exert the
maximum of power (as at the downward stroke for example) and that the pin
or roller is towards the outer end of the slot K in the crank L when the rider's
foot and the pedal M are at that position in which the rider is capable of exerting
the minimum of power (as driving the upward stroke for example). It will thus
be seen that the effective length of the crank L varies while the pedal M
describes an invariable circle.
In the drawing the same arrangement of parts is shown on each side of the
machine but if preferred an ordinary pedal crank arrangement may be provided
on one side, and my improved arrangement on the other. The spindle E may
be fixed and the cranks E rotate loosely thereon, or the spindle may be divided
and each part rotate independently of the other according to requirements.
In the latter case the eccentric plate, disc, or wheel F may be loosely mounted
on the said spindle, and be held in place by the stop N attached to the chain
stays B or in any other convenient manner.
In some cases in order to dispense with the pitch chain and drive the bicycle
by gearing direct I mount the eccentric F directly on the driving axle O, (as
shewn in Figures 3 and 4), or other convenient fixed part of the machine (the

page_text: adjacent framework for example); and the ring H surrounding the eccentric F
is provided with internal teeth Por pins into which gears the toothed pinion Q
fixed to the hub R of the wheel. In this case it is convenient to have the slotted
crank arm L (acting on the pin J of the toothed ring H) inside of the frame fork S,
and the crank L' carrying the pedal outside the same as shown. B is a bracket
or extension of the back fork B for the purpose of supporting and steadying the
eccentric Fas shewn. In some cases the crank L may be actuated by the
ordinary pedal crank mounted as usual on the bottom or crank bracket and
coupled to the crank L' (Figure 4) by the coupling rod T.
It is obvious that the eccentric F may be placed with its centre linea a at
any desired angle instead of horizontal as shewn in the drawings according to the
effect to be obtained.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First. In apparatus for driving cycles and the like the employment of a toothed
or sprocket ring or wheel mounted eccentrically to the wheel axle or crank spindle
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Second. In apparatus for driving cycles and the like the eccentric F, toothed
or sprocket ring H, pin J, and slotted crank L, combined and operating, sub-
stantially as described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
Third. In apparatus for driving cycles and the like, the eccentric F, toothed
ring H, pin J, pinion Q, slotted crank L, and pedal crank L₁ combined and
operating, substantially as described with reference to Figures 3 and 4 of the
drawings.
Fourth. In apparatus for driving cycles and the like, the eccentric F, toothed
ring H, pin J, pinion Q, slotted crank L, pedal crank L' and coupling rod T,
combined, and operating substantially as described with reference to Figures 3
and 4 of the drawings.
Fifth. The apparatus for driving cycles and the like, constructed and operating
substantially as described.