Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 20th Nov.,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, JOHN HENRY EICKERSHOFF, of 2905 Woodburn Avenue, Cincinnati, Hamilton
County, Ohio, United States of America, Mechanical 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: —
My invention consists in mechanism for driving a bicycle in which the longest
leverage is obtained when the leg is in its least effective position, securing greater
speed and niore uniform movement; driving mechanism which may be
instantaneouly transformed into braking mechanism without removing foot from
pedal or hand from handle bar, and which does not affect the tire; brake
mechanism, normally dormant, which is thrown into action without the rider's
volition if the driving mechanism gives way; driving mechanism which over-
comes the disadvantages of dead centers; mechanism for adjusting the path of
movement of the pedals; mechanism permitting a short or long stroke of the
pedals, adapting the bicycle for use, without adjustment, by persons of different
height; mechanism whereby the pedals may be used as coaster bars, without
interfering with the running of the bicycle, and the wheel kept under full control;
mechanism for varying the speed relatively to the movement of the pedals;
means for rendering the operation noiseless; and mechanism for supporting a
bicycle whereby it may be mounted without starting, or stopped without
dismounting.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, showing a bicycle equipped with my invention.
Fig. 2, a vertical section, at one side of the center, showing the mate to the
actuating sheave shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3, a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 1, but showing the sheaves in different
position, for convenience in illustration.
Fig. 4, a vertical section on line 4-4 of Fig. 3, showing power applied and the
pawl engaged.
Fig. 5, the same, omitting the bevel wheels, showing the ratchet wheel driven
by momentum and brake applied.
Fig. 6, a descriptive view showing an adjustable sheave.
Fig. 7, a cross section of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8, a detail of a pawl and its connection to the sheave.
Fig. 9, an end elevation on line 9-9 of Fig. 1.
Fig. 10, a top view of Fig. 9, omitting the driving housing, and showing
means for locking the bicycle.
Fig. 11, a detail showing a pedal connected directly to the driving cord.
Fig. 12, a detail showing a pedal indirectly connected with the driving cord.
Fig. 13, a driving sheave for operating a friction pulley.
Fig. 14, an end view of same.
Fig. 15, a horizontal section on line 15-15 of Fig. 9, showing modified means
for locking the bicycle.
Fig. 16, a side elevation of same.
17
an end elevation of same.

page_text: Fig. 18, as elevation of the bicycle, omitting the travelling supporting device,
Fig. 19, a side clevation of a modified form of driving mechanism.
Fig. 20, a horizontal section of the same on line 20-20, but showing the
sheaves in different position, for convenience in illustration.
.
A represents a bicycle frame; B a housing mounted on the frame between
the front and rear wheels; C a rock-shaft mounted in the housing at right angles
to the frame; D D¹, ratchets loosely mounted upon the shaft (Figs. 1 to 5 and 9).
The ratchets carry on their opposing faces gears, dd, adapted to mesh with a
gear, e, preferably raw-bide, on a stud, E, at right angles to shaft, C, and carrying
at its outer end a yoke, e', forming part of a universal coupling, e², connected
with a shaft, F, extending rearwardly and carrying at its rear end a bevel gear, f,
adapted to mesh with a bevel gear, fi, preferably raw-hide, on the axle of the rear
wheel. Power applied to the ratchets is transmitted through stud, E, universal
coupling, e, and shaft, F, to the rear wheel of the bicycle.
G, G are sheave segments, preferably eccentric to shaft, C, and pivoted at h
to arms, H, H', fixed to the shaft. These sheave segments are adapted to actuate
the shaft in different directions, imparting a rocking movement thereto. The
sheaves are preferably made in two parts, G2, G3, pressed from sheet metal into
the desired shape and riveted together to form a V-shaped, sheave. This
construction makes a light but rigid segment adapted to transmit great power.
Mounted on the sheaves, G, G¹, are pawls, g, adapted to actuate the correspond
ing ratchets, D, D¹
In the form shown in Figures 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8, the pawl is pivoted on a stud, g',
carried by the sheave, and each pawl provided with an arm, g, held in contact
with the smooth side of the ratchet by a spring, g, mounted on stud, gl between
it and nut, g". So long as the ratchet travels faster than the sheave, the
frictional engagement of the arm, g, tends to carry it forward and hold the pawl
out of engagement, but when the sheave attains a greater speed than the ratchet,
the retarding effect of the frictional engagement automatically throws the pawl
into engagement with the ratchet, when not in driving connection therewith
thereby reducing wear and noise to a minimum. A stop pin, g, limits the out-
ward movement of the pawl, so that arm, g, is always held in contact with the
ratchet.
I is a housing for the pedal guides, pedal sleeves and the braking and locking
mechanism. It is mounted on housing, B, and preferably pivoted at i to swing
toward or from a perpendicular position, and held in position by screws,
i.
J, Jare cords, preferably non-stretchable, secured to the rear end of and
passing around the segments, then over adjustable guide sheaves, j, carried by
pedal guides, K, K¹. The cords are attached at their free ends to sliding
pedals, k, k, mounted on pedal guides, K, K, and adapted to reciprocate thereon.
Power applied to either pedal actuates the driving mechanism and the pedals
are reciprocated upon their respective guides simultaneously but in opposite
direction. If the angle at which the pedals slide is fixed, it may not suit every
rider. I make the housing and pedal guides adjustable, so that they can be tilted
to suit the taste of the rider.
To provide effective braking mechanism, the sheave segments are pivotally
mounted upon the arms, H, H' (Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5); springs, 6, (Figures I and
66), are interposed between hubs , extending from the arms, H, H¹, and the
sheave segments, normally pressing lug and segment apart. A bolt, l, adapted
to slide in one of its bearings, limits the relative movement of the lug and
segment. The sheave segments are provided with brake shoes, L, (Figures 2
to 5), adapted to engage with the ratchets. By exerting sufficient pressure upon
both pedals to overcome the tension of the springs, l, the sheaves are pressed
towards arms, H, H', thereby bringing the brake shoes into contact with the
ratchets. When the pressure is released the segments resume their normal
positions. The tension of the springs may be adjusted.
To prevent the wheel from getting beyond control, if the driving mechanism

page_text: breaks or becomes disabled, a safety brake is provided, which becomes operative
only when accident occurs. In Figures 1, 3 and 9, M is a brake shoe adapted
to engage with the tire of the rear wheel. It is carried by a lever arm, m,
pivoted at m and connected at the other end with a rod, m2, extending between
and in the direction of the pedal guides. A cross-bar, m³, is secured to the brake-
rod, m³, and pressed upward by a spring, m, normally holding the brake out
of contact. The pedals are provided with offsets, 2, adapted, when the pedal
descends below its normal limit, to contact with cross-bar, m³, which actuates
the rod, m2. If the cord breaks or a similar accident occurs, the pedal is free
to descend below its normal limit, and will be pressed downward by the
unconscious action of the rider thereby applying the brake.
In Figures 6 and 7, means are shown for adjusting the position of one of the
eccentric sheaves to increase or decrease their leverage. G represents an
eccentric sheave pivoted to an arm, H³, pivotally mounted on hub h. The hub
carries an arm, h2, having a segmental slot, h³, adapted to receive a bolt, h, carried
by the arm, H2. Each eccentric sheave can thus be adjusted to any desired
position relatively to the other and locked in its new position, thus increasing
or decreasing the portion of a revolution through which the sheaves are driven
by a stroke of the pedal.
In Figure 2, I show an additional guide sheave, 73, mounted upon a stud, on
housing, B. By passing one of the driving cords around the sheave, j³, as shown
in dotted lines, the cord winds around a greater portion of the sheave segments,
enabling the rider to increase the force exerted at the expense of speed. To
enable the sheave segments to be rotated through a greater portion of a revolution,
without making longer strokes of the pedals, the driving cord may be passed
around a sheave connected with the pedal and secured to a fixed part, a¹, of the
frame (Figure 12). The length of the cord may be adjusted by clamps at either
end.
The speed varying mechanism last described is primarily intended for radical
changes in speed, and that first described for less radical changes.
In Figures 1 to 10, 15 to 18, I have shown bicycle supporting and locking
devices. The pedal guides, K, K¹, are square, hollow and fastened at the top
and bottom of housing, I. The hollow guides are provided with sliding
bars, N, N¹, having shoes, n, n', at their lower ends. The sliding bars are connected
at their upper ends, by a cross-piece, 2, (Figure 9), having an arm, n, extending
downwardly, provided with holes, n, and having a handle, n³. A pin, n, is
secured to the top plate of the pedal housing, I. By this arrangement both sliding
bars, N, N, are actuated by one operation. A rope or chain, m³, furnished at
its upper end with a handle, m7, is fastened to cross-bar, m³, and passes downward
under a roller, mo, and upward in the direction of the pedal-guides. The brake
shoe, M, is applied by pulling handle, m², or by pushing cross-bar, m³, downward.
If the shoes,, n', of the sliding bars, N, N¹, are brought down and the bars
secured, the bicycle cannot tip over. Upon a grade, the brake ring, m², may be
fastened and the bicycle cannot run away.
To prevent unauthorised removal of the bicycle the sliding bars are brought
down, the brake applied, a lock placed in the holes, n, and the ring, m7, of the
brake chain connected with the lock, thereby locking the bicycle (Fig. 10).
Instead of being used directly as supports, the shoes, n, n¹, may be provided
with bolts, n, 18, connected by links, p, p₁ (Figures 1, 3), with swinging
frames, P, P, pivoted at q, ql, to an arm carried by the rear axle or frame (Fig. 18)
and connected by a rod, s. R, R are rollers, preferably of rubber, revolving
loosely on pins, r, r¹, extending from the swinging frames. S, S₁ (Figures 1
and 18), are stops to limit the backward movement of the swinging frames. By
securing sliding bars, N, N₁, in any position, the swinging frames, and
with them, the rollers, R, R', are held in a corresponding position. If the rollers
are lowered and the bars, N, N', secured by the pin, no, the lock may be applied
as described. The bicycle is thus supported against tumbling over and locked

page_text: against riding by an unauthorized person. The standing, or supporting device,
may be removed from the floor and raised, as indicated by dotted lines in
Figure 1. A rider may mount while the bicycle is supported by the rollers, and
having given it a good start, may raise the supporting device, avoiding
unnecessary friction; or a beginner may leave the rollers down until he is
accustomed to riding. If the rider wishes to stop without dismounting, the
supporting device may be lowered to its operative position.
The swinging frame may be readily removed by disconnecting the
bolts, n, ns, n, q', thereby reducing the weight of the bicycle, and the sliding
bars, N, N', may then be used for supporting the bicycle when stationary.
Figures 15 to 17 show another method of locking the bicycle. The cross-
bar, m³, of the safety brake is provided with an arm, t, running at right angles to
the pedal guides an having a hole, t¹, to receive a lock. To the bottom of the
housing, I, is secured a piece, u, having a hole, u¹, adapted to register with the
hole, t, when the brake, M, is applied. A lock, T, is then applied as shown in
figure 15. The sliding bars, N, N¹, are provided with a series of holes adapted
to receive pins, v, v¹, provided with arms, 3, 3, and sliding in guides, 4, 5, 6, 7,
between the levers, 2, 3, and the guides, 25, 26, and springs, o, o¹, holding the
pins,,, in their respective holes in the sliding bars, N, N¹. As long as the
brake, M, is held out of engagement with the tire of the wheel by spring, m²,
(Figures 16 and 17,) the pins, v, v¹, can be withdrawn from the sliding bars,
because arm, t, is above them, and by pressing against the levers, 2, 3, the sliding
bars may be brought in any position desired. If the brake is applied and the
lock placed in the position shown in Figure 15, the arm, t, is between the pin, v, v³,
and the pins can not be drawn.
In Figures 19 and 20, I show a modified driving mechanism. 1 represents a
housing of the bicycle frame; 2, a shaft mounted in the housing at right angles
to the frame, and 3 and 4 friction discs carrying on their opposing faces, bevel
gears, 5, 5, adapted to mesh with a gear, 7, on a shaft, 8, at right angles to shaft,
2, carrying at its outer end (not shown), a gear adapted to mesh with a gear at
the axle of the rear bicycle wheel. Power applied to the friction discs is
transmitted through shaft, 8, to the rear wheel of the bicycle.
9, 10, are sheave segments mounted on shaft, 2, adapted to actuate the shaft
in different directions, and preferably made in two parts, 11, 12, divided at 13.
Part 11 is rigidly secured to the shaft and part 12, hinged to part 11 at 14.
Parts, 12, carry friction shoes, 15, adapted to contact with the friction discs, but
normally held out of engagement therewith by a spring, 16, mounted between
suitable bosses on parts, 11, 12. Cords, 17, 18, are clamped to the heel ends of
the sheave segments. Actuation of either cord will cause the friction shoe of its
sheave to engage with and rotate the adjacent friction wheel thereby imparting
motion to shaft, S, and through that to the rear wheel of the bicycle.
In Figures 13, 14, I show another method of transmitting motion from
eccentric wheel, 20 to friction wheel, 23, and through the bevel gears to th:
driving wheel. The cord runs loosely in the groove and is secured to the heel
of a friction shoe, 21, pivoted at 22 to the wheel, 20. The friction shoe is
normally held out of engagement with the friction wheel by a spring, 24, but
when tension is produced in the cord, the resistance in overcome and the shoe
engages with the wheel, thereby actuating the bicycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
I claim is:
In a bicycle: The combination of
1. A shaft, driving discs loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
discs with the driven wheel; sheaves or sheave segments eccentrically fixed to
the shaft and adapted to rock the shaft in opposite directions; and means for
actuating the sheaves.

page_text: +
2. A pair of reciprocating pedals; hollow pedal guides; slidable bars within
the pedal guides adapted to serve as standards for supporting the bicycle, and
means for holding the bars in any desired position.
3. A pair of reciprocating pedals; hollow pedal guides; slidable bars within
the pedal guides; a frame adapted to swing relatively to the hub of the driving
wheel, and connected with the sliding bars; a pair of rollers mounted on the
swinging frame, and adapted to support the bicycle; and mechanism, controlled
by the rider, whereby the slidable bars, and thereby the rollers, may be held in
any desired position.
4. A pair of reciprocating pedals; hollow pedal guides; slidable bars with the
pedal guides adapted to serve as standards for supporting the bicycle; a brake
adapted to engage with the wheel; and means for locking the brake and the
sliding bars together.
5. A pair of reciprocating pedals; adapted through connecting mechanism to
actuate the driving shaft; a safety brake; contact parts adapted to be actuated
by the pedals, but out of reach of their normal travel and mechanism connecting
the contact parts and the brake whereby the latter may be applied by abnormal
moveinent of the pedals.
6. A pair of reciprocating pedals; hollow pedal guides; slidable bars within
the pedal guides; a safety brake; lever mechanism, whereby the brake may be
brought into operation by abnormal movement of the pedals; and a cord
connected with the lever mechanism whereby the brake may be operated at the
will of the rider.
7. A pair of reciprocating pedals; hollow pedal guides; sliding bars within
the pedal guides; a series of holes in the sliding bars; a pair of sliding pins
adapted to take into the holes; a lever to operate the pins, and a spring whereby
the pins are held within the holes of the sliding rods.
8. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
ratchets and the shaft of the driving wheel; sheave segments adapted to actuate
the shaft; means for actuating the segments, and pawls carried by the segments
adapted to engage the ratchets when the speed of the segments is greater than
that of the ratchets, and to be released when the speed of the ratchets is greater
than that of the segments.
9. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
ratchets and the shaft of the driving wheel; sheave segments adapted to actuate
the shaft; pawls pivotally secured to the segments, and adapted to engage with
the ratchet wheels; and arms carried by the pawls adapted to contact with the
ratchet wheel and hold the pawls out of engagement with the ratchet, when the
movement of the latter is faster than that of the segments, and throw the pawls
into engagement when the movement of the segments is faster than that of the
ratchets.
10. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
ratchets and the shaft of the driving wheel; sheave segments adapted to actuate
the ratchets, and carrying brake shoes adapted to engage with the ratchet wheels;
means for actuating the sheave segments; and springs adapted to hold the brake
shoes out of contact with the ratchet wheels until pressure is applied to the
pedals concurrently, substantially as and for the purpose set forth."
11. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
ratchets and the shaft of the driving wheels; sheave segments adapted to actuate
the ratchets; a cord, or cords, connecting the sheave segments and the pedals,
contact parts adapted to be actuated by the pedals, but out of reach of their
normal travel; a brake shoe, and mechanism connecting the contact parts and
the brake shoe, whereby the brake may be applied.
12. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
ratchets and wheel shaft; sheave segments carrying pawls adapted to actuate the
ratchets; a cord, or cords, connected with the sheave segments and the pedals ¿

page_text: and guide sheaves, mounted in different positions, whereby the cord may be
caused to actuate the sheaves through different arcs, thereby varying the speed..
13. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
ratchets and the shaft of the driving wheel; sheave segments adapted to actuate
the ratchets; a cord, or cords, connecting the sheave segments and the pedals;
guid sheaves for the cord, and mechanism for adjusting the position of the
sheave segments relatively to the guide sheave, thereby varying the speed.
14. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
discs with the driven wheel a pair of sheave segments, each consisting of a part
secured to the shaft carrying the discs and another part hinged thereto; friction
shoes carried by the hinged part, adapted to engage with the discs; the sheave
segments being fixed to the shaft in opposite directions and cords attached to the
sheaves and to alternately reciprocating pedals.
15. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
dises with the driven wheel a pair of eccentrically mounted sheave segments,
each consisting of a part secured to the shaft carrying the discs and another part
hinged thereto; friction shoes carried by the hinged part adapted to engage
with the discs; the sheave segments being fixed to the shaft in opposite directions
and cords attached to the sheaves and to alternately reciprocating pedals.
16. A shaft; ratchets loosely mounted thereon; mechanism connecting the
dises with the driven wheel a pair of sheave segments each consisting of a part,
secured to the shaft carrying the discs, and another part hinged thereto; friction
shoes carried by the hinged part, adapted to engage with the discs; springs
between the fixed and the hinged part, normally holding the friction shoes out of
engagement with the discs: the sheave segments being fixed to the shaft in
opposite directions, and cords attached to the sheaves and to alternately recipri
cating pedals.