Improvements in Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application. 2nd Jan., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
Date of Application. 2nd Jan., 1892-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
We, FREDERICK HENRY FORD of 48 Albacore Crescent, Lewisham, in the
County of Kent, Commercial Clerk, and GEORGE FRANCIS WRIGHT of
No. 137 Old Street, in the City and County of London, Commercial Clerk 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:
Our invention relates to certain improvements in velocipedes and other vehicles
whereby the equipoise of the frame carrying the rider or riders is maintained
independently of the balance, or of any counterbalance, when the velocipede or
vehicle is in motion. Our said invention may be used in combination with one
wheel, thus forming what is generally termed a "unicycle," or it may be adapted
to a two wheeled vehicle in which the axes of the two wheels are in the same
plane, such as a velocipede made to carry two persons without a leading or
In the latter case of
trailing wheel or wheels, or a dog-cart or like vehicle.
adaptation the function of the device is to maintain the rider or riders upright in
the vehicle in the event of the animal that is attached to it stumbling, or falling
down.
In order that our invention may be the better understood, we have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings in which
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a unicycle to which our invention is adapted and
Figure 2 a side elevation of a similar machine, shewing a modification of the
driving gear.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation of the wheel.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of an adaptation of our invention to a velocipede
for carrying one or more persons, or to any two wheeled vehicle for the purpose of
maintaining the equilibrium thereof.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several
views.
In carrying our invention into effect, in the case of a unicycle, Figures 1, 2 and 3,
we surround the wheel by a frame or framing C, which supports the bearings for
the driving gear and also the axle of the central wheel. Angular members A A
are formed upon or are attached to the framing C, and carried upwards on both
sides of the wheel so as to support a saddle or seat J. The members A A may be
strengthened by a transverse bar B, or by any suitable arrangement of bars or ties.
Referring especially to Figures 1 and 3, the central wheel is constructed so that
an inner flange or equivalent b serves for the attachment of the spokes, and
shrouded cogs a a, lantern, or pin toothed gear is formed upon, or attached to the
inner circumference of said central wheel, upon each side of the spokes, as shewn.
The pedals G upon each side of the framing C, each carry a toothed wheel or
pinion E upon its spindle, working freely within suitable bearings in C. Said
toothed wheels E upon each side of the central wheel, gear with the internal
cogs a a hereinbefore described. A sprocket wheel L is fixed to the spindle of
each pedal G, corresponding to other sprocket wheels K fixed upon each side of
the central wheel, and to its spindle or axle D, and a pitched chain H
A toothed wheel F, also
5 communicates motion from the pedals G thereto.
attached to the central spindle or axle D, gears with a wheel El supported in
suitable bearings upon or in the back part of the framing C. The wheels F, and E
are preferably duplicated and arranged on each side of the central wheel, as shewn.
A guiding bar or handle I is fixed to the framing and suitable steps, or other
O necessary adjuncts are provided.

page_text: The manner in which the device or contrivance hereinbefore described operates
is as follows;-
The weight of the rider is imposed upon the frame A B C at J, and of course
rests upon the infinite point formed by the contact of the wheel with the ground,
and, when in a position of rest, there is a tendency to pitching forwards or
backwards. But when the machine is in motion, and the central wheel is actuated
by the pedals G through the chain gearing L, H, K, the wheels E move in the
direction of the arrow, and being supported in bearings on the forward side of
the framing C, impart a tendency to move downwards to said framing, upon the
fulcrum D. This force is balanced by the wheels E' upon the opposite side of D,
since these wheels revolve in the opposite direction, as shewn by the arrow, and
consequently the forces caused by the resistance to motion in the gearing of E
with a and E with F oppose each other upon each side of the fulcrum D, and the
frame C is maintained in an horizontal position.
In the elevation Figure 2, the same principle is utilised, but the gearing is
modified by placing the pedals G upon the axle or spindle D of the central
wheel.
In Figure 4, which illustrates the adaptation of our invention to a velocipede
for carrying more than one person, and also to a vehicle drawn by a horse or other
animal, the two wheels are arranged with their axes in the same plane, and may,
or may not be attached to the same axle or spindle D. The gearing E, a, E' F,
is duplicated upon each side, so as to operate in connection with each wheel and a
transverse cranked shaft connecting the wheels E serves the purpose of pedals for
communicating motion and power to the wheels. In the case of adaptation to a
vehicle other than a manumotive machine, the pedals or equivalent device is
dispensed with, and the gearing for maintaining equilibrium used alone, in
connection with one or both wheels.
We wish it to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to any particular
form of framing, nor to the arrangement thereof, nor to the relative proportions of
the gearing for speeding purposes, but may modify these to suit any particular case
of application, and any type of brake may be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is ;-
First. The combination of an internal gearing a, a toothed wheel E on one side
of a fulcrum D, and a wheel E' upon the opposite side of said fulcrum D, coupled
by chain gearing L, H, K, with a velocipede or other vehicle for the purpose of
maintaining the equilibrium thereof whilst in motion, substantially as herein
described with reference to the appended drawings.
Second. The construction of a unicycle by the combination of a frame ABC
toothed wheels E E', chain gearing L, H, K, and pedals G, with a central wheel,
having internal teeth or cogs a a, substantially as herein described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the appended drawings.
Third. The construction of a two wheeled velocipede for carrying one or more
persons, substantially as herein described with reference to Figure 4 of the appended
drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of December 1901
FREDK. WALKER,
11, Furnival Street, Holborn, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.