Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1891-Accepted, 15th Aug., 1891'
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes.
A communication from FRITZ KLEINAU, of Connern on the Saale, in the German
Empire, Merchant.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., 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 :-
This invention relates to a device adapted to be applied to velocipedes for the
purpose of employing the pressure of the wind to assist in moving the vehicle.
Even in the unfavourable event of the velocipede moving against the wind, the
arrangement is such that the wind will nevertheless have a tendency to drive the
vehicle forward. The resistance offered by contrary wind, which considerably
increases the labour required of the rider is thereby overcome. Not only however
is the wind blowing in front of the rider by this invention made useful instead of
inimical to his progress but it also enables the wind blowing from behind or from
either side to be utilized.
This device for utilizing the wind mainly consists of wings or blades provided
with movable flaps adapted to be automatically closed and opened by the wind and
so arranged on one or more of the wheels of the velocipede that the wind blowing
from the front operates the wings which at the time occupy the lower portion of a
wheel while the wind blowing from the rear acts upon the wings which at the time
are uppermost. Where it is desired to utilize the side wind as well, the position of
the blades should be reversed. When closed the flaps occupy an inclined position
and when the wind strikes these inclined surfaces at an angle it causes the wings and
with them the wheel to rotate after the manner of wind-mill sails.
The arrangement may be carried out in various ways, but care should be taken
that two conditions should be fulfilled viz. that the apparatus may be readily fitted
to the wheel or wheels when required and that the wheels themselves may be
adapted for its instantaneous reception.
One form of the device as applied to an "ordinary" bicycle is represented in the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side view and
Fig. 2 a view with the driving wheel in section of the bicycle provided with the
device for utilizing the wind.
Figs. 3 and 4 are respectively a side and front elevation of one of the wings
illustrating their mode of attachment to the nave or rim of the wheel and
Figs. 5 and 6 show a modified arrangement of the wings, Fig. 6 being a cross
section on an enlarged scale.
Upon the nave of the large wheel is mounted a disc or ring a (Figs. 2 to 5)
which may be divided into sections for its ready attachment or removal. Into
openings provided in the circumference of this disc are fitted rods which in bicycles
constructed especially with a view to the application of this device may be secured
to the rim of the wheel at c. To these rods are movably attached the flaps d
which should be so constructed that in turning about the rods & they may not touch
or interfere with the spokes of the wheel. The extent of motion of the wings or
flaps is such that in opening they are capable of taking up a position at right angles
to the rods b see Fig. 4 and in closing they are not allowed to close against the rods
but at all times remain at a certain angle to the same as shown in the upper part of
Fig. 2. To accomplish this result cross pieces or stops e are provided on the front
or outside and similar stops at the back or inner side of the wings. The wings or
Hlaps may be made of card-board varnished or otherwise subjected to a preparatory

page_text: treatment so as to render them damp-proof or they may be made of sheet metal or
other suitable material. When the flaps are made of cardboard the movable
connection between each rod and flap d may be formed of leather straps and when
the blades or flaps are of metal, the joints may be ordinary hinges.
The rods and wings bd are fitted in position in such a manner that as the wheel
moves forward the edges of the flaps d point in the backward direction. When the
wind blows in front of the rider (as has been assumed in Figs. 1, and 2) it will open,
the flaps d which at the time are lowermost so that these Haps take up a position
perpendicular to the wind and expose their surfaces to its action with the result that
the rotation of the wheel in the direction in which it is moved by the rider is
materially assisted As the wheel turns, the flaps that were originally below are
carried up to the top and in thus passing from one position to the other are closed
by the wind. The resistance they offer to the wind in the altered position is
insignificant inasmuch as the rods 6 directed towards the front act somewhat like the
prow of a boat, while the flaps are then almost entirely flat. But as soon as they
are carried round again to the lowermost position favourable to the given direction
of the wind, they open and once more are fully exposed to the pressure of the wind:
Supposing now that the wind blows from behind, the position will be reversed as in
this case the flaps will open when they are brought to occupy the upper part of the
wheel and at this point receive the impulse from the wind while they will close and
remain inoperative during the time that they are situated below.
Where it is desired to utilize side winds the position of the rods and wings b d
should be so reversed that the free edges of the flaps d point in the forward direction
as the wheel moves forwardly, as otherwise the wind would tend to turn the wheel
backwards. This reversal may be carried out in various ways. For instance the
stops ef may be reversible or removable, in which case it is only necessary to turn
the flaps beyond the perpendicular and secure them in the new position. Another
method which however is not so convenient as the first is to remove the rods >> from
the disc or collar a and the rim of the wheel and then to readjust them in the
desired position. Or the velocipede may be so constructed that by once operating
the steering or handle bar the wheel fitted with this device may be caused to turn
at an angle of 180°.
In the case of a side wind the flaps d remain closed. As before stated however
they never close entirely but always remain at a given angle to the rods b in which
position they present a series of inclines, not unlike the inclined surfaces of the sails
of a wind-mill or the blades of a screw propeller to the wind which thus assists the
progress of the vehicle.
Whether the wind blows from the right or the left side is
immaterial as in both cases, there being properly arranged flaps on either side of the
bicycle, the wind must produce the desired propelling action.
:
When it is desired to avoid the reversal of the wings in order to utilize side winds
the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 may be adopted. In addition.to
the flaps d each wing here carries an auxiliary movable flap 9 so arranged as to
point to the front. This extra flap may occupy either of the following three
positions in the plane of the wheel, or obliquely on the right or left of such plane.
To secure this flap in position an arch is preferably employed. This arc is attached
to g and pivotally connected to a projection also preferably are shaped and pro-
vided with three apertures for the reception of a pin k whereby the position of in
relation to i may be adjusted. Whenever the flap g is thus fixed in one of the inclined
positions the wind blowing from one side or the other as the case may be, is taken
advantage of, and when it is in the intermediate or straight position the velocipede
is adjusted for travelling simply with or against the wind. In this arrangement it
is desirable that the flaps d should be capable or being folded down almost flat.
Having now particularly described. and ascertained. the nature of the 1said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and, in what manner.
the same is to be performed, I declare that what. I claim is :-
1. A device adapted to be applied to volocipedes for the purpose of utilizing the

page_text: wind to assist in propelling the same consisting in the arrangement on one or more
of the wheels of one or more sets of bars and blades or wings such as b d the flaps d
of which are movable and capable of opening and closing automatically under the
action of the wind and the position of which wings may be adjusted so as to present
to the wind coming from different directions the inclined surfaces of the flaps d
substantially as and operating in the manner described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
2. In apparatus such as described and for the purpose of deriving benefit from
side winds the combination with a bar and wings or Haps such as b d of a movable
and adjustable flap such as g whereby the necessity of reversing the whole series of
wings for utilizing the side wind is obviated substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete device
for utilizing the pressure of the wind for assisting in propelling velocipedes sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete device
for utilizing the pressure of the wind for assisting in propelling velocipedes sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 12th day of June 1801
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.