IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marshall Arthur Wier at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th August 1881.
MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER, of Gracechurch Street, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
My Invention relates to a tricycle or other velocipede so constructed as to
dispense with the usual crank motion in driving, and thus to obtain a means for
the transmission of the driving power without a dead centre, and at the same
time a collapsible frame and axle.
My improved apparatus for the transmission of the driving power consists of an
endless band of steel or other suitable material passing round two pulleys, one of
which is fixed to the hub of the wheel and the other to a sliding arm.
A spring is used to keep taut the endless band passing round the two pulleys.
This gear is applied on either side to each wheel.
The driving pressure is transmitted through two pedal levers, upon each of
which are fixed two pedals, each connected with a clutch. The forward clutch on
the pedal bar grips and moves the endless band so as to drive the tricycle or other
velocipede forward when the foot is pressed on the forward pedal. Similarly
when the foot is pressed on the rearward pedal the clutch attached to it grips and
moves the other side of the endless band, and thus produces motion in the opposite
direction, or causes the velocipede to travel backwards.
The clutches operated by the pedals may be in the form of a moving cam fixed
to the pedals, which by the pressure on the pedal nips the band between itself and
a fixed jaw.
I may alternatively use a rack chain for a driving band, passing over two
suitable spurred or cog wheels. The upper one of these gears by an intermediate
carrying wheel into a cog wheel fixed on the main axle. The lower chain wheel
is carried as before upon a suitable arm.

page_text: The pedal lever in this case has only one pedal upon it, which is so pivoted that
by the pressure of the toe or heel the pedal may drive the machine forward or
backward respectively.
This is effected by two cog wheels on the pedal lever which gear into one
another, and also into the front or back portion of the rack chain according as
they are operated by the rock of the pedal and suitable rods and ratchets.
To enable the arm to be used when desired for aiding the motion of the tricycle
or other velocipede, I fix to the centre of the wheel a flat bar having holes on its
face. On this bar a sliding handle is placed, which may be conveniently fixed in
any desired position by means of a spring bolt and releasing lever. The handle
may by this arrangement be moved into any position on the bar.
The small cog wheels on the pedal lever may be arranged with coiled springs, so
that the momentum of the tricycle or other velocipede, whilst stopping and going
down hill, may be stored up by the coiling of these springs so as to be again
available for starting or for ascending hills.
To effect the collapse of my tricycle or other velocipede I make the axle in two
parts, one being smaller than and sliding inside the other, after the manner of a
telescopic joint, so that the tricycle or other velocipede may be collapsed to any
desired extent.
To the outer or larger axle I attach a hollow tube projecting upwards and
curving backwards to the fork of the small wheel behind.
To this backbone or tube I fix a small standard, holding the seat for the rider.
From this standard two arms are carried upwards on each side of the seat, and to
them are fitted moving levers with handles conveniently placed, so that the ends
of the levers opposite to the handles may press braking pieces upon the circum-
ference of the independent wheels by which the tricycle or other velocipede may
be steared or stopped.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Marshall Arthur Wier in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th February 1882.
MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER, of Gracechurch St., in the City of London.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
My Invention relates to a tricycle or other velocipede, so constructed as to
dispense with the usual crank motion in driving, and thus to obtain a means for
the transmission of the driving power without a dead centre, and at the same time
a collapsible frame and axle.
My improved apparatus for the transmission of the driving power consists of
an endless band of steel chain or other suitable material passing round two
pulleys, one of which is fixed to the hub of the wheel and the other to a sliding
arm.
A spring is used to keep taut the endless band passing round the two pulleys.
This gear is applied on either side to each wheel.
The driving pressure is transmitted through two pedal levers, upon each of
which are fixed two pedals each connected with a clutch. The forward clutch on
the pedal bar grips and moves the endless band so as to drive the tricycle or other
velocipede forward when the foot is pressed on the forward pedal. Similarly, when
the foot is pressed on the rearward pedal, the clutch attached to it grips and moves
the other side of the endless band, and thus produces motion in the opposite
direction or causes the velocipede to travel backwards.
The clutches operated by the pedals may each be in the form of a moving cam
fixed to the pedals, which by the pressure on the pedal nips the band between
itself and a fixed jaw.
I may alternatively use a rack chain for a driving band passing over two suitable
spurred or cog-wheels. The upper one of these may gear by an intermediate
carrying wheel into a cog wheel fixed on the main axle, or may be fixed upon the
wheel. The lower chain wheel is carried as before upon a suitable arm.
The pedal lever in this case has only one pedal upon it, which is so pivoted that
by the pressure of the toe or heel the pedal may drive the machine forward or
backward respectively. This is effected by two cog-wheels on the pedal lever,
which gear into one another and also into the front or back portion of the rack-
chain, according as they are operated by the rock of the pedal and suitable rods
and ratchets.
Alternatively to obtain variable power I may pass the driving chain over two
cog-wheels and a dummy pulley on a fixed frame, one of the said cog-wheels being
keyed direct to the hub of the wheel. When the chain gears direct into both
wheels, the second cog-wheel runs idly. By the use of a spring catch lever I may
throw the second cog-wheel into gear with the first on the wheel axle, and by the
same motion disengage the chain from its gear with the cog-wheel on axle. The
treadle pressure may now be applied with increased leverage to the part of the
chain nearest the fulcrum.
To enable the arm to be used when desired for aiding the motion of the
tricycle, I fix to the centre of the wheel a flat bar having holes on its face. On this
bar a sliding handle is placed, which may be conveniently fixed in any desired
position by means of a spring bolt and releasing lever. The handle may by this
arrangement be moved into any position on the bar.
The small cog-wheels on the pedal-lever may be arranged with coiled springs,
so that the momentum of the tricycle or other velocipede, whilst stopping and going

page_text: being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Fig. L is a side elevation.
Fig. II. is a plan,
And Fig. III., a front elevation of my improved tricycle.
A is the rack chain passing over two spurred or cog-wheels B, B'. The upper
one B is fixed to the hub of the large wheel D of the tricycle. One of these rack
chains and cog-wheels is fitted to each of the main driving wheels D, D, of the
tricycle.
Two pedals E, E, one for each foot, are fixed so as to be capable of a rocking
motion upon the cross bar ƒ of the pedal levers F. The pedal apparatus is shown
in detail in Fig. IV. The pressure of the toe or heel upon the pedal E causes it to
rock on the pivot bar f. This rocking movement by means of the tail lever g
operates the link G, so as to cause the slide H to move towards or away from the
foot. The slide H is provided on both sides with claws h, fitted for gearing into
the rack chain A. When the heel of the foot is thus depressed the forward catch
is forced into the rack chain and the machine is propelled forwards; when, on the
other hand, the toe is depressed the hinder catch is forced into the chain, and
the machine is propelled backwards. The lower wheel B¹ is carried on the
movable or adjustable bar K, which may be adjusted by nut and screw k so as to
ensure the proper tightness of the chain.
The main axle C, C, is in two distinct parts, one part C fitting or telescoping
inside the hollow interior of the other split part C. The pivot L of one of the
pedal levers is also elongated in such a fashion as to allow the lever to slide upon
it simultaneously with the telescopic action of the axles when it is desired to
collapse the tricycle. When the tricycle is drawn out to its proper working width
it is secured in that position by a nut and clip M (in detail Fig. 6). When collapsed
the tricycle can pass through comparatively narrow passages or doorways. To
the outer or larger axle C¹ is attached a bent hollow tube N, forming the backbone
of my tricycle. This tube carries a suitable seat o supported on a spring P for
the rider, and forks to the rear to carry a small trailing wheel Q.
Two handles R, R, may be attached to the axle of the tricycle to assist the rider
to steady himself and to give a more effective down-ward thrust to the pedals.
The pedals are brought back into position after the downward tread by the tension
of springs (conveniently of india-rubber), which cause them to rise again to their
highest position (shown in detail, Fig. 6). As each wheel is independent of the
other steering can be effected by the stoppage or increased movement of either
foot.
If greater brake power than that given by the regulation of the pedals be
required, it can be applied in any known or convenient manner through the steady
handle R, R.
I use when desired a further modification, shown in Fig. 5, to obtain variable
power.
D DI

page_text: which B is attached to the hub of the wheel, and B¹ at the end of arm K, as before
described; but the third spur or cog wheel S is fixed on a movable pivot moving
in a slot t and controlled by the spring catch hand lever T. When the hand
lever T is in the position as shown, the rack chain gears into and moves all three
wheels, driving the main wheel of the tricycle direct through the wheel B, the
wheel S running idly and the heel pressure being used to cause the sliding catch
to engage in the forward part of the rack chain. If the hand lever be moved over
the wheel S is thrown into gear with B, whilst at the same time the rack chain is
disengaged from B. The continued pressure of the heel would now reverse the
tricycle if desired; but on ascending a hill the natural pressure of the toe brings
the rearward catch into action on the chain with a greatly increased leverage. This
arrangement will greatly facilitate the ascent of high hills.
And having now fully described and ascertained the nature of my Invention,
and the manner in which it is to be performed, be it understood that what I
consider novel and desire to protect by Letters Patent is,--
1st. The combination in a tricycle or other velocipede of a driving rack chain
with a rocking pedal and lever, which shall by the rock of the foot engage at
pleasure into either the forward or rearward portion of the said driving chain,
substantially as described.
2nd. The combination in a tricycle or other velocipede of a telescopic or
collapsible axle, with clamping nuts and subsidiary apparatus, with the above
claimed driving pedal gear, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination in a tricycle or other velocipede of a third movable spurred
wheel with the driving pedal gear as claimed in No. 1 for giving a variable
amount of power, as described in reference to Fig. 5.
.
4th. The general construction and combination of parts of an improved tricycle,
as described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
"
In witness whereof, I, the said Marshall Arthur Wier, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Signed, sealed, and delivered
in the presence of
S. P. WILDING,
23, Rood Lane,
London, E.C.,
Patent Agent.
MARSHALL ARTHUR WIER. (L.S.)