US588684A

US588684A - macmahon

Info

Publication number: US588684A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-08-24
Anticipated expiration: 1914-08-24

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1.

'F.E.1VIAOMAHON 8: A. J. POSTANS;

- DRIVING GEAR FOR VELOGIPEDBS.

No. 588,684,. Patented Aug. 24, 1897. I (J 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

FE. MAOMAHON & A. J. POSTANS.

DRIVING GEAR FOR VELOGIPEDBS.

Patented Aug. 24,1897.

(N0 Model/x WITNESSES. INVENTORS.

m: norms mans cu. vnmoumo. wAsumuroN. u. c

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANCIS EDWVARD MACMAHON AND ARTHUR JAMES POSTANS, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

DRIVING-GEAR FOR VELOCIPEDES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent 0. 588,684, dated August 24, 1897.

Application filed November 16,1896. Serial No. 612,352. (Ne model.) Patented in England February 29,1896,No.4,576, and in France December 18,1896,No.262,293.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FRANCIS -EDWA RD MAOMAHON and ARTHUR JAMES POS'IANS, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain; residing at London, in. the county of Middlesex, England, have invented a new and Improved Driving-Gear for Velocipedes, of which the following is a full and complete specification;

Letters Patent for this invention have been obtained in England, No. 4,576, dated February 29, 1896, and in France, No. 262,293, dated December 18, 1896.

This invention relates to an improved drivin g-gear for imparting motion from the pedalcrank axles of velocipedes to the driving wheel or wheels thereof; and it has for its object dispensing with the ordinary chain driving-gear, which has many objections in actual use. 7 In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a broken View, in side elevation, showing the improved driving-gear applied to the drivingwheel of a bicycle; and Fig. 2 is a broken view, in sectional plan, on line .2 ,2, Fig. 1. Similar parts are denoted by like letters of reference in both views.

In a convenient position in close proximity to the pedal-crank axle A-prefer'ably above it, as shown in the accompanying drawings is a short axle B, mounted in suitableballbearings 00, carried by the frame X of the ma chine. Motion is imparted to this secondary or intermediate axle B by means of a spur-wheel C and pinion O, the relative sizes 5' of which are determined as'it is desired to The hubgear the driving-wheel up or down. E of the driving-wheel is fixed on an axle E, adapted to run in suitable bearings .90, carried by the lower members of the frame X of the 40 machine. Motion is imparted from the secondary or intermediate axle B to the axle E of the driving-wheel by means of an axle F, extending between the ends of the axles B and E on one side of the machine and con- 5 nected thereto by short flexible shafts H.

The axle F is m'ounted'in suitable ball-bearings 00 carried by the-frame X of the machine and is preferably arranged to run in and be incloscd by a tube, such as G. The flexible shafts H are preferably inclosed in suitable cases Y, formed on or attached to the frame X of the machine to protect them from dirt and dust. The flexible shafts preferably take the form of coil-springs, as shown, but any other type of flexible shaft may be used, and they are connected to the ends of the respective axles in any convenient manner, such as that shown by Fig. 2 of the drawings.

The advantages we gain by this system of driving are, first, enabling the driving-wheel and pedal-crank axle to be mounted in the frame at fixed points with respect to each other, as there is no necessity to provide for the adjustment of these parts with respect to one another; secondly, dispensing with the necessity for a dress or chain guard; thirdly, absence of noise or rattle; fourthly, obtaining a slight amount of elasticity between the pedal-crank axle and the driving-wheel, such as is sought to be obtained by spring chainwheels, elastic driving-wheels, and the like.

We wish it to be understood that the secondary axle B may be mounted in other positions with respect to the pedal-crank axle and that the shaft F may be arranged on whichever side of the machine is found most convenient.

We are aware that it is not new to utilize flexible shaft-s for transmitting motion from one shaft toanother located at right angles to each other, and we do not, therefore, claim such broadly; but

What we do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The combination, with a bicycle-frame X, two cases Y secured to the said frame and provided with bearings 00 and at on one side and bearings 00 on the other side of the said frame, and a tube Gr arranged concentric with the bearings 00 and secured to the said cas ings; of a shaft F passing through the tube G and j ournaled in the bearings :0 a shaft B operatively connected with the crank-axle and journaled in the bearing w, a shaft E 5 journaled in the bearing 00, a bicycle-wheel secured on the shaft E, and flexible shafts connecting the respective ends of the shaft F with the shafts B and E, substantially as set forth.

FRANCIS EDWARD MAOMAHON.

- ARTHUR JAMES POSTANS.

Witnesses ROBERT PHILLIPS, ALFRED K. ORoAD.