Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: I, RICHARD FRANK PRICE, of 8, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Devon, Solicitor's Clerk,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in driving mechanism for cycles, and
provides a means by which the cycle can be driven without requiring the use of
chains.
In place of the chain commonly employed, I propose to apply an oscillating lever,
which is pivoted to a sliding block to allow for the desired motion. One end of
this lever is connected to a crank fitted to the hub of the driving wheel, and the
other end is fitted to a crank or disc. On the axle of the latter a small toothed wheel
is placed which is driven from the ordinary crank wheel. The disc is thus revolved
and causes the lever to oscillate, transmitting its motion to the rear wheel of the
cycle.
The pivot of the lever is supported by one of the stays of the cycle frame, or by.
an additional bar provided for this purpose.
According to one arrangement this stay or bar is provided with a short
channelled portion formed by two lips, one at the upper and one at the lower side
of the bar, these channels serving to receive small rollers fitted to the block
carrying the pivot. These rollers allow the pivot to slide freely while the lever is
oscillating.
According to another arrangement, the block carrying the pivot is provided
with small rollers at top and bottom, which are placed on each side of the supporting
bar and roll upon it.
Instead of roller bearings, balls may be employed carried between the support
and the sliding block. The disc and toothed wheel are also carried on ball
bearings. With this arrangement the crank wheel and disc can be placed almost
directly underneath the foot, so that the power of propulsion is greater than in the
ordinary arrangement.
2017
L
1000
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
I, RICHARD FRANK PRICE, of 8, Bedford Circus, Exeter, Devon, Solicitor's Clerk,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the sameis
Price 8d1

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in driving mechanism for cycles, and
provides a means by which the cycle can be driven without requiring the use of
chains.
In place of the chain commonly employed, I propose to employ an oscillating
lever, which is pivoted to a sliding block or other suitable apparatus to allow for
the desired motion. One end of this lever is connected to a crank fitted to the
hub of the driving wheel, and the other end is fitted to a crank or disc. On
the axle of the latter an arrangement of rollers fastened between two thin discs is
placed which is driven from the ordinary crank wheel. The disc is thus revolved
and causes the lever to oscillate, transmitting its motion to the rear wheel of the
cycle.
The pivot of the lever is supported by one of the stays of the cycle frame, or by
an additional bar provided for this purpose.
In order to more clearly describe this invention reference is had to the
accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation showing part of a bicycle fitted with driving mechanism
according to this invention.
Fig. 2 is a plan of the same and
Figs. 3 and 4 are views showing two methods of constructing the sliding
block.
An oscillating lever A is pivotted at b to the sliding block B, to be hereinafter
more fully described, the block B being capable of sliding upon the stay C of the
bicycle or is desired upon an additional bar provided for the purpose. The
lever A is connected at a to the crank D fitted upon the driving wheel spindle d
and at a¹ is connected to the disc E pivotted at e and forming another crank. This
disc E is geared with the toothed wheel F upon the pedal crank axle f the
proportions being such as to obtain the desired gearing ratio.
.
The pedal crank axle f is revolved by means of the pedals in the usual
way, and the disc E is caused to revolve in the opposite direction and at
a speed descending upon the gearing ratio employed. From the disc E
power is transmitted to the crank D through the oscillating lever A,
the crank D, and consequently the driving wheel of the bicycle revolving
oppositely to the disc E and in the same direction as the pedal crank axle ƒ but at
the same speed as the disc E. The sliding block B slides upon the stay C to
permit of this as will be readily understood.
In the arrangement illustrated the wheel F is not provided with the usual teeth
but is formed with a series of depressions or recesses f¹. Between the disc E and
the disc E¹ a number of small rollers e¹ are fitted upon pins e². These rollers e fit
into the depressions f¹ of the wheel f and are revolved thereby the action being
similar to ordinary toothed gearing and by suitably proportioning the number of
rollers e and the number of depressions or recesses f any desired gearing ratio may
be obtained.
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Small
In Fig. 3 a suitable construction of the sliding block B is illustrated.
channel strips c c¹ are formed on or attached to the stay C one at the top and one
at the bottom. The pivot pin bis mounted in the sliding block B which is
preferably formed in two portions and rollers 6' upon pins 62 are provided at top
and bottom and working in the channel strips c c so as to allow the whole to slide
freely while the lever A is oscillating.
The channel strips c c¹ may also be dispensed with the rollers 6' rolling directly
upon the stay C.
In Fig. 4 an arrangement is shown in which balls 63 are employed instead of the
rollers b.
Ball bearings are provided for the pivots fe and d.

page_text: With the above described arrangement of driving mechanism the pedal cranks
can be placed almost directly underneath the foot of the rider so that the power of
propulsion is greater than in the ordinary arrangement.
This driving mechanism may be fitted to bicycles, tricycles, and other similar
vehicles.
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) An improved driving mechanism for cycles comprising an oscillating lever
connected at one end to a crank on the driving axle and at the other to a pivotted
disc acting as another crank but in a reverse position to the other crank, a sliding
block carrying the pivot for said oscillating lever, and gearing between the
pivotted disc and the pedal crank axle, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
(2) An improved driving mechanism for cycles comprising the oscillating
lever A, sliding block B provided with rollers b¹ rolling in the channel strips c c¹
upon the stay C, crank D, disc E pivotted at e and provided with a series of
rollers e¹ and wheel F upon the pedal crank axle f and having a series of
depressions f¹ with which the rollers e¹ engage all arranged and operating
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
(3) An improved driving mechanism for cycles comprising with balls 63 sliding
upon the stay C, crank D, disc E pivotted at e and provided with a series of
rollers e and wheel F upon the pedal crauk axle f and having a series of
depressions with which the rollers e¹ engage with reference to Figs. 1, 2 and 4
of the drawings.
Dated this 1th 1
T1
1000
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.