The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-06-26

down. the three vehicles of which each con-
slsts of q small wheel with a spur gearing
running in conjunction with the gearing on
the biz wheel. Tn weight of the rider
rests upon the lower small wheel, which is
four inches in diameter in a seven-foot
wheel, and the theory is that the prepon-
derance of weight upon the lowest point of
the triangle. whsn in motion the inside pro-
pelllng mechanism Is given sufficient sta
bility to prevent any tendency on its part
to reyolve within the big wheel.
Now comes propeliing wheel to which
are attached the pedals. The wheel in the
ordinary asven-foot machine is twenty-four
inches in diameter or thirty inches in the
eight foot machine. 1t is connected by a
chain, such as may be observed in the ordi-
nary safety" with the small wheel in front
of the rider, which has a diameter in the
seven-foot machine of eight inches. This
small wheel by means of its gearing COM
muniaates the propeIling power to the large
wheel which fourteen inches from its outer
circumference is thus being constantly
pulled down at a point situate or the upper
arc in front. Any one who has ever noticed
how much easier it is to pull a wheel over
by grasplng 1t by a spoke near the rim in
stead of at a point near the hub can under
stand what the application of this principle
to a cycle means. In the ordinary bicycle
of to-day the wheel is turned at the center,
blu in this new machine it IS turned near
the rim. Thus a tremendous access of
power IS made available which means an
enormously increased speed. In q seven-
foot machine the tire that touches the
ground is twenty-five feet long. The pro-
pellins whe,l, which is worked by the feet,
may be pushed ut least two revolutions a
second, which means, according to the
inventor, 4 speed of 100 feet Il
second or 5000 feet a minute, or
moro than a mile in sixty seconds. In
machines of larger size of course still great
er speed is possible. In fact, an increase of
speed may easily be attained, says the in
ventor, by merely increasing the diameter
of the small wheel on the upper arc.
The pedals at the lowest point come with
in about four inches Of the ground, and
attached to each is an air or rubber spring
which strikes the earth and in some way
tends TO aid in balancing the rider. This
feat OF balancing, the inventor claims, is
reduced to a minimum in a cycle of this
sort, because the rldor, instead Of being on
top of the large wheel, is located AT a point
no higher than the center at the extreme.
In fact, In Il seven-foot machine the seat ia
exactly forty inches above the ground, thus
placing the Ilder below the plane OF the
wheels center. With this advantage and
with the feet 20 near the ground, the
difficulty of balancing is reduced to
SO small n point that tho inventor
declares that any one can learn to ride In
one minute. The machine is stored by the
pedals rather than by the handles and as an
aid to steering n one-inch wheel, which
may be compared to a RAIDER. by means of
q rod is placed near the ground Mt the rear
OF tho outer circumference of the large
wheel. This called the governor" and il
turned one way or another ms the course de
mands. The machine also is provided with
a brake which operates by means of q four
foot rod npOn the iubber tire at the rear.
Above the seat is II finely perfol ated steel
plate sixteen inches wide and two feet LONG
for a head protection either from sun or
rain. while above this is an arrangement
for carving baggage amounting TO 100 OF
$50 pounds i'll weight.
The inventor claims that to propel his
machine requires from seven u ten time.
less power than is required to-da,
difficulty be seems to fear most il
q vast excess of power, which
will meke tie machine unmanaaenble tt
the ordinary person through its torrift
speed. III the one-whcel cycle, such IA haI
been described according to the inventor'l
designs, Is practicable. ita availability 70
J people who nowadays ride bicycles mcrel,
Tor pleasure may be questioned, unless i
can bs easily controlled and kept at n low
rate of speed. According to Mr.. Barange
thirty pushes a minute on the pedals equal
about forty ralles m hoar. ii machines O
this sort are to 20 cavorting about the coun
try ut even that rate, new problems in high
D way regulation are to be solved, On III
other hand, If these meehfne. can be pro
: PEELED on prepared roads at n much create
[ speed than is attained by locomotives ia
daY the commercial opportunities for thcr
may be immense. But meanwhile M,
3 Beranger has to demonstrate to the worl
the success of his invention.