IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
1
I, HERBERT JOHN ALLISON, of the firm of Allison Brothers, of 52 Chancery
Lane, London, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings
making part of this Specification, in which
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Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle constructed in accordance with my
invention
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Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section through the centre of the same,
Figure 3 18 a transverse section on the line x, x, of Fig 2
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a driving wheel with a long hub extending
Inwardly and having a portion of my clutching device formed integral therewith
My invention has special reference to the 'propelling mechanism of a tricycle,
bicycle, etc, one of the leading features of which 'consists in a portion of a specific
clutch mechanism formed integral with or secured to the inwardly extended hub of
each of the pair of drawing wheels rotated on their common axle, whereby a steady,
prompt and rapid motion may be imparted and lightness, great simplicity and
maximum strength secured
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7
To enable others skilled in the art to understand and use my invention, I will
proceed to describe the manner in which I have carried it out
1
In the said drawings A represents a stationary axle-B B the two driving
wheels free to rotate thereon-C the guide or steering wheel journalled in the
bottom of the shank or post a which passes up through and is adapted to turn in
a socket b in the forward end of the reach or backbone D-the rear of the latter
being supported by the axle which passes through it E is the seat or saddle
mounted preferably on arched spring braces & extending up from and over
the reach
'
-1

page_text: To each side of a standard G rising from the reach is pivoted at d an upright
lever G' the top of which is finished as a handle e for the application of the hand
thereto the bottom of said lever being provided with a suitable foot rest or
pedal fall of the foregoing mentioned parts being of well known construction
One or both
Each Driving wheel B B has immoveably secured thereto so as to revolve in
common therewith a long hub h extending inwardly toward the reach and formed
integral with the hub or permanently fixed thereto is a portion H provided with a
series of inclined faces 2 separated by recesses, o1 in other words a series of inclined
notches and surrounding this notched portion H is an annular loose fitting
sleeve I adapted to turn freely thereon-the spaces between the inner periphery of
the sleeve and the inclined faces of the portion H being for the reception of a series
of hard steel spherical balls or rolls / see figs 2 and 4 The portion H-its
surrounding sleeve and the balls or rolls k constitute a clutch with which each
wheel hub is provided—the two clutches being independant of each other and
having alternate action to give a continuous rotation to the driving wheels BB in
a forward direction by means of connecting rods L extending from the outer
peripheries of the sleeves to the lower ends of the upright levers G¹
hands may be applied to the operating lever or levers G¹ G₁ with or without the
simultaneous action of one or both feet-or only one foot may be employed according
to the rate of speed desired or when turning a cuive When the sleeve of one
clutch is rotated forward upon the portion H (fixed to or formed integral with its
hub) one or two of the balls or rolls descend by gravity to the narrow portion of
the spaces or recesses in which they are located-e each ball or roll referred to
runs in a direction away from the centre or axis of rotation and becomes wedged
tightly between the outer end of its incline and the contiguous inner periphery of
that portion of the sleeve surrounding it—the result being that the sleeve with the
portion H of the hub within it are firmly locked together and when the sleeve is
rotated in the direction of the arrow a forward movement is imparted to its driving
wheel-simultaneous with which the lower end of the opposite operating lever
being carried backward-the other sleeve with which it is connected is rotated in
a direction opposite that of the arrow and the balls or rolls in the spaces or recesses
of the portion H of the other wheel hub rolling into the wider parts thereof unlock
its hold on the hub until the first clutch has released its grip on the first mentioned
diving wheel, immediately upon which the second clutch commences to engage
with the second driving wheel--and it is by this alternate action of the clutches
that a uniform, continuous forward movement is imparted to the vehicle
lower ends of the working levers are connected by a cord band or wire m passing
around the axle which arrangement insures the backward vibration of one
connecting rod L simultaneous with the forward vibration of the other when
power is applied to only one of the working levers by the action of one foot with
or without the use of one hand.
The
The connection m is capable of being instantly detached whereby when going
up hill both hands and feet may be applied independently in order to obtain
sufficient momentum to climb the upward grade
In the application of my invention to a Bicycle both clutches could be applied
to the same or to opposite sides of the hub-it being simply necessary to set the
clutches in such manner that one will be disengaged while the other is engaged in
its hold on the hub
By having each driving wheel provided with a long hub projecting inward an
extended bearing on the non revolving axle is afforded which obviates any tendency
to lateral unsteadiness incident to short hubs
Furthermore by securing the notched portion H of a clutch to or forming it
integral with the hub prompt action and a rapid continuous motion 18 imparted to
the driving wheels, besides which, simplicity-lightness and strength of construction
18 insured.
The axle may be secured to the hub so as to revolve in common with the driving
wheels without departing from my invention

page_text: 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 18
CLAIM.
The following co-acting elements-VIZ
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The driving wheels B B of a Tricycle provided with long hubs h h extending
inwardly toward each other and having secured thereto or formed integral
therewith the notched portions H H-sleeves I I surrounding the same-balls or
rolls k k k interposed between the sleeves and notched portions-a pair of connecting
rods L L and a pair of working levers G G combined to operate substantially as
and for the purpose described
In combination with the upright levers G¹Œ¹ the connection m extending
between them and around the axle of the driving wheels as and for the purpose
set forth.