US88120A - Improved velocipede - Google Patents

Description

1. B. BLAIR;

Velocipede. No. 88,120. Patented March 23,1869.

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JOHN B. BLAIR, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

' Letters Patent No. 88,120, dated Ma/rch 23, 1869.

IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern forming part of this specification, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved velocipede.

Figure 2 is a front view of the same.

Figure 3 is a front view of the back wheel.

Figures 4 and 5 are views of detached parts, to be hereinafter referred to.

My improvements relate First, to the mode of propelling two-wheel velocipedes;

Second, to the steering-apparatus; and

' Third, to means for supporting the vehicle in an upright positibn.

My invention consists in combining with the means of propulsion, (consisting of a friction-bar and disk,) a jam-nut, which is adapted to clamp the foot-pieces and disk, by means of which the friction-bar is converted into a rotating crank.

It further consists in placing a spring of peculiar construction in the head of the device, under the tiller, for the purpose of facilitating the control of the velocipede, as will be hereinafter described.

In order that others may so understand my invention as to be able to make and use my improvement, I will now proceed to describe the same in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar letters indicate corresponding parts in the several fig ures.

A, in the drawings, represents the reach, provided with a bifurcated portion, A, between the sides, (6 a, of which, the back wheel B is mounted.

The reach is secured, in any way suitable, to a projection, b, formedon the boss, 0, or head of the machine, through which the spindle passes.

D representsthe seat fixed on top the reach.

The front wheel E is mounted in the bifurcated portion F of the spindle G.

For propelling the vehicle,-I make use of the devices to be now described.

On each end of the axle c of the front wheel, a disk H, is keyed, and between each disk and the sides of the hub, a bar, (I, with a hole in one end, so as to fit the axle; or a part of the box rounded for the purpose, is so hungas to move freely around the axle.

This bar is made long enough to reach a little beyond the periphery of the disk, so that in its outer end, at right angles to the bar, may be secured theis turned so near to the disk as to form, with the bar, a clutch-device, which clasps the edge of the disk.

The bar is made of flexible metal, so as to form a spring to cause friction by pressure against the disk. If desired, a block of metal, a, perforated longitudinally, and triahgular in cross-section, may be loosely fitted on. the foot-piece, and there retained by a nut, j. hen the foot-piece is pushed forward by the foot, the bar (I is twisted a little, and thereby the clutch,

formed by said bar andthe nut t, is made to clasp the disk tightly, and turn the same by friction.

When the forward pressure of thefoot is removed, the clutch releases its hold, and the foot-piece is returned to its normal position by the force .of a spring,

72-, attached to the sides of the bifurcated portion of the spindle, and pressing againstthe fronts of the bars d. On again applying the pressure of the foot, the clutch operates as before, partially rotating the disks H and the front wheel.

The springs it maybe removed, and the nuts tturned tightly against the disk, when the whole arrangement will be converted into the crank-movement, as in the common velociped'e.

Among the advantages arising from this mode of propulsion may be named First, that while, in the crank-movement, the practised rider finds great difficulty in putting his foot upon the foot-piece, and the beginner finds it impossible, on account of the foot-piece being necessarily in motion at the-time the attempt is made, in the present device the foot-piece is always in a fixed position until the foot is placed upon it.

.Second, the foot, instead of being obliged to move entirely and constantly around the hub, is only required to move over that portion of the circle in which it is effectual in driving the wheel.

Third, the foot moving only on one side of the hub, and therefore making a shorter reach, it is practicable to drive a much larger wheel, and a boy may be able to use a machine, which otherwise would be too large for him.

Fourth, the foot-piece is a rest for the foot without hindrance to the movement.

Fifth, the foot-piece acts as a brake, by simply press- I will now describe my improvements in the steerlug-apparatus.

as, figs. 4. and 5, represents an annular collar of metal, fitted on to the spindle G within, the head 0 being provided with a central opening for this purpose, and prevented from turning, by oiisets l occupying open slots 0 in the lower part of said head 0.

This collar x is provided with two curved springs n, one on the upper, and one on thelower surface.

These springs are each secured at one end, while their free ends enter holes formed in the spindle.

lhe springs are counteracting toward each other, but when the wheels of the velocipede are'in a straight line, the springs are entirely inert, so that the wheel is to the utmost degree sensitive to pressure on the tiller.

\Vhen the front wheel begins to turn, the springs commence slight resistance, and, as the wheel is turned further, this resistance increases in rapid ratio until the deflection of the wheel is stopped.

As soon as the tiller is released from pressure, the wheel is righted by the action of the springs in returning to their former position.

Wheels without such device are quite 'ungovernable by a beginner, on account of the instinctive impulse to turn the wheel too far, and to the tendency of the wheel itself to turn further than was intended.

To sustain the velocipede inv an upright position, when not in use, or while riding, I employ two braces, I i, hung, one to each side of the reach, near the rear end of the latter, as shown.

The braces are pivoted to inclined surfaces, 11, so that, when drawn up, they are parallel to the wheel, and when allowed to drop, they diverge outwardly, so as to brace the vehicle, as shown in fig. 3,-and sustain the same in an upright position.

The movement of these braces is eiiected by means of a cord attached to the upper end of each, thence passed through eyes, q r, formed in the reach, and finally made fast to the tiller, which is loosely mounted in a frame, 3, fixed on top the spindle.

The tiller can be turned without changing the position of the hands, and the cord being thus wound up, the braces are raised from the ground. By turning the tiller in the opposite direction," the cord is unwound, when the braces either fall by their own weight, or are throwndown by the force of a spring.

The utility of this device is sufficiently apparent without further description.

By the use of my improvements, a velocipede is produced, which is much more simple than those now in use, audwhich can be propelled and controlled with less exertion. and more safety, convenience, and ease than heretofore.

Having thus described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. Incombinatioh with the friction-bar d and disk H, the jam-nut which clamps the foot-pieces and disk, by means of which the friction-bar is converted into a rotating crank, substantially as and for the purpose described. 1 v

2. The springs attached to the collar, in combination with the spindle and head, substantially as and for the purpose described.

To the above I have signed my name, this 26th day of January, 1869.

J. B. BLAIR. Witnesses:

DAVID SHIVE, W. A. WInDnRsHnIM.

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