US425837A

US425837A - Velocipede

Info

Publication number: US425837A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1890-04-15
Anticipated expiration: 1907-04-15

Description

.(No Model.) 2 .sheets-shew', 1. B. L. TOQUBT. VELOGIPEDE Patented Apr.- 15, 1890.

/ITIVESSES:

(No'Model.) 2 sheets-sheer@ B. L. TOQUET.

VBLOG'IPBDB. No. 425,837. Patented Apr. 15,' 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUET, OF IVESTPORT, CONNECTICUT.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 425,837, dated April 15, 1890.

Application filed August 6, 1889. Serial No. 319,857. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BENJAMIN LOUIS TO- QUET, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of IVestport, Fairfield county, Connecticut, have invented Improvements in Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

The obj ect of my invention is to construct a simple, strong, and compact driving-gear for cycles, whereby high speeds may be attained, and this without undue strain upon the rider.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side view of a bicycle provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section, drawn to a larger scale, through the gearing and bearing-boxes of the driving-wheel. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the same, partly in section. Fig. I is a view indicating another form of treadle-lever for applying power to the driving-wheel, and Fig. 5 is a view of a modification.

Although the main feature of my invention may be applied to various constructions of cycles, it is particularly applicable to those forms of bicycles which are known as Safety bicycles; and in Fig. l I have shown my invention as applied to that form of bicycle. I do not, however, wish to restrict myself to any one form of bicycle or other cycle.

In Fig. 1, A is lthe front part of the frame, through which passes the stem B, having at its upper end the handles b and at its lower end the fork B which carries the front wheel WV. From the front part of the frame eX- tends the backbone A which carries the seat or saddle S. Three forked braces o, a', and a2 extend from the backbone and from the front part of the frame to the bearing-boxes D D on opposite sides of the rear or driving wheel NV.

In the construction illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 the driving-gear, which forms an important feature of my invention, is provided only on one side of the driving-wheel, and for its reception one of the bearing-boxes D is considerably enlarged. The driving-shaft R, which is adapted to bearings d in the boxes on both sides, as shown in Fig. 2, has also afXed to it a driving-pinionF within the box D. To the hub w of the wheel is affixed the sleeve of a pinion w, which latter is also within the box D. This pinion wand sleeve, which carry the driving-wheel, turn freely .about the driving-shaft R, and anti-friction rollers p are preferably provided at suitable points between the shaft R or parts carried by it and the pinion and the sleeve. Into this driving-pinion F there is geared on each side of it a gear-wheel f, which has fastened to it or formed in one piece with it a gearwheel f of larger diameter. These two gearwheels f are on opposite sides of and gear into the central pinion w. The pairs of gears f and f each turn upon spindles or axles s in the box D, preferably with anti-friction rollers.

Power may be applied to the driving-pinion F by any suite ble means; butI preferably use a crank K, as shown in Figs. l, 2, and 3, fixed to the shaft R or to the hub of the driving-pinion. If the construction of the machine and arrangement of the seat will permit it, the treadles maybe put directly upon the cranks; but I prefer to combine with the cranks treadle-levers L, as shown in Fig. 1. These treadle-levers are connected to the ends of the cranks K, each between ,the treadle l at one end and the link l at the other end, by which the tread le-lever is suspended from the brace o. or other fixed part of the machine. Instead of the crank K with the treadle-lever L, I may use a treadle lever L', (shown in Fig. 4,) which carries a pawl gearing into a ratchet on the hub of the driving-pinion F, or on the shaft to which the pinion is lined, as indicated by the dott-ed lines in that figure.

The above-described construction of the gearing, it will be seen, is a simple and compact arrangement for increasing the speed between the point of application of the power and the driving-wheel of the cycle, and owing to the combination of this increasing speedgearing with the treadle-levers high speeds can be attained with comparative ease to the rider. Furthermore, as the gear-wheels. are arranged on both sides of the central pinions the strain is evenly distributed.

The construction and arrangement described above may, however, be varied without departing from my invention. For instance, in the modification shown in Fig. 5 I

IOO

purpose to have the gearing on both sides of the driving-wheel and to have the wheel W, hub zu', and pinion w lixed to the shaft R, while the drivlng-pinion F is free to turn about the shaft and the cranks K are fixed tothe hubs of the driving-pinions. As before, there is geared into the pinion w on each side of it, a gearwheel f which has fastened to it or formed 1n one piece with it a gear-wheel f of smaller dlarneter, and these wheels ff gear into the driving-pinion F, as before. The hub of this driving-pinion F extends out through the sides of the box D and findsabearing therein, preferably through anti-friction rollers p, in the grooved bearings d, screwed into the box. Suitable anti-friction rollers are preferably interposed between the inner end of the driving-pinion F and the pinion w, which is fixed to the shaft, while other anti-friction rollers may be interposed between the outer end of the hub of the driving-pinion F and the collar or nut N, secured to the end of the shaft R, Fig. 5.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination of thc driving-wheel of a cycle and a pinion secured thereto with a driving-pinion and wheels gearing into and on opposite sides of the said pinions to transmit motion from the drivin g-pinion to the pinion secured to the wheel, all substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the drivingwheel of a cycle and bearing-box with a pinion secured to the wheel, a drivin g-pinion, and gearwheels on opposite sides of said pinions for transmitting motion from the driving-pinion to that on the wheel, the said pinions and gears being contained within the bearing-box, all substantially as set forth. v

3. The combination of the driving-wheel of a cycle having a pinion secured thereto and a driving-pinion and two gearwheels of different lsizes secured together, the smaller wheel geared to the driving-pinion and the larger one geared into the pinion secured to the wheel, and a bearing-box containing the said pinions and gear-wheels, all substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of the driving-wheel of a cycle and a driving-shaft passing, freely through the center with a pinion secured to the wheel and a driving-pinion secured to the shaft, and gear-wheels on opposite sides of the said pinions to transmit motion with an increased speed from the driving-pinion to that on the wheel.

In testimony whereof I have signed my naine to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

. BENJAMIN LOUIS TOQUET.

Witnesses:

FREDERICK KEMrER,

CLARK BARNUM.