Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, HENRY BRIGGS, 110 South Fourth Street of the City of Philadelphia in the
County of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America,
Mechanical Expert, 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:-
My invention relates to that class of velocipedes known as “bicycles" and
consists of an improvement in mechanism for revolving the wheel and propelling the
bicycle."
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I attain these objects by the mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings in
which:
Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal elevation A B of the left side of my machine.
Figure 2 is an enlarged view of a forked or slotted tooth of my gear or crank
wheel with its elastic friction roller m engaged with a tooth of my pinion.
Figure 3 is a vertical_transverse elevation C D of the front of my machine
looking from A towards B of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is an elevation A B of my gear or crank wheel and pinion on the left
side of my machine with one tooth of my crank wheel and one tooth or "leaf" of
my pinion fully "engaged."
Figure 5 is an enlarged view of portion of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of one tooth of my crank wheel disengaging the
corresponding "leaf" of the pinion of my improved machine and its following tooth
intercepting or "engaging" the following "leaf" of my pinion.
Figure 7 is an enlarged isometrical view of one of my forked or slotted teeth of
my gear or crank wheel engaged with the corresponding leaf of the pinion of my
machine.
Similar letters refer to similar parts in all the views.
My invention consists of a velocipede or "bicycle" having the axle i of its
driving wheel a provided with a pinion g at each end of said axle i, the said pinion
g
gearing into a gear or crank wheelf, this gear wheelf having on its face a crank
pin working in a slot or guides r of a treadle crank lever j, which treadle crank
lever jis pivoted at one end o on a framework d attached to the frame or fork b
of the "bicycle," the gear or crank wheel is also pivoted at h to the framework d.
These pinions 9 g, gear wheels ff and treadie crank levers 11, are geared
together so that when the treadle crank lever and crank pin on one side of the
machine are at their highest points (as in the solid lines in Figure 1 and at D in
Figure 2) the treadle crank lever and crank pin on the other side of the machine
will be at their lowest points (as shown in dotted lines in the same Figure 1 and
at C in Figure 2). The arrows show the direction in which the wheels are
revolved to drive the "bicycle" or machine ahead.
My invention is operated in the following manner by the rider sitting on the
saddle Ug the parts of the machine being in the position shown in Figures 1 and 3,
the treadle crank lever on the left side D of the machine is depressed by the rider
pressing down the treadle t with his left foot, causing the crank pin 1 and wheel ƒ to
revolve in the direction shown by the arrows, causing the pinion g on the left side D
of the machine to revolve, revolving the axle and wheel 9 forward, which also
causes the pinion on the other end C of the axle i (or right hand side of the machine)
to revolve, revolving the crank or gear wheel and crank pin (also on the right hand
side C of the machine) raising the treadle crank lever on side C causing the wheel a
to revolve forwards at the same time; the treadle crank lever on the left hand
side D is now at its lowest point, and the treadle crank lever on the right hand

page_text: side Cat its highest point so that when its treadle t is pressed down by the right foot
of the rider it causes the gear or crank wheel f, pinion g, axle i and wheel a to
revolve and the crank lever l'on the left hand side D to rise to its highest point
ready to be depressed again as at first described, so that by alternately depressing
the highest treadle the machine will be driven ahead. By depressing the treadle
crank lever which is rising before it reaches its highest point, the direction in which
the gear wheel is revolving will be reversed from that described, also reversing the
pinion g and wheel a so that the machine will run backwards.
The pinion g and gear wheel may be of any suitable size and number of teeth
or "leaves" required but I prefer that the leaves and "teeth" shall be so propor-
tioned that but one tooth q and one "leaf" n shall be fully engaged and in full
action at one time and that as one tooth is engaging or entering a leaf n, the
preceding slotted or forked tooth of the gear wheel shall be leaving the preceding
leaf of the pinion g. I make the teeth 7 of my gear wheel of forked or slotted as
shown in the drawings at qq so that the long leaf n of my pinion g shall move
freely on the friction roller m of my gear or crank wheel f.
In order to reduce the friction, noise and rattle of the gearing I make the forked
or slotted teeth of my gear or crank wheels with friction rollers m preferably
of rubber, leatheroid or other tough elastic material.
The framework d may be stiffened and strengthened by carrying it in front of the
wheel a from one side C to the other side D, and may be further stiffened and
strengthened if desired, by the braces connecting the framework d with the
frame or "fork "bb of the machine.
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. A bicycle having a front wheel a and a rear wheels connected by a frame b
and backbone c, the axle i having a pinion geared into a gear or crank wheel which
carries a crank pin working in guides on a treadle crank lever pivoted at one end
on a framework which is rigidly attached to the frame or "fork of the machine,
which framework also supports the shaft of the crank wheel, substantially as shown
and described and for the purposes set forth.
2. In a bicycle the combination with the front wheel a and rear wheels connected
by a frame or "fork" b and backbone c the axle i of a pinion on each end of the
axle geared into a crank wheel which carries a crank pin working in guides on a
treadle lever pivoted at one end on a framework rigidly attached to the frame or
"fork" of the machine, which framework also supports the shaft of the gear or
crank wheel, substantially as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.
3. The gear or crank wheel having slotted or forked teeth carrying friction
rollers composed of or covered with rubber, leatheroid or other elastic material as
shown and described and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a bicycle the combination of the wheel a, rear wheel s, frame or fork,"
backbone and axle, of the pinions on the said axle, gear or crank wheel having
forked or slotted teeth having friction rollers, and crank pin, guides, treadle lever
crank and framework as shown and described and for the purposes set forth.
Dated and signed this 2nd day of March 1891.
HENNI DRIUTUD.
Dated this 17th day of March 1891.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.