Year: 1888

page_text: I, GUSTAV ADOLF SCHUBERT of 34 Zimmerstrasse, Berlin, in the Kingdom of
Prussia, Merchant, 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 :-
:-
This Invention relates to velocipedes and these Improvements consist in the con-
struction, combination, and arrangement of apparatus and devices for driving the
Vehicles. Motion is imparted to the apparatus through suitable treadles the stroke of
which may be lengthened or shortened, and is transmitted to the wheels by means of
a peculiarly shaped clutch which is operated during the down stroke of the treadle
only.
The accompanying drawings illustrate in what manner these Improvements may
be carried into practical effect and are hereinafter referred to.
Fig. 1 is a side view, Fig. 2 is a plan, and Fig. 3 is a back view of a tricycle fitted
according to this Invention. Figs. 4, 4, 5, 51, 51, 5, 6, and 7 show details of the
apparatus on a larger scale.
The axle of the vehicle is thicker in the middle, and upon each side of the centre
there is mounted a loose bush which carries the rope or chain wheels c c¹ (Fig. 2 and 3).
These wheels are connected by ropes or chains d to the treadles e, e in such a
manner that if one treadle, for instance e, has reached its highest position the other
treadle e¹ is in its lowest position (Fig. 1)."
For this purpose the chain d is connected to the treadle e; then d is taken from
below over the wheel c, then over two guide wheels g secured to a bent fork f,
(Figs. 1 to 3) on the axle a and finally over the wheel c¹ to the treadle e' with which
it is connected. The length of the chain is such that, when one treadle is in its
highest position, the other has reached its lowest position. The treadles e and e' are
pivoted on the shaft which rests on the fork f. The saddle is arranged as usual
over the axle a (Fig. 1).
If the lever e is depressed, the chain d revolves the wheel e, but, as in this move-
ment the chain is drawn downwards and as described before, it is connected with the
wheel in the opposite direction, the wheel c¹ is consequently revolved in the opposite
direction, and treadle e¹ is raised.

page_text: By depressing the one treadle the other treadle is not only raised but the rope
wheels are also revolved in opposite directions. The rope wheels e and c¹ rotate only
through part of a circle, as will be seen from the drawings, and thus have a rocking
motion.
This motion is utilized for actuating a clutch arrangement which in its turn revolves
the driving wheels F.
On the ands of the bush are fastened the levers h, while by the side of these
levers the levers are arranged loose on the axle a (Fig. 4 and 6). To the ends of
the levers are jointed the arins and to the ends of the levers are jointed the
arms (Fig. 4). Both arms & and are connected by a joint to each other, forming
on both sides of the axle a moveable parallelogram. On the joint pin of the arms and
are secured the clutches m, which engage with discs, n and n¹ (Fig. 6) keyed to
the bushes of the driving wheels on the arms of the parallelograms being pulled
apart.
If now the treadle e be depressed and the wheel e revolved as before described, the
lever which is firmly connected to the bush partakes in this movement while
lever is in the beginning, not affected by it. The ends of the lever recede from
the lever so that the clutchies are forced downwards (Fig. 4) and engage with the
wheel n.
As soon as this happens the wheel, and with it the driving wheel F, are coupled
to the wheel c, the lever rotates together with the lever h, and the driving wheel is
revolved. During this period the wheel e' rotates in an opposite direction to c.
The clutch mon this side has been engaged with the wheel . At the end of the
stroke, the parallelogram is pushed together so that the clutch m recedes from the
wheel and the connection between the coupling and the wheel c¹ is broken.
The driving wheel F is consequently also disconnected and can rotate freely in
the direction of the impulse given. The effect of the apparatus just described is
therefore not a sliding one as usual but a pulling effect so that all the disadvantages of
the system now in use, are obviated.
It is not necessary to arrange the clutch m on the joint pin of the arms & and I as
shown in Fig. 4, as these clutches may form a continuation of the arms as shown in
Fig. 5. Supposing the clutch m of the arms is disengaged, (Fig. 5, position I)
then the parallelogram is pushed apart and the wheel corresponding with the lever h
is revolved by depressing that lever the lever approaches the lever i and the
clutch m engages with the wheel n (position II). As the revolution of the chain
wheel c is not yet finished but still continues, the clutch m together with the lever i
revolves the wheel n and with it the driving wheel (position II).
C
Hereinbefore it has been assumed that the revolution of the wheels c and ein
opposite directions was effected by chains connected to the treadles e and e¹ and
running over c and e¹ so that the depression of one treadle effects the raising of the
other. This connection between the two treadles is not absolutely necessary as
the raising of the treadles e and e' may also be effected by springs. In this case the
chain d of the treadle e is firmly secured to the wheel c and both wheels c and e' are
influenced by the springs o (Fig. 7) which turn both wheels backwards and keep the
treadle raised. On depressing the treadle the wheel e is turned forward and the
coupling and thereby the revolution of one of the driving wheels is effected, (Figs. 4
and 5) while the other treadle e' is not influenced at all. As soon as the treadle e is
relieved of the pressure and treadle e' is depressed the spring o comes into play and
raises the treadle e-by turning the wheel c back, when the connection with the driving
wheel just actuated is broken. The same cycle of movements is repeated on the
treadle e being depressed.
This arrangement has the advantage over the first described, that in climbing hills
both treadles may be depressed at the same time, thereby exerting power on both
driving wheels. An additional advantage is the fact that the rider can increase or
decrease the leverage by sliding his feet along the treadles, thus obtaining greater
leverage for climbing hills or a less leverage for travelling on the level, a circumstance
which is of great importance.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1) In an apparatus for driving velocipedes; the combination and arrangement of
the treadles e, e, the loose wheels c, c¹, ropes chains or jointed rods connecting the
treadles with the loose wheels, and a clutch all constructed and operated substantially
as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
(2) In an apparatus for driving velocipedes; a clutch constructed and operated
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 7th day of September A.D. 1888.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.