Improvements relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles.
We, HERBERT GEORGE HARRIS, of Haslemere, The Crescent, Weybridge, Surrey,
Commercial Traveller, and WILLIAM BLACKMORE, also of Haslemere, The Crescent,
Weybridge, Surrey, Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:--
This invention has reference to anti-vibration arrangements for the driving
Mechanism of Cycles, its object being primarily to supply an auxiliary force to
help the pedals over the dead centre and secondly to prevent shocks or vibrations,
set up in the gear, from being transmitted through the pedals to the legs of the
rider.
Our inventión consists in interposing a spring buffer between the driving force
and the mechanism provided to transmit such force. In order to best effect this
purpose we preferably form a radial slot or cavity in the boss of the driving wheel
(for instance the larger sprocket or gear wheel) and insert therein a spring of any
suitable shape and material, that preferred being formed from a plain strip
or band of steel arched in the centre and confined or secured at both ends to a
projection or the crank axle. The said spring might also be composed of 'two or
inore laminated strips to increase its resistance to compression and may if desired
be coated or cased with a suitable varnish or material to prevent rust. The cavity.
containing the spring has a suitable cover, which, may, or may not be a transparent
one, to exclude all dust and moisture. We also form a ridge on the crank axle,
said ridge projecting into the said slot behind the spring. The driving sprocket
or gear wheel is loose on its axle, so that when the power is applied by means of
the pedals, the projection on the spindle presses forward the spring which in turn
forces the driving wheel round and thus transmits the power to the chain or other
connection.
It is obvious that, with this arrangement, the potential energy stored up in the
spring buffer when the latter is compressed becomes converted into kinetic energy.
when released, which assists the pedals over the dead centre; a shock or vibration
received by the driving wheel will not be communicated to the pedals as it becomes
absorbed by the spring which becomes compressed and acts as a buffer.
Two or more similar buffers may be employed, when desired, to further increase
resistance to compression or to make the connection between the driving force and
the transmitting mechanism more solid or firmer.
Deted this 20th day of September 1896.
T. B. BROWNE, LIMITED,
Agents.
By Benj. T. King,
Registered Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles.
We, HERBERT GEORGE HARRIS, Commercial Traveller, and WILLIAM BLACKMORE,
Clerk both of Haslemere, The Crescent, Weybridge, Surrey, 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 has reference to anti-vibration arrangements for the driving
Mechanism of Cycles, its object being primarily to supply an auxiliary force to
help the pedals over the dead centre and secondly to prevent shocks or vibrations,
set up in the gear, from being transmitted through the pedals to the legs of the
rider.
Our invention consists in interposing a spring buffer between the driving force
and the mechanism provided to transmit such force. In order to best effect this
purpose we preferably form a circular slot or cavity in the boss of the driving
wheel (for instance the larger sprocket or gear wheel) and insert therein a spring
or buffer of any suitable shape and material, either formed from a plain strip or
band of steel arched in the centre and confined or secured at both ends to a lug or
projection on the crank axle, the said spring being composed of two or more
laminated strips to increase its resistance to compression and may if desired be
coated or cased with a suitable varnish or material to prevent rust, or a cushion
of rubber may be fitted into the cavity and compressed by the before mentioned
lug or projection on the crank axle. The cavity containing the spring or buffer
has a suitable cover, which may, or may not be a transparent one to exclude all
dust and moisture, said lug projecting into the said slot behind the spring or
rubber buffer. The driving sprocket or gear wheel is loose on its axle, so that
.when the power is applied by means of the pedals, the projection on the spindle
presses forward the spring which in turn forces the driving wheel round and thus
transmits the power to the chain or other connection, and further the resistance
offered by the spring or rubber buffer may be regulated by increasing the number
of springs or buffers or in any other suitable manner.
It is obvious that, with this arrangement, the potential energy stored up in the
spring buffer or rubber cushion when the latter is compressed becomes converted
into kinetic energy when released, which assists the pedals over the dead centre
and a shock or vibration received by the driving wheel will not be communicated
to the pedals as it becomes absorbed by the spring or rubber cushion which
becomes compressed and acts as a buffer.
We will now describe our invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, Figure 1 of which is an elevation and Figure 2 a sectional elevation for
the purposes of this specification the buffer shewn on the drawings shall be in
the form of a rubber cushion.
A, Figures 1 and 2 is the crank axle and a, Figures 1 and 2 is the lug or
projection before referred to as being cast or otherwise suitably formed upon the
crank axle A and this ridge a projects in the circular slot or cavity B formed in
the boss C of the driving wheel D. E is the buffer or rubber cushion which fits
into the slot or cavity B and is compressed by the lug or projection a formed
upon the crank axle A, F, Figure 1 is the cover transparent or otherwise for
excluding all dust and moisture.
The operation of our invention is as follows: When the pedals are operated the
crank axle A is revolved and the lug or projection a is forced against the rubber
cushion E which is in turn compressed and a certain amount of energy is stored up
therein before the sprocket or gear wheel D is set into motion and communicates

page_text: movement to the chain and it is this setting into motion of the sprocket or gear
wheel D which releases the buffer or rubber cushion E, and thus all shocks and
vibrations are absorbed by the aforesaid rubber cushion or buffer E and the pedals
helped over the dead centre.
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:
1. The formation of a circular slot or cavity in the boss of the larger sprocket
or driving wheel of cycles in which is inserted or fixed in any suitable manner a
buffer in the form of a rubber cushion or flat steel spring which is compressed
by a lug or projection formed upon the crank axle all for the purpose herein-
before described and set forth in the accompanying drawings.
2. The arrangement of a lug or projection formed upon the crank axle and
projecting into the said circular slot or cavity for the purpose of compressing the
said rubber cushion or flat steel spring all for the purposes herein before set out
and described in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of Jul. 1907
T. B. BROWNE, LIMITED,
163, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicants.