US94055A - Improvement in velocipedes - Google Patents

Description

Al Ml Vioci pede.

Patented Aug. 24, 18695',

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`or decrease the stroke, and to' adapt the motion ofthe used on the large wheels of the ratchet-cones, and the .the foot-levers and crank-shalt, in such a manner that .tintad sam v ARTHUR M. ALLE N,

oir-'NEW YoRK, N.4 Y; y"

'Letters Patent No.l 94,055, dated ngust 24, 1869.

IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES.

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

To all whom it may concern.:

Be it known that I, ARTHUR M. ALLEN, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description thereof; which will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, Ireference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which drawing- Figure l is a sectional side view of this invention.

Figure 2 vis a plan or top view of Vthe same.

Figure 3 is a transverse section of the same.

Similar letters indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in' the arrangement of what may be termed foot-ratchets, in combination with the driving-wheel of a velocipede and with hinged foot-levers, in such a manner that the power of the i'eet is always on the live centre during the whole stroke otl the ratchet, and that the rider is enabled to increase foot-levers to the length of his le any portion of the machine.

With the foot-levers and ratchet-arms, I have cornbined a crank-shaft and connecting-rods extending from the crank-pins to the foot-levers in such a manner that a reciprocating motion of the ratchet-arms in opposite directions is insured.

The ratchet-arms are combined with ratchet-cones having two or more speeds, so that in going up-hill, or whenever an increased power with a comparative'decrease in speed is desired, said ratchet-arms can be gs without changing power and speed of the driving-gear can berregnlated to suit circumstances while using the sameamount of' power on the foot-lever.

The ratchet-arms are kept in gear with the ratchetwheels by springs secured to bell-crank levers, which receive anoscillating motion from the rods connecting the springs bear downsomewhat equally upon the ratchet-arms, whatever may be the position ot the foot-levers.

The tires of the wheels of' my velocipedes are composed of end-grain sections fastened to the -felloes by square-shouldered screws.

A back and side-rest, combined with the steeringmechanism, enables the rider to steer or balance the machineby the motion of his body.

The steering-wheel is hung on a pivot or shaft, so that it can be swung or tilted sideways in a direction at right angles to the reach, thereby enabling the rider to balance the machine without turning either wheel'.

The operation of balancing the machine is further facilitated by the arrangement of a laterally-swinging saddle, combined with a lever, which enables the rider to throw the weight of his body outon either side, as may be required. l

'lhe brake-mechanism consists of shoes, which can be brought to bear from opposite sides on the sides of the wheel, so'as to stop the motion of the wheel effectually and without injuring its tread or face.

In the drawing, the letter'A designates the drivingwheel ofl a velocipede, which is mounted on "an axle, B, that has its bearing in the reach. O.

O11 the ends of this axle are mounted the ratchetcones D, each cone being composed of two or more ratchet-wheels ofdifferent diameters, as shown in the drawing.

The motion of the wheel A is effected by means oi ratchet-arms E, Vwhich are hinged to foot-levers F, and L so arranged that they can be thrown in gear with either of the speeds of their ratchet-cones, being retained in the required position by notched blocks, a, which are pivoted to the foot-levers, each being provided with two or more notches (see iig.l 3) corresponding in number and positionto the speeds of the ratchet-cones.

These notches engage with a tooth,b, projecting from the edges of the ratchet-arms, and when the blocks are turned ontheir pivots.' they release-said teeth l), and the ratchet-arms can be moved in or out on thein pivots and brought in position to engage with either of the speeds of theratchet-cones, and with the corresponding notches in the blocks a.

It desired, additional ratchet-arms m to be operated by hand-levers.

.The foot-levers F are pivoted to standards G, which are secured to the reach G, and they are in convenient position to be operated by the feet of the rider, so that by imparting to said foot-levers 'an oscillating motion, the ratchet-arms will act on the ratchet-concs and the wheel A will be revolved.

The principal advantage of my foot-ratchets over the ordinary foot-cranks is that, by the ratchet-arms, the power of the feet is always applied to the live centre during the entire length of their stroke, wherefas, with the footeranks,.the power is applied to the best advantage only at that moment when the crank passes itslive centre, and much power is thereby wasted. l

Another advantage is that with my foot-ratchet the stroke or motion' of the legs can be lengthcned or ay be applied.

shortened at pleasure, and by changing the ratchetarms from one speed of the ratchet-cones to the other,

the power and speed of the machine can be regulated withoutdiiculty while in motion.v

The machine cannotXbe run backwards at all, as it will be liable to in going up-hill, each strokcof the foot being independent and secure by itself, for when either connecting-rod e reachesthe point farthest from the cones, the wheel cannot turn further backward, and

in using the foot-ratchets, one stroke of either foot can turn the wheel an entire revolution or more, according to the size of the ratchet-wheel, and although the speed and power can be varied to any extent the machine is capable of, the motion of the foot canbe always regular and uniform.

The foot-levers F connect, by rods c, to cranks d, secured to the countershaft e, which has its bearing in the standard G, and the position of the cranks al is such that the foot-ratchets are compelled to move in opposite directions, one going forward when the other is going back, and rice tersa.

The rods-c and cranks (Z will, in practice, be made adjustable at both ends to regulate the stroke or throw of the foot-ratchets, and also the position of the centre of the same for people with shorter or longer legs.

The ratchet arms E .are kept in gear with the ratchet-cones D bymeans of springs j, which are secured in the arms g of the bell-crank levers g h, pivotedto the loot-levers F and bear ou the edges of the ratchet-arms.

The arms 71, of the bell-crank levers g h connect, by rods with the connecting-rods c, as shown in fig. '1.

By this connection, the springs fare caused to bear down somewhat on the ratchet-arms, whatever may be the position of the foot-levers, and the ratchetmotion is rendered sure, and, though making a slight clicking, it must be remarked that a certain amount of noise in arvelocipede is desirable, since it serves to call the attention of foot-passengers tothe approaching machine.

The reach G forms the connection between the front or driving-wheel A and the standard H, which straddles the hind or steering-wheel I, and forms the bearing for the hind axle J.

Ihe standard H swivels on a pivot, j, which has its bearings in a bracket, k, that swings on a shaft, l,

which has its bearings in lugs or ears secured to the under surface of the reach C.

By this arrangement, the standard H has a double motion, irst a swivel motion on its pivot, j, and a lateral swinging-motion 011 the shaft l.

Said standard connects, by rods la, with the backrest n, and from this back-rest extends the arm-pieces o in such a position that they form a convenient rest for thc arms of thc person occupying the saddle K.

By this arrangement, the rider is enabled Vto steer the velocipedc simply by turning his body in the proper direction, and, furthermore, he is enabled to bring the steering-wheel 'in a laterally-inclined position, so that he is enabled to keep his balance with ease and facility when turning a corner or running on a curve.

It' desired, however, a hand-lever, 11,1nay be used to bring the wheel I into the required inclined position. This hand-lever extends up from the shaft l, and it -may be connected to the tiller q, or it may be detached and operated, as occasion may require.

The saddle K is hung on pivots, r, so that it can assume a laterally-swinging motion, and it connects with a hand-lever, s, which has its fulcrum on one of the pivots fr, secured in a standard, .which rises from rIhe brake-shoes are situated on the sides of thewheel A, so that by twisting the tiller-handles they are made to clamp said wheel from both sides, instead of being brought to bear on its periphery, as usual.

By this arrangement of the brakes, the face or tread:

of the wheel is saved from being worn out by the action of the 'brake-shoes, and there is no unusual pressure on the bearings of the wheel. p

The rim or tire of the wheel is constructed of a lseries of sectional blocks, w, with the grains running endways, or from the periphery toward the centre of.

the wheel, and theseblocksvare fastened to the felloe of the wheel by square-shouldered screws a', as shown Yin fig. 1. Y

By, these means a wheel. can be constructed which is durable and easily kept in repair.

Havingthus described my invention,

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

1. The foot-ratchcts and ratcl1et-arnis,in combiV` nation with the driving-wheel ofa velocipede, substantially as described.

2. The cranks (l and connecting-rods c, in combination with the foot-ratehets, and with the drivingwheel of a velocipede, substantially as set forth.

3. The bell-crank levers g 71., rods fi, ancL springs j, in combination with the ratchet-arms E and foot-lever F, substantially as'described.

4. The notched blocks a., in combination withthe ratchet-arms E and ratchet-cones D, substantially as set forth.

'5. The bracket k and shaft l, in combinationwith the pivot j, standard H, and wheel I, thereby giving to the standard H a double motion, viz, a swivel motion and a laterally-swinging motion, substantially and for the purpose set forth. v

6. Steering or balancing a veloeipede by the rest n.,

connected to the standard of the'steering-wheel, subv stantially in the manner described.

7. The combination of lthe hand-lever s with the swinging-saddle K and reach E, substantially as described.

8. The brake-shoes fr, arranged to bear onv the sides of the drivingfwheel, instead of on its circumference, as set forth.

9. A wheel, having its tire constructed of end-grain.

Witnesses: Y

W. HAUFF, E. F. KAs'rENHUBER.

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