Improved Construction of Velocipede.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1895-Accepted, 30th Mir.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Construction of Velocipede.
ANDOR BODDING, Captain, 17, Euston Square, London N.W. do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
An improved construction of velocipede, characterized by an arrangement
allowing the moving power to act nearly at the periphery of the driving wheel of
the cycle, whereby a very considerable reduction of this power, or a corresponding
increase of the velocity of the cycle, is possible,-such as for instant shown by
the drawing, where Fig. 1 and 2 are general views of the construction in small
scale, Fig. 3, Fig. 4 and Fig. are details in about full size.
The invention concerns following parts, now to be shortly described :-
1. The driving wheel A (back- or front-wheel of the machine) has following
construction :
It is without any hub, the spokes running from the outer periphery B. of the
wheel to an inner concentric rim C., the radius of which is about 4" (or more)
smaller than that. of the outer rim, and which is broad enough for fixing the central
ends of the spokes in such a way that the necessary stiffening of the wheel is
obtained. (See Fig. 3 & 1.)
The inner rim C (see Fig. 3) has a profil like that shown by Fig. 5. This
profil forms a 3-double U of which the middle part (b.) is the largest one and turns
its opening towards the center of the wheel, forming a channel (D) around the
inner periphery of the rim; the two lateral parts (c, c), which are narrower, turn
their openings the opposite way, their inner parts forming rails (E., E.) around the
inner periphery of the wheel. The free wings (d., d.) constitute the inner fixing-
points (p., r., 8., etc.) of the spokes.
2. The connection between the frame and the wheel A is effectuated in the
following way:
On the lowest point of the frame is applied a truck-roller (e. Fig. 1. & 2.), the
profil of which is shown by Fig. 4. The roller runs (with small friction, ball
bearings) on an axle, applied in the frame. Similar truck-rollers are fitted in the
points f., g. and h. (Fig. 1) of the frame in such a way that they just rest on the
rails E in the four end-points of the perpendicular and horizontal diameters of
the wheel A. The edge (i.) of each roller catches into the channel D, for which
they are exactly adapted as to allow a proper rolling without side-movement, the
lower part (k.) of them just touching E. E.
Hereby the connection between the frame and the wheel A is established in such
a way as to allow an easy rotation of the wheel, at the same time as the weight of
machine and rider will find support by the inner periphery of the wheel.
3. The driving work of the machine consists of a system of gear-wheels through
which the driving power from the cranks is transmitted upon the inner periphery
of the driving wheel of the machine (see Fig. 1 & 2). For this purpose, a gear-
chain (n.) is fitted into the middle channel D of the rim C. (see Fig. 3 & 5), the
bolts of the chain passing through the four walls of the rim. Working in this
chain, the last gear-wheel n. (Fig. 1 & 2) causes the rotation of the wheel A,
whereby the machine is driven forwards with a considerable power, the rollers e.,
f., g. and h. running on E., E.
In order to protect against dust and mud, most part of the wheel A with the
gear-wheels are surrounded by a light case.

page_text: 4. The frame is specially adapted for the purpose of giving bearings to the
different gear-wheels and rollers.
Dated, London, N.W., Nineteenth day of April 1894.
improved Construction of velocipede.
ANDOR BODDING, Captain, 17 Euston Square, London, N.W. 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:-
An improved construction of velocipede characterized by an arrangement
through which it is possible to apply the moving power nearly at the periphery
of the wheel of the vehicle and to discharge the bearing part of the wheel from
part of the weight resting on it and to transmit this part into effective power,-the
construction being about like that one, shown by the drawings, which represent by
a couple of examples how to carry out the invention, for instance for a bicycle.
Fig. 1. is a general side-view of a bicycle with back driving wheel.
Fig. 2. shows the same in front view.
Fig. 5. is a general side view of a bicycle with front driving wheel.
Fig. 3 4.6 are sketched sections, (in about full size) showing different manners
for carrying out the principal details of the invention.
A. The driving wheel (arranged in front or back of the vehicle) has following
construction: It is without any hub, the short spokes running from the outer
periphery-rim (B. Fig. 1-6) which is of the usual construction-to an inner con-
centric rim (A. Fig. 1-6) the diameter of which is some inches smaller than that
of the outer one, but which is broad enough for fixing the inner (central) ends of
the spokes in such a way as to secure the necessary rigidity of the wheel. The
inner rim is connected with 4 truck-rollers (C. Fig. 1, 2 & 5) fitted into the frame.
The purpose of the inner rim with the corresponding rollers is a triple one, viz.
a) to constitute the movable bearing parts of the driving wheel, b) to effect a suit-
able connection between the frame and this wheel, and c) to provide for a working
point of the moving power.
The plainest way to attain this purpose is the following (see Fig. 3).
The section of the inner rim A is shaped like a triple U, of which the middle
part (a) is the largest and turns its opening towards the centre of the wheel, forming
a channel around the inner periphery of the rim; the lateral parts (b, b) turn their
openings the opposite way, their bottom parts forming rails (c, c) around the inner
periphery of the rim, their free wings (d, d) constituting the fixing points of the
inner ends of the spokes (e, e).
Near the bottom of the channel (a) is fitted in a driving-chain (), running
around the whole periphery, fixed by its bolts which pass through the walls of the
rim, the chain leaving top part of the channel free.
The section of the 4 rollers (C.) shows in the middle an edge (9, 9), which fits
properly into the channel of the inner rim without touching the chain (f), when
they are placed with their end parts (h, k) resting on the rails (c, c).
The rollers are applied into the frame (see Figs. 1 & 5) in such a way that when
the lowest one is resting with its end parts (h, h) on the lowest point of the
rails.(c, c), the 3 others nearly touch the rails with their end parts in points, of
which the upper one is 180° and the two others 90° from the lowest point."
The rollers are supplied with ball bearings.
It will be seen that the construction just indicated will fulfil the three demands
mentioned above, under "a)" "b)" "c)," in the following way:-ad: a). The

page_text: weight is carried by the lowest roller, running with its end parts on the rails (c, c).
ad. b). The wheel is kept in its position and guided by the edges (g. g) of the
4 rollers, which fit properly into the channel (a) without touching the chain ().
ad. c). The driving chain (f) is worked by the last, gear-wheel (7) of the driving
mechanism and thereby the moving power is transmitted to the driving wheel of.
the vehicle which is thus driven forwards.
The above described way of performing the details of the inner rim and the
rollers, is, of course, susceptible of some variations. A couple of such variated
forms of performances are represented on the drawing:
Fig. 4 shows a section of the inner rim (A) about the same as shown Fig. 3,
except that the guiding channel is formed by side walls (r, c) projecting from the
top of the rails (c. c), and that the driving chain (f Fig. 3) is substituted by an
inside geared ring (1) fitted into the bottom of the rim. The section of the
rollers (C) is arranged in such a way that their edges (g, g) act as bearing parts
(running on the side rails (c, c) ) at the same time as they guide the wheels; their
end parts (h, h) do not touch the side parts (c₁ c₁) of the rim.
Fig. 6 represents another variation of the same details. Here the inner rim (A)
is given a plainer shape, consisting of a U-shaped ring, of which the bottom
part (c, c) is supplied with an inside geared ring (fs) corresponding with " "f"
and "fi" in Fig. 3 and 4. The side parts (d, d) furnish the fixing-points for the
spokes.
According to this shape of the inner rim, the section of the rollers (C) shows in
the middle of the bearing part (g, g) a channel (a) into which the geared ring ","
fits properly (without touching its bottom), when the bearing parts (g, g) of the
rollers are resting on the bottom-part of the ring (c, c).
To simplify still more the construction of the inner rim, the side-parts (d, d)
may be left and the spokes fixed direct to the outer part of c, c.
B. The driving mechanism consists of a system of gear-wheels (without or with
a chain) through which the driving power is transmitted upon the inner periphery
of the driving-wheel. There are no cranks, the pedals being attached to one of
the gear-wheels. Fig. 1, 2 and 5 show for instance following chainless arrange-
ment: On each side of the machine is one inside geared wheel "i" "i" to which
the pedals are applied. Each of these wheels, which are fitted on the same axle,
works into a corresponding gear-wheel "k" & "k," both on one axle. To this
axle (in the middle of it) is applied the last gear wheel, "" which works into the
inner periphery of the driving wheel of the machine, as mentioned above.
66
The two gear-wheels ";"";" may be substituted by usual chain wheels and
chains.
It will be seen that by the construction, described under A and B the power
applied on the pedals will work upon a much larger lever than usual, and also
that the work of the gear-wheel "" applied in the tangent point between this
wheel and the inner periphery of the driving wheel will have a tendency of lifting
the frame (with the rider), that is to say: the pressure between the bearing roller
and the inner rim will be diminished in proportion as part of the rider's weight is
transferred to the driving wheel.
C. The frame is specially adapted for the purpose of procuring bearings for the
different gear-wheels and the rollers, as shown Fig. 1 and Fig. 3.
A light cover protects all gearing parts from mud and dust.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
I. An improved construction of velocipede, characterized by an arrangement,
through which it is possible: 1st to apply the moving power nearly at the
periphery of the driving wheel of the vehicle, and 2nd to discharge the bearing
part of the driving wheel from part of the weight resting on it, this part being
transmitted into effective power. (See drawing Fig. 1, 2 & 5.)

page_text: In order to perform this:
II. A driving wheel without any hub, but provided with an outer and an inner
rim, to which the spokes are fixed (see Fig. 1, 2 & 3), and of which the last one
has a special construction, described above (see Fig. 3, 4, & 6) in order to 1) support
the frame, 2) establish the connection between frame and wheel and guide the last
one, 3) receive and transfer the moving power.
In order to perform this:
III. a. A system of rollers applied into the frame and constructed as described
above (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6). b. A special driving-work without cranks, as
described above (see Figs. 1, 2 & 5).
In order to perform this:
IV. A special frame, adapted for the bearings of the driving-work and the rollers,
as represented by Figs. 1 and 2.
Dated this Twenty-first day of January 1895.
ANDOR BODDING.