Improvements in the Driving Gear of Velocipedes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 5th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 8th Mar., 1887.
Improvements in the Driving Gear of Velocipedes.
CHARLES SCOTT SNELL of 7 Garfield Villas, Park Road Crouch End in the County
of Middlesex Civil and Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows :-
:-
The object of this Invention is to render velocipede riding safer by allowing the
saddle to be placed further within the "wheel base" and also to place the driving gear
more directly under the rider thus increasing the efficiency.
For this purpose I continue the fork of the machine downwards below the axle
preferably slightly curved forward at the end, attaching in such a manner as to allow
of freedom of motion, a light rod or tube acting as a stay or tension rod and to the
upper end of this tension rod or its equivalent is attached a pedal lever by a similar
joint to that at the end of the fork continuation. This podal lever is attached at one
extremity to the above tension rod forming a fulcrum and at or near its centre the
crank pin passes through it and at its other extremity is formed the pedal.
Thus the downward pressure of the foot upon the pedal depresses it and also the
crank pin this turning the wheel, the tension rod acting as a fulcrum and giving an
approximately horizontal to and fro motion as the wheel revolves the pedal itself
describing an oval well within the "wheel base" and more nearly underneath the
driver than by the old system of simple crank and pedal.
In the event of a wheel of small diameter being driven it may be found desirable to
attach the pedal lever to the crank pin not directly but by an intermediate link.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Gear of Velocipedes.
I CHARLES SCOTT SNELL of 192 Park Road, Crouch End Hornsey in the County
of Middlesex Civil & Mechanical Engineer 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:-
The object of this invention is to render velocipede riding safer by allowing the
saddle to be placed further within the wheel base and also to place the driving gear
more directly under the rider thus increasing the efficiency.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of a bicycle fitted in
accordance with my invention, the spokes of the wheels being omitted for clearness.
In carrying this invention into effect I rigidly attach an extension piece E (Figs. 2.
3. 4. 5) to the leg or fork of the bicycle with a bearing D formed at its extremity.
This extension piece is set slightly forward and at the bearing D is attached by any of
the usual methods allowing of freedom of motion a light rod or tube D. B. forming a
tension rod and at the upper end B is attached by a similar joint to that at D the pedal
lever B. C. A.
The joint or attachment at B forms a fulcrum and at C at or near the centre of the
pedal lever connection is made with the crank pin or with a ball or other bearing
allowing of free revolution of the same.
At the further extremity the pedal A is fixed and it is obvious that vertical pressure
upon the pedal at A tends to depress the crank pin C and revolve the wheel the
bearing B being the fulcrum which by reason of its method of attachment to the
extension piece E at D admits of an approximately horizontal or to and fro motion as
the wheel revolves the pedal itself necessarily having an oval orbit. behind the axle or
well within the wheel base and more nearly underneath the driver or rider than by the
old system of simple crank and pedal.
It is obvious also that by varying the length of the tension rod the pedal orbit can
be raised or lowered thus admitting a machine to be more exactly regulated to suit
the rider.
In Figs. 2 & 3 it will be seen that the extension piece E at its upper end is bored to
allow the axle to pass through and is attached to the fork by the two lugs G bent
inwards and secured by the bolt which joins the fork F to the bearing below and as
further security it is again fastened to the fork by the screw or bolt H.
Fig. 4 shows a simple attachment of the piece E by two bolts to the fork admitting
of easy disconnection.
Fig. 3 is a back view of the gearing when the crank is at its lower dead centre
similar letters indicating similar parts to those in Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 shows the introduction where a small wheel is ridden of a short link between
the crank pin and pedal lever so that the orbit of the pedal is not confined but admits
of a certain amount of flexibility which is useful in overcoming the dead centre as

page_text: where vertical pressure would be ineffective horizontal or a combination of both
directions of pressure would carry the crank over what would otherwise be the dead
point.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of Improvements in the driving
gear of velocipedes and the manner of carrying the same into effect I wish it to be
understood that I claim
1st. The attainment of an oscillating fulcrum to the pedal lever by means of a
tension rod or tube below the level of the axle attached to an extension piece
substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination of the oscillating fulcrum and the link connecting the pedal
lever to the crank pin substantially as described with reference to Fig. 5 in the
drawing.