Improvements in Bicycles and other Similar Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Aug., 1896
Complete Cancification Loft 23rd Anr 1897-Accepted 14th Aug.. 1897
VISIONAL
Improvements in Bicycles and other Similar Machines.
I, JOSHUA ALEXANDER KAY, of Crofthead Villa, Balwyn, in the Colony of
Victoria, Australia, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention consists of an arrangement of parts whereby a new propelling
gear for Bicycles and other similar machines is obtained and which will enable
the operator to increase and decrease the speed at will or to throw the driving
mechanism out of gear altogether thus allowing the pedals to be utilized as feet
rests whilst travelling down hill.
To accomplish this I fix upon the pedal spindle a bevel wheel of any suitable
aize having upon its front or face a small mitre or bevel wheel. I then place in suit-
able bearings a spindle, hollow or solid, which stretches from the pedal spindle
to the bicycle hind wheel spindle, this I call the connecting spindle. On the hind
wheel end I fix a mitre or bevel pinion which gears with another pinion on the
hind wheel or its spindle, whilst on the pedal end of the connecting spindle I
place two pinions a little apart from one another, the one to gear with the bevel
wheel and the other to gear with the small mitre or bevel pinion fixed on its face.
Both of the pinions on this end of the conuecting spindle are furnished with
clutches and slide simultaneously in opposite directions on feather keys or other
suitable device for securing their rotary motion conjointly with the connecting
spindle. Forked levers furnished with friction rollers engage with each clutch
to move their respective pinions in or out of gear and are so constructed that when
the handle is pulled the oue pinion advances into gear whilst the other retires
and vice versa when the handle is pushed. Sufficient space exists between the
the teeth
teeth of
teeth of the large wheel and
the pinion which
fixed on its face to allow of both pinions remaining out
at the option of the operator thus allowing the machine to
hills and the pedals remain at rest. To accomplish this the following device may
be adopted, a short lever pivotted at its top end to the framing engages with the
clutch of the outer sliding pinion, a second lever which engages with the clutch
of the inner pinion is pivotted sufficiently high to enable it to give the required
throw; this lever extends upwards until its handle is within suitable reach of
the operator where it is made to travel in a slot having three notches into either one
of which the lever springs when brought opposite and is safely held during the
operators pleasure. A link coupling connects the two levers the one end of which
is pivotted to the short lever at a suitable distance below the said lever point, whilst
the other end of said coupling is connected at a suitable distance above the pivot
of the long lever, thus moving the clutches in opposite directions whenever the
handle is either pushed or pulled by the operator.
3000
is
of gear

page_text: Improvements in bicycles and other similar machines.
1, JOSHUA ALEXANDER KAY, of Crofthead Villa, Balwyn, in the Colony of
Victoria, Australia, Consulting Mechanician, 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 parts whereby a novel variable
propelling gear for bicycles and other similar machines is obtained, the applica-
tion of which will place the rider in possession of either a high rate or low rate of
speed and of being able to throw the pedal axle out of gear, thus allowing the
pelals to be utilized as feet rests whilst travelling down hill, thereby assisting
nerve and muscle recuperation.
To accomplish this I fix upon the pedal axle a bevel wheel of any required
size having in front a small mitre or bevel pinion. I then place in suitable bear-
ings a spindle (hollow or solid) which extends from the pedal axle to that of the
hind wheel of the bicycle or other machine. This I calf the connecting spindle.
On the back or wheel end of this spindle I fix a mitre or bevel pinion which gears
with a felloe mitre or bevel pinion attached to the bicycle wheel, whilst on the
front or pedal end of the connecting spindle 1 place two pinions a little apart from
cach other, the one to gear with the level wheel the other to gear with the
pinion in front of the bevel wheel. Both pinions on this front end of the con-
necting spindle are furnished with a groove or clutch, and slide freely to and fro
on feather keys, pin slots, or other suitable device for securing their rotary motion
conjointly with the connecting spindle. A hand lever pivotted to a small bracket
attached to the framing, engages with the groove or clutch of the inner sliding
pinion and a semi-lever pivotted at its top end to the same bracket engages with
the clutch of the outer sliding pinion. A link coupling connects the two levers,
one end being attached to the semi-lever at a suitable distance beneath its pivot,
whilst the other end is attached at a suitable distance above the pivot of the
hand lever, the one handle thus operating both levers simultaneously but in
opposite directions, consequently as one pinion is made to advance the other
retires, a sufficiency of travelling space being allowed between the outside edges
of the teeth, when both pinions are out of gear, to insure sufficient freedom from
contact, thus leaving the petal axle perfectly disengaged, yet either of the pinions
in a position to be instantly switched into fast or slow gear according to the
desire of the rider. The hand lever extends upward until its handle is within
easy reach of the rider and is securely held by a lever guard having a threo
notched slot into either one of which slots, the levor springs when brought
opposite thereto.
The accompanying drawings illustrate my invention.
Figure 1 is a partial sectional plan and Fig. 2 a partial sectional side elevation
of gear according to my invention applied to a bicycle, Fig. 3 is a partial sectional
end view of the frame at the pedal bearings and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views.
A is a bevel wheel fast on the pedal axle; If a pinion in front of same; Ca
sliding pinion which gears with B; C a clutch groove; D a sliding pinion which
gears with A; D' a clutch groove; E connecting spindle; I sockets or bearings;
G bevel pinion on extreme end of spindle; G pinion secured to bicycle wheel 4
and which gears with pinion G; IT hand lever the lower end of which engages with
clutch groove C; I a semi-lever which engages with clutch groove D'; a link
coupling to connect the two levers H and 1; l' and 'lever pivots; J' link

page_text: coupling pins; K lever guard; and L notched slot therein for retaining lever H
in position; M retaining slot for clutch pinious; N (Fig. 4) friction rollers.
The mode of operation is as follows. When the lever H is placed in the centre
notch to guard K, the clutch pinious C and D will both be out of gear, but as the
said lever is moved into the notch furthest from the rider, its clutch fork will
move pinion (further out of gear while pinion D is brought into gear with bevel
wheel A; this countermotion is produced by the link coupling J being attached
above the pivot of lever H and beneath the pivot of semi-lever I, whereby the
forked ends of the said lovers are made to move in opposite directions so that
pinion C retires simultaneously with the advancement of pinion D and vice versa.
The pin slot allows the said pinions C and D to slide to and fro and yet impart
a rotary motion to the connecting spindle E which transmits motion to the buck
bicycle wheel by means of pinions and G¹.
It will be obvious that when the hand lever H is in the centre notch of guard K
both sliding pinions C and D are out of gear an the pedal action is disengagea
the pedals, being thus motionless, may be utilised as feet rests while the bicycle
is travelling down hill.
To accelerate the throwing into gear of pinion D with wheel A, I preferably
construct the angle of the teeth differently from the ordinary rule giving them the
same angle as the two pinions and B. This principle enables them to gear
instantly and obviates the liability of racing somewhat around the periphery
before catching into gear.
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. In a bicycle or other similar machine the combination of toothed wheels
such as A, D, C, and B, with connecting spindle E substantially as and for the
purpose herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. In a bicycle or other similar machine, the combination of levers such as H
and I and link coupling with pinions and D substantially as and for tho
purpose herein described and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. Two-speed driving gear for bicycles and similar machines constructed
arranged and operating substantially as herrinbefore described with reference to
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of April 1807
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.