Improved Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Feb., 1898-Accepted, 16th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
I, ALFRED EDWARD MORRISON, of 38, Picton Street, Montpelier, Bristol, Confectioner,
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 :-
According to this invention the pedals are fixed to bell-crank levers which are
pivotted on a spindle carried by the frame of the cycle. The levers, of which there is
one at each side of the machine, are connected by links to cranks fixed on the driving
spindle of the chain driving wheel or the equivalent thereof. The said levers are
free to rock on their pivots. Foot pressure is exerted only in the course of the
downward stroke of each lever alternately and is transmitted from the levers to the
cranks through the links aforesaid. The links are loosely pivotted to the cranks and
to the levers.
The feet of the rider do not describe circles, but ascend and descend in arcs of
circles, and the mechanism is so set that when one lever is being pressed down the
other is ascending. The revolution of the driving chain-wheel, or its equivalent, is
thus effected.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 represents in side view my
improved driving mechanism as applied to a bicycle. Fig. 2 is a plan, partly
sectional. The pedals a are fixed to bell-crank levers 6 which are pivotted on the
spindle c carried by and fixed in the bracket c¹ forming part of the frame which is
modified from the ordinary construction, as shown. From the bracket c¹ extends the
saddle pillar tube e.
Each lever bis connected by a link f to a crank g secured upon the driving
spindle h of the driving chain-wheel i. The links f are loosely pivotted both to the
levers bat and to the cranks gat f2. That is to say, they are free to turn on
the pivot pins f¹ and ƒ².
The levers and connected mechanism are so set that when one lever is being
depressed at front through the foot pressure exerted on the pedal thereof by the
rider, the other is rising at front. The foot pressure exerted on each lever is
transmitted through the connecting link to the crank appertaining to that lever.
Driving action is thereafter continued by the pressure exerted on the pedal of the
lever at the opposite side.
Thus the reciprocatory movement of the levers 6 produces rotation of the cranks
and chain-driving wheel. From the latter the driving effect is transmitted as usual
by a chain passed over it and over a chain wheel centred on the spindle of the rear
road wheel.
The frame of the machine is, as aforesaid, modified to adapt it to carry the
mechanism and to take the strains due to the action thereof. From the bracket h¹
which carries the driving spindle h a stay k is carried up to meet the horizontal tube
to which also the back fork m is, as is usual, connected. The brackets c and h are
connected by tubes n.
The frame may, however, be otherwise constructed for the purpose of adapting it to
carry the mechanism and to take the strains transmitted to it.

page_text: The improved cycle-driving mechanism above described enables a higher rate of
gearing to be adopted without materially increasing the effort exerted by the rider.
The mode of application of the force is such as to be less exacting to the rider and
the danger of losing control on a descending gradient is lessenfed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
Driving mechanism for cycles, consisting of pedal side levers such as 6 pivotted on
a suitable fixed spindle and connected by links such as f to driving cranks such as g
fixed upon the spindle carrying the chain-driving wheel, or other driving wheel; the
parts being constructed, arranged and operated substantially as hereinabove described
with reference to the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Chartered Patent Agent, Bristol.