Cycles and Driving other Machines.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Nov., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 10th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1888
Cycles and Driving other Machines.
WILLIAM HENRY BLESSLEY, Architect of One Exchange Place, Middlesbrough
Yorkshire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
I place the seat or seats for the Operator or Operators upon a balance apparatus in
such a way that the weight of his or their body by a backward and forward motion is
alternately thrown on to either end of the balance, the weight of the body being
utilized in propelling the machine; and, further, I obtain additional power, and the
movement of the body is also facilitated by the hands of the Operator alternately
pulling (in the forward motion) and pushing (in the backward motion) at the
handle or handles placed in front of him. By this invention much greater power is
obtained in propelling the machine than that obtained by the usual foot and leg
motion only. The accompanying sketch shows an arrangement of the apparatus for
one Operator, the treadles in this case being formed by cranks in the axle tree.
A. B. C. D. E. F shew the position of the apparatus when the seat is on the rise and
the weight thrown on to the treadles. The dotted lines a. b. c. d. e indicate the
position of the apparatus when the seat is falling and the weight bearing upon it.
A is the pivot B the balance beam C is the seat or saddle D the rod or strap con-
necting the fore part of the balance beam with the treadle E F is the handle.
When the Operator rises in the seat and bears with both his feet upon the treadle or
treadles, they are driven forward for the half of the circumference of the circle in a
downward direction. The body is then thrown backwards in the seat or saddle and
its weight causes the treadle or treadles to rise and so complete the circular motion.
When it is more convenient owing for instance to the driving wheel being differently
placed the movement may be reversed without affecting the principle of the balance
motion. The apparatus may be used in machines propelled by any number of
Operators and the seat and treadle may be sufficiently broad to admit of several
working the machine abreast of one-another, or when an even number of Operators
are provided for they may be arranged to work from both ends of the balance beam,
one Operater being seated at one end and another at the other end.
Dated this Tanth day of November 1887

page_text: improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Propelling
Cycles and Driving other Machines.
I WILLIAM HENRY BLESSLEY, Architect of One Exchange Place, Middlesbrough,
Yorkshire 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 place the seat or seats for the Operator or Operators upon a balance apparatus in
such a way that the weight of his or their body by a backward and forward motion is
alternately thrown on to either end of the balance the weight of the body being
utilized in propelling the machine; and further I obtain additional power and the
movement of the body is facilitated by the hands of the Operator alternately pulling
(in the forward motion) and pushing (in the backward motion) at the handle or
handles placed in front of him. By this invention much greater power is obtained
in propelling the machine than that obtained by the usual foot and leg motion
only. The sketch accompanying the provisional specification shews an arrangement
of the apparatus for one Operator, the treadles in this case being formed by cranks in
the axle tree. A. B. C. D. E. F shews the position of the apparatus when the seat is
on the rise and the weight thrown on to the treadles. The dotted lines a. b. c. d. e
indicate the position of the apparatus when the seat is falling and the weight bearing
upon it. A is the pivot B the balance beam C is the seat or saddle. D the rod or
strap connecting the fore part of the balance beam with the treadle E. F is the handle.
When the Operator rises in the seat and bears with both his feet upon the treadle or
treadles they are driven forward for the half of the circumference of the circle in a
downward direction. The body is then thrown backwards in the seat or saddle, and
its weight causes the treadle or treadles to rise and so complete the circular motion.
When it is more convenient owing for instance to the driving wheel being differently
placed the movement may be reversed without affecting the principle of the balance
motion. The apparatus may be used in machines propelled by any number of
Operators, and the seat and treadle may be sufficiently broad to admit of several
working the machine abreast of one another, or when an even number of Operators
are provided for they may be arranged to work from both ends of the balance beam,
one Operator being seated at one end and another at the other end.
Having described generally the nature of the movement I will now explain the
apparatus by means of which I accomplish it.
Figs. II III and IV shew the construction of a hollow forked balance arm or lever,
and Figs. V VI and VII the construction of a hollow single balance arm or lever.
In both of these examples the arm or lever is suspended from the framework in
such a way that it acts as a thrust rod as well as a lever, and by that means drives
the crank fixed to the spindle of the chain wheel over what would otherwise be
the dead point. It will be observed that the method of suspending the balance arm or
lever allows of a lateral movement thereof by means of which the saddle and with it
the body of the Operator is balanced or kept in a vertical position in the line of
gravity whatever may be the inequality of the surface along which the machine is

page_text: driven and the consequent variation in the angle of the framework thereof. It will
also be observed that the arrangement of the cup shaped bearing in which the ball
travels provides for the bearing to be self lubricating.
Fig. If is a side view of the forked balance arm or lever. Fig. III a plan of the
same and Fig. IV a section of the bearing arrangement to an enlarged scale. B in
Figs. II and III is a hollow steel tube forked at the front part thereof. The support M
for the saddle C passes through an opening in the tubo at the rear end of the arın
and is fixed at the required height by means of a screw or any other usual method.
The fore part of the arm B is connected with the rods or bars (the lower end of which
is attached to the treadle cranks) by means of a jointed link piece similar to that
shewn in Fig. VII which permits this part of the apparatus to accommodate itself to
the lateral movement of the balance arm B above referred to. The arm B is sus-
pended by the hangers G G from the fixed pin or spindle H passing through the
ball I which loosely bears upon and travels on the steel bearing J hollowed out to
receive it. The ball itself is enclosed within the support K which is a hollow tube
attached to the framework of the machine. The apertures at the sides of the support K
and through which the spindle H passes are somewhat larger than the spindle and are
made oval in shape so as to permit the balance arm B to balance itself laterally when
the framework is put out of level by any unevenness in the surface over which the
machine is driven. When, however, no lateral movement is required the arm may be
suspended from an ordinary pivot. It will be observed that the bearers G Ğ in
Figs. II and IV are hinged at X by which arrangement increased thrust power is
obtained.
Fig. V is a side view of another form of balance arm or lever. It consists of a
single straight hollow steel tube, having in the centre or thereabouts and at right
angles to it another short tube with attachments for the bearing similar to that above
described and shewn here in Fig. VI the letters of reference upon which refer to the
corresponding parts as the same letters do in Fig. IV. The support K in this case is,
however, in a horizontal instead of vertical position, and the bearer G is not hinged as
in the previous example. Fig. VII is a section through the front portion of the arm
shewing the mode of connection of the arm with the rods or bars D D which are
attached to the treadle cranks at the other end, W W being the joints of the
link previously referred to.
Figs. VIII and IX shew a modified arrangement of driving apparatus. The lever B
instead of oscillating up and down as in the previous examples is here inade to rotate
in a circle, the saddle being kept in an upright position by the action of an inde-
pendent crank working on a different centro to that of the lever arm and attached
to the arm supporting the saddle at another part thereof as hereafter explained.
Fig. VIII is a side view showing the driving apparatus as applied to a tricycle, the
position of the large wheels of which however, are only partly indicated thereon. The
apparatus in this case is shewn in connection with an arrangement for pro-
pelling the machine partly by the hands by means of the handles F turning a wheel
to which the endless chain is attache. This, however, may be dispensed with and a
fixed handle substituted. The arm or lever B Fig. VIII which is here shewn as half
way on the rise is attached to the pivot A in or near the centre of the arm or lever.
It is here shewn as a flat straight bar, but it may be of other shapes without interfering
with its utility. The rod or bar D connecting the lever B to the treadle E is loosely
fixed at one end of it and the arm M which supports the saddle C is loosely fixed at
or near the other end. When the weight of the Operator is thrown on to the
treadles E E the front portion of the lever B is depressed and the back part ascends
lifting the saddle with it and causing it to travel with a circular motion upwards and
forwards. On the saddle arriving at the highest point of the circle the lever arm B is
in a vertical position or thereabouts. The weight of the body being allowed to bear
upon the saddle the lever arm B is driven forwards with a circular motion. Upon
the saddle arriving at the lowest point of the circle the weight of the Operator is
again thrown on to the treadles and the operation repeated. The end of the arm B to
which is attached the saddle support M is also connected thereby with the crank N

page_text: see Fig. IX the spindle of which crank is also the spindle of the toothed wheel O and
revolves with it. Consequently as the arm B travels so does the cranks N N and also
the wheel O to which is attached the endless driving chain.
It will be observed that when the arm B is moved in the direction of the arrows the
crank N which is attached to the saddle support M moves in a different circle thereto
and by its action keeps the end of the saddle support always in a vertical position,
which causes the saddle to retain its relatively upright position during the whole of
the circular motion. The positions in which the saddle, saddle support, the crank N
and the treadle and treadle bar would be placed when the apparatus is half-way
through the forward movement are shewn by the dotted lines and the small
letters c. m. n. e and d.
SS in Fig. IX are bearers attached to the frame of the machine and supporting
the spindle of the wheel O and the cranks N N. The cranks, levers, connecting bars
and supports are shewn in duplicate in Fig. IX being the same on both sides of the
wheel but it is not essential that they should be in duplicate.
It will be observed that the treadles in Fig. VIII are shewn as connected by a wire
or cord T with the handle bar. They may, however, be kept in the same relative
positions during the whole of the circular movement by means of a crank similar to
that shown for the lower end of the saddle support and marked N. It will also be
noticed that the spindles of the driving apparatus above described and that of the
axle U of the driving wheel and the spindle V of the wheel in connection with the
handles F are all in a straight line or nearly so with one another allowance however
being made for the sag of the chain at the middle wheel and that one endless chain
passes over all three wheels. When a fixed handle is used the wheel and chain shewn
on the drawing in connection with the hand motion would be dispensed with.
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 is :-
1. The improved balance arm or lever (arranged for a saddle to be fixed at one end
of it, and connected by a rod with the treadle crank at the other end) loosely sus-
pended below the level of the pivot by means of a hinged bearer or hinged bearers
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn in Figs. II. III and IV of the
accompanying drawing.
2. The construction of the balance arm or lever suspended as above in which
the bearer is a hollow tube fixed to the balance arm or lever and at right angles
thereto as shewn in Figs. V and VI and as herein before described.
-
3. The method of pivotting or suspending the balance arm or lever so as to
allow of a lateral balance movement as herein before described.
4. An improved method of and apparatus for utilizing the weight of the body
in propelling cycles and other machines by means of a rotary balance arm or lever
to which the bearers for the saddle and the rods for the treadles are attached ;
and the construction of the apparatus for keeping the saddle in its relatively upright
position during the rotary movement as hereinbefore described and shewn in
Figs. VIII and IX of the accompanying drawings.
5. The arrangement by which the spindle of the wheel of the hand motion, and
that of the wheel of the body motion are placed in a direct or nearly direct line with
the spindle or axle of the driving wheels, one endless chain connecting the three
wheels as shewn in Fig. VIII of the accompanying drawing and for the purpose
hereinbefore described.