Automatic bicycle transmission

Claim 2

A chain carrying sprocket of automatically varying diameter comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of relatively short identical arms pivotally mounted on said supporting plate, the pivot mountings of said arms defining a circle on said supporting plate, a small sprocket carried on each of said arms, a one-way clutch interposed between each of said small sprockets and said identical arms to permit rotation of said small sprockets in only one direction, a link member pivotally mounted at a position spaced from said small sprocket on each of said arms, means joining said link members, and spring means joining said supporting plate to said means joining said link members and arranged and constructed so that resistance to turning said supporting plate causes said small sprockets to uniformly swing radially inwardly on their identical arms.

Claim 3

A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the identical arms are pivotally mounted on said supporting plate intermediate their ends, each of said small sprockets is carried on one end of each of said arms, each link member is pivotally mounted on the other end of each of said arms, and the other ends of said link members are pivotally joined to the means joining said link members.

Claim 4

A device as set forth in claim 1 in which the spring means joining said supporting plate to said means joining said link members is adjustable.

Claim 5

A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said means joining said link members comprises a second plate journally mounted relative to said supporting plate and disposed generally parallel thereto, and the joining of said link members constituting pivotal mountings and arranged in a circular path around the second plate.

Claim 6

A chain carrying sprocket of automatically varying diameter comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of relatively short identical arms pivotally mounted on said supporting plate intermediate their ends, the pivot mountings of said arms defining a circle on said supporting plate, a small sprocket carried on one end of each of said arms, means permitting rotation of said sprockets in one direction only, a link member pivotally mounted on the other end of each of said arms, a second plate journally mounted relative to said supporting plate the other ends of said link members pivotally mounted on said second plate, spring means disposed intermediate said supporting plate and said second plate and arranged to resist relative rotation of said plates, whereby the degree of external resistance to the turning of said supporting plate causes said small sprockets to define a greater or lesser diameter chain carrying sprocket.

Claim 7

A chain carrying sprocket of automatically varying diameter comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of relatively short identical arms pivotally mounted on said supporting plate intermediate their ends, the pivot mountings of said arms defining a circle on said supporting plate, a small sprocket carried on one end of each of said arms, means permitting rotation of said sprockets in one direction only, a link member pivotally mounted on the other end of each of said arms, a second plate journally mounted relative to said supporting plate the other ends of said link members pivotally mounted on said second plate, spring means disposed intermediate said supporting plate and said second plate and arranged to resist relative rotation of said plates, whereby the degree of external resistance to the turning of said supporting plate causes said small sprockets to define a greater or lesser diameter chain carrying sprocket.

Claim 8

A chain carrying sprocket of automatically varying diameter comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of relatively short identical arms pivotally mounted on said supporting plate, the pivot mountings of said arms defining a circle on said supporting plate, tooth means carried on each of said arms at a position spaced from said pivot mounting, a link member pivotally mounted on each of said arms at a position spaced from said tooth means and said pivot mounting, means joining said link members, and spring means joining said supporting plate to said means joining said link members and arranged and constructed so that resistance to turning said supporting plate causes said tooth means to uniformly swing radially inwardly on their identical arms.

Claim 9

A chain carrying sprocket of automatically varying diameter comprising a supporting plate, a plurality of relatively short identical arms pivotally mounted on said supporting plate, the pivot mountings of said arms defining a circle on said supporting plate, tooth means carried on each of said arms at a position spaced from said pivot mounting, a link member pivotally mounted on each of said arms at a position spaced from said tooth means and said pivot mounting, means joining said link members, and spring means joining said supporting plate to said means joining said link members and arranged and constructed so that resistance to turning said supporting plate causes said tooth means to uniformly swing radially inwardly on their identical arms.

Claim 10

A sprocket-like unit for chain driven mechanisms comprising a sprocket, said sprocket unit including a plate, means journally mounting said plate for rotation, pedal means arranged and constructed to rotate said sprocket unit, a plurality of individual identical arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on said plate in a circular ring about said plate, a small sprocket journally mounted on the same end of each of said identical arms, means permitting said sprockets to rotate in only one direction, a plurality of link members, each one of said link members having its one end pivotally joining each one of said identical arms at its end opposite the end carrying the small sprocket, a second plate member journally mounted over the means journally mounting said first plate, means pivotally mounting the other ends of said link members in a uniform circular path on said second plate, and spring means interposed between the first and second plates in a manner to uniformly urge the radial outward swinging of said identical arms about their pivots with the small sprockets at their outer ends, and said sprocket unit defining a single large sprocket consisting of the plurality of small sprockets and having an infinitely variable diameter depending on the resistance to pedalling.

Claim 11

A sprocket-like unit for chain driven mechanisms comprising a sprocket, said sprocket unit including a plate, means journally mounting said plate for rotation, pedal means arranged and constructed to rotate said sprocket unit, a plurality of individual identical arms pivotally mounted intermediate their ends on said plate in a circular ring about said plate, a small sprocket journally mounted on the same end of each of said identical arms, means permitting said sprockets to rotate in only one direction, a plurality of link members, each one of said link members having its one end pivotally joining each one of said identical arms at its end opposite the end carrying the small sprocket, a second plate member journally mounted over the means journally mounting said first plate, means pivotally mounting the other ends of said link members in a uniform circular path on said second plate, and spring means interposed between the first and second plates in a manner to uniformly urge the radial outward swinging of said identical arms about their pivots with the small sprockets at their outer ends, and said sprocket unit defining a single large sprocket consisting of the plurality of small sprockets and having an infinitely variable diameter depending on the resistance to pedalling.

Claim 12

An Automatic transmission for bicycles comprising a supporting frame, front and rear wheels journally mounted on said supporting frame, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said frame at a position between the front and rear wheels, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc having a central hub portion affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said hub and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc having an enlarged hub portion journally mounted over the central hub of said first disc, spring means joining said first disc to said second disc in such a manner as to provide for limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions in a circular path around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm, the pivotal mounting of said arms on said first disc being intermediate the ends of said arms, means interposed between said small sprockets and said arms to permit rotation of said small sprockets on said arms in one direction only, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the other end of each of said identical arms, a sprocket affixed to said rear wheel, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent the rear wheel, an idler sprocket journally mounted on the free end of said arm, spring means normally urging the free end of said arm rearwardly, said idler sprocket disposed in the same plane as the sprocket on the rear wheel and the plurality of small sprockets, a chain draped around the plurality of said small sprockets, said sprocket on the rear wheel of said bicycle, and said idler sprocket, said idler sprocket acting to keep said chain taut at all times, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the plurality of pivoting arms are swung outwardly and the plurality of small sprockets in combination define a relatively large sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the plurality of pivoting arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing diameter sprocket to thus provide a bicycle which automatically and infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket dependent on the resistance to pedalling.

Claim 13

An Automatic transmission for bicycles comprising a supporting frame, front and rear wheels journally mounted on said supporting frame, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said frame at a position between the front and rear wheels, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc having a central hub portion affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said hub and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc having an enlarged hub portion journally mounted over the central hub of said first disc, spring means joining said first disc to said second disc in such a manner as to provide for limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions in a circular path around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm, the pivotal mounting of said arms on said first disc being intermediate the ends of said arms, means interposed between said small sprockets and said arms to permit rotation of said small sprockets on said arms in one direction only, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the other end of each of said identical arms, a sprocket affixed to said rear wheel, an arm pivotally mounted on said frame adjacent the rear wheel, an idler sprocket journally mounted on the free end of said arm, spring means normally urging the free end of said arm rearwardly, said idler sprocket disposed in the same plane as the sprocket on the rear wheel and the plurality of small sprockets, a chain draped around the plurality of said small sprockets, said sprocket on the rear wheel of said bicycle, and said idler sprocket, said idler sprocket acting to keep said chain taut at all times, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the plurality of pivoting arms are swung outwardly and the plurality of small sprockets in combination define a relatively large sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the plurality of pivoting arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing diameter sprocket to thus provide a bicycle which automatically and infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket dependent on the resistance to pedalling.

Claim 14

An Automatic transmission for bicycles comprising a supporting frame, front and rear wheels journally mounted on said supporting frame, a tubular hub formed on substantially the fore and aft center of the frame between said front and rear wheels, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said tubular hub, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc having a central hub portion affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said hub and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc having an enlarged hub portion journally mounted over the central hub of said first disc and defining a uniform annular space between said first and second discs, spring means joining said central hub portion of said first disc to said second disc to provide for limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm on the side of said first disc adjacent the tubular hub of the frame, said mounting including means to permit rotation of said sprocket in one direction only, each of said arms having an offset therein, said first disc having a plurality of arcuate slots therein, the offset portion of each arm passing through one of said arcuate slots to provide for the arcuate swinging of said arms, said arms having inward extensions within said annular space between said first and second discs, the pivotal mounting of said arms on said first disc being intermediate the ends of said extensions, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inside of said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inner end of each of said arms, a sprocket affixed to said rear wheel, a chain draped around the plurality of said small sprockets and said sprocket on the rear wheel of said bicycle, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the plurality of pivoting arms are swung outwardly and the plurality of small sprockets in combination define a relatively large sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the plurality of pivoting arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing diameter sprocket to thus provide a bicycle which automatically and infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket dependent on the resistance to pedalling, and means to keep said chain taut regardless of the diameter of the driving sprocket.

Claim 15

An Automatic transmission for bicycles comprising a supporting frame, front and rear wheels journally mounted on said supporting frame, a tubular hub formed on substantially the fore and aft center of the frame between said front and rear wheels, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said tubular hub, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc having a central hub portion affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said hub and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc having an enlarged hub portion journally mounted over the central hub of said first disc and defining a uniform annular space between said first and second discs, spring means joining said central hub portion of said first disc to said second disc to provide for limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm on the side of said first disc adjacent the tubular hub of the frame, said mounting including means to permit rotation of said sprocket in one direction only, each of said arms having an offset therein, said first disc having a plurality of arcuate slots therein, the offset portion of each arm passing through one of said arcuate slots to provide for the arcuate swinging of said arms, said arms having inward extensions within said annular space between said first and second discs, the pivotal mounting of said arms on said first disc being intermediate the ends of said extensions, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inside of said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inner end of each of said arms, a sprocket affixed to said rear wheel, a chain draped around the plurality of said small sprockets and said sprocket on the rear wheel of said bicycle, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the plurality of pivoting arms are swung outwardly and the plurality of small sprockets in combination define a relatively large sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the plurality of pivoting arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing diameter sprocket to thus provide a bicycle which automatically and infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket dependent on the resistance to pedalling, and means to keep said chain taut regardless of the diameter of the driving sprocket.

Claim 16

A device as set forth in claim 9 in which said identical arms are bell-crank shaped to condense the multi-diametered driving sprocket into a relatively small space.

Claim 17

A device as set forth in claim 9 in which said spring means includes means for adjusting the tension thereof whereby the tension may be adjusted to accommodate any size rider of said bicycle.

Claim 18

An automatic transmission for a foot pedal operated vehicle comprising a supporting frame, ground engaging wheels journally mounted on said frame, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said frame at a fore and aft position between said ground engaging wheels, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said frame and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc journally mounted on said first disc, spring means interposed between said first disc and said second disc to permit limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions in a circular path around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm with a one way clutch therebetween to permit rotation of said small sprockets in only one direction, the pivotal mountings of said arms located intermediate the ends of said identical arms, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the end of each of said arms opposite the sprocket carrying end, a sprocket associated with one of said ground engaging wheels of the vehicle and located in the same plane as the plurality of small sprockets, and said sprocket associated with said ground engaging wheel, whereby drive is imparted from said pedal driven small sprockets to said sprocket associated with the ground engaging wheel, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the small sprockets mounted on the pivoting arms in combination define a relatively large diameter driving sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means between the first and second discs to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing diameter driving sprocket to thus provide a vehicle which automatically infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket consisting of the plurality of small sprockets, dependent on the resistance to pedalling, and means associated with said chain to keep said chain taut regardless of the size of the driving sprocket.

Claim 19

An automatic transmission for a foot pedal operated vehicle comprising a supporting frame, ground engaging wheels journally mounted on said frame, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said frame at a fore and aft position between said ground engaging wheels, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said frame and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc journally mounted on said first disc, spring means interposed between said first disc and said second disc to permit limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions in a circular path around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm with a one way clutch therebetween to permit rotation of said small sprockets in only one direction, the pivotal mountings of said arms located intermediate the ends of said identical arms, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the end of each of said arms opposite the sprocket carrying end, a sprocket associated with one of said ground engaging wheels of the vehicle and located in the same plane as the plurality of small sprockets, and said sprocket associated with said ground engaging wheel, whereby drive is imparted from said pedal driven small sprockets to said sprocket associated with the ground engaging wheel, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the small sprockets mounted on the pivoting arms in combination define a relatively large diameter driving sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means between the first and second discs to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing diameter driving sprocket to thus provide a vehicle which automatically infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket consisting of the plurality of small sprockets, dependent on the resistance to pedalling, and means associated with said chain to keep said chain taut regardless of the size of the driving sprocket.

Claim 20

An automatic transmission for a foot pedal operated vehicle comprising a supporting frame, ground engaging wheels journally mounted on said frame, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said frame, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc having a central hub portion affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said frame and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc having an enlarged hub portion journally mounted over the central hub of said first disc and defining a uniform annular space between said first and second discs, spring means joining said first disc to said second disc to permit limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions in a circular path around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm on the side of said first disc adjacent the frame, means interposed between said small sprocket and said arm to permit rotation of said small sprocket on said arm in one direction only, said first disc having a plurality of arcuate slots therein, each of said arms having an offset therein for passing through one of said arcuate slots, said arms having extensions within said annular space between said first and second discs, the pivotal mountings of said arms located intermediate the ends of said extensions, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inside of said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inner end of each extension of each of said identical arms, a sprocket associated with one of said ground engaging wheels of the vehicle and located in the same plane as the plurality of several sprockets, an idler sprocket located in the same plane as the sprocket associated with said ground engaging wheel, means for spring biasing said idler sprocket on said frame near the sprocket associated with the ground engaging wheel, a chain draped around the plurality of said small sprockets, said sprocket associated with one of said ground engaging wheels, and said idler sprocket, and said chain arranged and constructed to impart drive from said pedal driven disc to said sprocket associated with said ground engaging wheel, and said spring biased idler sprocket maintaining the chain taut, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the small sprockets mounted on the pivoting arms in combination define a relatively large sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means between the first and second discs to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing sprocket to thus provide a vehicle which automatically infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket consisting of the plurality of small sprockets, dependent on the resistance to pedalling.

Claim 21

An automatic transmission for a foot pedal operated vehicle comprising a supporting frame, ground engaging wheels journally mounted on said frame, a shaft journally mounted transversely in said frame, foot driven pedals mounted on opposite ends of said shaft, a first disc having a central hub portion affixed to said shaft, said first disc located adjacent said frame and inwardly of said pedal on that end of said shaft, a second disc having an enlarged hub portion journally mounted over the central hub of said first disc and defining a uniform annular space between said first and second discs, spring means joining said first disc to said second disc to permit limited yieldable relative rotation between said first and second discs, a plurality of identical arms pivotally mounted on said first disc at uniformly spaced apart positions in a circular path around said first disc, a relatively small sprocket mounted on one end of each arm on the side of said first disc adjacent the frame, means interposed between said small sprocket and said arm to permit rotation of said small sprocket on said arm in one direction only, said first disc having a plurality of arcuate slots therein, each of said arms having an offset therein for passing through one of said arcuate slots, said arms having extensions within said annular space between said first and second discs, the pivotal mountings of said arms located intermediate the ends of said extensions, a plurality of links, one end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inside of said second disc, the other end of each of said links pivotally mounted on the inner end of each extension of each of said identical arms, a sprocket associated with one of said ground engaging wheels of the vehicle and located in the same plane as the plurality of several sprockets, an idler sprocket located in the same plane as the sprocket associated with said ground engaging wheel, means for spring biasing said idler sprocket on said frame near the sprocket associated with the ground engaging wheel, a chain draped around the plurality of said small sprockets, said sprocket associated with one of said ground engaging wheels, and said idler sprocket, and said chain arranged and constructed to impart drive from said pedal driven disc to said sprocket associated with said ground engaging wheel, and said spring biased idler sprocket maintaining the chain taut, whereby when resistance to pedalling is reduced the small sprockets mounted on the pivoting arms in combination define a relatively large sprocket whereas when the resistance to pedalling increases the arms tend to swing radially inwardly against the action of the spring means between the first and second discs to thereby have their small sprockets define in combination a gradually decreasing sprocket to thus provide a vehicle which automatically infinitely varies the diameter of the driving sprocket consisting of the plurality of small sprockets, dependent on the resistance to pedalling.

Claim 22

A device as set forth in claim 13 in which said identical arms are bell-crank shaped to condense the multi-diametered driving sprocket into a relatively small space.

Claim 23

A device as set forth in claim 13 in which said spring means includes means for adjusting the tension thereof whereby the tension may be adjusted to accommodate any size of rider of said vehicle.