IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Morgan-Brown at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th February 1883. Communi-
cated to him from abroad by Max Raschke of Berlin Germany
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN Patent Agent of 38 Southampton Buildings London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES" [communicated to him from abroad by Max
Raschke of Berlin Germany]
With the two separate axles of the wheels of the Vehicle are rigidly connected
two vertical rods of tubular section whose upper and lower ends are jointed by
connecting rods the frame thus obtained may take the shape of a rhomboid The
lateral tubes are composed of two parts the lower ones entering the upper and are
free to move up and down in them within certain limits determined by the
strain upon springs fixed to the upper part of the frame and bearing the lower
portion of the bicycle with which they are in connection through rods rivetted to
the lower tubular rods The latter are jointed to two cross bars which turning
round a bolt are placed at such a distance from each other that they cannot check
the vertical movement of the tubular rods by coming into contact with a shaft
underneath them Between these cross-bars a bolt carries a vertical bar whose
lower extremity is taken up by a connecting rod and whose upper extremity
supports the riders seat
The aforesaid shaft which is made up of several parts united by universal joints
is borne by brackets formed in the vertical bar and lower rods respectively
Between the two branches of the vertical bar this shaft carries a ratchet wheel
and on each side of the latter is a treadle having a pawl with whose aid causing
the treadle to move up and down the shaft is put in inotion either in one or other
direction according to the position the pawl occupies in respect of the ratchet
wheel The treadles are connected by a cord which runs over a pulley fastened on
the underside of the seat so that the descent of one treadle affects its fellow
being lifted, they being applied alternately to effect the rotary motion of the
shaft.
On both extremities of the shaft are two bevil wheels of different size one of
which is made to gear with corresponding bevil wheels according with the velocity
it is desired to obtain. I bring the bevil wheels in or out of gear by means of

page_text: leverage. Said wheels are situated on a vertical shaft taken up by a frame portion
fixed to the tubular rod. This shaft carries a third toothed wheel transmitting
motion to the axles of the driving wheels.
Above the axles of the aforesaid driving wheels are placed two brake pulleys
which receive their motion by means of a toothed wheel which gears with the
wheel on the axle By pressing the brake levers down and discontinuing to work
the treadle the bicycle may be brought to rest almost instantaneously when it is
desired to pass curves one lever only is pressed down
With this bicycle the shocks which the driver usually experiences are entirely
obviated for the upper part of the frame takes them up while the lower part which
is suspended from the springs remains quite unshaken
A modified arrangement differing from that described above in the means by
which the movement of the treadle is transmitted to the driving wheels is as
follows:-
There are two shafts provided each being connected with a treadle, these
treadles are placed to each other in such a manner that one is lifted when the
other descends As they are rigidly connected with the shafts the latter turn
round describing an angle equal to that of the treadles causing levers which are
rigidly attached to them to describe the same angle. Said levers turn other levers
round the axle of the driving wheel and set it in motion, the pawls attached to
them operating on the circumference of a ratchet wheel placed on the driving
wheel axle.
In a further modification the movement of the treadle is transmitted by means
of toothed wheels and cord pulleys Below the main shaft are situated the treadles
whose ends are formed into segment wheels having teeth which gear with those of
a corresponding wheel on the shaft. Both segment wheels run loosely on the shaft
and each carries a pawl working a ratchet wheel located between the two segments
so that the pawls are alternately applied to it The movement is further trans-
mitted by the aid of cord pulleys and toothed wheels the latter being attached to
the axles of the driving wheels.
A con-
The distinctive features of a further arrangement consist principally in the
employment of a rigid frame and the cord pulleys transmitting the motion of the
shaft without the aid of intermediate devices Springs are connected with tubular
sliding pieces capable of sliding on the rods forming part of the frame
necting bar on which the riders seat rests joins said sliding pieces From the axle
of the driving wheel extend two brackets They are held in position by rods and
carry the shaft as well as a rod to which two brackets are fixed holding the central
part of the main shaft which may be connected or disconnected with the ends by
a coupling mechanism There are treadles and two ratchet wheels fitted to said
shaft. Two treading pieces either of which according to the velocity the rider
wants to obtain may be made use of, the rods holding the brackets being suitably
fastened to the frame A cord passes, as in the former cases from the treadles over
a pulley fixed to the underside of the seat The main shaft has cord pulleys
fastened on its ends from which motion is transferred to another pulley placed on
the axles by means of a crossed Cord.