Improvements in and relating to Driving Mechanism for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Driving Mechanism for Velocipedes.
I, LOUIS GAUTIER, of Villa des Lauriers, St. Servan, Departement de l'Ile et
Vilaine, in the Republic of France, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to a device for transmitting motion by means of com-
bined connecting rods and slides or guides, and which device produces a multiplica-
tion of speed without recourse being had either to chains or gearings, toothed
wheels or pulleys. I will hereinafter describe a device, by which a threefold
multiplication is produced between two shafts, but I may of course, construct
transmissions, by which two, four, five, or six-fold transmissions and so forth may
be obtained, without thereby in any way departing from the principle of the
invention.
The device for threefold multiplication applied to a safety bicycle essentially
comprises two triangular, curvilinear slides or guides; these slides or guides are
keyed, one at each side of the pedal mechanism and in front of one another, upon
one of the driving cranks, and two connecting rods one placed upon each side of
the frame, actuate each. individually, three small parallel cranks, arranged
identically and one series being set at an angle of 90 degrees relatively to the other.
In my main patent I have explicitly reserved the right of applying my device
for transmitting motion by means of connecting rods and slides. to two shafts
intended to rotate at any desired variable speed. As an example of my trans-
mission device I have described a constructive arrangement, by which a two-fold
multiplication is obtained between the shafts.
The six cranks are distributed as follows: two cranks being set at an angle of
90 degrees relatively to each other, upon the axle of the driving wheel at each
side of this wheel, four cranks being placed two by two at each side of the frame
around the nedal mechanism two in front of the axle of this pedal mechanism
and two behind. The rotary axles of these four last cranks are carried by the
frame and their crank nins extend outwards beyond the bearings of the connecting
rod and carry rollers which engage with the polygonal guide located upon the same
side.
The two rollers on one and the same side simultaneously traverse two of the
curvilinear sides of their guide, and the whole driving mechanism is such that two
rollers are always in operation, one for each guide: so that there is no dead centre
to be overcome and that the transmission is effected with the greatest possible
smoothness.
The curvilinear parts which form the sides of the guide are equal in length to
the development or dimension of the circumference described by the pins of the
cranks which they move along: each time that a crank pin has fully traversed
one side of the guide, the various cranks pivoted to the driving connecting-rods

page_text: and consequently the driving wheel itself have performed one revolution. Thus,
if the guide be made three sided, as I have so far supposed, the driving wheel will
have effected three turns at each complete revolution of the said guide, that is to
say at one full turn of the pedal; consequently a three fold multiplication is
obtained. When a four-sided guide is employed, a fourfold multiplication will be
obtained and so forth. Consequently, according to my invention, all that is
necessary, is to construct the guide with a number of sides equal to the multiplica-
tion of speed to be obtained.
I will hereinafter describe my transmission device with a three fold multiplica-
tion as applied to a safety bicycle, the guide in this case being a curvilinear
equilateral triangle.
Upon the axle of the pedal mechanism are mounted in the ordinary manner,
the driving cranks. Upon these cranks, having auxiliary arms provided in their
plane of rotation, the triangular curvilinear slides or guides are respectively
mounted one in front of the other.
At the place of the pedal mechanism the frame supports three parallel ball-
bearings arranged upon each side of the former and with which engage the hollow
shaft-portions provided with symmetrical teeth and upon which shaft portions the
cranks are keyed two by two and set at an angle of 90 degrees. The two cranks
upon one and the same side, are pivoted to one and the same connecting rod coupled
at its other extremity to one of the cranks, keyed at an angle of 90 degrees to the
axle of the driving. wheel.
At the place where they are traversed by the axle of the pedal mechanism, the
connecting rods are constructed in form of a ring thus enabling them to freely
execute their movement without coming into contact with this axle.
The pins of the four cranks extend outwardly beyond the bearings of the con-
necting rods and carry. rollers which are arranged two by two in the planes. of the
guides. These rollers rest upon the inner circumference of the said. guides and are
actuated by the latter when the cyclist acts upon the pedals.
At least two rollers, placed at the sides of the frame are in operation, whatever
positions the cranks may occupy, and that consequently there is no dead centre
in the transmission to be overcome. The rider therefore is enabled to better
utilize his power, whilst moreover great smoothness in the movements is obtained.
Each of the connecting rods. consists of three connected parts, in order to permit
of easily fitting up and adjusting the machine.
I reserve the right of so modifying the transmission device as to suit all types
of machines and to substitute according to the ratio of multiplication to be obtained
for triangular curvilinear guides, such with four, five, six and so forth. In certain.
cases of application, one single guide may be provided. for the sake of simplifying
the construction.
Improvements in and relating to Driving Mechanism for Vélocipèdes. 4
:
I, LOUIS GAUTIER, of Villa des Lauriers, St. Servan, Departement de l'Ile et
Vilaine, in the Republic of France, Mechanical Engineer, 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 a method of transmitting motion between two parallel 5

page_text: shafts, by means of combined connecting rods and slides, producing a speed multi-
plication or
gearing-up" without the aid of either chains, gear-wheels toothed:
wheels or pulleys. This method of transmitting motion without a chain and with-.
out gear-wheels is equally applicable to motor vehicles, bicycles, tricycles and to
other velocipedes.
I will hereinafter describe with reference to the accompanying drawing, an
arrangement producing a three-fold multiplication between two parallel shafts.
This arrangement is supposed to be applied to a safety bicycle and comprises
essentially, two triangular and curvilinear slides or guides; these guides are
rigidly fixed one in front of the other upon each side of the bottom bracket of the
machine, upon one of the driving cranks, and two connecting rods, arranged one
upon each side of the frame, each actuating three, small parallel cranks, arranged
in precisely the same manner, each series being keyed or fixed at right angles
with respect to the other.
The six cranks are distributed in the following manner: two cranks are fixed:
at right angles upon the axle of the driving wheel one upon each side of this wheel,
four cranks are arranged in pairs one pair upon each side of the frame around the
crank axle bearing-two in front of the crank axle and two behind. The axes of
rotation of these four cranks last mentioned are carried by the frame and their
pins are continued in front of the bearings of the connecting rod and are provided
with rollers which engage in the polygonal guide, arranged upon the same side.
The two rollers situated upon the same side, traverse simultaneously two of the
curvilinear sides of their guide and the driving mechanism as a whole is such that
there are always two rollers in operation, one in each guide, owing to this arrange-
ment there is no dead centre whilst the transmission takes place very smoothly.
The curvilinear portions forming the sides of the guide are of a length equal
to the development of the circumference described by the pin of the cranks which
they guide. Each time that a crank pin has traversed a side of the guide in its
entirety, the various cranks jointed. upon the driving connecting-rods, and con-
sequently the driving wheel itself, have completed a revolution.
Thus, if there are three sides to traverse in order to pass completely round the
guide, which corresponds to one revolution of the crank axle, the driving wheel
will have made three revolutions, and there is consequently a threefold multiplica-
tion.
I may if desired employ guide slides having two, three, four or a greater number
of sides, for the production of two, three, four fold or a greater number of multipli-
cations of speed.
In the accompanying drawing I have represented the application of my trans-
mission device arranged for a three fold multiplication to a safety bicycle. The
guide is in this case an equilateral curvilinear triangle.
Figure 1 is an elevation of the driving mechanism, the driving cranks being
omitted.
Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken upon the crank axle and the axle of the
driving wheel, the pedal and the guide arranged in front of the frame being
omitted.
Upon the crank axle a are keyed or fixed in the ordinary manner, the driving
cranks b. Upon these cranks, which are provided in their plane of rotation with
auxiliary arms 6', are fixed the curvilinear triangular slidės or guides c and d,
which are arranged one in advance of the other.
Adjacent to the bottom bracket, the frame supports the parallel ball bearings pqr,
arranged in the same horizontal plane. The bearing 9 is arranged in the middle,
and in it rotates the crank axle . The other bearings p and rare arranged upon
each side of the hearing 7, and in them engage the hollow spindles, upon which
are rigidly fixed in pairs, at right angles, the cranks h h¹ and i i¹.
Said spindles being split and provided with interlocking teeth f f³, g g³, for
the purpose of forming complete spindles and at the same time allowing for the
insertion of the balls and races. Those two of the cranks hi and h¹¹ which are

page_text: arranged upon the same side, are respectively jointed to one and the same con-
necting rod or as the case may be attached at its other extremity to one of the
cranks k or k¹ fixed at right angles upon the axle o of the driving wheel.
Where the crank axle passes through the connecting rods and , these latter
are so shaped as to form a circular aperture, whereby they are enabled to execute
their movement freely without touching this axle a.
The pins of the four cranks h h', i ¹ are continued outside the ball bearings of
the connecting rods and and are provided with friction rollers s s¹, t t¹, which
are arranged in pairs in the planes of the guides c and d. These rollers rest upon
the internal faces of these guides and are driven by these latter when the cyclist
acts upon the pedals. By merely referring to the drawing it is obvious that two
rollers at least, arranged at one part or another of the frame, are in operation in
all positions of the cranks, and that consequently no dead centre exists in the
transmission. An improved utilisation of the propelling effort and great smooth-
ness in running is thus obtained.
It should be pointed out that in the accompanying drawing, each of the con-
necting rods consists of two or three lengths assembled together, in order to
enable the machine to be readily fitted together and adjusted. Also all desired
constructional modifications may be made according as the invention is applied
to motor vehicles, safety bicycles, tricycles and so forth without in any way depart-
ing from the principle of the invention.
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 method for transmitting motion by means of connecting rods and slides
or guides combined, between two parallel shafts, producing a multiplication of
speed without the use of either chains, gear-wheels, toothed wheels or pulleys, and
characterised by two triangular, curvilinear guides rigidly fixed one in front of
the other upon the primary driving shaft, and by two parallel connecting rods each
of which actuates three parallel cranks arranged in precisely the same manner,
each series being keyed or fixed at an angle of 90° with respect to the other, two
of the cranks at right angles being mounted upon the shaft which it is desired to
cause to rotate at an increased speed, and the four others upon shafts rotating in
the rigid frame, before and behind the primary driving shaft, in such a manner
that the pins of these four cranks are continued and carry rollers which rest upon
the curvilinear sides of the guides and are driven by these guides; the crank, and
consequently the shaft to be driven, completing a revolution every time the rollers
have traversed one of the sides of the guides, owing to which a threefold multiplica-
tion is obtained with a triangular guide.
2. In the method of transmitting motion by means of connecting rods and slides
or guides, combined, described in Claim 1, the employment of guide-slides having
two, three, four or a greater number of sides, for the production, in accordance
with the arrangement described of two, three, four fold or a greater number of
multiplication of speed, between the driving and the driven shifts which are
arranged parallel one with the other.
3. In the method of transmitting motion by means of connecting rods and slides
or guides combined, in accordance with Claim 1, the employment of connecting
rods consisting of two or three lengths assembled together, in order to facilitate
the fitting together and the adjustment of the machine..
4. The method of transmitting motion by means of connecting rods and slides
or guides combined, in accordance with the foregoing claims, of which the con-
structional details have been described above and represented in the accompanying
drawing, as applied to safety bicycles.
5. The application of the method of transmitting motion by means of connecting
rods and slides or guides combined, in accordance with the foregoing claims, to

page_text: bicycles tricycles velocipedes and motor vehicles, for the purpose of obtaining
a transmission device, with speed multiplication, without either chains, gear-wheels
or pulleys.
T.... 1908
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.