IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1883

page_text: دو
LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
and Co Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES communicated to him from abroad by
William Ahlert, Joseph Peter Ahlert, and John George Ahlert, all of San
Francisco, California United States of America
-
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION filed by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th May 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES"
[A com
munication to him from abroad by William Ahlert, Joseph Peter Ahlert, and John
George Ahlert, all of San Francisco, California United States of America]
This invention relates to improvements in single wheel velocipedes or mono-
cycles; and the objects of the said improvements are
.
First. To provide a single wheel velocipede or monocycle in which the rider
occupies a saddle or seat placed within the circumference of the wheel and below
the centre or axial line thereof.
•
Second. To provide a monocycle in which motion is imparted to the carrying
wheel by means of vibrating sectors keyed upon the hub of the carrying wheel and
connected by means of cords or wires to foot rests or stirrups moved in an alternate
reciprocating manner.
Third. To provide a new and improved arrangement of the supporting bars and
rods of the saddle or seat.
Fourth. To provide a device whereby the velocipede may be sustained and
supported in an upright position when being rolled from place to place by the
operator when walking alongside of the device.
Fifth. To provide an improved form of construction for the main carrying.
wheel.
Sixth. To provide a velocipede with an improved braking device, and also to
other details of construction which will be hereinafter more fully described.
Prin 71

page_text: In carrying the said invention into practice I provide a carrying wheel which
may be formed in the usual manner; but I prefer to construct it as follows that is
to say.
The felly is constructed of gas pipe to which a second or outer band of piping is
firmly attached. This outer circular band is formed from a piece of pipe which
has been divided or sawn apart lengthwise, so that when placed in position it
will form a wheel having a concave face adapted to receive and sustain the india
rubber tyre.
The said second or semi-cylindrical band is attached to the main felly by means
of screw bolts which are first passed through the gas pipe and then enter the band
and are headed down upon the concave side of the same. A small plate is then
passed over the inner end of the bolt and the ends of tangent trusses or stay rods
are made fast to the opposite ends thereof and by screwing down or slackening a nut
upon a threaded bolt the tension of the said stay rods can be regulated. At various
points round the inner edge of the rim and equidistant from each other I attach
transversely projecting bows or rods which may rest upon a small support or
standard attached to the felly. Each end of these rods is provided with two ears
or lugs to the undermost of which are attached the stay rods which connect with
the rim of the wheel. Other stay rods are attached to the outer ends of the bows
and are extended inwardly in diverging lines from their point of attachment to
each end of the rim or tyre-bows, yet each series of stay rods upon each side of
the wheel converges toward a central point and is attached to flanged discs keyed
or otherwise rigidly connected to sleeves or hubs journalled upon a bent axle.
These last named stay rods are screw threaded upon their ends and are provided
with nuts and washers whereby the tension of the samé may be regulated. The
axle is bent outward toward the front end of the machine in order that space may
be left to accommodate the rider as he sits upon the saddle provided at its forward
end with a small pad which prevents the rider slipping forward, and is attached to
the axle by a hinge connection with a downwardly curved bar pivoted to the axle
by a bolt in such a manner as to permit of the rider deflecting his seat to either
the right hand or to the left hand side of the machine for the purpose of guiding
or directing the forward motion of the same. A short rod is attached to the under
side of the saddle and is connected by a hinge joint with a notched curved rod
provided with a flat spring, the said rod and spring passing through and engaging
with an aperture made in a lip formed on a bar or rod.
.
Upon each side of the machine I firmly attach to the hubs, brake wheels and
clutch cases, the brake wheels being intermediate or between the clutches. The
hubs are provided with an enlargement or a disc is keyed upon the inner end
thereof, and side flanges are then placed upon each side of the disc. The flanges
when in place complete by covering the disc yet not binding upon it or upon the
hub or axle so tightly as to prevent the free vibration of the said flanges.
A chamber or recess is left in the upper portion of the flanges, the lower.portion
of the recess being occupied by a curved wedge, the butt of which rests against a
coiled spring which prevents jarring or concussion of the operating parts and keeps
the wedge in continual contact with the rocker.
The upper part of the chamber is occupied by a solid sector or rocker which has
its bearing or pivotted point in the upper part of the casing or side flanges, while
its lower curved face bears upon the curved wedge above described.
Projecting outwardly from the casing or side flanges are radial arms which carry
the sector or segmental wheel having a concave face and.set at right angles to its
plane of revolution.
A secondary sector is attached by side arms to the casing and is of the same
radius as the sector but is set inclined or at an angle to the plane of its
revolution.
Downwardly projecting rods are attached to the axle and connected together at
their lower ends by a foot board.
Pedals or stirrups having suitable friction rollers are adapted to slide up and

page_text: down upon the vertical portion of the rods and are attached by cords to the top
ends of the sectors, the said cords passing over the face of the sectors in the usual
manner.
A cord is attached to the lower end of the sector and is carried over a small
friction roller or pulley and thence through a tube securely clipped to the underside
of the front portion of the bent axle and thence over a pulley at the opposide end
of the tube and made fast to the lower end of the outside sector. The said pulleys
are journalled in lugs attached to the ends of the tubes.
The clips which serve to retain the rope tube in place also support lever handles
placed one on each side of the machine and on top of the axle within easy reach of
the rider. The outer ends of these handles are slotted and receive the tang or
point of a curved pivotted rod the opposite end of which carries the brake shoes
which are adapted to bind upon the face of the brake wheels.
The heads of the flanged discs are made sufficiently thick to receive the threads
of a bolt which is screwed tightly against the end of the stationary axle and tends
to lessen the friction of the revolving hub.
The outer ends of these bolts are provided with a square shoulder or head by
which they may be set up, or slackened.
One of these bolts (by preference that one upon the right hand side of the
machine) is continued out past its head and a left hand screw thread is turned upon
such projected portion thereby adapting it to receive a roller handle. The inner
end of the said handle is provided with an annular recess or with flanges which
hold in place a loosely journalled transverse handle.
When the operator wishes to move his machine without riding it he screws the
handle to its place, then by grasping the axial or roller handle in his right hand
and pressing forward, the wheel is caused to roll over the surface of the ground it
being steadied and kept in an upright position by means of the backwardly
projecting handle which is grasped in the left hand.
When not in use the saddle is lowered in order that it may not be in the way of
the rider' when starting the velocipede and is held in that position by the pressure
of a spring against the end of its receiving slot.
The cords connecting with the stirrups are those which produce a direct action
upon the inner sectors and the gripping rocker; the cord which is connected to the
outside sector serving to retract the rocker or produce a reverse revolution of the
sectors upon the opposite side of the machine, this movement being accomplished
alternately upon either side of the machine and placing the operating parts in a
position to be operated upon by the rider giving a downward stroke with his leg.
The first nained connecting cords are made adjustable in length so as to vary
the stroke and adjust the distance of the stirrups from the saddle to suit the length
of limb of the rider.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th November 1883.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES "A commu-
nication to me from abroad by William Ahlert, Joseph Peter Ahlert and John
George Ahlert, all of San Francisco California, United States of America
This invention relates to single-wheel velocipedes or monocycles.
The said invention comprises a single wheel velocipede or monocycle in which
the rider occupies a saddle or seat placed within the circumference of the wheel
and below the centre or axial line thereof
It also comprises a monocycle in which motion is imparted to the carrying
wheel by means of vibrating sectors keyed upon the hub of the carrying wheel and
connected, by means of cords or wires, to foot rests or stirrups moved in an
alternate reciprocating manner..
It also comprises a new and improved arrangement of the supporting bars and
rods of the saddle or seat; a device whereby the velocipede may be sustained and
supported in an upright position when being rolled from place to place by the
operator when walking alongside the device; an improved construction for the
main carrying wheel; and an improved braking device It also comprises various
other details of construction which will be hereinafter described.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a side elevation shewing the principal working parts of a velocipede
constructed according to this invention
Figure 2 is a view showing the manner of attaching the seat or saddle to the
axle.
Figure 3 is a sectional side view of one of the sectors.
Figure 4 is a vertical sectional view of the lower half of the wheel, showing the
foot rest and driving mechanism
Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view of the velocipede
Figure 6 is a sectional plan view of the device for holding and guiding the
velocipede while the operator walks beside it
Figure 7 is a plan view of the brake
Figure 8 is a transverse section through the rim of the carrying wheel, and
Figure 9 is a sectional plan view showing the rope carrying tube
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts throughout
the drawing
A indicates the carrying wheel which may be formed in the usual manner; but
I prefer to construct it in the manner shown in Figure 8. The felly A¹ is formed
of gas pipe to which a second or outer band of piping A2 is firmly attached. This
outer circular band is formed from a piece of pipe which has been divided or
sawn apart lengthwise, so that when placed in position it will form a wheel
having a concave face adapted to receive and sustain the india rubber tyre A³.
The semi-cylindrical band A2 is attached to the main felly by means of screw
bolts A which are first passed through the pipe A' and then enter the band A²
and are headed down upon the concave side of the same. A small plate B is then
passed over the inner end of the bolt, and the ends of the tangent trusses or stay
rods B' are made fast to the opposite ends thereof as shown in Figure 8; by
screwing down or slackening the nut B2 upon the threaded bolt A' the tension of
the said stay rods can be regulated. At various points around the inner edge of

page_text: the rim, and equidistant from each other, I attach the transversely projecting bows
or rods C which may rest upon a small support or standard C₁ attached to the
felly..
Each end of these rods is provided with two ears or lugs as shewn in Figure 4,
to the undermost of which are attached the stay-rods C which connect with the
rim of the wheel. Stay-rods C³ are attached to the outer ends of the bows, and
are extended inwardly in diverging lines from their point of attachment to each
end of the rim or tire-bows, yet each series of stay rods upon each side of the
wheel converges toward a central point and is attached to the flanged discs D, D,
keyed, or otherwise rigidly connected, to the sleeves or hubs D¹, journalled upon the
bent axle D. These last named stay-rods are screw-threaded upon their ends,
and are provided with nuts and washers whereby the tension of the same may be
regulated.
The axle is bent outward towards the front end of the machine in order that
space may be left to accommodate the rider as he sits upon the saddle E.
The saddle is provided at its forward end with a small pad E which prevents
the rider slipping forward, and is attached to the axle by a hinge connection with
the downwardly curved bar E¹; the said bar is pivoted to the axle D² by a bolt Ds
in such a manner as to permit of the rider deflecting his seat to either the right
hand or to the left hand side of the machine for the purpose of guiding or directing
the forward motion of the same. A short rod D' is attached to the underside of
the saddle and is connected by a hinge joint with the notched curved rod D³
provided with a flat spring D6, the said rod and spring passing through, and
engaging with, an aperture made in the lip D' formed on the bar or rod E'
Upon each side of the machine I firmly attach to the hubs D', D¹ the brake-
wheels F, F and clutch cases G G, the brake wheels being intermediate or between
the clutches. The hubs D¹ are provided with an enlargement, or a disc H is
keyed upon the inner end thereof, and side flanges H¹ are then placed upon each
side of the disc. The flanges, when in place, completely cover the disc, but do not
bind upon it or upon the hub or axle so tightly as to prevent the free vibration of
the said flanges.
A chamber or recess H is left in the upper portion of the flanges, as seen in
Figure 3, the lower portion of the recess being occupied by a curved wedge I, the
butt of which rests against a coiled spring I' which prevents jarring or concussion
of the operating parts, and keeps the wedge in continual contact with the rocker.
The upper part of the chamber is occupied by a solid sector or rocker 12 which has
its bearing or pivotal point in the upper part of the casing or slide flanges H', H
while its lower curved face bears upon the curved wedge above described.
Projecting outwardly from the casing or side flanges H' are radial arms, which
carry the sector or segmental wheel 13 having a concave face and set at right angles
to its plane of revolution. A secondary sector 14 is attached by side arms to the
casing H and is of the same radius as the sector 13 but is set inclined, or at an
angle, to the plane of its revolution as shown in Figures 4 and 5.
Downwardly projecting rods J, J, are attached to the axle and connected together
at their lower ends by the foot-board P as shown in Figure 4.
Pedals or stirrups J1 J1 having suitable friction-rollers are adapted to slide up
and down upon the vertical portions of the rods J, and are attached by cords J², J
to the top ends of the sectors I, I. The said cords passing over the faces of the
sectors in the usual manner
A cord K is attached to the lower end of the sector 13, and is carried over a
small friction roller or pulley L, thence through the tube L, securely clamped to
the under side of the front portion of the bent axle D, and thence over a pulley at
the opposite end of the tube, and made fast to the lower end of the outside sector.
The said pulleys L', are jourualled in lugs attached to the ends of the tubes. Las
shown in Figure 9.
The clips which serve to retain the rope tube in place also support lever
handles L L placed one on each side of the machine and on top of the axle within

page_text: easy reach of the rider. The outer ends of these handles are slotted and receive
the tang or point of the curved pivoted rod L³, the opposite end of which carries
the brake-shoes M, which are adapted to bind upon the face of the brake-
wheels F. F.
The heads of the flanged discs D are made sufficiently thick to receive the
threads of the bolt N, which is screwed tightly against the end of the stationary
axle and tends to lessen the friction of the revolving hub. The outer ends of
these bolts are provided with square shoulders or heads by which they may be set
up or slackened. One of these bolts (by preference that one upon the right hand
side of the machine) is continued out past its head, and a left hand screw-thread
is turned upon such projected portion thereby adapting it to receive the roller
handle O. The inner end of the said handle is provided with an annular recess,
or with flanges which hold in place the loosely journalled transverse handle O', all
of which is illustrated in Figure 6.
When the operator wishes to move his machine without riding it he screws the
handle to its place, then, by grasping the axial or roller handle O in his right
hand and pressing forward, the wheel is caused to roll over the surface of the
ground, it being steadied and kept in an upright position by means of the
backwardly-projecting handle O¹ which is grasped in the left hand.
When not in use the saddle is lowered to the position shewn in Figure 2 (in
order that it may not be in the way of the rider when starting the velocipede)
and is held in that position by the pressure of the spring De against the end of
its receiving slot.
The operation of the improved velocipede is as follows, that is to say:-
The rider starts the velocipede in the usual manner and steps quickly upon the
foot board P at the same time grasping the knob on the top of the rod D³, and
forcing the said rod downward through the opening in the lip D', and throwing
the saddle E up between his legs, in which position it is held by the notched rod
and its spring D
The rider then seats himself astride the saddle, and placing his feet upon the
foot-rests, stirrups, or pedals J, J' presses them down in an alternate reciprocating
manner.
As the stirrups slide up and down upon the vertical rods J, J, they produce,
through the medium of the connecting cords J and K, a vibrating or rocking
movement of the sectors, which, by means of the rockers 12, 1' and curved
wedges I, I impart an uniform rotary motion to the carrying wheel, and the rider
is easily and rapidly carried over the surface of the ground.
The cords J connecting with the stirrups are those which produce a direct
action upon the inner sectors and the gripping rocker; the cord K which is
connected to the outside sector serving to retract the rocker or produce a reverse
revolution of the sectors upon the opposite side of the machine, this movement
being accomplished alternately upou either side of the machine and placing the
operating parts in a position to be operated upon by the rider giving a downward
stroke with his leg
The connecting cords J' are made adjustable in length so as to vary the stroke
and adjust the distance of the stirrups from the saddle to suit the length of limb
of the rider.
Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it
understood that I claim-
First. A monocycle or single-wheel velocipede in which rotation of the wheel
is produced by the vibration of the sectors 13, I and the gripping of the rocker 12
upon a wedge I carried by the wheel hub, the vibration of the said sectors being
produced by suitable connecting cords and pedals constructed, arranged, and
operating substantially in the manner, and for the purpose, set forth.
Second. In a velocipede, the combination, with the wheel hub D' and axle D³,
of the tension or set bolt N, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.

page_text: Third. In a velocipede having an axle D2, wheel hub D', and set-bolt N provided
upon its outer projecting end with a left hand screw-thread, the combination of
the auxiliary steering or propelling roller-handle O and sustaining or balancing
handle loosely journalled upon the said handle O, when constructed and
arranged to operate substantially in the manner, and for the purpose, specified.
Fourth. In a velocipede, the hinged saddle E, connected to the side swivelling
rod E' attached to the bent axle D₁ and provided with the forwardly projecting
perforated lip D7, the rod D', the notched rod D³, and the flat spring D6, constructed,
arranged, and operating substantially as described.
Fifth. In a monocycle, the combination of the rim A¹, the rim bows C, the stay
rods C and Cs, the hubs or discs D¹, D¹ journalled upon the bent axle D2 and
carrying the slip-and-grip sectors Is and I, the connecting cords J and K, and the
pedals J operating upon the downwardly projecting rods or guides J, J connected
at the bottom by a foot-board P, all constructed, arranged, and operating
substantially as described for the purpose specified.
Sixth. In a monocycle, the slip-and-grip sectors 13, I connected to the same
hub and carrying the pivoted rocker I', the curved wedge I, and the spring I'
contained within a casing G and arranged to operate substantially as shown and
set forth.
Seventh. In a monocycle, the slip-and-grip sectors I³, 13, arranged upon either
side of the machine, and connected by a cord K passing through a guide tube L
connected to the bent axle and operated substantially as, and for the purpose,
set forth.
.
Eighth. In a monocycle, the combination, with the brake wheel F secured upon
the hub of the carrying wheel, of the brake-shoe M, brake-rod L³ and lever-
handle L' pivoted upon the bent axle and arranged to operate substantially in
the manner, and for the purpose, set forth.
In witness whereof I the said 'Henry Harris Lake have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourteenth day of November in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
HENRY, H. LAKE (L.S.)