Improved Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct.; 1889-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1889'
Improved Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
1.
JAMES COTTRELL of 26 Mansion House Street Kennington Park Road, S.E.
Lambeth Surrey, Patternmaker do hereby declare the naturo of this invention to be
as follows:-
To obtain a better balance of the action of the muscels and thereby less fatigue to;
the person driving or propelling the machine.
i
A means of making slower or prolonging the downward stroke of the cranks, and
similarly making faster or shortening the upward stroke of the cranks.
"
.
I make the driving wheel as in an ordinary. Bicycle, or the chain wheel as in the
Safety" Type of. Velocipede, to turn on a bearing of sufficient size to admit of. the
crank spindle to pass through half of an inch (4") or thereabouts out of the true
centre of the said chain wheels. The cranks to be seperate, and each to have con-
structed suitable spindles so that one spindle may fit in and work easily inside the
other, and allow the cranks to have independant action. The crank spindles to work
in suitable bearings placed or fitted at or about half an inch (4") out of line with the
centre of the driving wheel or chain wheel.
The cranks to be connected to the driving wheel, or chain wheel by means of a
stud projecting on the side of the chain wheel, to slide or travel in a slot of suitable.
length made in the cranks to allow of the variable leverage caused by the combined
action of the different centres, or connected by a link, one end working on a pin or..,
joint attached to the crank at or about two inches and a half (24") measuring from:
the spindle, the other end working on a pin or joint attached near the bearing or
about one inch and three quarters of an inch (14") from the true centre of the driving
wheel or chain wheel.
9.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
i
JAMES COTTRELL 26, Mansion House Street Kennington Park Road S.E. in the
Parish of Lambeth in the County of Surrey, Pattern Maker, 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:-
The purpose of my invention is to give the rider of 'Velocipedes greater control
over the action of the cranks used for propelling whereby a continuous driving power
can be transmitted, and consists in giving a slower downward stroke to the cranks
in proportion to the upward stroke.
By which means I obtain a longer period or time for the pressure of the foot or
power to be exerted, and a shorter period or time for the upward or unused stroke.
The upward stroke being the faster it will travel through a greater arc or distance in
the same time as the downward or slower stroke travels and will thereby overlap,
and get in a position for use before the downward stroke is completed Fig. I. faster
stroke a. slower stroke b. allowing the use of a continual propelling power, and
enabling the velocipede to be started in motion at any part of the stroke.
The means I employ is to connect the action of the cranks and other fittings herein
after described, to the Hub of the "ordinary," or the chain wheel of a Safety," by
links Fig. 2. c. c., or by studs travelling in slots as in Fig. I. D. as the case may
require.

page_text: And by placing the spindle and bearings of the cranks out of line with the true
centre of the Hub, or chain wheel, cause, when in motion, the half of one revolution
to have a different proportion to the opposite half, the one with the other, the
difference being more or less as the centres are placed more or less out of line.
Fig. IE: the variation in the radius requiring the use of slots, or connecting links
as before described.
I make the Hub of the. ordinary or chain wheel, as,in.a Safety, to turn on a
bearing of diameter large enough to admit of the crank spindle to pass through, at
about half of an inch. (") more or less out of the true centre of the said Hübfor
chainwheel, Fig. 3.
The cranks to be fitted, one on a tube Fig. 3. F. and the other to a taper spindle
to allow of adjustment; Fig. 3. G: Attached to the tube is an arm H. Fig. 3 & 2.sto
connect the action of the crank F with the chain wheel. by the aforesaid links.C...
Fig. 2:
Fig. 3 gives a general section how the bearings; tube; and spindle, are placed and
fitted, although no part of the invention. Ball.bearings may be fitted to the wearing
parts, as shown in the drawings:
Having, now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is. to be performed, I declare that what I
claim, is...
First. The placing of the crank spindles or axles out of line with the true centre of
the driving wheel, or chain wheel as the case may be in any direction more or less,
whether such spindles pass through the aforesaid wheel, or are fitted to seperate
fixings near, or at the side; substantially as herein described and shown.
Secondly. The connecting the action of both cranks with the Hub, or chain wheel,
direct as shown in Fig. 1. by slots & studs, or by means of links; substantially as
herein described.
.
Thirdly The particular motion given by the combined action of the cranks with
the-revolution of the wheel of the Bicycle, or chain wheel attached to the Velocipede
substantially as herein described and shown.
Dated the 10th day of October 1889. ·