US222779A - Improvement in velocipedes - Google Patents

Description

` J. Wj GILBERT.

Velo'cipede.`

No. 222,779. Patented Dec. 23, 1879.

Urrn Param-'r OFFICE.

JAMES W. GILBERT, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT lN VELOCIPEDES.

Speccation formn g part of Letter s Patent No. 222,779. dated Deeembe123, 1879; application filed September 20, 1879.

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, JAMES WV. GILBERT, of the city of Louisville, in the county of J eiferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of theconstruction and operation of the saine, reference being had to the accompanying dra-wings, forming part of this specification, and to the letters ofreterence marked thereon.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the Inachine with part of one wheel cut away in order to show the inner frame with its seat, brake, foot-rest, and the several devices for guiding the machine. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the inner frame, showing the arrangement of the seat, foot-rest, and brake, including the guiding mechanism. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of the compoundgearing wheels, showing the ratchets and pawls by which they are operated. Fig. 4 is a plan view ofthe driving crank and pinion, showin g the ratchet and pawls thereon.

This invention relates to a certain new and useful improvement in velocipedes, consisting in a machine mounted upon three wheels, two of which are made large in diameter to answer as drivers, and fastened to the ends of what is called a crank 7 or drop-axle by means of stationary spindles in the hub of the wheels passing through sleeves or bosses formed on the axle. These spindles are further provided with a series of compound gearing to be used in ascending grades, which can be instantly applied by simply turning a trigger without any chan geof the cranks by which the machine is operated.

The front part of the frame of the machine is made to rest upon and is secured to the lower part of the drop-axle, and extends out in front sufficient to form a foot-rest, which consists in arope or chain pulley hinged to the frame below for the purpose of guiding the machine, which is done by the feet, while the frame immediately over and in the rear of the axle is raised sufficient to place the seat in a convenient position for operating the cranks in driving the machine, while the rear end of the frame is supported by the third or rudder wheel pivoted under it, somewhat similar to an ordinary fth-wheel, with the base part made to answer as a sheave or pulley for the rope or chain extending back from the footrvst pulley, by which the machine is guided.

The pulley part of the fifth-wheel has aboss on the top that works into an opening in a corresponding ring secured to the under side of the frame, while the spindle of the clevis extends above the pulley andis pivoted to the under side of the frame on which the seat rests, and upon which the brakes are arranged in such manner as to be operated by pressure from the back of the rider in descending grades.

The object of this invention is to provide a machine for the transit of persons on streets, common roads, or otherwise that will be light, durable, and easily operated, and susceptible of attaining a moderate degree of speed on comparatively level roads when operated without the additional gearing, but which can readily be applied in ascending grades, thereby greatly increasing the power, but with a correspondin g sacrifice of speed; but in dev scending grades the speed may be regulated by the brakes arranged for that purpose.

This invention will be more fully illustrated in detail in perspective views, Figs. 1 and 2, sectional view, Fig. 3, and plan view, ig. 4, of the drawings, in which A A are the driving-wheels of the machine, which may be made in any suitable manner. B is the rudder or guiding-wheel. O is the drop-axle, which is made in form as show'n in the drawings. l) are the lower, and E are the upper, sleeves or bosses for the gearing-spindles. F is the hub ofthe wheels. G is the large driving cog-wheel, which is secured permanently to spindle J of the main driving-wheels. is the large pinion to which the crank K is attached, and is made to work loose on the end of spindle J. I is a small ratchet secured on the end of spindle J, inside of the pinion H. K is the operating'crank on the face of pinion H. L is the pawl, and N is the trigger for hol'ding it up when not in use. O is the large wheel placed looselyon spindle I. Q is a small ratchet secured on the end of spindle P, outside of the wheel. It is the pawl, and S is the spring for holding it down. T is the small wheel on spindle P, but is made fast on the spindle in order to drive it when operating the compound gearing. These wheels T O and G H all work into each other without being thrown out, and constitute the compound gearing, and, as a substitute for un gearing the large wheel 0 and small wheel H, they work loose on their respective spindles, and, by means of the crank K, when the pawl L engages with ratchet I, the machine will be driven single or without the aid of gearing, the wheel O simply turning on the spindle; but when necessary to increase power in ascending grades, it only requires the pawl L to be raised up so as to disengage it from the teeth of ratchet I to apply the whole power of the compound gearing, which is at least four to one, but of coursel with less speed, the's'pindle J turning in wheel H.

U is the lower part of the frame of the machine, and V V is the upper part, on which the seat D rests. WY is the foot-rest and guiding-pulley combined, and is made to work on a similar ring secured to the frame under it. X are braces for holding' up the front while the rider is mounting. Y is the clevis in which the rudder-wheel works. Z is the pulley o r fifth wheel secured on the spindle above it, and is made to answer as a pulleyv for the rope or chain by which it is guided.

A( is a boss on the top, which works in an opening in the ring B', which is secured to the frame, and answers as the upper part of the fifth-wheel, through which the upper end of the olevis-spindle passes, and is pivoted under the frame C. D is the seat, which is iliade to rest on the frontpart of the frame V V, and is made in form as shown inthe drawings. E is the back-rest ot' the brakes, by which they are operated. F are the rubbers. G are the springs for replacing them after being closed up. H are braces for supporting the drop-axle C. I is the rope belt for guiding the machine.

Having thus fully described my invention, its operation after the rider is seated is simply that of letting1 down the pawl L, so as to engage with the ratchet I, and by means of turning the cranks K the machine will be driven single or out of gear, by which means the highest rate of speed may be attained; but in ascending grades it becomes necessary to disen gage the pa'wl L from ratchet I, thereby leaving crank K to operate wheel H, which gears into wheel O, thereby compounding or increasing the power at least four to one, but, of course, at a sacrifice of speed; but in de scending grades it is only necessary to apply the brake E by pressing the back against it, and the machine will descend with ease or at any required rate of speed. Y

I is a wire rope or chain, by which the machine is guided. This rope passes around the foot-rest pulley W and throughV eyes on axle G, after which it is crossed and extends up and around the rudder-wheel pulley Z, forming a continuous band around these pulleys, by which the machineis guided.

Having thus fully described the nature and object of this my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, in velocipedes is 1. The combination of the compound-gwn ing wheels G H and O T and the drop-axle C, with its sleeves D and E, as above described, When the wheels O and H are made to work loose on the spindles, with the crank K and stationary ratchet-wheels I and Q, with their pawls L and It, by means of which the power is changed, when arranged, constructed, and operating substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the frame U and V V, seat D, and foot-rest W, with its legs X, when made to answer as a step in mounting the machine, and also asta pulley for the rope l', by which the machine is guided, substantially as herein described, and for the purpose set forth. l

JAMES W. GILBERT.

Witnesses C. IjIEwI'r'r, FRANK PAnnoN.

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