Improvements in the Method of and in the Means for Securing the Pedal Pins upon the Driving Cranks of Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and in the Means for Securing the
Pedal Pins upon the Driving Cranks of Velocipedes.
I, JOHN WILLIAMS, of Stockwell Villa, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, in the County
of Glamorgan, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven
tion to be as follows:-
My invention consists of certain improvements in the method of and in the means
for securing the pedal pins upon the driving cranks of velocipedes. Hitherto
various devices have been employed for carrying out this purpose, one well known
method consisting in the employment of a flat wedge-shaped key or cotter fitted
within a hole in the crank at right angles to the direction of the pedal pin and
lying partially within the eye of the crank, the end of the pedal pin having a
flattened surface against which the portion of the cotter lying within the eye may
bear when both are in position. Another method consists in cutting a slot to
extend from the eye to the extreme end of the crank and providing a nut and bolt
for drawing together the two arms thus formed, thereby producing a grip upon
the pedal pin.
In practice, none of these methods is found to be satisfactory, the pin often
working loose, and the cotter or bolt requiring to be renewed frequently.
A
I carry out my present invention as follows. I provide a threaded hole or eye
at the free end of the crank, but without any slot such as above mentioned.
small cross-hole, however, is made through the substance of the crank so that it
cuts through a part of the inner circumference (parallel to a tangent of the eye).
and said cross hole may be round in cross section but tapered in longitudinal
section nearly throughout its length, the extreme narrow end, however, being not
tapered but threaded. I also provide a round tapered pin, having a small straight
threaded portion at the narrow end for fitting into the cross-hole aforesaid, and
this pin may be either screw headed or otherwise adapted for being screwed home.
The end of the pedal pin which is intended to be held within the eye of the crank
is not only threaded for screwing into the latter, but has the middle of the threaded
portion cut away upon a lathe leaving a shallow U channel, curved approximately
so as to fit the middle portion of the tapered pin, which is intended to wedge firmly
against it.
The pedal pin, after being screwed into the crank, is firmly locked in position
by inserting the tapered pin in the cross-hole as already mentioned. It may be
stated that it is advisable, though perhaps not always necessary, that the locking
pin be arranged to enter the cross-hole in such a direction that when being screwed
in and wedging itself upon the pedal pin, it may tend to screw the pedal pin still
further home rather than cause it to return upon its thread. I may arrange for

page_text: the hole which receives the tapered securing pin to be in any desired or convenient
position around or near to the eye of the crank.
Dated this 25th day of November 1897.
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 61, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in the Method of and in the Means for Securing the
Pedal Pins upon the Driving Cranks of Velocipedes.
I, JOHN WILLIAMS, of Stockwell Villa, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, in the County
of Glamorgan, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement;-
-
My invention consists of certain improvements in the method of and in the means
for securing the pedal pins upon the driving cranks of velocipedes. Hitherto
various devices have been employed for carrying out this purpose, one well known
method consisting in the employment of a flat wedge-shaped key or cotter fitted
within a hole in the crank at right angles to the direction of the pedal pin and
lying partially within the eye of the crank, the end of the pedal pin having a
flattened surface against which the portion of the cotter lying within the eye may
bear when both are in position. Another method consists in cutting a slot to
extend from the eye to the extreme end of the crank and providing a nut and bolt
for drawing together the two arms thus formed, thereby producing a grip upon
the pedal pin.
In practice, none of these methods is found to be satisfactory, the pin often
working loose, and the cotter requiring to be renewed frequently.
I carry out my present invention as follows, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings, in which, Figure I shows a section of the end of the crank at
right angles to the pedal pin, and Figure 2 a cross section of Figure 1.,
Figures 3 and 4 (both enlarged) show respectively a view of the securing pin and
an elevation of the screwed end of the pedal pin in a form slightly different from
Figures 1 and 2.
I provide a threaded hole or eye A at the free end of the crank B, and a small
cross-hole C is made through the substance of the crank so that it cuts through
a part of the inner circumference, and said cross hole may be round in cross section
but tapered in longitudinal section nearly throughout its length, the extreme
narrow end, however, being not tapered but threaded. I also provide a round
tapered pin D having a straight threaded portion at the narrow end for fitting
into the cross-hole aforesaid and this pin may be either screw headed or otherwise
adapted for being screwed home. The end of the pedal pin E which is intended to
be held within the eye of the crank B is not only threaded as at e for screwing
into the latter, but has a groove F cut away from the threaded portion. leaving a
shallow channel, curved approximately so as to fit the middle portion of the
tapered pin D. which is intended to wedge firmly against it.
In Figures 1 and 2. the groove F is shown extending over about half of the cir-
cumference of the pedal vin, and in Figure 4 it is shown cut away throughout the
whole circumference. The aim of the invention is for a portion of the groove to
he opposite to the tapered pin when the pedal pin is screwed home, and provided
this condition is fulfilled, the groove F may be limited to any desired distance of

page_text: the pedal pin, sufficient thread being left to ensure a firm hold within the threaded
eye of the crank.
The pedal pin E, after being screwed into the crank B, is firmly locked in posi-
tion by inserting the tapered pin 1) in the cross-hole C, as already mentioned. It
may be stated that it is advisable, though perhaps not always necessary, that the
locking pin 1 be arranged to enter the cross-hole in such à direction that when
being screwed in and wedging itself upon the pedal pin, it may tend to screw the
pedal pin still further home, rather than cause it to return upon its thread. I may
arrange for the hole which receives the tapered securing pin to be in any desired
or convenient position around or near to the eye of the crank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The method of and means for securing the pedal pins upon the driving cranks
of velocipedes substantially as described.
velocipedes substantially as described.
Dated this 11th day or May 1898.
For the Applicant,
STANLEY, POPPLEWELL & Co.,
61 and 62, Chancery Lane (and 8. Southampton Buildings), London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agents.