Improvements in Driving, Retarding, and Stopping Velocipedes and other Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 15th May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Driving, Retarding, and Stopping Velocipedes and
other Road Vehicles.
I VENCESLAS GOURNY-WYSOCKI, of. 7. Rue de Brichant, Schaerbeek near
Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium, Doctor of Medicine, 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 the improved construction of velocipedes so as to
secure improved 'means of driving, retarding and stopping the same.
The invention is particularly applicable to the type of velocipede known as
tricycles and to other like multi-cycles, and the machine may be arranged to be
ridden by one, two, three, four or more persons.
One great feature of the invention is the novel application of the weight of the
rider, or riders as a motive power for the machine, utilizing the force of gravitation
with the aid of a combination of levers, to act on the principal axle, or axles,
and on the hubs of the wheels, so as to bring them into rotary movement.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
:
Fig. 1 indicates the machine as seen from the front with the guiding wheel
removed.
*
Fig. 2 shews a side view of Fig. 1 but with the said wheel in place.
Fig. 3 is a detail view of the brake portion of the mechanism separately.
Fig. 4 is a side sectional detail view of the hill climbing mechanism
separately.
Fig. 5 shows the box or case of ratchet wheel adapted for use in hill climbing.
Fig. 6 shows by front view a modified form of the machine shown by Fig. 1
but for one rider only.
In the form of machine shewn (Fig. 1) the main axle a, a' has two wheels b, 61
thereon. The frame c has two principal supports g, gl and two central supports k, k',
serving as the support for the arms of the two levers m*, m*. These two. levers
rock on the fixed support or pivot r formed as a prolongation of the curved frame p
(Fig. 2) affixed to the head of the steering arm socket.
This steering post with the fork is joined, at the bottom, to the driving wheels
by means of the two frames q, q' (Fig. 2) which commences at the base of the
principal supports o, o' (Fig. 1) and these meet to be fixed on the steering tube, or
post at the point of the fork : (Fig. 2).
The supports 9 9' (Fig. 1) at the ends tare jointed with the two frames q, q¹
(Fig. 2) with rods a made of half round steel tubes.
The handle fixed at the head of the guiding wheel is shown with curved ends
for guiding.
As soon as the first impulsion is given by the weight of the riders on the 'arms
of the levers m •
972 and this motion is conveyed by the rods d, d¹ (Fig. 1) (which
join those arms to the cranks of the axle at w, wl (Fig. 1)) to the axle cranks and
consequently they act on the two wheels b, b', and the machine will be set in
motion. It will only be requisite to guide and work the levers properly to work
the machine.
The vertical movements of the bodies of the riders to the extent of say

page_text: I
(6 to 8 centimeters) 2 to 3 inches, is not material, and they can be compared to.
the movements of a rider on horse-back without having the shock of the horse's
strides.
The brake (Fig. 1) represents a heavy piece which strengthens the axle and
acts at the same time as a brake, without touching against the rubber of the
pueumatic tyres acting on the whole machine.
A small pedal lever (Fig. 3) is formed of a band p in flexible steel fixed on
a hinge a at the riders feet and passing around the axle (Fig. 1), it terminates
in a pedal supported by a spiral spring 2
A slight pressure on the pedals tightens the band and stops the machine
immediately.
At ss (Fig. 1) are fixed the saddles or seats arranged in any easy convenient
way preferably silk padded and supported on a pivot wo (Fig. 2) which allows
the rider to stand up notwithstanding the movements resembling those of a
see-saw.
The lever arms are made (as shown by m* m* (Fig. 1) of a piece of (say) cast
steel or preferably of T form.
The seats can he raised up or down in bringing up or down the supports g, g¹
(Fig. 1) and also the supports kk' and consequently. the rods d d'. Speed gearing
may be adapted in usual manner.
In bill climbing, I employ a lever to be applied if necessary, on the two side
axles. On the ends of the axles are discs m, m! (Fig. 1) fixed on the axle fitted
with teeth (as shown by Fig. 5). On these discs is applied a box having a
ratchet (Fig. 5) with spring r, which holds the teeth of the disc in the forward
motion and slips on them in the reverse direction.
In the said covered box is a lever of steel tube or of, wood m (Fig. 5) of
necessary length so that the rider can handle it with the right or left hand and in
handling the lever (as shown by the arrow Fig. 4) the rider drives the vehicle with
less fatigue and quicker than in walking.
In actuating the arm levers to go up hill I can also employ lever pedals which
would be arranged as follows:
The discs with teeth (shown Fig. 1) instead of being placed at the ends of the
principal axle are placed between the supports of the frame g, k, and g¹, k', between
or in the direction of the right foot of the riders. The discs fixed in that way
are covered with the box (Fig. 5) with ratchet c which will take the teeth of the
discs and instead of the arm levers (Fig. 5) there will be pedal levers with ordinary
spring or spiral spring which will bring them back to take again the teeth.
The one rider putting his right foot on the pedal levers starts the machine
one eighth of the wheel circle, then taking the foot off the second rider doing
the same.
The invention may be adapted for one person with the use of three wheels but
the seat will be arranged in the middle of the axle which will be provided with the
necessary rod and lever, see Fig. 6.
In a vehicle for four persons I employ four wheels-two behind with the scale
or rocking lever movement for two persons and those in front will be provided
with an axle tree with a circle or pivot in the middle so as to give the direction
as in ordinary vehicles.
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. The construction, arrangement and use of a velocipede or other road carriage
to be driven by the utilization of the weight of the rider or riders actuating
a rocking or scale beam mechanism, substantially as set forth and shewn by the
drawings.
2. The combination or arrangement and use of mechanism for effecting the
driving of a velocipede or other road carriage acted upon by the weight of the

page_text: ridder or of the riders with means for retarding or stopping the same and for
facilitating the ascent of inclines, substantially as set forth.
3. The construction and use of brake mechanism for velocipedes or road carriages,
as set forth.
4. The construction and use of mechanism for aiding the ascent of inclines by
velocipedes or road carriages as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of February 1897.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.