Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles and the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 13th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 13th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles and the like.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN of 28 Rose Grove, Ardwick,
Manchester in the County of Lancaster, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention has reference to improvements in driving gear for cycles and
the like in which the cranks are not carried by the axle of the driving wheel.
According thereto the driving wheel is rigidly connected to its axle which is
journalled in bearings in the frame of the machine. To each end of the axle,
outside the bearings is fixed one part of a clutch the other part of which is
loosely mounted on the axle and is in the form of a pulley but is connected to
one of the cranks or pedals of the cycle by means of a flexible band or chain
and a connecting rod. When said loose part is rotated in a forward direction
it engages with the fixed part. The flexible band or chain is attached to the
periphery of the loose part and to one end of the connecting rod which is pivoted
to the crank or pedal. The arrangement is such that as the pedals are revolved
they alternately exert a pull upon the corresponding flexible band or chain, which
at this time will be wound upon the periphery of the loose clutch part and thus
cause the rotation of the same together with the driving wheel in a forward
direction. Means such as springs are provided for causing each flexible band or
chain to be wound upon the periphery of the loose clutch part as the pedal to
which the same is connected moves towards it, so as to be in the operative
position ready for the next forward movement of its pedal.
It will thus be understood that the reciprocating motion of the connecting rods
obtained by the rotation of the cranks is converted into circular motion imparted
alternately to each end of the axle of the driving wheel. Three or more pawls
may be provided on the loose part of each clutch, these pawls being spaced at such
a distance apart that one or more of them will be caused to drop by gravity into
gear with teeth formed on the fixed part of the clutch.
I do not confine myself to the arrangement of a flexible portion of the connecting
rod passing around the periphery of the loose parts of the clutches as equivalent
mechanical devices may be substituted therefor such as toothed wheels and a rack
bar, or the like; also in place of pivoted pawls friction clutches may be employed
without departure from the essential features of my invention.
Dated this 13th day of October 1893.
J. G. A. KITCHEN,
By L. W., per F. B.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles and the like.
1, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 28 Rose Grove, Ardwick,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Cycle Manufacturer, 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 has reference to improvements in driving gear for cycles and the
like in which the cranks are not carried by the axle of the driving wheel.

page_text: According thereto the driving wheel is rigidly connected to the axle which is
journalled in bearings in the frame of the machine.
To each end of the axle, outside the bearings is fixed one part of a clutch the
other part of which is loosely mounted on the axle and is in the form of a pulley
but is connected to one of the cranks or pedals of the cycle by means of a flexible
band or chain and a connecting rod, the said loose part when rotated in a forward
direction, engaging with the fixed part.
The flexible band or chain is attached to the periphery of the loose part and to
one end of the connecting rod which at its other end is pivotted to the corre-
sponding crank or pedal.
The arrangement is such that as the pedals are revolved they alternately exert a
pull upon and unwind the corresponding flexible band or chain, which at this time
will be wound upon the periphery of the loose clutch part, and thus cause the
rotation of the same together with the driving wheel in a forward direction.
Means such as springs are provided for causing each flexible band or chain to be
wound upon the periphery of the loose clutch part as the pedal to which the same
is connected, moves towards it, so as to be in the operative position ready for the
next forward movement of its pedal.
It will thus be understood that the reciprocating motion of the connecting rods
obtained by the rotation of the cranks is converted into circular motion imparted
alternately to each end of the axle of the driving wheel.
Three or more pawls may be provided on the loose part of each clutch, these
pawls being spaced at such a distance apart that one or more of them will at all
times be caused to drop by gravity into gear with teeth formed on the fixed part of
the clutch.
I do not confine myself to the arrangement of a flexible portion of the connecting
rod passing around the periphery of the loose parts of the clutches as equivalent
mechanical devices may be substituted therefor such as toothed wheels and rack
bars or the like: also in place of pivotted pawls, friction clutches may be employed
without departure from the essential features of my invention.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing sufficient of a safety bicycle to illustrate the
application of driving gear according to this invention to the driving wheel
thereof; in this case the rear wheel.
Fig. 2 is a plan of same.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, of the wheel boss and gearing.
Fig. 4 is a similar view to Fig. 2 shewing a slightly modified arrangement in
which the gearing is arranged between the frame sides of the machine.
Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3 showing the modified wheel boss and gearing
used in such modified arrangement.
Figs. 6 and 7 are cross sections on the lines 9, 10 and 11 12 respectively of
Fig. 5.
Fig. 8 shews a portion of the crank and pedal together with one end of the
corresponding connecting rod.
Referring to Figs 1, 2 and 3, the boss A of the driving wheel A' is rigidly
connected to the driving shafts B, which rotates in bearings C of the usual kind,
connected to the triangular members D, D of the machine frame. To each of the
outer end portions of the shaft B and adjacent to the bearings C, C is secured a
ratchet wheel E (Fig. 3) with the ratchet teeth of which pawls F, F engage when
these are rotated in the direction for driving the machine forward. The pawls F, F
are pivoted to a clutch drum G, which revolves on ball bearings G', G² arranged
between it and the revolving shaft B. H, H are flexible straps or chains that are
secured, one to each of the clutch drums G by the pin G³, Fig. 3, and are coiled
two or more times around it.
L is a coiled spring, one end of which is secured to a projecting pin L¹ on the
diagonal member D¹ of the machine frame which carries the saddle pillar D². The

page_text: other or lower end of the spring L is attached to another flexible strap or chain L'
that is also coiled around the clutch drum G, but in the opposite direction as shewn
in Figs. 1 and 3.
The other end of each flexible strap or chain H is attached to one end of a
connecting rod N, the other end of which takes onto a projecting boss on the side
plate of the pedal P, as shewn in Figs. 2, 4 & 8 so that the pedal is still free to
rotate on the pedal pin Q.
The two pedal cranks R are fixed directly opposite to one another upon the ends
of the shaft R¹, so that as one of the flexible straps or chains H is rotating its
clutch drum in the forward or driving direction, the other flexible strap or chain
as to pedal to which it is connected recedes, will be simultaneously rewound upon
its clutch drum by the action of the corresponding spiral spring L, which, as will
be understood, will have been extended during the forward rotation of its clutch
drum. The number of revolutions given to the loose clutch G during each rotation
of the corresponding pedal depends, of course, upon the proportion the diameter of
the drum G bears to the stroke of the pedal cranks R, and can be varied to suit
requirement.
Thus the motion of the connecting rods due to the rotation of the cranks is
converted into a circular motion of the driving shaft through the two clutch drums
alternately.
In the construction shown in Figs. 4, 5, 6 & 7 the axle of the wheel does not
rotate but is rigidly secured to the forked ends D³ of the frames of machine and
the hollow boss A which rotates around it, has ratchet teeth formed around the
periphery of its projecting ends A² (Figs. 5 & 6) and rotates on ball bearings M
between it and the fixed axle B. In this case each of the flexible straps or
chains H is arranged to be wound spirally upon itself as shown, and is again
rewound by means of an internal spiral spring J, one end of which is secured to the
inner periphery of the clutch drum G, whilst its other or inner end is secured to
the adjusting cone K fixed on the shafts B. K¹ is a loose cap screwed upon the
cone K as shewn to prevent dust entering the ball bearings. In other respects
the arrangement is similar in construction and operation to the first arrangement
herein described.
I do not confine myself to the use of pawls such as are shewn in Fig. 6 as in
some cases it may be advantageous to provide friction pawls of the well known
form; also other spring arrangement may be substituted for those shown, for
rewinding the flexible driving straps, cords, or chains, onto the clutch drums.
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
1. Driving gear for cycles and the like in which the circular motion of two
cranks fixed opposite to each other upon a rotary shaft is transmitted to the driving
wheel of the cycle or the like by connecting rods each of which is adapted to rotate
one part of a friction or other clutch that is caused to engage with another part of
the clutch fixed to the driving wheel, at each forward movement of the corresponding
connecting rod, the clutches acting in alternate order and means for again revolving
same in the opposite direction substantially as herein described.
2. Driving gear for cycles and the like, comprising a pair of cranks, a pair of
clutches each adapted to rotate the driving wheel of the cycle or other vehicle to
which it is applied, in one direction only, and connecting rods each jointed to one of
the cranks and connected with one end of a flexible connection such as a strap,
cord or chain the other end of which is wound upon an oppositely rotated or
spring barrel that forms one part of the clutch and is adapted through ratchet and
pawl or friction devices to engage the other part of the clutch connected with the
driving wheel, the arrangement being such that the clutches are brought into action
alternately substantially as herein described.

page_text: 3. Driving gear for cycles and the like constructed arranged and operating
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference respectively to and shown in
Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive and in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings annexed.
101
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For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.