Improvements in Oranks, and Mechanism in connection therewith, for Bicycles, Trioyoles, Velocipedes, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1898-Accepted, 8th May., 1897
Improvements in Oranks, and Mechanism in connection therewith,
for Bicycles, Trioyoles, Velocipedes, and the like.
1, JOHN EDWARD EDWARDS, of 138 Little Collins Street East, Melbourne,
Victoria, Australia, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements connected with crank levers of
bicycles, tricycles, velocipedes, and the like, the object being to extend the leverage
and power to the pedals on the down stroke with a six inch leverage more or less
of the straight part of the lever on the upward stroke, thus giving a variable but
pleasant crank movement during the revolution.
The length of the direct or straight part of the crank or the extension appliance
can be varied to suit the rider and can be clamped in any desired position on a
guide.
This form of crank greatly facilitates the climbing of hills and increasing the
speed of the machine, it also enables a machine geared to seventy five inches to be
practically reduced to about fifty five inches.
It has special advantages over the ordinary or of any other form of crank, as by
its use it not only gives the advantage of the tension and power but secures tho
same direct action of the six or six and half inch leverage in the straight part of
the crank lever that is given by the six and half inch cranks on the present
machines as the extension commences at that part and forms an arch to the full
extension for about two and half inches cutting through the straight line drawn
through the centre of the said crank lever.
The first arrangement is in the shape of a quadrant at tho podal end of the crank
and baving a fulcrum or centre at one part for supporting a rocking bar to which
the pedal axle is clamped by a washer and nut in such a mauner as to allow it to
slide freely along a segmental alot in the quadrant. A tension spring is or may be
attached to the said rocking bar to either draw it towards the end or back to the
six and half inch position.
The object of this quadrant is for the purpose of taking a part of the enormous
pressure of the pedal off the slide by supporting the rocking bar on the centre, so
that the pressure is divided, the segmental stop as an aroh guide making the whole
work smoothly.
The extension commencing from the six inch or six and half inches secures the
certainty of the direct action on the crank without the loss of time in passing over
the dead centre as is the case when the extension is made from other parts, a slight
deviation of position made from this starting point will not materially affect the
aotion.
The support from a centre and within the segmental slot gives stability to the
construction.
Instead of a quadrant, I may employ a single oxtension on a crank at an angle
of about forty five degrees for about two and half inches and having a fulorum or
centre to carry the rocking bar. The other end of said bar has a slot for
receiving the pedal axle to be clamped thereto. In this form the centre takes all
the pressure.

page_text: It must be made stronger than the other or quadrant arrangement but will be
suitable for lighter work than the quadrant form.
In the latter form I use stops or checks to limit the movement of the
rooking bar.
Dated this 10th J
#
1000
H. GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166 Fleet Street, London,
Agent for the said John Edward Edwards.
Improvements in Oranks, and Mechanism in connection therewith,
for Bloyoles, Trioyoles, Velocipedes, and the like.
I, JOHN EDWARD EDWARDS of 138 Little Collins Street East, Melbourne
Victoria Australia, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention and
in what manner the same is to bo performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of my invention is to provide an improved means of connecting the
pedal to the crank of monocycles, bicycles, tricyclos and other similar machines.
Hitherto it has generally been the practice to connect the pedal axle in a rigid
manner to the end of the driving crank so that the foot of the rider meets with
absolutely no cushioning whatever but with a resistance which was unyielding.
But with my invention the pedal axle so travels at the end of a pivotted swinging
link or lever that the foot pressure applied by the rider on the down stroke is not
only conserved by the aid of a spring but the leverage is also so increased by the
automatic radial extension of the swinging pedal that a rapid pace can be easily
attained without any undue expenditure of onorgy.
My invention consists of a crank at the end of which there is not only a pedal
axle with its pedal but also a link to which the said pedal axle is attached. This
link at one end by a tubular extension integral with or attached thereto is pivotted
to an enlargement on the crank end. The other or swinging end of the link has
attached to it the pedal axle. The tubular extension upon which this swinging
link is pivotted passes through a hole in the enlargement aforesaid. This
enlargement may either be integral with or attached to the crank end and the hole
in it may be placed either before or behind the centre line of the crank. I so
arrange this combination of parts that the pedal itself at whatever portion of
its travel it may be situated is nearly always in a line with the centre line
of the crank. On the down stroke of the crank (by my invention) the foot
pressure of the rider not only rotates the crank but also practically speaking
lengtheus it since the pedal has a compound motion, one of them being rotary and
the other radial. In a modification of the foregoing a lever is substituted in lieu
of a link although the link can be used and the crauk instead of being enlarged at
its end is simply beut out of its centre line.
But in order that my invention may be better understood I will now refor to the
accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this specification
and read herewith.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a right and left hand crank removed
from the machine. On the left band of the figure or down going crank the pedal
is shewn as extended to its maximum limit of travel whilst in the right hand or up
going crank the pedal is withdrawn by the spring (seen in the plan in Figure 4) to
its minimum leverage.
Figure 2 represents a modification of the integral or attachable crank end

page_text: enlargement shown in Figure 1. On it is clearly seen the pivotted swinging link
to the bottom end of which the pedal axle is connected.
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of a modification of the crank end in which
the crank proper instead of having a full enlargement thereon is simply extended
in its parallel form and bent backwardly or forwardly to an angle of 45 degrees
(more or less). To the end of the bent portion of this extension is pivotted a
swinging link or lever to one end of which lover is attached the pedal axle and to
the other a spiral spring.
Figure 4 represents a plan of the right hand up going pedal shown in Figure 1
depicting the spring which operates the swinging link and pedal. The ends of this
spring may be connected to any portion of the crank or said swinging link that
experiment may prove suitable.
Figure 5 represents a sectional elevation of the pivotted swinging link "D" at
the top end of which is an integral or attachable tubular extension "C." This passes
through and pivots within a hole in the crank enlargement and at the bottom end of
the said link is another extension "O" which travels within a quadrant slot and has
attached to it the pedal axle.
Figure 6 depicts a sectional elevation of the pivotted swinging link above
described shewing a portion of the pedal axle and pedal and the crank enlargement
in which the top end of the link is pivotted. The bottom or swinging end with the
pedal attached thereto travels through the quadrant slot shewn in elevation in
Figure 2.
On reference to the drawings it will be seen that the crank "A" bas at its
end an enlargement "B" which may be integral with or attached in any well
known way to the said crank. This enlargement which is preferably made in the
form of a quadrant has in one end of it a hole "J" (shewn in dotted lines in
Figure 2). In this hole partially rotates a tubular extension "C" integral with or
attached to one end of the link "D." The enlargement may either have the
hole "J" (also seen in Figure 6) on the leading side of the crank as shewn or it
may be situated on the trailing side but in all cases the quadrant alot "E" is
preferably made as near as possible in a line with the contre line of the crank.
With one end pivotted to and swinging upon the said tubular extension "C," is
the swinging link "D" (better seen in Figures 5 and 6) the extension "O" on the
other end of which, travels within the quadrant slot "E." To the travelling end
of "D" is attached the pedal axle "F" which axle therefore with its pedal "G"
has a backward and forward motion controlled alternately by the foot pressure
of the rider and the spring "H." This spring "H" may either be connected
to hooks or screws as "I" on the pivotted end of the link or to the travelling
end of the link according to which side of the link or lever the pressure has to be
applied.
On reference to Figure 3 it will be seen that the crank "A" at the extremity is
bent as one part only of the enlargement. To the bent end of it is pivotted the
swinging arm "K" to one end of which is secured the pedal and axle and to tho
other the spiral spring "H." Through a lug "L" passes an adjusting sorew "M"
whereby the travel of the swinging lever and therefore the pedal can be regulated.
If necessary it may be advisable to place a stop piece "N" at the pedal end of the
lever. This will prevent the pedal axle nuts or washers pressing against the crank
and at the same time acts as a stop. In order to prevent undue distortion of the
lever "K" by the pressure of the foot the said lever may be so constructed
(so that instead of being on one side only of the orank it may embrace both sides
of the crank end. It may then be composed of one piece of metal with a slotted
hole to receive the crank end or it may be composed of two plates rivetted or
connected together in any well known way.
As before described, the spring H, automatically shortens the pedal leverage
against the weight of a rider's leg on the upstroke, but on the downstroke the
pressure is put upon the said pedal and the spring is overcome to lengthen the
pedal leverage; but I may adopt the reverse method as exemplified in Figure 3,

page_text: or as described with reference to Figure 1 if the hook is attached to the hook I,
that is to say, the spring in this position automatically lengthens the pedal
leverage on the down stroke, but said leverage is shortened on the upstroke by reason
of the weight of the rider's leg and foot pressing against the pedal sufficiently to
overcome the spring. Thus in one method the lever is automatically shortened, and
in the other automatically lengthened.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of iny said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is ;-
1st. In an improved crank and its attachments for cycles, bicycles, velocipedes,
and similar vehicles a crank having an integral or attachable enlargement as "B"
on its end with a pivot pin hole as "J" which may be before or behind the centre
line of the crank and a quadrant slot as "E" all as and for the purposes herein before
described and illustrated.
2nd. In an improved crank and its attachments for cycles, bicycles, velosipedes,
and similar vehicles a swinging link as "D" one end of which has an integral or
attachable tubular extension as "C" for pivotting within a hole and the other end
an extension as "O" for travelling within a slot with a central hole to receive a
pedal axle as "F" all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in the drawings.
3rd. In an improved crank and its attachments for cycles, bicycles, velocipedes,
and similar vehicles the combination of a swinging link as "D one end of which
pivots within a hole as "J" before or behind the centre line of the crank "A" in
an integral or attachable enlargement as "B" the extension "O" on the other end
of the said link travelling within a quadrant slot as "E" and supporting a pedal
axle as "F" and connected to one of the extremities of the said pivotted swinging
link a spiral spring as "H" all as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
as illustrated in the drawings.
4th. In an improved crank and its attachments for cycles, bicycles, velocipedos,
and similar vehicles an integral or attachable enlargement having a pivot pin hole
and quadrant slot as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated
in Figure 2.
5th. In an improved crank and its attachments for cycles, bicycles, volocipedes,
and similar vehicles a swinging lever as "K" pivotted to the orank end having
at one end of the said lever a connection for a spiral spring as "H," and an
adjusting screw as "L" and at the other the pedal axle and with or without a
stop as "N" as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and as illustrated in
Figure 3.
6th. In an improved crank and its attachments for cycles, bicycles, velocipedes,
and similar vehicles the combination of a crank arm with an integral or
attachable extension as "A" bent in front or at the rear of the centre line of
the orank and having at its end a hole in which is pivotted the swinging
lever as "K" with or without a stop as "N" to one end of which lever is
connected a spiral spring as "HI" and an adjusting screw as "L" and to tho
other end the pedal axle as and for the purposes herein before described and as
illustrated in Figure 3.
1000
JOHN EDWARD EDWARDS.