Year: 1896

page_text: I, WILLIAM FRANCIS BRENTON, of 170, Elm Grove, Brighton, Sergeant
Instructor, 1st Volunteer Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The invention relates to a new driving gear for cycles, whereby the crank
movement is done away with, and in carrying it into effect, I proceed in or in
about the following manner.
I make the cycle wheel with an open centre the spokes connecting the ordinary
rim with the rim of the open centre. To the lower end of the fork is attached a
tubular axle, the axis of which is coincident with that of the cycle wheel. Through
this tubular axle passes a solid one having a rearward projecting lever at each end,
each of the said levers having a pedal or the like at the rearward end. A downward
projecting lever attached to the solid axle passes out through an aperture provided
for the purpose in the under part of the tubular axle. This central lever may be
slotted vertically. On the forward and rearward sides of the tubular axle and
projecting downward therefrom, are two brackets through and free to slide in
which passes a horizontal rod parallel or thereabouts to the ground. This horizontal
rod also passes through the slotted lever and by a pin or other means is so connected
therewith that on pushing to and fro the downward tending slotted rod on the solid
axle within the tubular axle, the horizontal lever will slide to and fro through the
brackets already mentioned. At the forward end of the horizontal lever is a
friction or other roller whose outer diameter works in contact with the inner
diameter of the rim of the open centre of the wheel, the point of contact between
the two being always at a distance from the axis of the tubular axle equal to the
radius of the rim of the open centre. The open centre of the wheel is covered on
each side by a circular disc attached to the rim of the open centre, each disc having
in it an opening to allow the discs to revolve round the ends of the tubular axle. On
the rider pressing his feet on the pedals of the rearward projecting levers attached
to the solid axle passing through the tubular one, the horizontal lever causes the
friction rollers to revolve the rim of the open centre of the wheel and consequently
the wheel itself.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Gear for Cycles.
I, WILLIAM FRANCIS BRENTON, of 170, Elm Grove, Brighton, Sergeant
Instructor 1st Volunteer Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, 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 invention relates to a new driving gear for cycles, whereby the crank

page_text: movement is done away with, and in carrying it into effect, 1 proceed in or in about
the following manner, making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings in
which
Fig. 1. is a side view of a wheel and gear.
Fig. 2. is an isometrical view of the tubular axle and accessories.
Fig. 3. is an isometrical view of the solid axle and accessories.
The same letters relate to the same parts wherever occurring.
I make the wheel with an open centre a, the spokes b connecting the ordinary
rim c with the rim d of the open centre a. To the lower end of the fork e ís
attached a tubular axle f the axis of which is coincident with that of the cycle
wheel. Through this tubular axle f passes a solid one 9 having a rearwardly
projecting lever h at each end, the said levers each having a pedal or the like at
its extreme rearward end. A. downwardly projecting rod or lever j attached to the
solid axle passes out through an aperture k provided for the purpose in the under
part of the tubular axle f. The central rod j may be slotted vertically as at l. On
the forward and rearward sides of the tubular axle f and projecting downwards
therefrom, are the brackets m through and free to slide in the ends m¹ of which
passes a horizontal rod a parallel or thereabouts to the ground or track. This
rod n also passes through the slotted lever j, and by a pin o or other means is so
connected therewith, that on pushing to and fro the rod, the rod n will slide to
and fro through the bracket ends m already mentioned. At the forward end of n
is a friction or other roller p whose outer diameter works in contact with the inner
diameter of the rim d of the open centre a of the wheel, the point of contact
between the two being always at a distance from the axis of the wheel equal to the
radius of the rim of the open centre a. The open centre a of the wheel is covered
on each side by a circular disc attached to the rim d of the open centre a, each
disc having in it an opening to allow the disc to revolve with the wheel round the
ends of the tubular axle f. On the rider pressing his feet on the pedals i of the
levers, the rod n causes the friction rollers p to revolve the rim d of the open
centre a and consequently the wheel itself.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
CLAIMS.
1. A driving gear for cycles, the said gear consisting essentially in providing
the wheel with an open centre surrounded by a rim connected to the ordinary rim
by intervening spokes, the said inner rim and consequently the whole wheel being
caused to rotate by a friction or other wheel or roller attached to one end of a
horizontal rod which is moved to and fro in bearings or brackets hanging from a
tubular axle attached to the lower end of the fork of the wheel, the said to and
fro movement being brought about by operating at the rearwardly projecting ends
of levers provided at the extremities of a solid axle passed through and movable in
the said tubular axle, the whole substantially as described in the above specification
and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
2. The improvements in driving gear for cycles, the said gear being constructed
and operated substantially as described in the above specification and exemplified
in the accompanying drawings.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23, Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.