Improvements relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Velocipedes.
I, PIERRE GRANDJEAN, of 94 Rue St. Allemagne, Paris, in the Republic of
France, 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 :-
My invention relates to velocipedes and consists
(1.) In a peculiar arrangement of gear allowing of reducing the power required
to be exerted by the rider and of rendering uniform the transmission to the driving
wheel of the force exerted on the pedals.
(2.) In a novel arrangement for changing the speed of the velocipede, and
(3.) In various special forms of tyres which I make of solid or hollow india
rubber.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is an elevation of a bicycle provided with my improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan shewing the arrangement of my gear.
Figure 3 is a similar view to Figure 2 but illustrating a modification.
Figure 4 is an elevation and transverse sections illustrating one of my novel
arrangements of india rubber tyre.
Figure is an elevation and transverse section of another arrangement of tyre.
Figures 6, 7 and 8 represent modifications of the tyre.
These various arrangements of tyre have for object to prevent slipping on the
ground, to give great flexibility to the tyres and to prevent the tyres from
becoming cut or punctured through contact with sharp stones or other bodies.
Referring first to Figure 1 my bicycle is constructed of a frame A which may
be of any suitable construction.
The pedal motion consists of two parallel chains B¹ C¹, Figures 1 and 2 and six
or eight toothed wheels.
The two chains B¹, C' actuated by the two similar wheels B and C serve to
drive the two pinions D and E. The toothed wheels and pinions are keyed on
their shafts in such a manner that the spaces between the teeth of one wheel and
pinion are opposite the teeth of the other wheel and pinions so that one of the
chains is always in full tension.
It will be readily understood that this arrangement of two parallel chains B¹ C₁.
situated on the right and left hand sides of the velocipede combined with the pinions
keyed as described, produces a very regular motion and considerably economizes
the power required to be exerted by the rider.
If
The pinions D, E are fixed to two other pinions F, G of smaller diameter.
therefore it is desired to increase the speed of the machine, it is only necessary to
employ the pinions F and G in place of the pinions D, E which can be easily done
by reversing the position of the twin pinions on their shaft M, that is to say, by
bringing the smaller pinion inside and the larger outside or vice versû.
In the construction shown in Figure 3 there is no necessity to unkey or shift the
rear pinions; it is only necessary to shift the chain from the smaller wheels onto
the larger ones or vice versa as the case may be; but this arrangement involves the
addition of two wheels H and I keyed on the same shaft and in the same manner
as B and C.
In the drawing K K are the pedals L is the pedal shaft and M the shaft of the
driving wheel.
The improvements relating to the construction of the tyre have for object to
diminish vibration, to facilitate the hold of the tyre upon the ground and to prevent
its becoming cut as far as possible. The tyre may be of solid or hollow rubber.

page_text: In Figure 4 the tyre N is shewn provided with a series of swellings ◇ separated
in the middle by a circular groove P.
In Figure 5 the tyre N¹ is shewn made with three peripheral grooves P¹ on the
part which comes in contact with the ground.
Figure 6 represents a tyre N' with a modified arrangement of swellings P* P³.
Figure 7 shows the tyre provided on its periphery with a series of hemispherical
projections R.
Figure 8 represents a tyre similar in construction to that shewn in Figure 6 but
provided with a circular groove S.
It is obvious that in conjunction with my improved gear I can employ an ordinary
tyre or one of my improved tyres.
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 :-
The improvements relating to velocipedes in general consisting
(1.) In a novel arrangement of gear for transmitting the motion of the pedals to
the driving wheel substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.
(2.) In a special keying of the toothed wheels having for object to render the
movement continuous, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing.
(3.) In a special arrangement of gear for changing the speed of the velocipede
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawing.
(4.) In the novel solid or hollow tyres little liable to become cut or to slip upon
the ground and which are very flexible substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 4 to 8 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated the 25th day of January 1893.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.