Auxiliary Driving Mechanism for a Cycle or like Vehicle.
Year: 1899

page_text: Auxiliary Driving Mechanism for a Cycle or like Vehicle.
I, BENJAMIN RICHARD HERMAN, M.Inst.M.E., of McLeod Road, Karachi, in the
Province of Sind, in the Empire of India, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention relates to an auxiliary driving mechanism for a cycle or
other vehicle, and the object of it is to utilise the weight of the rider to assist the
legs in the propulsion of the machine or vehicle.
According to my invention the seat-pillar stem or support is fitted into the usual
tube or socket in the fraine, but with an easy sliding fit, without appreciable side
play and to the top end of the said pillar stem is fixed rigidly a lug piece which
projects out laterally, and holds rigidly at its free extremity a rack bar which extends
downwards therefrom parallel with and behind the stem of the seat-pillar and with
its teeth directed outwards or away from the stem. The seat-pillar stem is encircled
by a stout helical spring fitted so as to be always under compression and become
more compressed as the stem is lowered in the tube by the weight of the rider;
therefore normally the said spring holds the pillar out of the socket to its full pre-
determined extent.
The seat-pillar stem may work through ball-fitted or other antifrictional bearings in
the seat pillar tube.
The rack bar rigidly connected by means of a projecting lug with the stem of the
seat pillar works preferably through a guide loop fixed on the frame near the pillar
stem socket and this rack is in engagement with a pinion forming one of a train of
wheels supported in bearings in a special frame which in turn is supported on the
back stay of the main frame of the vehicle. The said pinion works on a ratchet head
attached to its spindle and comes into gear with the said spindle on the downward
stroke of the rack-bar only, by means of the ratchet; the latter releasing the spindle
on the upward stroke which is caused automatically, by the energy of the helical
spring under compression around the seat pillar stem, the moment the rider takes
the weight off the seat by raising himself up therefrom. There are special foot rests
provided on the seat pillar tube for the convenience of the rider when momentarily
raising himself sufficiently to let the seat spring up.
The said train of wheels terminates in a chain wheel which is coupled by means of
a chain, band or other suitable device with a sprocket wheel on the hub of the driving
wheel which sprocket is made fast or loose by means of a clutch or other suitable
arrangement.
For the purpose of varying the rate of motion of the seat pillar stem, or stop it at
any desired level, a set-screw is tapped through the socket at the top of the seat
pillar tube and bears against the seat pillar stem; the screwing-in of the set-screw of
course causes its point to press more or less firmly increasing the friction on the
stem, and consequently the rate of motion of the stem and the whole mechanism.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:-
:-
The seat-pillar normally is held extended some distance out of the socket, but
having of course sufficient for a proper bearing within the seat-pillar tube, by means

page_text: of the compression spring surrounding the said stem. The weight of the rider on the
seat forces the seat-pillar slowly down and with it the rack-bar rigidly connected with
it. The motion of the rack-bar starts-through the intervention of the pinion with
which it gears--the train of wheels which in turn drives the sprocket on the hub of
the driving road wheel and thus drives or assists in driving the vehicle as desired.
On removing the weight off the seat by raising the body, the helical spring under
compression around the seat pillar stem, raises it almost momentarily and this
operation can be renewed from time to time whenever desired.
When it is not desired to use this mechanism it may be thrown out of gear by
simply uncoupling the sprocket wheels and tightening up the set-screw on to the
seat-pillar stem.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, BENJAMIN RICHARD HERMAN, M.Inst.M.E., of McLeod Road, Karachi, in the
Province of Sind, in the Empire of India, 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:—
The present invention relates to an auxiliary driving mechanism for a cycle or
other vehicle, and the object of it is to utilize the weight of the rider to assist the
legs in the propulsion of the machine or vehicle.
"
I will now proceed to describe the invention with the aid of the accompanying
drawing illustrating same, which is a side elevation of a safety" type of bicycle
fitted with my auxiliary driving mechanism as arranged to drive the rear road-
wheel.
According to my invention the seat-pillar stem or support a is fitted into the
usual tube or socket 6 in the frame c, but with an easy sliding fit, instead of being
tightly clamped therein as usual, without appreciable side play, and near the top end
of the said pillar stem is fixed rigidly a lug piece d which projects out laterally and
holds rigidly at its free extremity a rack bar e which extends downwards therefrom
parallel with and behind the stem a of the seat pillar and with its teeth directed
outwards or away from the stem. The seat pillar stem a is encircled by a stout
helical spring fitted so as to be always under compression and become more com-
pressed as the stem is lowered into the tube by the weight of the rider upon the seat;
therefore normally the said spring bolds the pillar out of the socket 6 to its full pre-
determined extent.
The seat pillar stem u may work through ball-fitted or other antifrictional bearings
in the seat pillar tube b.
The rack bar e rigidly connected by means of the projecting lug with the stem a
of the seat pillar, works preferably through a guide loop g fixed on the frame near the
pillar stem socket b, and this rack e is in engagement with a pinion / formning one of
a train of wheels h¹ h2 h³ h, supported in bearings in a special frame such for example
as i, which in turn is supported on the back stay j of the main frame c of the vehicle.
The said pinion h works on a ratchet head l, or other suitable clutch device attached
to its spindle, and comes into gear with the said spindle. on the downward stroke
of the rack-bar only, by means of the said ratchet or clutch device; the latter releas-
ing the spindle k on the upward stroke, which is caused automatically by the energy
of the helical spring f under compression around the seat pillar stem a the moment

page_text: the rider takes the weight off the seat by raising himself therefrom. There are
special foot rests provided on the seat pillar tube 6 for the convenience of the rider
when momentarily raising himself sufficiently to let the seat spring up.
The said train of wheels terminates in a chain wheel 5 which is coupled by means
of a chain m band or other suitable device with a sprocket wheel' n on the hub of
the driving or rear road wheel o, which sprocket n is made fast or loose at will by
means of a clutch or other suitable arrangement or device.
For the purpose of varying the rate of motion of the seat pillar stem a, or stop it
at any desired level, a set screw p is tapped through the socket at the top of the seat
pillar tube b, and bears against the seat pillar stem a; the screwing-in of the set-
screw of course causing its point to press more or less firmly against and thus in-
creasing the friction on the stem, and consequently the rate of motion of the stem
and the whole mechanism.
The action of the mechanism is as follows:
The seat pillar normally is held extended some distance out of the socket, leaving
of course sufficient for a proper bearing within the seat pillar tube b, by means of
the compression spring surrounding the said stem. The weight of the rider on the
seat q forces the seat pillar a slowly down and with it the rack-bar e which is as above
stated rigidly connected with it. The motion of the rack-bar e starts-through the
intervention of the pinion h with which it gears-the train of wheels h¹ h² h³ h² 1,5
which in turn, through the intervention of the chain m drives the sprocket n on the
hub of the driving road wheel o and thus drives or assists in driving the vehicle as
desired.
On removing the weight off the seat 1 by raising the body, the helical
spring under compression around the seat pillar stem a, raises it (the seat)
almost momentarily and this operation can be renewed from time to time whenever
.desired.
When it is desired not to use this mechanism it may be thrown out of gear
by simply uncoupling, or throwing out of gear the sprocket wheel n and
tightening up the set screw p on to the seat pillar stem so that the latter cannot.
move.
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
claim is
1. The auxiliary driving mechanism for cycles and like vehicles, consisting of
the combination with a loose seat pillar or support, of the toothed rack, the pinion
in gear with said rack, the train of gear wheels in connection therewith, means for
connecting the said train with the axle of one of the driving or road wheels of
the vehicle, and the spring adapted to normally hold the seat pillar or support in
its raised position, all constructed and operated substantially as described and
set forth.
2. The auxiliary driving mechanism for cycles and like vehicles, consisting of the
combination with a loose seat pillar or support, of the toothed rack, the pinion in
gear with said rack, the train of wheels in connection therewith, means for connecting
the said train with the axle of one of the driving or road wheels of the vehicle, the
spring adapted to normally hold the seat pillar or support in its raised position and
means for throwing the connection between the train of wheels and the driving
wheel out of gear, all constructed and operated substantially as described and set
forth.
Dated this 5th day of M
1000
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.