IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFETY BICYCLES
Year: 1886

page_text: Improvements in
CHO
I, WILLIAM GOLDING, of Yarburgh Street Moss Side, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Bicycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF SAFETY BICYCLES" 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 firstly to a novel arrangement of mechanism for
transmitting the motion of the pedal to the driving wheel of the bicycle, and for
modifying it during transmission so that the driving wheel is geared up or turned
more than half round as a result of each downward stroke of the pedal. Secondly
to an improved method of readily changing the gear so that the angular distance
the driving wheel is revolved as a result of each downward stroke of the pedal
may be varied by the rider to accommodate his strength to the varying conditions
of roads, gradients, and weather. Thirdly, it relates to a novel arrangement of
mechanism by which additional power can be transmitted to the driving wheel
when required, as during the ascent of hills &c.
In sheet I of the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shews in side elevation, Fig. 2
in plan view and Fig. 3 in section taken on the line x, y of Fig. 1, the mechanism
under the first and second heads of my invention.
Sheet II of the drawings shews in Fig. 4 a side elevation of a bicycle with the
first, second and third heads of my invention applied thereto. Fig. 5 illustrates
on a larger scale the method of attaching the handle bar to the framework.
In these figures it will be seen that the pedal is attached to the power end of a
lever of the second kind, the fulcrum of which is a stud supported by a bracket
branching out forwards from the front fork side. A link or connecting rod is pivotted
upon the lever between the pedal and the fulcrum and carries at the other end,
rigidly attached to it a small spur pinion which is tied to the driving wheel axle and
is thus held in gear with a spur wheel fast upon it. The lever is extended in length
beyond the fulcrum and is connected with the corresponding side of the handle
bar by means of links and studs. The handle bar is constructed and attached to
the framework in such manner that it is free to oscillate in a line with the
links connecting it to the levers and at the same time is rigidly fixed to the head
CD
071

page_text: as regards movement in any other direction, so as not to interfere with
efficiency of the steering.
In the figures the same letters apply to the same parts in each.
the
A is a bracket attached at one end to the lower part of the forked side and
carrying at the other end the stud C which is the fulcrum of the lever D CE F.
A link or connecting rod E G is pivoted to the lever at E. The other end of the
link for a short distance is wider and is slotted as shewn in Fig. 1. H is a small
spur pinion provided with a boss or projection m on one side (shewn in Fig. 4)
which fits into the slot in the link G. K is a spur wheel which may be keyed
shrunk or otherwise rigidly fixed to the axle L of the driving wheel. By
preference it is fixed in position by a coned screw S Fig. 4, so that it and the parts
behind it may be easily taken off for cleaning.
Between the spur wheel K and the bearing P at the end of the fork side, is a
slotted radius arm N mounted loosely on the hardened steel bush or sleeve / which
is rigidly attached to the axle L. A spindle M having a fixed collar c is clamped in
The spur
position in the slot of the radius arm N by means of the nut n.
pinion His mounted upon the spindle M. and is free to revolve upon it.
The boss or projection m of the spur pinion H is passed through the slot in the
end of the link or connecting rod E G and secured in position by the nut n³. The
spur pinion H is thus tied to the axle L and is held in gear with the spur wheel K
while it is prevented from turning upon its own axis. The spur pinion and wheel
thus form the movement known as the sun and planet gear. An alternative
arrangement is to change the positions relatively of the radius arm N and the spur
pinion and wheel, the former being placed outside of the latter.
The lever C E F is preferably bent so that the pin. at E is not in a straight line
with the fulcrum C and the pedal S. The position of the pin at E is such that the
chord of the arc, described by it during the movement, produced shall pass through
the projection of the axis of the driving wheel. The spur pinion and wheel may
thus be made as small as may be convenient while a direct pull is obtained at each
downward stroke across a diameter of the spur wheel, that is at the commencement
and termination of each stroke the point n¹ Fig. 1. is on the same diameter and
the connecting rod along the same straight line. The parts are shewn in position
in Fig. 4, sheet II, and are drawn to scale, the driving wheel being represented
40 inches in diameter. The position of the fulcrum and the length of the lever are
arranged so as to bring the pedals behind and as close as convenient to the hub
of the wheel. The element of safety is obtained by the pedals being placed in the
rear of a vertical line passing through the axis of the wheel and the pressure upon
them being therefore exerted within the wheel, base. They are placed as close to
this line as clearance will allow so that the rider's weight may be as much as
possible over the driving wheel to prevent it slipping, while he is as nearly as
convenient vertically above them so that he may employ his muscular power to
the best advantage, his weight acting as resistance. The position of the fulcrum
will of course vary with the diameter of the driving wheel, which may be any size
required within reasonable limits, a direct pull across the diameter of the spur
wheel being.always obtainable by bending the lever so that the pin at E may be
in the proper relative position to the fulcrum C as previously described. The
pedal S is supported by a T shaped pin which passes through the slide block T,
and can be adjusted vertically by a set screw in it so as to accommodate the
position of the pedal to different riders. The slide block is also adjustable along the
lever so as to allow the length of stroke to be varied. V, Figs 1 and 2, is a foot rest.
The parts described above are duplicated on the other side of the bicycle.
The spur wheel and pinion on each side are completely covered in from the dust
by a thin metallic box (shewn in Fig. 4) which is supported inwards along both
sides of the radius arm N and outwards by the end of the spindle M between
the washer and the nut n' and revolves with these parts.
When the pedals are operated the spur pinion H makes half a revolution round
the spur wheel K for each full stroke and supposing the same tooth in the pinion H

page_text: remained engaged between the same two teeth in the wheel K during the movement
the driving wheel would be moved through half a revolution. But the pinion H
is locked to the link or connecting rod E G and at the end of the stroke half-the
teeth, in the pinion have been engaged with the teeth in the wheel and the latter
has been advanced to that extent more than half a revolution. Hence if the spur
wheel has-36 teeth and the pinion 12 teeth the former will have been turned 6 teeth
beyond half a revolution and the driving wheel two thirds instead of a half revo-
lution. Moreover the friction of the teeth is upon the difference between half and
two thirds of a revolution, that is upon one sixth of a revolution only or it is
onefourth only in quantity of the friction of two spur wheels in direct gear under
the same conditions. It will be seen from the foregoing description that by
loosening the nuts n, n¹ and n¹¹ the small spur pinion or planet wheel may be
readily taken out and, another with more or fewer teeth substituted a supply of
planet wheels of different diameters being easily carried in the tool bag. By this
means the gearing of the bicycle may be adapted to the average of the resistances
to be overcome so as to utilize the riders power to the best advantage. These
resistances vary according to the road surface, gradients, weather and direction of
the wind; and by the means described the proportion of speed and power may be
made to correspond and they may also be proportioned to suit the requirements of
the rider. The length of the stroke is varied automatically according to the
gearing, that is it is longer in proportion as the gearing up is increased and vice
versa, without moving the slide block.
The third head of my invention relates to means for applying hand power to
aid in the propulsion of the bicycle when required for hill climbing or other
emergencies. The handle bar instead of being rigidly fixed to the head of the
machine in the usual manner is connected to it as shewn in Fig. 5, sheet II. The
handle bar is represented at d in cross section. A collar carrying two cones m
and m¹ upon opposite sides is fixed upon the centre of the handle bar. The cones
are centred in two hollow cones one being in the head c and the other in the set
screw gf. The set screw gf passes through and is supported by the bracket e
which branches out from the head as shewn in the figure. The lock nut / secures
the parts in position. Upon the handle bar are two fixed collars carrying two
studs b and bone on each side of the centre, see Fig. 4, sheet II. The centres of
these studs are the same distance apart as the middle of the studs a and a¹ fixed at
the end of the pedal levers. These two sets of studs are connected by the double
links a, n, b and a¹, n³, b¹, which have a bearing at each end on the studs and are
free to turn or oscillate upon them. The two links on the same side are connected
together by the bearing piece n which is fixed upon one rod and forms a short
sleeve through which the other can freely pass when the hand power gear is not in
The ends a E and a¹ E of the levers are bent so that the chord of the arc
described by a or a¹ shall coincide in direction with that of the links. The studs b
and b and the centres of the cones m and m² are set at right angles to the direction
of the links. The method of operating this arrangement is as follows. According
to the ordinary method when more muscular power is exerted upon the pedals in
hill climbing &e than the resistance of the weight of the body can counterbalance
increased resistance is obtained by grasping and pulling at the handle bar upon the
same side of the machine as that upon which the pedal is being pressed downwards
by the foot. Thus muscular energy is expended in obtaining increased resistance
and in bending the handle bar. By means of the arrangement described above this
energy is further utilized in combination with a slightly backward movement of the
body to assist in the propulsion of the machine. When the handle bar is pulled
upwards it oscillates upon its centre and acts upon the lever which operates the
driving wheel as a lever of the first kind. The hand and foot power are thus
operating the same lever at opposite ends and in opposite directions.
use.
As the only movement possible to the handle bar distinct from the head is in a
plane at right angles to the line of cone centres, the handle bar is as efficient for
steering as when rigidly fixed to the head in the usual manner.

page_text: 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
First. The combination and adaptation to bicycles, in the manner and for the
purpose, substantially as herein shewn and described, or any mere modification
thereof, of the lever and sun and planet motion for transmitting and modifying
motion from the pedal to the axle of the driving wheel.
Second. The arrangement and method of fixing the planet wheel, so as to be
readily interchangeable, as herein shewn and described.
.
Third. The apparatus for obtaining auxiliary propelling power from the hands
and arms substantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourth. The general combination and arrangement of the several respective
parts and details together forming my improvements in the construction of Safety
Bicycles, substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in the drawings.
Daten Guns content way of April 1000
Witness,
H. J. SHOOLBRED.
WILLIAM GOLDING.