Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, FRANÇOIS BOUVET, of Andelys, in the Republic of France, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to velocipedes and has for its object to provide improved
means for transmitting the movement of the pedals to the driving wheel or wheels
of each vehicle. By my improved gear I increase the power given to the driving
axle.
This gear is double, that is to say it is provided at the two extremities of the
crank axle. As its parts at the two ends of this axle are similar I will describe
only that at one end.
The pedal is arranged at one extremity of a lever articulated in or near its
middle to a second lever, and at its other extremity to a link which can turn upon
a pivot rigidly attached to the frame of the velocipede. The second lever is
articulated in or near its middle to a crank secured upon its axle and connected by
one of its extremities to a link which is adapted to turn upon a pivot also rigidly.
attached to the frame of the velocipede.
Upon the crank axle is keyed a toothed wheel which, by means of an endless
chain, can communicate the rotary movement to a pinion keyed upon the hub of
the driving wheel.
The part of the gear at the other end of the crank axle is mounted in such a
manner that its pedal will always be opposite to the other pedal, that is to say
when one pedal is at the lower end of its movement the other will be at the
upper end.
When the cyclist presses upon one of the pedals it is lowered and turns the first
lever; this lever turns the second lever which carries away the crank and com-
municates a rotary movement to the same and also to the axle upon which it is
keyed, while the beforementioned links turn upon their pivots and adapt themselves
to the movement of the said levers. During this time the part of the gear provided
on one side of the velocipede, and upon which no power is brought to bear, will be
carried away by the movement of the crank axle, and its pedal rises until the other
pedal is in its lowest position. At this moment the cyclist presses upon the pedal
which is at the top and the same operation takes place in the reverse order, and so
forth, thus imparting to the crank axle a continuous rotary movement which is
transmitted to the driving wheel through the medium of the aforesaid toothed
wheel, chain and pinion.
The above-described gear may be provided directly upon the axle of the driving
wheel, which ensures the advantage of dispensing with the endless chain and the
toothed wheel and pinion. This improved gear is applicable to bicycles, tricycles,
and in general to all velocipedes.
T
1000

page_text: I, FRANÇOIS BOUVET, of Andelys, in the Republic of France, Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to velocipedes and has for its object to provide improved
means for transmitting the movement of the pedals to the driving wheel or wheels
of such vehicle. By my improved gear I increase the power given to the driving
axle, by means of suitably arranged connecting rods and levers.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is an elevation of my transmitting gear.
Figure 2 is a general view of a bicycle provided with the preceding gear.
Figures 3 and 4 represent in two different positions my simplified and improved
gear as I prefer to construct it.
The improved gear is double, that is to say it is provided at the two extremities
of the crank axle. As its parts at the two ends of this axle are similar I will
describe only that at one end for instance that on the left, in which the pedal is
represented at the top of its movement.
The pedal a is arranged at one extremity of a lever articulated at or near its
middle to a second lever c, and at its other extremity to a link d which can turn
upon a pivot e rigidly attached to the frame of the velocipede as shown in Figure 2.
The second lever c is articulated at or near its middle to a crank f secured to the
driving shaft or axle g, and connected by one of its extremities to a link which is
adapted to turn upon a pivot i rigidly attached to the frame of the velocipede as
seen in Figure 2.
Upon the crank axle g is keyed a toothed wheel & which, by means of an endless
chain .communicates rotary movement to a pinion m keyed upon the hub of the
driving wheel.
The part of the gear at the other end of the crank axle which is absolutely
similar to that which I have described is shown in chain lines in Figure 2; it is
mounted in such a manner that its pedal al will always be opposite to the other
pedal a, that is to say when one pedal is at the lower end of its movement the other
will be at the upper end.
When the cyclist presses upon one of the pedals a it is lowered and turns the
first lever; this lever turns the lever c which operates the crank and com-
municates a rotary movement to the same and also to the axle g upon which it. is
keyed, while the before-mentioned links and d turn upon their fixed pivots e
and and adapt themselves to the movement of the said levers and c. During
this time the part of the gear provided on the right side of the velocipede, and
upon which no power is brought to bear, will be operated by the movement of the
crank axle g, and its pedal a¹ rises until the other pedal a is in its lowest position.
At this moment the cyclist presses upon the pedal a¹ and the same operation takes
place in the reverse order, and so forth, thus imparting to the crank axle ga
continuous rotary movement which is transmitted to the driving wheel through the
medium of the aforesaid toothed wheel, k, chain and pinion m. This gear may
with advantage be provided directly upon the axle of the driving wheel, which
ensures the advantage of dispensing with the endless chain and the toothed wheel
and pinion.
The simplified and improved gear represented in Figures 3 and 4 comprises a
crank keyed upon the driving shaft g and articulated to a lever cone of whose
extremities receives the pedal a; at its other extremity the lever c is articulated to
a lever h which can turn about a fixed axis i. The driving shaft 9 receives a

page_text: toothed wheel k designed to transmit the movement to the driving wheel of the
velocipede through the medium of a transmitting chain or in any other manner.
In an alternative arrangement I provide parallel to the lever h, a compression
pump n to whose piston rod n' the lever h imparts alternating rectilinear movement.
while the crank makes a continuous circular movement.
For this purpose the crank is prolonged beyond the axis i the prolongation.
being provided with a slot to allow the lever to slide upon the axis i. The
said prolongation of the crank terminates in a shoulder and is surrounded by a .
helical spring placed between the shoulder and the axis i, upon which this
spring o bears.
The rod n¹ of the pump is articulated to an arm 13 of the lever h, and a pipe p-
connects the body of the pump n with a suitable motor mounted so as to act upon
the driving wheel or capable of transmitting its movement to this wheel by any
suitable device. It will be understood that when the pump is employed the-
chainwheel k is unnecessary.
The shaft g carries two arrangements similar to that above described and are
constantly in opposition, that is to say the pedal a of one is in its upper position.
when the pedal a' of the other is in its lower position as shown in chain lines in
Figure 3.
When it is desired to start the cyclist presses upon the pedal a and rocks the -
lever c which exerts upon the lever or rod h a traction causing it to slide by means.
of its slot upon its axis i, thus compressing the spring o (Figure 4); the rocking
movement of the lever or rod is transmitted to the piston rod n' of the pump n,..
and the air enclosed in the body of the latter is compressed and sent through the
pipe p to a suitable motor which transmits its movement directly or indirectly to
the axle of the driving wheel.
The spring o is compressed during the whole time of the descent of the pedal a, .
but as soon as the latter rises, owing to the power being exerted upon the other
pedal a', and to the power exerted upon the lever or rod by the expansion of the
spring o, this lever or rod / descends again operating the rod n' of the pump n
whose piston draws during this period the outer air which it compresses again
during the next descent of the pedal a as herein before set forth.
In lieu of two single-acting pumps n, I may actuate by my device two double--
acting pumps or a single double-acting pump.
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 is :-
First. A device for transmitting motion in velocipedes, consisting of two similar
arrangements applied to the extremities of the driving axle, each of the two
arrangements comprising a lever at the extremity of which is fixed a pedal; this
lever being articulated at one of its extremities to a link adapted to turn about a
fixed axis and near its middle to a second lever; this second lever being in its turn.
articulated at one of its extremities to a link adapted to turn about a fixed axis
and near its middle to a crank keyed upon the driving axle, substantially as and
for the purpose herein before set forth with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the
drawing.
Second. A device for transmitting motion in velocipedes, comprising a lever to-
the extremity of which is fixed a pedal and which is articulated at one of its
extremities to a lever or rod capable of turning about a fixed axis, substantially as.
and for the purpose herein before set forth with reference to Figures 3 and 4.
Dated this 8th day of Santambor 1901
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.