Improved Mechanism for Assisting in the Propulsion of Cycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1898--Accepted, 29th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mechanism for Assisting in the Propulsion of Cycles.
I, GEORGE BROUGHAM HUBERT AUSTIN, of No. 60, Armadale Road, Armadale,
near Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Architect, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has been devised in order to utilise the cyclist's weight for
assisting in the propulsion of the machine, epecially on rough roads where the
rider is bumped up and down, or when mounting, or when it is practicable for
the cyclist to raise or lower himself upon the saddle at intervals, as for instance,
when ascending hills.
According to my invention an extension of the saddle-pillar or a rod con-
nected to the saddle projects for a considerable distance into the down-tube of
the frame of the machine, said extension being provided near its lower end with
suitable gearing adapted to engage with other gearing on or leading to the
crank shaft, so as to utilise the movement of the rider on and off the saddle for
the purpose of rotating said crank shaft and so assisting in the propulsion of
the machine.
Suitable roller or other guides are provided for ensuring the extension of
said saddle-pillar or the rod moving freely in the down-tube of the frame and
the seat or saddle may, in some cases, be mounted in such a way that it can
turn horizontally for certain distance upon a pivot, thus lessening the chances
of straining the mechanism, whilst its vertical adjustment is allowed by insert-
ing the pillar into the upper end of the hollow extension and clamping it.
In order to communicate the power to the crank shaft as above mentioned
the lower end of the extension of the saddle-pillar may be fitted with a pallet
or pallets or pawls arranged to engage on the downward motion of said saddle-
pillar with teeth or laterally projecting studs on a wheel, either mounted direct
on the crank shaft, or engaging with a pinion upon the crank shaft of the
machine, such crank shank being in gear through the medium of chain and
sprocket or other gearing with the main drive wheel in the ordinary way.
In lieu of the arrangement just described, the lower end of the extension of
the saddle-pillar may be racked so as to engage with a studded or toothed wheel
running loosely on the crank shaft, but provided with a pallet or pallets arranged
to engage and rotate-on the downward motion of said saddle-pillar-a
pinion keyed on the crank shaft, said pallets being free to escape on the upward
motion in precisely the same manner as before.
It is also obvious that the motion of the saddle itself may be utilised instead
of the extension of the pillar in which case the front end of the saddle is hinged
or pivotted and the rear end mounted on or connected to one end of a lever
suitably fulcrummed underneath the saddle, and having its opposite end con-
nected to the mechanism which as above described is arranged about the lower
end of the down-tube and enclosed in an enlarged bottom bracket which is
constructed in skeleton in order to reduce the weight.

page_text: In any case suitable springs are provided to return the parts to their operative
positions whilst suitable spring or air buffers or cushions to prevent jarring are
arranged in the lower end of the down-tube of the machine.
Dated this 17th day of May One thousand eight hundred and ninety-eight.
Improved Mechanism for Assisting in the Propulsion of Cycles.
I, GEORGE BROUGHAM HUBERT AUSTIN, of No. 60, Armadale Road, Armadale,
near Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, Architect, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement: —-
This invention has been devised in order to utilise the cyclist's weight for
assisting in the propulsion of the machine, especially on rough roads where the
rider is bumped up and down, or when mounting, or when it is practicable for
the cyclist to raise or lower himself upon the saddle at intervals, as for instance,
when ascending hills.
According to my invention a tube or rod connected to the saddle extends
for a considerable distance into one or more of the downwardly projecting tubes
of the frame of the machine and is provided near its lower end with suitable
mechanism adapted to engage with gearing on, or leading to, the crank shaft
or hub of the drive wheel so as to utilise the movement of the rider on and off
the saddle for the ultimate purpose of rotating said drive wheel and so assisting
in the propulsion of the machine.
Suitable roller or other guides are provided for ensuring said tube or tubeș
moving freely in the downwardly projecting tubes of the frame and the seat
or saddle may, in some cases, be mounted in such a way that it can turn hori-
zontally for a certain distance upon a pivot, thus lessening the chances of
straining the mechanism.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figures 1 and 1 when placed above each other represent a complete central
vertical section of the main down tube of a bicycle fitted with my invention.
Figures 2 to 9 are horizontal sections on the corresponding lines 2-2, 3-3 &c.
in Figures 1 and 1ª.
Figure 10 is a central vertical section corresponding to the lower part of
Figure 1 illustrating a slight modification.
Figure 11 is a horizontal section on line 11 Figure 10.
Figure 12 is a corresponding view to Figure 10 but with the addition of
multiplying gear.
Figure 13 is a side elevation illustrating a modified construction of the upper
part of the mechanism.
Figure 14 is a plan of the underside thereof.
Figure 15 is a side elevation partly in section of a portion of a bicycle showing
the mechanism operated through the medium of a lever.
Figure 16 is a similar view of a modification, and
Figure 17 a horizontal section on line 17-17 of Figure 16.

page_text: Similar letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all
the figures.
A represents an ordinary saddle carried by a pillar or support a fitted into a
short tube a mounted in ball bearings within a larger tube B extending
nearly to the bottom of a downwardly projecting tube C of the machine. The
tube B is fitted near the top with a cross rod or bar b extending diametrically
across said tube and through slots in the tube B said slots being of such a size
as to permit the saddle to turn horizontally with the movement of the rider's
body, instead of the strain being communicated to the mechanism. At the top
of the down tube C is a screwed cap el carrying a leather or other washer, and
at the top of the tube B is another screwed cap b¹ which together with cross
bar above mentioned holds the seat in position and prevents its removal. A
clamping collar a³ fits around the upper end of the short tube a¹ by means of
which the height of the saddle may be adjusted.
D represents a locking bolt adapted to engage with a hole 62 in the tube B
when it is desired to throw my auxiliary driving mechanism out of operation,
for instance when descending hills.
The tube B fits comparatively loosely into the downwardly projecting tube C
but is kept in position and prevented from turning round by means of one or
more removable rollers 63 working in one or more slots 64 in said tube as illus-
trated in Figures 1, 1 and 6, with or without anti-friction guide wheels 63
mounted on said tube as illustrated in Figures 1, 1, 5 and 8. A spring B₁ is
coiled around said tube B and always tends to lift said tube upwards. Near
the lower end of said tube (which is practically a continuation of the saddle
pillar) is a pallet or pawl B2 adapted to engage on the downward motion of said
tube with studs D¹ projecting laterally from a wheel D gearing with a pinion E
on the crank shaft E¹ but free to escape on the upward motion.
At the bottom of the tube B is a buffer to prevent jarring which may consist
of a coiled spring as illustrated at 333 Figure 1 or india-rubber but which I
prefer to make an air buffer as illustrated at Figure 10 and Figure 12. This
buffer comprises a piston F fixed to the lower end of the tube B, and operating
within a short cylindrical chamber F at the bottom of the down tube C, said
chamber having an inlet valve as F2, an outlet valve as F3 and a pipe F+ leading
into any suitable reservoir for compressed air, such for instance as one or more
of the tubes constituting the frame of the machine. On the down stroke of the
piston the air in chamber F1 is forced into pipe F4 through outlet valve F,
and thence to the reservoir, and on the up stroke of said piston, more air is
After a certain
drawn into chamber F1 through inlet valve F2 and so on.
time, the pressure in the reservoir is sufficient to prevent the piston from forcing
more air into it, and that in the chamber does not further increase, but remains
sufficient to form an effective buffer. If the pressure decreases through leakage,
more air is taken into the chamber and compressed, the reservoir serving as a
safety chamber to prevent too great pressure and consequent breakage in the
chamber F1.
It is obvious that the multiplying pinion E may be dispensed with, especially
if the machine has a high ordinary gear, in which case the wheel D would be
mounted on the opposite or rear side of the down tube C direct on the crank
shaft E¹ instead of on an independent spindle. Instead of the wheel D an
ordinary cog or toothed wheel may be employed.
If preferred the tube B may have a rack B2 (instead of the pallets-see
Figures 10, 12 and 15) engaging with studs or cogs on a wheel 1 mounted
loosely on the crank shaft, and carrying pallets or pawls D2 adapted to rotate
a pinion E keyed to the crank shaft on the downward motion of the tube and
escape on the upward movement as before.
It is also obvious that if the machine has a low ordinary gear or the tube B
drives direct on to the hub of the drive wheel instead of the crank axle more

page_text: multiplying gear than the pinion E may be provided as illustrated in Figures 12,
16 and 17.
In the alternative arrangement shown in Figures 13 and 14 the front end of
the saddle is pivotted as at A¹ and its rear end is connected by rods A2 to a
pair of levers A³ fulcrummed as at A to lugs A5 projecting rearwardly from
the upper end of the saddle support.
The front ends of these levers A³ are connected together by a bolt A to which
is attached a chain or other connection A7 leading to the tube B said bolt A6
being arranged to work in curved slots A8 in the sides of said saddle support.
Referring to Figure 15 the gearing illustrated in Figures 10 and 12, and in
Figures 16 and 17 multiplying gearing, is shown as being operated by a rearwardly
projecting lever or levers B fulcrummed on the chain stays at B5 and connected
to the lower end or ends of tubes or rods B extending into the downwardly pro-
jecting tubes 0 of the frame instead of being operated direct. A circular
rack 132 upon the shorter end of the lever B engages with toothed wheels which
drive the crank shaft or hub of the driving wheel, in the manner illustrated
in Figures 10 and 12.
In the arrangement illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 only the upstroke of
the tube B can be utilised whereas in the arrangement illustrated in the other
figures either the up or the down stroke can be used although said figures
illustrate the operation of the down stroke as being the more certain.
Any suitable light or skeleton casing is arranged around the lower mechanism
in order to protect the same.
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:-
1. My improved mechanism for assisting in the propulsion of cycles consist-
ing in the various mechanical devices constructed combined and operating
substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
2. In mechanism for assisting in the propulsion of cycles a saddle (as A)
carried by a short tube (as a¹) resting upon ball bearings (as a²) within a larger
tube (as B) and having a cross bar (as b) passing through slots in said tube B,
and a screwed cap (as 6¹) substantially as herein described and explained and
as illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings.
3. In mechanism for assisting in the propulsion of cycles a tube (as B) fitting
loosely within the downwardly projecting tube (as C) of the frame of the machine
and having slots (as 64) in which work rollers (as b³) removably fixed in said
tube C and either with or without guide wheels (as 65) substantially as herem
described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
4. In mechanism for assisting in the propulsion of cycles, a tube (as B)
actuated by the weight of the rider and fitted near its lower end with a pallet
or rack (as B2) engaging with studs (as D¹) or cogs on a wheel (as D) gearing
directly or indirectly with the crank shaft or hub of the drive wheel substantially
as herein described and explained and as illustrated in the drawings.
5. In mechanism for assisting in the propulsion of cycles, a saddle (as A)
pivotted at its forward end (as at A¹) and having its rear end connected to a
pair of levers (as A³) fulcrummed on the saddle support and having their front
ends connected to a tube (as B) extending into a downwardly projecting tube
of the frame of the machine substantially as herein described and explained
and as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14 of the drawings.
6. In mechanism for assisting in the propulsion of cycles, a tube (as B)
actuated by the weight of the rider and extending into a downwardly projecting
tube (as C) of the frame of the machine and fitted at its lower end with a piston
(as F) working within a short cylindrical chamber (as F¹) having an inlet

page_text: valve (as) and outlet valve (as F³) and pipe (as F4) communicating with an
air reservoir, substantially as herein described and explained and as illustrated
in Figure 10 of the accompanying drawings.
7. In mechanism for assisting in the propulsion of cycles a tube or tubes
(as B) actuated by the weight of the rider and extending into the downwardly
projecting tubes (as CC) of the frame of the machine and connected to a lever
or levers (as B) having a rack (as B2) engaging with gearing leading to the
crank shaft or hub of the drive wheel substantially as herein described and
explained and as illustrated in Figures 15, 16 and 17 of the accompanying
drawings.
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