Improvements in or connected with Driving Mechanism for Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Applicatim, 10th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899 ·
Complete Specification Left, 10th Nov., 1899-Accepted, 16th Dec., 1899
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Driving Mechanism for
Velocipedes.
I, JAMES HAMILTON, of Ardedynn, Kelvinside, near Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ship-
builder and Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in that type of driving mechanism for
velocipedes wherein a connecting rod or rods is or are employed to transmit the
motion from the pedal axle to the driven road wheel or wheels, and the invention
consists in the arrangement and combination of the parts composing the said
mechanism as hereafter described.
According to my invention, and as applied to a reardriven bicycle, I mount
the rear wheel between the rear forks as usual, and upon a fixed axle pin the
ends of which latter are held in the extremities of the fork ends. Upon or con-
nected with the hub of the rear road wheel I provide a toothed pinion gearing with
a toothed wheel (generally of larger size than the pinion) which toothed wheel is
carried by a stud axle fixed upon and projecting inwards, from the rear lower
diagonal stay of the machine frame or the axle pin of the toothed wheel may enter
and be carried in a ball bearing sleeve carried by the said stay tube.
The inner face of the toothed wheel is provided with a crank pin to receive the
ball bearing head of a connecting rod which latter passes forwards. Upon the
end of the pedal axle I provide a Joggled" or double bent crank, and the forward
ball bearing head of the connecting rod takes upon the crank shoulder while the
extension from this shoulder carries the pedal, the pedal crank, and the connecting
rod crank being thus combined. The opposite end of the shaft carries an ordinary
crank and pedal.
The proper direction of motion is given to the gear wheels by crossing or angling
the connecting rod, that is, arranging the position of the crank pin on the spur
wheel and the connecting rod crank on the pedal axle, so that when the rear end of
the connecting rod is. above the centre of the spur wheel, the forward end will be
below the centre of the pedal axle.
In order to allow of the passage of the connecting rod and to rigidly support the
mechanism, I construct the lower rear stay of a pair of tubes at a proper distance
apart, and the connecting rod passes between the tubes, intersecting the space
between the tubes where the movement of the connecting rod is slight.
I bend the "joggled" crank in order to cause the dead centres of the connecting rod
cranks to correspond with the positions of the right and left pedal cranks when the
latter are passing over the top and bottom of the throw where no work. is being
done.
A
'
By the arrangement described. it will be observed that when effective driving
work is being done the connecting rod is in a diagonal position, therefore the
spur wheel is revolved slower at one time and quicker at another relatively to the
crank axle, and by adjusting the angles of the cranks as stated this feature is taken
advantage of, to neutralize "rushing or uneven action of the impulses given to
the machine by the rider.
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page_text: In order to protect the mechanism from dust, mud, etc., I provide an enclosing
case to cover the rear toothed wheels the case being fixed to the framework and
extending forwards to about the centre of the connecting 1od where it has but
slight vertical motion, and here the rear gear case tapers and ends in a small open-
ing for the passage of the connecting rod. At the forward end I provide a small
case to cover the connecting rod head and which extends a short distance up the
rod with which it rocks.
In some cases or if found desirable or necessary I provide a sleeve-bearing located
about central of the connecting rod, through which bearing the rod slides The
bearing is carried on a pivot from the lower rear stay tubes in order to allow the
rocking motion of the rod as it slides through the said bearing. Or instead I
may form a slot in the connecting rod and provide a fixed pin or roller to enter
the slot and provide a fulcrum upon which the rod may-turn. Or the rod may
pass between rollers carried upon the stay tubes If found necessary springs may
be employed to assist the pedal cranks over the dead points.
Should the speeding of the machine require to be altered, such can readily be
effected by removing the rear, road wheel, changing the road wheel pinion, and
replacing the road wheel in position.
In some cases duplicate driving mechanism may be fitted upon each side of the
machine.
Dated the 10th day of February 1899
1
Improvements in or connected with Driving Mechanism for
Velocipedez.
I, JAMES HAMILTON, of Ardedynn, Kelvinside, near Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Ship-
builder and 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;
-
This invention relates to improvements in that type of driving mechanism for
velocipedes, wherein a connecting rod or rods is or are employed, to transmit the
motion from the pedal axle to the driven road wheel or wheels, and the invention
consists in the arrangment and combination of the parts composing the said
mechanism as hereafter described.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawings, whereon, Fig. 1 18 an elevation and
Fig. 2 a plan view illustrating my improved driving mechanism applied by way
of example to a rear driven bicycle, so much of the latter being shewn as will be
necessary for the purposes of this description, and Fig. 3 is a detail end view of
the crank.
According to my invention, and as applied to a rear driven bicycle as aforesaid,
I mount the rear wheel A between the rear forks as usual, and upon a fixed axle
pin B, the ends of which latter are held in the extremities of the fork ends C.
Fixed upon or connected with the hub A' of the rear road wheel A. I provide a
toothed pinion 1 gearing with a toothed wheel E, (generally of larger size than the
pinion D), which toothed wheel E may be carried by a stud axle fixed upon
and projecting inwards from the rear lower diagonal stay tubes F' of the machine

page_text: frame, or as I have shown at Fig. 2, the axle pin of the toothed wheel E may
enter and be carried in a ball bearing sleeve El carried by the said stay F.
The inner face of the toothed wheel E is provided with a crank pin to receive
the ball bearing head G of a connecting rod G¹ which latter extends forwards.
Upon the end of the pedal axle H, I provide a "Joggled" or double bent crank,
see also Fig. 3, and a ball bearing head G2, on the forward end of the connecting
rod G, takes upon the crank shoulder J, while the extension J' from this
shoulder J carries an ordinary pedal, not shewn in the drawing, the pedal crank J¹
and the connecting rod crank J being thus combined. The opposite end of the
pedal axle H carries an ordinary crank and pedal, as indicated at Fig. 2.
The proper direction of motion is given to the gear wheels E and D, by crossing
or angling the connecting rod G¹, that is, arranging the position of the crank pin
on the spur wheel E, and the connecting rod crank J on the pedal axle H, so
that when the rear end of the connecting rod G₁ is above the centre of the spur
wheel E, the forward end will be below the centre of the pedal axle.
In order to allow of the passage of the connecting rod G¹ and to rigidly support
the mechanism, I construct the lower rear stay F of a pair of tubes at a proper
distance apart, and the connecting rod passes between the said tubes, intersecting
the space between the tubes where the movement of the connecting rod is slight.
I bend the joggled" crank as shewn, in order to cause the dead centres of the
connecting rod ciank J to correspond with the positions of the right and leit
pedal cranks, when the latter are passing over the top and bottom of the throw,
where no work is being done.
"
By the arrangement described it will be observed that when effective driving
work is being done, the connecting rod G is in a diagonal position, therefore the
spur wheel E is revolved slower at one time and quicker at another relatively to
the crank axle, and by adjusting the angles of the cranks as stated this feature is
taken advantage of, to neutralize "rushing or uneven action of the impulses
given to the machine by the rider.
"
In order to protect the mechanism from dust, mud, etc., I provide an enclosing
case K to cover the rear toothed wheels, the case being fixed to the framework and
extending forwards to about the centre of the connecting rod (1, where the latter
has but slight vertical motion, and here the rear gear case K tapers and ends in a
small opening for the passage of the connecting rod. At the forward end I pro-
vide a small case I to cover the ball bearing head of the connecting rod, and this
case K¹ extends a short distance up the rod G¹ with which it rocks.
I generally provide a sleeve-bearing located above the centre of the connect-
ing rod G¹, through which bearing the rod G¹ slides, and such a bearing may be
carried on a pivot from the lower rear stay tubes F, in order to allow for the rock-
ing motion of the 1od as it slides through the said beaning. Or instead I may
form a slot in the connecting rod and provide a fixed pin or roller carried by the
stay tubes to enter the slot and form a fulcrum upon which the rod G¹ may turn.
Or the rod Gas is shewn on the drawings may pass between upper and lower
rollers L L carried by brackets upon the members forming the stay F.
In some cases and particularly where similar gearing to that described is fitted
upon both sides of the machine, I may dispense with the central fixed guiding
device for the connecting rod G¹.
Should the speeding of the machine require to be altered, such can readily be
effected by removing the rear road wheel A, changing the road wheel pinion D
and replacing the road wheel A in position.
In some cases as before mentioned, duplicate driving mechanism may be fitted
upon each side of the machine.
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 velocinadas providing unan
hath
1

page_text: the machine a toothed pinion connected to the road wheel, and gearing with. a
toothed wheel carried so as to be capable of rotation in a bearing upon the frame-
work of the machine, a crank pin on the inner face of the toothed wheel, and a
connecting rod having a bearing on the crank pin, and extending diagonally. to a
crank formed in a "joggled" or bent pedal crank, the proper direction of motion
of the road wheel being obtained by the crossing of the connecting rod, while the
pedal crank is so bent that the dead centres of the connecting rod cranks are caused
to coincide with the positions of the right and left pedal cranks, when the latter
are passing over the top and bottom of the, throw, and with or without central
guides for the. connecting rod as required, substantially as described.
.2 The construction and arrangement of parts composing my improved driving
mechanism for velocipedes, combined and acting substantially as and for.. the
purposes described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
- Dated this 10th day of November 1899.
3
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.