Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1593-Accepted, 27th Jan., 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Bicycles and similar
Vehicles.
I, SAMUEL AMERICUS WHITE, residing at No. 713 North Third Street, in the
City of Harrisburg in the County of Dauphin and State of Fennsylvania, U.S.A.,
Portrait Artist, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
Referring to the accompanying drawings :
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of a bicycle provided with my improved
propelling mechanism.
Fig. 2 is a detail view of the device for adjusting the supplementary lever, and
Fig. 3, a detail view of the ratchet mechanism for imparting motion to the pedal
levers.
My invention pertains to certain improvements in mechanism for propelling
bicycles and similar vehicles, and my object is to provide a novel, useful and
efficient device, whereby the power of the rider may be exercised with the greatest
facility and utilized to the highest advantage, enabling him to increase or diminish
the speed of the machine at pleasure or according to the condition or gradients of
the roadway over which he travels.
The peculiar construction and operation of the device will be understood by
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which A A A designate the frame of a
bicycle having a steering wheel 2 and a driving wheel 3, the latter being actuated
by a sprocket wheel 4 mounted on the transverse shaft 5 and connected by a
sprocket chain to the smaller sprocket wheel 6 which is attached to the axle of the
driving wheel. Cylindrical boxes 7 are rotatably mounted on the transverse shaft
and are provided on their inner peripheries with pallets which engage the notches
of ratchet wheels 8 while the boxes are turned in a forward direction, and which are
released from engagement when the boxes are turned backwardly. It will be seen
that motion is imparted to the bicycle by turning the boxes intermittently in a
forward direction. The peculiar mechanism for effecting and controlling the
movement of the vehicle consists of two pairs of levers located on either side of
the vehicle and adapted to co-operate in such a manner as to provide the best
application and insure the most favorable results of the pedal power of the
operator.
9 designates a pedal lever made rigid by a stay rod 10 and pivoted at its
longitudinal center on the axle of the driving wheel. Its rear end is connected by
a link 11 to a co-operative lever 12, the forward end of which terminates in a wrist
provided with an anti-friction roller 13, adapted to move in a slotted guide 14. The
ratchet mechanism is also connected with and actuated by the front end of this
lever. The lower horizontal bar a of the frame is slotted and forms a guide for a
movable block 15 provided with a laterally projecting fulerum 16 which may be
readily adjusted in different positions on the lever 12 by means of a bifurcated
connecting rod 17 actuated by a vertical lever 18 the upper end of which is
provided with a spring latch 19 adapted to engage notches in the segment bar 20.
It will be understood that a bicycle provided with this device is at all times
under control of the rider. When ascending a hill the adjustable levers may be
instantly lengthened and the power increased accordingly. If the roadway
be level and surface smooth, the levers are shortened and the speed is thereby
accelerated.

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. The herein described mechanism for propelling bicycles and similar vehicles,
consisting of the pedal lever and the supplementary adjustable lever arranged and
adapted to increase or diminish the power and accelerate or retard the speed of the
vehicle substantially as herein set forth.
2. In a device for propelling bicycles and similar vehicles the combination with
the driving wheel and pedal lever, of the herein described supplementary lever the
movable fulcrum with its adjuncts adapted to alter the adjustment of the
supplementary lever substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Dated this 26th day of December 1893.
CRUIKSHANK & FAIRWEATHER,
62, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Agents.