Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1892-Accepted, 28th Jan., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, GOTTHOLD LANGER, Mechanical Engineer, resident of No. 709 Odd Fellows
Building, Saint Louis, State of Missouri, United States of America, 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
tatement:
My invention relates to improvements in velocipedes and consists in the novel
arrangement and combination of parts as will be more fully hereinafter described
and designated in the claims.
The object of my invention is to construct a traction velocipede which carries
parts intended in operation, to facilitate the movement and increase the speed of the
machine.
It comprises three ordinary traction wheels which are so connected with other
parts that motion is implied thereto by said parts.
.
The construction of this class of velocipedes which are in use at the present
time, is, well known and therefore need not be further detailed by me in my
description.
In the drawings:
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my complete invention with one of the rear traction
wheels removed, and other parts broken away and shown in section.
Fig. 2 is a rear end elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on a line X-X in Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a detail view of brake band and its operating mechanism.
Fig. 5 is an enlarged rear sectional view of the brake mechanism with parts
broken away.
"
Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the complete construction with one of the rear
traction wheels removed, other parts broken away and sectioned, the device
embodying modified operating and brake mechanisms.
Fig. 7 is a rear end elevation of the complete velocipede embodying the modified
constructions. ***
"
Fig. 8 is a detail top plan view of the steering lever made use of in this
modified construction, and 'showing its connection with the steering head.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the steering-lever showing its connection
with the stand.
4.
Fig. 10 is a detail side elevation of the brake mechanisin made use of, showing in
dotted lines its alternate position in operation.
Referring to the drawings:
:
1 indicates my complete invention, provided with a forward guide wheel 2 and
two rear traction wheels 3 and 4.
It has a swinging ring-frame, 5 connected by intermediate parts, hereinafter
described, with a revolving geared ring-fraine 6 which engages a gear wheel 7
'adjacent the inner side of the wheel 3 upon the axle 8.
In this connection it is necessary to state that the machine is provided with two
of the stationary frames 5 and two of the revolving ring-frames 6, the same being in
vertical and horizontal alignment, with each other, with the stationary frames 5
located relatively within the revolving frames 6 and held a relative distance within
Bame by a number of grooved wheels 9, which are revolubly mounted upon said
frame 5 and which engage the inner peripheries of said revolving ring 6.
The ring 6 is provided upon its outer periphery with gear teeth 10 which corre-
'spond with the gear teeth 11 upon the gear wheel 7. The inner periphery of the
ring 6 is provided with notched segments 12.
By reference to Fig. 3 of the illustrations it will be seen that in cross-section, the

page_text: outer rings 6 are in the form of what is commonly known as the "Swiss Cross."
By this construction two projecting flanges 13 and 14 upon which on their inner
sides travel the wheels 9 mounted upon the fixed frame 5.
In order that the segments 12 upon the inner peripheries of the rings 6 will pass
the said wheels 9 without any frictional contact, said wheels are provided with
annular depressions 15 in their peripheries which allow said wheels 9 to pass the
segments 12 without contact.
Said guide wheels 9 are revolubly. mounted in brackets 16, which are suitably
secured to the rim of the fixed frame 5.
Said rim 5 is provided with an annular projecting flange 17 upon its periphery
and which does not enter into contact with the wheels 9 by reason of the annular
depressions 15 in said wheels 9, as herebefore stated. The flanges 17 are upon
the outer peripheries of said fixed rings 5 and intermediate of the width of same.
The forward guide wheels 2 and the rear. traction wheels 3 and 4. are built after
the ordinary method of construction and as shown in the drawings, are provided
with rubber tires to facilitate the ready movement of the machine over the surface
and compensate for the jars and knocks necessarily caused by the unevenness of the
surface.
The forward guide wheel 2 is provided with a projecting fork 18 which extends
upwards from the axle of said steering-wheel 2 in a vertical direction.
In the construction shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the upper end of said fork or
rather its shank, is provided with a bracket 19 which connects with said shank by a
swivel joint 20, said bracket 20 secured adjacent and above one of the wheels.9 and
permanently and fixedly secured upon the outer periphery of the fixed frame 5.
The object of using a swivel joint, or more properly a ball and socket bearing, is
readily seen from the fact that it is necessary for..a steering-wheel to adjust itself
to different conditions and outlines of the surface on which the machine is to be
operated.
It is not necessary to go into details of this construction as a joint which will
allow a side, front and back movement of the steering-wheel, is the only one which
can practically be used.
It will be seen by reference to the drawings, that the rings 5 and 6 are held in
elevation above the ground by the steering and traction wheels. The bracket 19
forms the front support and the engagement of the teeth 10 upon the rim 6 in the
teeth 11 upon the gear wheel 7; supports the rear side of the same.
The arms of the fork 18 are secured over the shaft 21 by the construction shown
in: Figs. 1 and 6. The bearing portion of said arms have separable yokes 22 which
are secured together after the wheel 2 has been fitted in between the arms of the
fork. 18 and the proper. bearing connections made.
The detail operation of these parts will be more fully hereinafter described, and.
I will now proceed with the operating parts, first mentioning a seat 23 which is held
in position by suitable braces 24 which are secured across both of the inner fixed
frames 5 and which help support the frames upon both sides of the machine in their
proper alignment.
Additional braces are provided by a cross-piece 25 connecting the two fixed
frames 5 immediately in front of the upper wheel 9 and by the arms of the bracket 19
from which the steering-wheel depends.
In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 are shown the oscillating operating levers. Pivotally secured
to and depending from brackets 26 secured upon the under side of the upper centers
of the rims 5, are oscillating levers 27 and 28.
These levers constitute two walking beams which have pedals 29 suitably secured
near their lower ends, and by means of which the operator manipulates the
machine.
Upon the lower ends of said levers are secured pawls 30 which engage in the
segmental teeth 12 upon the inner peripheries of the revolving rings 6, and said.
pawls are engaged upon the outer sides of the levers 27. and 28 and have a spring 31,
the tension of which normally holds the pawls in contact in the segments. 12.

page_text: Suitable castings 32 are secured upon the inner peripheries of the rims 5
immediately above the seat and to which are secured coil tension springs 33
connecting with the levers 27 and 28, the function of which is to hold the levers
normally back towards the seat 23 in order that they are in position for pedal
movement.
The length of the movement of said levers 27 and 28, which is reciprocating, is
controlled by slots 34 which are located at the lower center point in the rims 5 and
the length of which serve as a gauge for the movement of the levers.
V-shaped brackets 35 providing a bearing 36 over the axle 8, extend from said
axle to the rim 5, with their ends fastened to said rims.
I will now proceed to describe the manner of steering the velocipede and the
construction necessary therefor, the same only including the mechanism shown upon
the first sheet of the illustrations.
The steering-head 37 has a cross rod 38, the ends of which are in alignment with
the corresponding cross-bar immediately in the center of the fixed ring 5 and trans-
versely in the center of the entire machine. An upright vertical stationary stand 39
is secured to the lower inside portion of the rims 5 and as shown in Fig. 3, has its
lower portion in the form of a fork to admit of the operation of other parts therein.
The cross-bar 40 upon the stand 39 connects with the cross-bar 38 upon the head 37
by rods 41, and a suitable handle 42 is provided, the same extending rearwardly
from the cross-bar 40, and by means of which the steering-wheel is manipulated.
A wide plate 43 connects the two rims 5 together at their lower center and upon
which said vertical stand 39 is secured, and also other parts, the plate at the same
time serving as a foot rest for the operator.
A back rest 44 consists of a plate of metal or other suitable material, which
connects the two rims together in the rear portion, and which is secured to the
same.
The brake mechanism consists of bands of metal 45 which surround the outer
peripheries of the revolving ring 6 upon the inside projecting flanges 13.
Depending from the rings 5 immediately inside of the flanges 13 upon the
revolving ring 6, are castings 46 connected with said rings by suitable fastenings.
One end of each spring or band of metal 45 is fastened to each of the castings 46,
while the other ends of the bands 45 are connected by a rod 47 which has the lower
end of a toggle lever 48 secured at its center.
Said toggle lever depends from the center of the plate 43 which is provided with
a slot 49 in which said lever has its movement. Brackets 50 depend from the
plate 43 and through their lower ends and through the center of said toggle lever 48
is a shaft 51.
The upper end of said lever is pivoted immediately adjacent the lower side of the
plate 43 to a treadle lever 52.
Said treadle lever 52 is in the form of a bell crank lever having one of its arms
connecting with the toggle-lever 48, and its center is pivoted in upwardly projecting
brackets 53 secured upon the upper side of the plate 43.
The arrangement of the levers will be more readily understood by referring to
Figs. 4 and 5 of the illustrations.
Before proceeding with the detail construction of the modified details, I will
describe the operation of the device as above described.
With the complete machine ready for operation, the operator seats himself upon
the seat 23 and places one foot upon each of the treadles 29. The normal position
of the lever 27 being at the limit of its backward movement when the lever 28 is
forward, and vice versa, the foot is first applied to the treadle upon the lever 27 and
the same pushed forward while at the same time the spring 33 will bring the
lever 28 back, so that the foot can be applied to its treadle.
When the lever is at its backward stroke the spring 31 forces the pawl 30 down
so that it engages the segments 12 and when said lever is pushed forwards the ring
is revolved thus transmitting power to the gear wheel 7, and this operation is

page_text: :
alternately kept up by the movement of the lever, the spring controlling the return
of the levers at each movement.
The steering handles 42 are in position to manipulate the machine, and as this
operation is so well known, I will not detail the same.
When it is desired to diminish the speed or entirely stop the machine the foot is
applied to the treadle 52 upon the lever 52 and the toggle-lever 48 the ends of the
bands of metal 45 are brought together and the compression of same is brought
directly on the revolving ring 6 upon its flanges 13 and the same controlled by this
operation.
As will be seen in Fig. 3 the rollers 9 have no frictional connection with the
segments 12, and this is prevented by an annular depression 13 in said wheels or
rollers 9 and which is deep enough to prevent such contact.
Therefore the rollers bear altogether upon the flanges 13 and 14 and the object
of having the annular depression in the rollers is that the same will pass over the
segments 12 and prevent any side movement of the revolving rings 6.
When the motion is imparted to the revolving rings 6 the same is implied to the
gear wheel 7 upon the axles 8 upon which the rear traction wheels 3 and 4 are also
secured.
The machine is high enough in construction so that a person can readily be
seated in the same without any personal inconvenience and the machine is wide
enough in order that if desired two persons can be seated, and in this case one
person operates each of the pedals 29.
I will now detail the specific construction of the modification, as set forth in
Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
The revolving ring frames 5 have the lower point of their peripheries truncated
to permit of the operation of a guide wheel 54 mounted in depending castings 55
and which is larger than the wheels 9, to which they are similar, to compensate
for the distance between the segmental teeth 12 and the truncated portion of the
rings 5.
The wheels 9 and 54 are provided with the annular grooves 15 in their
peripheries, to fit over the segments 12 upon the inner peripheries of the revolving
rings 6.
As shown in Fig. 3, in which the construction is the same, it will be seen that
there is no frictional contact between the wheels 9 and 54, except upon the sides of
said teeth.
Therefore it will be seen that the contact between the wheels and the revolving
rings is maintained between the flanges upon said wheels 7 and 54 and the inner
periphery of the flanges 14 upon the ring 6.
Depending triangular-shaped castings 56 are secured upon the inner side of the
upper portion of the ring frames 5, two of each depending from each of said rings
and provided at their lowest point with bearings for shafts 57 upon which the
oscillating operating levers 58 and 59 are mounted.
The upper ends of said bars 58 and 59 project upwardly through openings in the
rings 5 and are provided upon their upper ends with pawls 60 which are adapted to
engage in the segmental teeth 12 and which are normally urged upwards by
springs 61. The pawls are located upon the outer sides of said levers, instead of
upon their ends, to allow their free operation.
The lower ends of said levers 58 and 59 operate in slots 62 in the horizontal
portion of the rings 5, the length of said slots controlling the movement of the
levers.
Pedals 63 are secured upon the levers 58 and 59 and upon the inner sides
of said levers, a desirable distance from the seat in order that they may be readily
operated.
An upright vertical stand 64 is secured between the rims 5 and has upon its upper
end a horizontally oscillating lever 65.
Said lever is revolubly mounted upon the upper end of said stand 64 and has a

page_text: pawl connecting with a handle 66, said pawl adapted to engage in a tooth
segment 67 the same being a plate which is immovably secured to said
standard 64.
A shaft 68 is revolubly mounted in said standard 64 and to which the lever
is properly secured, instead of to the stand direct.
Metallic bands or cables 69 connect said shaft 68 with the steering-head 70
and are permanently secured to both the steering-head and the shaft, so that when
the lever 65 is turned in either direction, the steering wheel follows the same.
The brake mechanism comprises a pulley 71 located upon the axle 8 intermediate
of the two traction wheels 3 and 4. A broad band of metal 72 has one end secured
to a casting 73 upon the rear of the back 44 and which extends the periphery of
said pulley 71 and the opposite end of which is secured to the arm 74 of a belli
crank lever 75 which is pivoted to a brace 76 also secured upon the back 44.
The free end of said bell crank lever projects inwardly to a point in front of and
below the seat 23 and provided upon its end with a foot treadle by means of which
it is operated. The connection with the band of metal 72 in the casting 73, is
slightly above the upper periphery of the pulley 71 in order that the same may
have an increased pull over the wheel.
Springs 77 are located upon the rear faces of the levers 58 and 59 and engage
the inner side of the skeleton castings 56, to compel the return of said levers after
each pedal movement.
In operation the operator seats himself and places one foot upon each of the
pedals 63 by first impelling the lever 58 forward, the revolving rings 6 are turned
a certain distance by the engagement of the tooth or pawl 60 in the segmental
teeth 12, this revoluble movement being implied to the gear wheel 7 upon the axle 8,.
thereby also turning the rear traction wheels.
When the levers attain their full movement, as determined by the length of the
slot 62, they are compelled to return by the tension of the springs 77; to steer the
machine the operator takes a hold of the lever 65 and compresses the handle upon
the rod 66 against same, thus withdrawing the pawl from engagement in the
sector 67 and allowing of the turning of the shaft 68 in any desired direction in a
horizontal way, and owing to the metallic tables 69, the steering-head is turned and.
of course the steering wheel follows this direction.
When it is desired to diminish the speed or entirely stop the machine, the foot...
is applied to the treadle upon the lever 75 and by pushing down upon the same the
band 72 is tightened over the pulley 71 thus controlling this part of the
mechanism.
The above described constructions are high enough to admit of the seating of
persons within the inner rim and wide enough to admit of the reception of one or
more persons.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare what I
claim is:
1. An improved velocipede having revolving ring-frames, fixed ring-frames
within said revolving ring-frames, oscillating levers pivoted near their upper ends
in said fixed ring-frames and means provided for revolving said ring-frames,
substantially as set forth.
2. An improved velocipede having revolving ring-frames, fixed ring-frames
within said revolving ring-frames, levers pivoted near their upper ends to the upper
center of said fixed rings, said levers having a reciprocating oscillating movement
in a vertical plane, and said oscillating levers provided with pedals for operation,
substantially as set forth.
3. An improved velocipede having revolving ring-frames, fixed ring-frames,
oscillating levers pivoted to said fixed rings, pedals secured near the lower ends of
said levers, tension springs controlling said pawls, coil springs connecting the upper
portion of said levers with said fixed ring-frames, and said pawls engaging the

page_text: segmental teeth upon the inner periphery of said. revolving ring-frames, substau-
tially as set forth.
4. An improved velocipede having two revolving ring-frames, two fixed ring-
frames held at a relative distance within said revolving ring-frames by rollers, a
plate connecting the lower inside peripheries of said fixed ring-frames, and said
plate and ring-frames having corresponding slots to control the length of move-
ment of said oscillating levers, substantially as set forth.
5. An improved velocipede having oscillating levers, the movement of which is
controlled by slots, in said fixed ring-frames, the normal position of the lower ends
of said levers being at the opposite ends of said slots, and tension coil springs
controlling the return movement of said levers in operation, substantially as
set forth.
6. An improved velocipede having two revolving ring-frames substantially
-shaped in cross section, the outer projecting flange in the form of gear-teeth,
two horizontal projecting flanges, an inner flange in the form of segmental teeth,
two fixed ring-frames within said revolving frames, said ring-frames provided with
an annular groove, said wheels revolving upon a pivot in brackets secured to said
fixed ring-frames, said wheels revolving in contact with said flanges upon said
revolving ring, and the gear-teeth upon the outer periphery of said ring engaging
gear-wheel keyed upon the shaft, substantially as set forth.
7. An improved velocipede having supporting brackets connecting said fixed
ring-frames and said axles, immediately adjacent the gear-wheels and between
same and the traction-wheels, a bracket connecting said fixed ring-frames with a
fork, in which the steering-wheel rotates, a swivel connection between said
bracket and fork, a cross-bar in said swivel head, a cross-bar upon the upper end of
a vertical stand secured to the plate, rods connecting said cross-bars, and steering-
handles for guiding the machine substantially as set forth.
8. An improved velocipede having a brake mechanism consisting of bands of
metal surrounding the revolving rings upon the flanges, one end of said bands
pivoted to depending castings, secured to the fixed rings, a rod connecting the
other ends of said bands, a toggle-lever pivoted at its center in depending brackets
secured to the plate, the lower end of said lever engaging the rod, the upper end
pivoted to a bell-crank-lever pivoted at its center in upright brackets secured upon
said plate and the downward and outward movements of the arms of said lever
tightening the bands upon the flanges of the revolving rings substantially as set
forth.
9. An improved velocipede having two revolving ring-frames, two fixed ring-
frames held at a relative distance within said revolving ring-frames by rollers, a
plate connecting the lower truncated portions of the ring-frames, and said plates
and truncated portions having coinciding slots to control the length of movement of
said oscillating levers, substantially as set forth.
10. An improved velocipede having oscillating levers, slots to control the
movement of said levers, the normal position of the lower ends of said levers
being at the opposite ends of said slots, and tension springs controlling the return
movement of said levers in operation, substantially as set forth.
11. An improved velocipede having two revolving ring-frames substantially
☑-shaped in cross-section, the outer projecting flange in the form of gear teeth,
the inner flange in the form of segmental teeth, two fixed ring-frames within the
said revolving ring-frames, said ring-frames provided with annular extending
flanges upon their peripheries, a number of wheels revolving upon a pivot in
brackets, secured to said fixed ring-frames, said wheels revolving in contact with
the flanges, upon said revolving rings, and the gear teeth upon the outer peripheries
of said rings engaging the teeth upon the gear-wheels keyed upon the shaft,
substantially as set forth.
12. An improved velocipede having supporting brackets connecting said fixed

page_text: ring-frames, and axle immediately adjacent to gear-wheels and between same and
the traction-wheels, a bracket 16 connecting the said fixed ring-frames with a fork,
a steering-head upon said fork, cables connecting said steering-head with a shaft, a
lever secured to said shaft, a pawl attached to a rod adjacent said lever, the pawl
engaging in the teeth of a tooth segment, and said cables crossed at a slight angle
to determine the position of said steering-head relatively with the movement of
said lever, substantially as set forth.
13. An improved velocipede having a brake mechanism consisting of a band of
metal, surrounding a pulley, one end of said band pivoted to brackets, the other
end to an arm of a bell-crank-lever, pivoted at its elbow to a bracket secured to
the plate, the forward ends of said lever provided with a treadle, and the
downward movement of said arm raising the arm, and tightening the band upon
the pulley, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 21st day of November 1892.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicant.