US1100411A - Figure-polycycle. - Google Patents

Description

L. G. WAGNER & w. G. LOHMEYBR.

FIGURE POLYGYOLE. APPLICATION FILED MAB..18, 1913.

Patented-June 16, 1914.

mmvro KM 56 ATTORNEY 'WITAIIE'SSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS G. WAGNER AND WALTER G. LOHMEYER, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT,

ASSIGNORS TO THE BRIDGEPORT MECHANICAL COMPANY, OF BRIDGEPORT,

CONNECTICUT, A. CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

FIGURE-POLYCYCLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 16, 1914.

Application fi1ed March 18, 1913. Serial No. 755,123.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that we, Louis G. WAGNER and WALTER G. LOHMEYER, citizens of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, have invented an Improvement in Figure- Polycycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to toy hobby horses of the type comprising a rocking body upon which the rider may be seated, and a vehicle upon which the body is mounted and provided with propelling mechanism operatively connected with the body and actuated by the movement thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide a toy of this character which combines the ease of a erfectl balanced rocking mo-.

tion of the body with a maximum efliciency in the application of the power to the locomotion or propulsion of the vehicle.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved propelling mechanism in which the application of the power is continuous and evenly distributed throughout the complete cycle of operation, thereby producing a smooth and even movement of the vehicle and obviating all possibility of a dead center.

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction by means of which the full weight of the rider is utilized to pro pel the vehicle thereby obtaining the maXimum resultant power with the minimum expenditure of energy through the elimination of losses by gravity.

A. still further object of the invention is to provide a self-propelled hobby horse in which ease of locomotion is combined with perfect control of the vehicle.

With these and other objects in view we have devised the novel construction which we will now describe, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the complete device, the body being partly broken away to show the mechanism inclosed thereby; Fig. 2 is a rear elevation with the body in section; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4f is a detail rear elevation of the fly or balance wheels.

10 denotes the body of the device which is preferably formed hollow or U-shaped in transverse vertical section, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, in order to inclose or house the mechanism hereafter described, thereby making it impossible for a child to become injured or to disarrange the mechanism while riding upon or otherwise playing with the device. The bodylO may be made of wood, metal, or any other suitable material in the form of a horse or other animal or otherwise as may be preferred. The body 10 is mounted to rock or oscillate upon a shaft 11 the ends of which are received in sockets 12 carried by the opposite sides of the body, and the central portion of which is supported in a sleeve 13 forming part of a coupling member 14: at the top of the center post .15 of the vehicle frame. The saddle 16 or seat for the rider is preferably located directly above the shaft 11 or oscillatory center of the body.

The vehicle frame is preferably composed of tubular metallic frame members connected at their ends and elsewhere as may be necessary by brazed joints, suitable couplings or socket members being interposed where found desirable, after the fashion of an ordinary bicycle frame. The forward portion of said vehicle frame comprises up per connected at their forward ends to a head 19 and at their rearward ends, by the coupling l4 and a coupling 20, to the upper and lower ends, respectively, of the center post 15.

21 denotes a steering post mounted to turn in the head 19, said post having at its upper end a steering bar 22 and at its lower end a front fork 23 in which is journaled the front or steering wheel 2a of the vehicle.

25 denotes reins or steering lines secured to the ends of the steering bar 22 and passing through guides 26 on the body, which guides, as shown, may be made to represent the reins rings of a bridle bit, said lines extending rearwardly into convenient proxim: ity to the saddle 16.

The rear or driving wheels 27 of the vehicle are fixed upon the ends of an axle or driving shaft 28 journaled in bearings 29 mounted in the ends of the upper and lower rear forks of the vehicle frame. The lower rear fork comprises forwardly converging frame members or legs 30 connected at their forward ends, by the coupling 20, to the the other lower end of the center post 15. The upper rear fork comprises upwardly converging 'rame members or legs 31 connected at their upper ends, by couplings 32, to the ends of a transverse frame member or brace 33, and to the lower ends of upright frame members 34, said uprights 34 being connected,by V

the coupling 14, to the upper end of the center post 15.

35 denotes a. crank shaft journaled in pref erably integral ears 36 on the uprights 34 and having at its ends crank arms 37 and 38 respectively.

39 denotes an operating arm rigidly secured to the body 10 and extending downwardly therefrom, preferably on a line intersecting the axis of the shaft 11, 2'. e. the axis or center of oscillation of said body, said arm being connected with the crank arm 37 by a link 40.

41 denotes a bell-crank lever fulcrumed on a stud 42 projecting from the center post 15 at a point adjacent the lower end thereof, The lever 41 comprises an upright operating arm, connected by a link 43 with the crank; arm 38, and a lower arm pivoted to the, lower end of a vertically arranged link 44. The upper end of the link 44 is pivoted to the body 10 at a point 45 removed from, and preferably in front of, the center of oscilla-i tion of said body. I

46 denotes a sprocket wheel fixed upon the crank shaft 35, and 47 a similar sprocket, wheel fixed upon the axle 28, said sprocket; Wheels being connected by a chain 48. l

49 denotes a fly wheel shaft journaled inf brackets 50 carried by the lower rear forki frame members 30. i

51. denotes a pair of fly wheels fixed upon the shaft 49, and 52 a sprocket wheel fixedf upon the shaft 49 between the fly wheels 51; and over which the chain 48 passes, said sprocket wheel 52 being relatively small as compared to the sprocket wheels 46 and 47.

The operation of the device is as follows: The rider, seated upon the saddle 16, throws his body alternately forwardly and backwardly, thereby causing the body 10 of the device to oscillate or rock upon the shaft 11. This rocking motion is communicated through the link 44, bell crank lever 41, and link 43 to the crank arm 38 and through the arm 39 and link 40 to the crank arm 37, thereby rotating the crank shaft 35. The rotation of the crank shaft is transmitted, through the sprocket wheel 46, chain 48, and sprocket wheel 47, to the axle 28 and wheels 27, thereby propelling the vehicle over the ground. By pulling upon one or of the lines 25 the rider may turn the steering post 21 and front wheel 24, thereby guiding the vehicle at will and controlling its course. The rotation of the crank shaft 35 is also transmitted, through the sprocket wheel 46, chain 48, and sprocket wheel 52, to the fly wheel shaft 49, setting this shaft and the fly wheels 51 thereon in rotation, after which the momentum of these fly wheels is communicated to the axle 28 through the sprocket wheel 52, chain 48, and sprocket wheel 47, thereby materially assisting in propelling the vehicle and preventing any possibility of a. dead center.

By reason of the relative sizes of the sprocket wheels 46, 47, and 52 the fly wheels 51 will, after the device has been started. be rotated at a high rate of speed, thereby, through the momentum thus generated, storing a considerable amount of power which may be utilized to propel the vehicle for a considerable time without the exertion of any effort whatsoever on the part of the rider. Moreover the momentum of the fly wheels, acting through the crank shaft and connections with the body, serves to assist in the proper balance of the body and contributes greatly to the ease and regularity of the movements thereof, thereby promoting the comfort and enjoyment of the rider. The .particular arrangement herein shown of the various arms, levers, and links for converting the oscillations of the body into rotation of the crank shaft for propelling the vehicle has been found to constitute an extremely efficient mechanism for the desired purpose, utilizing substantially the entire weight of the rider, and, particularly in connection with the fly wheels or power storing devices, providing for a continuous application and an even distribution of the power.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a frame including a center post and upper and lower front and rear frame members connected thereto, a driving shaft mounted in the rear frame members, driving wheels thereon, a hollow body mounted to oscillate 011 said center post with its sides depending on opposite sides of the upper frame members, a shaft journaled in the upper rear frame members and having crank arms, an operating arm rigidly secured to the body, a link connecting the operating arm with one of the crank arms, a bell crank lever pivoted to the center post, a link connecting one arm of said lever to the other crank arm, a link pivoted to the other arm of said lever and to the body forward of the center post and removed from the axis of oscillation, and means for transmitting motion from the crank shaft to the driving shaft.

2. In a device of the character described, a frame including a center post and upper and lower front and rear frame members connected thereto, a driving shaft mounted in the rear frame members, driving wheels thereon, a hollow body mounted to oscillate on said center post with its sides depending on opposite sides of said upper frame members, a crank shaft journaled in the upper rear frame members and having crank arms, an operating arm rigidly secured to the body, a link connecting the operating arm with one of the crank arms, a bell crank lever pivoted to the center post, a link connecting one arm of said lever to the other crank arm a link pivoted to the other arm of said lever and to the body forward of the center post at a point removed from the axis of oscillation, a sprocket wheel mounted upon the crank shaft, a fly wheel shaft mounted upon lower rear frame members, a sprocket Wheel mounted upon the fly wheel shaft, a

fly wheel mounted on each side of said 15 LOUIS G. WAGNER. WALTER G. LOHMEYER.

Witnesses:

A. M. WOOSTER, S. W. ATHERTON.

Ooplu of thin patent may be obmned to:

he cents each, by eddrenln: the Commissioner of retentl, Wuhlngton, D. 0."

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