IMPROVEMENTS IN MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING VEHICLES BY HAND
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by George Frederick Redfern at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th March 1882. A communi-
cation from abroad by Peter Collamore of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America.
GEORGE FREDERICK REDFERN, of the General Patent Office, 4 South Street,
Finsbury, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent "IMPROVEMENTS IN
MECHANISM FOR PROPELLING AND CONTROLLING VEHICLES BY HAND
33
A com-
munication from abroad by Peter Collamore of Boston, Massachusetts, United
States of America.
The object of this invention is to construct, combine, and arrange mechanism in
connection with the front axle of a velocipede as hereinafter described.
The driving wheel of the vehicle revolves upon an axle attached to or revolving
in bearings in the lower ends of two upright bars the upper ends of which are
connected with a cross head attached to the forward end of a bar.
One of the uprights is hollow and within it is placed a rotating rod, its lower
end revolving in the bearing connected with the axle and its upper end revolving
in the end of the cross head.
To the upper end of the revolving rod is attached a bevel gear wheel, the
teeth of which mesh into the teeth of a bevel gear wheel attached to the hub of
the driving wheel so that the said driving wheel may be driven by the revolution
of the said rod. To the upper end of the revolving rod is attached a bevel gear
wheel the teeth of which mesh into the teeth of the bevel gear wheel attached to
the short shaft. The shaft revolves in bearings in an upright attached to or
formed upon the cross head.
To the ends of the short shaft are attached a larger gear wheel, and a smaller
gear wheel, the teeth of the larger and smaller gear wheels mesh respectively into
the teeth of smaller and larger gear wheels placed upon a hollow shaft which
revolves in bearings in the upper end of the upright.
Within the cavity of the hollow shaft is placed a rod, to which are attached two
pins which pass through slots in the hollow shaft within the hubs of the gear
wheels.
In the inner surface of the hubs of the gear wheels are formed slots to receive

page_text: pins, so that the hollow shaft may carry the said gear wheels with it in its
revolution. In the other ends of the hubs of the gear wheels are formed ring
grooves or recesses of a depth equal to the depth of the slots so that when the pins
are in the grooves or recesses the revolution of the hollow shaft will not revolve
the gear wheels. The pins, slots, and grooves are so arranged that when a pin is
in the slot of one of the gear wheels the other pin will be in the groove of the
other gear wheel so that only one of the gear wheels will work at a time, With
this construction when one of the gear wheels is working the vehicle will be
driven with increased speed and when the other gear wheel is working the vehicle
will be driven with increased power. The gearing is adjusted to run with speed
or power, as required, by sliding the rod longitudinally within the hollow shaft to
throw a pin into gear with the desired one of the wheels.
To the ends of the hollow shaft are attached cranks by means of which motion
is given to the driving wheel.
The bar is curved downward and rearward and to its rear end is pivoted a pin
or bolt attached to the axle upon the ends of which the wheels revolve.
To the said axle at the inner sides of the wheels are attached collars to which
are hinged the rear ends of rods which pass forward upon the opposite sides of the
driving wheel and their forward ends are hinged to the lower ends of arms or
levers pivoted near their upper ends to the ends of the axle or to pivots attached
to the uprights.
To the upper ends of the arms or levers are attached cross heads or plates to
receive the rider's feet so that the rider can steer the vehicle with his feet by
working the foot levers. The pivots are clamped to the uprights so that they can
be raised and lowered as may be required. This construction allows the foot
levers to be adjusted as the length of the rider's legs may require.
To the lower side of the rear end of the bar is formed, or to it is rigidly attached,
a socket to receive a spiral spring and a guide pin upon which the said spring is
placed. Upon the rear end of the guide pin is formed a cross bar which rests
against the forward side of the axle.