IMPROVEMENTS IN " VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
and Co Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
"
VELOCIPEDES communicated to him from abroad by
Jean, Joseph Auguste Larroque of Paris, France. Colonel
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1883.
2
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN 'VELOCIPEDES" [a communi-
cation to him from abroad by Jean, Joseph Auguste Larroque of Paris, France,
Colonel]
This invention relates to velocipedes of that class known as tricycles and
comprises an improved mode of converting the alternate movement of the pedals
into a continuous rotary motion which is imparted to an axle by means of a
connecting rod of peculiar construction; the arrangement of pedals two of which
are paired to act together, and each of the pedals on the same side being articulated
to the extremity of a lever suspended on its centre upon a fixed point which serves
as a pivot; the mode of fitting the driving wheels upon the axle, by means of
mechanism which causes the said wheels to move with the axle when the machine
is going in a straight line but allows either of them to run loosely upon the said
-axle when the said machine is going round curves; the special mechanism herein-
after described or any similar mechanism for enabling the crank to overcome the
dead centres and to render the speed of the axle uniform; the movable seat and
handles, the former moving in a vertical and horizontal direction in order to be
capable of being adjusted to the height of the rider and to permit the front of the
machine to be more or less loaded the latter moving in a vertical direction only;
the mode of fitting the frame upon the axle, by means of a box containing a hub
provided with rollers arranged tangentially to the axle; and the annular stop
pieces upon the axle provided with anti-friction balls for preventing any rocking
of the frame; In the accompanying drawings.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede constructed according to this
invention, one wheel being removed.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same
Figure 3 shews the mechanism for converting the movement of the pedals into
rotary motion.
Figure 4 is a view hereinafter described.
Figure 5 shows in side elevation and horizontal section the arrangement
employed for allowing the driving wheels to move with the axlo in straight
travelling but to move independently of the said axle when going round curves.
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the velocipede comprises a frame A mounted loose
upon the axle B which carries the wheels OC; a bar D connected with the front
part of the frame A carrying, by means of a fork or the like, the steering wheel E;
another bar F provided at its lower end with a roller, connected with the rear
cross bar of the frame A and fitted upon this frame in any suitable manner; and
two frames G carried respectively upon the right and left hand sides of the frame A
and in the upper and lower angles of which aro mounted the axles of the rollers
guiding the vertical to and fro movement of the connecting rod to which I have
given the name of "Maltese Cross"
At the ends of these frames G'are arranged vertical rods H, upon which aro
fixed at JJ, the suspension points which constitute the centres of oscillation or
pivots of the levers K and L of the pedals. To each of these frames G a rod M
is firmly fixed by means of a tie bar N; upon the lower part of the said rod N the
levers are pivotted, and upon the said levers are articulated the connecting
rods P attached to the levers K, L of the podals. By means of these connecting
rods P and levers O the alternate oscillating movement of the levers of the pedals
is converted into an alternate rectilinear movement of the "Maltese Crossés" which
movement is transformed into a continuous rotary movement of the axle.
Upon the axle B is loosely mounted the rectangular frame A the said axle
passing through two bearings a provided with anti-friction balls in order to diminish
the friction resulting from the rotation of the said axle in the frame which it
carries. To the front part of this frame A is fixed the bar D provided with a
fork d having a vertical pivot, in which fork is journalled the guiding wheel E;
and to the rear part of the same frame A is fixed the bar F the extremity of which
carries the roller f. This rod F with the roller f serves, when bearing upon the
ground, as a point of support for the tricycle to prevent the same from falling
backward when its rear part is too heavily laden.
The frame A is provided in front and at the rear with slots in which movė
backward and forward the rods a' supporting the springs a and upon which are
fixed the sents a provided with backs a. The said rods a' may be raised or lowered
and maintained at any height in the slots in accordance with the height of the
rider. By means of the handles a and a the steering wheel E and the brakes
anny be actuated. It is not necessary to describe the arrangement for the trans-
mission of power for changes of direction and for the application of the brakes, as
these arrangements may be of any suitable construction
I will now describe the mode of fitting the driving wheels C upon the axle B.
Upon the said axle B, and outside the frame A, is placed a wheel Plas shewn in
Figure 5 provided with a number of teeth p arranged in the same manner as the
teeth of a ratchet wheel; between this wheel. and the hub p' of the brake drum p³
are located rollers p³ which are prevented, by means of the flanges p*, from moving
laterally and from coming out of their place in which they can only move
circumferentially. The wheels Cmove conjointly with the drums p²
When the axle rotatos in the direction of the arrow, the rollers p³ are held fast
between the teeth p and the hub p₁ of the drum p³ whereby the said drum is
forced to move conjointly with the axle, and consequently causes the wheel C to
rotate in the same time. As long as the machine is going in a straight line the
two wheels move conjointly with the axle B, but when the machine is going
round curves, the wheel which runs over the largest circumference receives a speed

page_text: greater than that of the axle, thus bringing the rollers p³ back against the top of
the teeth p, that is to say, into a space large enough to permit them to move freely.
When the machine after travelling round curves travels again in a straight line,
the speed of the wheel C decreases, the rollers are again held fast, and consequently
the wheel and the axle move conjointly. Thus the putting in or out of gear of
the wheels is effected automatically.
I have shewn in Figure 3, on a larger scale than that of the Figures 1 and 2,
the arrangement of the "Maltese Cross connecting rod."
The said connecting rod is composed of a frame 1 having two slots 2 and 3
arranged cross wise. A roller 4 mounted between the two pieces forming the
crank 5 of the axle B is capable of moving in the slot 2, and the slot 3 serves to
hold the axle B in position during the to and fro vertical movement of the frame 1.
It will be readily understood that if, by means of the levers O (which are jointed
upon the small connecting rods P, the same being also articulated upon a suitable
point of the oscillating levers K and L carrying the pedals) a to and fro vertical
movement is imparted to the end 6 of the connecting rod, which end forms an
integral part with the frame 1, a rotary movement of the crank 5 will result
therefrom.
Above each of the frames 1 is placed a piece provided with a slot which (as also
does the end 6) encompasses a roller I carried by the frame G in order to guide
the movement of the connecting rod and compel the same to remain constantly in
a plane perpendicular to the axle.
The mechanism for preventing the cranks from getting on their dead centres, is
as follows that is to say-at any point of one of the front or rear sides of the
frame is bolted a bent blade 8, the arms of which, when separated, tend to spring
back to their normal position not only on account of the elasticity of the bent
blade but also on account of a spiral spring 9 the extremities of which are attached
to the said arm; two rollers 10 and 11 rotate in two frames which are integral
with a collar 12 fixed upon the axle B, the centre of which together with that of
the collar 12, is situated upon the same straight line. The rollers being situtaed [sic]
between the arms of the bent blade 8 and the sum of their diameters and of that
of the axle B being greater than the normal separation of the two arms of the bent
blade 8, it follows that the rollers when turning compel the said branches to
separate and as soon as the same have gone beyond the maximum point of
separation to which they are subjected by the said rollers, they are brought back
in consequence of their own elasticity and of that of the spring 9, and re-acting
upon the rollers 10 and 11 yield up the power which they had stored when
separating, thus assisting the rotation of the axle B.
When the angle between the position of the rollers 10 and 11 and the axle B is
such that the said rollers are subjected to the action of the bent blade 8 and spring 9
at the time that the roller 4 is placed upon one of its dead centres, this dead centre
will be naturally overcome by the power exerted by the bent blade 8 and spring 9
upon the axle B and in the direction of its movement.
It will be readily understood from the above that the effect produced upon the
axle by the pedals will produce an uniform speed of the axle, as the combined
actions of the "Maltese Cross connecting rod" and of the bent blade 8 and spring 9.
will be nearly constant because the action of the "Maltese Cross" is at a minimum.
when that of the springs is at maximum and vice versa.
The above described velocipede may be provided with any number of pairs of
seats one "Maltese Cross connecting rod" being provided for each pair.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Patent Office on the 23rd February
1884.
"
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine Lake & Patent Agents
Southampton Buildings London "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES A communi-
cation to me from abroad by Jenn Joseph Auguste Larroque, of Paris, France,
Colonel
This invention relates to velocipedes of that class known as tricycles, and
comprises an improved mode of converting the alternate movement of the pedals
into a continuous rotary motion which is imparted to an axle by means of a
connecting rod of peculiar construction which I term "Maltese Cross"; the novel
arrangement of pedals which are paired to act together, the pedals on the same sido
being articulated to the extremity of a lever suspended at its centro upon a fixed
point which serves as a centro of oscillation or as a pivot; the mode of fitting the
driving wheels upon the axle, by means of mechanisin which causes the said wheels.
to move with the axle when the machine is going in a straight line, but allows,
when the said machine is going round curves, whichever wheel rune over the curvo
of larger radius to run loosely upon the said axle; the special mechanism herein-
after described or any similar mechanism for enabling the crank to overcome the
dead centres and to render the speed of the axle uniform; the movable seat and
handles, the former moving in a vertical and horizontal direction in order to bo
capable of being adjusted to the height of the rider and to permit the front of the
machine to be more or less loaded the latter moving in a vertical direction only;
the mode of fitting the frame of the machine upon the axle, by means of a box
containing a hub provided with rollers arranged longitudinally to the axle; and
the annular stop pieces upon the axle provided with anti-friction balls for
preventing any rocking of the frame
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede constructed according to this
invention
Figure 2 is a plan of the same
Figure 3 shows the mechanism for converting the movement of the pedals into a
rotary motion
.
Figuro 4 is a side view of the mechanism for causing the crank to overcome the
dead centres, this crank being actuated by the movable frame of the connecting
rod
Figure 5 shows in side elevation, and horizontal section, the means employed for
allowing the driving wheels to move with the axle in straight travelling and for
enabling them to move independently of the said axle when running round curves
As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the velocipede comprises a frame A mounted
loosely upon the axlo B which carries the wheels C, C; a bar D integral with the
front part of the frame A carrying by means of a fork d or the like the steering
wheel E; a bar F provided at its lower end with a roller fand connected with the
rear cross bar of the frame A or fitted upon this frame in any suitable manner;
and two frames G carried respectively upon the right and left hand sides of the
frame A and in the upper and lower angles of which are mounted the axles of the
rollers guiding the vertical movements of the connecting rod. At the ends of
these frames G are arranged vertical rods H upon which are fixed at J, J the
suspension points which constitute the centres of oscillation or pivots of the
levers K. and L of the pedals; to each of these frames G a rod M is firmly fixed

page_text: by means of a tie-bar N; upon the lower part of the said rod N the levers O are
pivotted, and upon the said levers are articulated the connecting rods P attached
to the lever K L of the pedals. By means of these connecting rods P and levers
O the alternate oscillating movements of the levers of the pedals are converted
into alternate rectilinear movements of the "Maltese Crosses" which movements
are converted into a continuous rotary movement of the axle.
.
Upon the axle B is loosely mounted the rectangular frame A the said axle.
passing through two bearings a provided with anti-friction balls in order to diminish
the friction resulting from the rotation of the said axle in the frame which it
carries To the front part of this frame A is fixed the bar D provided with a
fork d having a vertical pivot, in which fork is journalled the steering wheel E,
and to the rear part of the same frame A is fixed the bar F the extremity of
which has likewise the shape of a fork and carries the roller f; this rod F with
the roller f serves, when bearing upon the ground as a point of support for the
tricycle to prevent the same from falling backward when its rear part is too heavily
laden.
The frame A is provided in front and at the rear with slots in which move
backward and forward the rods a' supporting the springs a² and upon which are
fixed the seats a³ provided with backs a; the said rods a¹ may be raised or
lowered and maintained at any height in the slots in accordance with the height of
the rider. By means of the handles a³ and as the steering wheel E and the
brakes may be actuated. It is not necessary to describe the arrangement for the
transmission of power for changes of direction and for the application of the
brakes) as these arrangements may be of any suitable construction.
1 will now describe the mode of fitting the driving wheels C upon the axle B.
Integral with the said axle B and outside the frame A is a wheel P¹ as shown in
Figure 5 provided with a number of teeth p arranged in the same manner as the
teeth of a ratchet wheel; between this wheel and the hub p' of the brake drum p³
are located rollers p³ which are prevented by means of the cheeks p' from moving
laterally and from coming out of their place in which they can only move circum-
ferentially. The wheels C move conjointly with the drums p². When the axle
rotates in the direction of the arrow, the rollers p³ are held fast between the
teeth p and the hub p¹ of the drum p³ whereby the said drum is forced to move
conjointly with the axle, and consequently causes the wheel C to rotate in the
same manner. As long as the machine is going in a straight line, the two wheels C
move with the axle B, but when the machine is going round curves, the wheel
which runs round the curve of larger radius runs at a greater speed than the axle,
thus bringing the rollers p3 back against the top of the teeth p, that is to say-
into a space large enough to permit them to move freely. When the machine,
after travelling round curves, travels again in a straight line, the speed of the
wheel C decreases, the rollers are again held fast and consequently the wheel and
the axle move conjointly thus the putting in or out of gear of the wheels is effected
automatically
I have shewn in Figure 3, on a larger scale than that of Figures 1 and 2, the
arrangement of the "Maltese Cross connecting rod" The said connecting rod is
composed of a frame 1 having two slots 2 and 3 arranged cross wise. A roller 4
mounted between the two pieces forming the crank 5 of the axle B is capable of
moving in the slot 2, and the slot 3 serves to hold the said axle in position during"
the vertical movements of the frame 1. It will be readily understood that if (by
means of the levers O which are jointed upon the small connecting rods P, the same
being articulated upon a suitable point of the oscillating levers K and L carrying
the pedals) a vertical reciprocating movement is imparted to the end 6 of the
connecting rod, which end forms an integral part with the frame 1, a rotary
movement of the crank 5 will result therefrom. Above each of the frames 1 is placed
a sliding piece provided with a slot which (as does the end 6) encompasses a roller I
carried by the frame G in order to guide the movement of the connecting rod and
compel the same to remain constantly in a plane perpendicular to the axle.

page_text: The mechanism for preventing the cranks from getting on their dead centres, is
as follows, that is to say-At any point of one of the front or rear sides of the
frame is bolted a flat spring 8, the arms of which, when separated, tend to spring
back to the normal position, not only on account of the elasticity of the said spring,
but also on account of a spiral spring 9 the extremities of which are attached insido
to the said arms. Two rollers 10 and 11 rotute in two pieces integral with a collar 12
keyed upon the axle B, the centres of which together with that of the collar 12
are situated upon the same straight line. The rollers being situated between the
arms of the spring 8, and the sum of their diameters and that of the axle B
being greater than the normal separation of the two arms of the spring 8, it
follows that the rollers, when turning, compel the said arms to separate, and as
soon as the same have gone beyond the maximum point of separation to which
they are subjected by the said rollers, they are brought back in consequence of
their own elasticity and that of the spring 9, and reacting upon the rollers 10
and 11 yield up the power which they had stored, when separating thus assisting
the rotation of the axle B when the angle at which the rollers 10 and 11 are keyed
upon the axle B is such that the said rollers are subjected to the action of the flat
spring 8 and spiral spring 0 at the time that the roller 4 is placed upon one of
its dead centres, the dead centre will be naturally overcome by the power
oxerted by the springs 8 and 9 upon the axle B and in the direction of its
movement. It will be readily understood from the above that the effort
produced upon the axle by the pedals will produce an almost uniform speed of the
axle, as the combined actions of the "Maltose Cross connecting rod" and of the
springs 8 and 9 will be nearly constant, owing to the action of the "Maltese
Cross" being at a minimum when that of the springs is at a maximum and coca
versa. The above described velocipede may be provided with any convenient
number of pairs of seats, one "Maltese Cross" connecting rod being provided for
each pair.
"
In Figures 6 and 7 I show in side elevation and plan a modification of the mode
of actuating the axle by the "Maltese cross connecting rods and pedals. In
this arrangement, instead of imparting a to and fro vertical movement to
the said connecting rods, the same are caused to move conjointly with the pedals
which impart thereto an oscillatory movement, causing them to describe circular
ares the centres of which are situated upon the axis of the pedals. The transverse
slot of the "Maltese cross" connecting rod has accordingly the shape of a circular
are having also its centre upon the axis of the pedals in order to be able to hold
during the whole of its stroke, the axle of the driving wheels. According
to this arrangement the connecting roda P, the levers Ō, the frames G, the
rollers guiding the vertical reciprocating movements of the "Maltese cross"
connecting rod, the horizontal frame A and other parts are dispensed with the
latter being replaced by a vertical frame carried by the axle in the same manner
as the frame A. This vertical frame carries the adjustable treadles, the handle
used for steering and the handle used, for actuating the brakes, and its supports at
its lower end the fixed shaft having rotating loosely upon it the rollers upon which
are mounted the levers of the pedals and the "Malteso cross connecting rods;
ench of these rods being connected with the corresponding pedal so that every
displacement of the treadle causes an equal displacement of the corresponding
"Maltese cross" connecting rod.
17
In Figures 6 and 7 A indicates the vertical frame mounted loosely upon the
axle B and terminated at its lower end by two arms C carrying the shaft D upon
which are mounted loosely the rollers G G to which are fixed the lovers F and F
and the bars E E¹ terminated by the "Maltese cross" connecting rods H and H.
In the latter are formed the slots 11 in each of which moves a roller 2 connected
by the crank 3 to the axle B which is constantly embraced in the slot 4 having
the shape of a circular arc whose centre is at D.
The other parts of the machine are similar to those shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
The tricycle actuated by the "Maltese cross" connecting rod arranged as above

page_text: described may also comprise a variable number of seats, such as one seat with
two "Maltese cross" connecting rods, two seats placed back to back with two
such rods, or two seats by the side of one another with four connecting rods, or in
pairs back to back with four "Maltese cross" connecting rods
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim the tricycle above described and shewn in the accompanying
drawing, the novel features of which are
First The oscillating lever with pedals to which is attached a connecting rod P
actuating a lever O in order to cause the "Maltese Cross" connecting rod to be
alternately raised and lowered, and the axle to rotate in consequence thereof
Second The "Maltese cross " connecting crod intermediate between the pedal
levers and axle for converting the oscillating movement of the said levers into the
continuous rotary movement of the axle.
Third The suspension of the pedal levers by means of a frame G mounted
loosely upon the axle, and which carries the axles of the guiding rollers I, and to
the lower part of which is fixed a bar H having situated upon it the centres of
oscillation or pivots J of the levers K and L
Fourth. The mode of fitting the frame A upon the axle which passes through
roller boxes arranged in the sides of the said frame
Fifth The stop pieces placed upon the axle to prevent the frame A from moving
laterally.
Sixth The mode of fitting the seats upon the frame A to render them movable
both vertically and horizontally.
Seventh The mode of fitting the wheels upon the axle by means of the wheels P¹
having peripheral projections or teeth p, the rollers p³ and the drums p² moving
conjointly with the wheels C for the purpose specified
Eighth The arrangement above described and shewn in Figure 4 of the
accompanying drawing, and comprising the flat spring 8, and the rollers 10 and 11,
made to move conjointly with the axle B by means of the collar 12 and operating
in such a manner as to overcome the dead centres of the crank and to render the
speed of the axle uniform
In witness whereof I the said Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this twenty third day of February in the year of Our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
HENDV IT LAKE Gol