Year: 1896

page_text: I, ROBERT GRISSON, of No. 3 Stadthausbrucke, Hamburg, in the Empire of
Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved oscillating pedal driving-gear for use
in velocipedes, its characteristic feature being that the pedal levers which are
loosely mounted either upon the axle of the chain wheel or in some cases upon a
separate shaft, do not completely revolve with the chain wheel but are auto-
matically coupled to, and uncoupled from the said chain wheel through the
medium of a wedge engaging device as they are alternately forced up and down
by the feet. The wedge engaging device acts as a brake, whenever a pedal lever
is forced down beyond its proper stroke.
Awedge device is provided on each pedal lever and consists of a disc, keyed on
the axle of the chain wheel, preferably between the legs of the forked pedal lever
and of a wedge or block, which, displaceable tangentially relatively to the
periphery of the disc, is arranged to work between the latter and an inclined seat
formed on or fixed to the pedal lever. The guide for the wedge or block pre-
ferably consists of a bracket, having a perforation through which a pin attached to
the wedge or block can slide. A spring is interposed between the pin bearing
and the block or wedge.
During the downward movement of the pedal levers the block or wedge of the
descending lever is jammed fast between the inclined surface of the latter and the
disc and thus the said disc and consequently with it the chain wheel are set in
rotary motion. The descending pedal lever raises the previously lowered lever
by means of a cord or band guided over and around grooved pulleys.
If a pedal lever is forced down beyond its ordinary stroke, the block or wedge
strikes against a stop fixed to the frame of the velocípede and a braking action is
effected upon the disc which, being keyed to the chain wheel shaft, thus impedes
the motion of the velocipede.
One of the two stops may serve as a support for one of the pedal levers when the
velocipede is being mounted. The machine may be mounted and started with the
chain and driving wheels in any position because the pedal levers can be brought
into their initial positions independently of the chain wheel.
Dated this 1st day of September 1896

page_text: Improvements in Driving Gear for Velocipedes.
1, ROBERT GRISSON, of No. 3 Stadthausbrücke, Hamburg, in the Empire of
Germany, Civil Engineer, 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 aud by the following statement:-
This invention relates to an improved oscillating pedal driving-gear for use
in velocipedes, its characteristic feature being that the pedal levers which are
loosely mounted either upon the axle of the chain wheel or in some cases upon a
separate shaft, do not completely revolve with the chain wheel but are auto-
matically coupled to, and uncoupled from the said chain wheel through the
medium of a wedge engaging device as they are alternately forced up and down
by the feet. The wedge engaging device acts as a brake, whenever a pedal lever
is forced down beyond its proper stroke.
In the accompanying drawing::
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 a plan of the improved driving
gear.
A wedge device is provided on each pedal lever a and consists of a disc b,
keyed on the axle of the chain wheel / preferably between the legs of the forked
Jedal lever a, and of a wedge or block c, which, displaceable tangentially relatively
to the periphery of the disc b, is arranged to work between the latter and an
inclined seat formed on or fixed to the pedul lever a. The guide for the wedge or
block preferably consists of a brucket e, having a perforation through which a
pin attached to the wedge or block c eun slide. A spring f is interposed between
the pin bearing bracket e and the block or wedge c.
r
During the alternating downward movement of the pedal levers a the block or
wedge c of the descending lever a is jammed fast between the inclined surface of
the latter and the disc b and thus the said disc and consequently with it the chain
wheel are set in rotary motion. The descending pedal lever raises the previously
lowered lever by means of a cord or band i guided over and around grooved
pulleys g and h.
If a pedal lever a is forced down beyond its ordinary stroke, the block or
wedge strikes against a stop k fixed to the frame of the velocipede and a braking
action is effected upon the dise which, being keyed to the chain wheel shaft,
thus impedes the motion of the velocipede.
k
One of the two stops & may serve as a support for one of the pedal levers a when
the velocipede is being mounted. The machine may be mounted and started with
the chain and driving wheels in any position because the pedal levers may be
brought into their initial positions independently of the chain wheel.
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
cluim is:-
1. An oscillating pedal driving gear for velocipedes thereby characterized that
ench pedal lever (a) at its alternating downward movement is coupled to a disc (b)
on the axle of the chain wheel by means of a wedge device (e c') carried by each
pedal lover, so that, whenever a pedal lover is forced down beyond its proper stroke
the wedge (c) resting against or being supported by a stop (k) provided at the frame
of the velocípede acts as a brake, substantially as described.
2. In an oscillating pedal driving gear the combination of an axle, of discs
rigidly fixed thereon, of pedal levers pivotally connected to the said axle and

page_text: of wedge devices carried by the pedal levers, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In an oscillating pedal driving gear the combination of an axle, of discs
rigidly fixed thereon, of pedal levers pivotally connected to the said axle, of
yieldingly supported wedges carried by the pedal levers and of suitable stops
provided at the frame of the velocipede substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 1st day of June 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.