Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1889-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
JOHN GODDARD Queens Road, Beeston in the county of Nottinghamshire
Mechanical Engineer 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 is intended more particularly for use in those machines with small
wheels and consists of a clutch mechanism in combination with a coil spring for
imparting rotation to the wheels of Bicycles, Tricycles and other Velocipedes by
means of one or more coils of rope or other attachment winding round the outside of
the aforesaid clutch arrangement, in worm groove or otherwise, and the opposite end
of rope or other attachment being fastened to pedal levers.
Motion is imparted to clutch mechanism by the pedal levers working up and down
in an inclined position by having the fulcrum end of lever set at such an angle as to
allow rope or other means of attachment winding or unwinding properly round the
outside of clutch drum in worm groove or otherwise.
Fig. 1 represents the application of my invention to a Bicycle.
Fig. 2 is a half plan of driving wheel shewing manner of carrying clutch
mechanism and pedal lever as applied to a Bicycle.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively rear elevations of clutch mechanism and pedal lever
when the latter is at its highest and lowest position when applied to a Bicycle.
Fig. 5 is a section through clutch mechanism.
Fig. 6 is an end view of clutch mechanism with the loose end removed shewing the
manner of gearing the rollers into wheel cut in driving wheel spindle.
Fig. 7 is a part sectional elevation of an arrangement for rewinding drum with a
reduced action of spring.
In applying the said invention to a Bicycle Fig. 1, I place the driving wheel in the
rear of the pilot or steering wheel.
The driving wheel A A is operated by clutch mechanism placed on the axle B upon
each side of the hub C of wheel, each clutch mechanism being driven by a rope D
or other attachment connected at one end to the drum or outer covering of clutch E
and at the opposite end to pedal levers F F which are hung in an inclined position
to the main frame and below the clutch mechanism.
The fulcrum end G of lever F may work upon centres g g¹ as shewn in Fig. 2 or
upon an axle passing through same.
The centres g g or axle of fulcrum end of pedal levers are set at an angle shewn
in Figs. 3 and 4 for the inclined up and down notion of the aforesaid pedal levers F F¹
which is arranged for the rope or other attachment D working into worm groove d
round the clutch drum E.
From the frame and immediately over driving wheel axle provision is made for
holding two vertical supports H and J upon each side of wheel A. The outer one H
forming a bearing for axle B and the inner one J forming part of clutch
mechanism.
The clutch mechanism is carried upon driving wheel axle B between each side of
hub of wheel and bearing and is constructed as follows:-Referring to Figs. 5 and 6.
The lower ends of the beforementioned inner vertical supports J are bored out larger
than the axle B and a facing f formed on the wheel side of each, the hub of driving
wheel A which is fast to axle B working between same. Upon the opposite sides of
support J to the facing is a boss or sleeve h concentric with axle B, secured to this
boss is one end of a coil spring K the other end of which is fastened to the inside
of a casing L, the solid end M of which is bored out and supported on the axle B.
Beyond the boss h upon the other side of spring K is a loose plate N which forms

page_text: a covering to keep out dirt and is bored out to fit boss h to which spring K is
secured.
The solid end M and loose plate N forming a substantial support for the spring
casing L when revolving.
A continuation of casing L upon the opposite side of solid end M to the spring is
a sleeve or drum E with a number of recesses e e e e its full length. Upon the axle
the full length and opposite to the aforesaid recesses e e e e is cut teeth all round
forming a wheel b, b. Gearing into this wheel b, b, formed out of the solid axle B
are small toothed rollers P, P, P, P four in number preferred which are held in
position in inclined curved plain or toothed recesses e e e e formed within the aforesaid
drum E the end of which is recessed to receive a loose plate Q which together with
the beforementioned solid end M holds the toothed rollers P, P, P, P end ways, the
whole being protected from dirt. A lock nut R on axle B securing loose plate Q and
drum E containing clutch gear in position.
Upon the periphery of drum E may be cut a worm groove d for the reception of
rope or other attachment D one end of which is secured to one end of groove d of
drum E and the opposite end fastened to the pedal lever F.
When pedal levers are operated or depressed by riders foot the rope or other
attachment D turns the drum E locking the toothed rollers P, P, P, P into gear with
teeth b on axle B which then turns with the drum, the spring in the meantime being
compressed.
Upon the pedal levers F been released from downward pressure the spring K acts
upon the drum E rewinding the rope or other attachment D one or more turns and
brings the pedal levers and drum in their original position.
The backward motion slipping the toothed rollers P, P, P, P clear of the locking
action of the inclined curved plain or toothed recesses e e e e.
Fig. 7 shews an arrangement for rewinding rope or other attachment round drum
with a reduced action of spring.
Upon a spindle S supported within frame and parallel with driving wheel spindle B
is carried a spur wheel T having a long boss h upon which is attached one end of coil
spring K the opposite end of same being fastened to innerside of casing L. The
casing L heing secured to spindle S and having a loose plate N screwed into it to
keep out dirt. A solid collar t is formed upon the spindle S for the spur wheel T to
work against and between same and innerside of casing L freely but without end
motion. Gearing into spur wheel T is a pinion U fast to drum E.
The drum E containing clutch mechanism hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figs. 5 and 6.
The drum E and pinion U is carried and connected by the clutch mechanism before
described to driving wheel spindle B.
Upon the periphery of drum E may be cut a worm groove d for the reception of
rope or other attachment D one end of which is secured to one end of groove d of
drum E and the opposite end fastened to inclined pedal lever F. When inclined
pedal lever F is released from downward pressure the coil spring K acts upon the
drum E through the gearing T and U rewinding the rope or other attachment one or
more turns round drum E bringing the inclined pedal levers and drum in their
original position but with a reduced action of spring in the same proportion as the
spur wheel T is to the pinion U.
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 :-
Firstly Inclined pedal levers having fulcrum end of same set at an angle sub-
stantially as herein described for working any clutch mechanism for propelling
driving wheels of Bicycles, Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
Secondly: A clutch mechanism substantially as herein described driven by inclined
pedal levers also herein described & shown. This clutch mechanism may also be
driven by straight levers and the outside of drum E be plain instead of grooved.

page_text: Thirdly-A clutch mechanism geared and driven in such manner as herein sub-
stantially described and shewn with a reduced action of spring for the rewinding of
rope or other attachment round drum. The drum may be plain or grooved upon the
outside.
Dated this Second day of December 1889
JOHN GODDARD.