US331518A

US331518A - Velocipede

Info

Publication number: US331518A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1885-12-01
Anticipated expiration: 1902-12-01

Description

,M. (No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. A. W. MGGLURE.

VELOUIPEDE.

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 2.

A. W. MOCLURE.

YELOGIPEDE. No. 331,518. Patented Dec. 1. 1885.

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3 SheetsSheet 3.

(No Model.)

A. W. MQOLURE.

VELOOIPEDE.

Patented Dec. 1, 1885.

iffy-D747- n UNITED STATES PATENT Orrrcn.

ALEXANDER W. MOOLURE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

VELOCIPEDE.

. SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,518, dated December 1, 1885. Application filed January 7, 1885. Serial No. 152,209. (No model.)

T0 on whom it may concerns Be it known that I, ALEXANDER W. Mc- CLURE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification, to wit:

This invention relatesto an improvement in velocipedes; and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction and arrangement of the same, substantially as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In order to enable others skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, I will now proceed to describe its construction and operation,referring to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of what I consider the preferable form of my improved machine. Fig. 2 isa similar view of a modification of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the form shown in Fig. 1. Figs. 4. and 5 are 1 top and bottom views of the foot-pedal; Fig.

6, the pins for supporting them; Fig. 7, a crosssection of these pins, showing the connection of the pedal to its fulcrum. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the steering-head represented in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig. 9, a side elevation of a more preferable form producing the same result. Fig. 10 is a section of the clutch, and

Fig. 11 is a face view of the outer plate of the same.

A A represent the front and rear wheels of my velocipede, which are constructed with rubber tires, steelwire spokes, &c., in the usual manner, or in any other desired manner.

As seen in Fig. 1, the front fork, a, is'extended in rear of the front-wheel centers, and

is hinged upon a bolt or pivot-pin, a, to which is also hinged the reach a connecting the front and rear wheels, and both the front fork and reach are provided with braces a a, which engage the lower end of the pivota, and serve to truss the frame and firmly brace the parts, while giving a long center, which aids in overcoming any tendency to wear irregularly and become loose in the head. The reach a? is firmly and rigidly secured to the rear fork, b, and at or near this connection projects on each side a pedal-pin, b. This is of peculiar form, being constructed with knife-edge bearings b at the inner and outer ends, as clearly seen in Fig. 6. The pedals B are formed with flat upper faces surfaced with rubber c, to prevent the feet from slipping, and are preferably of con siderable length,and having slightly-upturned ends 0, to prevent slipping off at this point. It will be observed thata bearing for the foot is given throughout the entire length of the pedal,which enables the rider to stand at any point desired to obtain the proper speed and power. under sides with Ashaped sockets c, to receive the knife'edge bearings and prevent undue friction of the parts when in motion. Between the two sockets c of each pedal extends a short transverse bar, o and the upper side of this bar and under side of the pedal-pi11 are formed on a curve struck from a common cen ter, and are secured by ametal band, 0*, which prevents the pedals from jumping from their seats, but fits loosely enough to allow a free motion. Each pedal is at or near its rear end provided with a projecting arm, 0, at an angle with the main body of the pedal. The outer end of this arm is connected to the pedal forward of its fulcrum bya brace rod or wire, d, which strengthens it, while enabling me to construct it very light, and the arm is also connected by a flexible band or connectionfl, with a driving-clutch, D, on the hub or axle of the rear wheel or wheels, the construction of which will be presently explained.

In the construction of this velocipede I desire to so connect the steering bar or handles with the steering-wheel as to obtain a reverse motion of the two. ous ways.

In Figs. 1 and 2 Ihave represented the front fork as provided with a projecting arm, 6, the outer end of which carries a stud or pin, 6, having a friction-roller upon it, and upon a standard or post, f, on the reach are pivoted the handles D, also provided with a projecting arm, f, formed with a slot, f which receives the stud and roller upon the arm 6. The steering-liandles branch laterally and project upward and rearward to a point convenient for grasping.

A second and preferable form of connection is shown in Fig. 9, in which the handles are secured upon the same pin or bolt, a, which This may be done in vari- Their rear ends are formed on their connects the two portions of the frame, and are formed orprovided with a bevel-gear, g, which is by an idler, 9, connected to a similar gear, 9 upon the front fork. This obtains the same result of crosssteering, and condenses the machine by placing the whole mechanism upon the steering-head, and I. .therefore prefer this construction.

The clutch D is constructed as follows: The. axle is provided with a small disk, h, firmly secured upon it, which is inclosed in a casing, H, which surrounds it and moves freely on the axle. a spring-band, h, which closely fits the disk, and has its ends secured at different points to a small lever, h, socketed in the casing H. A spring, if, is secured at one end to thecasing and at the other to the frame, to rewind the band after being drawn off. It is obvious that as the band (I is drawn off the casing'to which it is attached is thrown forward, and, acting upon the outer end of the lever,draws the band tight and clutches the disk. As soon as strain upon the band is relieved the spring h throws the casing backward, releasing the clutch and rewinding the band.

In operation the rider steps upon the pedals, which, it will be seen,are quite near the ground, and his weight applied upon one pedal or the other, or both, drives the velocipede forward. The rear arms of the pedal-levers are preferably' of such length relative to the pedal proper that one stroke of the foot will cause one or more complete revolutions of the wheels, thus giving considerable speed with little exertion on the part of the rider. The form and position of the pedals allow the operator to move in or out to give more or less leverage and more or less motion. Thus upon smooth and level ground, or when riding at a quick speed, the rider may stand quite near the pivotal points and obtain a sufficient power with a very slight motion of the feet, while when desiring to apply more force with less speed, moving out to the ends of the pedals will at once increase the leverage, and consequent power,without any increase of exertion. The handles are in exactly the proper position to allow the rider to push or pull upon them, and

lean forward when exerting the utmost power for swift riding or hill-climbing, and thereby gain a decided advantage over the ordinary mode of throwing the body back and lifting upon the handles merely. In steering, it will be observed that on turning the handles in either direction the front or steering wheel is moved in exactly the opposite direction from that ordinarily done. The reach being jointed to the front fork so far in rear of the center of the forward wheels also gains in a twowheeled velocipede another important point. The motion of the body in throwing the weight alternately upon the pedals causes the center of gravity of the body to be moved slightly to one side or the other of the reach, and in con-, sequence of the line of motion between the contact-points of the wheels with the ground.

Around the fixed driving-disk is placed As this action occurs the hinge or pivotal head of the velocipede is slightly swayed in the opposite direction, and thus the center of gravity is always nearly or quite on the central line of motion, and the machine is steered without the direct volition of the rider in such a direction as to bring the line of support on the ground under or nearly under the riders center of gravity, when changed by the act of shifting the weight alternately from one pedal tow the other, and a more even balance is thus preserved. Thesameistrueofturning curves at speed, the frame of the machine being bent by the steering mechanism in such a manner and to such extent that the center of gravity, swaying inward on the curve, naturally is still on or nearly on a direct line through the contact-points of the. wheels. The frame being low, the velocipede is easily mounted and dismounted,and the whole. Weight resting be tween the wheels and below their centers, the

balance is improved and therider is not exposed to any serious falls, either forward or sidewise, rendering the machine. safe, light, easy of propulsion, and durable. A brakelever, t, is hinged upon the reach,with its rearend formed with a shoe, i, which, projectsbackward for engagement with the rear wheel or wheels, andv its forward end is formed with a pedal-tip, i, upon which the foot is-pressed to apply the brake. I thus obtain a brakepower equal to the weight of the rider, if desired, that canbe instantly applied by placing the foot upon it, and also place my brake-below the center of the wheel, when the dirt scraped from the tire will not be thrown upon the rider. The wheels I shall protect by dustguards of curved sheet metal supported upon the frame; but this is too common to need description here.

In Fig. 2 I have shown a slightly different.

styleoftwo-wheeled machine having the front fork nearly vertical; but the balance of the device is as just described. This I regard assubstantially the same device, and operates in the same manner.

This machine may be used by riders of varying height, the only change necessary being the elevation or lowering of thehandles tobring them inv the best position for effectiveuse. It is alsoadapted byits low frame and lightness for use by ladies, as will beat once seen, while long garmentssuch as overcoatsand other-loose articlescan be worn with, ease andwithout danger of catching in.the-

wheels. I will use two, three, or morewheels, as desired.

Having thus fully described myv invention, what I claim as new, and. desire to secure by Letters Patent, is?

1. In. a velocipede having two trailing wheels,.the combinatiomwith the front and rear wheels, of aconnecting -frame jointedor hinged together between the wheel-centers,

and provided with av pedal pin or pins,alsobetween the wheel-centers, whereby the application of the weight upon one side or the ICC IIO

other slightly sways the frame to preserve the center of gravity over the central line of motion, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a velocipede, a steering-wheel having its fork hinged to the main frame, and provided with a bevel-gear at this point, in combination with a steering-bar pivoted on the same pin as the fork, and also provided with a gear, and an idler connecting the two, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the combination of an oscillating pedal and a pedal-pin, one of which is formed with a knife-edge bearing and the other with V-shaped sockets therefor, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. In a velocipede, the combination, with the pedal B, having a /\-shaped socket, 0 upon each side, connected by a bar, 0 of the pedal-pins 1), formed with knife-edge bearings b at each end, the upper side of the bar 0 and the lower side of the pin 1) curved from a common center and connected by a retaining-band, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a velocipede, a driving wheel or axle provided with a disk rigidly secured thereon, and a clutch-band loosely surrounding the disk and having its ends secured at different points, with a lever, in combination with a surrounding casing engaging said clutch-lever, and an operating-band secured to said casing, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a velocipede, the front and rear wheels, the axle of the latter provided with drivingclutches, and a main frame connecting them, and a steering-handle, in combination with operating pedal-levers fulcrumed between and below the wheel-centers, and having their rear ends flexibly connected to the driving clutches, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALEXANDER IV. MOOLURE.

WVitnesses:

CHAS. KRESSMANN, FRANK JOHNSON.