Improvements in Propelling Devices for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1896-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propelling Devices for Bicycles.
I, EDMUND SERGEANT WHEELER, Book-keeper, resident of the City of Troy,
in the County of Rensellear, and State of New York, United States of America,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
Specification:-
This invention relates to driving mechanism for bicycles, and the object thereof
is to provide an improved gearing for this purpose, which is adapted to be operated
by hand, and which may be used in connection with the usual pedal shaft gearing,
or independently thereof; a further object being to provide a mechanism of this
class, which is simple in construction and operation and by means of which the
speed of the bicycle may be 'argely increased.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a side view of a portion of the frame of the bicycle, showing also my
improved gear mechanism
Fig. 2 is a plan view ther
Fig. 3, a tack view of the construction shown in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4, a view similar to Fig. 1, showing a modified form of construction, and
Fig. 5 represents a detail of the construction shown in Fig. 4.
In the drawing forming part of this Specification A, represents the forward
wheel of the bicycle, B, a part of the fork which extends backwards to the pedal
shaft, and C, the forward upright fork and in the practice of iny invention, I secure
to the upper part of the fork C, arms or supports D, which project forwardly and
upwardly and which carry a power shaft G.
Keyed to this power shaft G is a disk or wheel H and revolvably mounted on
opposite sides thereof are gear wheels K and L.
The gear wheels K and L are of ordinary construction, and provided with gear
teeth on the perimeter thereof and pivotally connected with the wheel H, on each
side thereof, and adapted to operate in connection with said gear wheels so as to
prevent the reverse movement thereof on the shaft G, is a paw! M and secured to
each side of the wheel H, adjacent to the pawls, and in front thereof, is a spring N
said springs being adapted to operate in connection with said pawls, as hereinafter
described, and as will be readily understood.
The upper end of the forward fork or upright C, is divided at the top, as shown
at C' and mounted on said upright is a ring or band C with which are connected
upwardly and outwardly directed arms C which are provided at their upper ends
with rings or bands C and mounted in these rings or bands C, and the side
extensions C of the forward upright, are handle bars O and O' each of which is
provided with the usual handle O': And it will be understood that the handle
bars O and O' are separate, each capable of being turned in its bearings. Mounted
on each of the handle bars O and adjacent to the inner bearings thereof is a
segmental gear R, the convex surfaces of which are directed outwardly and one of
which is arranged slightly above the other as shown in Fig. 1, and said segmental
gears are provided with gear teeth on their convex surfaces which are adapted to
operate in connection with the gear wheele K and L.
Mounted on the end of the shaft G, is a sprocket wheel S, and on the shaft of
the wheel A, of the bicycle is a corresponding sprocket wheel S' and these sprocket

page_text: wheels are adapted to be operated by an ordinary drive chain D; and if desired
the shaft G, may be extended on the opposite side and the sprocket wheel may be
mounted thereon which will operate in connection with a corresponding sprocket
wheel mounted on the opposite end of the shaft on, which the sprocket wheel S is
mounted.
The operation of this form of construction will be readily understood from the
foregoing description, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing.
It will be understood that the frame of the machine is provided with the usual seat,
not shown, and the said machine may also be provided with the usual pedal shaft
which may be geared in connection with the drive wheel or rear wheel of the
machine in the usual manner; and whether or not this construction be employed,
the segmental gears R, are operated by the handle bars O and O', said bars being
operated alternately in a manner similar to that of operating ordinary pedals, oue
of said bars being raised when the other is depressed, and this operation being
performed regularly by the hands as will be readily understood, and as the said
segmental gears are raised and lowered the one on the right at each upward motion
will turn the corresponding gear wheel L forward and with it the shaft G, and at
each downward motion, the wheel L, will be turned backward independent of the
shaft and the operation of the segmental gear on the left, in connection with the
gear wheel K, will be the same, and as one of these gear wheels is turned forward,
the other is turned backward, and thus a constant and forward revolution of the
shaft G, is produced, it being understood that the backward movement of the
wheels K and L, is provided for by the pawls, M, and this operation may be
continued as long as the machine is in use.
It will be understood, of course, that, as hereinbefore stated, one of the handle
bars O and O' is depressed when the other is raised, and the motion thereof, and
the operation of the segmental gears in connection with the gear wheels K, and L
is alternate, and, as hereinbefore stated, one of said gear wheels is always revolved
in the forward direction whereby a constant forward revolution of the shaft G is
produced.
The construction shown in Fig. 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 and with
the exception that the segmental gears R are provided with spring operated gear
teeth or sprockets U, as shown in Fig. 5, and during the downward inovement of
these segmental gears caused by the operation of the handle bars, these sprocket
teeth are driven backwardly into the rim of the segmental gears and slide over
the teeth on the gear wheels K and L, two of which are employed as hereinbefore
described, and during the upward movement of said segmental gears, the sprocket
teeth U, operate in connection with said gear wheels to revolve them in the forward
direction; and in this form of construction the gear wheels K and L, are rigidly
mounted on the shaft G, and the handle bars O, and O are also formed
separately.
Each of the sprocket or gear teeth U, is set into the rim of the segmental gears R,
and each is provided with a spring W, which operates to project the teeth and in
this construction the sides of said sprocket teeth are bevelled so as to assist in the
operation thereof, as herein before described.
I also employ slots U', which are formed in the sides of the rim of the segmental
gears, and through these slots project pins U2, which serve to guide the sprocket
teeth, and hold them in place.
The result of this form of construction will be the same as that shown in Figs. 1
and 2, the difference being in the fact that the gear wheels K and L are rigidly
secured to the shaft G, and in the downward movement of the segmental gears R,
said gear wheels are not revolved and the shaft G, is not turned by reason of the
construction of the sprocket or gear teeth U, as herein before described.
My invention is not limited to the exact torin, construction and operation of the
various parts thereof, as herein shown and described, and I therefore reserve the
right to make all such alterations therein and modifications thereof as fairly come
within the scope of my invention.

page_text: 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. The combination with the forward upright fork of a bicycle of a shaft
supported near the upper end thereof, gear wheels mounted on said shaft and
separate handle bars mounted at the upper end of said forward upright fork and
provided with segmental gears which are adapted to operate in connection with
said gear wheels to revolve the shaft, on which they are mounted in the forward
direction, substantially as shown and described.
2. The combination with the forward upright fork of u bicycle, of a shaft
supported near the upper end thereof, gear wheels mounted on said shaft, separate
handle bars mounted at the upper end of said forward upright fork and provided
with segmental gears which are adapted to operate in connection with said gear
wheels to revolve the shaft on which they are mounted in the forward direction,
said shaft being also provided with a sprocket wheel on which is adapted to be
mounted a drive chain which connects with a sprocket wheel mounted on the axle
of the forward wheel of the bicycle, substantially as shown and described.
3. The combination with a bicycle of a shaft supported by side arms which are
secured to the upper end of the forward upright fork and project forwardly and
upwardly, a wheel or disc secured to said shaft, two gear wheels mounted on said
shaft, one of which is located at each side of said wheel or disc, separate handle
bars revolvably mounted in the upper end of said fork, two segmental gears.
mounted thereon and adapted to operate in connection with said gear wheels which
are free to revolve on said shaft in the backward direction and provided with means
whereby they revolve the shaft when turned in the forward direction, and said
segmental gears being adapted to operate alternately in connection with said gear
wheels, said segmental gears being also operated by said handle bars and being
raised and lowered by the handles connected therewith, substantially as shown and
described.
4. The combination with a bicycle of a shaft supported by side arms which are
secured to the upper end of the forward upright fork and project forwardly and
upwardly, a wheel or disc secured to said shaft, two gear wheels mounted on said
shaft, one of which is located at each side of said wheel or disc, separate handle
bars revolvably mounted in the upper end of said fork, a segmental gear mounted
on each and adapted to operate in connection with said gear wheels, which are free
to revolve on said shaft in the backward direction, and provided with means
whereby they revolve the shaft when turned in the forward direction, and said
segmental gears being adapted to operate alternately in connection with said gear
wheels said segmental gears being also operated by said handle bars, and being
raised and lowered by the handles connected therewith, and said shaft being also
provided with a sprocket wheel and the axle of the said forward wheel of the
bicycle being provided with a corresponding sprocket wheel and a drive chain
mounted on said sprocket wheel, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 3rd day of January 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.