Improvement in and relating to the Pedals of Bicycles, Tricycles, and such like Machines.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 9th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in and relating to the Pedals of Bicycles, Tricycles,
and such like Machines.
I, JOHN HUNTER CLARK, Master Plumber, Richmond Place, Elgin, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An appliance whereby the power required to propel bicycles, tricycles, and such
like machines is reduced, and consists of a ratchet arrangement made of steel, or
other suitable material, fitted between crank arm and pedal.
The reduction of the power needed to drive machines is effected, when fitted
with pedals of this description, as follows:--By the connection of crank and
pedal, through the medium of the ratchet, power when applied to the front part
of pedal is communicated directly to the crank, and so increases the leverage of
crank according to length of pedal.
Dated this Seventh day of April 1894.
JOHN HU TER CLARK.
VUMI PRE
Improvement in and relating to the Pedals of Bicycles, Tricycles,
and such like Machines.
I, JOHN HUNTER CLARK of Richmond Place, Elgin, Scotland, Registered
Plumber 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 :-
My invention has for its object an appliance whereby the power required to
reduced and consists of a
propel, bicycles, tricycles, and such like machines
ratchet arrangement made of steel or other suitable material fitted between the
crank arm and pedal. The reduction of the power needed to drive machines is
effected, when fitted with pedals of this description as follows:-
By the connection of crank and pedal through the medium of ratchet power
when applied to front part of pedal is communicated directly to the crank and so
increases the leverage of crank according to length of pedal.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have
fully illustrated the nature of my said improvements together with several modes
of carrying the same into effect.
Figure I is a view showing my improvement applied to an ordinary pedal.
Figure 2 is a similar view but showing a modification.
Figure 3 is an internal view of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a section showing a further modification.
In carrying my invention into effect & referring to Figure 1 again I provide the
intermediate disc A between the pedal and the crank which disc is provided with
the teeth a' which are arranged around about a quarter of the circumference of
the said disc. The pawl b & spring c¹ are mounted upon any convenient part of the
pedal B and engages with the teeth upon the ratchet at such times as the pedal is

page_text: receiving the forward pressure from the foot, thereby lengthening the stroke or
leverage during this time and as the pedal is kept in the horizontal position by the
toe band, as the crank turns the teeth a' pass the pawl at each revolution
being again engaged by the pawl upon the forward and downward pressure being
brought to bear upon the pedal B. The toe part B of the pedal may be carried
out further from the crank to any required extent and it will readily be seen that I
may considerably vary the details without departing from the nature of my said
invention as for instance I may provide an internal ratchet and pawl as illustrated
by Figures 2 and 3 in which the pawl 6 is attached to a disc 6 which is formed
upon the pedal B the ratchet a being formed around the inner circumference of a
box or casing A3 which is attached to the crank D the centre 6 of the pawl being
placed 'eccentrically to the centre 6° of the case so that the pressure upon the
pedal B locks the pawl in the teeth a' or a larger disc A* may be provided with
the pawl 62 fixed upon the side of the projecting pedal B as shown at Figure 4.
A balance weight may be provided to retain the pedal in a horizontal position
when the foot is off. In place of the ratchit & pawl I may obtain the same
result with a cam and stud arrangement-or by means of a friction ratchet. It
will readily be seen that upon the direct pressure of the toe a great advantage
is gained by ankle pedalling as when the pressure is applied directly to toe of
pedal the ratchet is in full operation.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what ]
claim is :-
.
The improvements in & relating to the pedals of cycles, & such like machines,
consisting of the pawl and ratchet arrangement or its equivalent for increasing the
length of crank during the pressure of the stroke substantialy as and for the
purpose herein set forth & shown.
Dated the 7th day of January 1895.