Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Cycles and other Machines.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Dec., 1899-Accepted, 3rd Feb.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Cycles and other
Machines.
We, THOMAS EDWARD CAVE, of 4, Broadgate, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Secretary, and GEORGE UNDERWOOD, of Vimara Cottage, Foleshill
Road, Coventry, aforesaid, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
our said invention to be as follows: -
Our invention has for its object improvements in the driving mechanism of
cycles and other machines which is specially applicable to cycles so as to enable
the rider to descend hills while the pedals and cranks remain stationary the
position being more graceful and convenient than placing the feet on the usual
foot rests and also to retard the motion of the machine by back pedalling when
desired.
In carrying our invention into practice as applied to a cycle we mount a disc
rigidly on the boss of the crank or crank axle and this disc may be formed with
a number of perforations or with arms or spokes like a wheel for lightness. The
bottom bracket sprocket wheel is also mounted in suitable ball bearings by the
side of and close to this disc on the boss of the driving crank or crank axle and
formed on or attached to the face of this sprocket wheel is a circular boss which
we call the driving boss having one or more notches or depressions cut on its
periphery ball being preferably interposed between this boss and the disc to
reduce friction. Pivoted to the disc and also between the disc and sprocket wheel
is a pawl or clutch the loose end of which is preferably covered with rubber and
is pressed onto the periphery of the driving boss by a suitable spring or its
equivalent fixed to the disc so that when the pawl engages with one of the
notches or depressions in the driving boss the machine is driven. In order to
hold the pawl or ratchet out of contact with the driving boss I pivot what I
call a gear plate or clutch on the other side of the disc and this gear plate or
clutch is formed so as to engage with a peg fixed to the pawl and working in a
slot formed in the disc so that when moved in one direction it lifts the pawl
out of contact with the driving boss and in order to operate this gear plate or
clutch I mount a disc or plate on the bottom bracket body or other fixed part
carrying a sleeve or its equivalent in which a plunger or striker or the like
works. This plunger is attached to a cord, chain or the like connected to the
handle bar of the machine and is arranged in such a manner that when the
cord or its equivalent is pulled by the rider the plunger shoots out of the sleeve
and comes in contact with the upper end of the gear plate or clutch which
action raises the pawl out of contact with the driving boss thus allowing the
sprocket wheel to revolve freely on its bearings and the pedals and cranks to
remain stationary while the machine continues to travel forward. To engage
the pawl with the driving boss again the rider releases the cord which allows
the plunger or striker to receed into its sheath out of contact with the gear
plate or clutch and pedals forward which action brings the lower end of the
gear plate or clutch into contact with a stud fixed on the bottom bracket disc or
rn
0.771

page_text: plate and causes the gear plate or clutch to release the pawl thus allowing the
pawl to engage with the driving boss by which means the parts are locked
together and the rider may either pedal forward or back pedal as desired.
In some cases instead of attaching a driving boss to the face of the sprocket
wheel we may attach to or form on the face of the sprocket wheel a circular
ratchet having one two three or more teeth or depressions into which the pawl
or clutch pivoted to the disc between the sprocket wheel engages when the rider
is pedalling forward, but if the rider ceases pedalling and rests the feet on the
pedals this pawl slides over the ratchet teeth while the sprocket wheel con-
tinues to revolve but immediately a forward pressure is put upon the driving
cranks the pawl again engages with the ratchet and the machine is again pro-
pelled forward. In this latter case a celluloid or other cover may be fitted onto
the outer face of the sprocket wheel and disc so as to prevent dust or dirt
entering.
Dated this 22nd day of March 1899.
Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Cycles and other
Machines.
We, THOMAS EDWARD CAVE, of 4, Broadgate, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Secretary, and GEORGE UNDERWOOD, of Vimara Cottage, Foleshill
Road, Coventry, aforesaid, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of
our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be parti-
cularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
Our invention has for its object improvements in the driving mechanism of
cycles and other machines which is specially applicable to cycles so as to enable
the rider to descend hills while the pedals and cranks remain stationary the
position being more graceful and convenient than placing the feet on the usual
foot rests and also to retard the motion of the machine by back pedalling when
desired.
In carrying our invention into practice as applied to a cycle we mount a disc
rigidly on the boss of the crank or crank axle and this disc may be formed with
a number of perforations or with arms or spokes like a wheel for lightness. The
bottom bracket sprocket wheel is also mounted in suitable ball bearings by the
side of and close to this disc on the boss of the driving crank or crank axle and
formed on or attached to the face of this sprocket wheel is a circular boss which
we call the driving boss having one or more notches or depressions cut on its
periphery ball being preferably interposed between this boss and disc to reduce
friction. Pivoted to the disc and also between the disc and sprocket wheel
is a pawl or clutch the loose end of which is preferably covered with rubber and
is pressed into the periphery of the driving boss by a suitable spring or its
equivalent fixed to the disc so that when the pawl engages with one of the
notches or depressions in the driving boss the machine is driven. In order to
hold the pawl or ratchet out of contact with the driving boss we pivot what we
call a gear plate or clutch on the other side of the disc and this gear plate or
clutch is formed so as to engage with a peg fixed to the pawl and working in a

page_text: slot formed in the disc so that when moved in one direction it lifts the pawl
out of contact with the driving boss and in order to operate this gear plate or
clutch we mount a disc or plate on the bottom bracket body or other fixed part
carrying a sleeve or its equivalent in which a plunger or striker or the like
works. This plunger is attached to a cord chain or the like connected to the
handle bar of the machine and is arranged in such a manner that when the
cord or its equivalent is pulled by the rider the plunger shoots out of the sleeve
and comes in contact with the upper end of the gear plate or clutch which
action raises the pawl out of contact with the driving boss thus allowing the
sprocket wheel to revolve freely on its bearings and the pedals and cranks to
remain stationary while the machine continues to travel forward. To engage
the pawl with the driving boss again the rider releases the cord which allows
the plunger or striker to receed into its sheath out of contact with the gear
plate or clutch and pedals forward which action brings the lower end of the
gear plate or clutch into contact with a stud fixed on the bottom bracket disc or
plate and causes the gear plate or clutch to release the pawl thus allowing the
pawl to engage with the driving boss by which means the parts are locked
together and the rider may either pedal forward or back pedal as desired.
In some cases instead of attaching a driving boss to the face of the sprocket
wheel we may attach to or form on the face of the sprocket wheel a circular
ratchet having one to three or more teeth or depressions into which the pawl
or clutch pivoted to the disc between the sprocket wheel engages when the rider
is pedalling forward but if the rider ceases pedaling and rests the feet on the
pedals this pawl slides over the ratchet teeth while the sprocket wheel con-
tinues to revolve but immediately a forward pressure is put upon the driving
cranks the pawl again engages with the ratchet and the machine is again pro-
pelled forward. In this latter case a celluloid or other cover may be fitted onto
the outer face of the sprocket wheel and disc so as to prevent dust or dirt
entering.
In order that our invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect we have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of
drawings upon which we have illustrated examples of our improved driving
mechanism as applied to a cycle.
Figure 1 is a side view of a "bottom bracket" or crank axle bearings and
sprocket wheel of a cycle shewing our improvements applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a part sectional back view of Figure 1.'
Figure 3 is a view shewing the reverse side of a sprocket wheel as shewn at
Figure 1 with our improvements applied thereto.
Figure 4 is an end view of a bottom bracket" shewing a modified form of
our arrangement for operating the gear plate or clutch.
Figure 5 is a side view of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a side view of a sprocket wheel shewing another form of our
wheel" arrangement.
Figure 7 is a part sectional edge view of Figure 6.
"free
In carrying our invention into practice as applied to a cycle we mount the
disc A rigidly on the boss 6' of the driving crank B or crank axle and this disc A
may be formed with a number of perforations or with arms or spokes like a
wheel for lightness. The bottom bracket or crank axle bearing sprocket wheel S
is also mounted on suitable ball bearings by the side of and close to this disc A
on the boss 61 or crank axle and formed on or attached to the face of this
sprocket wheel is the circular boss s¹ which we call the driving boss having one
or more notches or depressions cut in its periphery as shewn at Figures 1
and 3 balls being preferably interposed between the face of this boss s¹ and
the disc A to reduce friction as shewn at Figure 2. Pivoted at to the face
of the disc A also between the disc and sprocket wheel S is the pawl or
clutch or lever D which is hung on its centre pin nearly longitudinally to a
radial line of the sprocket wheel and having the nose picce preferably covered

page_text: with rubber or the like which is pressed onto the periphery of the driving boss s¹
by the springs or its equivalent fixed to the disc A so as to engage the pawl D
with the notch (or one of the notches or depressions when more than one are
used) in the driving boss s' and when a forward pressure is applied to the driving
cranks the machine is propelled forward. A separate view of the lever D is
shewn at Figure 9. In order to hold this pawl or clutch D out of contact with
the driving boss we pivot at e³ what we call the gear plate or clutch E on the
other side of the disc A and this gear plate or clutch E is formed so as to engage
with the peg d fixed to the pawl D and working in the slot a¹ formed in the
disc A so that when the gear plate or clutch is moved in the direction of the
arrow it lifts the pawl out of contact with the driving boss s' and in order
to operate this gear plate or clutch E we mount the disc or plate F' on the
"bottom bracket" body K or other fixed part of the machine and this plate l'
carries or supports the sleeve H or its equivalent in which the plunger or
striker h or the like slides. Fixed to the side of this plunger is the peg or
stud h³ working in the inclined slot h³ formed in the sleeve H as clearly shewn
at Figure 8 and connected to the outer end of the plunger h is the short arm
or lever the other end of which is attached to one end of the cord 5 or chain
or rod or the like which cord passes through guides a fixed to the frame of the
machine the other end being connected to the handle bar or other convenient
part and arranged in such a manner that when it is pulled by the rider the
plunger his caused to shoot out of the sleeve H so as to come in contact with
the end e' of the gear plate or clutch E which action moves the gear plate or
clutch on its pivot thereby raising the pawl Dout of contact with the driving
boss thus allowing the sprocket wheel S to revolve freely on its bearings and
the pedals and cranks to remain stationary while the machine continues to
travel forward. To engage the pawl D with the driving boss s' again the rider
releases the cord which allows the plunger or striker to recede through the
action of a spring or its equivalent into its sheath H out of contact with the
gear plate or clutch E and then pedals forward which action brings the end e of
the gear plate or clutch E into contact with the stud f' fixed to the plate F
and moves the gear plate or clutch on its pivot in the reverse direction thereby
releasing the pawl D which engages again with the driving boss s' through the
medium of the springs by which means the parts are locked together and the
rider may either pedal forward or back pedal as desired.
At Figures 4 and 5 we have shewn a modified form of our arrangement for
operating the gear plate or clutch E. In this case we mount the plate Fon
the bottom bracket body K or other convenient fixed part of the machine and
fixed in holes in the face of this plate are the sleeves or sockets f² f³ in each of
which we mount the plungers ff. These plungers are reduced in diameter at
their inner ends and fit loosely in collars fixed in the interior of the sleeves and
around that part of each plunger between the collars is fitted a spiral spring f
one end butting against a collar fixed on the plunger so as to hold the outer
end of the plunger when in its normal position within its sleeve. Mounted
in brackets t¹t or their equivalents fixed to the tube T or other convenient part
of the frame of the machine is the sliding rod or bar L having on one side the
inclined projections, arranged in such a position that when the plunger f
is in its normal position the projections is out of contact with this plunger
and the projection is in contact with the plunger f³ thus forcing the end f³ of
this plunger outwards as clearly shewn at Figure 4 when it comes in contact
with the end of the gear plate or clutch E and moves it one its pivot thus
releasing the pawl D and allowing it to engage with the driving boss s¹ by
which means the parts are locked together. This rod or bar L is connected to
the rod h³ or its equivalent by the connecting link 13. It will thus be seen that
when the rod h³ is pushed downwards by the rider the projection will come in
contact with the plunger f' and force the end of this plunger outwards in which
position it is held by this projection and as the other projection simultaneously

page_text: moves out of contact with the plunger f³ this plunger assumes its normal posi-
tion so that when the rider pedals forward the end of the plunger f* will come
in contact with the end e¹ of the gear plate or clutch E and move it in the
contrary direction on its pivot thus lifting the pawl D out of contact with the
driving boss s thereby allowing the sprocket wheel S to revolve freely on its
bearings and the pedals and cranks to remain stationary while the machine con-
tinues to travel forward.
In some cases instead of attaching the driving boss to the face of the
sprocket wheel S we may attach to or form on the face of this sprocket wheel
the circular ratchet R having one two three or more teeth or depressions ¹ into
which the pawl or clutch D pivoted to the face of the disc A as previously
described engaged when the rider is pedalling forward as clearly shewn at
Figures 6 and 7 but if the rider ceases pedalling and rests the feet on the pedals
this pawl slides over the ratchet teeth thus allowing the sprocket wheel S to
continue revolving while the pedals and cranks remain stationary and the
machine travels forward but immediately a forward pressure is applied to the
driving cranks ✗ the pawl D again engages with one of the ratchet teeth
through the medium of the spring which bears upon the end of the pawl and
presses it upon the periphery of the ratchet R thus enabling the rider to again
propel the machine forward. In the method as shewn at Figures 6 and 7 a cellu-
loid or other cover may be fitted onto the outer face of the sprocket wheel and
disc so as to prevent dust or dirt from entering.
The great merit of our invention is its simplicity and inexpensiveness in
construction as well as its certainty of action caused by the particular parts
used but we make no broad claim to a fast and loose gear as such have been
used before.
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:-
CLAIMS.
First: The improvements in the driving mechanism of cycle and other
machines consisting of a pawl or lever I mounted upon its hinge or pivot upon
the plate A and taking into the driving boss s¹ and operated by the gear plate E in
combination with the sleeve H and its plunger h¹ or their equivalents and the
peg or stud operated substantially as herein set forth and shewn upon the
accompanying drawings.
Second: In cycle driving mechanism for fast and loose wheels the use of the
hinged lever D in combination with the gear plate E mounted and operated
substantially as herein set forth and shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
Third: In cycle driving mechanism for fast and loose wheels the use of gear
plate E in combination with the sleeve H and plunger h¹ substantially as herein
set forth and shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of December 1899.
THOMAS EDWARD CAVE,
GEORGE UNDERWOOD.
By George Barker,
Fellow of The Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicants, 77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.