Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 11th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 15th Jan., 1898
We, FRANZ FRIEDRICH HEINRICH EBERT, of 40 Peterstrasse, Leipsic, Merchant,
CARL AUGUST HUGO SENFT, of 71 Humboldstrasse, Hamburg, Mechanical Joiner,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for object to obviate the uncomfortable jolting that occurs
when riding cycles over rough ground and uneven roads and we effect the end in
view by elastically supporting the pedals or treadles. The invention is applicable
to cycles of various types but the accompanying drawings illustrate it as applied
to lever treadle mechanism.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation,
Fig. 2 a plan; and
Fig. 3 a front elevation.
As will be seen the axle a of the treadles b and c is rotatably mounted in a
bearing d which is supported elastically by springs for other means. The springs f
bear upon a cross-piece f¹ which is arranged in the frame and in which the
bearing guide rods d' are adapted to slide. The support g which is mounted in
the frame and carries the saddle, is fixed to the bearing d, so that the usual saddle
springs can be dispensed with. In consequence of this arrangement the saddle
shares the movements of the bearing d, and its distance from the centre of rotation
of the pedals consequently remains always the same, whereas in all other known
cycles, this distance is continually changing even when riding over very slightly
uneven ground, and thus considerably increases the labour of pedalling.
Further by means of this arrangement not only the upper part of the body of
the rider, but the whole of his body, is protected from jolts, and thereby the
pedalling is rendered considerably easier.
Better utilization of the pedalling power as compared with the ordinary crank
pedals generally used is effected by means of the treadle levers shown in the
drawings, one (6) of which acts as a two-armed lever, and the other (c) acts as a
one-armed lever. The former b, is fixed on one end of the axle a, and is jointed
by means of the radius rod or connecting rod h with the crank pin which is
mounted on the crank pin wheel. The wheel i rotates on a bracket arranged
on the frame k, and engages with the small toothed wheel m fixed on the axle of
the hind wheel. Upon the other end of the pedal axle a there is fixed a small
lever n which is jointed by means of the small connecting or radius rod o with
the treadle lever c which is pivoted on a pin p fixed on the frame k. This arrange-
ment produces a far more favourable ratio of gear than can be attained with all
other previous driving mechanisms, whilst the power exerted in pedalling is
always fully utilized, which, as is well known, is not the case with crank pedals.
By the use of the improvements herein described, the uncomfortable jolting
experienced in riding over unevenly paved streets, and rough roads and ways, is
11

page_text: obviated, and comfortable smooth and safe travelling can be had with cycles of
all types and constructions.
Dated this 18th dov of Tuna- 1807
Improvements in "Cycles.
* 1}
T
We, FRANZ FRIEDRICH HEINRICH EBERT, of 40 Peterstrasse, Leipsic, Merchant,
and CARL AUGUST HUGO SENFT, of 71 Humboldstrasse, Hamburg, Mechanical
Joiner, 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 for object to obviate the uncomfortable jolting that occurs
when riding cycles over rough ground and uneven roads and we effect the end in
view by elastically supporting the pedals or treadles. The invention is applicable
to cycles of various types but the drawings filed with our provisional specification
illustrate it as applied to treadle-mechanism.
Figs. 1 and 2 show the entire treadle-mechanism in side elevation and plan
respectively, and Fig. 3 shows the bearing and the means for elastically, support-
ing it, to a larger scale and in front elevation and side elevation respectively.
As will be seen the axle a of the treadles b and c is: rotatably mounted; in a
vielding support. The springs f bear upon a crosspiece f¹ which is arranged in
bearing d which is supported elastically by springs for other suitably elastic or
the frame and in which the guide-rods of the bearing are adapted to slide.
The support, which is mounted in the frame and carries the saddle, is fixed to
the bearing d, and the usual saddle-springs are consequently dispensed with. As
a result of this arrangement the saddle shares the movements of the bearing d,
and its distance from the centre of rotation of the pedals consequently, remains
always the same, whereas in all other known cycles, this distance is continually
changing even when riding over very slightly uneven ground, which considerably
increases the labour of pedalling.
Further, by means of this arrangement not only the upper part of the body of
the rider; but the. whole of his body, is protected from jolts, and thereby the
pedalling is rendered considerably easier.
Better utilization of the pedalling-power than in the case of the ordinary crank-
pedals generally used is effected by means of the treadles shown in the drawings,
one (b) of which acts as a two-armed lever, and the other (c) acts as a one-armed
lever. The former, 6 is fixed on one end of the axle a, and is connected by means
of a rod h with a crank-pin ¹ secured to a wheel i which rotates in a bracket
arranged on the frame k and engages with a small toothed wheel m fixed on the
axle of the rear wheel. Upon the other end of the pedal axle a there is fixed a
small lever n, which is connected by means of a short rod o with the treadle c
which is mounted on a pin p fixed to the frame k. This arrangement produces a
far more favourable ratio of gear than can be attained with any other previously
known driving-mechanism, whilst the power exerted in pedalling is always fully
utilized, which, as is well known, is not the case with crank-pedals.
By the use of the improvements herein described, the uncomfortable jolting
experienced in riding over unevenly paved streets, and rough roads and ways, is
obviated, and .comfortable, smooth, and safe travelling. can be had with cycles of
all types and constructions..

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. Driving mechanism for cycles in which the axle a of the treadles or pedals
is mounted in an elastic bearing d that is fixed to the saddle by means of a rod g.
2. Driving-mechanism for cycles comprising a two-armed treadle 6 fixed to the
axle a, and a one-armed treadle c linked to the said axle.
3. Driving-mechanism for cycles, constructed, arranged, and operating sub-
stantially as herein before described with reference to and shown in the drawings.
Dated this 11th day of October 1897.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.