A New or Improved Method of and Means for Propelling Cycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Means for Propelling Cycles.
I, GEORGE PIRNIE, of Pirnie and Son, Dundee Rivet Works, East Camperdown
Street, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, N.B. Rivet Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cycles, and consists in a new or improved method of,'
and means for their propulsion.
It is known that the type of seat used at the present time is apt to act injuriously
upon the rider, because his weight is supported to a considerable extent by pressure
between his limbs, thus giving rise to disease.
My invention consists in applying the motive power in a new and improved
manner and consists of the use of any suitable type of lever and ratchet wheel which
will efficiently transfer force from the rider to the machine, such force being trans-
mitted by the rider alternately throwing his weight on each foot, he preferably
being in an upright position at that time, that is to say standing.
My invention may be carried into effect in many ways, such as for example
In safety bicycles the chain driving or other wheel is provided with two ratchet
wheels and two pedal levers, such levers being coupled to one another by chains,
pulleys, cords, levers, or their equivalents, in order that when one is pushed or
pulled, the other's motion may synchronize.
By moving the pedals up and down the ratchet levers acting on the ratchet
wheels alternately partially rotate the chain wheel, which in turn communicates its
motion to the cycle wheel.
To reduce friction all joints or bearings are or may be provided with suitable
ball bearings. The handle bar will be made to be equally convenient as to
position should the rider wish to propel the machine in a standing or in a sitting
position.
A modified form of the aforesaid levers and ratchets may be employed to drive
tricycles. The ratchet combination may be either in the form of toothed or friction
wheels and levers.
Dated this 18th day of January 1893.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Method of and Means for Propelling Cycles.
I, GEORGE PIRNIE, of Pirnie and Son, Dundee Rivet Works, East Camperdown
Street, Dundee, in the County of Forfar, N.B., Rivet Manufacturer, 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 cycles, and consists in a new or improved method of,
and means for their propulsion.
It is known that the type of seat used at the present time is apt to act injuriously
upon the rider, because his weight is supported to a considerable extent by pressure
between his limbs, thus giving rise to disease.
My invention consists in applying the motive power in a new and improved
manner and consists in the use of any suitable type of lever and ratchet wheel
which will efficiently transfer force from the rider to the machine, such force being
DO71

page_text: transmitted by the rider alternately throwing his weight on each foot, he preferably
being in an upright position at that time, that is to say standing.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, I have hereunto appended two explanatory sheets of drawings in the several
figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same numerals of
reference.
Figures 1. and 2. are a front and a side view respectively of the propelling gear;
Figure 3. a section at A. A. (Figure 2);
Figure 4. a section at B. B. (Figure 1.);
Figure 5. a section through the axis of the guide pulley, and
Figure 6. a view of a bicycle fitted with my improvements.
My invention may be carried into effect in many ways, such as for example, in
the manner to be hereinafter described, and as illustrated on the annexed
drawings.
In safety bicycles the chain driving or other wheel 10. is provided with two
ratchet wheels 11. and two pedal levers 12. such levers being coupled to one
another by chains, pulleys, cords, levers, or their equivalents, in order that when
one is pushed or pulled, the other's motion may synchronize. In the drawings I
have shown the two pedal levers coupled together by means of a chain 13. passing
over a guide pulley 14.
By moving the pedals 15. up and down, the ratchet levers 16. acting on the
ratchet wheels 11. through the pawls 18, alternately partially rotate the chain
wheel 10, which in turn communicates its motion to the cycle wheel 17.
To reduce friction all joints or bearings are, or may be provided with suitable
ball bearings. The handle bar 19. may be made to be equally convenient as to
position, should the rider wish to propel the machine in a standing or in a sitting
position.
A modified form of the aforesaid levers may be employed to drive tricycles.
The ratchet combination may be either in the form of toothed or friction wheels and
levers. In the drawings I have shown toothed wheels, with two pawls 18. so placed
as to practically, in the known way, double the number of teeth in the ratchet wheel.
In some cases I may use more than two pawls for the purpose of increasing the
effective number of such teeth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In cycles, the mode of actuating the driving wheel, as hereinbefore described
and illustrated on the annexed drawings.
(2) In cycles, the combination of the pedal levers, the ratchet wheels and pawls,
and the driving chain or other gear as described.
(3) In cycles, the combination of the chain 13, pulley 14, and pedal levers 12, as
described.
Dated this 18th day of October 1893.
GEO. C. DOUGLAS & Co.,
41, Reform Street, Dundee, Agents for Applicant.