An Improved Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1896-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
Wo, GUSTAV HEINRICH THEODOR PLOG and AUGUST EMIL HELBING, Butchers,
both of Ratzeburg, in the Empire of Germany, do hereby declare tho 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:-
The subject of this invention is an improved mechanism for driving cycles wherein
tho usual circular motion of the rider's feet, the necessary consequence of the crank
motion, is converted into a reciprocating up-and-down motion by an arrangement in
which the levers, upon the freo ends of which are to rest the feet of the cyclist,
alternately rise and sink while the machine is in motion; such levers being linked
to the pedal cranks through the medium of a shear-like arrangement (known as
"Nurnberg shears ").
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawing,
being a side elevation thereof. The "shears" are arranged upon the rods b, on either
side of the crank shaft which carries the chain wheel a, their last pivot joint but one
being at the same time hinged to the fork of the rear or driving wheel at d. To the
end of the shears arrangement, extending beyond the point d, the lover e is attached,
to which is secured in its turn the double armed foot lever g, the pivot point of which
is at f. The free arm g is extended towards the part of the machine at which the
usual pedals would have been located; and it is bent or curved, and offers a support
or rest for the feet at h. It will readily be understood from the inspection of the
complete lever arrangement that, as the machine is set in motion by raising or
depressing the foot lever or treadle h, forming part of the said lever arrangements,
gf, e d, c, the crank shaft and also consequently the chain wheel a are set in rotary
motion; such motion being in the usual way transmitted to the toothod wheel i of the
driving wheel by means of the chain.
By a suitable arrangement of the double-armed lever, the cycle may be made
capable of being driven by hand, without departing from the principle of the
invention.
0
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
(1.) Mechanism for driving cycles, the main feature of which is that the rotary
motion of the pedal cranks b which is necessary for imparting the usual circular
motion to the chain wheel a, is produced through the medium of a shear-like
arrangement such as c and the lever arrangement such as e, f and g, by a simple
up-and-down reciprocating movement of the free ends of the said lever
arrangement.
(2.) A modification of the mechanism specified in the first claim, wherein the above
mentioned motion-transmitting gearing is operated by hand.
(3.) The combination of parts herein before described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawing forming our improved driving gear for cycles.
Dated this 21st day of December 1890.
ed this 21st day of December 1890.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent for the Applicants.