Improved Method of Mounting the Gear of Rear Driving Cycles, and in Pedals therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Oct, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 28th June, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Method of Mounting the Gear of Rear Driving Cycles, and
in Pedals therefor.
I, JULES HOLCROFT, of 33 Boulevard de Reuilly, Paris, France, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
-
This invention relates to an improved method of mounting the gear of rear
diving cycles. Its principal object is to dispense with the chain motion of this
class of machines and the inconveniences connected with it, further to provide an
easier and more natural foot action than the rotation of pedals It may be worked
equally as well by the rider whether seated or standing up, the latter being
particularly useful when climbing bills, or merely as a change of position for
the rider.
The main features of my invention are
1 The application to a velocipede of levers having either two pedals, or one
pedal only with or without a knuckle joint, and oscillating around axes on the
framework in such manner as to transmit their alternate movement by means of
connecting rods to the diving wheel axle where it is converted into a rotary motion
speed by a sun and planet gearing.
with a multipede of the kind referred to, the application in the hollow hub of
2. In a
the driving wheel of au axle revolving on balls in the hub, and having two cranks
ene (at least) of which has an eye corresponding to the position of the crank pin
for receiving on one side an axle and gear wheel geaung into a pinion in a piece
with or forming part of the said hub, and a fixed head on the other side forming
part of the connecting rod, said hub revolving on balls in collars on the frame
of the machine.
The practical advantages comprise an instantaneous change of speed in addition
to the suppression of the chain. I will now describe the invention with reference
to the annexed diawings.
Figure 118 a general view of a safety bicycle constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2 a bent lever by which a single pedal only can be operated from either
of two positions instead of by two independent pedals, as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through the rear axle and showing the essential
parts of this new gear and appurtenances.
Figure 4 is an elevation of a jointed collar in two parts for mounting the gear on
the frame.
Figure 5 a view showing on the right and left hand two different methods of
mounting the pedal levers on the frame.
In Figure 2, g indicates the knuckle joint of the pedal lever L, the onter end of
which may be hxed in two different positions (indicated by the full lines and
dotted lines respectively) by means of a sping catch g', the pedal proper is formed
of a piece of sheet metal a, and a spiral spring around its axis maintains it in its
normal position pressed or abutting against a stop pin, to lower or bend the
lever the heel of the foot is simply pressed down on to the spring catch g', and to
ase it the foot is engaged in the toe clip This form of catch level as likewise
the lever L with two pedals A' and A' of Figure I may be mounted on the frame
in the manner shown by the right hand side portion of Figure 5 but preferably in
that shown on the left hand of the same figure, and which has only one ball
bearing.

page_text: The lever L engages in the ordinary pedal bearing E of the frame being held
by a screw e screwed into a disc e placed in the centre of the bearing and by a
ball race between the two rings e nude, whichever form of levers that may be
employed their alternate movement around the point E Figure 1 is transformed by
means of an arm acting as a bell crank and two connecting rods B, B, pivoted
at Fmto a rotary movement imparted to the axle O through two crauks and N
to which they are connected.
The axle revolves in the usual ball bearings c and c¹ in the hub m of the rear
driving wheel, and I will now describe the manner in which it transmits its move-
ment and multiplies the speed of the wheel which also revolves in ball bearings g³,g³,
screwed into rings g' which are held in place by screws in the collars & forming
part of the frame.
On one side of the hub m is screwed a pinion Cits nut c serving as a race for
the balls of the axle O. This axle is turned at one side by a connecting rod B
having a head with rings 6, 62, pivoting on the ciank N, the crank M on the other
side bus a hole (where the crank pin would be) for receiving on a ball bearing t', t,
the hollow axle of a gear wheel C' which gears into the pinion forming a suo
and planet motion. The axle t on which the gear wheel C¹ is keyed carries a
small crosshead T firmly keyed to it or forming part of same, and on this cross-
head the other connecting 1od B is attached by two screws V, the connecting
rod B 18 forked with a cross stay because in addition to the work of turning the
axle it has also to prevent the gear wheel C' from turning on itself.
In Figme this sun and planct motion is supposed to be applied on both sides of
the machine, and the multiplying effect is as 1 to 2.
In applying this invention to tandem cycles the front pedal levers are simply
connected by two connecting rods to the rear levers.
For adaptation as a tricycle the front wheel of an ordinary safety bicycle is
replaced by two smaller wheels suitably mounted on the steering fork which would
require to have its height and angle modified to suit.
Dated this 5th day of October 1894.
II. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Jules Holcroft.
Improved Method of Mounting the Gear of Rear Driving Cycles, and
in Pedals therefor.
I, JULES IOLCROFT, of 33 Boulevard de Reuilly, Pans, Fiance, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed to be particularly described nud ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improved method of mounting the gear of rear
driving cycles Its pincipal object is to dispense with the chain motion of this
class of machines and the inconveniences connected with it; further to provide an
casier and more natural foot action than the rotation of pedals It may be
worked equally as well by the 11der whether seated or standing up, the latter being
particularly useful when climbing hills, or merely as a change of position for the
rider.
The practical advantages comprise an instantaneous change of speed in addition
to the suppression of the chain
I will now describe the invention with reference to the drawings accompanying
my Provisional Specification.

page_text: Figure 1 15 a general view of a safety bicycle constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2 a bent lever by which a single pedal only can be operated from either
of two positions instend of by two independent pedals as in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section through the rear axle and showing the essential
parts of this new gear and appurtenances
Figure 4 is an clevation of a jointed collar in two parts for mounting the gear
on the frame.
I
Figure a view showing on the right and left hand two different methods of
mounting the pedal levers on the frame.
In Figure 2g indicates the knuckle joint of the pedal lever L, the outer en1 of
which may be fixed in two different positions (indicated by the full lines and'
dotted lines respectively) by means of a spring catch g'; the pedal proper is
formed of a pece of sheet metal a, and a spial sping around its axis maintains
it in its normal position pressed or abutting against a stop pin ¹, to lower or bend
the lever the heel of the foot is supply pressed down on to the spring catch g', and
to raise it the foot is engaged in the toe chp
This form of catch lever as likewise the lever L with two pedals A' and A³ of
Figure 1 may be mounted on the frame in the manner shown by the right hand
side portion of Figure 5 but preferably in that shown on the loft hand of the same
figure, and which has only one ball bearing.
The lever L engages in the ordinary pedal bearing E of the frame being held
by a screw screwed into a disc e placed in the centre of the bearing and by a
ball lace between the two rings e³ and et; whichever form of levers that may be
employed their alternate movement around the point E Figure 1 is transformed by
means of an arm acting as a bell crank and two connecting rods B, B, pivoted at F,
into a 1otary movement imparted to the axle ( through two cianks M and N to
which they are connected.
C
The axle O revolves in the usual ball bearings c and e' in the hub m of the rear
driving wheel, and I will now describe the manner in which it transmits its
movement and multiplies the speed of the wheel which also revolves in ball
bearings 9, 9, screwed into rings g' which are held in place by screws in the
collars G forming part of the frame.
On one side of the hub m is screwed a pinion C' its nut c serving as a race for
the balls of the axle O.
This axle is turned at one side by a connecting rod B having a head with
rings,, pivotting on the crank N, the crank M on the other side has a hole
(where the crank pin would be) for receiving on a ball bearing t, 2, the hollow
axlot of a gear wheel C which gears into the pinion C³ forming a sun and planet
motion The axle on which the gear wheel C is keyed, carries a small cross
head T firmly keyed to it or forming part of same, and on this cross head, the
other connecting rod B is attached by two screws V; the connecting rod B is
forked with a cross stay because in addition to the work of turning the axle O it
bas also to prevent the gear wheel C' from turning on itself.
In Figure 1, this sun and planet motion is supposed to be applied on both sides
of the machine, and the multiplying effect is as 1 to 2.
In applying this invention to tandem cycles, the front pedal levers are simply
connected by two connecting rods to the rear levers. For adaptation as a tricycle,
the front wheel of an ordinary safety bicycle is replaced by two smaller wheels
suitably mounted on the steering fork, which would require to have its height and
angle modified to suit.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declate that what
[claim 16-
1. The application to a velocipede of levers having either two pedals, or one
pedal only with or without a knuckle joint, and oscillating around axes on the

page_text: framework in such manner as to transmit then alternate movement by means of
connecting rods to the driving wheel axle where it is converted into a rotary
motion with a mult plied speed by a sun and planet gearing, as described.
2. In a velocipede of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the application in the
hollow hub of the driving wheel of an axle evolving on balls in the hub, and
baving two cranks one (at least) of which has an eye corresponding to the position
of the crank pin, for receiving on one side an axle and gear wheel gearing into a
pinion in a piece with or forming part of the said hub, and a fixed head on the
other side forming part of the connecting rod, said hub revolving on balls in collars
on the frame of the machine, as set forth.
2015
Dow
1002
II. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said Jules Holci oft.