Improvements in the Parts of Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 29th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 4th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Parts of Velocipedes.
FREDERICK WESTWOOD 1, Lombard Street Birmingham Agent, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
The part to which I specially refer is the crank of the velocipede and my inven
tion is an improved method of attaching it to the wheel pinion or spindle of the
bracket. The boss of the crank which holds the spindle is cut through and made
into a clip or tension band through which passes a screw pin for the purpose of
tightening up. In the aperture which is formed by cutting through this boss a loose
key is held in position by the screw pin referred to, and this key protrudes into and
takes up a certain space in the round central hole through the boss of the crank
into which the spindle or pinion is inserted. When the spindle is shaped to allow
for this key and is put into the said hole the key prevents the crank from turning
on its axis. By this method when the tension band is tightened up the loose key
is forced down upon the spindle and being held by the said screw pin it cannot slip
from its work and secures the whole much more firmly than any ordinary method,
and is more easily adjustable.
I am aware that tension band clips have been used before for this purpose and
also that keys have been used but not together held in position and adjusted as
herein described.
Dated this 30th day of June 1891.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Parts of Velocipedes.
1 FREDERICK WESTWOOD of 1 Lombard Street Birmingham, Agent, 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:—
My invention relates to an improved detachable crank for use on velocipedes,
and it consists of a crank having a split boss adapted to be drawn together by a.
transverse screw or bolt, and of a key carried by the said boss and protruding into
the eye thereof so that it engages with a key-way or groove cut or formed in the
axle to which the crank is to be fixed, the object being to obtain a simple and
efficient detachable crank easy of manufacture, and not liable to get out of order
from constant use.
I attain this end in the manner illustrated by the accompanying drawing 11.
which
Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation of one form of my improved detach-
able crank, and Figure 2 is a broken viw in sectional elevation thereof.
Figure 3 is a broken view in transverse section of another form my invention may
assume, and Figure 4 is a broken view in sectional elevation thereof.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The crank A which is of the usual construction has its boss A' split, and two
lugs or ears a, a, formed on each side of the said split, the slot formed by and

page_text: between the two lugs or ears a, a, being marked in the accompanying drawing a'.
Through these lugs or ears a screw or bolt B passes the said bolt passing freely
through one of the said lugs or ears and screwing into the other so as to draw
the two together and so contract the eye of the boss of the crank and thus
cause it to grip the axle X. To lock the bolt a lock nut b is screwed on to its
free end.
In the slot a' formed by and between the two lugs or ears a, a, is placed a flat
key C protruding into the eye of the boss A' of the crank and of such a size that
the bolt B passes through it. In the axle X is cut a key-way c adapted to receive
the key C.
To fix the crank on the axle the key C is removed from the slot a', to allow the
crank to be passed on to the axle. The key C is then passed down into the slot a¹
until it fits in the key-way in the axle. The bolt B is then screwed into the lugs
or ears a, a, passing through a hole in the key C, and tightened up, which clamps
the boss of the crank into the axle and at the same time forces the key C down
into the key-way x.
As a modification the key C may be fitted into the opposite side of the eye of
the crank, in which case the slot a is cut right through the eye of the crank into
the opposite side thereof to the lugs or ears a, a, as shown by Figure 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawing. In fixing this crank, the key C is placed in the key-way a
in the axle X, and the crank A is pushed ou to the axle, the slot a' in the base of
the eye of the crank receiving the flat side of the key. I prefer to make the key C
semicircular in form where it engages with the axle, the key-way therein being
made of similar form to receive it.
I am aware that detachable cranks have already been made with split bosses
adapted to be drawn together by transverse bolts or screws so as to grip the axle,
but in all such cranks the eye of the boss thereof has been of a shape other than
round, the end of the axle being shaped accordingly for the purpose of transmitting
the driving power, but these constructions require a lot of machine work and are
therefore costly to produce, whereas in my improved crank both the eye of the boss
of the crank and also the axle are round in form.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as
fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
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 and desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
1. A detachable crank for velocipedes having a split boss with lugs or ears
adapted to be drawn together by a transverse bolt or screw, and a flat key fitting
in the slot formed by and between the lugs or ears on the split boss of the crank
and protruding into the eye of the said boss so as to engage with a key-way in the
axle, as set forth.
2. A detachable crank for velocipedes, having a split boss with lugs or ears, a
transverse bolt or screw passing through the said lugs or ears and adapted to draw
them together, a longitudinal slot in the base of the eye of the boss, and a key of
semi-circular form fitting in the said slot and adapted to engage with a key-way in
the axle, as set forth.
3. In a detachable crank for velocipedes, the combination with the boss thereof,
of the two lugs or ears a, a, of the slot a', of the bolt or screw B, of the key C, all
combined arranged and operating as and for the purpose set forth.
4. In a detachable crank for velocipedes, the combination with the crank A
having a split boss A', of the lugs or ears a, a, of the transverse bolt or screw B,
of the longitudinal slot a', of the axle X having a longitudinal key-way a, and

page_text: of the key C, all combined arranged and operating as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated this 28th day of April 1892.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.