IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN M°CAMMON of Belfast in the County of Antrim, Ireland, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
" to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes running on two wheels,
the principal objects in view being to obtain increased safety for the rider, and to
make the whole machine lighter and more convenient than bicycles as at present
constructed.
According to my invention, I make the small wheel the steering wheel, and place
it in front of the large wheel, which is the driving wheel. The treadle shaft is
arranged low down between the two wheels, and is carried in bearings in a light
double V-shaped frame uniting the head or collar in which the stem of the steering
wheel fork turns, with the bearings for the axle of the driving wheel.
The saddle is supported by one or more spring arms, prolonged rearwards in a
flattened form to serve as a splash board overhanging the main wheel.
This flat splash board is prevented from undue vibration by means of side stays
or straps, which unite it with the frame carrying the bearings of the main axle.
On the axle of the driving wheel is secured a toothed wheel in gear with a
toothed wheel of suitable relative size on the treadle shaft, through a driving chain
of ordinary construction.
To balance this driving gear, which is necessarily on one side of the medial line,
the seat or saddle is adapted to be moved laterally, as well as longitudinally, on its
elastic support or supports, and to be secured in place thereon.
The stem of the front steering wheel is preferably raked backwards and may be
set at an angle with respect to the fork in which the said wheel is mounted, an
arrangement which will tend to take the strain off the steering handle when going
straight ahead, or the handle bar and wheels may be elastically mounted in any of
the well known ways for the same purpose.
A stop may also be applied to the fork or its stem to prevent it rotating so far as
to allow the steering wheel to foul the chain driving gear, or the steering wheel can
be placed far enough forward to clear the said gear.
In some cases I may apply power driving gear on one side, and speed driving
gear on the other. In this case both chain wheels might be loose on the crank
shaft, and a clutch sliding on a feather and actuated by a suitable lever, could be
arranged to suit the convenience of the rider.

page_text: For lighter machines I prefer to use only a single driving chain and pair of
toothed wheels, balancing the machine by the adjustability of the saddle or seat as
above described and by the position of the mounting step, which, if necessary, can
be placed on the opposite side of the machine to the driving gear.
I adapt foot rests on the fork of the steering wheel, and these may serve as
means for guiding the velocipede without the use of the hands or arms for that
purpose.
By the above described arrangement I am enabled to make the driving wheel
small than usual, to place the seat far back and comparatively low down and to
drive the large wheel of the machine by rotary action of the pedals.
By this construction I am able to make bicycles combining small size and little
weight with great strength, safety and efficiency.
I am aware that bicycles have been devised having a crank pedal shaft between
the front and rear wheels but in this case the large wheel was the steering wheel
and was situate in front, and the small hind wheel was driven, an arrangement
which is very inferior to mine in many respects.
I am also aware that a bicycle has been devised with a small steering wheel in
front but in this case there is no crank axle, midway between the two carrying
wheels and the rider's seat is situate above the driving wheel at a great height from
the ground, motion being imparted to the said wheel by an arrangement of pedal
levers and clutches, instead of by a rotary crank and chain gear as in my
arrangement.
A special feature of my invention is the construction of the main framing
whereby I am enabled to place the two carrying wheels close together in line,
economizing space and obtaining great strength and rigidity combined with
lightness and handiness.
It is obvious that the form of the framing may be somewhat varied while
maintaining the essential features of my arrangement: thus the frame may be forked
or double only at those parts which embrace the carrying and gear wheels, the
remainder being single or tubular.
For example I may unite the bearings for the axle of the driving wheel with the
stem of the steering wheel by a practically horizontal bar which is forked to
embrace the driving wheel, and the pedal shaft may be carried by a bracket piece,
the top of which is united with the upper guide or collar for the stem of the
steering wheel, and the lower part of which is forked to carry the pedal shaft and
chain wheel. In this case the bracket piece will be rigidly secured to the horizontal
bar above described and the saddle will be adjustably mounted as above described
upon the said bracket piece.

page_text: I, JOHN MCCAMMON of Belfast in the County of Antrim, Ireland do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES 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 improvements in velocipedes running on two wheels,
the principal objects in view being to obtain increased safety for the rider and
to inake the whole macbine lighter and handier than bicycles as at present
constructed.
My improvements in velocipedes are illustrated in the accompanying Drawing in
which―
Fig. 1 is a side elevation and
Fig. 2 a plan view of one form of bicycle, the saddle or seat and spring being
removed to show the underlying parts, and Fig. 3 is a side elevation of another
form of bicycle constructed and arranged according to my invention. Fig. 2ª is a
detail view to be referred to hereafter.
The same letters reference indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures.
In constructing a bicycle according to my invention I make the small wheel A the
steering wheel, and place it in front of the larger wheel B, which is the driving
wheel. The pedal shaft C is arranged low down between the two wheels, and is
carried in bearings c c in a light V-shaped frame D, uniting the head or collar E in
which the stem of the steering wheel fork turns, with the bearings a a for the axle
of driving wheel A.
The saddle F is mounted on the frame on a level or nearly so with the top of the
driving wheel B and nearly vertically above the treadle shaft C.
On the axle of the driving wheel B is secured a toothed wheel G in gear through
a driving chain of ordinary construction with a toothed wheel H of suitable relative
size and fast on the treadle shaft C.
I would here observe that I do not limit myself to the use of driving chains, as
steel bands such as are used in the Otto bicycle may be employed to transmit rotary
motion from the pedal shaft to the driving wheel axle.
Extending rearwards from the frame is a long splash board I curved to the
contour of the driving wheel and covering its upper edge, and this splash board is
prevented from undue vibration by side stays or straps ii which unite it with the
frame carrying the bearings of the main axle.
The stem of the front wheel A which is the steering wheel is, for ordinary
purposes, preferably raked back wards as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and may be in line
with or set at an angle with respect to the fork in which the said wheel is mounted,
an arrangement which tends to take the strain off the steering handle when going
straight ahead, or the handle bar and wheels may be elastically mounted in any of
the well known ways for the same purpose.
In some cases I may interpose steering rods between the fork of the front wheel
and the stem of the handle bar for the purpose of enabling the rearward position
of the seat or saddle to be maintained without raking the fork of the steering wheel,
and such an arrangement of steering rods is shown as applied to my improved
bicycle in Fig. 3.
The frame D of the machine is preferably constructed as shown in Figs. 1 and 2
which has the advantage of both lateral and longitudinal stiffness and the seat is
preferably mounted upon a spring or springs I¹ which are prolonged rearwards to

page_text: form the splash board I above named, but the frame D instead of being double and
embracing the driving wheel as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 might be tubular and single
as in Fig. 3, but in that case the wheels cannot be set so closely together and the
machine is consequently not quite so compact as in the former arrangement. The
saddle also may be mounted in any convenient manner so long as its position
with reference to the driving and steering wheels and to the pedal shaft is
maintained.
A stop may also be applied to the fork or its stem, to prevent it rotating so far as
to allow the steering wheel to foul the chain driving gear, or the steering wheel
can be placed far enough forward to clear the said gear.
In some cases I may apply power driving gear on one side, and speed driving
gear on the other. In this case, both chain wheels might be loose on the crank
shaft, and a clutch sliding on a feather, and actuated by a suitable lever, could be
arranged to suit the convenience of the rider.
The position of the clutch handle and its rod is indicated by dotted lines in
Fig. 1 and a simple arrangement of clutch action in combination with speed and
power gearing is shown in detail in the detached view Fig. 2^. This clutch may
be operated by simply turning the clutch handle to right or left, giving thereby a
partial rotation to the clutch rod and moving the pin engaging with the clutch, to
right or left.
The lighter machines I propose to use only a single driving chain and a pair of
toothed wheels, balancing the machine by the adjustability of the saddle or seat as
above described, and by the position of the mounting step which if necessary can
be placed on the opposite side of the machine to the driving gear.
I adapt foot rests on the fork of the steering wheel A, and these may serve as
means for guiding the velocipede without the use of the hands or arms for_that
purpose.
By the above described arrangement I am enabled to make the driving wheel
smaller than usual, to place the seat far back and comparatively low down and to
drive the large wheel of the machine by rotary action of the pedals at any required
speed while the steering of the machine is very prompt, and well under control.
By this construction I am able to make bicycles combining small size and little
weight with great strength safety and efficiency.
I am aware that bicycles have been devised having a crank pedal shaft between
the front and rear wheels, but in this case the large wheel was the steering wheel,
and was situate in front, and the small hind wheel was driven, an arrangement
which is very inferior to mine in many respects.
I am also aware that a bicycle has been devised with a small steering wheel in
front, but in this case there is no crank axle midway between the two carrying
wheels, and the rider's seat is situate above the driving wheel at a great height
from the ground, motion being imparted to the said wheel by an arrangement of
pedal levers and clutches so situate as to prevent the full power of the rider being
exerted, instead of by a rotary crank and chain gear or its equivalent as in my
arrangement.
A special feature of my invention is the construction of the main framing
whereby I am enabled to place the two carrying wheels close together in line,
economizing space and obtaining great strength and rigidity combined with
lightness and handiness.
It is obvious that the form of the framing may be somewhat varied while
maintaining the essential features of my arrangement, thus the frame may be forked
or double only at those parts which embrace the carrying and gear wheels, the
remainder being single or tubular.
For example I may unite the bearings for the axle of the driving wheel with the
stem of the steering wheel by a practically horizontal bar, which is forked to
embrace the driving wheel; and the pedal shaft may be carried by a bracket piece,
the top of which is united with the upper guide or collar for the stem of the
steering wheel and the lower part of which is forked to carry the pedal shaft and

page_text: chain wheel. In this case the bracket piece will be rigidly secured to the
horizontal bar above described and the saddle will be adjustably mounted as above
described upon the said bracket piece.
I prefer however, to construct the single tubular V-shaped frame D as shown in
Fig. 3.
In this arrangement it will be observed that the steering wheel fork and the
handle stem are vertical and are connected by a pair of steering rods.
I would
here remark that I do not make any claim to novelty in respect of this method of
steering, per se. In other respects the relative position of the several parts remains
the same as in the machine above described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
By placing the small wheel in front and making it the steering wheel and by
driving the large wheel in the rear from a pedal shaft low down, the rider is
enabled to apply his full power and obtain all the advantages of large driving
wheels and rotary action, without being seated unduly high; and to promptly
turn the velocipede in sharp curves without risk of fouling the driving gear.
This form of machine is especially adapted for racing purposes as it can be
speeded up to any required extent and is very handy owing to the arrangement of
the steering and driving wheels and to its general compactness.
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 :-
1. The construction and arrangement of two wheel velocipedes described with
reference to the accompanying drawing whereby increased safety for the rider is
ensured, and facilities are afforded for enabling him to drive the machine in the
most advantageous manner by a rotary action of the pedals, and to steer it with
rapidity and accuracy.
2. In a bicycle, the combination with the frame D, of the small front steering
wheel A, larger rear driving wheel B, pedal shaft C connected by chain gearing or
its equivalent with the driving wheel B, sent F elastically and adjustably mounted
on a level with the wheel B and vertically or nearly so above the pedal shaft, and
means substantially as described for actuating said front steering wheel as and for
the purpose set forth.
3. The combination with the double V-shaped frame D, front steering wheel A,
larger rear driving wheel B and pedal shaft C counected by chain gearing or its
equivalent with the said driving wheel, of the seat or saddle F on a level with the
top of the driving wheel B, and a curved splash board I forming a continuation of
the frame D and prevented from vibration by side straps or stay rods ii secured to
the frame, substantially as set forth.
4. In a velocipede the combination with a V-shaped frame D, small front
steering wheel A, larger rear driving wheel B, pedal shaft C, chain gearing or its
equivalent connecting said pedal shaft with the rear driving wheel B and saddle or
seat F, of clutch mechanism such as that described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2
of the drawing, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In combination with the frame D, small front steering wheel A having a raked
stem, larger rear driving wheel B, pedal shaft C and means for driving the said
wheel B by rotary action from the pedal shaft, of the seat or saddle F mounted on
a level with the main driving wheel, and splash board I rigidly secured to and
extending rearwards from the frame above said driving wheel, substantially as
described.
6. In a velocipede the combination with a small front steering wheel mounted in
a fork pivotted in a frame such as D) and controlled by a handle bar and stem
raking back wards or set at an angle to said fork, of the rear wheel B of larger size
driven by chain gearing or its equivalent from a pedal shaft carried by the frame D
between the said wheels, adjustable saddle F on a level with the top of the larger
wheel and curved splash board I rigidly secured to and extending rearwards from
the frame D, as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 7. The adaptation to "safety" velocipedes running on two wheels of unequal
diameter, of a seat or saddle F, arranged as described, on a level or nearly so with
the top of the larger wheel and in close proximity thereto, and rotary pedals
mounted in bearings carried by the frame and connected by chain or band gearing
with the axle of the said larger wheel, in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
8. In a
safety" velocipede running on two wheels of unequal diameter the
combination with an adjustable seat or saddle on a level with the top of the
larger wheel, rotary pedals carried by the frame and chains or their equivalent
connecting said pedals with the axle of the larger wheel, of foot rests adapted to
control the movements of the steering wheel substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.