An Improved "Home Trainer” or Machine for Practising Cycle Riding or Racing.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 184-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved "Home Trainer” or Machine for Practising Cycle
Riding or Racing.
I, JOHN WILLIAM PATEMAN, of 1 The Nook, Ainsworth Road, West
Croydon, in the County of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
The invention has for its object a novel arrangement of apparatus for the use of
cyclists to be used as a "home trainer" or as a racing or practising machine.
For this purpose I mount a large hollow drum on a fixed axle supported by
bearings carried by suitable frames such drum being capable of revolving freely
on said axle by means of interposed ball bearings. On the interior surface of
this hollow drum is or are mounted one or more running wheels of a similar
character to those of cycles, and I employ in connection with such running wheel
or wheels a frame carrying a saddle and a pedal crank axle connected to the
running wheel or wheels by chain or other gearing. The pedal crank axle is held
by a connecting rod suspended from the fixed drum shaft and is preferably fitted
with ball bearings to allow a slight backward and forward motion of the cycle
machine.
The machine is fitted with an indicator or counting apparatus to show the
distance travelled in a given time, and, if desired, two or more drums can be
mounted side by side on the same fixed shaft.
By the above arrangement of machine no brake or fly wheel is required; it can
be ridden with perfect safety; the inner surface of the hollow drum forms as it
were the road or track, and the revolution of the running wheel or wheels causes
the said drum to revolve on the fixed shaft.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1893.
JOHN WILLIAM PATEMAN,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved "Home Trainer' " or Machine for Practising Cycle
Riding or Racing.
I, JOHN WILLIAM PATEMAN, of 1 The Nook, Ainsworth Road, West
Croydon, in the County, of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention has for its object a novel arrangement of apparatus for the use of
cyclists to be used as a "home trainer or as a racing or practising machine.
"
For this purpose I mount a large hollow drum or wheel on an axle (preferably
fixed) supported by bearings carried by suitable frames, such drum being provided
with an internal track and capable of revolving freely on said axle by means of
interposed ball bearings.
On the interior surface or track of this hollow drum or wheel is or are mounted
one or more running wheels of a similar character to those of cycles, and I
employ in connection with such running wheel or wheels, a frame carrying &

page_text: saddle and a pedal crank axle connected to the running wheel or wheels by chain
or other gearing.
The pedal crank axle is held by a connecting rod suspended from the fixed drum
shaft and preferably fitted with ball bearings to allow a slight backward and forward
motion of the cycle machine.
The machine is fitted with an indicator or counting apparatus to show the
distance travelled in a given time and, if desired, two or more drums can be
mounted side by side on the same fixed shaft.
The above arrangement of machine can be ridden with perfect safety; the inner
surface of the hollow drum or wheel forms as it were the road or endless track
and the revolution of the running wheel or wheels causes the said drum or wheel
to revolve on the fixed shaft.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section and Fig. 2 is a cross section of a
"home-trainer" constructed according to my invention and provided with a single
or central track, and
Fig. 3 is an end elevation partly in section and Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a
home trainer having two tracks and two cycle machines.
In all the figures like parts are indicated by similar letters of reference.
I will first describe my invention as represented at Figs. 1 and 2.
A is a large hollow drum or wheel having arms a, fixed to central hubs or
bosses a', and a central annular track a' fixed to the arms a. The drum or wheel A
is carried by an axle b, which may either revolve with the drum or wheel A or may
be held stationary by any suitable means in the framework or standards c;
preferably I make the axle b fixed.
The driving or running wheel d, with its framework d³, cranks d, gearing & and
saddle d', is suspended from the axle b by means of connecting rods or slings ee,
which may be made fast with the axle 6 when the latter is a fixture, or may be
allowed to swing on the axle; a guard f of wirework or of other suitable material
is fixed to the connecting rods or slings e or to any stationary part of the machine
on both sides thereof.
A distance indicator 9 of any suitable construction is operated by means of
a chain or band g' and sprocket wheels g³ ³, one of which is fixed to the working
shaft of the indicator, whilst the other is fixed to one of the hubs or bosses a¹;
the indicator. g. is carried by a standard or frame at a suitable height and distance
from aud facing the cyclist to enable the latter to ascertain the speed and distance
travelled.
is a small brake pulley fixed on one of the hubs or bosses a', and which may
be acted upon by a leather or steel spring band and lever (not shown) in any
ordinary manner for the purpose of stopping the drum or wheel A at any desired
time.
In the arrangement represented at Figs. 3 and 4, two drums or wheels A are
mounted on an axle b, but instead of employing arms a on each side of the track a*,
each drum or wheel Á has arms a only on one side of the track a³, leaving such
wheels or drums A open on their outer sides and thereby facilitating the entry and
exit of the rider. Also brackets i mounted on each side of the framework c and
fixed at their upper ends to the frameworks d' assist in supporting the driving
wheels d, which latter are also suspended by the connecting rods or slings e e'.
I also. with this arrangement of machine, employ brake levers j, which may be
pivotted to the brackets i. These levers are provided with brake rollers or
blocks j' which can be caused to bear upon the running surfaces or tracks a² as may
be required to stop the motion of the drums or wheels A. A guard is also
employed near the inner side of each drum or wheel A and the indicators y are
driven by bands or guts g¹ passing around grooved pulleys g² g' instead of by
chains and sprocket wheels as in the arrangement shown at Figs. I and 2.
Each machine is operated by a rider or cyclist seated on a saddle d' and rotating
a driving or running wheel d by means of the cranks and gearing as in an

page_text: ordinary velocipede; the said wheel d by the friction of the tyre on a track a
causes a drum or wheel A to revolve.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven❤.
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what [
claim is :-
1. A home trainer or machine for practising cycle riding or racing consisting of
a hollow drum or wheel having on its inner surface a continuous track, combined
with a running or driving wheel or wheels, a saddle or seat, and suitable driving
gear, the said driving or running wheel or wheels being suspended or supported in
such manner as to rest on the track, and so that the act of working the driving or
running wheel or wheels causes the hollow drum or wheel to revolve, substantially
as herein shown and described.
2. A home trainer or machine for practising cycle riding or racing constructed
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated thin 02-1 100
J. W. PATEMAN,
By Harris & Mills,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents..