Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 4th May, 1897
Complete Specification Lett, 4th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr.,
1898
Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes.
We, JOHN BURNS, Clerk, and RICHARD BURNS, Mechanical Engineer, both of
25, Earl Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
vention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to velocipedes. Its primary object is to allow the crank
axle chain wheel or equivalent part (hereinafter referred to as the chain wheel)
to be connected to, or disconnected from, the crank axle so that the rider can
pedal forward, back pedal, or ride with his or her feet on the pedals while they
remain stationary, and at the same time apply the brake (if any) or release it
independently of, or in conjunction with, the connection of the chain wheel to the
crank axle.
"
To attain our object we fix a plate or the like to the crank axle in a suitable
position. This plate carries a latch adapted to be moved radially towards and
from the crank axle. The latch is controlled by one or more springs so that when
the said latch is moved radially beyond a certain point in either direction it shoots
further in the same direction and is there held. The said spring or springs may
be arranged in any suitable manner but we prefer the following construction:
The latch is mounted on a blade spring arranged transversely thereto and the
said spring is connected at one or both ends in a suitable manner to the said
plate. For example, the spring may be attached to a fixed stud at one end and be
jointed to another blade spring set at a right angle or other suitable angle thereto
at the other end. The blade spring is more or less compressed between its two
ends, so that when the latch is pressed up to and across the line connecting the two
ends of the spring, the said spring buckles and shoots the latch further across
the said line and holds it there. If the latch be forced back to and across the
said line, the spring will again buckle and shoot the latch back to its original
position and hold it there. The plate may be provided with a central boss having
a radial gap into which the latch may be shot, or the plate may be provided with
a radial groove in which the latch is adapted to travel. The latch is employed to
connect the chain wheel to the crank axle and the object of the above mentioned
gap or groove is to transfer the shearing strain from the bolt to the plate and
prevent its coming on the spring or springs. The chain-wheel is mounted freely
on the crank axle next to the plate. The chain wheel may be provided with ball
bearings and is preferably dished so that the edge or ring of teeth overhangs the
plate fixed to the crank axle. The chain wheel is provided with a central boss
having, say, six radial notches each adapted to receive the inner end of the latch.
When the said latch is shot inwards it springs sooner, or later into one of the
said notches and thereby connects the chain wheel to the plate and thus to the
orank axle, allowing the rider to pedal backwards or forwards as required. When
the said latch is shot outwards it leaves the notches and thus frees the chain
wheel from the crank axle and the rider may retain his feet on the pedals without
their rotating.

page_text: In applying our invention to a rear driving safety bicycle the operating mechan-
ism may be constructed in the following manner: On the lower tube radiating
from the bottom bracket we mount a wedge piece with its edge arranged
horizontally and directed rearward and somewhat upward. This wedge piece is
adapted to be moved, by suitable connections within easy reach of the rider,
nearer to or further from the crank axle on suitable guides; it is adapted to
engage with a stud projecting from the latch through a slot in the plate, when
it is desired to alter the position of the latch. The wedge piece may be held out
of the path of the stud; or it may be held so that if the latch is in its inner
position the stud will strike the upper surface of the wedge and, travelling up
it, will cause the latch to be thrown out of the notches; or the wedge pieco may
be held so that if the latch is in its outer position the stud will strike the under
surface of the wedge and, travelling down it, will cause the latch to be thrown
into the notches. To hold the wedge in its several positions the operating con-
nections are preferably provided with a rack device. The operating connections
may consist of a rod jointed to the wedge piece at one end and to one arm of a
bell crank pivotted at or near the head socket at the other end. The other arm
of the bell crank is adapted to be operated on by a flanged collar adapted to move
axially on the head socket and, if desired, provided with ball bearings The
flanged collar is adapted to be raised by a suitable spring and to be depressed by
a plunger rod, the foot of which bears thereon and the head of which may con-
veniently be jointed to the end of a hand lever of usual construction. The plunger
may be guided in any suitable manner and the hand lever is preferably provided
with the rack device above mentioned. The flange device allows for the relative
movements of the parts in steering the machine.
This construction is specially suitable when we combine the latch device with
a brake. The combination may be effected in several ways: The plunger rod may
be modified to carry a shoo acting on the tyre of the front wheel in the usual
way. Or to the lower end of the connecting rod may be jointed the forward ends
of two links, the rear ends of which links are connected to two brake shoes
adapted to slide along the bottom bracket stays of the frame and act against the
rim of the rear wheel. Or the said lower end of the connecting rod may be
linked to one end of a more or less vertical lever, to the other end of which lever
is attached a brake shoe adapted to act on the tyre of the rear wheel. Or any
other suitable brake may be employed provided it may be operated by the same
connections as operate the wedge-piece. And the connections are preferably so
arranged that the brake is not brought into action until the wedge piece is beyond
the path of the stud when the latch is in its outer position.
It will be observed that the latch can only be thrown in or out as it passes the
wedge-piece, and that will correspond to a certain position of the rider's feet in
their paths of revolution, though the chain wheel can be caught and held at say
six positions in its revolution. Hence by suitably operating the connections, the
chain wheel may be thrown in or out of engagement with the crank axle, and
then by a further movement the brake may be applied; or by a single movement,
while the stud is not passing the wedge piece, the brake may be applied without
disturbing the chain wheel. The arrangement is specially advantageous to ladies
for whom ordinary footrests are not very safe or elegant, and it is superior to an
ordinary clutch wheel in that it allows of back pedalling.
It will be obvious that our invention is capable of considerable modification
without departing from its naturo or exceeding its fair limits.
ed this 3rd day of May 1897.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London. W.C.,
& 49, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes.
We, JOIN BURNS, Clerk, and RICHARD BURNS, Mechanical Engineer, both of
25, Earl Street, Coventry, Warwickshire, do hereby declare the nature of this in-
vention 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 velocipedes. Its primary object is to allow the crank
axle chain wheel or equivalent part (hereinafter referred to as the chain wheel)
to be connected to, or disconnected from, the crank axle so that the rider can
pedal forward, back pedal, or ride with his or her feet on the pedals while they
remain stationary, and at the same time apply the brake (if any) or release it
independently of, or in conjunction with, the connection of the chain wheel to the
crank axle.
And in order that the invention whereby we attain our objects may be properly
understood we will describe the same with the aid of the accompanying drawings,
wherein,
Figure I is an outside elevation of a certain plate fixed to the crank axle.
Figure II is an inside elevation of the front chain wheel.
Figure III is an elevation of the operating mechanism, the chain wheel and
certain other parts being represented by dotted lines.
Figure IV is a side view of a safety bicycle showing the operating mechanism
and connections and one form of brake.
Figure V shows another arrangement of operating connections and brake.
Figure VI is a section on the line I-I in Fig. III.
Figure VII is a top side plan showing the operating mechanism and brake
represented in Figure IV.
Figure VIII is an underside plan corresponding to Fig. VII.
Figures I, II, III, and VI are drawn to one scale, Figs. VII and VIII are
drawn to a smaller scale and Figs. IV and V are drawn to a still smaller scale.
Like numerals indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out our invention we fix a plate or the like 2 to the crank axle 3
in a suitable position. This plate carries a latch 4 adapted to be moved radially
towards and from the crank axle. The latch is controlled by one or more springs
so that when the said latch is moved radially beyond a certain point in either
direction it shoots further in the same direction and is there held. The said
spring or springs may be arranged in any suitable manner but we prefer the
construction shown in the drawings, wherein the latch 4 is mounted on a blade
spring 5 arranged transversely thereto and the said spring is connected at one
end to a fixed stud 6 having a series of notches which provide adjustment for the
spring, the other end whereof is jointed to another blade spring 7 set at a suitable
angle thereto and secured, like the stud 6, to the plate 2. The spring 5 is more
or less compressed between its two ends, so that when the latch is pressed up to
and across the line connecting the two ends of the spring, the said spring buckles
and shoots the latch further across the said line and holds it there. If the latch
be forced back to and across the said line the said spring will again buckle and
shoot the latch back to its original position and hold it there.
The plate 2 may be provided with a central boss 8 having a radial gap 9 into
which the laich may be shot, or the plate may be provided with a radial groove
in which the latch is adapted to travel. The latch is employed to connect the chain
wheel 10 to the crank axle 3, and the object of the above mentioned gap or groove

page_text: is to transfer the shearing strain from the latch 4 to the plate 2, and prevent it
coming on the spring or springs 5, 7. The chain wheel is mounted freely on the
crank axle next to the plate as shown in Fig. VI. The chain wheel may be
provided with ball bearings and is preferably dished so that the edge or ring of
teeth 11 overhangs the plate fixed to the crank axle. The chain wheel is pro-
vided with a central boss 12 having, say, six radial notches 13 each adapted to
receive the end of the latch. When the said latch 4 is shot inwards it springs
sooner or later into one of the said notches 13 and thereby connects the chain
wheel 10 to the plate 2 and thus to the crank axle 3, allowing the rider to pedal
backwards or forwards as required. When the said latch is shot outwards it leaves
the notches 13 and thus frees the chain wheel 10 from the crank axle 3 and the
rider may retain his feet on the pedals without their rotating.
In applying our invention to a rear driving safety bicycle the operating mechan-
ism may be constructed in the following manner: On the lower tube 14 radiating
from the bottom bracket 15 we mount a pair of preferably square sectioned
guides 18 on which is adapted to travel a block carrying a wedge piece 16 directed
rearward and somewhat upward and having its edge 17, at which the operating
surfaces 21, 22 meet, arranged horizontally. This wedge piece is adapted to be
moved by any suitable connections within easy reach of the rider nearer to or
further from the crank axle 3; it is adapted to engage with a stud 19 (projecting
from the latch 4 through a slot 20 in the plate 2) when it is desired to alter the
position of the latch. The wedge piece 16 may be held out of the path of the
stud 19 or it may be held so that if the latch be in its inner position the stud 19
will strike the upper surface 21 of the wedge piece and travelling up it (21),
will cause the latch to be thrown out of the notches 13; or the wedge piece may
be held so that if the latch is in its outer position the stud 19 will strike the under
surface 22 of the wedge piece and, travelling down it (22), will cause the latch
to be thrown into the said notches 13. To hold the wedge in its several positions
the operating connections are preferably provided with a rack device, such as that
hereinafter described as attached to the handlebar.
The operating connections may consist of a rod 23 bolted or jointed to the
wedge piece 16 at one end and, as shown in Fig. V, to one arm 24 of a bell crank.
pivoted at or near the head socket 26, at the other end. The other arm 25 of the
bell crank is adapted to be operated on by a flanged collar 27 adapted to move
axially on the head socket and, if desired, provided with ball bearings:
The flanged collar 27 may be adapted to be raised by a suitable spring such
as 28 and to be depressed by a plunger rod 29, the foot of which or preferably
a stud 29 on which, bears thereon; and the head of the rod 29 may conveniently
be jointed to the end of a hand lever 30 of usual construction. The plunger may
be guided in any suitable manner as by the bracket 31 connected to the fork-
crown 32 and the hand lever 30 is preferably provided with a rack device
consisting of a catch 44 pivoted to the handlebar at its upper end and passing
down through a loop or guide 45 on the lever 30. The catch is pressed into.
engagement with one end of the loop by a spring such as 46. Normally the handle
of the lever is held in a partly raised position by the catch, but it is capable of
being raised higher or, by pulling back the catch, dropping to a lower position,
as hereinafter described. The flanged collar device allows for the relative move-
ment of the parts in steering the machine, as downward pressure applied to the
flanged collar by the plunger rod will be transmitted to the bell crank 24, 25.
independently of the variation in the points of contact between the rod and crank
on the flanged collar arising from the relative rotation of the parts to which the
said lever and crank are attached in the steering of the machine. This device
may obviously he applied to other operating mechanisms connecting parts adapted to
move relatively to one another in steering the velocipedes of which they form parts
or to which they are attached.
Instead of the bell crank 24, 25, flanged collar 27 and plunger rod 29 the

page_text: connecting rod 23 may be arranged under the lower tube 14 as snown in Figs. 111,
IV, VII and VIII.
In this case the rod 23 is made somewhat shorter and its upper end is connected
to a flexible cord 33 passing over pulleys 34, 35 and 36, one (35) of which is located
at the bottom of the head and another (36) at the top of the handlebar stem 37
as shown; so that the cord passes up through the head (26) on the axial line
thereof, and the connections and the steering consequently do not interfere with
each other. The upper end of the cord passes over the pulley 36 and
down to the end of the lever 30 to which it is fixed and by which it
is operated in the usual way. Or the power transmitting mechanism set forth
in E. M. Bowden's Specification No. 25325 of 1896, might be employed, the ends
of the flexible tube being fixed to the lower tube 14 and to the handlebar stem 37
respectively and the inner wire being arranged similarly to the flexible cord 33
above referred to. A compression spring 48 is interposed between the guide 49
and a stop on the rod 23 tending to force the wedge piece towards the crank axle
when the lever 30 is released from the catch 44.
All of these operating connections are suitable for use where the latch device
is combined with a brake. The arrangement shown in Fig. V is specially suitable
for use with a front wheel brake as the plunger rod 29 may carry the usual shoe
38 adapted to act on the tyre 39 of the front wheel in the well known way. But
this arrangement as well as the others, is suitable for combination with a rear
wheel brake, which we prefer, and which is shown in Figs. III, IV, VII and VIII
where there are jointed to the sliding block operated by the connecting rod 23
the forward ends of two links 40, to which are connected two brake shoes 41
adapted to slide along the bottom bracket stays 42 of the frame and act against
the rim 43 of the rear wheel. The rear ends of the links 40 slide in guides 47
on the bracket stays 42. Or the said lower end of the connecting rod.may be
linked to one end of a more or less vertical pivoted lever, to the other end of
which lever is attached a brake shoe adapted to act on the tyre of the rear wheel.
Or any other suitable brake may be employed provided it may be operated by the
same connections as operate the wedge piece. And the connections are preferably
so arranged that the brake is not brought into action until the wedge piece 16
is beyond the path of the stud 19 when the latch 4 is in its outer position.
As previously mentioned, the lever 30 is normally held up by the catch 44, and
the wedge piece 16 then lies outside of the path of revolution of the stud 19.
To free the chain wheel from the crank axle, the rider pulls back the catch 44,
disengaging it from the loop 45 and allowing the lover to drop; the spring 48
expands and the wedge piece 16: slides in towards the crank axle so far that its
upper face 21 lies in the path of the stud 19. The stud comes into contact with and
travels up the said face 21, the spring 5 buckles and the latch is shot out clear
of the notches 13, while the stud 19 on the said latch is shot out clear of
the wedge piece in its then position. The latch being disengaged from the
notches 13 the chain wheel is left free on the crank axle 3 and the rider can hold
his feet stationary while the machine continues to travel forward.
To lock the chain wheel to the crank axle, the rider raises the lever 30 until
the catch 44 engages with the loop 45 and the wedge piece is moved outwards
from the crank axle so far that its lower face 22 lies in the path of the stud 19.
The rider rotates the crank axle and the stud 19 is brought into contact with
and travels down the said face 22, the spring 5 buckles and the latch is shot inwards
to the boss 12. If the latch does not happen to shoot direct into one of the
notches 13 it soon falls into one if the rider continues active forward pedalling. The
stud 19 is not carried in clear of the wedge pièce until. the latch is in engagement
with one of the notches, so that the said stud will travel over the face 22 again if
the latch does not engage during the first revolution: the spring 48 'allows the
wedge piece to yield to the stud. if necessary. The latch having engaged with one
of the notches 13, the chain wheel 10 is locked to the crank axle 3 and the rider

page_text: can drive or retard the machine by forward pedalling or back pedalling, as re-
quired.
By a further upward movement of the lever the brake shoe 38 may be applied
to the front tyre 39, or the brake shoes 41 may be applied to the rear
rim 43. And the brake may be applied or released while the chain wheel
is free without locking the said chain wheel to the crank axle, if the lever
be raised past the catch position at any time other than when the stud 19 is
passing the radial line in which lies the wedge piece. And as the stud 19 always
maintains the same angular position relative to the crank axle and pedals, the
rider soon learns when and how to operate the lever. The catch 44 should be
held back when it is desired to release the brake without re-locking the chain wheel
to the crank axle. Though the latch can only be thrown in and out as it passes
the wedge piece, the chain wheel can be caught and held at any of as many
positions in its revolution as there are notches 13 in the boss 12. By moving the
brake lever from one extreme position to the other while the latch is passing
the wedge piece the brake may be applied or relcased, and the chain wheel simultan-
eously connected to or disconnected from the crank axle, as the case may be.
The mechanism is specially advantageous to ladies for whom ordinary footrests
are not very safe or elegant, and it is superior to any ordinary clutch wheel in
that it allows of back pedalling.
In applying our invention to other suitable velocipedes we proceed substantially
as herein before described, but it will be obvious that our invention is capable of
considerable modification without departing from its nature or exceeding its fair
limits. For example, the chain wheel and plate might be reversed in position,
the latch then being mounted on the chain wheel and the notched boss 12 secured
to the plate 2. Again the latch might be made to engage with the chain wheel
when shot outwards and to disengage therefrom when shot inwards, instead of
vice versa.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In a velocipede, mechanism whereby the crank axle chain wheel or its
equivalent may be connected to and disconnected from the crank axle, constructed
and arranged substantially as herein set forth.
2. In a velocipede, mechanism whereby the crank axle chain wheel or its
equivalent may be connected to and disconnected from the crank axle and whereby
a brake may be applied and released independently of or in conjunction with the
connection of the said chain wheel or its equivalent to, and its disconnection from,
the crank axle, constructed and arranged substantially as herein set forth.
3. In mechanism of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clauses, the
use of a latch adapted to be moved radially towards and away from the crank axle
and so controlled by one or more springs that when the said latch is moved beyond
a certain point in either direction it shoots further in the same direction and is
there held, substantially as set forth.
4. In mechanism of the kind referred to in claiming clauses 1 and 2 hereof, the
use of a latch such as 4 carried by a buckling spring such as 5, substantially as set
forth.
5. In mechanism of the kind referred to in claiming clauses 1 and 2 hereof, the
combination of, a plate or the like fixed to the crank axle and carrying a radially
moveable latch mounted on a buckling spring; a chain wheel or the like having
one or more notches adapted to receive the latch; and means for causing the said
latch to engage with and disengage from the said notch or notches, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In combination with mechanism of the kind referred to in the preceding
claiming clauses, a wedge piece adapted to be moved radially towards and away

page_text: from the crank axle and engage with a stud or the like on the latch so as to alter
the position of the said latch when required, substantially as set forth.
7. In mechanism of the kind referred to in the preceding claiming clauses,
means for operating the latch consisting of a wedge piece adapted either to be so
held that if the latch be in its inner position a suitable stud on the said latch
will strike the upper surface of the wedge and, travelling up such surface, will
cause the latch to be thrown outwards, or to be so held that if the latch be in its
outer position the stud will strike the under surface of the wedge and, travelling
down such surface, will cause the latch to be thrown inwards, substantially
as set forth.
•
8. In connections for brakes, change speed gears, disconnectable chain wheels
and the like where the parts to be connected are situated on respective portions of
the velocipede adapted to move relatively one to the other, as in steering, the
employment of a loose flanged collar or the like concentric with the axis of
the steering or other movement, and adapted to be operated on by one part of the
connections and transmit the motion to the other part thereof, substantially as
sel forth.
9. In connections for brakes, change speed gears, disconnectable chain wheels
and the like where the parts to be connected are situated on respective portions
of the velocipede adapted to move relatively one to the other, as in steering, the
employment of a lever such as 30, plunger rod such as 29, flanged collar such
as 27, bell crank lever such as 24, 25 and connecting rod such as 23, all combined,
arranged and adapted to operate substantially as set forth.
10. In a velocipede, the combination of a brake such as 38, with the chain
wheel connecting and disconnecting mechanism referred to in claiming clauses
1 to 7 hereof, and means for operating the same, substantially as herein described
with reference to the accompanying drawings and especially Figure V thereof.
11. In a velocipede, the combination of a brake such as 40, 41 with the chain
wheel connecting and disconnecting mechanism referred to in claiming clauses
1 to 7 hereof, and means for operating the same, substantially as herein described
VII
with reference to the accompanying drawings and especially Figs. III, IV,
and VIII thereof.
•
Dated this 3rd day of March 1898.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
and 9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham.
Patent Agent for the Applicants.