Improvements in Pedal Cranks for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pedal Cranks for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM ORFORD MOZLEY, of 63, Milson Road, Kensington, London, W.,
Professional Rider, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention for improvements in pedal cranks for cycles and other vehicles,
has for its object to provide means whereby the radius of the crank can be increased
so as to give greater leverage when ascending hills and when greater power is
required, the lengthening or shortening again being effected without dismounting.
According to this invention the outer end of the crank is made separate and is
provided with an extension which is adapted to slide in a recess formed for the
purpose in the main portion of the crank. To the outer portion of the crank a
lever is pivotted, one end of which is formed with a projection while a spring is
fitted to the other end so that the projection is normally pressed towards the
crank. Two small recesses are formed on the side of the main portion of the
crank, and the projection on the before mentioned lever is adapted to engage with
one or the other of these two recesses.
On the pedal spindle a sliding sleeve is fitted and two or more levers are pivoted
aljacent thereto in such manner that when their outer ends are depressed
the sliding sleeve is pushed to one side. This sliding sleeve bears against the
spring pressed end of the lever above mentioned, and this lever therefore acts to
return the sleeve to its normal position when released.
Normally the spring lever engages with the innermost of the two recesses on
the crank, and the pedals are used in the usual way. When however it is desired
to increase the radius of the crank as when ascending bills and greater power is
required the foot of the rider is moved to depress one of the small levers which
are adjacent to the pedal. This moves the sliding sleeve which presses on the
lever to disengage the projection thereon from the recess in the crank. The
downward pressure on the crank when in its lower position then causes the outer
portion of the crank to slide outwardly. The projection on the spring lever then
comes into engagement with the outermost of the two recesses thus securing the
two portions of the crank together in the lengthened condition.
When desired to again reduce the radius of the crank the action is similar
except that the pressure on the pedal when in its highest position causes the outer
portion of the crank to slide inwards.
It will therefore be seen that this invention provides a simple and easily
operated device by which the crank can be lengthened or shortened without
dismounting.
That this 21th dow of Norem hor
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Pedal Cranks for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM ORFORD MOZLEY, of 63, Milson Road, Kensington, London, W.,
Professional Rider, 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 for improvements in pedal cranks for cycles and other vehicles,
has for its object to provide means whereby the radius of the crank can be increased
so as to give greater leverage when ascending hills and when greater power is
required, the lengthening or shortening again being effected without dismounting.
In order that this invention may be more clearly described reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings on which
Fig. 1 is an elevation, showing a pedal crank constructed according to this
invention, in its normal position.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the arrangement and
Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the crank in its extended position.
The crank A is formed of two portions a a¹. The main portion a is keyed
to the spindle B as usual, and is formed hollow for the greater portion of its
length. The outer portion a' is provided with an extension a² which is adapted
to fit inside the portion a. It will thus be seen that the outer portion a¹ can be
drawn out when required relative to the main portion a and the extension a²
will serve to make the connection between them.
A lever C is pivoted at c to the outer portion a¹ and is provided with a pro-
jection c¹. Two recesses a" at are formed in the portion a a suitable distance
apart. The projection c¹ is adapted to engage with one or other of the
recesses a³ at according as the portion a¹ is drawn out or not.
on the other end of the lever Û ensures the engagement of the projection c¹ with
A spring acting
one of the recesses a³ at.
On the pedal spindle D a sliding sleeve E is fitted and pivoted on the pedal
at d d are two levers F F adjacent to the sleeve E. When the outer end of one
of these levers FF is pressed downwards the sleeve E is pushed towards the
outer portion a¹ of the crank A. The sleeve E then acts on the end of the lever C
and therefore causes the projection cl to disengage with the recess a³ or a³.
A spring G acts in conjunction with the spring to return the sliding sleeve E
to its normal position when the pressure is removed from the lever For F¹.
Normally the lever C engages with the recess a³ as shown in Fig. and the
pedals are used in the usual way. When however it is desired to increase the
radius of the crank as when ascending hills and greater power is required, the
foot of the rider is moved so as to press on the end of the lever F F. This moves
the sliding sleeve E to one side pressing the end of the lever C and causing the
disengagement of the projection c¹ with the recess a³. The downward pressure on
the crank when in its lower position then causes the outer portion a¹ to slide
outwardly. The projection c on the lever C then comes into engagement with
the recess a thus securing the two portions a a¹ of the crank A together in the
lengthened condition.
When again desired to reduce the radius of a crank the foot is moved to press
the lever For F, actuating the sliding sleeve E and causing the disengagement
of the lever C with the recess at. The downward pressure of the foot when the
pedal is in its highest position then causes the outer portion a¹ of the crank A
to slide inwards. The projection c¹ of the lever C then comes into engagement
with the recess a³ and secures the two portions a a' together in the shortened and
normal condition.

page_text: It will be seen that the action of releasing the lever C thus disconnecting the
two portions a a¹ is made in all cases by the pressure of the foot upon one of the
levers For F the lengthening or shortening of the crank being then effected
by the working pressure of the foot upon the pedal. The lever C then automatically
connects the two portions a a¹ of the crank A together again in the lengthened or
shortened condition.
The two levers F F are provided to permit of either side of the pedal being
employed.
Preferably the sliding sleeve E does not contact directly with the lever C but
a projecting surface c³ comes in contact with one of the projecting surfaces e¹ e²
as the crank revolves and the contact is only made at the most convenient position.
This ensures that the connection between the two portions of the crank will not
be released except at a convenient portion of the revolution.
It will therefore be seen that this invention provides a simple and easily
operated device by which the crank can be lengthened or shortened without
dismounting.
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) An improved pedal crank for cycles and other vehicles comprising a hollow
main portion on the driving spindle, an outer portion carrying the pedal spindle
and provided with an extension which can slide in the hollow main portion so as
to vary the radius of the crank, a spring pressed lever pivoted on the outer portion
of the crank and provided with a projection which engages with one or other of
two recesses formed in the main portion of the crank so as to secure the two portions
together, a sliding sleeve fitted on the pedal spindle, and levers fitted adjacent
thereto whereby the sliding sleeve can be pressed against the spring pressed lever
to cause the disconnection of the two portions of the crank, the lengthening or
shortening of the crank then being effected by the working pressure of the foot
upon the pedal, and the two portions of the crank being then automatically con-
nected together in the lengthened or shortened condition substantially as described
and for the purposes specified.
(2) In a pedal crank for cycles and other vehicles capable of being lengthened
or shortened again, hollow main portion a provided with recesses a³ a¹ outer
portion a provided with extension a, lever C pivoted at c and having projec-
tions c, spring 2, sliding sleeve E, levers F F", and spring G all arranged and
operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings.
Dated this 28th day or February 1899
Dated 18 On day oI February 1899.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London,
Agent for the Applicant.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London,
Agent for the Applicant.