Improvements in or connected with Speed Indicators for Velocipedes, Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 28th July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
Improvements in or connected with Speed Indicators for Velocipedes,
Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM GEORGE CHARLES REED, of River Cottage, Barrowell Green;
Winchmore Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Clerk, and WILLIAM HENRY
JAMES FRANKLIN, of Belvoir, Ross Road, Wallington, in the County of Surrey,
Clerk, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows::
-
The invention relates to that class of speed indicator which is dependent for
its action on centrifugal force acting to throw a weight outwards against the
action of a spring and giving motion to suitable indicating means, and
the invention consists principally in locating said speed indicator within say the
front wheel of a bicycle or within other wheel of a like construction or said
indicator may be otherwise attached to the wheel and revolve with it.
For this purpose we construct a suitable frame of such dimensions that it
can be placed between the spokes and extend from the hub or thereabouts to,
or nearly to, the rim of the wheel.
In this frame we form guides within or upon which a weight is arranged to
run freely.
This weight is attached to a pulley by means of a cord or chain and may pass
one or more times completely around said pulley.
This pulley gives motion to a pulley around which one end of an endless tape
or band passes the other end of said tape or band passing around a suitable guide
pulley.
This endless tape or band has figures thereon indicating speed in miles or
otherwise; the proportions of the aforesaid chain pulley and tape pulley are
such that the required extra motion is given to the tape or band as compared with
the weight, or any suitable multiplying gear may be employed.
We attach a spring in suitable position to the indicator frame and to this
spring is attached one end of a cord or chain the other end of which is attached
to a "fusee" or scroll wheel to equalize the motion of the tape.
The apparatus is enclosed in a case provided with a glazed opening through
which one or more numbers on the tape can be seen and the speed of the vehicle
thereby ascertained.
In order to assist the eye in reading the indications on the tape, band or chain
we may color the same with different colors for each figure or group of figures.
Also instead of employing an endless tape, band or chain we may use one
having one of its ends attached to the operating pulley and the other coiled
around and attached to a spring pulley.
11: 00th day of October 1898.
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents,

page_text: Improvements in or connected with Speed Indicators for Velocipedes,
Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM GEORGE CHARLES REED, of River Cottage, Barrowell Green,
Winchmore Hill, in the County of Middlesex, Clerk, and WILLIAM HENRY
JAMES FRANKLIN, of Belvoir, Ross Road, Wallington, in the County of Surrey,
Clerk, 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:-
The invention relates to that class of speed indicator which is dependent for
its action on centrifugal force acting to throw a weight outwards against the
action of a spring and giving motion to suitable indicating means, and
the invention consists principally in locating said speed indicator within say the
front wheel of a bicycle or within another wheel of a like construction, or said
indicator may be otherwise attached to the wheel and revolve with it.
The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1 is a plan of the apparatus with the top removed.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of the same with the side removed.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the case or cover on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the case or cover on the line 44 of Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 shows the apparatus in elevation attached to the wheel of a velocipede,
and
Fig. 6 is a plan of the apparatus complete.
In carrying the invention into effect, we construct a suitably shaped frame a
of such dimensions that it can be placed between the spokes of a wheel and extend
from the hub A to or nearly to the rim B. The frame a is provided at the one
end with a pair of forks 6 to fit against the hub A, and at the other end with a
pair of adjustable spring forks c to press against the rim B and two spokes C.
By these means the apparatus is connected firmly to the wheel.
This
"In this frame a we form a pair of guides d, within or upon which a weight e,
provided with grooved wheels or rollers f is arranged to run freely.
weight e is attached to a pulley g by means of a cord or chain h, which may
pass one or more times around said pulley g. This pulley is connected rigidly
to and forms part of the pulley, which latter is connected to the hub of the
pulley by means of the cord k. By this means the motion of the pulley.j
is greater than that of the pulleys g and i.
One end of the tape or band, upon which the figures indicating the speed
are printed, is attached to the pulley j, the other end of said tape or band
passing round and being attached to a suitable pulley m.
A spring is attached to the indicator frame a in a suitable position, and to
this spring n is attached one end of a cord or chain o, the other end of which is
attached to a "fusee" or scroll wheel p to equalize the motion of the tape. This
"fusee" or scroll wheel p is attached to and moves with the pulley q, which latter
is connected to the hub of the pulley m by means of the cord or chain r.
The apparatus, as shown, is enclosed in the case or frame a provided with a
glazed opening a¹, through which one or more numbers on the tape or band
can be seen when the vehicle is travelling and the speed of the vehicle thereby
ascertained in miles or in any other units of measurement.
The figures are preferably shown in bright silver or gold upon a black ground.
When the rider wishes to ascertain the speed at which he is travelling he
places his head to either side of the front wheel so that the rim and tyre do not

page_text: obstruct his vision. The spokes being so thin cause practically no obstruction
to the clear reading of the apparatus.
It will be observed that the opening a¹ through which the figures are seen
is situated close to the hub, consequently this part of the apparatus is moving
comparatively slowly and as the figure is seen with each revolution of the wheel
in the same relative position to the wheel of the machine and to the eye of the
rider it can easily be read.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. In a speed indicator, for a velocipede or other vehicle, actuated by the
centrifugal force of a weight, the combination of a case, having an opening
through which the figures on a tape can be seen, and means for attaching one
end of the case to the hub of a wheel and the other end thereof to the rim,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a speed indicator for a velocipede or other vehicle, the combination of
a case, having a glazed opening through which the figures on a tape or band
may be seen, with a pair of adjustable spring forks at one end, and a pair of
rigid forks at the other end, substantially as set forth.
3. In a speed indicator for a velocipede or other vehicle, the combination of
a case having means for attaching it to a wheel, a weight running on guides in
said case, a pulley to which, such weight is connected by a flexible connection,
a pulley receiving an increased motion and to which one end of a tape or band
having indicating figures thereon is attached, a pulley to which the other end
of the tape or band is connected and a spring acting on said latter pulley in a
contrary direction to that of the centrifugal force of the weight, substantially
as herein set forth.
4. In a speed indicator for a velocipede or other veliicle, the combination of a
case having means for attaching it to a wheel, a weight running on guides in
said case, a pulley to which, such weight is connected by a flexible connection,
a pulley receiving an increased motion and to which one end of a tape or band
having indicating figures thereon is attached, a pulley to which the other end
of the tape or band is connected and a spring acting on said latter pulley in a
contrary direction to that of the centrifugal force of the weight through the
intervention of a fusee or scroll wheel, substantially as herein set forth.
Pattu
QITTA
UVIL
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents,