IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nils Knut Husberg, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of
Sweden, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND
WORKING OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, APPLICABLE IN PART TO
OTHER PURPOSES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Nils Knut Husberg at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th August 1880.
NILS KNUT HUSBERG, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES,
APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction and working
of bicycles and other velocipedes, and applicable in part to other purposes, is
chiefly designed to provide means whereby the rider of a velocipede may propel it
up inclined roadways or travel on rough or uneven ground or against a head-wind
with a minimum of exertion.
With this object I construct the propelling or driving mechanism (as has been
previously done) so that the rider or operator can use his own weight as an
auxiliary power to actuate such mechanism should he at any time desire or require
to do so, but the improved arrangements and combinations of parts which I employ
are more advantageous in their application and use than the arrangements hitherto
in use, and enable the desired result to be attained by more simple means and more
simply than has been hitherto attainable.
In carrying my Invention into practice I employ ratchet or clutch pedal levers
in combination with springs and gearing, substantially as described in the
Specification of certain Letters Patent, No. 3564, granted to me and bearing date
the 14th day of September, A.D. 1879, and in addition thereto I employ another
ratchet or clutch lever mounted preferably on the same axle as the above mentioned
pedal-levers, and connected at its outer end by a rod to the saddle, from which it
receives motion; but where the rider sits astride over the driving wheel, as in
common bicycles I employ two such additional levers and connecting rods; in either
case it is advisable that either the saddle or the rod, or both, should be suitably
guided. Hand levers may be used in lieu of or together with the pedal levers,
Povice 1

page_text: In depressing the pedal-levers, and thus rotating the driving wheel or wheels
the rider raises himself, and the saddle is accordingly raised by a spring, or springs,
or its equivalent, and when he again lowers himself into the saddle it transmits its
downward motion by means of the said rod or rods to the connected clutch lever or
levers, gearing, and driving wheel, and the vehicle is thus propelled by a force
about equal to the weight of the rider.
The motions of the saddle are, as will be readily understood, independent of
those of the pedal levers, and assist in the propulsion of the velocipede, even where
caused by uneveness of the road. On a level road, and even up moderately inclined
roadways, it will not be necessary to actuate the propelling mechanism otherwise
than by the pedal levers; but on a heavy road, against a head-wind, and up steep
hills the above described method of propelling the vehicle will be found of great
advantage.
A common pliant spring may be used for supporting the saddle, but I prefer to
use two sets of springs or of elastic cords, the one comparatively pliant, and merely
intended for raising the saddle and connected rods and levers, and the other stouter,
being by suitable means kept closed or adjusted for a weight about equal to that
of the rider. Thus it will be understood that when the rider lowers himself into
the saddle the more pliant spring or springs causes very little resistance to its
downward motion, and nearly the whole of the rider's weight is accordingly
transmitted through the rod to the propelling lever until the saddle has moved
down into contact with the less pliant spring or springs, which, being adjusted to
the weight of the rider, will also, compared to a common spring, yield easily on an
uneven road, over which thus the travelling will be comparatively easy.
In velocipedes and other machinery where between pivoted parts ratchets and
pawls or their equivalents are used, and never required to be thrown out of action,
I substitute in lieu thereof balls or rollers placed between the pivoted parts in
corresponding grooves or recesses so shaped that the friction between the balls or
rollers and the pivoted parts will lock the latter, which thus rotate as one piece
when turned in one direction, and that a reverse motion of either of thein shall
not affect that of the other. The most suitable number of rollers to be used is
three, placed at equal distances apart, and that of the balls is three or six.
These improved clutches can be adapted to various classes of machinery of either
a heavy or light nature; they take up very little space, and can be so constructed
or adjusted that their action is immediate.
As an improvement in roller bearings I form the middle portion of the rollers
either of a larger or smaller diameter than the ends thereof, and cause the raised
portion or portions to bear against a collar or collars on the axle, the collar or
collars preventing motion of the rollers. If the proportion between the larger and
smaller diameters of the rollers be made the same as that between those of the
axle box and the collar or collars of the axle the rolling will be perfect, and the
friction reduced to a minimum. In order to prevent friction between the rollers
the larger diameters thereof should be exactly the same, as also should the smaller
diameters.
These improved bearings can be applied to railway-carriages and to other
machines and vehicles than velocipedes.
A further improvement in velocipedes consists in extending the forks of the
driving wheel of bicycles to a convenient point beyond the periphery of the wheel,
and in their joining them together so that a kind of girder is formed about a
portion of it. Where the driving wheel is small and the axles of the cranks or
pedal levers are therefore placed below the horizontal centreline of the wheel, this
arrangement is of more advantage than the open fork on account of its rigidity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Nils Knut Husberg in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th
February 1881.
NILS KNUT HUSBERG, of Stockholm, in the Kingdom of Sweden. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND WORKING OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES,
APPLICABLE IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Before proceeding to fully describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention,
and the manner in which the same is to be or may be carried into practical effect,
I have to observe that since the filing of my Provisional Specification I have
discoverod that various matters or improvements which I described therein as
constituting parts of my Invention are not so new nor of such utility as at the
time of filing the said Provisional Specification I thought they were. I therefore
do not claim any of such improvements, but I will include as part of my present
Specification a preliminary description in material accordance with my said former
Specification, and I will then describe more in detail, and with reference to the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings, those improvements or parts of my Invention
which I believe to be novel and original.
This Invention, which relates to improvements in the construction and working
of bicycles and other velocipedes, and applicable in part to other purposes, is
designed (among other objects) to provide effective means whereby the rider of a
velocipede may propel it up inclined roadways or travel on rough or uneven ground
or against a headwind with a minimum of exertion.
With this object I construct the propelling or driving mechanism (as has been
previously done) so that the rider or operator can use his own weight as an auxiliary
power to actuate such mechanism should he at any time desire or require to do so;
but the improved arrangements and combinations of parts which I employ are more
advantageous in their application and use than the arrangements hitherto in use,
and enable the desired result to be attained by more simple means than has been
hitherto attainable.
In carrying my Invention into practice I employ ratchet or clutch pedal levers,
in combination with springs and gearing, substantially as described in the Specifi-
cation of certain Letters Patent granted to me and bearing date the 4th day of
September, A.D. 1879, No. 3564, and in addition thereto I employ another ratchet
or clutch lever mounted either on the same axle as the above mentioned pedal
levers or on some other axle, from which the power can be transmitted through
gearing or its equivalent to the driving wheel, and connected at its outer end by a
rod or rods to the saddle from which it receives motion, either the saddle, or the
rod, or both, being suitably guided.
In depressing the pedal levers and thus rotating the driving wheel or wheels the
rider raises himself, and the saddle is accordingly raised by a spring or springs, or
its equivalent; but when he again lowers himself into the saddle it transmits its
downward motion by means of the said rod or rods to the connected clutch lever
gearing and driving wheel, and the vehicle is thus propelled by a force about equal
to the weight of the rider.
A common pliant spring may be used for supporting the saddle, but I prefer to
use two sets of springs or of elastic cords, the one comparatively pliant and merely
intended for raising the saddle and connected rods and levers, and the other
stouter, being by suitable means kept closed or adjusted for a weight about equal
to that of the rider. Thus it will be understood that when the rider lowers himself
into the saddle the more pliant spring or springs causes very little resistance to
its downward motion, and nearly the whole of the rider's weight is accordingly
transmitted through the rod to the propelling lever until the saddle has moved

page_text: down into contact with the less pliant spring or springs, which being adjusted to
the weight of the rider will also (compared to a common spring) yield easily on an
uneven road, over which the travelling will thus be comparatively easy.
In velocipedes and other machinery where between pivoted parts, ratchets, and
pawls or their equivalents are used, and never require to be thrown out of action,
I substitute in lieu thereof balls or rollers placed between the pivoted parts in
corresponding grooves or recesses so shaped that the friction between the balls or
rollers and the pivoted parts will lock the latter, which thus rotate as one piece
when turned in one direction, but which can be rotated independently of each
other when turned in a reverse direction.
These improved clutches can be adapted to various classes of machinery of
either a heavy or light nature; they are noiseless in action, take up very little
space, and can be so constructed or adjusted that their action is immediate.
As an improvement in roller bearings I form the middle portion of the rollers
either of a larger or smaller diameter than the ends thereof, and cause the raised
portion or portions to bear against the axle box, and their recessed portion or
portions to bear against a collar or collars on the axle, the collar or collars preventing
endway or lateral movement of the rollers. If the proportion between the larger
and smaller diameters of the rollers be made the same as that between those of the
axle box and the collar or collars of the axle, the larger diameters of the rollers
being exactly the same, and the smaller diameters also alike, the rolling will.be
perfect, and the friction reduced to a minimum.
These improved bearings can be applied to railway carriages, and to other
machines and vehicles than velocipedes.
A further improvement consists in extending the arms of the forks of the driving
wheel of bicycles to a convenient point beyond the periphery of the wheel, and in
there joining them together so that a kind of girder is formed about a portion of
it. Where the driving wheel is small and the axles of the cranks or pedal levers
are placed below the horizontal centre line of the wheel, the motion being trans-
mitted to the driving wheel by means of gearing, this arrangement is of more
advantage than the usual open fork on account of its rigidity.
I will now proceed to describe more in detail and with reference to the accom-
panying Drawings those of the hereinbefore described improvements which are
illustrated thercon, and which I retain and claim as the improvements constituting
my present Invention.
On the accompanying Sheet of explanatory Drawings Figure 1 represents a
sectional front view of one modification of the improved friction clutch, and Figuro 2
a side view thereof partly in section.
1 represents the hub of a wheel, or the boss or head of a pedal lever or other
lever mounted loosely upon the axle 2, and 3 represents a collar or piece which is
encircled by the said boss or head, and is firmly secured, as shown, or by equivalent
means, to the axle, and is provided with three (or more) grooves or recesses 4, in
which rollers 5 made of smooth hardened metal are placed, the rollers being
prevented from falling out or shifting laterally by side plates 6, which are secured
to the boss by screws 7 or otherwise. In order to attain a sure and effectual action
of this improved clutch arrangement it is preferable (though not absolutely
essential) that the angle between the plane or surface of the piece 3 on which
each roller normally rests and a tangential plane passing through a point where the
roller touches the inner surface of the boss of the wheel or lever should not exceed
10 degrees, so as to ensure that the friction between the parts shall be sufficient to
produce the required locking of the parts and their rotation together as one piece
when the pedal or lever is depressed and turned in the direction of the arrow a
the driving wheel being then supposed to be keyed to the axle; or the axle be
turned in the direction of the arrow b should the lever be keyed to the axle and
the wheel bo mounted loosely, as represented by the boss 1 on the accompanying
Drawings; but the greatest practicable angle will of course secure the most
immediate action of the clutch. The application of this improved friction clutch

page_text: is of great advantage to velocipedes, as for instance in the case of descending bills,
the rider can allow the driving wheel to revolve while he can rest his feet on the
pedals without actuating them, the rollers then running up the inclines on the
piece 3 and resting against the stops 8. A reversal of the above indicated
directions of either of the parts will, as it will be at once seen, have no effect upon
the other part. If it be required to have the boss comparatively long two or more
small rollers may be placed in each recess, as long rollers often get bent in the
process of hardening, and in lieu of a cylindrical shape a conical shape may be
given to the boss and to the rollers, though not so advantageously.
According to the modification illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 the recesses or
surfaces 4 are shown as having a curvilinear formation and as being formed in the
boss or hub of the wheel or lever, the axle being fitted with a collar or collars 3*,
which is or are cylindrical if cylindrical rollers are used, and cylindrical and in
parts or provided with equivalent grooves 9 if balls 5* or otherwise equivalent
curved pieces 5** be used. The collars may in the latter case be loosely keyed
upon the axle and the whole arrangement be adjusted by tightening up a nut 10
on the axle.
I however prefer the application of roller clutches such as or substantially
similar in principle to those I have hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1
and 2, because they are simpler, less expensive, and admit of the transmission of
much greater power. I do not limit myself to any particular number of recesses
or of rollers, as this part of my Invention relates more particularly to the principle
of using rollers, balls, or their equivalents, in or substantially in the manner
herein before described or referred to and illustrated on the annexed Sheet of
Drawings, than to any particular method of so doing. Where the power to be
transmitted is small a single roller or ball may act as a clutch, as shown in the
diagram, Figure 5, where the roller will lock the parts (such as the hub and axle)
together as one piece provided those parts touch each other in another point 11.
In the improved roller bearings, illustrated in Figures 6 and 7, the middle portion
of the roller 12 is of a smaller diameter than the ends thereof and bears against a
collar 13 secured by a key and screw or otherwise to the axle, the ends of the
rollers bearing against the axle box 1. The latter may consist of two halves, as in
common bearings, which thus permit of adjustment, or it may be made of a single
piece, the friction and wear in this kind of bearing being greatly reduced and
admitting of this. Oil is retained and dust is prevented from entering the bearing
by caps or plates 6, which are secured in position by screws or otherwise. Where
the middle portions of the rollers are of a larger diameter than the ends of the
same they likewise bear against the axle box, while the ends of a smaller diameter
bear against collars on the axle. The collars prevent lateral motion of the rollers,
as herein before referred to.
In Figure 8 is shown a bicycle, the driving wheel 14 of which is fitted with a
fork 15 constructed according to my improvements, the arms thereof being extended
beyond the periphery of the wheel to a point 10, where they are united by welding,
brazing, or otherwise, so as to form a girder intended to replace the ordinary fork.
Each side of this improved girder-fork may consist of one or more solid or hollow
bars, as in ordinary bicycles.
Having now described the nature and objects of my said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, 1 would remark in conclusion that I wish it to be understood that
I do not claim any of the means, herein before described or referred to, having
reference to the propulsion of velocipedes by means of the saddle, nor for the
application of any of the improvements to other machines than velocipedes; but
what I believe to be new and therefore claim as the improvements constituting
the Invention secured to me by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The application and use with the driving mechanism of velocipedes of
friction-clutch arrangements constructed or adapted with rollers, balls, or their
equivalents, in or substantially according to the methods herein before described or

page_text: referred to and illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, or acting as
and being provided for the purposes hereinbefore set forth, and especially I claim
the use in the manner stated in frictional clutch arrangements applicable to
velocipedes of rollers, balls, or their equivalents.
Second. The application and use with velocipedes of roller bearings constructed
with rollers having a raised portion or portions which bears against the axle-box
or bearing proper or its equivalent, and a recessed or depressed portion or portions
which bears against a collar or collars on the axle, substantially as hereinbefore
described and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and with
special reference to this part of my Improvements I claim the use in the manner
stated in roller bearings applicable to velocipedes of rollers thus constructed or
formed.
And, Third. The improved construction of the forks for the driving wheels of
bicycles, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated on the annexed
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nils Knut Husberg, have hereunto set my
band and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.
N. K. HUSBERG. (L.S.)