A New or Improved Adjustable Crank for the Driving Axles of Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Nov., 1893-Accepted, 6th Mar., 1894
PROVISIONAL DIE
A New or Improved Adjustable Crank for the Driving Axles of
Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
I ALFRED JAMES STEVENS, of No. 2 Trouse Lane, Wednesbury, in the
County of Stafford, Shop Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention
o be as follows:-
My invention consists of an adjustable crank for the driving axles of bicycles,
cricycles and other velocipedes, the parts of the said crank being constructed and
arranged substantially as hereinafter described.
The cranks of the driving axles of velocipedes constructed according to my
invention are capable of being readily lengthened or shortened and fastened in
their adjusted position according to the requirements of the rider and a much
greater range of adjustment can be obtained by their use than by the use of the
ordinary slotted cranks.
The
In constructing an adjustable crank according to my invention I make it in two
pieces, namely of a short socket arm fixed to the driving axle in the ordinary way
and an adjustable bar or arm sliding telescopically in the fixed socket arm.
sliding adjustable arm of the crank consists of a bar, preferably flat, and the socket
or cavity in the fixed short arm has a corresponding figure and is of a length
about two thirds that of the said sliding arm, so that the adjustable arm can slide
Near the outer and open end of the
but incapable of turning in the socket arm.
socket arm is a cross screwed hole, passing from side to side, for receiving a screw
pin or blot for fastening, the sliding arm to the socket arm; and through the flat
sides of the sliding arm of the crank a series of equi-distant screwed holes is made
corresponding in size with the screwed hole referred to near the open end of the
socket arm.
Each end of the adjustable sliding arm of the crank is furnished with
an angular slot in which the pedal is fixed in the usual way. By providing each
end of the adjustable arm with a slot either end of the adjustable arm may
be passed into the socket arm of the crank.
By sliding the adjustable bar or arm of the crank in the socket or cavity of the
fixed socket arm, one of the screwed holes of the series in the adjustable arm may
be made to coincide with the screwed hole in the socket arm and by screwing
home a screw bolt or pin in the said coincident screwed holes the two parts of the
crank are firmly secured together.
The length of the crank can in this way be readily adjusted to suit the
requirements of the rider.
In order to obtain additional security in the fastening together of the two parts
of the crank, two screwed holes may be made in the socket. arm at the same
distance apart as the screwed holes in the adjustable arm so that two fastening
screw bolts or pins may be employed.
Dated this 6th day of February 1893.
T WHITEMAN
W.
WHITEMAN
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Adjustable Crank for the Driving Axles of
Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
1, ALFRED JAMES STEVENS, of 2 Trouse Lane, Wednesbury, Shop Manager,
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 relates to cranks_for_velocipedes, and in order that my said
invention may be particularly described and ascertained, reference is hereby made
to the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters and figures indicatė
corresponding parts.
f
Figure 1 is a crank on a telescopic principle, being in two parts, and allowable
of one part sliding and being secured within the other part, preferably of a
rectangular shape sectionally.
Letter A is a pin which is to secure the said two parts together, when one
is within the other.
Letter B is a small set pin, which is to screw through both the stud letter D and
the metal of the upper side of the socket part, on to the surface of the rod or
bar Figure 3 when the said rod or bar is within the socket, intentionally to
insure rigidity of the whole.
Figure 2 is the tubular or socket part, into which is to be inserted the part
Figure 3.
Letter C is a hole, screwed or otherwise, through both sides of the said
socket for the reception of the pin letter A, which is to secure. the part Figure 3
within the socket, as before mentioned. Letter D is a small metal stud, brazed
or otherwise permanently secured to the top surface of the said socket, with
screwed hole both through the said stud, and through the top of the socket, to
admit the pin B. Letter E represents the cavity of the socket.
Figure 3 is the rod or bar which is to be inserted within the socket Figure 2, the
said rod to have a slot (letter F) at each end to admit pedal-axle, so that the
said rod or bar may be reversible, and also having any number of equi-distant
holes, screwed or otherwise, to admit the pin or bolt A, when the said rod is within
the socket.
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 :
An adjustable crank on a telescoping principle, preferably of a rectangular or
oblong shape sectionally, one part fitting and sliding into the other or socket
part. The said socket part having a hole through both sides to admit a pin, which
hole, corresponding with any one of several equi-distant holes in the rod or sliding
part, and having the said pin passing through both the rod and the socket when the
rod is within the socket, and secured therein, thereby secures the rod or sliding part
within the socket. Also the said socket to have a metal stud brazed or otherwise
permanently attached to the upper side of it, with a screwed hole passing through
both the said stud, and the metal of the upper side of the said socket, to admit a
small set pin, which, being screwed down on to the surface of the sliding rod when
the said rod is within the socket, presumably prevents vibration of the said rod,
and causes it to be rigid within the socket. The said sliding rod to have a slot
at each end, so that it may be reversible, to admit pedal-axle, and also to have
any number of equi-distant holes, screwed or otherwise, to admit the before-

page_text: mentioned pin which is to secure the said rod within the socket, and to allow
adjustment of length of crank.
All as herein-before described and illustrated by the drawings.
1st don of October 1893
ALFRED JAMES STEVENS.