Improvements in Hand Motor Power for Bicycles and other Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 28th Oct., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Hand Motor Power for Bicycles and other Cycles.
1, JOHN DETWILER ATKINSON, of Seattle, in the County of King, and State of
Washington, United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particu-
larly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my invention is to add power to the ordinary bicycle or the like
for the purpose of making grade climbing easier; to increase the speed with
the same foot power, and to give greater exercise, and exercise more uniformly
the whole body of those persons who ride bicycles for exercise and pleasure.
The invention consists of a driving gear for bicycles or the like comprising a
driving shaft, a ball or sphere rigidly mounted on said shaft, a yoke for mounting
the driving shaft on the steering head of the bicycle, a transmitting means,
bevel gears mounted upon and having a pin and groove connection with said
ball or sphere, with which the transmitting means meshes.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle of improved form, with my improvement
attached.
Figure 2 is a rear elevation of the head of a bicycle with my improvement in
position, parts of the frame of the machine being broken away.
Figure 3 is a detail sectional view of the bevel gear-wheel detached from the
head of the machine, the ball secured in said wheel being in elevation.
Figure 4 is a detail view of the bevel gear-wheel attached to the crank-shaft
with the bevel gears of the rods in engagement.
Figure 5 is a detail view of the mechanism for throwing the bevel gear out
of operative position.
Figure 6 is a perspective view of another form of my invention.
Figures 7 and 8 are detail views of the same.
1 represents a bicycle of improved construction, having the usual drive chain
and sprocket-wheel," said sprocket-wheel being mounted upon a crank-shaft 2.
3 is a bevel gear-wheel mounted in the center of the crank-shaft 2 between the
tubes 4 which form a fork in the lower end of the saddle post 5 of the machine.
6 is a yoke mounted on the steering-head of the bicycle, 7 is a bevel gear
wheel formed of two parts or sections, as best seen in Figure 3; such sections
being firmly secured together in an improved manner, as for instance by screws,
bolts, or rivets; said gear-wheel having a central opening in which is formed
a groove 8 from side to side. 9 is a ball of suitable material, secured in the
opening in the gear-wheel 7 by means of the studs or pins 10 which project
and work in the said grooves 8 of the gear-wheel.
11 is a shaft on which the ball 9 is rigidly secured, said shaft being mounted
in suitable bearings formed in the upper ends of the yoke 6; the shaft terminating
in crank-arms 12 which are provided with suitable grips 13 at their ends. 14 are
hand grips secured to the shaft 10 close up to the yoke 6.
15 is a suitable collar secured to the reach-bar 16 of the bicycle, and provided

page_text: with upwardly extending lugs 17 provided with rectangular openings. 18 are
tubular guides provided with inwardly extending arms 19, the inner ends of
which are bent upwards at right angles as at 20; said right angle portions 20
being provided with screw-threaded openings. The arms 19 of the guides 18 are
passed through the rectangular openings of the lug 17 of the collar 15 and secured
together by means of a thumb-screw 21.
22 are rods provided on their respective ends with bevel gears 23-24. The
rods 22 are secured to the bicycle by means of the tubular guides 25 secured to
the frame of the machine near the sprocket-wheel, while the upper ends of the
rods are passed through the tubular guides 18.
The co-operation of my improved hand motor with the foot power is obvious.
If it is desired at any time to throw out or disengage the hand power, it is only
necessary to operate the set-screw 21 in the desired direction, whereupon the
bevel gears 24 are thrown out or in engagement with the bevel gear-wheel 7 by
reason of the guides 18 through the arms 19 sliding away from or towards the
center of the bevel gear-wheel 7, and for this purpose the resiliency of the rods 22
will be sufficient without disturbing the mesh of the bevel gear-wheel 3 and the
bevel gears 23.
When the hand power is thrown out of engagement, the rider uses the grips 14
for steering purposes.
. By reason of the ball-and-socket joint in the bevel gear-wheel 7, I am enabled
to apply hand power with the front wheel at any angle to the frame of the
machine, the ball carrying the gear-wheel 7 when the course of the bicycle is
turned, as well as when the course is straight. It is of course obvious that the
hand power is applied through the cranks 12.
It is obvious that this improvement may be secured to any foot propelled
vehicle without departing from the spirit of my invention.
In Figures 6, 7 and 8 I have illustrated another form of my invention, wherein
26 is a bevel gear-wheel mounted upon a ball 9. 27 is a laterally, extending
lug integral with the bevel gear-wheel 26, from which extends, in line with the
bevel gear-wheel, an annular flange 28, thereby forming a groove between
said annular flange and the gear-wheel 26. 29 and 30 are guides extending
upwardly from a collar or casting. 31. which is secured around the head of the
machine by means of the bolt 32. This casting, of course, may be of any desired
shape, and if cast integral with the reach-bar of the cycle the bolt 32 may be
dispensed with and in some cases it may be found desirable to cast this, collar
integral with the reach-bar.
33 is a rod suitably secured in, or integral with the guide 30; said rod termi-
nating in a yoke 34 in which are journaled rollers or balls 35. Said yoke span's
the groove formed between the annular flange 28 and bevel gear-wheel 26, thereby
holding the rollers or balls 35 within said groove for a purpose to be hereinafter
set forth.
36 is a converting rod, one end of which is secured within the guide 29, while
the other end is journaled in a guide casting 37 immediately above the crank
bearing of the cycle. On the upper end of this rod is secured a beyel pinion 38
adapted to mesh with the bevel gear-wheel 26, while on the lower end of the
rod 361 secure a pinion 39. 40 is a crown gear-wheel rigidly secured to the
crank-axle of the machine opposite the usual sprocket-wheel 41.
.
. It will be noticed in this construction that I have mounted a, single bevel
gear-wheel upon the ball 9, thereby relieving the bevel gear of pressure upon one
side. In the absence of pressure on both sides of this gear-wheel there will be
a tendency to wabble. This tendency to wabble is counteracted by means of the
yoke 34 and its rollers or balls 35, which fit snugly in and firmly bear, upon
the bottom of the groove between the annular flange 28 and the bevel gear 26,
thus equally balancing the mechanism and assisting in keeping the same in a
direct line. Upon revolving the bevel gear wheel 26, motion is converted through
the bevel pinion 38 to the rod 36, thereby revolving the pinion 39 which converts
417

page_text: rotary motion by reason of its engagement to the crown wheel 40, and thence
to the chain sprocket 41 through the usual crank-axle.
From the foregoing description of Figures 6, 7 and 8, it will be seen that this
construction is much simpler, lighter and cheaper than the construction first
described, and in many cases this construction will be preferred and more desir-
able than the other; but at the same time there will, under certain circumstances,
be a preference for the construction first described; either, construction being
thoroughly practical and effective.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1
1. A driving gear for bicycles or the like, comprising a driving shaft, a ball
or sphere rigidly mounted on said shaft, a yoke for mounting the driving shaft
on the steering head of the bicycle, a bevel gear mounted upon and having a
pin and groove connection with said ball or sphere, a laterally extending lug
integral with the bevel gear having a groove formed therein, a yoke secured to
the frame of the bicycle, roller bearings secured within said yoke and adapted
to work in the groove of the laterally extending lug, a crown gear-wheel secured
on the crank-axle of the machine, and means for transmitting motion from the
bevel gear-wheel on the head of the machine to the crown gear-wheel on the
crank-axle.
2. A driving gear for bicycles or the like comprising a driving shaft, a ball or
sphere rigidly mounted on said shaft, a yoke for mounting the driving shaft on
the steering-head of the bicycle, a transmitting means, bevel gears mounted upon
and having a pin and groove connection with said ball or sphere, with which the
transmitting means meshes, substantially as described.
3. In a bicycle or the like of the character described, the combination with a
driving shaft, a yoke secured to the head of the machine, said shaft being
journaled in said yoke, a ball rigidly connected on said shaft, of a bevel gear
wheel mounted on said ball, and means connecting the ball to the gear wheel
whereby the gear may yield in every direction except in that of the rotation of
the driving shaft, and means for transmitting motion from said bevel gear wheel
to the driving wheel.
4. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head of
the machine of a yoke rigidly connected to said head, a shaft having bearings in
said yoke and terminating in crank arms, a ball mounted on the shaft in the
yoke and provided with two diametrically opposite pins or studs, a bevel gear
wheel having a central opening with grooves, for the reception of the said ball,
gears meshing with the said gear wheel and having a suitable connection with
the usual crank shaft of a bicycle.
5. In a machine of the character described, the combination with the head of
the machine, a yoke connected to said head, a shaft journaled in said yoke and
terminating in crank arms, a ball rigidly mounted on said shaft and provided
with two studs, a bevel gear wheel having a central opening in which said ball
is secured, by means of said studs, of rods connecting said power mechanism
with the usual crank shaft, of a collar secured to the frame of the machine, lugs
extending upwardly from said collar and provided with rectangular openings,
said tubular guides provided with inwardly extending arms, the ends of which
are bent upwards at right angles and provided with screw threaded openings,
the set screw engaging said openings, said tubular guides supporting the rods,
while the arms of the guides slide in the rectangular openings in said lugs.
6. In combination with the ball rotatably mounted on the head of the bicycle,
a bevel gear-wheel mounted on said ball and yielding in every direction except
that of the rotation of the shaft, a gear of the character described and rods or
shafts carrying parts of said gear, a rod or shaft guide comprising a collar having

page_text: upwardly extending lugs provided with angular openings, sliding members, one
end of each of which is provided with a tubular guide which receives one of the
rods or shafts, while the other end is turned up at right angles and provided
with a screw-threaded opening, said. sliding members adapted to work in the
openings of said lugs, and a set screw adapted to connect the inner ends of said
sliding members, as and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 27th day of September 1899
WHITE & WOODINGTON,
Rooms 221-225, Birkbeck Bank Chambers,
Southampton Buildings, London, Agents.