Improved Link Mechanism for Transmitting Motion.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left 5th Nov. 1889-Accepted. 15th Mar.. 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Link Mechanism for Transmitting Motion.
I, AUGUSTE FRANCOIS JOSEPH LACOPPE of Stavelot, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Watchmaker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The present invention consists in mechanism for transmitting motion from the point
of the application of force to the point of resistance or utilization of such force.
In apparatus constructed according to this invention the sides of a parallelogram
are arranged to oscillate about two fixed points. Two rods are pivotted together at
one end and at their other ends to the oscillating sides of the parallelogram. The
point of the application of the force is either where the said two rods are pivotted
together or at a suitable point of one of the said rods. The point of the resistance
is fixed to one of the oscillating sides of the parallelogram, either outside or inside of
the latter according to the movement it is desired to produce.
Instead of the imaginary line joining the point of resistance with the pivot of the
oscillating side of the parallelogram and the side itself forming right angles, the
point of resistance may be so arranged that the angles may be other than right
angles.
When power is applied the point of its application is displaced, the pivots of the
rods and the sides of the parallelogram will describe arcs of circles having as centres
the points about which the said sides oscillate.
This displacement forces the sides of the parallelogram to oscillate about their
fixed points and consequently the point of resistance is also displaced. By varying
the dimensions of the different parts the length of travel of the application points of
power and resistance can be varied with regard to each other and consequently the
relation between the power and the resistance themselves.
This mechanism can be applied to a great variety of machines.
If used with a velocipede each pedal will work mechanism like the one described
above. To each side of the fork which carries the axle of the driving wheel will be
fixed two collars or sleeves carrying the fixed points about which the side of the
parallelogram oscillate. To the points where the resistance is applied are pivotted
rods connecting these points with cranks fixed to the pitch wheel which is connected
by a pitch chain to the pitch wheel on the axle of the driving wheel. By adjusting
the dimensions and the position of the different rods and parts of the parallel motion
the point where the power is applied i.e. the pedal, may be so adjusted that it will
move in the path easiest to the feet of the rider and necessitating the application of
the least muscular force.
Dated this 28th day of M. 1980
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
A conta
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Link Mechanism for Transmitting Motion.
I, AUGUSTE FRANCOIS JOSEPH LACOPPE of Stavelot in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Watchmaker, 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 :-
This invention consists in a system destined to serve as a connection between the
points of application of a force P and a resistance R and will be best understood by
reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 represent this system with the point of application of resistance
disposed in different wave

page_text: The sides EG, F H of the parallelogram E F G H oscillate about the two
fixed points 0 0¹.
Two bars PA and P B are pivotted together and to the two oscillating sides of
the parallelogram. The point of application of the force is at P or at any point P¹
on the bar PB. The point of application of resistance R is fixed, at one of the
sides E G or FH of the parallelogram either in or outside of the latter, according to
the motion that is desired to be obtained.
Instead of being placed on the raised perpendicular in the centre of these sides, it
can be either higher or lower as represented in figs. 3 and 6.
When, under the action of the power, point P is displaced, the points A and B
describe arcs of circles having their centres at O and 0¹.
This displacement forces the sides E G, F H of the parallelogram to turn round
the centres O O¹ which causes the displacement of the point of application R of the
resistance.
By varying the dimensions of the different pieces one can obtain whatever relation
one desires between the paths traversed by the force and the resistance and con-
sequently between these two forces.
This mechanism can be applied to various kinds of machines. Fig. 7-represents
specially the application to a velocipede. Each of the pedals governs or commands
a parallelogram like that in the previous figures.
On each arm or prong of the fork which carries the axis of the driving wheel
two brackets are attached carrying the pivots 0 0¹ of the levers E G, F H.
At the points R of the two parallelograms two connecting rods are pivotted
actuating the cranks fixed on the axle of the chain-wheel which by a pitch-chain
drives the small wheel fixed on the axle of the driving wheel.
The distance of the point R from the points F and H can be augmented at will,
the radius of the crank being increased proportionately.
By properly combining the dimensions and the positions of the different bars of the
figure one can make the pedals P describe the path which the feet of the rider can
follow with the greatest facility and with the exercise of as little muscular force as
possible.
By suitable combinations one can manage to obtain a nearly rectilinear motion for
point P or simultaneously vary the force and properly guide the point at which it is
applied.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
A system of parallelogram of which two sides oscillate on their centres pivotting on
fixed points, one of these sides being rigidly fastened to the point of application of the
resistance and by jointed bars to the point of application of the force substantially.as
described.
Dated this. 2nd day of Novemba 1000