Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1897-Accepted, 18th June, 1898
Improvements in Bicycles.
I, Wilber Jay PINE, of Oshkosh, Winnebago County, Wisconsin, U.S.A.,
Mechanic, 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 improvements in bicycles, and consists essentially in,
1. A pedal actuated bell-crank-lever, pivoted to the frame and linked to the
crank on each side, the crank being integral or rigid with the axle, which turns
on a different basis of rotation from the wheel.
2. A means by which the revolution of the axle revolves a larger wheel having
a straight-faced-gear which communicates the power, by means of intermediate
gears, to the smaller gear rigidly attached to the hub of the wheel, and revolving
therewith..
3. Two separate series of ball bearings, the inner bearings relieving the friction
of the axle in its revolution, and the outer bearings relieving the friction of the
hub in its revolution.
4. A dust proof and oil tight casing enclosing the gears and bearings, and
situated within, and protected by the spokes of the driving wheel, surrounding
the driving axle.
5. Two sets of ball bearings operating independently of each other, said bearings
being V shaped or four point bearings, both being adjustable by means of one
plain nut, operating to open and close the two segmental parts of the inner or
stationary cup of each bearing. Each being adjustable by one plain nut, the
outer bearing relieving the friction in the revolution of the hub, and the inner
bearing in the revolution of the axle.
The objects of my invention are:
1. To provide a means of propelling a bicycle by lever power, communicating
with a crank, to increase the speed by means of transmitting the power from a
larger driving gear, through intermediate gears, to a smaller gear operating the
driving wheel.
2. To provide a means of increasing the power relative to the momentum
obtained by the velocity of the wheel, by means of compound lever action operating
to drive the wheel.
3. To provide a means of locating the gears upon the rear axle instead of the
frame, where the spring of the frame cannot interfere with the operation, and
where a stable support is insured.
4. To enclose the propelling and transmitting mechanism in a dust proof and
oil tight casing, so that, if desired, the gears and bearings can be floated in oil to
lessen the friction in operation, and so that the spokes of the rear wheel will
effectually preserve the gear and casing from external injury.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side view of the bicycle. Fig. 2 is
a side view of the gear wheels, a portion being cut away, and Fig. 3 is a vertical
section through the center of the driving wheel. Fig. 4 is a side view and
Fig. 5 an end view of the sleeve and arm which support the intermediate gears.

page_text: Fig. 6 is a side view and Fig. 7 an end view of the opposite supporting
sleeve. Fig. 8 shows sections of the segmental bearings. Similar letters refer to
similar parts in each view.
In
:
A represents the frame, A' the rear fork, and A" the back fork stays. B is the driv-
ing wheel, and CC the pedals. The pedals operate the bell-crank-levers DD, upon
each side, which are pivoted to the frame at d, an additional brace d' being added
to the frame extending upwardly and connecting with the rear fork A¹. The
opposite end of the bell-crank-lever 1 is connected with the crank F, on each
side, by means of the link E. The operation of the pedals on each side, rotates
the crank F, which is integral or rigidly attached to the axle F1, Fig. 3. The
straight-faced-gear wheel G is rigidly attached to the axle F and revolves there-
with, and,
its revolution, engages and revolves the intermediate
gear H which revolves the inner gear H'; which is rigidly attached
to the hub H" of the wheel H and revolves therewith. The inter-
mediate gear H revolves upon the pivot h, which is pivoted to the arm I, and
supported by the opposite yoke, and, in its revolution, carries with it the
gear H', which is rigidly attached to the hub H. The gear H¹ engages and
revolves the gear J which is rigidly attached to the hub of the wheel J. The
arm I is integral with the inwardly extending sleeve I, which is rigidly connected
with the frame. The opposite end of the pivot is upheld by the connecting
yoke or plate 7, which is supported by the pins The pins also connect
with the arm I and also support the opposite bifurcated plate 21, which is integral
with the opposite inwardly extending sleeve I", rigidly attached to the frame of
the wheel. Each arm of the plate is offsetted at z to avoid contact with the gear
wheels G and H' in their revolution. The plate also slides laterally upon the
pins so as not to antagonize the adjustment of the bearings, hereinafter more
particularly described.
The
It will be observed that the arm I and the opposite supporting plate ", are
rigidly connected with the frame, and do not revolve either with the wheel or
with the axle, and are for the purpose of supporting the intermediate gears.
intermediate gears, as described, serve to transmit the power from the driving
wheel G to the smaller gear J, which is rigidly attached to the hub of the rear
wheel of the bicycle.
"
The hub of the wheel K supports the gear case L, which may be integral there-
with, or rigidly attached thereto. The gear case L supports the gears, herein-
before described, and is constructed so as to be practically dust proof. In the
revolution of the wheel the hub K travels upon the ball bearings m m m, etc., against
the sleeves I' and I", which are rigidly attached to. the frame, as hereinbefore
described.
..In lieu of cups I provide V shaped depressions for the balls to travel in, thereby
giving a four point bearing to each ball against the depression on both sides. In
order to provide a tight bearing a lateral adjustment. of each internal or stationary
depression is necessary, and I provide a segmental construction for that purpose,
so that in the adjustment of the gear the supporting arm I and the gear case are
The
relieved from any lateral pressure, thus enabling a light case to be used.
inner bearings nnnn are similarly constructed for the purpose of relieving the
sleeve I and the arm I from lateral pressure. The bearings m mmm are adjusted
by means of the segmental cones 00. and the bearings nnnn are adjusted by
means of the segmental cones P P. If necessary packing can be inserted at tttt
to effectually prevent the escape of oil or the entrance of dust.
To enable the construction of the bearings to be clearly understood I have
shown the cups and cones in enlarged sectional detail views at Fig. 8. In
this fig. s shows one of the V cups of the outter bearings and one of the V cups
of the inner bearings. shows a segment of one of the cones 10 whilst shows
another segment of these cones.
whilst w shows the other segment.
By means of my invention the
shows one of the segments of the cones P
Y is one of the outer segments of the cups x.
whole interior of the casing L, and all the

page_text: bearings and gears, are completely oil and dust proof. Oil can be inserted into
the casing through the opening W.
It will be observed that in the adjustment of the cones, the inner cone of the
outer bearing, and the outer cone of the inner bearing are segmental and adjust-
able, and do not antagonize each other in their adjustment.
By reference to the drawing it will be observed that the revolution of the pedal
actuated crank F revolves the gear wheel G, which is provided with a straight-
faced-gear along its periphery and is adapted to mesh into the corresponding-gear
in the wheel H, which revolves upon the pivot h, and is provided with a laterally
extending hub H" upon which the intermediate gear H₁ is rigidly attached and
revolves therewith. The gear H¹ meshes into and revolves the wheel J, which is
rigidly attached to and revolves the rear wheel of the bicycle. In this manner
I have provided a simple, convenient, and cheap means of transmitting the power
from the pedal crank F to the gear J of the driving wheel. All of this is
accomplished by a series of straight-faced-gears reducing the power and increasing
the speed.
I do not wish to confine my invention to the use of the bell-crank-lever con-
nection shown in the drawings, as ordinary crank movement in connection with
the pedals may be used by simply offsetting the arm of the crank sufficiently to
permit the passage of the link within the line of movement, thus enabling the
power to be transmitted by a single connection of the pedal arm to the rear
crank.
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 consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1, In a bicycle, the combination, with the frame, of pedal actuated bell-crank-
levers pivoted to the frame and linked to the cranks on both sides, substantially
as shown.
2, In a bicycle, the combination, with the frame, of a pedal actuated bell-crank-
lever pivoted to the frame and linked to the crank, on each side, the crank being
rigidly attached to the axle, which is adapted to turn on a different basis of rotation
from the rotation of the wheel.
3, In a bicycle, the combination, with the axle, of a larger wheel rigidly attached
thereto, having a straight-faced-gear which, by means of intermediate gears,
communicates the power to a smaller gear wheel rigidly attached to the hub of the
bicycle driving wheel, substantially as shown.
4, In a bicycle, the combination, with the crank, of a larger wheel rigidly
attached thereto, having a straight-faced-gear, intermediate gears communicating
with a smaller gear wheel, rigidly attached to the power wheel of the bicycle, and
means for communicating the power to the crank, substantially as shown.
5, In a bicycle, the combination, with a pedal actuated bell-crank-lever, of a
communicating link connecting with the crank, on each side, a larger wheel
rigidly attached to the crank, having a straight-faced-gear, meshing into the
intermediate gears, to engage the hub of the rear wheel, substantially as shown.
6, In a bicycle, the combination, with the propelling mechanism, of a revoluble
axle, rigidly attached to a driving gear, which communicates, by means of inter-
mediate gears, with a smaller gear wheel, rigidly attached to the hub of the bicycle
driving wheel, and revolving therewith on a separate basis of rotation from the
basis of rotation of the axle, the intermediate gears being supported by sleeves
rigidly connected with the frame of the wheel, substantially as shown.
7, In a bicycle, a dust and oil proof casing, within the spokes of the driving wheel,
and surrounding the axle, for the purpose of enclosing the propelling power and
intermediate gears and bearings, substantially as shown.
8, In a bicycle, the combination, with the power communicating mechanism,
of two separate series of ball bearings, the inner bearings relieving the friction

page_text: of the axle in its revolution, and the outer bearings relieving the friction of the
hub of the driving wheel in its revolution, substantially as shown.
9, In a bicycle, two sets of ball bearings operating independently of each other,
and adjustable laterally by means of a segmental construction of the stationary
cup. of each bearing, substantially as shown.
10, In a bicycle, the combination, with means for revolving the axle upon a
different basis of rotation from the hub of the driving wheel, of inwardly extending
sleeves, rigidly attached to the frame, and supporting intermediate gears for the
transmission of the power, substantially as shown.
11, In a bicycle, the combination, with means for rotating the axle upon a
different basis of rotation from that of the hub of the driving wheel, of an inwardly
extending sleeve rigidly attached to the frame on each side, and supporting conical
bearings, the rigid or stationary parts of which are segmental and adjustable
laterally to receive the revolving balls, and relieve the friction and the lateral
pressure in the revolution of the axle and the hub of the driving wheel,
substantially as shown.
12, In a bicycle, the combination, with means for separately revolving the
axle and wheel, of bearings for each, adjustable laterally in harmony with each
other, the inner cone of the outer bearing, and the outer cone of the inner bearing
being segmental for the purpose of adjustment.
Dated this 21st day of June 1897.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.