IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry John Lawson, of Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN
CONNECTION THEREWITH."
Sealed the 23rd March 1880, and dated the 30th September 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry John Lawson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1879.
"IMPROVE-
HENRY JOHN LAWSON, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
This Invention consists in improvements in the construction of bicycles and other
velocipedes, and in apparatus to be used in connection therewith, whereby the
same whilst being strong and light in construction possess the advantages
amongst others of having simple and effectual mechanism for the propulsion
thereof, combined with increased safety to the rider, as compared with machines
as ordinarily constructed.
The first part of this Invention consists in improvements in bicycles in which the
larger or front wheel is used for the purpose of steering, the power necessary for
the propulsion of the machine being applied to the smaller or hind wheel. The
two wheels are connected together by means of a back bone, one end of which is
connected with the upper part of the fork carrying the steering wheel, and the
other end thereof supports the axle of the driving wheel. From that part of the
backbone which is situated between the two wheels descends a bar having at the
lower end thereof a fork which carries a cog-wheel. The axle of the latter is
provided with cranks and treadles, and motion is transmitted therefrom to one or
two smaller cog wheels attached to or mounted on the axle of the driving wheel,
by means of an endless chain or chains, as the case may be. The adjustment of the
said chain to any degree of tension or to compensate for wear is effected by stays
provided with adjustable nuts, as will be well understood.
My Invention further consists in an arrangement of mechanism for driving a
machine similar in shape to that lastly hereinbefore described, by means of levers

page_text: acting on the circumference of discs and ratchets in a manner somewhat similar
to what is known in the construction of sewing machines as the silent feed,
instead of by cranks, as hereinbefore described, so that the number of strokes, their
length, leverage, and rapidity shall be independent of the number of revolutions of
the axle, and there is no dead point as is usually the case when cranks are
employed. A lever is pivoted to the lower end of the before mentioned bar
descending from the back-bone. The front end of the said lever is provided with a
foot plate, and the opposite end has connected thereto one end of a chain or cord,
the other extremity of which is attached to the periphery of a disc mounted loosely
on the axle of the driving wheel. The interior edge of the said disc is provided
with teeth into which pawls mounted on a plate attached to the last mentioned axle
take in such a manner, that on one end of the lever being actuated or depressed by
the foot of the rider, the said disc is caused to describe a certain arc, carrying with
it the said plate and axle of the driving wheel; on the pressure being removed
from the lever the disc is caused to regain its norinal position by a spring, the
pawls on the plate being so pivoted or hinged as to allow of such return action of
the disc, without interference to the forward revolution of the plate, and con-
sequently of the driving wheel. In order to render the action of the pawls on the
teeth as noiseless as possible, either or both may be coated or covered with lead,
leather, or other suitable material. Instead of attaching the chain to one end of
the lever, as lastly described, that end of the lever is in some cases pivoted to a
suitable stay, and the chain is attached to the lever at a point between the foot
plate and the opposite end. The chain is by preference attached to a sliding
adjustable block in such a manner that the length of stroke can be regulated. The
seat or saddle is raised or lowered by a rotary movement of the handle, which has
a catch to relieve it. When starting or stopping, the saddle is placed at such an
elevation as will enable the rider to touch the ground with his feet. The saddle on
the machine is mounted on a suitable bearing situated above the backbone, and in
some cases in order to facilitate the steering when the saddle is placed about the
centre of the machine, the steering handle, instead of being mounted on the fork of
the front wheel is connected to the said fork by means of a bar, or the last
mentioned fork is arranged at an angle so as to bring the handle within the reach
of the rider.
When the above described arrangements of mechanism are to be employed in
connection with tricycles for carrying one, two, or more persons, I use levers to be
actuated by the hands or feet, or if rotary, chains and toothed wheels constructed
and arranged, substantially as hereinbefore described, but the frame of the machine
differs in construction, inasmuch, as it is composed of two principal portions, one
being U shaped, and the other crossing it at right angles at the bottom, at which
point it is fixed thereto. The bearings for the axles of the wheels are carried by
the extremities of the arms of the said U shaped portion, which is thereby suspended
below the centres of the wheels.
In some cases when the arrangement firstly hereinbefore described is employed,
in order to avoid the friction attendant upon the employment of chains, I substitute
therefor a series of bevilled cog wheels and spindles supported by suitable stays for
the purpose of communicating the motion from the larger cog wheel to the driving
wheel of the machine. A portion of the handle of the machine is so constructed
that it can be detached to be employed as a wrench, by turning a small snail piece
or screw-piece which acts upon an adjustable sliding jaw. When considered
necessary the machine is provided with a tapering tube of thin steel for supporting
a covering or sunshade above the rider. When desired the side wheels of tricycles
are maintained in the position on the axle or axles necessary for driving the same
by the discs and mechanism hereinbefore described, by spring catches, on the with-
drawal of which they can be made to slide off for the purpose of being taken
through a narrow aperture or doorway. The bearings of the machines are made
'anti-frictional" by the application of rollers which are nearly oval in shape, and
are kept apart by slotted sides carrying the axes.

page_text: This Invention further relates to the construction and arrangement of a light
framing suitable for supporting a box or basket, for the purpose of carrying milk
cans, bread, or other articles. The said frame is mounted on a pair of light wheels,
and is when desired easily attached to any of the above described machines for the
purposes of propulsion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Henry John Lawson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th
March 1880.
HENRY JOHN LAWSON, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN
APPARATUS TO BE USED IN CONNECTION THEREWITH."
My said Invention consists in improvements in the construction of bicycles and
other velocipedes, and in apparatus to be used in connection therewith, whereby the
same whilst being strong and light in construction, possess the advantages, amongst
others, of having simple and effectual mechanisin for the propulsion thereof, com-
bined with increased safety to the rider, as compared with machines as ordinarily
constructed.
The first part of this Invention consists in improvements in the construction of
bicycles in which the larger or front wheel is used for the purpose of steering, the
power necessary for the propulsion of the machine being applied to the smaller or
hind wheel, as hereinafter described. The two wheels are connected together by
means of a back bone one end of which is connected with the upper part of the fork
carrying the steering wheel and the other end thereof is forked for the purpose of
supporting the axle of the driving wheel. From that part of the backbone which
is situated between the two wheels descends a bar having at the lower and thereof
a fork which carries the journals of the axle of a chain wheel. The said axle is
provided with cranks and treadles by means of which the chain wheel is caused to
revolve, such rotary motion being transmitted by an endless chuain or chains to one
or two smaller chain wheels attached to or mounted on the axle of the driving
wheel. The adjustment of the said chain to any degree of tension or to compensate
for wear is effected by a stay or stays, one end of which is attached to the lower
part of the fork of the driving wheel and the opposite end, which has a screw
thread thereon, passes through the lower part of the fork of the larger chain wheel
or through an attachment thereof, and is provided with adjustable nuts as will be
well understood. The arrangement above described is shown at Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawings, in which the letter A indicates the back bone, B is the
front or steering wheel, and C is the fork thereof which is so connected to one end
of the back bone as to admit of its being turned for the purpose of steering; D is
the hind or driving wheel, the axle of which is supported by the fork E; F is the
bar which descends from the back bone and carries the journals of the axle of the

page_text: chain wheel G which is caused to revolve by means of the cranks and trendles H,
the rotary motion being transmitted by an endless chain I to the smaller chain
wheel J attached to, or mounted on, the axle of the driving wheel D, whereby the
necessary motion for the propulsion of the machine is given to the last mentioned
wheel; K is the stay for the purpose of adjusting the degree of tension of the
chain I, which is effected by screwing or unscrewing the adjustable nuts k; L is
the saddle mounted on the spring M, one end of which is supported by the spiral
spring N, arranged between the nuts n provided for the purpose of altering the
height of the seat when desired; O is the handle of the machine which is connected
to the upper part of the fork C for the purpose of steering by means of the rod
and arms P, the steering being effected by turning the handle to the right or left
as required in the ordinary manner.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively an end view and longitudinal section of the
collar of a crank and the end of the axle to which it is connected, and the said
Figures illustrate a method which may be employed for the purpose of always
maintaining the said axle in a perfectly firm manner within the collar. In these
Figures, A is the crank and a is the collar thereof; b is a pin having inclined sides
and a small square projecting stud c at the lower end, whilst the neck or shank
thereof, which is circular, is provided with a screw thread; this pin b is passed
through the aperture al in the collar until the stud c enters a suitable recess in the
opposite side of the collar, a nut & is then screwed thereon, a recess e¹ is formed in
the end of the axle e, such recess corresponding in size and shape with the inclined
sides of the pin, the end of the axle is then pushed through the collar into the
position shown at Figure 3, when, by tightening the nut d, the pin b is raised and
forces out the divided portions of the end of the axle until the latter is made to fit
firmly within the collar.
My said Invention further consists in an arrangement of mechanism for driving a
machine similar in shape to that lastly herein before described, by means of levers
acting on the circumference of discs somewhat similar in action to what is known
in the construction of sewing machines as the "silent feed," instead of by cranks as
hereinbefore described, so that the number of strokes, their length, leverage, and
rapidity are independent of the number of revolutious of the driving wheel, whilst
the usual decrease of power on nearing dead points when cranks are employed is
avoided. A lever is pivoted at one end to a suitable bar descending from the back
bone of the machine, and the opposite end of the lever is provided with a foot plate
or treadle, a sliding block is mounted on the said lever and has attached to it one
end of a cord or chain the other extremity of the latter being connected to the
periphery of a disc mounted loosely on the axle of the driving wheel, but in such a
manner, as to be incapable of any lateral movement. On the end of the lever being
actuated or depressed by the foot of the rider the said disc is caused to describe a
certain arc,
and on the pressure being removed the disc is brought back to its normal
position by the action of a spring, one end of which is attached thereto and the
other end to any suitable part of the frame of the machine. The power obtained
by these means can be utilised for the purpose of driving the machine by either of
the following arrangements of mechanisin:-
In the first case the power obtained by the actuation of the disc, as above
described, is transmitted to the driving axle and from the axle to the wheels by
the arrangement of mechanismn shown at Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, and S. The same letters
of reference indicate like parts in all these Figures. A is the before mentioned
disc, which is mounted loosely on the driving axle. Figure 4 is a back view of the
said disc showing the spring B, which causes the same to regain its normal position
on the pressure being removed from the lever. The said disc is provided with a
projecting rim or periphery a, and has a cam shaped disc a² attached to its centre.
One end of the cord bis attached to the rim or periphery a, and the opposite end
to the sliding block Û on the lever D, which is pivoted at d and is provided with
a foot plate or treadle d¹. On the face of the disc A, and between the rim a and
disc a¹ is placed loosely a gripping plate E, provided with two projecting studs e,

page_text: having by preference friction rollers thereon. A disc F, having a projecting rim fi
is mounted and fixed or keyed on the driving axle in such a manner that the rim f
shall project into the space between the studs e of the plate E, which is thereby
maintained in position. The action of the arrangement of mechanism lastly described
is as follows:-On the lever being depressed the cord b is acted on and the disc C
thereby caused to describe a certain arc, when the enlarged portion of the cam
shaped disc a bears against one end of the gripping plate E and tilts the same,
thus causing the projecting rim f of the disc F to be firmly gripped between the
studs e, whereby the disc F and consequently the driving axle and wheel are
carried forward with the revolution of the disc A; on the return action of the
latter, as hereinbefore described, the disc F is released from the grip plate E, which
regains its normal position being assisted by the spring e¹, thus allowing the disc F,
and with it the driving axle and wheel, to continue the forward revolution. The
above described action is repeated at each stroke of the lever. The length of action
of the lever on the disc A can be increased by moving the sliding block towards
the foot plate, or decreased by moving it in the reverse direction whereby the speed
of the machine can be regulated at will. This may be effected by means of a simple
arrengement of mechanism, shown at Figures 9 and 10, without the necessity of
the rider descending from the saddle or of stopping the machine. To the sliding
block C is attached one end of a rod G, on which is formed the rack g, the latter
is kept by the action of a spring in gear with a pinion H mounted in suitable
bearings; the said pinion H is connected to a bevilled wheel I, which gears into a
similar wheel K, the spindle L of which is connected to the hand of a dial suitably
marked with the various speeds and situated near the saddle, so that the rider by
turning a handle or the said hand of the dial can move the sliding block backwards
or forwards, thereby altering the length of action of the cord and consequently
regulating the speed of the machine.
Another arrangement of mechanism for utilising the power obtained by the
actuation of the disc A, as hereinbefore described, for the purpose of propelling the
machine is as follows:-The interior edge of the disc A is provided with teeth into
which pawls, mounted on a plate attached to the driving axle, take in such a
manner that on the disc being caused to describe a certain arc, as herein before
mentioned, it carries with it the said plate and causes the driving axle to revolve;
the pawls are so pivoted or hinged that they allow the disc to return to its normal
position without interference with the forward revolution of the said plate and
driving axle. In order to render the action of the pawls on the teeth as noisless as
possible either or both may be coated or covered with lead, leather, or other
suitable material. The chain or cord can when desired be attached to one end of
the lever.
When the above described arrangements of mechanism are employed in con-
nection with tricycles I, in some cases, construct the latter of two principal portions,
one being shaped and the other crossing it at right angles at the bottom where
it is attached thereto. The bearings for the axles of the wheels are carried by the
extremities of the arms of the said U shaped portion, which is thereby suspended
below the centres of the wheels.
Figure 11 illustrates an improved arrangement of mechanism for raising and
lowering the saddle of a bicycle, so that when starting or stopping the saddle is
placed at such an elevation as will enable the rider to touch the ground with his
feet. The saddle A is mounted by means of a spring B on a block C, which slides
along the back bone D; the said block C is connected to the steering handle E by
a cord F, so that by a rotary movement of the handle the cord is wound or unwound
thereon and the block and saddle raised or lowered accordingly; when the saddle
reaches a certain height it takes into a tooth on the lever G, which is kept in the
required position by the spring H, and when it is desired to release the saddle in
order to lower the same the arm g is moved forward, as will be well understood,
towards the handle.

page_text: Having tbus described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, I would observe in conclusion that
what I consider novel and original, and therefore claim as constituting the
Invention secured to me by the said herein before in part recited Letters Patent
are,-
First. The application to bicycles having ordinary suspension wheels, and in
which the hind wheel is the smaller, of the arrangement of mechanism for driving
the said hind wheel, substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth and shewn
in Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and arrangement of the stay and adjustable nuts in
combination with chain and chain wheels, substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and set forth and shown at K, k, in Figure 1 of the accom-
panying Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination and arrangement of levers and cords for the actuation
of discs, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and set
forth.
And, Fourthly. The combination and arrangement of mechanism for raising and
lowering the saddle on the back bone of bicycles, substantially as hereinbefore
described and set forth and shown in Figure 11 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry John Lawson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 29th day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
TALK