Improvements in Cycles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 24th June, 1890-Accepted, 2nd Aug.. 1890
TROVISIONAL OLE TALT,
Improvements in Cycles.
Communicated to me from abroad by KARL HEINRION JULIUS REINSBERG, of
Dresden, in the Empire of Germany, Moulder.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co. Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in cycles, and the object of the invention is
to enable the rider to drive the cycle at a greater speed and with less fatigue than is
ordinarily the case.
Supposing that the invention is to be applied to a tricycle having two driving
wheels, and a front steering wheel, above and parallel to the axle of the main driving
wheels a round bar is arranged carrying at its centre a bracket to which a supporting
frame is secured the said frame consisting of a bent bar the two forward ends of
which clasp the forked steering spindle of the front or steering wheel. The lower
branch of the said frame is bent downward at the middle to form or carry the
bearings for a short shaft having two large driving chain-wheels carried upon its
ends, whilst the upper branch of the frame carries the seat for the rider.
Each of the chain wheels described carries secured to it a treadle, each of which is
carried by a separate stud, the inner end of which is preferably of triangular shape in
section so as to fit into a corresponding hole in one of the arms or spokes of the
chain-wheel into which it is secured by a screw and nut. The spoke which carries the
end of the stud in the way described is provided with a series of holes, and by fitting
the two studs nearer to the periphery or nearer to the axle of the wheels, the radial
distance apart of the two treadles, or the radius of working may be increased or
diminished as desired. Two small chain wheels are mounted upon the axle of the
main driving wheels and round these small wheels two driving chains, each passing
over one of the large chain-wheels, are guided. It will be easily understood that by
imparting motion to the large chain-wheels through the treadles secured to their
spokes, the small chain wheels and the axle carrying the same will be rotated at an
increased speed which corresponds to the proportion between the larger and smaller
chain wheels. The large main driving wheels will consequently be driven at a great
speed.
When driving at an ordinary or moderate speed, as with ordinary cycles, the
rider with the improved cycle will save a great deal of fatigue, a proportionately slow
and easy exertion of the legs being required to obtain such speed.
Instead of employing two pairs of chain wheels and two chains as described, a
single pair of chain wheels, a large and a small one, and a single chain may be
employed, the large chain wheel carrying one treadle and the other treadle being
fixed in a similar manner to a flywheel which replaces the second large chain wheel
first described.
Between the two small chain wheels, a brake wheel is mounted upon the driving
axle, a brake block being arranged to work against the said brake-wheel by means of
a rod and arm and bandle.
C
1200

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles.
A communication to me from abroad by KARL HEINRICH JULIUS REINSBERG, of
Dresden, in the Empire of Germany, Moulder..
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
This invention relates to improvements in cycles, and the object of the invention
is to enable the rider to drive the cycle at a greater rate of speed and with less
fatigue than is ordinarily the case.
In the accompanying drawing which is in illustration of the invention, Figure 1 is
a sectional side elevation of a tricycle, Figure 2 is a plan of the same; Figures 3
and 4 are respectively, a side elevation and plan of the driving gear.
Above and parallel to the axle A of the main wheels a round bar B is arranged
carrying a bracket B to which the supporting frame C is secured; the two forward
ends D of the said frame embrace the forked steering spindle E of the front or
steering wheel. The lower branch of the said frame is bent to form the bearings F
for the shaft G of the two large driving chain wheels H, whilst the upper branch of
the said frame C carries the seat J.
Each of the chain wheels H carries secured to it a treadle K, the position of these
treadles being at opposite sides of the axle G. Each treadle is carried by a separate
stud or stem I, the inner end of which is preferably of triangular shape to fit into a
corresponding hole in the arm or spoke M of the wheel H, in which the said stem is
secured by a screw. The spoke which carries the end of the stem or stud. Lis
provided with a series of holes N and by fitting the two studs or steins L nearer to
the periphery or nearer to the axle of the wheels H, the distance of the two treadles
or the radius of working may be increased or diminislied, as desired.
Two small chain wheels are mounted on the axle A of the main wheels and
round these small wheels O the driving chains P, each passing over one of the large
chain wheels H, are guided.
It will be easily understood that by imparting motion to the large chain wheels H
by means of the treadles K secured to them, the small chain wheels O and the axle A
carrying the same will be rotated at an increased speed which corresponds to the
proportion between the larger and smaller chain wheels.
The large main wheels mounted on the axle A, will consequently turn with such
speed that a person may well drive 4 German or 24 English miles in an hour.
When driving at an ordinary or reasonable speed, to equal any other cycles, the
driver, with the improved cycle, will save a great deal of fatigue, a proportionately
slow and easy exertion of the legs being required to obtain such speed.
Instead of employing two pairs of chain wheels and two chains as before described
and shown in the drawings, a single pair of chain wheels, a large and small one, and
a single chain may be employed, the large chain wheel carrying one treadle and the
other treadle being mounted in a similar manner on a fly wheel replacing the second
large chain wheel on the axle G.
14.
Between the two small chain wheels O, a brake wheel R is mounted on the axle A,
a brake block V being arranged to work against the said brake wheel R by means of
the rod S and arm T.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
In cycles the combination with a supporting frame C carried by the rod B and
spindle E, of one or two driving chain wheels H carried in bearings F upon the said

page_text: frame, the treadles K being adjustably secured to the said chain wheels between their
periphery and centre, and a chain or chains P passing from the said driving chain
wheel or wheels over a corresponding chain wheel or wheels O mounted upon the
axle A of the main wheels, for the purpose of enabling the cycle to be driven at a
superior rate of speed as well as with less fatigue, substantially as described and
shewn in the drawing.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London,
Agents for the Applicant.