IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of the Firm of John
Gedge and Son, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VELOCIPEDES."-A communication from abroad by Antoine Boeuf,
Merchant, and François Nicolet, Machinist, both of Tarare (Rhone),
France
Sealed the 3rd June 1870, and dated the 10th December 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward Gedge
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 10th December 1869.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son,
of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES," a communication to me from abroad by
Antoine Boeuf, Merchant, and François Nicolet, Machinist, both of
Tarare (Rhone), France, to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is by rendering the pedals or treadles
independent to permit the driving wheel to be made fast or loose on its
axle without the feet leaving the pedals.

page_text: This Invention comprises two systems; the first applicable to every
kind of velocipede; the second, more complete, is applied more
particularly to new velocipedes specially constructed by the Inventors.
The first system is composed of a bronze axle box A (Figs. 2 and 3 of
the annexed Sheet of Drawing), terminating on one side by a plate or
ear B pierced with a hole, through which passes a pin intended to keep
the box fixed in the nave and to carry the click C (Fig. 1). The axle of
the driving wheel passes freely and without friction through this box.
A ratchet wheel R made of bronze and fixed on the axle by the screw D
(Fig. 1) is set in the space prepared in the nave, and the whole is
covered by the plate E. If it is desired to start the velocipede by
turning the driving wheel the pedals are acted upon in the direction
indicated by the arrow F; the ratchet wheel set on the shaft then meets
the click C, and the rotary motion of the pedals is communicated to the
driving wheel, which acts during this movement as if it were keyed on
its axle. If the velocipede has received a powerful impulsion, or if it
is running on an inclined plane and the movement of the pedals is not
needful to its progression, the feet remain motionless on the pedals and
the driving wheel turns loosely on its axle following the direction of the
arrow G, the click no longer gearing in the ratchet wheel. When the
speed slackens the pedals are again set in motion and act as above
described. The fork usually placed above the driving wheel as a rest for
the legs is not required in this system, the feet never abandoning the
pedals on which they always rest.
The second system is composed, 1°, of a bronze axle box A (Figs.
4 and 5), having at one end a ratchet wheel R with inner teeth; this
box is set in the wooden nave and fixed by three screws; 2°, the axle
of the driving wheel carries two flanges or ears B, B, (Figs. 4 and 6),
made of one piece with it. The upper ear is pierced with a hole in
which passes a screw intended to prevent the driving wheel from turning
loosely on its axle. This screw may be removed and replaced at will;
when it is placed the pedals and the axle are combined with the wheel
and the movements are the same as in ordinary velocipedes. The flange
or ear placed beneath the first has a groove which receives the click C
and the spring D (Fig. 6).
The object of this second system is the same as the first, namely, to
render the driving wheel loose and further to fix the axle in the nave if
it is desired to stop the motion by means of the pedals.

page_text: Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawing illustrate the first system, and
Figs. 4, 5, and 6 the second, the parts colored yellow being those
which constitute the Invention..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th June 1870..
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS, SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the- Tenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
third year of Her reigu,. did, for Herself,, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special
licence that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others. as I, the said William Edward
Gedge, my executors,. administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
makc, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland; the Channel. Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES," a communication to me from abroad
by Antoine Boeuf, Merchant, and François Nicolet, Machinist, both of
Tarare, Rhone, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said William Edward Gedge, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same

page_text: is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
The object of this Invention is by rendering the pedals or treadles
independent to permit the driving wheel of a velocipede to be made fast
or loose on its axle without the feet leaving the pedals.
This Invention comprises two systems; the first applicable to every kind
of velocipede; the second, more complete, is applied more particularly
to new velocipedes specially constructed for its application.
DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a front view of a nave embodying the first system;
Figure 2 is a section of the same at X, Y, Figure 1; Figure 3 is a
section and front view of axle box detached.
Figure 4 is a front view of a nave embodying the second system;
Figure 5 is a section at Y, Z, Figure 4; Figure 6 is a front and side
view of axle Figure 4 detached. All these Figures are drawn full
size.
The first system is composed of a bronze axle box A (Figures 2 and 3)
terminating on one side by a plate or ear B pierced with a hole, through
which passes a pin intended to keep the box fixed in the nave and to
carry the click C (Figure 1). The axle of the driving wheel passes
freely and without friction through this box. A ratchet wheel R made
of bronze and fixed on the axle by the screw D (Figure 1) is set in the
space prepared in the nave, and the whole is covered by the plate E. If
it is desired to start the velocipede by turning the driving wheel the
treadles are acted upon in the direction indicated by the arrow F, the
ratchet wheel set on the shaft then meets the click C, and the rotary
motion of the treadles is communicated to the driving wheel, which
acts during this movement as if it were keyed on its axle. If the
velocipede has received a powerful impulsion, or if it is running on an
inclined plane and the movement of the treadles is not needful to its
progression, the feet remain motionless on the treadles and. the driving
wheel turns loosely on its axle following the direction of the arrow G,
the click no longer gearing in the ratchet wheel. When the speed
slackens the treadles are again set in motion and act as above described.
The fork usually placed above the driving wheel as a rest for the legs.
is not required in this system, the feet never abandoning the treadles on
which they always rest.

page_text: The second system is composed, 1º, of a bronze axle box A (Figures 4
and 5,) having at one end a ratchet wheel R with inner teeth; this box
is set in the wooden nave and fixed by three screws; 2°, the axle of the
driving wheel carries two flanges or ears B, B', (Figures 4 and 6,) made
of one piece with it; the upper ear is pierced with a hole, in which passes
a screw intended to prevent the driving wheel from turning loosely on
its axle. This screw may be removed and replaced at will; when it is
placed the treadles and the axle are combined with the wheel and the
movements are the same as in ordinary velocipedes. The flange or ear
placed beneath the first has a groove which receives the click C and
the spring D (Figure 6).
The object of this second system is the same as the first, namely, to
render the driving wheel loose, and further to fix the axle in the nave
if it is desired to stop the motion by means of the treadles.
The first system is characterized by the immobility of the treadles
and of the axle of the driving wheel during its forward movement,
which result is obtained by means of the ratchet wheel screwed on the
axle and of its click screwed on to the nave; this method is applicable
to every kind of velocipede.
The second system is characterized, firstly, by the axle box ending
in a ratchet wheel with inner teeth; secondly, by the two flanges or
ears wrought in the axle, the one carrying the click C, the other traversed
by the shifting pin G, which serves to put the mechanism in and out of
gear.
The pieces constituting the Invention, such as the ratchet wheels,
the clicks, and the boxes, may be made of wrought or cast iron, copper,
bronze, or any suitable material, and both systems may be applied to
bicycles, tricycles, or quadricycles.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the
manner in which it is carried into practical effect, I would have it
understood that I claim,-
First. The system of independent treadles embodied in the com-
bination of the plate or flange B, ratchet wheel R, and click C, Figures
1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings, substantially as and for the purpose herein-
before set forth.
Second. The system of independent treadles embodied in the com-
bination of the plates or flanges B, B', click C, spring D, and ratchet

page_text: wheel R, Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the Drawings, substantially as and for
the purpose herein-before set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of June, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.
W. E. GEDGE. (L.S.)