Year: 1897

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY NORTHCOTT of Hatcham Ironworks Pomeroy Street London
S.E. Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I make the handles of caotchouc or other material that can be made air tight,
formed as annular closed bags with air valves so that the bags can be filled with
air under pressure in the same way as the well known pneumatic tyres. These
annular bags when uninflated can readily be slipped onto and off from the handle
bars and are fixed on by inflation. The handle bar may have a bulge or groove
or series of them to better retain the pneumatic handles in place. I prefer to
cover the elastic bags with a netted, knitted or woven cover to withstand the air
pressure and to improve the grip.
I employ bevel gearing for connecting the treadle shaft with the driving wheel,
and on the intermediate shaft I mount two sets of bevels of different sizes so
arranged that either set may be moved into gear with corresponding bevels on the
treadle axle and driving wheel axle, and thus two different speeds or gears obtained.
I prevent the steering wheel from slewing round further than necessary for
the smallest curve, by affixing to the frame a buffer head to come into contact with
a portion of the steering head when the latter is at the extreme position required
for steering purposes.
Dated this thirty first dov of December 1900
I, WILLIAM HENRY NORTHCOTT of 7 St. Mary's Road, Peckham in the county
of Surrey, V Engineer (and of Hatcham Ironworks Pomeroy Street London S.E.)
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:-
I make the handles of caoutchouc or other material that can be made air-
tight, formed as annular closed bags with air valves so that the bags can be filled
with air under pressure in the same way as the well known pneumatic tyres.
These annular bags when uninflated can be readily slipped on to and off from
the handle-bar and are fixed on by inflation. The handle-bar may have a bulge,
or groove, or series of them, to better retain the pneumatic handles in place.
I prefer to cover the elastic bags with a netted, knitted, or woven cover to with-
stand the air pressure, and to improve the grip.

page_text: I employ bevel gearing for connecting the treadle shaft with the driving wheel,
and on the intermediate shaft I mount two sets of bevels of different sizes so
arranged that either set may be moved into gear with corresponding bevels on
the treadle axle and driving wheel axle, and thus two different speeds or gears
obtained.
:
I prevent the steering-wheel from slewing round further than necessary for
the smallest curve by affixing to the frame a buffer-head to come into contact
with a portion of the steering head when the latter is at the extreme position
required for steering purposes.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 shows the arrangement I prefer to adopt
for driving by bevel gearing. A. is a crown wheel fitted on the treadle spindle
in place of the usual chain wheel. It has two sets of teeth, so that by shifting
the pinion B. on to the outer or inner ring, the relative speed of the treadle &
driving wheel may be altered. The pinion B. is kept in the required position
on the shaft. C. by a spring catch 1). I prefer to carry the bearing E. on a lever
or cam, so that the pinion B. can be taken out of gear with the crown wheel A.
before sliding it. along the shaft C. The pinion slides on a feather F on the
shaft. C.
Figs 2 & 3. shows a longitudinal and end view of my improved pneumatic
handles. In Fig. 2. C. is the annular space, into which air is pumped through
-the non-return valve H. by means of the ordinary inflater used for pumping up
the tyres. J. is the opening through which the handle-har passes. The bag
or handle is covered by the network shewn on the left at K.
:
Figs 4 & 5 shows my method of fixing a buffer spring in such a manner as
to come in contact with a portion of the steering head when it, is slewed round.
L. is a bent spring fixed to a bracket M. which is attached to the frame of the
machine. In place of the bent spring I may use a spiral spring or stop on each
side carried in a similar manner. The head N. comes in contact with the spring
or stop in the action of steering the machine, & the spring or stop prevents the
head slewing round further than is necessary.
Fig. 6. shows adjustable buffers, O. O. fitted instead of a spring.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. The improved form of cycle handles substantially as described & illustrated
in the accompanying drawings, consisting of annular bags of caoutchouc, or other
suitable material fixed on the handle bars & inflated with air.
2. The two speed bevel driving gear, consisting of a double crown wheel &
pinion and pair of bevel wheels, substantially as described & illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
3. The arrangement of a buffer head for preventing the steering wheel from
slewing round further than is necessary, substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
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