Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles.
JOHN STANSFIELD 45 Carlisle Street Blackburn Machinery Agent do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I dispense with the two Cranks on driving shaft and for the present style of Driving
Wheel I substitute an enlarged Wheel an each side, the one for the chain side to have
teeth on, and the other may be without teeth, but both having the same diameter
and a slot in each Wheel for adjusting the Sweep of the Pedals, although I claim to have
teeth in both Wheels for the option of Individuals having double gear.
Easier driving is the object of this Invention.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Bicycles.
I, JOHN STANSFIELD of 45, Carlisle Street, Blackburn, in the County of Lancaster,
Machinery Agent, 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:-
It is well-known that in cycling a rider has to acquire a knack of what is called even
pedalling before he can be considered accomplished. Though the crank has been
hitherto regarded as an efficient means of obtaining a rotary motion from the thrust
of the foot, every ridor knows full well there is only a portion of the orbit of the crank,
which is brought into actual play or effective use, the other being dead centre or dead
point, and any exertion on the part of the rider at this point is a waste of muscular
energy, and is of little or no use in the propulsion of the machine.
Now my invention is designed to obtain, as much as possible, an equal distribution
of energy throughout the entire circle circumscribed by the motion of the foot in in
pedalling. To accomplish this object, I dispense with the crank, and in lieu thereof
I employ a disc or wheel, having a slotted arm or slotted projection on its periphery,
to which the pedal is attached, and secured as in the usual crank. The crank axle
ohain-wheel is preferably cast with this disc or wheel all in one piece.
The wheel or disc on the opposite side to be used in substitution of the opposite
crank is cast or formed with an inner drum or pulley, round which may be passed
a band brake, which is operated from the handle-bar of the machine by the usual
connections.
By my improved driving mechanism for bicycles in whatever position the pedal
may be, there is a more equal distribution of power, as the drag or pull from the
pedal is on the periphery of the pedal wheel, as I might aptly term it, and not from
the crank axle as in the usual crank driving arrangement. The diameter of
the means of traction being increased, the dead point or centre is diminished.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the inner side or face

page_text: of my improved pedal wheel or disc and projecting lug for pedal. Fig. 2 is a similar
view of the opposite pedal disc or wheel."
Referring to Fig. 1, the lug or projection A is provided with slot B for the pedal.
The said pedal wheel may be provided with branch spokes C cast to an inner rim D, to
which is cast the crank axle chain wheel E.
It will be obvious that when the lug A is at top centre as shewn, the pull is from
the points F, G H instead of from the axle K as in the usual crank driving arrange-
ment.
In Fig. 2 is represented the pedal wheel for the opposite side of the crank axle, or
the pedal wheel axle as I might now term it. The branch spokes L are cast to an
inner palley or drum M, round which may be passed a band brake, which may be
connected by any of the usual methods or connections to the handle bar.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The improved driving mechanism for bicycles, consisting of pedal wheel in sub-
stitution of crank, and having a lug or projection A on its periphery, to which the
pedal is attached, and also having cast on its face chain wheel E, substantially as
described and shewn in Fig. 1 for the purpose described.
2. The improved driving mechanism for bicycles, consisting of pedal wheel in
substitution of crank, and having a lug or projection on its periphery, to which the
pedal is attached and also cast either with or without pulley or drum M for band brake,
substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2 for the purpose set forth.
Dated 2018 18th day
RICHMOND & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
12 Standish Street Burnley.