IMPROVEMENTS IN VELO- CIPEDES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hillman, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Velocipedo Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELO-
CIPEDES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hillman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th January 1882.
WILLIAM HILLMAN, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Velocipede Manu-
facturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES.
This Invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes, part of which
Invention may be likewise employed for other purposes, and relates
Firstly to that description of velocipede technically known as a "double-driver"
in which the rider or riders sit between two driving wheels, and coincident with
the slightest deviation from a straight line in the running of the machine, one
wheel ceases to be driven. In carrying out my Invention I fit crown pinions on
each hub and let either or both wheels run loose on the spindles when required.
Through the outer face of the upper chain or transmitting wheels I place studs or
Jugs sliding in bosses therein, and connected to spring clutches or yokes having
upwardly projecting rods.
I fit an additional and corresponding rod to the ordinary rack steering on the
other side and bevel the ends of these rods so that when the steering handle is
turned either way one of these steering rods is brought against the corresponding
upward rod of either clutch, thus drawing the studs away from the face of tho
crown pinion, freeing it from the chain wheel, and letting the driving wheel run
loose on its spindle.
In another modification I may use a ratchet on the inside face of the hub of one
driving wheel with the corresponding chain wheel (fitted with the before mentioned
studs or catches) loose on a spindle and on the other side of tho velocipede key or
fix the top chain wheel to the hub of the driving wheel, as usual in "single

page_text: driving" tricycles. In this case the rack steering rod only will be required to shift
the clutch, the other being dispensed with.
It is of course obvious that in going down hills, both wheels can be disengaged
and the pedals used as footrests.
Secondly, to an improved self adjusting bearing carrier or hanger.
I construct a wrought bracket keyed or otherwise secured to the frame and form
a globular sleeve or enlarged portion round the exterior of the bearing.
This bearing is held or supported between two holding adjusting-screws having
dished or recessed ends to fit the globular sleeve. I provide a pin or stud on the
sleeve fitting a hole loosely in one of the holding screws, thus leaving the bearing
free to adjust itself to the axle or spindle but preventing it twisting therewith.
This bearing carrier is equally applicable to carry light shafting for purposes
other than velocipedes.
Thirdly, to an improved form of driving chain.
It consists in forming two side wings or links joined at one end by a circular
boss having a hole drilled through it. The other end of the wings is enlarged out
to overlap the flat end (having the boss) of the next link, and a pin passed through
the wings and the boss of the next link holds each link to the other. By this plan
every link is made in one solid piece and great strength attained while the chain
cannot stretch.
This part of my Invention is applicable also to transmitting power for other
machinery.
Fourthly, to an improved double tyre brake. Two rods or levers carry the brake
shoes and are pivoted at a suitable distance from their ends to fulcra carried on
the frame. Their inner ends are connected loosely to each other by pin and slot
adjustment.
From one lever a short upward rod projects, and this is connected to the brake
handle or lever by a pin or other joint. The brake lever is held-down (and-the-
shoes off the tyres) by a strong spiral spring encircling the stationary handle rod
on which the brake lever pivots.
By this means the same amount of brake power is transmitted equally to both
wheels.
Fifthly, to an improved method of guiding tricycles for two riders known as
" sociables."
In such machines the steering handle has been placed in the centre, and the
riders being generally a lady and gentleman, the latter having to steer has to sit on
the left or near side, which being the least dangerous should be occupied by the
lady. I use the ordinary vertical steering bar free to revolve in bearings fixed to
the frame with a spur pinion fixed thereon. On the steering bar below the pinion
1 fit a bracket with a slot for the rack to slide in. The rear end of the rack is pin
or otherwise jointed to one end of a lever, the fulcrum of which is about central.
The other end of the lever extends to the centre of the machine where it is pin or
otherwise jointed to a connecting rod which runs along the centre of the machine
to the guiding lever on the guiding wheel fork to which it is pin or otherwise
jointed.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Hillman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
12th July 1882.
WILLIAM HILLMAN, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Velocipede Manu-
facturer. IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE ALSO TO OTHER PURPOSES.
This Invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes parts of which
Invention may be likewise employed for other purposes and relates
Firstly to that description of velocipede technically known as a "double-driver"
in which the rider or riders sit between two driving wheels and coincident with
the slightest deviation from a straight line in the running of the machine one
wheel ceases to be driven and is designed to provide simple and efficient apparatus
for this purpose.
In carrying out this part of my Invention I fit crown pinions A (Figs. 1. and 7.
of the accompanying Drawings) on each hub B and let either or both wheels run
loose on the spindles when required. Through the outer face of the upper chain
or transmitting wheels C Fig. 2 I place studs or carriers D sliding in bosses E
therein, and connected to spring clutches or yokes F having upwardly projecting
rods or bell cranks with pins moving same as shown at H.
I fit an additional and corresponding rod G to the ordinary rack steering on the
other side and bevel the ends of these rods so that when the steering handle is
turned either way one of these steering rods is brought against the corresponding
upward rod H of the bell-crank of either clutch thus drawing the studs D away
from the face of the crown pinion A freeing it from the chain wheel C and letting
the driving wheel run loose on its spindle.
In another modification I may use a ratchet on the inside face of the hub of one
driving wheel with the corresponding chain wheel (fitted with the before-inentioned
studs or catches) loose on a spindle and on the other side of the volocipede key or
fix the top chain wheel to the hub of the driving wheel as usual in single-
driving tricycles. In this case the rack steering rod only will be required to shift
the clutch the other being dispensed with.
It is obvious that in going down hills both wheels can be disengaged and tho
pedals used as foot rests. This is not shewn in the Drawings, but can be effected
by connecting the bell cranks H by chain or links with the brake lever, so that a
slight pull on the same would simultaneously shift both clutches F and so set
both wheels free and a further movement of the brake lever applying the brake
with more or less force or other mode of simultaneously releasing both wheels
might be employed.
Secondly to an improved self-adjusting bearing carrier or hanger shewn in
Fig. 1. and Fig. 3 (side view).
I construct a wrought bracket J brazed or otherwise socured to the frame and
form a globular sleeve or enlarged portion K round the exterior of the bearing.
This bearing is held or supported between two holding adjusting-screws LL
having dished or recessed ends to fit the globular sleevo K. I provide a pin or
stud on the sleeve fitting a hole loosely in one of the holding screws thus
leaving the bearing free to adjust itself to the axle or spindle but preventing
its turning therowith. This bearing carrier with modification of the bracket is
equally applicable to carry light shafting for purposes other than velocipedes.
Thirdly to an improved form of driving chain as shewn in Figs 45 and G.
It consists in forming two side wings or links M joined at one end by a circular
boss N having a holo drilled through it. The other ends of the wings ○ are
enlarged out to overlap the flat ends (having the boss) of the next link and a pin
passed through the wings and the boss of the next link holds each link to the
other. By this plan every link is made in one solid piece and great strength
attained while the chain cannot stretch.

page_text: In Fig. 5 the links are shewn as made in separate portions, that is with the
boss N cut through or rather each side wing or link M having a short boss
abutting on each other. I find it easier to make the links in this way instead of
with the side links joined by a solid boss rigid with the same as in Fig. 6 though
in practice both forms work equally well.
This part of my Invention is also applicable to transmitting power for other
machinery.
In my Provisional Specification I described a double tyre brake but finding that
it is not so generally suitable for front-steering machines, as the band or hub
brake I abandon and make no claim to it.
Fourthly to an improved method of and arrangement for guiding or steering
tricycles with front guiding wheel for two riders known as "Sociables."
In such machines, the steering handle has hitherto been placed in the centre
and the riders being generally a lady and gentleman the latter having to steer
has had to sit on the left or "near" side which being the less dangerous should
be occupied by the lady.
Referring to diagram Fig. 8. I place on the "off" side the ordinary vertical
steering bar P free to revolve in bearings fixed to the frame with a spur pinion
fixed thereon. On the steering bar below the pinion I fit a bracket with a slot
for the rack to slide in. The rear end of the rack is pin or otherwise jointed to
one end of a lever the fulcrum of which is about central. The other end of this
lever extends to the centre of the machine where it is pin or otherwise jointed to
a connecting-rod R which runs along the centre of the machine to the guiding
lever on the guiding wheel fork where it is jointed in the usual manner.
Having now described my Invention and the best manner known to me of
carrying the same into effect I wish it to be understood that I do not claim
_broadly, the setting free of either or both of the driving-wheels-(for turning.or
descending hills) by the movement of the steering handle and I am also well aware
that it has been proposed to employ a clutch arrangement somewhat similar to
that shewn in Fig. 1 for the purpose of actuating change speed gear and I do not
therefore claim such for purposes other than double driving but what I believe to
be novel and original and desire to claim under the hereinbefore in part recited
Letters Patent is
Firstly The arrangement of double-driving gear for tricycles and like
velocipedes consisting of the combination of the crown pinions A on the hubs B
the clutches F carrying studs or pins D with the bell cranks H disconnecting
either wheel C therewith as the steering rod or rods G are moved to turn the
machine to cither side or for dis-connecting both wheels for descending bills
substantially as described.
Secondly The improved carrier for velocipede crank and other light shafting
consisting of the globular or spherical surfaced sleeve K held between adjustable
screws LL as described.
Thirdly The improved construction or form of chain for driving velocipedes
and other machinery.
Fourthly, In a " sociable
tricycle an arrangement as described or any mere
modification thereof for enabling the "off" side rider to steer the machine.
In witness whereof I, the said William Hillman have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Eleventh day of July in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.