Improvements in the Construction of Pedals for Velocipedes and other Foot Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
Improvements in the Construction of Pedals for Velocipedes and
other Foot Propelled Vehicles.
GEORGE WILLIAM HAWKER FRANK HAWKER both of 48 Spencer Street
Birmingham Manufacturing Engineers do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the construction of pedals, for bicycles,
velocipedes, & other foot propeled vehicles, & is more particularly connected
with those parts of the pedal known as the "centre tube," "end plates," & "dust
caps," & the object of our invention is to make the "centre tubes" from cold drawn
steel tube, by enlarging the diameter of the tube at each end, to such an extent,
that it will suffice to act as cups for the ball bearing, thus doing away with the
necessity of boring & turning a casting, or stamping, which has hitherto been the
method adopted for making what is known as a solid centre for pedal frame.
We then take two flat milling cutters (with a gap between them about half the
size of the large part of the tube) & mill across the face of each end of our tube,
thus leaving two fangs, or ears, projecting at each end of centre tube, we then
pierce in our steel or metal end plates, a hole conforming to the size & shape of
the fangs at the end of tube, but only large enough in other ways to allow the pedal
axle to pass through & rotate, the end plates are then fixed into position, & it is
impossible for the tube to revolve, without rotating the end plates & consequently
the whole pedal frame which is fixed thereto, it also enables us to use balls
without the necessity of enlarging our side plate from the size which is now in
general use.
We then make our "dust caps "by cutting & cupping a piece of metal, leaving
two fangs, or ears, projecting at right angles from its cylindrical diameter, these
caps are attached, or detached, by means of two flat springs which are riveted at
each side of the tube hole, in the end plates.
The fangs of the centre tube project through the end plate, & the internal
diameter of our dust cap is such, that it fits over the fangs of the tube, & the
fangs of our dust cap clip under the fixed springs on our end plates, thus with a
half turn it instantly & securely fastens the cap to the tube & end plate, excluding
all dust, or dirt from the bearing.
We then fix a cap or ring at each end of tube, to prevent the balls falling from
their proper position while the pedal is being assembled.
Dated this 20th day of January 1897
GEORGE WILLIAM HAWKER.
FRANK HAWKER.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Pedals for Velocipedes and
other Foot Propelled Vehicles.
We, GEORGE WILLIAM HAWKER and FRANK HAWKER, of 48, Spencer
Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturing Engineers, do
hereby declare the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
Our invention relates to improvements in the construction of pedals for bicycles,
velocipedes and other foot propelled vehicles and is more particularly connected
with those parts of the pedal known as the centre tube, end plates and dust caps.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood and easily carried into
practical effect we have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings, upon
which we have illustrated examples of our improved pedal.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of our improved pedal.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an end view of Figure 1 with the dust cap D removed.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the dust cap.
Figure 5 is a perspective view of the centre tube A.
Figure 6 is an end view of Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a sectional view of Figure 5.
Figure 8 is a view showing the inner face of one of the side plates.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of Figure 8.
In carrying our invention into practice we form the centre tube or pedal centre A
from a piece of cold drawn steel tube and enlarge or stave up the ends so as to
form the cups or half ball races a¹ and a², by which means we dispense with the
necessity of boring and turning a casting or stamping, which has hitherto been the
method adopted for making what is known as a solid centre pedal. We then cut a
portion on each side of the enlarged ends of this tube away by two flat milling
cutters or in any other suitable manner, thus leaving the two ears or projecting
pieces a³ and a, on either end which fit into corresponding holes or recesses 62
and 63 formed in the end plates B and B¹, the centre portion of these holes being
left sufficiently large to allow the pedal axle S to pass through and revolve therein,
and on the inner face of these plates we form the counter sink or recessed portion 6*.
We then fit the ears or projections a³ and a into the holes 62 and 63, the edges of the
cups a' and a fitting into the recesses 64, and the pedal bars C and C¹ are fixed to
these side plates in the ordinary manner, by which means it is impossible for the
centre tube to revolve without rotating the end plates and consequently the whole
pedal frame; we are also enabled by these means to use larger sized balls without
increasing the size of the other parts,. which will be found of great service where
a high speed is required.
After the pedal has been put together in the manner as hereinbefore described
we then fix the dust caps D and D' on to each end of the pedal as shown at
Figure 1. These dust caps are made from a piece of metal cut to the required
shape and then cupped by suitable tools leaving the two fangs or ears d² and d³
projecting at right angles from its cylindrical diameter. We then secure the
springs and to the outer face of each side plate for the fangs or ears d² and d³
to fit under, and fix the caps over the projections a³ and at which protrude beyond
the outer surface of the end plates thus forming a steady or bearing, and by giving
the caps a half turn they are instantly and securely fixed in position, thereby
excluding all dust and dirt from the bearings. The dust cap D' has a hole formed
in the centre so as to allow the crank end of the spindle S to pass through and

page_text: both dust caps are serrated on their edges so as to enable them to be easily gripped
when fixing and unfixing.
In order to hold the balls f¹ in their proper position when building up or
assembling the parts we fix the cap or ring h¹ in either end of the barrel portion of
the tube A as clearly shown at Figures 2 and 7. These cups are corrugated on
the outer surface as shown at Figure 10 so as to allow the lubricant to pass slowly
from the centre on to the balls.
By removing the dust caps in pedals constructed according to our invention the
balls are exposed to view and we are enabled to easily examine the bearings as
clearly shown at Figure 3, which will be found to be of very great alvantage.
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 :--
First. In pedals for velocipedes and other foot propelled vehicles forming the
centre tube and the cups or half ball races from a piece of steel tube having ears
or projections on the ends which fit into corresponding holes or slots formed in the
end plates, such end plates having a recess formed on the inner surface for the
edges of the cups or half ball races to fit into, the ends being covered with dust
caps having ears or projections which take under springs attached to the said end
plates in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as
shown on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Second. Securing the end plates of pedals for velocipedes and other foot
propelled vehicles to the ends of the centre tube either with or without separate
cups or half ball races by forming ears or projections on such ends which fit into
corresponding holes or slots in the said end plates, the edges of the cups or half
ball races fitting into a recess on the inner face in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein set forth and as shown upon the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
Third. The dust caps formed by cupping a piece of metal and forming fangs or
ears projecting at right angles from the cylindrical diameter which ears take under
springs attached to the end plates to lock them in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein set forth and as shown upon the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
Fourth. In pedals for velocipedes and other foot propelled vehicles inserting a
corrugated cup or ring into the ends of the centre tube so as to hold the balls in
position when building up or assembling the parts substantially as herein set forth
and as shown upon the drawings.
D
ས་..
S Mauch 1007
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.