Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
I, JOHN WARRICK of 34, St. Mary's Butts Reading, Cycle Manufacturer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in connection with the cranks and
pedals used in cycles, especially in carrier cycles and has for its object to provide
an arrangement which will render the driving easier and safer.
The cranks commonly employed in such cycles are made from a single piece of
wrought steel bent into crank form. This arrangement prevents the pedals being
fitted with ball bearings, so that the pedals do not turn freely.
I propose to make the cranks in several parts instead of from one length of
metal. The inner arm of each crank is connected to a central pin by means of a
screw and key pin such as is commonly employed in connecting the ordinary
cranks of bicycles to the shaft or any other suitable form of connection may be
employed. This arrangement allows a bearing to be applied to the central pin
giving an additional support, the bearing being formed by an extension on the
frame provided with a ball race, the pin being preferably grooved to receive the
balls. The crank is thus rendered much stronger than in the ordinary arrange-
ment. The inner side or arm of the crank is fitted to the pin carrying the
pedals by means of a screwed end on the pin screwing into a tapped hole in the end
of the arm and by an adjusting nut carrying a cone to receive the balls, the
pedals being fitted with ball races or cups in the ordinary manner. Instead of
this form of connection any other simple means may be used.
The second part of my invention relates to a means by which when desired the
rider is enabled to back pedal, thus enabling a much better control over the
machine to be obtained. The device consists of an arrangement by which the hub
of the wheel is connected to the crank shaft so that both are moved together.
For this purpose a clutch is employed consisting preferably of a number of teeth
formed on the hub or an extension fixed to the hub engaging with similar teeth
on a sliding cylinder carried by the crank shaft. This cylinder or clutch is keyed
to the shaft so as to turn with it, but also to be free to move in a longitudinal
direction allowing it to be engaged with or disengaged from the hub. The clutch
is operated according to a convenient arrangement by means of a wedge preferably
of fork or loop form encircling the shaft and placed between the cylinder and a
fixed collar on the shaft. This wedge is actuated by the rider when he desires to
connect the shaft to the hub through a handle and screw or lever or other suitable
device pressing the cylinder forward into engaging position. Instead of a wedge
however any other simple mechanical device may be used, such as a lever, to
hold the clutch in position.
Dated this fith day of November 1906
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Driving Mechanism for Cycles.
I, JOHN WARRICK of 34, St. Mary's Butts Reading, 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:
This invention relates to improvements in connection with cycle cranks and
pedals, especially applicable to carrier cycles, whereby the driving is rendered
easier and safer. The cranks and axles commonly employed with such cycles
are made from a single piece of wrought steel bent into crank form which arrange-
ment prevents the pedals being fitted with ball bearings, so that they do not turn
freely.
According to my invention I make the cranks and axle in several parts instead
of from one length of metal. The inner arm of each crank is connected to a central
pin or axis by means of a screw and key pin or cotter as commonly employed in
connecting the ordinary cranks of bicycles to the shaft, or other suitable con-
nection may be employed. This arrangement allows a bearing to be applied to
the central pin or axis giving an additional support thus preventing springing of
the axle and undue strain upon the bearings, the said bearing being formed by an
extension on the frame provided with bail-bearings. The crank shaft is thus
rendered much stronger and stiffer than in the ordinary arrangement. The inner
side or arm of the cranks is fitted to the pin carrying the pedals by means of a
cotter-pin and nut in the ordinary manner, the end of the pin being threaded to
receive the ball-bearing cone and locking-nut, the pedals being also fitted with
ball races or cups in the ordinary manner.
The second part of my invention relates to a means by which, when desired,
the rider is enabled to back-pedal thus enabling a much better control over the
machine to be obtained. The device consists of an arrangement by which the
hub of one of the wheels is connected to the crank shaft so that both are moved
together.
For this purpose a clutch is employed consisting of teeth or projections on the
hub or brake drum which are caused to engage with a tooth or projection on a
sliding cylinder or sleeve carried by the crank shaft, and which is caused to turn
with the shaft by means of a pin engaging with a slot in the said sleeve. The
clutch is operated by means of a wedge shaped arm one end of which is forked so
as to lie between the said cylinder or sleeve and a fixed collar on the shaft upon
each side of the latter.
This arm is actuated by the rider, when he desires to connect the shaft with
the wheel hub for producing a reverse or backward motion of the wheels by means
of a handle and rod fitted with a toothed pinion engaging with a rack formed on
the said arm so as to, produce a backward motion of the wedge shaped end thereof
and thus force the cylinder or sleeve into engagement with the hub.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 is a front elevation of
my improved driving crank and axle as applied to a carrier cycle, and Fig. 2 is a
side view of the central bearing. Figs..3, 4, 5 and 6 are details. Fig. 7 is a plan
of the clutch operating mechanism and Fig. 8 is a side view thereon.
a, a¹ are the inner arms of the two cranks each of which is connected to the
central pin or axis b by means of an ordinary cottar-pin and nut 6'. The pin or
axis b is carried in the bearing c supported by the bar d from the cross tube e
Fig. 2 of the machine, the bar d being formed with a boss through which is
passed and held the saddle support or rod f. The bearing c is fitted with an
ordinary ball race. The other end of each of the arms a and a¹ is fixed to the
crank pin g by an ordinary cottar-pin and nut g¹ the said pin g. being threaded
°

page_text: to receive the ball cone.
and locking nut g₁ and the sleeve or tube / carrying
the pedal being fitted or formed with ball races in the ordinary manner.
The other or outer arms a³ of the cranks are carried by the bearings i of the side
frames in the usual way.
The brake drum k fixed to the hub wc of the wheel is formed or provided inside
with the teeth or projections ¹, as shown in Fig. 4, which engage with a cam or
projection formed on the sliding cylinder or sleeve mounted loosely on the
end a³ of the crank shaft. Figs. 5 and 6 are a side and end view of the sleeve /
and end 3 of the shaft to a larger scale. The said sliding sleeve is caused to
revolve with the shaft whilst at the same time sliding thereon by means of the
pin a fixed to the shaft and engaging with the slot in the sleeve and the com-
bination of the latter with the said drum and projections consititutes the
clutch which is operated by means of the arm m wedge shaped at its end m¹ as
shown in Fig. 7. The other end of this arm is formed as a rack m³ which slides
in a supporting guide n fixed to the side frame o of the machine a spring m³
bearing against the arm to keep it in position and the rack m in gear with a
pinion operated by a rod 21 fitted with a handle and supported by the guide n.
The arm is forked as shown in Fig. 8, so as to embrace the part 3 of the shaft,
the two forked ends bearing against the end of the sleeve for forcing it into gear
with the projections on the drum k.
When the driver wishes to back-pedal or reverse the motion of the machine he
turns the rod so as to draw back the arm m thus forcing by means of the
wedges m', the sleeve into gear with the drum & the projection engaging with
the projections ¹ to cause the drum, and with it the wheel of the machine to
revolve in the same direction as the crank-axle.
Upon turning the rod p¹ in the reverse direction and reversing the motion of
the cranks the projections force the sleeve into its former or disengaged position
as the wedges m are pushed into the position shown in the drawings. It is
evident my invention may be applied also to sociable cycles that is with two riders
sitting side by side and is especially applicable to this class of machine.
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. In double crank shafts for cycles forming the same in several parts supported
by a central bearing which latter and the crank pins are provided with ball-
bearings substantially as described and for the purposes specified.
2. In double cranks or treadles for cycles forming the inner arms separate and
attached at one end to a pin or axis supported by a central bearing, and at the
other end to the crank pin provided with an adjusting ball-bearing cone and
locking nut, and ball-bearings substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
3. In back-pedalling apparatus for cycles the combination with the crank axle
of the brake drum & provided with projections k¹, the sliding sleeve / formed with
the cam or projection, the pin 1, slot 3, wedges m', rack m³, spring m³, guide n,
pinion p and rod p, all arranged and operating substantially as described and
for the purposes specified.
4. The improvements in cranks and treadles for cycles substantially as described
and shown in the accompanying drawings.
1007
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.