Improvements in Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 25th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Cycles.
We, FERDINAND STRUMPEN, of 50 and 51, Oberthor, Oedt, Rhenish Prussia,
Painter, JEAN SLICKERS, of 3, Peterstrasse, Kempen, Mechanician, and THEODOR
SLICKERS, of 3, Peterstrasse, Kempen, Mechanician, all in the Empire of Ger-
many, 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;
-
Our invention relates to cycles, and comprises an improved folding cycle which,
as compared with the systems heretofore used, is distinguished by simple con-
struction, easy and quick running, convenient transportation, light weight, cheap
manufacture and safety in use.
In the accompanying drawing we have represented a cycle constructed accord-
ing to our said invention.
Figure 1 shows a side elevation,
Figure 2 a front elevation and
Figures 3 and 4 details of the same.
The improved cycle presents a similar form to the high cycles formerly used,
but is of the size of the ordinary safety cycles now customary. The driving
takes place from the front wheel which is provided with a transmitting mecha-
nism. For this purpose the front wheel axle a is supported in ball bearings in
the branches of the fork and furnished with a large sprocket wheel b. Above
the crank shaft and attached to the handle bar stem of the machine, is supported
a hub c having two toothed crowns c¹ and c₁₁ which effect the transmission, a
chain passing round the sprocket wheel b and the toothed crown c¹, whilst the
other toothed crown cl communicates its movement to a pinion d arranged on
the hub of the front wheel. For putting the mechanism under tension an adjust-
ing screw e passes through a lug e on a collar e surrounding the socket tube,
but not fastened thereto. The nose of the adjusting screw bears on a lug c³ fixed
to the fork crown, so that by separating the two lugs by means of the adjusting
screw the communicating gear is raised, thus tightening the chains.
The backbone f of the cycle is slid upon a sleeve running in ball bearings and
arranged on the handle bar of the machine, being fixed thereon by means of a
screw g; at the top it carries the saddle support adapted to be fixed by means
of a clamping screw h, at the lower part a step i and terminates in the small rear
wheel. A screw k serves for binding the steering post to the socket tube so that
by tightening the same accidental steering is prevented.
The front elevation of the cycle represented in Figure 4 shows the construc-
tional form of a chainless driving mechanism. In this case, the front wheel
axle a running in ball hearings in the branches of the fork is also furnished with
a large toothed wheel which transmits its movement to a toothed pinion ell
The axle c of the toothed
gearing with and arranged above the same in the fork.
pinion carries a toothed wheel c¹ which gears with a toothed pinion d arranged
upon the hub of the front wheel of the cycle, thereby imparting movement to
this pinion and at the same time to the front wheel. We fix the branches of the

page_text: front fork to the fork crown by means of screws, (not shown) so that by unscrew-
ing these screws the fork branches can be separated and the front wheel rapidly
removed for repairs.
The great advantage of our improved cycle, besides those herein before men-
tioned, consist firstly in that the cycle may be quickly and easily taken to pieces
after removing the fastening screw g, thereby enabling it to be taken into rooms,
railway carriages and the like, and secondly in that such cycle can be used with
considerably greater facility by reason of its lighter weight and is therefore more
suitable for health.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
A front-driving folding cycle characterised by the feature that the driving axle a
held in ball bearings in the branches of the front wheel fork is provided with a toothed
wheel which transmits its movement to a gear arranged above and thence to
the front wheel hub, and that by removing a screw g such cycle may at once be
divided into two parts.
Dated this 24th day of December 1897.
CHARLES JUNGE,
Agent for the Applicants.