Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th June, 1896
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM DE MORGAN of The Vale, Kings Road, Chelsea in the County of
London, Potter, do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its principal object to provide simple and convenient apparatus
or means whereby compressed air is employed for varying the power of the driving
gear of velocipedes but is applicable also for operating the brakes inflating the
pneumatic tyres and saddles and for sounding whistles or other audible signals.
I will describe my invention as applied to a bicycle from which its application to
vehicles of a like kind will also be understood. I utilize the hollow frame of the
bicycle or part of the said frame as a container of compressed air and provide in a
convenient part thereof a cylinder or valve box containing two chambers capable of
being respectively connected by two pipes or passages (preferably within the hollow
frame) with two chambers provided in the bearing in which the crank shaft or axle
is mounted. On the crank shaft or axle and adjacent to the pedals are loosely
mounted two chain wheels of different diameters geared by chains to two other
chain wheels also of different diameters mounted on the axle of the rear or main
driving wheel of the bicycle thus providing a double driving gear of which the
speeds may be varied to meet particular requirements. In the interior of the hub of
each of the chain wheels on the crank axle is an annular flexible tube or chamber
which in its normal condition fits easily within the hub of the wheel so as to allow
of the free rotation of the wheel on the axle. Each such tube or chamber is in
communication through a passage in the crank axle with one of the chambers in the
bearing of the said axle. The chambers in the valve hereinbefore referred to are
connected to a handle by means of which the said chambers may be partially rotated
in the shell or casing of the valve, passages being provided in the said shell or casing
and also in the chambers so arranged that when the handle is in its normal position
communication between the chambers in the valve and the hollow framing, containing
the compressed air, is cut off but by moving the handle in one direction or the other
passages in the shell of the valve and in one of the chambers therein are made to
coincide so as to admit compressed air from the hollow frame into the said chamber
and thence into the corresponding chamber in the crank axle bearing, whence it
passes through one of the longitudinal passages in the said axle and through branches
therefrom into the flexible tube or chamber in the hub of the corresponding chain
wheel mounted on the said axle. The flexible tube or chamber is thus expanded and
caused to so engage the hub of the wheel that the wheel, rotates with the axle and
transmits motion through its gearing chain to the chain wheel on the axle of the
driving wheel of the bicycle which chain wheel may in order to minimize friction be
connected to the axle of the driving wheel by pawl and ratchet or equivalent device
which when the chain wheel is rotated will drive the axle but which when the axle is
rotated will yield and allow the axle to turn in the hub of the wheel without
imparting rotation to the said wheel or the said chain wheel may be attached to the
axle as usual.
When the valve is moved to admit compressed air into the flexible tube or
chamber of one of the chain wheels on the crank axle passages are opened.
which will allow air to escape from the flexible tube or chamber in the hub of the
other chain wheel on the said crank axle. It will be readily understood that according
to the direction in which the chambers in the valve are moved compressed-air can be

page_text: directed into the flexible tube or chamber of either the large or the smaller chain
wheel on the crank axle and thereby drive the axle by either the large wheel or the
smaller wheel and so increase or reduce the power and speed as required. Tubes
may be connected to the hollow frame for the purpose of conducting the compressed
air therefrom for inflating the pneumatic tyres and for operating air brakes also for
sounding a whistle or cther audible signal the said tube or tubes being provided with
a valve or valves which may be operated by a simple pressure. The compressed air
may also be utilised to promote the elasticity of the seat either by pistons or the
inflation of a cushion or otherwise. By substituting a pendulum for the valve
actuating handle hereinbefore described the valve may be caused to act automatically
to vary the power of the driving gear as the gradient of the road varies.
Dated this 19th day of June 1896.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W., Agents.
ovements in or connected with Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM DE MORGAN, of The Vale, King's Road, Chelsea, in the County of
London, Potter, 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:-
My invention has for its principal object to provide simple and convenient
apparatus or means whereby compressed air is employed for varying the power of
the driving gear of velocipedes but is applicable also for operating the brakes,
inflating the pneumatic tyres and saddles, and for sounding whistles or other audible
signals.
I will describe my invention as applied to a bicycle from which its application
to vehicles of a like kind will also be understood. I utilize the hollow frame of
the bicycle, or part of the said frame, as a container of compressed air and provide
in a convenient part thereof a cylinder or valve box containing two chambers
capable of being respectively connected by two pipes or passages (preferably within
the hollow frame) with two chambers provided in the bearing in which the crank
.shaft or axle is mounted. On the crank shaft or axle and adjacent to the pedals
are loosely mounted two chain wheels of different diameters geared by chains to
two other chain wheels also of different diameters mounted on the axle of the
rear or main driving wheel of the bicycle thus providing a double driving gear of
which the speeds may be varied to meet particular requirements. In the interior
of the hub of each of the chain wheels on the crank axle is an annular flexible or
elastic tube or chamber which in its normal condition fits easily within the hub of
the wheel so as to allow of the free rotation of the wheel on the axle. Each such
tube or chamber is in communication through a passage in the crank axle with
one of the chambers in the bearing of the said axle. The valve is provided with
a handle by means of which the said valve may be partially rotated in the shell
or casing, passages being provided in the said shell or casing and also in the valve,
.so arranged that by moving the handle in one direction or the other, passages in
the sheil of the valve, and in one of the chambers therein, are made to coincide,
so as to admit compressed air from the hollow frame into the said chamber and
thence into the corresponding chamber in the crank axle bearing, whence it passes
through one of the longitudinal passages in the said axle and through branches
therefrom into the flexible tube or chamber in the hub of the corresponding chain
wheel mounted on the said axle. The flexible tube or chamber is thus expanded

page_text: and caused to so engage the hub of the wheel so that the wheel rotates with the
axle and transmits motion through its gearing chain to the chain wheel on the
axle of the driving wheel of the bicycle which chain wheel may in order to
minimize friction be connected to the axle of the driving wheel by pawl and
ratchet or equivalent device which when the chain wheel is rotated will drive the
axle but which when the axle is rotated will yield and allow the axle to turn in
the hub of the wheel without imparting rotation to the said wheel, or the said
chain wheel may be attached to the axle as usual.
When the valve is moved to admit compressed air into the flexible tube or
chamber of one of the chain wheels on the crank axle, passages are opened which
will allow air to escape from the flexible tube or chamber in the hub of the other
chain wheel on the said crank axle. It will be readily understood that according
to the direction in which the valve is moved compressed air can be directed into
the flexible tube or chamber of either the large or the smaller chain wheel on the
crank axle and thereby drive the axle by either the large wheel or the smaller wheel,
and so increase or reduce the power and speed as required. Tubes may he connected
to the hollow frame for the purpose of conducting the compressed air therefrom for
inflating the pneumatic tyres and for operating air brakes, also for sounding a
whistle or other audible signal, the said tube or tubes being provided with a valve or
valves which may be operated by a simple pressure. The compressed air may also
be utilized to promote the elasticity of the seat, either by pistons or the inflation of a
cushion or otherwise. By substituting a pendulum for the valve actuating handle
hereinbefore described the valve may-be caused to act automatically to vary the power
of the driving gear as the gradient of the road varies.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a longitudinal section of the crank axle
of a bicycle, the bottom bracket, and bearings, and parts in connection therewith,
constructed and arranged according to my invention,
Figure 2 shows partly in elevation and partly in section in a plane at right angles
to the axis of the crank axle, the hub of one of the chain wheels mounted on the said
crank axle,
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the bush or sleeve secured to the bottom bracket in
which sleeve the crank axle turns.
Figures 4 and 5 are longitudinal sections at right angles to each other of the valve
and valve box for directing the compressed air in the direction required.
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 1-2 Figure 4.
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line 3-4 Figure 5, and
Figure 8 shews in transverse section a modified construction of the valve.
The crank axle A of the machine is provided with two collars a a upon which are
loosely mounted two chain wheels B B one of which wheels (B') is of greater
diameter than the other wheel (B). The interior of the hub of each of these wheels
has a semi-circular or semi-elliptical recess c formed therein, and in the periphery of
each of the collars is formed a similar recess c¹ so that when the wheel is in position
on the collar a circular or approximately circular annular chamber is formed to
contain an expansible tubular ring CC of india-rubber or equivalent material-a space
being left between the said Lubular ring and the recess in the hub of the wheel, to
which space air las access through suitable openings provided for the purpose. The
axle A and collars a a' together with the tubular rings CC are normally free to turn
in the hubs of the wheels B B'. The axle A is mounted so as to rotate in a two part
bush or sleeve D D screwed or otherwise secured in the bottom bracket E, ball
bearings d being provided between the axle and the hush or sleeve D D to reduce
friction. On the outer ends of the axle A are keyed the cranks F F' between which
cranks and the ends of the bush or sleeve D D' the hubs of the chain wheels B B are
situated and by which they are retained in position.
In the axle A are formed longitudinal passages e e' having branch passages e
and communicating respectively with the interior of the rings and with
annular chambers formed in the two-part sleeve D D'. Between the inner ends
of the parts D D' of the sleeve or bush in which the axle A turns, a space ² is left

page_text: in which engages.a flange or collar g formed on a packing ring carried on the axle A.
The said collar 9 constitutes a partition separating the chambers ff. Communicating
with the chambers ffi are tubes or passages i contained within the portion G of the
hollow frame of the machine connected to the bottom bracket E. The tubes or
passages communicate at their other ends with a valve box or chamber G2
preferably situated in the hollow frame of the machine near the handle bar. The
valve box or chamber shewn in the drawing is of cylindrical form and contains a
hollow drum shaped or cylindrical valve H fitted to turn air tightly in the chamber G².
The interior of this valve H is divided by a diaphragm 2 into two chambers k k
which diaphragm may be formed in the valve itself as shewn in Figure 8 or the valve
may be made in parts screwed on to a diaphragm as shewn in Figures 5 and 6.
The ends of the cylindrical valve have each an opening 2 k³ corresponding to
openings in the ends of the valve box or chamber G2 which latter openings
communicate respectively by passages m m' with the tubes or passages ii, hereinbefore
referred to. The passages m m² are preferably formed in the walls of the valve box
itself as shewn, but if desired they may be made separate from and connected to the
valve box. The chambers k k in the valve H are at all times in communication by
the passages I'm m¹ and i with the interior of the annular tubes CC in the hubs
of the wheels B B'. In the cylindrical wall of the valve box are openings n
and o o' the former of which are open to the atmosphere and the latter communicate
with a compressed air reservoir which is preferably the hollow frame of the vehicle.
The valve H is provided in its side with openings p p q q' so arranged that when the
valve is, turned in one direction the openings qp in the valve coincide respectively
with the openings n o in the valve box, so that compressed air from the reservoir can
pass into the chamber k in the valve and thence through the passages l m i into the
annular tube in the hub of the wheel B whereupon the said tube will be expanded
and forcibly pressed against the interior surface of the hub of the said wheel so as to
cause the wheel to rotate with the axle A and impart motion through the chain to the
wheels of the vehicle at a certain speed at which the wheels are geared to run on
level roads. When it is desired to increase the power of the driving gear the valve H
is turned in the reverse direction by means of the handle I until the openings pin
the valve coincide respectively with the openings on in the valve box whereupon
communication between the compressed air reservoir and the annular tube will be
cut off and communication established between the compressed air reservoir and the
annular tube in the hub of the chain wheel B' so as to expand the said tube and
cause the wheel B' to rotate with the axle A whilst at the same time the compressed
air from the annular tube C in the hub of the wheel B will escape into the
atmosphere through the openings qi and n and so release the wheel B from the axle A
which will then rotate without rotating the said wheel.
The hollow frame of the velocipede may be charged with compressed air by any
. suitable means for instance the saddle may be connected to an air pump attached to
the machine so as to be operated by the up and down movement of the rider.
3
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.
1. A velocipede having differential driving gear brought into operation so as to
alter the speed and power as required by means of clutches operated by compressed
air contained in a reservoir carried by the velocipede substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. A velocipede having loosely mounted on the crank axle, driving wheels of
different sizes in combination with clutching devices operated by compressed air and a
valve for directing the compressed air in the direction required to cause either one o
other of the driving wheels as desired to rotate with the crank axle or driving shaf
substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. A velocipede having loosely mounted on the crank shaft or driving shaft twe
driving wheels one being of larger diameter than the other, each wheel having in it

page_text: hub a recess containing an expansible hollow ring of india-rubber or the like, into-
either of which hollow rings as desired compressd air from a reservoir can be admitted
by a valve so as to expand the hollow ring and cause the wheel with which it is-
combined to rotate with the crank axle or driving shaft substantially as hereinbefore-
described.
4. In a velocipede the combination with a crank axle or driving shaft of two.
driving wheels of different diameters mounted loosely on the axle or shaft; a recess
in the hub of each wheel; a tubular ring of india-rubber or the like fitted in the
recesses in the hubs; passages in the crank axle or driving shaft communicating with
the interior of the tubular rings in the hubs of the wheels; tubes connecting the
passages in the axle or shaft with a valve box-arranged in the tubular or hollow frame
of the velocipede; a valve fitted to turn air-tightly in the valve box; means for
forcing air into the hollow frame of the velocipede; openings in the valve and valve
box arranged so that when the valve is in one position compressed air passes into the
tubular ring in one of the wheel hubs so as to inflate the said tube, and by moving the
valve into another position communication is established between the air inflated tube
and the atmosphere and at the same time establishing communication between the
tubular ring in the other wheel and the compressed air reservoir; substantially as
hereinbefore described.
5. A velocipede. having a hollow tubular frame to contain compressed air in
combination with means for utilising the compressed air contained in the hollow frame.
for operating clutches so as to vary the power and speed of the driving gear, for
applying the brake, for inflating the saddle-seat, and for producing audible signals,
substantially as herein before described.
6. The combination of parts constituting the means for varying the power of the
driving mechanism of velocipedes by the use of compressed air substantially as.
hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th day of March 1807
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.