Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 12th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles.
I, ALFRED THOMAS ANDREWS, of 145 Tennant Street Birmingham, Cycle
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention for improvements in the driving mechanism of cycles, consists in
the means or mode of adjustment of the driving chain, and in the means or mode of
connecting and disconnecting the pedal cranks, being effected in a more simple and
efficient manner.
I will describe my invention thus -For the proper adjustment of the driving
chain, I construct the back stays of machine adjacent to the chain wheel, on
driving wheel, so as to receive a sleeve, which will slide over the said frame a
required distance. This sleeve is screwed exteriorly. Upon the upper back stays
is the split collar, and the screwed pin, passing through its jaws for adjustment,
this split collar I screw interiorly to correspond with the screw upon the sleeve,
and through which it is fed, the sleeve has the outer end closed by a plate or head
of a suitable shape, and projecting over admits of its being used to give movement
to the screw, and from this plate and through the tubular section a screw is fed
into the lower part of frame.
When this screw and the screw in the jaws of the split collar are loosened,
movement by means of the plate or head above described can be effected, and
the chain regulated or adjusted to its proper degree, the screws are then fed up,
and secured.
For the connecting of the pedal crank to its spindle in a more secure manner
I employ the split boss with open jaws, and screwed pin thereto for fixing.
But the hole for the spindle instead of being parallel taper and screw the
same, and the spindle I screw to correspond, which will admit of the crank being
fed thereon. To the right spindle and crank it would necessitate a left thread and
the left spindle and crank a right thread, so that when both cranks are in their
proper position for riding, and the split boss closed sufficient by the screw in the
jaws, and by an additional screw passing into the end of spindle and covering the
surface of the boss.
Pedal cranks thus affixed maintain a position corresponding to each other, do not
give in either mode of pedalling, and are readily removed for cleaning.
Dated 12th November 1892.
THOS. KENDRICK,
Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Cycles.
1 ALFRED THOMAS ANDREWS of 145 Tennant Street, Birmingham Cycle
Manufacturer 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 improvements in the driving mechanism of cycles consists in the means or
method of adjusting the driving chain and in the method of connecting and
disconnecting the pedal cranks.
In order that my invention may be better understood I have annexed the accom-
panying sheet of drawings which illustrates same.

page_text: At Fig. 1 I have shewn my improved means for adjusting the tension of the driving
chain of velocipedes. A is the chain wheel which is secured to the hub of the
driving wheel of a velocipede in the ordinary manner. Fastened to the axle a of
the said wheel by means of the nut is a spring clip B provided with a lug C, to
which said lug C the tubing D of the frame of the machine which carries or
supports the driving or back wheel is brazed. A spiral spring may be placed
between the jaws of the clip B if required for forcing the said jaws apart.
Screwed into the bowed part of the spring clip B is a hollow split screw E provided
with a suitable thumb piece c so as to enable the said screw E to be turned by the
hand of the operator. Passing through the hollow screw E and on which the said
screw E works is a suitable lug F provided at one end with a smaller lugd bent
to the required angle to which the horizontal portion of the frame G which helps
to support the driving wheel of the machine is brazed. A suitable shoulder H
being formed on the lug F for the tube G and screw E to butt against. Screwed
into the other end of the said lug F is a suitable screw I which firmly holds the
hollow split screw E in its place. It will be easily understood that when the nut b
is unscrewed and the screw E turned round by means of the thumb piece € the chain
wheel A. can be moved either backwards or forwards, by which means the driving
chain can be quickly and accurately adjusted to the required tension. When the
nut is tightened up again the spring clip B firmly binds the screw E by reason of
it being split thus absolutely preventing any part from becoming loose.
At Fig. 2 I have shewn my improved method for securing the pedal crank to the
bottom bracket spindle of a velocipede. J is the crank which is provided with
a split boss K and tightening screw e in the usual manner but the hole L through
which the bottom bracket spindle passes is formed taper or conical (see Fig. 3)
instead of parallel as heretofore. I also tap the said conical or taper hole, the ends
of the bottom bracket spindle being screwed to correspond. The right hand crank
and spindle end will be formed with a left hand thread and the left hand crank and
spindle end with a right hand thread, so that when both cranks are in a position for
riding and the split boss K tightened up by means of the screw e, and the lock-uut /
which goes onto the end of the bracket spindle screwed tightly up it will be found
impossible for the cranks J to move on the spindle in either mode of pedalling and
the said cranks J are easily and readily removed from the said spindle.
Instead of forming the large end of the conical or taper hole L in the inner side
of the split boss K it may be vice versa when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I would have it understood
that I do not confine myself to the exact details as herein shewn and described as
they may be varied without departing from the principle of my invention, but what
I wish to claim is :-
Firstly. The means or method substantially as herein shewn and described for
adjusting the tension of driving chains of velocipedes.
Secondly. In a pedal crank the combination of the split boss K and taper or
conical hole L substantially as herein shewn and described.
Dated this 11th day of September 1893.
ALFRED THOMAS ANDREWS.