Improvements in Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 9th May, 1896
Improvements in Cycles.
I, KARL KLOSE of Pancsova, in the Kingdom of Hungary, Cycle Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said 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 improvements in cycles and consists principally in
replacing the ordinary chain driving-gear by connecting rods operated from the
pedal-axle by a toothed gearing. My invention also relates to improvements in the
bearings and steering-handle and to a new means for securing the spokes.
I will now describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawing
in which,
Fig. 1 is a side view and
Fig. 2 a sectional plan of the improved cycle,
Fig. 3 shows on a larger scale the toothed gearing operated from the pedal-axle.
Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of the intermediary pin-wheel c;.
Fig. 5 is a section of the ball-bearing.
Fig. 6 shows the spoke attachment.
Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the adjustable steering handle.
In place of the customary chain-wheel, a toothed-wheel b is mounted on the
pedal-axle a; the wheel b engages with the piu-wheel c, the motions of the latter
being in turn transmitted to the small toothed-wheel e mounted on the axle d. The
three wheels b, c, d are mounted in a flat casing f, which is suitably secured to the.
cycle-frame. The free ends of the axle d carry cranks g mounted at an angle of
90° to each other and coupled by means of rods h to corresponding cranks j on the
axle of the back or driving wheel of the cycle. On pedaling, therefore the
pedal-axle a transmits by way of the wheels band e a rapid motion to the small
wheel e, such motion being then directly transmitted to the driving wheel / by
means of the rods . The friction between the wheels b, c, d is reduced to a
minimum seeing that, as shown in Fig. 4, the pins m of pin-wheel c are revolubly
mounted on balls o in the discs n.
All the axles and spindles are provided with ball-bearings, as shown in Fig. 5.
The rings y are screwed from both sides into the bearing p and secure the balls ;
it will thus be seen that as the bearing becomes worn, the rings q can be readily
readjusted accordingly.
Fig. 6 shows a further improvement in the spoke attachments. The spokes r are
not secured to the tyre-rin in the customary manner, but a second inner-rim sis
provided, in the edges of which are screwed the screw-threaded ends of the spokes r
in such manner that they cross each other alternately. The spokes are secured by
nuts which allow of the ready adjustment or removal of the former, without it
being necessary to remove the tyre.
Another improvement in the steering-handle is shown in Fig. 7.
As will be seen, the steering handle u is horizontally adjustable by means of
clamp w on the horizontal arm of the hollow knee-piece v, the latter being vertically
adjustable on the steering-rod x by means of the clamp y. The steering-handle
can thus be readily adjusted both in horizontal and vertical directions.

page_text: 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. A driving-gear for cycles, comprising a toothed-wheel (b) mounted on the
pedal-axle (a) and engaging with pin-wheel (c) having pins (m) mounted on
balls (o) in discs (n), said wheel (c) driving in turn the pinion-wheel (e) and its
cranks (9), which latter are coupled by connecting rods (h) to corresponding
cranks of the driving wheel of the cycle, substantially as described and shown
in the drawings.
2. A ball bearing for the spindles of cycle-wheels, consisting of rings (q),
screwed from both sides into the fixed bearing-part (p) and thus securing the
balls (o), substantially as described and shown in the drawing.
3. A spoke-attachment for cycles, comprising a secondary rim (s) secured to the
principal rim and through the edges of which are adjustably secured by nuts (t)
the screw-threaded ends of spokes (r), which latter alternately cross each other,
substantially as described and shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.
4. An adjustable steering-handle for cycles, comprising the steering-handle (u)
horizontally adjustable by means of clamp (w) movable on the horizontal arm of
knee-piece (v), the latter being vertically adjustable on steering lever (a) by means
of clamp (y), substantially as described and shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.
Dated this 18th day of March 1896.
HUGHES, ELI & HUGHES,
76 Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents for Applicant.