IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

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I; JOHANN HEINRICH SCHULZE of 75 Linien-Street Berlin, N Inventor do
hereby declare the nature of my said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
A much felt disadvantage in all the systems of velocipedes used as yet consists
in their not attaining on uneven ground, the velocity required of them, and are
therefore not serviceable for practical use whenever speed is the main point-for
war purposes conveyance of the post etc.
By means of the present construction the inventor endeavours to remove these
deficiencies, and the present construction is based on the principle of introducing a
fly-wheel, the purpose of which is similar to that of fly-wheels in traction and
other steam engines.
In the accompanying design
Fig 1) represents a side-view of a velocipede constructed after the present
system.
Fig. 2 is a view from above of Fig. 2.
3 a section after I II through Fig. 1.
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Two wheel-axles with wheels of equal diameter running loose on them, are con-
nected by means of two stays a a, which allow the axles sufficient play both
back wards and forwards and keep then parallel with each other so as to form a
sliding frame. Within the frame thus formed supports bb & cc project upwards
from each end of the shafts a a'and with the stays a each forms a triangular car-
riage. The two supports b&b are held together by a strong cross-connection d,
which allows the supports a backward and forward motion of about 5 centimetres.
From this cross-connection two arms e e rise slanting, and in the upper ends of
these arms on the one side and in the connecting point of b.& c on the other side a
crank-axle f is bedded in each, and carries each on its extreme end a fly-wheel g.
On each side of the velocipede the fly-wheel g and the two carriage-wheels h & i
are connected on equally long crank-arms by means of crank-pins 8, 8, 8, and by
the three connecting-rods k, k, k, which are in the shape of a triangle, and thus
form a crank-triangle together. On the wheel-axles are springs and on them
rests the carriage-body itself, which can according to requirement be of different
shapes. For instance in the drawing (fig 1) the seat m for a person is built on-

page_text: two capping-pieces, behind the box n (for provisions) and in between and raised a
little is the saddle o for the person who is to drive and steer the conveyance. The
legs of this person operate on treadles p (figs 1 & 2), which are on forks 9, which
are fastened to the cross-connection d in hinge-joints rr, and from these latter the
connecting-bars xx¹ are led up to the cranks ff. The person driving the convey-
ance will by alternate treading with each leg set the mechanism on each side of the
vehicle in motion. The two mechanisms, which are made quite alike and symme
trical are quite independent of each other. By placing a brake-strap round the
rim of each fly-wheel the latter can be turned into a brake-wheel. By means of
the lever v (fig 1) attached to the revolving axle U (fig 2) the brake-strap can be
made to operate by lifting the handle w The handles w are on both sides of the
vehicle at a convenient height and close to the saddle, and the person driving rests
during the drive on both sides with hand and arm on these handles w, which are
fitted into the guide-strap x fastened to the saddle.
If the person driving treads uniformly with both feet on steps p p the vehicle
moves forward in a straight direction provided the wheel-systems on both sides
revolve in the same direction. Should the driver wish to turn to one side, then he
lifts the corresponding handle on the right or the left and thus causes the brake to
operate and check the motion of the mechanism on the side in question, the
mechanism stops altogether as soon as he leaves off treading on that sides.
When checked in this manner the axles and the frame on that side slide back
by about 5 cm; and all the four wheels h, h, h, h, get into a slanting position.
But on the other side of the vehicle the motion continues and is kept up by
continual treading. In consequence of this the vehicle will move forward in a
curved direction and the centre of this curve is formed by the side of vehicle on to
which the brake has been put.
Turning in short curves is effected by putting on the brake quickly on either
side; by immediate quick treading after that the backward motion is brought
about, which the driver checks again when the turning is effected and converts
into a forward motion again.
In order to stop the vehicle quickly both brakes must, of course, be put on at
the same time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
In a velocipede propelled by treadles, the combination of parts, consisting essen-
tially of four travelling wheels of equal diameter, each revolving on its own axle
connected by means of a crank, and connecting with the rod triangle treadle
mechanism, and with a fly wheel on each side, preferably fitted with brake-strap,
substantially as described and shown in the drawings.
Doted this 20-11- P A 100-