Year: 1896

page_text: I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of the Firm of Martin and Martins, of Granville
Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has relation to a new system of propelling cycles, such as
bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes by which the use of gear for transmitting
motion from the pedals to the rear driven wheels is entirely dispensed with and
whereby the loss of power occasioned in overcoming the friction of chain and other
gear is avoided.
According to my improvements the propelling action is alike unto the leg
movement of an animated object in running or walking.
Thus in carrying out my invention in connection with a bicycle of the ordinary
safety type, each end of the back wheel spindle has hung upon it a long rocking
pedal lever, alike unto a triangular frame or trussed beam, and rocking upon the
said axis as the centre and with the outer end fitted with a centred pedal. The
top member of the triangular frame is connected to the lower member by a cross
stay and directed rearwardly beyond the said stay is an arm or extension of the
said bottom member, jointedly connected to a leg or limb, working freely through
a guide eye carried by a depending extension of the fork of the framing, and
having at its extreme outer end, a treader or shoe, which may be in the form of a
pneumatic pad or cushion, or a spike or spikes formed from a length of metal wire
and having a spring coil or coils formed within it, so that when the treader
impinges upon the ground at a point rearwards of the centre of the wheel, the
spring slightly yields and the propelling force applied by the rider is prevented
from being too sudden in its action and thus tremor is avoided.
The rocking pedal levers or treadles are so arranged that when the treader on
one side of the machine is bearing against the ground the treader on the other
side is clear or away from the said ground, and thus the forward propelling motion
is made continuous, whilst the said levers are coupled together so as to be alternately
intermittently lifted by a running give and take chain, strap or cord passing over
a pulley mounted within a clip affixed to the framing of the machine, so that
as one pedal lever is depressed by the action of the foot the other is lifted sub rata.
The guide eyes, through which the treader legs pass and wherein they turn
as fulcra to admit of the treaders disposing themselves at varying angles to bring
the same onto the ground or to clear them, are each provided with a pair of
sheave or concaved-peripheried pullies collectively carried in the frame of the
guide, which is axially mounted between the branches of a forked or bifurcated
end of the rear extension of the framing forks.

page_text: levers, by the angular motions made by them, cause the treader legs to be recipro-
cated within and made to turn about the guide eyes as centres of motion, thus
bringing the treaders alternately into contact with the ground thus giving a
pushing motion alike unto the walking action of a man or an animal.
When one treader is bearing upon the ground and propelling the cycle forwards
by straightening its joint the other treader is clear of the ground, and so the act
of propulsion is effected.
Instead of connecting the levers together by a give and take or running band,
I may effect their return movements by coiled or other spring, and instead of
arranging the pedal levers in the form of triangular frames, the same may be
made in the form of a bell crank lever having a rearward extension.
As a modification, the levers may be balanced by springs, which are compressed
by the action of pressing the pedal downwards and on pressure being relieved
the reaction of the pedal effects the return stroke.
As a further arrangement of coupling for the pedal levers, I may employ a
spindle or tie with crank ends to which the levers are respectively connected, so
that as the one pedal lever and crank is lowered the other is relatively raised,
carrying its pedal lever with it.
As a further modification, the pedal lever may be made in the form of a trian-
gular frame, mounted on the spindle at one of its corners, and with one of the
members of one side continued forwardly into an arm on which the pedal is
mounted, whilst the other member is continued horizontally and to near the ground
into a rear arm working through a guide eye and terminating in a jointed treader
in the form of a boss or disc, with the said arm being fitted with a spring which
takes the treader off the ground when pressure is taken off the pedal.
As a still further modification the treader may be carried directly upon the
pedal frame and be made to take a direct bearing on the ground when the same
are oscillated through the medium of the pedals.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1896.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of the Firm of Martin and Martins, of Granville
Street, in the City of Birmingham, Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention has relation to a new system of propelling cycles, such aз
bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes by which the use of chain, toothed or other
gear for transmitting motion from the pedals to the rear driven wheels is entirely
dispensed with and whereby the loss of power occasioned in overcoming the
friction of such gear is avoided.
According to my improvements the propelling action is alike unto the leg
movement of an animated object in running or walking.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents, in side elevation, a
ladies safety bicycle, provided with gearless or direct-acting propelling mechanism
arranged. according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation of the rear part of the machine upon an enlarged scale.

page_text: Figure 3 is a topside plan of the lever motion, with the position of the rear wheel
and forks indicated.
Figures 4 to 16 represents various views of detail parts of the propelling
mechanism and the rear part of the framing of the machine.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawings.
Thus in carrying out my invention, in connection with a bicycle of the ordinary
safety type, as illustrated each end of the back wheel spindle a, has hung upon
it a long rocking pedal lever b, alike unto a triangular frame or trussed beam,
rocking upon the said spindle end as the centre and with the forward ends b¹ of
the tubular members of the said frame provided with a junction fitting, shown
in elevation in Figure 7 and plan in Figure 8, and in which the pedal 63 is
mounted. The top member 6, of the triangular frame is connected to the lower
member 5 at the rear end by a cross stay 66 and directed rearwardly beyond the
said stay is an arm or extension 67 of the said bottom member 65 constituting a
leg or limb, which works freely through a guide eye c, represented separately and
in elevation in Figure 4, and adjustable hinged to a depending extension d, of
the rear fork of the framing, which said extension and its fork end connection d'
are shown in edge view in Figure 12, plan in Figure 13 and end view in Figure 14
the slot ds being formed to receive the ends of the spindle of the back wheel.
The extreme outer end of the leg b', is formed into a treader or shoe 6s which
may be in the form of a spike or spikes 6º, formed from a length of metal wire
having a spring coil or coils 610, formed within it, so that when the treader
impinges upon the ground at a point rearwards of the centre of the wheel, the
spring slightly yields and the propelling force applied by the rider is prevented
from being too sudden in its action, and thus tremor is avoided.
The pair of rocking pedal levers or treadles are so arranged on the opposite sides
of the machine, that when one treader is bearing against the ground the
treader on the other side is clear or away from the said ground, and thus
the forward propelling motion is made continuous, whilst the said levers
are coupled together so as to be alternately intermittently lifted by a running
give and take chain, strap or cord e, passing over a pulley el, mounted within a
clip e, affixed to the framing of the machine, so that as one pedal lever is
depressed by the action of the foot the other is lifted sub rata. This pulley attach-
ment is shown separately in front elevation in Figure 5 and side elevation in
Figure 6.
The guide eyes c, through which the treader legs pass and whose framings c¹
are pivoted at to the framing extensions d, to constitute fulcra to admit of the
treaders disposing themselves at varying angles to bring the same onto the ground
or to clear them, are each provided with pairs of sheave or concaved-peripheries
roller or anti-friction bearings 3, collectively carried in the frame of the guide,
which is mounted between the branches of a forked or bifurcated and slotted
end d, of the rear extension of the framing forks.
OPERATION.
The rider places his feet on the pedals and first depresses one lever and then
the other and gives a rocking or rising and falling movement thereto, which said
levers, by the angular motions made by them, cause the treader legs to reciprocate
within and made to turn about the guide eyes as centres of motion, thus bringing
the treaders alternately into contact with the ground and giving a rearward
pushing motion and so propels the cycle forwardly.
The bearings 69, whereon the pedal lever frames turn as fulcra, are shown
respectively in side elevation, plan and section in Figures 8, 9 and 10, a10 repre-
senting the spindle of the back wheel 610, and the adjustable cones mounted on
the said spindle and between the races 615, of which and like races 613, of the
bushes 6, the bearing balls 615, are located, whilst the joint connections between
the angle pieces 616, of the lever frames and the legs 67 are represented in

page_text: elevation and section separately by Figures 15 and 16, in which the joint pin 617,
is shown as being encircled by a gun metal bush 618, which is itself surrounded
by the eyed end 610, of the member 7.
Instead of connecting the levers together by a give and take or running band,
I may effect their return movements by coiled or other springs, and instead of
arranging the pedal levers in the form of triangular frames, the same may be
made in the form of a bell crank lever having a rearward extension.
As a modification, the levers may be balanced by springs, which are compressed
by the action of pressing the pedal downwards and on pressure being relieved
the reaction of the spring effects the return stroke.
As another arrangement of coupling for the pedal levers, I may employ a spindle
or tie with crank ends to which the levers are respectively connected, so that as
the one pedal lever and crank is lowered the other is relatively raised, carrying
its pedal lever with it.
As a further modification, the pedal lever may be made in the form of a triangular
frame, mounted on the spindle at one of its corners, and with one of the members
of one side continued forwardly into an arm on which the pedal is mounted; whilst
the other member is continued horizontally and to near the ground into a rear arm
working through a guide eye and terminating in a jointed treader in the form of
a boss or disc, with the said arm being fitted with a spring which takes the treader
off the ground when pressure is taken off the pedal.
As a still further modification the treader may be carried directly upon the
pedal frame and be made to take a direct bearing on the ground when the said
frames are oscillated through the medium of the pedals. The ground impingements
or treaders may be in the form of rubber blocks or inflated pads.
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 Propelling cycles by means of a pair of alternatively acting compound
levers, jointed to or mounted upon the spindle of a wheel or to an equivalent part,
und being fitted at the fore end with pedals or equivalents, and with the rear ends
having jointed extensions or members terminated in treaders or ground impinge-
ments, the whole arranged and operating substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly-Propelling cycles by means of a pair of compound levers, coupled
together and made to act alternately by running cords, chains, springs or like
means, and arranged to turn upon the spindle of a wheel or an equivalent part, and
have pedals or equivalent means at the forward ends, whilst rear parts have jointed
extensions or legs, passing through rocking guides pivoted to the framing or an
extension thereof, and terminating in treads or ground impingements, the whole
arranged and operating substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly: In mechanism for the propulsion of cycles, the construction of the
rocking guide eye and its anti-friction bearings, with the means of adjusting the
same relative to the framing, substantially as described and set forth.
Fourthly: The several improvements in the construction and arrangement of
mechanism for the propulsion of cycles and in the detail parts of same, substantially
as described and set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of Jul 1807
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
24 Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.