IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES OR VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victorien Renard and Charles Renard, Brothers, of
Boulevard St. Denis, 1, at Paris, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BICYCLES OR VELOCIPEDES."
Sealed the 25th October 1878, and dated the 30th April 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Victorien Renard and Charles
Renard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th April 1878.'
VICTORIEN RENARD and CHARLES RENARD, Brothers, of Boulevard St. Denis, 1,
at Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES OR VELOCIPEDES."
•
The chief object of this Invention is to enable very great speed to be obtained
without increased fatigue to the rider. Our improved bicycle or velocipede has a
driving wheel of very large diameter, the pedals being brought above the axle of
the wheel by means of small connecting rods between the pedal cranks and cranks
on the wheel axle. In order to overcome the dead point of the cranks we employ
double connecting rods, so arranged that when the pedals reach the dead point the
driving cranks have already passed it; delay and strain in the movement are thus
avoided.
In carrying out this part of our Invention we attach the pedal cranks to axes
situated about the middle of the main fork. We connect these cranks to cranks
keyed on the axle of the driving wheel by rods. The pedal cranks have return
bends, at the ends of which the pedals are mounted. The cranks on the driving
axle also have return bends, the ends of which are connected to rods, the opposite
ends of which are jointed to the pedal spindles. Thus when the pedals reach the
dead point the pedal cranks and the cranks on the driving axle have already
passed it.
Another part of our Invention is for preventing the upsetting or overturning of
the bicycle or velocipede, more particularly when the rider is mounting or dis-
mounting. For this purpose we fit a bent leg at each side of the large wheel, which
the rider can at once lower or raise when desired by giving a quarter turn to the
steering handle. This handle has two levers, jointed to the upper ends of rods, the
nli...מ

page_text: lower ends of which are connected to the bent legs. The bend of the legs is out-
wards to give a sufficiently stable support when they are lowered to the ground;
their ends are provided with rollers. When the rider turns the handle in order to
raise the legs a quick-threaded screw on each leg turning in a corresponding nut as
the legs rise causes them to describe a partial rotation, so that they will lie close
against the wheel until again lowered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Victorien Renard and Charles Renard in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th October 1878.
VICTORIEN RENARD and CHARLES RENARD, Brothers, of Boulevard St. Denis, 1,
at Paris. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES OR VELOCIPEDES."
The chief object of this Invention is to enable a very great speed to be obtained
without increased fatigue to the rider. Our improved bicycle or velocipede has a
driving wheel of very large diameter, the pedals being brought above the axle of
the wheel by means of small connecting rods between the pedal cranks and cranks
on the wheel axle. In order to overcome the dead points of the cranks we employ
double connecting rods, so arranged that when the pedals reach the dead point the
driving cranks have already passed it; delay and strain in the movement are thus
avoided.
This part of our Invention will be understood by reference to Figures 1 and 2 of
the annexed Drawings. The cranks a, a, worked directly by the pedals b, b, are
attached to axes situated at c, c, about the middle of the main fork d. These cranks
a, a, are connected to cranks f, f, keyed on the axle of the driving wheel g by
rods h, h; the cranks a, a, have return bends i, i, at the ends of which the pedals b, b,
are mounted. The cranks on the driving axle also have return bends k, k, the ends
of which are connected to rods 1, 1, the opposite ends of which are jointed to the
pedal spindles. Thus when the pedals b, b, reach the dead point the cranks a, a,
and ff, have already passed it.
Another part of our Invention is for preventing the upsetting or overturning of
the bicycle or velocipede, more particularly when the rider is mounting or dis-
mounting. For this purpose we fit a bent leg p at each side of the large wheel,
which the rider can at once lower or raise when desired by giving a quarter turn
to the steering handle m. This handle has two levers n, n, jointed to the upper
ends of rods o, o, the lower ends of which are connected to the bent legs p, p. The
bend of the legs is outwards to give a sufficiently stable support when they are
lowered to the ground; their ends are provided with rollers q, q. When the rider
turns the handle m, in order to raise the legs, a quick-threaded screw on each leg,
turning in a corresponding nut r as the legs rise, causes them to describe a partial
rotation so that they will be close against the wheel until again lowered.
For working the break we fit to the handle an independent lever, acting in the
ordinary manner.

page_text: Figures 3 and 4 represent an arrangement for rendering the mounting of bicycle
or velocipede wheels on their axles more firm, durable, and expeditious. In the
ordinary way the felloe is connected to the axle by iron rods or spokes, threaded at
the ends and secured by nuts, but owing to vibrations the nuts easily work loose.
According to our arrangement on the axle at the ends of which the driving cranks
ff, are fixed there are keyed at a suitable distance two metal discs, forming naves
61, b'; two washers of the same diameter c¹, c¹, are fixed firmly by screws v, v, made
insensitive to vibrations by the slight hollow left between the two pieces, and by a
sheet of paper or other elastic substance interposed. In the joint of the pieces at
a suitable distance are tappet holes t, t, t, for receiving the threaded ends of the
spokes 8, 8, previously fixed in the felloe. The holes t, t, are composed of a threaded
part t¹, which opens into a space e formed, for facility of construction, in the pieces
b and c, and of a smooth or plain part t, which holds the brittle section of the
spoke s within the nave and makes the spokes unbreakable. The spokes fixed in
the felloe are inserted in the holes t, t, of the discs b¹, b'; the washers c¹, c¹, are
placed over them, and are screwed up tight by the screws v, v.
It will readily be understood that these spokes previously held by the felloe
cannot become unscrewed or loose as with the ordinary method.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, we declare that we claim as our "Improvements in
Bicycles or Velocipedes,"-
First. Constructing bicycles or velocipedes with double cranks and connecting
rods for getting over the dead point, substantially as herein-before described, and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
Second. The particular arrangement of legs for supporting the bicycle or
velocipede when the rider is mounting or dismounting, substantially as herein-
before described, and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Third. The mode or method of mounting bicycle or velocipede wheels on their
axles, as hercin-before described, and represented in the annexed Drawings.
Fourth. Constructing bicycles or velocipedes as herein-before described, and
represented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Victorien Renard and Charles Renard, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-sixth day of October, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
ALBERT CAHEN,
Civil Engineer,
of 1, Boulevard Saint Denis,
at Paris,
V. RENARD.
(LS.)
CH. RENARD. (L.S.)
°