Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 31st Dec., 1892
UUMI DEN
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, JOACHIM RAGOUCY of No. 15 Rue du Terrage, Paris, France, do hereby
leclare 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:-
Since velocipedes were invented much has been done to improve the construction
of such vehicles but notwithstanding many devices for rendering them strong and
light the results arrived at are not altogether satisfactory.
One of my improvements relates to the rim and tyre of the wheels which I make
of the necessary strength but in such a manner that any spoke can be removed and
replaced without dismounting the caoutchouc tyre, the spokes being attached to an
internal rib by special nuts which put the spokes under equal strain. I also attach
the caoutchouc tyre without cement by employing a special form of rim. Others
of my improvements consist in means of preventing shocks and vibration in the
different parts of the velocipede. Pneumatic tyres, though highly elastic have
the disadvantage that they are quickly worn, and that they are liable to be cut or
burst which renders them quite unserviceable. I employ caoutchouc tyres but when
they are cut the velocipede is not stopped, the elasticity being maintained by inter-
posing caoutchouc or blade springs between the body of the vehicle and the axles,
the blade springs being such that they can be easily changed by means of a
key which is formed by the support of the saddle. The steering handle is also
arranged in such a manner as to prevent the handles from suffering vibrations.
By a special construction I fix the pedals to the crank arms for any desired stroke,
and I provide in a simple manner for the extension of the driving chain, and for the
fixing of the support of the saddle.
I have also devised a simple and elegant appliance for preventing the velocipede
from being moved, and I so mount the wheels that they can at cnce be removed
when desired.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings shews my mode of fixing the spokes to the
rim A which is shaped to receive the caoutchouc tyre B, the edges e being rounded
so as not to cut the caoutchouc. The rim is formed to present an internal rib C
which has through it holes to receive the hooks for the spokes, these holes being
lined with eyelets c rivetted into them. The screw which has an enlarged hook
shaped head is passed through the eyelet and then introduced into the nut D which
is a short tube having its end reduced to form a seating for the conical head d of the
spoke The part G of the tube is swelled and provided with holes to admit
a spike for turning the nut so as to strain or release the spoke. Fig. 2 shews
another form of rim and tyre, and Fig. 3 shews a rim having hooked into its rib a
spoke that is strained at the nave of the wheel as shewn in Fig. 4. The body E
of the nave has projecting from it a flange F with its edges turned over and
inwards as at G. The screwed ends of the spokes are passed through holes in the
edge G and nuts are screwed upon the spokes to strain and hold them.
As shewn in Fig. 5 the nut B is externally threaded and screwed into a
projection J from the rim. Fig. 6 shews a modification in which the screw Chas
a conical head engaged in a hole of the rim at B.
Fig. 7 shews the caoutchouc tyre D held in a groove of the tyre B which is made
of dovetail form with two flanges >. The pressure on the tyre caused by the load
tends to swell its dovetailed part so that it is firmly retained in its seating; c is a
spoke. Fig. 8 shews the same hold for the tyre in a rim made of thin metal
doubled back.
Fig. 9 shews a blade spring fixed to the fork by a box B which is slightly taper

page_text: and which encloses the end of the fork A and the ends of the spring blades G.
The end of the fork from a is squared and has a notch b; on the blades G is
rivetted a plate d, a bolt E having a head and nuts e tightens A and G in the
box B.
'
Fig. 10 shews the support of the saddle made to be used as a key for the nuts of
the velocipede. The tubular parts A and B are joined to the piece G which
is made as a wrench. The tube A. fixes the saddle support in its position by means
of the sleeve D and screw d. By loosening d the part A can be withdrawn
from D and the combined parts A, G and B can at once be used as a key.
Figs. 11 and 12 shew the mounting of the sleeve in which the saddle support
slides, arranged in such a manner that the whole can be taken apart. The sleeve
is in two pieces D and D' which have flanges clamping the tubes A A' when
the nuts are screwed up on the rods B B' forming part of the framing of the
velocipede.
Fig. 13 shews the steering handle arranged to save the hands from vibrations.
Through the split sleeve A which is connected to the fork of the front wheel
is passed the tube B with a little free play as determined by the screw a which
tightens more or less the split sleeve. Two springs are fixed at one end to
the sleeve A, at the other to rings C which are attached to B by screw b.
As B has free play within A the sudden lifting of A is transferred to B through
the springs and therefore with little shock to the hands holding B. Figs. 14 and 15
shew another arrangement of steering handle for avoiding shocks. A. box A
containing the end of the steering fork B which is flattened into circular form,
contains also a caoutchouc washer D.
The steering arms F are fixed to the cars G of the box A, so that between the
fork B and the arms F there is interposed the caoutchouc D which deadens shock.
If desired, the washer E may be set up against the caoutchouc.
Figs. 16 and 17 shew the fixing of the pedals in a secure manner on the crank
arms. Each arm is made with a slot B in which the axis D of the pedal can
be adjusted nearer to br farther from the centre. The face of the arm A is
grooved and a washer C is similarly grooved, so that, when the nut E is screwed
up, while the collar d bears against the back of the arm the grooved washer C
has its ridges engaged with the grooves of the arm, and thus the axis D is held
firmly in position.
Fig. 18 shews my arrangement for taking up slack of the driving chain. The
two lower tubes B B' of the framing have fitted on them threaded tubes T T', these
being fitted by a necking S so that they can turn but not move end ways. On the
tubes T T can slide the sleeves A A' which are connected by the tube M and
which have projecting down from them the bearings for the pedal axle. By turning
the nuts E the sleeves A A¹ and the pedal axle can be moved so as to tighten the
driving chain.
Fig. 19 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 20 is an external view of my lock,
Fig. 21 is a section of the sleeve and tube C of which Fig. 22 is a transverse
section. A is a piston urged by the spring R which surrounds the piston rod A'
and butts against the ring B. This ring is screwed on the tube C which is split
along its length and in the split move the studs a a projecting from A. The tube C
is surrounded by washers E E' fixed to the lettered rings D D¹. These rings have
as many grooves parallel to the axis as there are letters and each of the washers E E'
has a stud which enters one of the grooves of D and D'. In each of the washers E E¹
in radial line with its stud G is formed a groove F which allows the stud a to pass
when the corresponding letters of the rings D D' are in line with a mark I indicating
the centre line of the piston A and its studs a. The piston cannot be drawn in
opposition to the spring out of engagement with a hole in the sleeve M unless one
has knowledge of the proper letters to set the rings D D', and then the piston can
be withdrawn by pulling the button K. It is to be understood that the lock is
applied to the tube above the fork of the steering wheel, which is turned to an angle
and locked in that position, thus rendering the velocipede unserviceable.

page_text: Fig. 23 is a section and Fig. 24 is a plan shewing the application of caoutchouc
springs between the fork I and the axle C.
The caoutchouc washers A. hollowed inside and out to give greater elasticity are
held within a box G which is attached to the fork I and has a central guide D
passing through the ends E E' of the box. The axle C has on it a washer B under
the caoutchouc washers and the axle and its extended part F pass through slots R
in the sides of the box G so as to allow play, the movements of the axle being thus
transmitted through the caoutchouc without shock. A nut H prevents the fork I
and box G from shifting longitudinally on the axle C. Figs. 25 and 26 shew
another arrangement of caoutchouc springs. In this case a caoutchouc block A is
held in a box G attached to plates B of the fork I, and a plate D on the axle C
bears against the caoutchouc, the axle being free to move in slots E.
Fig. 27 is a section and Fig. 28 is a plan shewing a fixing which can be readily
dismounted of the wheel fork. On the tube A of the framing is fixed the piece B
which is somewhat taper and fitted to slide in dovetail guides in another piece C,
and to this piece are fixed the arms D of the fork. By means of a screw E the
pieces B and C are firmly clamped together, this screw having pinned on it a collar F
and being prevented from loosening by a lock nut G.
Fig. 29 is a side view of a bicycle to which are applied the various improvements
hereinbefore described.
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 I
claim in respect of improvements in the construction of velocipedes is : —
1. Wheel rims of forms such as are shewn in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8.
2. The mode of fixing the spokes by hooking them to a rib of the rim and
straining them by nuts as described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6
and 7.
3. The construction of nave shewn in Fig. 4.
4. The arrangement of blade springs described with reference to Fig. 9.
5. The arrangements of caoutchouc springs as described with reference to
Figs. 23, 24, 25 and 26.
6. The construction of support for the saddle so as to serve as a key as described
with reference to Fig. 10.
7. The fixing of the sleeve for the saddie support shewn in Figs. 11 and 12.
8. The connection of the steering handle to the fork through springs as shewn in
Figs. 13 and 14.
9. The mode of adjusting and fixing the pedals shewn in Figs. 16 and 17.
10. The adjustable carriage for the pedal axle shewn in Fig. 18.
11. The application of a lock to hold the steering wheel at an angle and thereby
to prevent movement of the velocipede.
12. The connection of the fork to the tube of the frame as shewn in Figs. 27
and 28.
Dated this 11th day of November 1892.
--וויז
BEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.