Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
I WILLIAM CLARENCE FORTNEY Soldier of Fort Niabrara, in the County
of Cherry and State of Nebraska United States of America 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in bicycles.
The combined objects of my invention are to provide a bicycle adapted to be
easily and conveniently ridden and steered by two persons whether ladies or
gentlemen, and in which the speed of the carrier wheels relatively to the pedals
may readily be changed while riding, so as to enable thereby the riler or riders to
convert the speed into extra force in going up hill and to convert force into extra
speed in going down hill or on level ground.
These and other objects I attain by the novel construction and arrangement of
parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which.-
Figure 1, is a left-hand side elevation of my complete bicycle, with all chain wheels
shown as solid and without sprockets, in order to not obscure the view by the lines
of the spokes and sprockets.
Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of Fig. 1, with the portions of the frame above the
line a, a, removed, and looking in the direction of the arrow b, in Fig. 1, so as to get
a view of the lower chain wheels.
In both of the views portions of the carrier wheels are cut away at the extreme
ends of the machine.
Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 3, is the front and 4, is the
rear carrier wheel, both of which are provided with rubber tires 5, in the usual
manner.
The frame of the machine is made up of the two horizontal bars 6, and 7, which
are located vertically below each other, and the upright bar 8, which is united
with the front euds of the bars 6, and 7, and at its upper end is provided with a
journal bearing 9, in which rocks the steering tube 10, having the handles 11,
collar 12, and the fork 13, in which the axle of the front carrier wheel 3, is
journaled. The rear ends of the bars 6, and 7, are formed into the forks 14, which
slope or curve upward and are united with the journal boxes 15, holding the shaft 16,
of the hind wheel 4. The frame further consists of the seat rod 17, which holds
the front seat 18, and the rear rod 19, which holds the rear seat 20, and is
supported by the braces 21, extending down on both sides of the hind wheel and
are secured to the journal bearings 15. The front seat bar 17, has a similar
supporting brace 22. 23, and 24, are united braces for holding the cross-like
double journal box 25, in its proper position. In the said journal box 25, and in
the journal bearings 26, and 27, on the horizontal frame bars, I journal the
steering rock shaft 28, having the handles 29, and being provided near its lower
end with the side arm 30, which by means of the rods 31, and 32, and the bell
crank lever 33, is connected with the side arm 34, secured in the side of the
front steering fork or its shank, so that the front and rear handles must work in
unison.
The frame bar 6. is provided with the bearings 35, and 36, in which are
journaled respectively the front and rear pedal-shafts 37, having secured upon
their ends the pedals 38. Upon one side of the machine (in the present instance

page_text: on the right-hand side) I provide upon the front and rear pedal shaft the loose
chain wheels 39, and 40, which may at any time be connected with the shafts
by means of the clutches 41, and 42, which are feather-keyed upon the pedal
shafts and are provided with grabbing teeth, adapted to engage similar teeth
provided upon the hubs of the said chain wheels, when thrown against the latter
by a mechanism, which will presently be described. 44, is an endless drive
chain passed over the drive wheel 45, secured upon the shaft 16, of the rear
carrier wheel 4, and over the chain wheel 39. it also engages the lower and
upper side of the sprocket wheel or chain wheel 40, so as to be driven also by
the rear pedals. The upper part of this chain is kept in contact with the
wheel 40 by means of a sheave or idler wheel 46, revolving upon a stud 47,
secured in the seat bar 19. This chain 44, imparts the slow and powerful motion
to the machine. For the fast motion I provide the following mechanism: Upon the
front and rear pedal shaft I provide the loose chain wheels 48, and 49, respectively,
which may be connected with the shafts by means of the clutches 50, and 51,
engaging the hubs of the wheels in exactly the same manner as already described
for the right-hand side of the machine. In the lower frame bar 7, I provide two
studs 52, and 53, upon which is retained by the pins 54, the revoluble sleeves 55,
and 56, each of which carries upon its inner end a rigidly secured sprocket pinion
or small chain wheel 57, and upon its onter end a rigidly secured large sprocket
wheel 58. 59, are endless chains by which the wheels 48, and 49, each drives one
of the small sprocket wheels 57, thereby revolving the sleeve 55, and the larger
sprocket wheels 58, driving the endless chain 60, which is passed over it and over
the sprocket wheel 61, secured on the shaft 16. The chain 60, also engages the
lower side of the rear sprocket wheel 58, and has its upper part held in contact with
the upper side of the wheel by means of the chain-guiding pulley 62, which revolves
loosely upon the rear pedal shaft. Thus the chain 60, is made to drive the hind
wheel 4, with an increased speed, the rate of which depends on the proportionate
sizes of the speed-increasing chain wheels. When the clutches 41, and 42, are
engaging the wheels 39, and 40, the clutches 50, and 51, are held out of engagement
with the wheels 48, and 49, so that the latter may revolve as idlers; and when the
clutches 50, and 51, are thrown into engagement with the wheel 48, and 49, the
clutches 41, and 42, are thereby thrown out of engagement with their respective
wheels 39, and 40, which are then likewise allowed to revolve as idlers, driven
slowly by the chain and its wheel on the shaft 16. This motion of the clutches is
obtained from the two U-shaped shifters 63, and 64, of which the front one is
pivoted at 65, upon the frame bar 6, and the rear one is secured upon the rock-
shaft 66, which is journaled in the frame bars 6, and 7, and in the cross-shaped
frame portion or journal box 25, and has its top end provided with a hand wheel 67,
by which the clutches may be thrown or shifted by either one of the two riders,
but most conveniently by the one occupying the rear seat 20. The oblique rod 68,
connects the two shifters or shifting levers 63, and 64, in such a manner that when
the wheel 67, is given a partial turn the two shifters with their four forks like 69,
(best shown in the front part of Fig. 1,) engaging the annalar grooves 70, in the
clutches, will throw all the clutches either toward the right or the left side, thereby
causing the clutches on one side of the machine to engage their respective wheels
and the clutches on the other side of the machine to disengage the respective wheels
and thereby put to use the fast or slow gearing for driving the machine at different
speeds.
In operation the riders step in through the open spaces 71, and 72, take their
seats on the saddles 18, and 20, seize the handles 11, and 29, and operate the
pedals in the usual mauner and are both able to partake in the steering and
balancing of the machine by means of the handles and the connecting rods 31, 32,
and bell crank lever 33; and when it is desired to change the speed the
operator on the rear seat 20, steers with one hand while his other hand gives
a partial turn to the wheel 67, thereby moving all of the clutches so as to set
in operation either the chain 44, for slow speed or the chain 60 for fast speed.

page_text: Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is,
In a bicycle combination of the front steering wheel 3, and the driving wheel 4,
having the two chain wheels 45, and 60, secured on its shaft, the elongated central
frame, mounted or suspended on said carrier wheels and being provided with seats,
handles, and pedals for two riders, said frame having the horizontal bars 6, and 7,
located the one below the other near the ground, the upper one of said frame bars
baving the transverse journal boxes 35, and 36, the pedal shafts 37, journaled
therein and being provided with the pedals 38, the loose chain wheels 39, and 40,
journaled on said shafts, and the clutches 41, and 42, sliding on said shafts and
being adapted to engage the said wheels, the endless chain 44, operated by said
wheels and driving the wheels 45, and 4, at a moderate speed; the loose chain
wheels 48, and 49, arranged upon the pedal shafts on the opposite side of the
frame, the clutches 50, and 51, adapted to engage the said wheels and cause
them to revolve with the pedal shafts; the studs 52, and 53, secured in the lower
frame bar, the small and large chain wheels 57, and 58, secured together in pairs
and revolving upon said studs, the two endless chains 59, engaging the small chain
wheels 57, on the studs and the chain wheels 48, and 49, on the pedal shafts, the
endless chain 60, driven by the wheels 58, and driving at an increased rate of speed
the chain wheel 61, and the carrier wheel 4; the chain-guiding pulleys 46, and 62,
and means for shifting the clutches in changing the speed, substantially as shown
and described and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 5th September 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.