An Improved Driving Gear for Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Dec., 1894-Accepted, 26th Jan.,
1895
COLELE
An Improved Driving Gear for Cycles.
I, CARL HINZ, of 22 Monhaupstrasse, Breslau, in the Empire of Germany,
Deaf and Dumb Teacher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to a driving gear for cycles. Instead of the usual rotary
crank motion heretofore used for driving cycles the feet of the rider by this
invention execute merely an up and down movement which is very similar to the
natural walk, the arrangement being such that the greatest portion of this
movement is utilized with the most favourable leverage possible for propelling the
cycle, whereby a great saving in power is attained with increased speed of
progression.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my invention,
Figure 1 is a view in plan-partly in section-showing the driving gear.
Figure 2 is a broken view in side elevation thereof, and
Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of a cycle provided with the new driving gear.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The driving axle 6 upon which the chain wheel is fixed is mounted in bearings
of the usual construction carried by the lower cross-piece a of the frame of the
machine. At each end of the driving axle b is pivoted a treadle lever d provided
at its free end with the usual pedal by which motion is imparted to the driving
axle.
The ends of the treadle levers & pivoted on the driving axle are preferably
forked, and on the driving axle between each of the forked ends is keyed a ratchet
wheel e, and above or over the latter there is pivoted on a bolt or pin 9 a pawl f
which is kept pressed against the ratchet wheel e by a spring i in such a manner
that each pawl slips idly over the teeth of its respective ratchet wheel during the
upward movement of its lever, but when the lever is moving downward, the pawl
drives the ratchet wheel and through it the driving axle b and thus rotates the
chain wheel c, the rotary motion of which is transmitted-suitably multiplied―
to the chain wheel c on the driving wheel. The treadle levers d may be drawn
upwards by means of suitable springs, but in order to produce a thoroughly uniform
or regular alternation of the stroke, the two treadle levers may be connected
together in a positive manner by means of a band, chain or cord such as k which
passes round a pulley 1 (Figure 3) mounted on the frame of the machine, and has
both its ends attached on the treadle levers by means of hooks such as h.
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 1
claim is :-
(1.) The improved driving gear for cycles, substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown by the accompanying drawing.
(2.) A driving gear for cycles, consisting essentially of treadle levers such as d
pivotted on the driving axle b, and provided with pawls such as fadapted to engage
with ratchet wheels such as e fixed to the driving axle and thus rotate it, and of
chain gearing such as c and c¹ by which the motion of the axle b is transmitted to
the driving wheel, as set forth.

page_text: (3.) In a driving gear as claimed by the preceding claim obtaining a positive
connection between the two treadle levers by means of a band, chain or cord such
as k passing round a pulley such as l, as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of December 1894.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.