Improvement in the Cranks of Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Cranks of Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
I PHILIP CHORLEY NOBLE, Mechanical Engineer, 18 Avenue Road, Grantham,
in the County of Lincoln, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvement in cranks for increasing their lengths.
The object of this is to give more leverage and extra power to the bicycles when
ascending inclines, which can be done by the rider while the machine is in motion
or travelling. When the said cranks are on their half or bottom centre the rider
simply applies a little extra pressure on the pedals and the aforesaid cranks will
extend to a given length and is instantaneously secured by means of a catch and
spring which holds the said cranks firm until arriving on the top of the hill or
incline. When the rider wishes to shorten the said crank to its original position
he applies a slight pressure on the said catch which is secured to the side of the
crank, which can be done with the side of the riders foot without stopping the
bicycle. When this said catch is thrown out of gear it releases the main spiral
spring of the crank, which returns to its original position and remains there until
again required.
To more fully explain the nature of my invention.―
In one arrangement I make the body of the cranks cylindrical, which is to say
Que end of
from drawn tube or made from the solid and bored, or other means.
the said body of the crank is secured to the crank spindle by means of a key or
cotter. The top end of the body of the cranks are supplied with a guide nut
or cap, and are secured by screwing into the body of the crank or by any other
means. This said cap has a square hole to receive and to act as a guide for a
steel spindle. This said spindle has at one end an eye to receive any ordinary
pedal, and to the other end of the spindle piston is fitted which fits the inside
of the tube of the body of the crank. Between the said piston and the said cap
I employ a spiral spring, or indiarubber may be used. The object of this spring
is to keep the crank back to its shortest length for level running, and when the
rider is about to ascend an incline or hill, by using a little extra pressure on the
pedals this said spiral spring will compress and will extend the crank to its full
length and be secured by the aforesaid catch, underneath the said piston and will
This
remain there until released by the rider's foot as herein before described.
said catch and spring is fitted into a long slot in the barrel of the crank and has a
joint and pin in the centre of the catch, and at one end of the said catch a small
spiral spring is fitted inside and across the tube, which causes the other end of the
catch to press against the side of the piston when running light. But when
the piston is extended the catch springs in under the piston to secure it as before
described.
Another arrangement.-
I also use the novel means of a flat crank in two or more parts, which is to say
one part sliding into or by the side of the other part, with a stretching spiral or
other spring which is fixed by the side of the crauk.
I also use a catch and spring to secure the extending part of the crank when at
its full length.
The actions of this said flat crank is the same as the cylindrical crank herein
before described.
When the bicycle is going up a slight incline the rider is not compelled to force
the rent out to it full anth The said quiral spring is so adiusted to compress

page_text: and extend the crank according to the pressure put on the pedals on the downward
stroke of the crank. And when the said crank is on the upward motion the said
spring will draw the extended crank back, which is of great advantage to the rider,
as he can stretch the legs on the downward stroke and the knees will rise no higher
on the upward stroke, this is done by the action of the aforesaid springs.
Dated this 4th day of August 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Cranks of Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
PHILIP CHORLEY NOBLE, Mechanical Engineer, 18 Avenue Road, Grantham,
in the County of Lincoln, 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 relates to improvement in cranks for increasing their lengths.
The object of this is to give more leverage and extra power to the bicycles when
ascending inclines, which can be done by the rider while the machine is in motion
or travelling.
When the said cranks are on their half or bottom centre the rider simply applies
a little extra pressure on the pedals and the aforesaid cranks will extend to a given
length and is instantaneously secured by means of a catch and spring which holds
the said cranks firm until arriving on the top of the hill or incline. When the rider
wishes to shorten the said crank to its original position he applies a slight pressure
on the said catch which is secured to the side of the crank, which can be done with
the side of the riders foot without stopping the bicycle. When this said catch is
thrown out of gear it releases the main spiral spring of the crank, which returns to
its original position and remains there until again required.
To more fully explain the nature of my invention reference is made to the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1. is a sectional elevation of the said crank.
Fig. 2. is an elevation of the crank.
Fig. 3. is a plan and sectional elevation of the guide out.
Marked A is the cylinder of the crank.
B is the guide nut for the spindle.
C is the cap.
D is the washer or packing ring.
"
"
"
"
E is the extension spindle.
"
F is the piston.
"
H is the catch for the piston.
"
I is the small spring for the catch.
دو
G is the main spiral spring for the extension spindle.
In one arrangement I make the body of the cranks cylindrical, marked A, which
is to say from drawn tube or made from the solid and bored, or other means. One
end of the said body of the crank is secured to the crank spindle by means of a
key or cotter in the usual way. The top end of the body of the cranks are
supplied with a guide nut B. which has two or more lugs which are fitted into
slots in the end of the crank barrel and is also secured by a cap, marked C, which
is screwed on the end of the crank barrel which forces the said nut into the slots
and is firmly held. The said nut has a square hole through the centre to receive
the said crank extension spindle E, and also is for the purpose of keeping the
pedals of the crank square.
I
may also apply round extension spindles with slots through same to keep the
crank pedals square or by any other means. This said spindle E. has at one end
an eye to receive any ordinary pedal, and to the other end of the spindle a piston,

page_text: marked F, is fitted, which fits the inside of the tube or the body of the crank.
Between the said piston and the said nut 1 employ a spiral spring, G, or india-
rubber may be used. The object of this said spring is to keep the crank back to
its shortest length for level running, and when the rider is about to ascend an
incline or hill, by using a little extra pressure on the pedals this said spiral spring
will compress and will extend the crank to its full length and be secured by the
aforesaid catch, marked H, underneath the said piston, and will remain there until
released by the rider's foot as herein before described. This said catch and spring
is fitted into a long slot in the barrel of the crank, and has a joint and pin in the
centre of the catch, and at one end of the said catch a small spiral spring, I, is
fitted inside and across the tube, which causes the other end of the catch to press.
against the side of the piston when running light. But when the piston is extended
the catch springs in under the piston to secure it as before described.
Another arrangement
I also use the novel means of a flat crank in two or more parts, which is to
say one part sliding into or by the side of the other part, with a stretching spiral
or other spring which is fixed by the side of the crank." I also use a catch and
spring to secure the extending part of the crank when at its full length.
The actions of this said flat crank is the same as the cylindrical crank herein
before described.
When the bicycle is going up a slight incline the rider is not compelled to force
the crank out to its full length. The said spiral spring is so adjusted to allow the
crank to extend according to the pressure put on the pedals on the downward
stroke of the crank. And when the said crank is on the upward motion the said
spring will draw the extended crank back, which is of great advantage to the rider,
as he can stretch the legs on the downward stroke and the knees will rise no higher
on the upward stroke, this is done by the action of the aforesaid springs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. An improvement in cranks for bicycles and velocipedes in which the said
crank or part of the crank is made to extend by the action of springs when extra
pressure is put on the pedals at cach revolution of the said crank, and can be
extended to its full length allowed, and secured by a catch and spring. The
aforesaid extending and shortening of the crank can be done while the machine is
in motion. The object is to give the said cranks more leverage, which means
extra power to ascend inclines also in descending steep hills, substantially as berein
before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
2. In the improvement in cranks I use a flat crank in two or more parts, the
one part sliding in the grooves of the other part and secured by either a stretching
or a compression spring. I also use a catch and spring to secure the extended part
of the crank, substantially as herein before described.
Dated the 3rd day of November 1894.
PHILIP CHORLEY NOBLE.