Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. ·
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Velocipedes.
I, KENNETH SOTHEBLAND MURRAY, of 10, Chelsea Gardeus, in the County of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to utilize the familiar sun and planet motion in
conjunction with an ordinary crank motion so as to obtain variable speeds in
velooipedes.
:
The accompanying Figure 1, 2 and 3 illustrate a method by which I can apply
this invention to an ordinary bicycle.
a is the treadle extremity of the bicycle crank.
b is a planet wheel which in the position shewn is frictionally locked to the
crank.
o is the sun wheel to which the sprocket rim e is attached and which is free to
revolve on the crank shaft.
d is the treadle frame which in the position shown in Figures 1 and 2 is free to
revolve on the ball bearings f₁ and ƒ₂.
is an externally screwed sleeve rigidly attached to the spindle of the planet
wheel b.
m is a special foot rest fitting into the frame of the treadle. It is centered on
one pin of same and is free to move radially up and down on the other pin, as
shewn in Figure 2. In the centre of this special foot rest a long half nut is
formed which can be caused to engage or disengage with the externally screwed
sleeve by foot pressure. In Figures 1 and 2 this half put is shewn disengaged.
In Figure 3 it is shewn (dotted) engaged.
n (Fig. 1) is a spring the action of which will be described later.
Ρ
is a loose washer on the spindle of the planet wheel b.
o is a ball bearing to reduce friction between this washer and the edge of the
long sleeve bearing formed on the crank a.
rand r₂ are lock nuts to keep the treadle frame in position, and
8 is another lock nut with, a shoulder, the object of which will be explained
later.
The bearing of the sun wheel carrying the sprocket rim for chain is not shown
as to do so is not necessary for the purpose of explaining my invention. I propose
however in order to ensure accuracy of movement and the minimum of friction to
carry the boss of this wheel in the form of a sleeve into the main bottom bracket
through which the crank shaft passes and to insert ball bearings between the crank
shaft and the wheel at the crank end and to employ ball bearings between the
bottom bracket and the sleeve of the wheel instead of the ball bearings usually
employed between the crank shaft and this bracket. The sleeve of the wheel,
which will be a loose fit on the crank shaft will project only a short distance into
the bracket and the bearings between the crank shaft and the other side of the
bracket will remain as at present so that the three sets of ball bearings.can be
adjusted by the existing method.

page_text: The treadle and crank on this side of the bicycle may be of the usual type,
except that the foot rest on the treadle must be of the same depth as that of the
treadle on the opposite side.
The action of my invention is as follows:
In Figures 1 and 2 the half nut on foot rest and the externally screwed sleeve.
attached (through the spindle) to the planet wheel bare shewn disengaged,
consequently the tension of the spring m draws the frictional face of the planet
wheel b against the frictional disc formed on the crank end a thereby causing them
to interlock in the manner shown. The planet wheel thus prevents the sun wheel
turning on the crank shaft so that the whole revolve together and the movement
conveyed through the treadle, crank and sprocket rim to the chain is direct and
the treadle (not being locked in any way through the foot rest to the crauk or
planet wheel) is free to revolve on its ball bearings f₁ and f₂.
This is the low gear of the bicycle. If it be desired to employ the high gear
the treadle must be turned round under the foot. The pressure thus applied on
the opposite side of the foot rest causes the loose end to descend until the position
shewn (dotted) in Figure 3 is attained.
:
This causes the half nut to engage with the screwed sleeve / and as the nut
is prevented from turning by the foot, and as the treadle is fixed laterally on
the crank by the lock nuts r, and r₂, the sleeve will travel up the sleeve
bearing formed on the crank a, until the shoulder of the lock nut 8 jams on the
treadle frame d. The screwed sleeve and the planet wheel b and its spindle
being all in one part, it follows that the same movement is imparted to all, and
the frictional contact between the planet wheel and crank face is consequently
released, and the spring n further compressed. It will thus be seen that whilst
the treadle frame will still continue to revolve on the ball bearings f₁ the ball
bearings fat the other end will be locked and so long as the horizontal position
of the treadle is maintained the planet wheel and treadlo will move together,―the
spindle of the planet wheel turning in the long bearing formed on the crank and
the ball bearings o taking up the thrust of the spring n. Multiplied speed equal
to the pitch circle of the planet wheel will thus be transmitted through the sun
wheel, sprocket rim and chain to the rear driven wheel of the bicycle.
It will be seen that the power expended in this fast speed gear is to a large
extent that required to resist the tendency of the treadle to turn round under the
foot. Power in this form will be expended by the right foot only but it is obvious
that on the up stroke of the right foot this tendency of the treadle to turn round
must be resisted in order that the gearing may work continuously. Instead
therefore of relieving the treadle of the weight of the leg on the up stroke, as is
customary, some portion of the weight must remain to overcome the turning
tendency, and the work of which the right leg is thus relieved' will be transferred
to the down stroke of the left. The total expenditure of power on each crank will
thus be very similar, and can probably be made still more so by employing a toe
clip on the left troadle.
When the work on the fast gear is found excessive it is only necessary to allow
the treadle to turn under the foot. Pressure then applied on the opposite side will
cause the half nut and screwed sleeve to disengage and the spring a will bring the
planet wheel b and the disc on crank a again into frictional gearing. This locks
the sun wheel and causes direct driving as first described. The principal feature
of my invention is the combination of treadle and planet wheel as a means of
obtaining variable speed in conjunction with a crauk. I do not, restrict myself to
the details or exact form of the mechanism I have illustrated and described.
Dated this 90th doof 1905

page_text: I, KENNETH SUTHERLAND MURRAY, of 10, Chelsea Gardens, in the County of
London, Engineer, 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 :-
!
The object of this invention is to utilize the well known sun and planet motion
in conjunction with an ordinary crank motion so as to obtain variable speeds in
velocipedes.
I will describe my Invention with reference to the drawings accompanying the
Provisional Specification and also the drawings of a modified arrangement
accompanying this final Specification.which illustrate this invention as applied to an
ordinary bicycle.
Referring to the drawings accompanying the Provisional Specification a repre-
sents the treadle extremity of the bicycle crank, ba toothed planet wheel which in
the position shewn is frictionally locked to the crank.
o is the toothed sun wheel to which a sprocket rim e is attached and which is free
to revolve on the crank shaft. d is the treadle frame which in the position shewn
in Figures 1 and 2 is free to revolve on the ball bearings f' and f².
I is an externally screwed sleeve rigidly attached to the spindle of the planet
wheel b.
m is a special foot rest fitting into the frame of the treadle. It is centered on
one pin of same and is free to move radially up and down on the other pin; as
shewn in Figure 2. At the centre of this special foot-reat a long half nut is formed
which can be caused to engage with or be disengaged from the externally screwed
sleeve by foot pressure. In Figures 1 and 2 this half nut is shown disengaged. In
Figure 3 it is shewn (dotted) engaged. n (Figure 1) is a spring the action of which
will be hereinafter described.
p is a loose washer on the spindle of the planet wheel b.
o is a ball bearing to reduce friction between this washer and the edge of the long
sleeve bearing formed on the crank a.
and 2 are lock nuts to keep the treadle frame in position and 8 is another look
nut with shoulder the object of which will be hereinafter explained.
The bearing of the sun wheel'c carrying the sprocket rime for the chain is not
shewn as to do so is not necessary for the purpose of explaining my invention. I
propose however in order to secure accuracy of movement and the minimum of friction
to carry the boss of this wheel in the form of a sleeve into the main bottom bracket
through which the crank shaft passes, and to insert ball bearings between the crank
shaft and the wheel at the crank end, and to employ ball bearings between the
bottom bracket and the sleeve of the wheel instead of the ball bearing usually
employed between the crank shaft and this bracket. The sleeve of this wheel
which will be a loose fit on the crank shaft will project only a short distance into
the bracket and the bearing between the crank shaft and the other side of the
bracket will remain as at present so that the ball bearings can be adjusted by the
existing method. The treadle and crank on this side of the bicycle may be of the
usual type except that the foot-rest on the treadle must be of the same depth as that
of the treadle on the opposite side.
The action according to this arrangement is as follows:-
In Figures 1 and 2 the half nut on the foot-rest and the externally screwed
sleeve attached (through the spindle) to the planet wheel b are disengaged
consequently the tension of the spring draws the frictional face of the planet wheel b
against the frictional disc formed on the crank end a, thereby causing them to

page_text: interlock in the manner shewn. The planet wheel thus prevents the sun wheel
turning on the crank shaft so that the whole revolve together and the movement
conveyed through the treadle, crank, and sprocket rim to the chain is direct and
the treadle (not being locked in any way through the footrest to the crank or
planet wheel) is free to revolve on its ball bearings f¹ and ƒ³.
This is the low gear of the bicycle.
If it be desired to employ the high gear the treadle must be turned round
under the foot. The pressure thus applied on the opposite side of the foot
rest causes the loose end to descend until the position shewn (dotted) in Figure 3.
is obtained.
This causes the half nut to engage with the screwed sleeve l, and as the nut
is prevented from turning by the foot, and as the treadle is fixed laterally on the
crank by the lock nuts and 2, the sleeve will travel up the sleeve bearing,
formed on the crank a, until the shoulder of the look nut & jams on the treadle
frame d. The screwed sleeve and the planet wheel 6 and its spindle being
all in one part, it follows that the same movement is imparted to all, and the
frictional contact between the planet wheel and crank face is consequently
released and the spring n further compressed. It will thus be seen that whilst
the treadle frame will still continue to revolve on the ball bearing the ball
bearing at the other end will be locked, and so long as the horizontal position
of the treadle is maintained the planet wheel and treadle will move together, the
spindle of the planet wheel turning in the long bearing formed on the crank, and
the ball bearing o taking up the thrust of the spring n.
Multiplied speed in proportion to the pitch circles of the teeth of the sun and
planet wheels will thus be transmitted through the sun wheel sprocket rim and
chain to the rear driven wheel of the bicycle.
It will be seen that the power developed in this fast speed gear is to a large
extent that required to resist the tendency of the treadle to turn round under the
foot. Power in this form will be expended by the right foot only but it is obvious
that on the up stroke of the right foot this tendency of the treadle to turn round
must be resisted in order that the gearing may work continuously. Instead
therefore of relieving the treadle of the weight of the leg on the up stroke, as is
customary, some portion of the weight must remain to overcome the turning
tendency, and the work of which the right leg is thus relieved will be transferred
to the down stroke of the left leg.
The total expenditure of power
оц
both cranks will thus be
very
similar and can be made still more so by employing a toe clip on the left
treadle.
When the work on the fast gear is found excessive it is only necessary to
allow the treadle to turn under the foot. Pressure then applied on the opposite
side will cause the half nut and screwed sleeve to disengage and the spring n
will bring the planet wheel b and the disc on the crank a again into frictional
gearing. This locks the sun wheel and causes direct driving as first
described.
Figure 4 is a vertical section and Figure 5 a front view partly in section of a
modified construction and arrangement of the sun and planet gear according to
my invention.
a is a hollow crank on which at the pedal extremity, is formed a sleeve a².
Fitted to this sleeve is a toothed wheel b which can be caused, either to rotate in
the said sleeve or be fixed thereto as hereinafter described. This wheel b constitutes
the planet wheel and its motion transmitted to the toothed sun wheel c through
intermediate (or idle) toothed wheels c and c² which rotate on pins provided in
the hollow crank a. The sun wheel c which is shown in the form of a toothed
ring, is connected by sorew bolts d to the central or body portion e¹ of the sprocket
ringe which is itself attached to the body portion e¹ by screws or bolts d¹. The
body portion e' is mounted on a hollow axle g which rotates on ball bearings at
each, extremity of the main bracket g', one end of which only is shewn in Figure 4.

page_text: The main crank axle h rotates on ball bearings provided within the hollow axle g
and to this main crank axle is keyed the hollow crank a which for example may be
the right crank whilst the other or left crank, which is not shown in the drawings
may be of ordinary construction and be keyed to the crank axle in the ordinary
way.
The pedal m is mounted on ball bearings ff arranged at one end on the sleeve al
of the crank a in the manner shewn, and at its other end on a collar f³ on the
spindle or shank 6 of the planet wheel. b.
On a square or angular shaped portion b² of the spindle or shank of the planet
wheel b is fitted to slide a collar on which is mounted the foot-reat m¹ in
which the collar is free to rotate. On each end of the collar 1. are clutch
teeth shown in section in Figure 6. arranged to engage in corresponding
recesses provided in the extremity of the sleeve a' and in the inner side of the
outer frame m² of the pedal m. oo and o³ (shown by dotted lines in Figure 4)
are grooves out in the rectangular member m³ of the pedal frame, and p Figure 5
is a projection on the sliding footrest m which projection engages with one or
other of these grooves o¹ 02 03 according to the position of the footrest. x (shewn
by dotted lines in Figure 4) is the ontline of a portion of the fork frame supporting
the rear or driving wheel of the bicycle. t is a plate fitted to the back of the crank
and enclosing the gear wheels.
I will now describe the action of this arrangement.
Suppose-pe desired to work the bicycle without any intermediate gearing,
whilst bicycle is in motion.
The right foot which is on the sliding footrest m' of the pedal m is pressed
inwards so as to cause the clutch teeth on the inner side of the sleeve to enter the
recesses formed on the end of the sleeve a¹ as shewn in Figure 4. This locks
the geared wheels to the crank a and sprocket ring e whilst the pedal m itself
is free to revolve on its ball bearings ff, and only the outer or hollow axle g
rotates within the main bracket gi the method of propulsion being exactly
the same as that of an ordinary bicycle.
The
sun and
Suppose a fast speed to be desired the sliding foot-rest m' is pressed outwards
until the clutch teeth on the outer side of the sliding collar / enter the
recesses provided on the inner side of the outer frame m² of pedal m.
planet wheel b is then locked to the pedal m but is free to rotate in the sleeve a¹
of the crank a. It will thus be seen that so long as the pedal m is maintained
in a horizontal position whilst the crank revolves as before u
planet movement is set up through the intermediate wheels cand c2 between
the planet wheel band the sun wheel c to which the sprocket wheel e is attached.
Multiplied speed in proportion to the pitch circles of the sun and planet wheels will
thus be imparted to the sprocket wheel e, the hollow axle g' and the main axle h
each having separate movements imparted to them.
It will be seen that the extra power exerted by the rider to effect this fast speed
gear is to a large extent that utilised to resist the tendency of the pedal to turn
under the foot of the rider and this work may be thrown back on the foot and the
turning tendency be most efficiently resisted by employing a suitable heel plate which
may be attached to the pedal in any convenient way. A toe plate may also be
employed in the same way to resist the momentum of the bicycle, in which case the
turning tendency of the pedal will be in the opposite direction.
In the arrangement described only one special crank is employed and it is
necessary that on the up stroke of the right foot the tendency of the pedal to turn
must still be resisted in order that the gearing may work continuously and for
this purpose (as the gearing is preferably employed for light riding) instead of
relieving the pedal of all pressure on the up stroke as is customary, a portion of
the pressure must be continued so as to overcome this turning tendency of the
pedal. The work of the right leg relieved on the up stroke of the crank will be
transferred to the down stroke of the left leg so that the total expenditure of
power on each leg may to a large extent be controlled within the discretion of

page_text: the rider thus rendering a similar crank for the left foot unnecessary when only
light work is required.
When the foot rest m¹ is in an intermediate position on the pedal m the
teeth on the sliding collar are disengaged from the pedal frame m³ and
sleeve a on the crank and the cranks can be held at rest whilst the bicycle is in
motion. The grooves o o2 and 03. are provided' to ensure fixed positions of the
sliding foot-rest m' and by tilting the footrest which turns on the front
member m of the pedal as shewn so as to relieve the weight on the back
member m³ of the pedal the tooth or projection p (Figure 5) can be caused to
pass over or engage with either one of the grooves o o os at the discretion of
the rider. 2 is a catch pin carried by the foot-rest m³ and arranged to engage
with the member m³ of the pedal to prevent the footrest from turning right
The hollow crank is shewn broken at w in Figure 5 to illustrate the
goaring working within it.
over.
Although I have described the gearing as being applied to the right pedal anch
gearing may be applied to the left pedal or to both pedals if desired.
Having now particularly described and, ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in. what manner the same; is to be performed, I declare, that what
I claim is :-
"
1. In driving mechanism for velosipedes, the combination with an ordinary
crank motion, of toothed wheels constituting a sun and planet motion in which the
movement of the planet wheel is restrained by the foot of the rider and means for
setting in action, and stopping the action of the sun and planot gear, for the
purpose of obtaining variable speeds substantially as herein before described.
2. In driving mechanism for velocipedes, the combination with an ordinary
crank motion, of toothed' wheels constituting a sun and planet motion, the toothed
son wheel being formed on or connected to the sprocket or chain wheel or ring
which is rotatable on the orank shaft to which the crank is keyed or otherwise
separately rotatable, and the toothed planet wheel being mounted so as to be
capable of rotating in the outer end of the crank to transmit rotary motion to
the sun wheel, and moans in connection with the pedal, whereby the planet
wheel can as desired be caused to rotate in the end of the crank and impart
additional rotation to the sun wheel and sprocket or chain wheel on the crank
axle, or permit of the planet wheel being locked to the crank so as to turn with
it in the ordinary way without imparting additional rotation to the sun wheel'
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved
driving mechanism for velocipedes substantially as herein before described with
reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3. of the drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved
driving mechanism for volocipedes substantially as herein before described and
illustrated by Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 29th day of April 1898.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.