Training Apparatus for Cyclists.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Home Training Apparatus for Cyclists.
EMERY WILLARD SMITH and JOHN HUTSON, Cycle Dealers, 2 Yarmouth
Street, Boston, Mass. U.S.A. 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 a device by which bicycle riders are greatly assisted in
home training and consists in mounting an ordinary bicycle on a truck, the said
truck being adapted to be propelled by the movement of the ordinary pedals of the
bicycle, the movement of the truck being much less than the normal movement of
the bicycle, the ratio of the movement between the two being established. Thus
the motion-transmitting mechanisms between the pedals of the bicycle and the truck
wheels may be so arranged and adjusted that during the time that the rotating of
the driving wheel would have caused the bicycle to have traversed a mile in doing
its normal work the same work as exerted upon the truck would cause it to move
but 50 feet or even less, the object being to enable the bicycle rider to practice riding
in a room or hall and to know what rate of speed his exertion would have given him
if riding in the normal manner, that is on an ordinary road or race track.
This object I attain by means of mechanism shown in the accompanying drawings,
in which
Fig. 1. is a side elevation showing one of the trucks having a bicycle mounted
upon and attached to it.
Fig. 2. is a plan of the truck with the bicycle thereon, and its connecting
parts.
In Figs. 1 and 2. of the drawings the letter "A" represents the front wheels of
the bicycle. This bicycle may be of any style and need not be described as it is of
the usual construction. "B" represents the truck frame which may be attached to
to the frame of the bicycle substantially as shown. The rear portion of the bicycle
frame may be supported on the truck by braces "C. C." the lower ends of which
are attached to the frame "B" while their upper ends are connected by any
suitable means to the frame of the bicycle. The truck runs upon 2 wheels "Ď. D."
on the axle "E." The front wheel of the bicycle may be entirely free or it may
rest on the continuation of the truck frame "B," further supported by one or more
wheels. The rear wheel of the bicycle may be removed and a balance wheel "F"
.inserted in its place, the object of said balance wheel being to give the saine
momentum obtained by the rider at the normal rate of speed on the road. The
G" connected
motion of the balance wheel "F" is given by the sprocket chain"
on axle "K"
with the sprocket wheel "H" on the pedal shaft "K" and "Hi"
as is ordinarily propelled by the bicycle rider. The motion is further carried by
shaft "K" from sprocket
chain "G" to sprocket wheel
wheel "H" on axle K2." The motion is further and finally carried to the
sprocket wheel "H" on shaft "E" from sprocket wheel "H" on shaft "K"
the sprocket wheel "H" being fastened on the shaft "E" causes the truck
wheels "D. D." to revolve. The receiving sprocket wheel "H³" being much
larger than the transmitting sprocket wheel "H2," the rate of speed is
considerably reduced, also the receiving sprocket wheel "H" being con-
siderably larger than the transmitting sprocket wheel "H" the rate of speed is
still further reduced, the reduction in speed being proportional to the sizes of the
sprocket wheels used.
r
66
"H³ "
on
From the above description in connection with the drawings, it may be under-
stood that the rider in propelling the driving sprocket wheel "H" in the usual
> manner, causes the truck to advance slowly, but in a ratio of movement exactly

page_text: proportional to the energy exerted by the rider, so by noting the advance that he
makes he is able to correctly estimate the distance that he would have travelled
had he been on the road exercising in the usual manner.
This device is capable of many obvious modifications but the one that I have
chosen for illustration is a useful form of the invention.
I claim as my invention:
CLAIM.
1st. The combination of a truck mounted on wheels, and a bicycle supported on
the said truck with a motion-transmitting mechanism connecting the driving wheel
of the bicycle with the driving wheels of the truck, whereby the truck will be
caused to move forward as described.
2nd. The balance wheel in combination with the said truck and bicycle designed
for the purpose set forth.
September 27th 1802
EMERY WILLARD SMITH.
JOHN HUTSON.