Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling and Braking Cycles, especially adapted to Rear Driving Safeties.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 7th Oct., 1897-Accepted. 7th Jan., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling and Braking Cycles,
especially adapted to Rear Driving Safeties.
We, WILLIAM GEORGE HURST, of 21 The Quadrant, New Brighton, in the
County of Cheshire, Trick Cyclist, and GEORGE TAYLOR, of 22 Blyth Road,
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Works Manager, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to mechanism such as is used in propelling and braking
rear driving safety Bicycles, and consists of an arrangement of levers, springs,
stops, hands or chains, ratchet wheels, & pawls, which enables the reciprocating
or oscillatory movement of the pedals or hand levers to be converted into con-
tinuous rotary motion.
To the frame of a rear driving safety Bicycle, at a point near and in front of the
bottom bracket is fixed a pin, which projects at any convenient angle from the
plane of the frame, and this pin serves as a fulcrum for a lever which is pivoted
at one end, and can be oscillated about such a pin; at the other end or a point
near the other end of the lever a pedal of any convenient kind is fixed.
It can also be fixed in such a manner as to be capable of being moved backward
or forward by the foot of the rider, to any extent required, for the purpose of
varying the force exerted.
The spindle which rotates in the bottom bracket has a ratchet wheel fixed
to it, and by the side of this. arranged so as to be free to oscillate upon the
spindle is disposed a disc or ring. Pivoted to this disc or ring is a pawl, the point
of which can engage with the ratchet teeth, and cause the ratchet wheel to rotate
with the dise or ring. This disc or ring is partley encircled with a band or chain,
one end of which is attached to the disc or ring and the other end to the lever, in
such a manner that the depression of the pedal lever pulls the band or chain,
and causes the disc or ring to make a movement of partial rotation.
A strong spring, one end of which is attached to any convenient part of the
frame, and the other end is attached to a part of the lever near the fulcrum, in
such a manner that after the lever has been depressed, as soon as the foot of
the rider is lifted, the spring draws up the pedal end of the lever to its required
position. When the lever is in such a position, there are two stops on the side of the
disc or ring either side of the centre, which come in contact with the lever or stops on
the lever by this the tension is taken off the band or chain that encircles the disc
or ring, and it allows the spring inside the disc or ring, to keep the pawl clear of
the ratchet wheel.
A small spring is arranged so as to be extended while the disc or ring is
turned round by the depression of the pedal, and being connected by a band or
chain to the disc or ring, serves to pull it back to its original position when the
pedal lever is raised.
It will be understood when the pedal is depressed, the disc or ring is pulled
round, and with it the ratchet wheel; and this being fixed to the bottom bracket

page_text: spindle, which is connected in any ordinary manner to the back wheel hub, the
machine is caused to progress.
The pawl is lifted clear of the ratchet teeth, by a spring placed inside the disc
or ring, during the time that the disc or ring is returning to its original position.
A pin passes through a hole in the disc or ring, and is attached either to the
pawl, or a strip of metal semicircular in shape placed on the outside of the
disc or ring. This is normally pushed to a slight distance from the periphery
of the disc or ring, by the pawl coming in contact with the pin or the pin
coming in contact with the strip of metal; but when the pedal is depressed the
band or chain pulls the flat strip of metal into close contact with the periphery
of the disc or ring, and causes the pawl to engage with the ratchet teeth.
A similar set of apparatus is fixed to the other side of the machine, and con-
nected in a similar manner to the bottom bracket spindle.
A brake may be fitted which acts either upon the rim or tyre of the wheel, or
upon a brake wheel fitted to the bottom bracket spindle or hub of the driving
wheel. The brake lever by the depression of which the brake is put on, has
pivotted to it, or to a depending link, a rocking lever, one end of which projects
from either side of the lever. These ends project far enough to come under the
pedals and be pushed down by them when these are depressed. By this arrange-
ment when one only of the pedals is pushed down far enough to touch one end of
the rocking lever, this is depressed and rocking does not pull down the brake
lever but when both pedals are depressed simultaneously so as to push down
both ends of the rocking lever, this cannot rock and consequently pulls down the
brake lever, and puts on the brake.
Dated this 7th day of January 1897.
W. G. HURST.
GEORGE TAYLOR.
Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling and Braking Cycles,
especially adapted to Rear Driving Safeties
We, WILLIAM GEORGE HURST, of 21 The Quadrant, New Brighton, in the
County of Chester, Trick Cyclist, and GEORGE TAYLOR, of 22 Blyth Road,
Kensington, in the County of Middlesex, Works Manager, do 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 consists of an arrangement of mechanism for propelling and
braking cycles, preferably of the "safety" type, whereby the oscillation of one or
more levers, caused to rock by the feet of the rider produces a continuous rotary
motion of the bottom bracket spindle, on which is fixed the usual chain wheel,
which transmits the rotary motion to the hub of the road wheel.
To carry this out, I attach to the frame, preferably about half way between the
bottom bracket and the circumference of the front wheel, a pin which serves as a
fulcrum for one or more levers, upon the other ends of which pedals are mounted
to receive the feet of the rider. At or near the centres of these levers a chain,
band, or metallic cord is affixed, the other end being placed around a portion of
the circumference of, and fixed to, a disc mounted loosely upon the bottom
bracket spindle. At the side of the disc is disposed a ratchet or similar wheel,
with the teeth of which a pawl is caused to intermittently engage by the depression
of the levers. The engagement of the ratchet, and the subsequent depression of
the lever rotates the ratchet wheel and therewith the bottom bracket spindle,
and as the ratchet gear engagement is only caused to take place when it is

page_text: required to propel the machine forward, the progression of the machine will
result.
A braking device is included with the above mechanism the action of which
is hereinafter described.
Springs are arranged to return the levers to their normal positions after depres-
sion. Two sets of mechanism are preferably employed, each operated by one of the
levers disposed one on each side of the frame of the machine.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I append drawings
in which:-
Fig. 1 shews a side elevation of the driving mechanism.
Fig. 2 shews the brake operating mechanism enlarged.
Fig. 3. shews an end view of the supplementary frame for supporting, and form-
ing a bearing for, the fulcrum for the oscillating levers.
Fig. 4 shews an enlarged elevation of the ratchet driving mechanism.
Fig. 5 shews a modification.
A. A. are the oscillating levers, one on each side of the frame, centred upon
the fulcrum B at one end, and provided with pedals a.
The fulcrum pin B is supported by a supplementary bracket bb, on the
frame, of tubular formation, two portions of which each contain a helical
spring 63 which are connected one to each of the levers A. A. by a link 63 so
that they serve to return the levers to their normal position after they have been
depressed by the feet of the rider. At or near the centres of each of the
levers A. A one end of a chain or band C is attached, the other end of which is
led over and fixed to the edge of a disc c loosely mounted upon the bottom bracket
spindle 1). To the side of the disc c is fixed a lever pawl d fulcrummed on the
pin d', and to the engaging end of the pawl is pivoted a short link d², the upper
end of which comes into contact with a leaf or band spring adapted to fold
round a part of the circumference of disc c between it and the chain or band C.
As the spring is curved to a smaller radius than that of c, when the tension
on the band C ceases, the spring & disposed against the tail of the pawl d, will
raise it out of contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel d placed close to the
side of the disc c and fixed to the bottom bracket spindle D.
The spring is fixed at one end to the disc c and slotted at the other end to
engage a pin fixed to the disc to allow of its contraction, this obviates any click
of the pawl.
Therefore when one of the levers is depressed by the foot of the rider the chain
or band C is tightened round the disc e, expanding the spring d³, which lowers
the pawld on to the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and the depression of one of
the levers being continued the ratchet wheel is caused to rotate and therewith the
bottom bracket spindle D, the rotation of which is transmitted to the hub of
the road wheel in the usual way.
To cause the disc c to wind up the chain or band C when the lever A has
reached the end of its stroke the disc c is caused to rotate backwardly, by means.
of a secondary disc e formed integrally with or rigidly attached to the disc c around
which secondary disc is wrapped or wound a band or chain e', when the disc c is
rotated in that direction which causes the machine to progress. The band or
chain e' is fixed at one end to the disc e, and attached to a spring at the other end.
The spring is placed in a tube et secured to one of the arms of the bracket b
as shewn in Fig. 3.
I will now describe the braking mechanism.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2. f. f. are two downwardly projecting members of
the frame of the machine connected at the lower end by a plate f' through which
passes a rod y around which a helical spring g' is coiled; to the upper end of
rod g, the brake rod h is fastened and also a cross lever h¹ fulcrumed at h². This
lever is rocked alternately by the pedal ends of the levers A. A¹. When it is
required to brake" the machine both of the levers A. A', are simultaneously
depressed, which has the effect of pulling down the rod h by means of the
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page_text: fulcrum pin 2 and "braking" the speed of the machine by brake ³, one kind of
which is shewn diagrammatically in Fig. 1 by means of the system of levers
shewn therein. The spring g' is compressed by this movement and returns when
the levers A. A¹. are free.
Referring to Fig. 5. This figure shews a means whereby the leverage of the
levers A. A., may be increased and thereby gaining power, useful when going
uphill. The pedal a is mounted upon a pedestal a through which the end of the
lever A passes to which the pedestal is connected by the pin a which engages a
slot in the lever A. The pedestal is capable of sliding under the action of the
feet of the rider from the position shewn as far as the slot 3 allows, and locked
at either end of the slot by the spring lever pawl fulcrumed at 6. To move
the pedestal from the position shewn, the pedal is depressed on the right hand
side, which movement depresses one end of the spring pawl at and raises the other
end a³ out of engagement with a recess formed in the lever A with which it
engages. The pedestal is then free to slide as far as the length of the slot a³ will
allow upon reaching the end of which the end of the pawl at will drop over the
end of the lever A.
66
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. In mechanism for propelling cycles and like vehicles, the combination of
the levers A. and A' which are caused to rock on fulcrums B by the feet of the
rider pressing on the pedals a, and which are lifted by the springs 2, the cords
or chains C, the disc e the pawl d, the ratchet wheel, the spindle D the dise e
the cords or chains e¹ and the spring substantially as described and shewn.
2. In mechanism for propelling cycles and like vehicles, the combination of the
levers A and A¹ which are caused to rock on fulcrums B by the feet of the rider
pressing on the pedals a and which are lifted by the springs 6, the cords or
chains C, the disc c the pawl d normally lifted clear of the ratchet wheel teeth
by means of the spring, the ratchet wheel the spindle D, the disc e, the cords
or chains e¹ and the spring e³, substantially as described and shewn.
3. In mechanism for propelling cycles and like vehicles, the device for normally
lifting the pawl d clear of the ratchet wheel teeth consisting essentially of the
band or leaf spring the spring the link and the pawl d arranged and
operating substantially as described and shewn.
4. In combination with mechanism for driving cycles, the brake operating
device consisting essentially of the fulcrumed lever attached to the brake rod h
the ends of which lever are normally rocked alternately by the pressure of the
pedals on the levers A. A. but upon the levers A. A being simultaneously
depressed, the lever h¹ is prevented from rocking, and being forced downwards,
pulls down the brake operating rod h, and applies the brake, substantially as
shewn and described.
5. For use with mechanism for propelling cycles and like vehicles the com-
bination of the brake rod the double ended rocking lever h³ the spring g' and
the brake substantially as described and shewn.
G. For use with mechanism for propelling cycles and like vehicles the device
for increasing the leverage consisting essentially of the slotted end of the
lever A, the block ', and the spring lever pawl a connected to the pedal a in
such manner that the inclination of the pedal in one direction allows the pedals
to slide so as to vary the leverage, substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1897.
-
WILLIAM GEORGE HURST.
GEORGE TAYLOR.