AN IMPROVED BICYCLE
Year: 1885

page_text: 1 ROBERT P. SCOTT a manufacturer of hardware, at present out of business, and
residing at Coventry in the county of Warwick a citizen of the United States and
former address at 67 German Street Baltimore City in the State of Maryland, the
temporary address being in care of J. H. Greenbill Cox Street Coventry do declare
the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED BICYCLE to be as follows:-
-
The invention maintains a close relationship to, and may be called improvements
on a certain invention for which I applied for letters patent March 13-N° 3303.
1885 In the application above referred to a particular arrangement is described
of applying power to a bicycle, in which, the said power is transferred over the
periphery of the driving wheel from one side to the other, resulting in a means of
lifting or drawing the pedal lever up; that is to say; applying the power on the
up-stroke of said lever, this being a great desideratumn, for the reason that, a much
simpler and more effective mechanism can be arranged to drive the wheel forward
in this way than is common in bicycles with lever or treadle movement.
In the present application the invention consists in a number of elements―
First: The general application and adaptation of the principle shown in my
previous application, to a small wheel or so called safety bicycle wherein it is
desired to increase the revolution of the driving wheel to each stroke of the
treadle This consists substantially as follows: A disk with a short cylindrical
surface is placed on each end of the axle and over the clutching arrangement; the
connecting chain comes over from the opposite side to each drum passing around
said drum and made fast at one or two points thereto, the end connected to a lever
which is worked by the foot.
In the arrangement above specified it will be seen that while bearing down
upon one treadle the drum on that side revolves backward while the other drum
goes forward, either drum clutching to the hub of drive wheel in the revolution
forward. When this device is applied to the ordinary small bicycle with the large
wheel in front then the rider sits rearward of the driving axle; the chains work
from the rear of the drum; the foot lever is swung from in front of said axle and
extends to the rear of same.
Second-My invention consists in a particular construction of roller clutch in
which a loose frame carries the rollers and is connected to the driving drum or
lever by a pin, in this way the rollers are wade to clutch against each other and

page_text: not between the rim and conter axle as is common, also by drawing out the pin
aforesaid the connection is broken and the machine can be run back wards.
Third In a latteral adjusting roller bearing; The rollers are turned with a
neck which rolls on the inner circle of a perforated disk; One neck with two rings
drawing outward or two necks with the rings screwing together effects the
adjustment desired.
Fourth In a particular construction of a hinged handle bar;-an L, is turned
over on the inner ends of said bar, this being tapered is inserted in a hole at right
angles to the fork head in a plane parallel to that of the drive wheel.
This handle bar can be swung up out of the way in storing the machine or can
be arranged with a trigger to unloose it in case of accident.
Fifth In a band brake applied to the hub of the hind wheel and worked by a
chain or rope passing through the back bone and connected to a hand lever, the
whole so arranged as to be mostly out of sight and not liable to rattle.
Sixth-In a flat or oval spoke, with sharp edges to cut the wind easier; this
shape of spoke being more easily made than round ones with heavy ends.
Seventh-In a manner of recessing the flange on a hub to recieve a block; into
which the spoke is screwed or riveted.
Grooves are cast or stamped in the plane of the flange radiating from the center
and a recess is turned at any desired distance from the circumference, thus
drilling the hub is saved.

page_text: I, ROBERT P. SCOTT a manufacturer of hardware at present out of business
a citizen of the United States with address at 67 German Street Baltimore City
in the State of Maryland do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
AN IMPROVED BICYCLE and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention may be said to be an improved fortn of the machine for which
I applied for patent March 13th 1885 No. 3303, since issued.
In the application above referred to the main principle consisted in a means
applying the driving power and transmitting the same over the drive wheel
The invention consisted largely in a certain application of this principle I now
apply the principle above inentioned in a different way and also make other
improvements as hereinafter specified.
My invention relates to small bicycles or safety machines in particular, but in
some respects my improvements are applicable to velocipedes in general. My object
is to reduce danger and fatigue, increase comfort, economize power, and generally
improve the construction, appearance and utility of such class of inachines as that
to which my invention relates.
My invention consists generally in the use and adaptation of the principle before
mentioned, in which the power is transmitted from one side of the drive wheel to
the other over the periphery thereof, which principle I now apply to a small
bicycle, preferably of the common type, having the larger wheel forward and a
smaller following; making use of drums, treadles, clutches etc., as may be
required.

page_text: The second drum D¹ has its corresponding chains and the entire mechanism on
the two sides are in every way symmetrical. The chains F. G. F¹ G¹ run on and off
the drums D. and D¹ froin a rear tangent, that is to say, the aide nearest under the
saddle or rider's perch.
As the chain F. is drawn off the drum D. by the treadle E. the chain G. winds
on, hence the corresponding chain G¹ on the second drum D' is drawn off.
Now the peculiarity in this arrangement consists in that the clutch C. grips in
its forward motion indicated by the arrow, hence it will be seen that while the
rider depresses the treadle E. on the one, or say the right side, the drum D. is
revolved backward, and the clutch does not grip to the hub of drive wheel, while
the second or left drum D' does move forward and its clutch grips, thus giving
momentum to the drive wheel in a forward direction.
The advantages of this movement are manifold, but only manifest in full force
to one well acquainted with bicycles in their general use and manufacture;
however, the compactness, shortness of levers and fork extensions, in placing the
work directly under the rider, together with the absence of springs to lift the
treadles are perhaps the most conspicuous features.
The treadles E. E¹ are raised or lowered to suit different lengths of leg, by
altering the chains on the drums to different points of connection, or lengthen
chain H.
Adjustment for increased speed or power is had by moving the chains along the
treadles, that is, nearer to or farther from the fulcrum from which the treadle
Bwings.
Guards are placed over the chains if desired, to protect the clothing.
The back bone, saddle, handle bars, front wheel, brake, foot pedals, and some
other parts not directly concerned in this application are not described, but are
taken for granted.
The distinctive feature in my roller clutch C. is that the frame e carrying the
rollers does not fit closely on the axle a, but considerable room is left for it to
move its center about, in a plane at right angles to the axle a.
The connecting
pin P. enters a slot in the clutch frame and not into a hole.
The advantage of this arrangement is, that my clutch does not grip between the
hub ring and the axle, as is common, but the grip of one roller will immediately
cause the other two rollers to grip also, and expansive force is equally outward on
the ring. I know rollers are sometimes held up by springs, but still there is apt to
be more grip to one roller than another, and thus bear powerfully against the axle.
In my present machine this would not matter so much since the axle revolves with
the ring, but this is not always so.
The use of springs is dispensed with, and a grip of all the rollers positively
assured, and again, if one roller slips the other two rollers press the frame over and
secure a new grip at once of all three rollers, instead of depending on the two
remaining.
An adjusting plate c¹ is placed behind each roller to take up wear or lost motion,
but note that only one need be moved at a time as it will take up for all.
The rollers rest on separable bed plates c¹¹ removable in case of wear or breakage,
or reversible end for end in case of wear.
In the construction of my hubs, instead of drilling and tapping the spokes
directly into the hub, I cast a slot L. (See Figs. 5, 6, 7,) in the back of the hub into
which I place a headed block l, which block is drilled and tapped for the spoke;
the slot L. is so cast that the block can be put through from the inside, and thus
not be liable to be drawn out. I do not confine myself to use this hub, hence the
construction is shown only in detail.
In describing chains connected with my machine, it is of course, understood that
any sort of cable, strap or other connection may be used, in fact, any means of
transmitting the power over the periphery of the drive wheel, whereby a down
stroke on one side causes an upward pull on the other, to which I may be broadly

page_text: entitled by virtue of former applications or acquired patents would be in some
respects applicable to this machine.
The advantages in general, not previously noticed, that this machine may be said
to possess, are; That I have no dead centers. I have complete rest of the legs on
down grade, least unnecessary motion of legs at all times, weight on front wheel
while at work, but more on hind wheel when resting in saddle, increased safety,
ease of mounting and dismounting, feet not liable to be thrown from treadles;
narrow tread, hence less tendency to slip sideways, increased steering power;
stretching of chains docs not effect the perfect working of the machine; rider's
weight more on the treadles and not so much in saddles, and in general much less
waste of energy.
Some of the above features are found in other machines, but I know of none
which combines so many desirable points in a bicycle.
The slot L. in my hub is so formed that when the mold for the hub is being
made the sand parts at the line m, Fig. 7, and draws both ways and when the
block l. is placed in said slot the entire space is filled up and the hub presents a
smooth surface inside and out.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a bicycle the drums D. D¹ and means for revolving them back and forward,
in combination with means for transmitting the entire propelling power over the
periphery of the drive wheel, substantially as described.
2. In a bicycle the hinged treadles E. E', in combination with the drums D. D¹,
chains G. G, together with the chain H. running over a suitable pulley I, whereby
the entire propelling power is passed through one drum, and the second drum
connects with and drives the machine through suitable clutching mechanism,
substantially as described.
3. The roller clutch C having the inner frame e loose about the center to allow
for lateral motion, substantially as described.
4. In a roller clutch the setting up plates c', substantially as described.
5. In a roller clutch, the separable bed plates c¹¹, substantially as described.
6. In a bicycle wheel hub the slotted recess L. so formed in the hub that it can
be molded as described.
7. In a bicycle a main large driving wheel A. placed forward of a smaller trailing
wheel, the two connected together by the usual front fork and back bone; in
combination with treadles E. E' properly swung to the fork B. and connecting with
drums D. D by chains, substantially such as described, and suitable clutching
mechanism, the whole so arranged that a downward stroke on one side causes an
upward pull on the other, substantially as described.