Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1890-Accepted, 20th Dec., 1890
Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved velocipede ;
Figure 2 is a top view of the same;
Figure 3 is a side view of one of the boxes in which the axle carrying the front
wheels is arranged and which is provided with spring-actuated journal bearings; and
Figure 4 is a front view of the steering head and neck.
Figure 5 represents in section, the steering head and neck and the back-bone,
and also the rear or hind steering wheel attached to a pivotal post having an
annular socket in which is arranged a correspondingly formed bearing-plate
secured to the back-bone, said figure also illustrating the steering means arranged
within and passing up the hollow or tubular back-bone and attached to the
steering head, by means of which the rear or hind wheel may be turned on its
pivotal post.
Figure is a top view of the same, illustrating the back-bone bifurcated or
forked at its ends through which the ends of a chain or cable, or its equivalent,
pass and are attached to the bearing plate and the steering head respectively.
Figure 7 is a plan view of a cap adapted to be arranged over the several parts
of the steering device above the hind wheel, and
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the same.
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken horizontally through the steering head above
the driving wheel and of the steering device above the rear wheel, the bifurcated
and hollow back-bone also being represented in section. The several parts are
shown in their normal positions when the driving wheel and the steering wheel are
in the same vertical plane.
Figure 10 is a view similar to that shown in Figure 9 but illustrating the position
of the rear wheel when the same has been turned out of the vertical plane of the
driving wheel by means of the chain or cable arranged within and passing through
the hollow back-bone and secured to the steering head.
Figure 11 is a side elevation and
Figure 12 a top view of the seat-frame illustrating the manner of securing the
same to the vehicle or to the main frame of the same.
Figure 13 illustrates a modified form of construction in which the periphery of
the driving wheel is provided with cogs or teeth which mesh with teeth on a
pinion arranged on the axle of the front wheels between the latter.
In the drawings, A is the main frame to which is secured in any convenient
027

page_text: manner a hollow or tubular back-bone B. The main frame A. consists of two
frames made up of a series of arms or bars secured to each other in any suitable
manner and to which are secured a pair of front wheels C and a hind steering
wheel D. Said frames are connected together at the front by means of an axle c
carrying the wheels C, at the top by a cross-bar a², and cross-bars a² and a³, and at
the back said frames are secured to the bearing plate on the end of the hollow
back-bone B which is arranged directly above the central axis of the pivotal post
to which the steering wheel D is attached. On the main axle f in the main frame,
as shown in Figure 1, is arranged a driving wheel E, suspended from said axle in
position above the surface of the ground, so that the periphery of said wheel is at
all times above the surface of the road-bed and thereby acts like a fly wheel.
Although the relative positions of the front wheels C and the rear steering
wheel D may vary, it will be understood that the diameter and size of the driving
wheel is not limited to that shown in the drawing, it being essential however, that
said driving wheel is situated in a vertical plane which shall pass through the
central axis of the pivotal bearing of the rear steering wheel and also centrally
between the pair of front wheels.
As shown more particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the framework on opposite sides
of the driving wheel E is provided with central plates a¹ having perforations or
journal boxes therein which are arranged the main axle or shaft F. Said plates
have secured thereto upwardly projecting arms a³ between which and above the
driving wheel is arranged the steering head L. On the lower ends of said plates a¹
are arranged the arms a', preferably bent as shown, and provided at their ends with
boxes in which are arranged the spring-actuated journal bearings e¹ and the
journal or front axle r. Extending back from said plates a¹ on opposite sides of the
driving wheel E are arms a which are secured on opposite sides of the steering
device D' to which is also attached or fastened the lower ends of the bifurcated and
hollow or tubular back-bone B. The main axle or journal fis provided on opposite
sides of the driving wheel E with crank arms to which are pivotally connected
links which in turn are pivotally attached to treadle carrying arms or propelling
levers pivoted at one end in any convenient manner to the arms a', as will be
seen from Figures 1 and 2. Beyond the point where the links are attached to
the arms or vibrating propelling levers 3, said arms are bent upwardly and
provided with ordinary treadles f^.
The arms a³ of the main frame are joined together at their top by means of
connecting arms or plates a and as, thus forming the downwardly projecting
forked arm A between which is arranged the steering head L and the driving
wheel E, and directly behind said arms a³ and projecting back therefrom on
opposite sides of the wheel E are arms a³ and a¹ which are secured to the arms a³
and a by means of a connecting piece a". Said arms a³ on opposite sides of the
driving wheel are connected with each other by means of the braces a² and a¹² to
the latter of which is secured the seat M, as will be described hereinafter.
As has been stated in the above, the hollow back-bone B is secured to said cross
brace a², in any well known manner.
The wheel D is provided with a bifurcated post d having on the top thereof a
circular bearing plate d' provided with an annular groove in its upper side forming
a socket d² and an upwardly projecting post or pivotal pin d³ centrally arranged
in said socket d². Said plate is also provided on its periphery with a rounded
groove . Arranged directly above said plate d' is a second plate g provided with
a downwardly projecting ring g' which fits into the socket d² in the plate d' and
upon the top of said plate g is arranged a cap or cover h, provided with a perforation
therein, all of said parts being held and secured together by means of a nut and
screw i, and said parts thereby being adapted to rotate upon each other.
Arranged within said socket d2 and engaging with the under side of the ring gl is
a spiral spring which prevents the adjacent surfaces of the bearing plates d¹ and g
from grinding upon each other and also gives an easy motion to the back-bone
thereby preventing the jarring of the rider when passing over rough roads.

page_text: As stated in the above, the back-bone B which is tubular or hollow is provided
at both ends with oppositely projecting tubes formed integrally therewith or secured
thereto in any convenient manner, and by means of the forked ends band 6 said
back-bone is attached to the bearing plate y as will be seen from Figure 5, and the
said ends b and b' are bent on opposite sides of the back-bone, so that a chain or
cable or its equivalent passing through and out of the same may be readily placed
around and within the groove d' in the periphery of the bearing plate d' without
any danger of the displacement of the same while being operated by means of the
handle on the steering head of the velocipede.
Said cable or chain k, or its equivalent, is secured within the groove d' in the
back of the same to a pin d, as will be evident, and passes around said plate on
opposite sides within the said groove, the ends of said cable or chain passing up
into the tubular ends band of the back-bone, extending up through the hollow
interior of the latter and passing out of the forked ends 62 and 63. The ends of the
chain or cable are then wound around the steering head L which consists of a
wheel provided with a peripheral groove and which wheel is pivotally secured
between the arms a' and as of the forked arm A' by means of a turning rod or
bar provided with a cross-piece 3 having handles thereon. The projecting
ends of the cable or chain from the tubular portions 2 and 63 of the back-bone are
arranged within this groove and secured thereto in the forward end by means of
the pin 1.
Any rotary movement of the wheel produced by the handles will cause an equal
rotary movement or pull on the chain or cable k, which causes the bearing plate a
to rotate on its pivotal bearing post within the plate g on the back-bone, and
thereby turns the wheel D into a different plane of movement, as will be seen
from Figure 10, and the vehicle is steered by means of said wheel in the desired
direction.
I will now proceed to describe the operation of the driving wheel.
Said wheel may be of any suitable construction and is provided with a solid rim e
having one or more grooves e' therein around which is passed a belt e², or its
equivalent, which is passed over the grooved wheel c² secured tightly to the front
axle c¹. When the treadles are caused to be moved downwardly and upwardly by
the rider, a rotary motion of the cranks and the axle or shaft fis produced by
means of the links 2 and the wheel E is rotated upon its axis. To enable the
mechanism to operate quickly and more effectively the wheel E is made of a large
diameter while the grooved wheel c² is of a considerably smaller diameter; and the
operating or driving wheel E is caused to rotate quite rapidly, which is readily
accomplished with but comparatively little friction and strain upon the parts of the
machine owing to the light construction of the wheel.
This motion of the fly-wheel E is communicated by means of the cross-chain or
belt to the pinion or wheel c² on the front axle, which pinion being of a very
much smaller diameter causes the number of revolutions of the wheels C to be
greatly increased and hence a greater velocity of the vehicle.
The great advantage derived from the present construction of arranging my
driving wheel in the main frame above the surface of the ground is that when a
high rate of speed has been obtained the same rate can easily be kept up with very
little labour to the rider as the driving wheel which does not at any time touch the
ground and therefore has no obstructions presented to its path of motion, acts like
a fly-wheel storing power and the momentum of the wheel causing a uniform rate
of speed at the same time.
Instead of employing one driving belt or chain from the wheel E to communicate
with the small wheel c², two or more such belts or chains may be used, as will be
understood.
From Figure 3 it is evident that the axle carrying boxes or journals care
provided with springs c³ which give an easy motion and prevent the jarring of
the rider.
From Figures 11 and 12, it will be seen that the seat frame is made from a

page_text: piece of bent wire M¹ of the requisite strength and bent U-shaped to conform with
the shape of the saddle M and is provided with downwardly projecting arms or
lugs m which extend into and pass through perforations a¹³ in the arm a" and are
held in position therein by means of spiral springs ml on the upper side and the
nuts m² on the under side of the arm or cross-piece a¹. The object of providing
the seat frame with the arms m and springs encircling each arm is that thereby the
seat adapts itself more readily to the sitting position of the rider.
As will be noticed from Figures 1 and 5, the cap h secured above the steering
device over the rear or hind wheel can be used as a step in getting on or off the
machine.
Instead of a chain or driving belt, I may provide the, circumference of the
driving wheel E with teeth or cogs which mesh with teeth on the pinion secured to
the front axle of the velocipede, as shown in Figure 13.
The construction of the wheel and pinion provided with a chain-belt or its
equivalent is the preferred form of construction, as thereby the friction of the
parts is greatly reduced and an increased speed is obtained.
In Figures 1 and 2 is shown an arrangement of arms a" which extend out from
the main frame on opposite sides of the driving wheel E and above or between the
wheels C. Said arms may be provided at their free ends with straps or similar
means for securing parcels to the same.
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. In a velocipede, a main frame provided with a forked arm having arranged
therein a fly-wheel or driving wheel suspended therein above the ground, a non-
driven rear steering wheel, a pair of front wheels mounted in bearings on a front
axle driven from the periphery of said fly-wheel, as and for the purposes set
forth.
2. In a velocipede, a rigid main frame, a rear steering wheel pivotally attached
to the back-bone of the vehicle, a pair of wheels mounted in bearings on a front
axle, an intermediately arranged driving wheel suspended in the main frame above
the ground and directly beneath and in front of the back-bone, pedals mounted on
an axle or shaft carrying the said driving wheel, and means on said wheel
connecting with and adapted to communicate the rotary motion of said driving
wheel to the front axle of the velocipede, for the purposes set forth.
3. In a velocipede, a rigid main frame, a rear steering wheel pivotally attached
to the back-bone of the vehicle, a pair of wheels mounted in bearings on the front
axle, an intermediately arranged driving wheel suspended in the main frame above
the ground and directly beneath the central longitudinal axis of the back-bone,
peddles mounted on an axle or shaft carrying the driving wheel, means on said driving
wheel for communicating the rotary motion thereof to the front axle of the
velocipede, a hollow or tubular back-bone pivotally secured to the rear steering
wheel, a steering head in the main frame directly above the driving wheel, means
for operating the same, and a chain or its equivalent passing through said tubular
back-bone and connecting the steering head with a steering device arranged
directly above and connected with the rear steering wheel, for the purposes.
set forth.
4. In a velocipede, the combination, with the non-driven rear steering wheel
and a driving wheel or fly-wheel suspended in a fixed frame above the level of the
ground, of a curved back-bone, a steering head and handle bar for operating the
same, and means connecting said steering head with the rear wheel to transmit
the power from the handle for controlling said wheel, for the purposes set forth.
5. In a velocipede, the combination with the steering head and the handle bar
for operating the same, the main frame provided with a fly-wheel or driving wheel
suspended above the level of the ground, a hollow back-bone, a non-driven rear
steering wheel and means in said hollow back-bone connecting said steering.head

page_text: with the rear steering wheel for communicating the motion of said steering head to
said rear wheel, for the purposes set forth.
6. In a velocipede, the combination with a non-driven rear steering wheel, a
back-bone, provided with a bearing plate having an annular ring thereon which
projects down into a socketed bearing plate arranged on a bifurcated post on the
rear steering wheel, and means for securing said parts together, for the purposes
set forth.
7. In a velocipede, the combination with a non-driven rear steering wheel, a
back-bone provided with a bearing plate having an annular ring thereon which
projects down into a socketed bearing plate arranged on a bifurcated post on the
rear steering wheel, a spring in said socketed plate engaging with the under side of
said ring on the bearing plate on the back-bone, and means for securing said parts
together, for the purposes set forth.
8. In a velocipede, the combination with a driving wheel suspended above the
ground between a forked arm in the main frame, of a steering head provided with a
handle bar for operating the same, a hollow or tubular back-bone, a non-driven
rear steering wheel pivotally secured to a steering device arranged on the lower
end of said hollow back-bone and a chain belt or its equivalent connecting said
steering head with the steering device over the rear wheel, for the purposes
set forth.
9. In a velocipede, the combination with a driving wheel suspended above the
ground between a forked arm in the main frame, a steering head on said arm
directly above said driving wheel, and a tubular back-bone, of a non-driven rear
steering wheel pivotally secured to the back-bone by means of a bearing plate
which engages with another bearing plate on a bifurcated arm on the rear steering
wheel, a cap arranged over and concealing said plates, and means for securing said
parts together, and connections extending through said back-bone serving to
transmit power from the steering head for controlling the steering wheel, for the
purposes set forth.
10. In a velocipede, the combination with a driving wheel, of a steering head
provided with a handle bar, a main frame, a hollow or tubular back-bone secured to
said frame, a non-driven rear steering wheel pivotally secured to a steering device
arranged on the lower end of said hollow back-bone, said back-bone being bifurcated
at its opposite ends to allow the ends of a chain belt or its equivalent to pass
readily around a grooved wheel in the steering head and around a grooved bearing
plate in the steering device above the rear wheel, for the purposes set forth.
11. In a velocipede, a rigid main frame, provided with a forked arm having
arranged therein a fly wheel or a driving wheel suspended- above the ground by
means of a crank axle, vibrating propelling levers pivoted to said frame and link
connections between said propelling levers and the crank axle, and connections
serving to transmit the motion from said driving wheel to the front axle of the
vehicle, for the purposes set forth.
12. In a velocipede, a rigid main frame, a rear steering wheel, a tubular back-
bone, provided with a bearing plate having an annular ring thereon which projects
down into a socketed bearing plate arranged on a bifurcated post on said rear
steering wheel, and means for securing said parts together, a pair of wheels mounted
in spring-actuated bearings on a front axle, an intermediately arranged driving
wheel suspended in the main frame above the ground and directly beneath and in
front of the back-bone, pedals mounted on vibrating propelling levers pivoted to
the main frame, links connecting said propelling levers with the crank axle, and
means on said driving wheel connecting with and adapted to communicate the
rotary motion of said driving wheel to the front axle, for the purposes set forth.
13. In a velocipede, the combination with the axle provided with a driving
wheel of greater diameter than any of the other wheels of the vehicle, said wheel
being suspended between a forked arm on the main frame in which said axle is
journaled and said driving wheel is suspended above the level of the ground, a
seat or saddle on said frame above said driving wheel, vibrating propelling levers

page_text: pivoted to said frame on opposite sides of said driving wheel, crank arms on said
driving wheel supporting axle, links connecting said propelling levers and crank
arms, a chain belt or its equivalent for communicating the rotary movement of said
driving wheel to the front axle of the velocipede, a steering head provided with a
handle bar, and a rear steering wheel provided with the steering head to com-
municate the motion thereof to said steering device, for the purposes set forth.
14. In a velocipede, a rigid main frame, a rear steering wheel pivotally attached
to the back-bone of the vehicle, a pair of front wheels mounted in bearings in the
front axle, an intermediately arranged driving wheel suspended beneath and in
front of the back-bone, pedals arranged in vibrating propelling levers secured to
the frame. and connected by means of links with the crank shaft upon which said
driving wheel is mounted, one or more grooves in said driving wheel, a grooved
wheel on said front axle between the said front wheels, and a chain belt or its
equivalent in said grooved wheels, as and for the purposes set forth.
15. In a velocipede, a rigid main frame, a rear steering wheel pivotally attached
to a tubular and curved back-bone by means of a bearing plate having an annular
ring which projects into a socketed bearing plate provided with a peripheral
groove, said plate being attached on a bifurcated post to which the rear wheel is
journaled, said back-bone being secured to the main frame, in front of the upper
end of which is arranged a steering head provided with a grooved wheel, and
flexible connections extending through said back-bone provided with oppositely
arranged hollow arms and at one end directly in front of the peripheral groove
in the bearing plate above the rear wheel, and having hollow arms 62 and 63 at the
opposite end directly behind the grooved wheel in the steering head, for the
purposes set forth.
16. In a velocipede, a main frame provided with a cross-piece a¹², a seat or
saddle frame having downwardly projecting arms m adapted to pass through
perforations in said cross-piece, and nuts on said arms beneath the cross-piece, and
spiral springs around said arms m, above the cross-piece, for the purposes set forth.
17. In a velocipede, a main frame, provided with forwardly projecting arms
thereon, and means on said arms for securing parcels thereto, for the purposes set forth.
18. A velocipede provided with a hollow back-bone having tubular and hollow
arms b, and 63, 63 projecting oppositely from its ends, as and for the purposes
set forth.
•
19. In a velocipede the combination, with the driving wheel and the rear steering
wheel, the fixed frame in which said driving wheel is suspended above the ground,
and the curved tubular back-bone provided at its opposite ends with the oppositely
projecting hollow arms and b', and 2 and 63, of a steering head consisting of the
grooved wheel / pivotally secured between the arms a' and a" on the main frame,
and its handle, a pin on said grooved wheel, connections secured to said wheel
and passing on opposite sides of the same into the arms b2 and 63 in the back-bone,
extending through the latter and out of the arms and band attached to a
steering device over the rear wheel to control the same, for the purposes set forth.
20. In a velocipede a step secured to the back-bone of a velocipede by means of
a bearing plate having an annular ring thereon which projects down into a socketed
bearing plate arranged on a bifurcated post to which the rear wheel is journaled,
said bearing with the ring and the socketed plate being adapted to rotate one upon
the other, a cap arranged over and concealing said parts, and a bolt passing through
a perforation in said cap and adapted to be screwed into a post or pivotal pin d³ in
the plate d', as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 18th day of September 1890.
EMERY EASTMAN HARDY.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.