GB190415967A - Improvements in Driving Gear for Bicycles and Machinery - Google Patents

Abstract

15,967. Lines, R. F. July 19. Driving-mechanism ; treadle-levers.-In a treadledriving gearing for bicycles &c., vertical racks b alternately drive free-wheels a mounted on an axle provided with an ordinary chain-wheel to transmit motion to the driving-wheel. The racks b, Fig. 4, are of angle-iron form having toothed edges, the outer edges engaging the free-wheels a, and the inner edges gearing with an intermediate wheel c, by means of which, as one rack descends, the other rack is raised. The rack and controlling-wheel c are mounted in a guide-bar i, Fig. 3, having projecting lugs l and slotted openings o through which antifriction rollers n, Fig. 5, carried by an axle m in the lug l, protrude. Pins d on the racks b engage in slots in levers e pivoted at one end to studs f on brackets g fixed to the rear forks of the cycle. At the other ends of the levers e are attached the pedals h. The racks b may be curved with one toothed edge only, being pivoted directly to the levers e, and held in gear with the free-wheels a by springs, a chain attached to the levers passing over a rocker in place of the toothed inner edges. In the modification shown in Fig. 7, the free-wheels are attached to the back hub, while the racks take the form of circular segments b' bolted to the bifurcated ends of the levers e<1>, which are pivoted as before to brackets g on the back forks. The descending lever raises the opposite lever by means of a chain or the like passing over the wheel c mounted on a stud fixed in the crank bracket ; as as alternative, the levers e may have lugs with slots in which engage pins on cranks connected to the bottom-bracket axle to provide interdependent action.