IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY GENERALLY
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Alfred Milnes Hobson and
Edward Cozens Smith at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 2nd April 1870.
We, ALFRED MILNES HOBSON, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey,
and EDWARD COZENS SMITH, of Enfield, in the County of Middlesex,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Tuvention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VELOCIPEDES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO MACHINERY
GENERALLY," to be as follows:-
:―
This Invention relates to velocipedes, and consists of the improvements
in their construction herein-after described, parts of which improvements
may be applied to machinery generally where it is required to obtain
rotary from reciprocating motion.
The object of the said Invention, as applied to velocipedes, is to
increase the power of the feet, obtain greater speed, and provide a safer
and more comfortable position for the rider. In carrying out the same,
at the outer ends of a short shaft we fix two driving wheels; at a
suitable distance in front, and in a light frame connected with the
driving wheel shaft we mount a third or steering wheel; across the front
part of the frame we mount a rocking shaft, near the opposite ends of

page_text: which shaft we key fast upon it two double levers or double cranks, and
at a suitable distance on each side of the centre of the same shaft we key
fast two paddles or foot rests, to be worked by the legs or feet of the
rider, and by which the propelling power is obtained and transmitted
to the driving wheels in the following manner:-To the free ends of
each of the two levers on the rocking or paddle shaft, or directly to the
sides of the paddles themselves, we attach two connecting rods, which
are carried backwards and connected at their opposite ends to two steel,
leather, or other bands, which pass partially or wholly round two
wheels or pulleys mounted upon the shaft of the driving wheels; these
pulleys are formed with an inner and outer ring; the inner rings are
keyed fast to the shaft, while the outer rings are loose upon the inner
rings. In the periphery of the inner ring opposite each other we cut
two or more wedge-shaped notches; in each of these notches we place
one or more rollers, the diameters of which rollers are made a little less
than the depth of the deepest part of the notch. As the outer rings
are partially turned upon the inner rings by the bands before mentioned
they cause the rollers to roll forward from the deep towards the shallow
ends of the notches, and thus the rollers are made to act as wedges and
cause both rings to move or rotate together in the forward direction at
each stroke of the paddle. The impetus thus given by the outer ring
to the inner one causes the latter to rotate within the former, and
thereby imparts motion to the driving wheels. When the forward
motion of the outer ring ceases the rollers instantaneously lose their
hold by the continuing forward motion of the inner ring, in the periphery
of which the thin end of the wedge-shaped notch is forward, so that the
rollers then run back into the deep part of the notch.
Our improvements in this kind of wheel or pulley consist, first, in
making a waved groove in the periphery of the outer ring for causing
it to prevent the band from slipping; secondly, in forming the said outer
ring with a wide boss where it fits ou to the inner ring; and, thirdly, in
making the inner ring of increased width for increasing the holding
power of the rollers and the durability of the working surfaces, by which
improvements the said wheels or pulleys are made available for being
applied to machinery generally where it is required to obtain continuous
rotary from intermittent rotary and reciprocating motions. A fixed and
a loose collar keep the two rings in position.
Another of our improvements in the construction of velocipedes
consists in mounting the steering wheel in segmental horn plates, to

page_text: which we attach bridle rods terminating respectively in a cross head
or handle, and which is intended to serve the double purpose of steering
and forming a fulcrum which the rider pulls upon when working the
treadles. For affording a better and more secure seat we place the latter,
which is formed with a hollow and a back, between the driving wheels
in the after part of the frame, and a little in advance of the driving
wheel shaft; this seat also becomes by its form and position a fulcrum
for increasing the pushing or treading propelling power of the legs and
feet of the rider for obtaining greater speed. The paddles are formed
with a heel rest and toe cap, and the sole is provided with a spindle,
upon which it rocks to allow it to adjust itself to the motion of the
ankle joint of the foot. The paddle by preference is mounted between
two horns, so that it can be adjusted at a greater or less distance from
the axis of the rocking shaft for increasing the power of the feet over
heavy or steep ground.