Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, CHARLES CHENET, of 35 Rue d'Enghien, Paris, in the Republic of France,
"Contractor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improved system of velocipede in which the
operation of the driving axle is effected by the aid of two levers which by chains
actuate ratchet wheels in direct connection with the driving axle.
The point of attachment of the chain upon each of the levers may be displaced in
accordance with the multiplication or velocity ratio to be obtained..
I connect the two levers with each other by means of a catgut or a prolongation
of their chains in such a manner that the downward movement of one will cause the
upward movement of the other.
The driving takes place by the aid of two levers articulated upon a horizontal
fork. At their extremity these levers carry two chains wound upon wheels which
form part of muffs or sleeves carrying also drums in which pawls are articulated ;
these pawls carry away two ratchet wheels toothed on the side. The aforesaid two
chains are connected with each other by a small chain or a catgut passing round a
horizontal pulley so that the downward movement of one of the levers causes the
upward movement of the other.
As the two ratchets are secured upon the nave of the rear wheel the alternating
movement of the two actuating levers is transmitted by a continuous movement of
the said wheel.
The point of attachment of the driving chains may be shifted so as to be at a
greater or smaller distance from the fulcrum of the lever for varying the velocity
ratio of the apparatus. For this purpose each of the extremities of the driving
chain is fixed upon a link articulated to the extremity of the actuating levers.
According as this link is turned to the right or to the left the pin of the last chain link
is placed in one or the other of the notches in the lever, thereby bringing the point
of attachment further away from or nearer to the fulcrumni of the corresponding lever.
The path of the chain may thus be modified for the same downward movement of
the pedals and consequently the corresponding length of the way passed over
by the driving wheel.
1 use a brake which comprises a shoe articulated to the saddle support. A cord
or chain, operated by the handle, forces the shoe upon the wheel rim and the
movement of the wheel has the effect of causing a wedge action of the said shoe so
as to produce a very energetic pressure.
I may moreover fit a band brake to one of the aforesaid ratchet-carrying drums.
The band almost completely surrounds the drum; one extremity is fixed to the
horizontal fork and the other extremity to a square one arm of which is under the
action of a chain fixed to the before-mentioned chain or cord and operated by
the same handle.
Dated this 30th day of June 189.1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, CHARLES CHENET, of 35 Rue d'Enghien, Paris, in the Republic of
France, Contractor, 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 :-
-
This improved velocipede has for its essential feature the actuating arrangement
of the rear-wheel by the aid of two co-operating levers, connected by a chain,
which passes over two loose pinions running on the axle of the wheel; said pinions
being provided with pawls, acting upon respective ratchets, fixed upon the nave of
each side of the wheel.
These actuating pawls are arranged so as to engage the ratchets at the side and
only at the moment when the rider imparts a sufficient pressure upon the driving
levers, and the pawls cease to engage as soon as this pressure is withdrawn. The
object of this arrangement is to avoid the injurious friction and wear and tear of the
pawls, during the time the action of the latter is not necessary for imparting motion
to the vehicle.
To further diminish the friction of the whole machine, each of the two operating
levers is mounted upon a knife-shaped fulcrum, similar to those used in balance
beams.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 shows an elevation of a bicycle constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a partial plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section through the hub of the driving wheel.
Figures 4 and 5 show a front view of one of the ratchets of the nave and an
inner view of the pawl-carrying-pinion, respectively.
Figure 6 is a detail view of part of the operating lever drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 7 is an elevation of the gudgeon for the said levers.
Figure 8 shows a washer hereinafter described.
Figure 9 is an horizontal section showing how the wheel is operated by the
pawls and rack.
Figure 10 shows a wire spring hereinafter referred to and
Figures 11 and 12 show washers hereinafter described.
The levers A, one of which is shown partially, to a larger scale in Figure 6, are
provided each with a knife a, the sharp edge of which rests in the angular cavity
of the gudgeon b, fixed laterally on the inner rear fork B. The two lever-arms are
connected by a cross-bar e with the aid of screw nuts d. The gudgeon b is
represented separately in longitudinal elevation in Figure 7,-Figure 8 is a
front view of the washer a, which serves as a support for the binding-screw of
the lever.
At the two extremities of the axle C of the rear wheel the two driving pinions D
are provided, which rotate loosely on said axle. Each of the said pinions is
prolonged toward the nave E and is provided with a circular box F, in the interior
of which the pawls e are articulated at diametrically opposite points (see
Figures 3 and 5).
The pawls e constantly tend to turn back their bevelled extremity toward the
interior of the box F, under the action of weak springs f, exerting a pressure upon
the rear extremities 9 of the said pawls.
Laterally at each side of the nave E of the driving wheel two racks G with
their teeth arranged edgeways are fixed, as will be seen from Figures 3, 4 and 9.
The rotary cones X present bearings toward the interior at the periphery of

page_text: From this
which two grooves i are arranged, each of which serves to receive a steel-wire-
spring k, one of which is represented separately in Figure 10. Each spring k is bent
in the manner illustrated in said figure, and between the two exterior branches 1.11
passes the pin m, which is provided on the corresponding pawl.
arrangement it will be seen that, when the pinion D is caused to turn, it will
actuate the two pawls, which are connected to said pinion, the pin m of each pawl
rests against the branch of the spring k and presses the spring tightly into the
respective groove i, thus wedging up said spring which then opposes the movement
of the pawl by pressing against the pin m, until the tension of the spring f of this
pawl is overcome, thus allowing the beak of this latter to engage the corresponding
ratchet, the result of which is, that the nave is carried away, whereby the
simultaneous rotary motion of the whole is effected, setting the machine in motion.
The adjustment of the cones X is effected without dismounting the wheel. For
this purpose the washer is provided with two projections (Figure 11) which
enter notches of the same form and provided upon the face 2 (see Figure 12) of each
cone. It is sufficient to loosen the nut 23 and to operate the washer z by the aid of
a suitable key.
When the pinions or one of them cease to be acted upon, while the wheel
continues to rotate, owing to the acquired speed, the springs k expand and allow
the springs to operate; these latter then move the pawls back to the position of
rest, by causing them to be disengaged.
The movement of the toothed pinions D is effected by a chain, connected, at its
two extremities, to a small arm of the levers A and passing over guide pulleys n,
placed horizontally at the front of the lower rear-fork; the two levers are thus
connected to one another in such a manner that their movements are of necessity
inverse with regard to one another. In order to limit the movement of the levers,
each of them carries a small stud o, provided with an india-rubber buffer, which
latter strikes the corresponding branch of the horizontal rear-fork.
The change of speed is obtained in the following manner: At the extremity of
each lever A a lever p is arranged, articulated at r and carrying the end of the
driving chain. This handle can be turned back, so as to cause the axis s of the last
link of the chain, to enter one or the other of the notches t, arranged in the small
lever arm,
in order to thereby modify the effective length of the said lever. I thus
increase or diminish the force, which is developed by the cyclist, acting upon the
pedal, and I consequently decrease or increase the speed of the machine in the same
proportion.
I may also employ pulleys on which is wound a strap or band, in the place of the
toothed pinions; by causing such strap or band to make one or more revolutions
I increase at will the effective diameter of the pulley's. In this case each pulley
carries laterally a grooved pulley, which receives the extremity of the return
movement, strap connecting the two levers.
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. In a velocipede the arrangement of the driving gear by the aid of two levers
connected by a chain, which passes over two driving pinions, acting upon ratchets,
provided on the nave of the driving wheel.
2. The method of articulating these two levers, each of which carries a knife edge,
oscillating in an angular fork, fixed on the side of the lower rear-fork.
3. The arrangement of the pawls for operating the nave with a spring, serving to
prevent such pawls from acting upon the corresponding ratchets, when the cyclist
does not exert pressure upon the driving levers; the power of this spring being
counterbalanced by the pressure of a circular spring having two branches, upon a
siud carried by the pawl, in order to force the latter into engagement with the
ratchet, which is opposite to the same at the moment when the cyclist operates the
levers.

page_text: 4. The arrangement for changing the velocity by the aid of small cranks, carrying
the extremities of the driving chain, common to both pedal levers; the turning back
of these cranks toward the fulcrum of the levers or in the opposite direction having
the effect of modifying the effective length of the lever arm, which acts upon the
driving pinions.
Dated this 1st day of. April 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.