Improvements in Driving Gears for Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: .Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1895-Accepted, 27th Apr., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gears for Velocipedes.
I, HEINRICH JOHANNES DANIEL MEYER, of 51, Königstrasse, Lubeck, in the
Empire of Germany, Merchant, 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 an improved transmitting gear for velocipedes propelled
by more than one rider, and it consists in using in place of the usual chain
driving gear for imparting the motion of the front pedal axle to the rear pedal
axle a suitable arrangements of cranks and connecting rods.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates this invention;
Figures 1 and 2 are views in side elevation and plan respectively of my new
gear, and
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of a modification thereof.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the cranks of both riders are parallel, and the
pedals g and g' are connected together directly by means of a rod f so that the
motion of the one crank is necessarily transmitted to the other crank.
Instead of connecting the pedals a and a¹ of the other crauks in a similar manner
-in which case there would be a dead point when the two pairs of cranks were in
line with each other-the cranks have arms b, b rigidly fixed either directly or
indirectly to them, the other ends of the said arms being connected by means of
the rod c. In this manner the points of connection of the transmitting cranks are
shifted relatively to each other to the extent of 90%, so that when one crank is in
a position corresponding to its dead point, the other crank is, for example, 90 %
away from that position, so that an effective impulse can be transmitted through
the last mentioned cranks to the first mentioned cranks, and thus a balanced driving
motion is produced.
The same purpose may be effected by means of the arrangement shown in
Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing. In this case the pedal crank axle
is made in the centre in the form of two bent cranks h which are set at an angle
of 90% to each other, and at an angle of 45 % to the pedal cranks, the transmitting
rods c and being connected to the said bent cranks.
In comparison with the usual chain transmitting gear which occupies a com-
paratively large amount of space, the present arrangement allows the machine to
be built very much narrower, because the chain-guard or gear case can be dispensed
with; also the bracket carrying the front pedal crank axle can be fixed with
respect to the frame contrary to the heretofore usual method where it had
necessarily to be capable of adjustment to provide for the adjustment of the front
driving chain.
The connecting rods impart considerable stiffness to my entire frame and
gearing, and the use of this arrangement of rods entirely obviates the jerks of the
cranks caused by unequal riding when chain gear is employed.
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
claim is:-
(1.) The improvements in velocipedes, substantially as hereinbefore described and

page_text: (2.) A velocipede for two or more riders characterized by an arrangement for
transmitting motion by means of rods c and, in such a manner that by shifting the
driving cranks relatively to each other the dead points are avoided.
Dated this 21st day of March 1895.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.