IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS RELATE TO A RATCHET AND TREADLE MOTION APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS MACHINES
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Wilson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 3rd
April 1869.
I, EDWARD WILSON, of Peckham, in the County of Surrey, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES,
PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS RELATE TO A RATCHET AND TREADLE MOTION
APPLICABLE TO VARIOUS MACHINES," to be as follows:-
The main object of my Invention is the construction of a velocipede
which shall be more easy of propulsion, more perfectly under control,
and generally more efficient and convenient than such vehicles as
heretofore constructed.
The nature of the said Invention consists chiefly,-
First. In the employment of a combined ratchet and treadle motion
and modifications thereof, whereby the power of the operator is more
advantageously applied than by the ordinary treadle and crank motion.
Second. In the peculiar means for diminishing the noise of the
working of the ratchets.
Third. In the novel construction and arrangement of stirrups and
connections constituting the treadle apparatus.
Fourth. In the method of constructing the main axle of the velocipede.

page_text: And, fifth. In the combination of the treadle and ratchet motion with
the other parts of the mechanism, as herein-after described.
On the main or driving axle of the velocipede I fix by keys or other
fastenings two ratchet wheels, and side by side therewith, but loose on the
said axle, are two pulleys. Each of the said pulleys carries a pawl or catch
which is formed and arranged to take into the teeth of the adjacent ratchet
wheel. Over each of the said pulleys is passed an endless belt, strap, or
band, which also passes over a small pulley at the front of the vehicle. To
these straps are attached the stirrups, in which the feet of the operator are
inserted to propel the velocipede. The operator's seat is placed over or
nearly over the main axle, and the stirrups are arranged in a convenient
position with regard to the said seat. When properly seated with his
feet in these stirrups it will be seen that the operator by moving his
feet to and fro can communicate a reciprocating rotation to the pulleys
on the driving shaft, and when the pawls on the said pulleys are
adjusted to take into the ratchet wheels this reciprocating motion of the
pulleys will give to the said wheels and the axle a continuous rotation,
and the velocipede will be propelled in a corresponding direction. I prefer
to construct the pawl and ratchet to act in either direction, so that
by a simple adjustment of the pawl by a lever or otherwise the motion
of the shaft and driving wheels may be reversed. An ordinary ratchet
apparatus works with a very unpleasant noise occasioned by the running
back of the pawl over the top of the ratchet teeth. I prevent this
noise and so obviate any objection which might arise therefrom to the
use of my Invention by the following simple means:-The pawl is
pivotted to the side of the pulley at such a distance from the axis
thereof as to allow it to be raised clear of the teeth of the ratchet wheel,
whose diameter is considerably less than that of the pulley. In the
side of the wheel and extending entirely around the same is a groove,
and in this groove is fitted a spring which will move with a slight
friction in the groove; from this spring a small finger extends over the
top of the ratchet teeth, and its end lies in a slot in the pulley. The
said slot is concentric with the said pulley and is of such a length as
to allow the pulley to be moved the required distance without acting
upon the finger. When the pulley is moved forward the arm of the
pawl is free to drop into the ratchet teeth, but when the pulley is moved
back the pawl comes in contact with the said finger, and is thereby
raised clear of the said teeth, being thus rendered silent. If desired

page_text: the ratchet wheels may be made of hornbeam, or instead of ratchet
wheels with teeth as above described plane wheels and friction pawls
may be used. Instead of using the ratchet apparatus above described
for imparting the required motion to the driving axle, I may combine
with the stirrups a device whereby the strap or band is alternately
held and released by the pressure of the foot. For this purpose I
attach to each stirrup a gripping device, which acts somewhat upon the
principle of a pair of pincers. The said device is caused by the
pressure of the foot on the stirrup to hold the strap tightly while the
stirrup is pushed forward, but when the same is drawn back the strap
is released. In this case the pulleys must be tight on the shaft, and
the rotary motion thereof would be obtained directly from the stirrups
operated in the manner above described. I sometimes use elastic bands
extending from the stirrups to the seat to assist in drawing back the
stirrups at each stroke. The stirrups are preferably constructed by
passing a strip of leather or other suitable material around a piece of
wood which fits the waist of the boot or shoe, and around a piece of
metal which fits the heel. This metal piece prevents the compression
of the foot by the sides of the stirrup. A small strap over the instep
keeps the foot properly in the stirrup. The driving axle of my improved
velocipede is made hollow in order to combine lightness with strength,
and I prefer to use for this purpose a piece of metal tubing, such as is
known as steam piping or tubing. The said axle may also be made
telescopic, so that the width of the vehicle may be contracted to allow
it to enter a narrow passage or doorway. The velocipede may be guided
by means of a handle connected to the forward wheel or in any ordinary
and convenient manner. This handle may also be used to apply a brake
to the said wheel. For this purpose I prefer that the handle should
be pivoted between jaws attached to the swivelling axis of the guiding
wheel, which jaws allow the handle to be moved vertically over the said
wheel. The brake is carried on a rod connected to the lever, and by
simply raising the same is forced into contact with the wheel. It is
obvious that my improved ratchet and treadle motion may be applied
to a lathed or a sewing machine, and to other machines wherein an
ordinary treadle motion is used.