Improvements in Cycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1892-Accepted, Sth Oct., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECLETA LION.
Improvements in Cycles.
We JAMES SETON PRENTICE, Engineer of 347 Pollokshaws Road, WILLIAM
RENISON, Manufacturer of 12 Belmont Crescent and JOHN RENISON, Ship
Broker of 157 West George Street, all of Glasgow in the County of Lanark,
North Britain, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention which relates to improvements in cycles has for its object to
provide means whereby the said machines are enabled to go at a greater speed
with less manual labour than hitherto.
In carrying out our said invention as applied to a bicycle or the like we form
the back or driving wheel with a double or triple rim, that is with an auxiliary rim
on one side only though preferably an auxiliary rim on each side of the main rim
which alone bears on the ground. On the internal peripheries of the said auxiliary
rim or rims we mount a smaller wheel or wheels whose centre or centres are 111
advance of the centre of the main wheel and so tend to assist in forcing or
propelling it forward by means of the weight of the rider on the saddle in com-
bination with the manual power exerted on the cranks and driving gear; the said
saddle is mounted above and connected to the said small wheel or wheels by means
of gudgeons or axles mounted on the lower end of a pivoted triangular framework,
preferably composed of tubular steel tubes and, forks. The said auxiliary rim or
rims may be made of metal alone or of metal lined with india rubber, and they
may be made either male or female and the small wheel or wheels which run ou
them grooved or otherwise shaped to correspond therewith. Also in accordance
with our invention we are enabled to increase if necessary the driving gear of
the bicycle and thereby increase the speed at which it may be driven.
In carrying out our said invention as applied to tricycle or the like we may
provide each of the back wheels with one or two auxiliary rims and wheels, and
suitably connect them by means of a framework and axles or gudgeons. Also we
may if desired increase the driving gear.
Dated this 20th day of November 1891.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Petitioners' Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles.
We, JAMES SETON PRENTICE, Engineer of 347 Pollokshaws Road, WILLIAM
RENISON, Manufacturer, of 12 Belmont Crescent and JOHN RENISON Ship
Broker of 157 West George Street all of Glasgow in the County of Lanark
North Britain 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 which relates to improvements in cycles, has for its object to so
construct the said machines that the rider's weight, in combination with the ordinary
crank power, tends or assists to propel the machine, and so enables the machine to
be driven at greater speed with less exertion than hitherto. For example a highly
geared machine, such as heretofore has only been used for racing purposes, can
with our invention be used for ordinary road purposes.

page_text: In order that our invention may be more readily understood and easily carried
into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to the annexed
drawings Figure 1 of which is a part side elevation of an ordinary cross framed
safety bicycle constructed in accordance with our invention, and Figures 2 to 5
inclusive are sectional detail views.
We formn the back or driving wheel A. with a triple rim as shown more particularly
in Figures 3 and 5. The triple rim may be formed by rivetting, or otherwise
attaching to or forming in one with the main rim b, the auxiliary rims . The
weight bearing wheels C run upon the internal peripheries of said auxiliary
rims ¹.
The said auxiliary wheels, C, whose centres must always be in advance of the
perpendicular centre of the main wheel A, are mounted on axles c carried in the
lower ends of a pivotted triangular framework D, D', D, preferably composed of
steel tubes and forks. The said framework is provided with means for attaching
the saddle E thereto so as to enable the weight of the rider to act on the weight
bearing wheels C and so in combination with the ordinary power exerted on the
treadles F this arrangement is such that the machine when geared to a higher pitch
can driven with the same or less exertion than an ordinary machine presently
in use geared to a lower pitch. For example a heavy roadster machine having
our improvements and geared to say 66 may be driven as easily if not more easily
than an ordinary machine geared to say 60. In the same way a light racing
machine constructed in accordance with our invention can be geared to a higher
pitch namely 75 to 80 and can be as easily driven as a racing machine of the
present type geared to a pitch of 68 or 70. Also an ordinary machine with our
improvements applied thereto and geared as at present can be driven with less
exertion than is necessary to drive an ordinary machine without our improvements.
The frame-work D, D, and D2 is pivotted at its front end d to the socket G of
the main frame H and provided with an adjusting right and left hand screwed nut
arrangement d' on the rod D2 so as to enable the wheels C to be set so as to bear
on any desired part of the peripheries of the main wheel's auxiliary rims b'. The
said framework is also connected to the treadle bracket J by means of a small rod,
wire or other connection K which passes up through the centre of the upright
tube of the main frame, the said connection being provided at the top and
bottom of the tube H³ with bearing journal ends k so as to enable the weight of
the rider whilst off the saddle but still treadling to assist in propelling the
machine forward in combination with the ordinary treadle power as aforesaid.
In order to prevent any side vibration and so steady the framework D, D', D'
we connect it to the main frame by means of two or more pin and socket joints d²
and by passing the legs of the fork D' through eyelets or openings provided in
or attached to the rear fork of the main frame H. The auxiliary rim or rims b¹
may be made of metal alone or they may be lined with india rubber or other
tyres and they may be made of any desired shape, the wheels C being corre-
spondingly shaped so as to run thereon and if desired provided with rubber or other
tyres. If desired the said auxiliary rims and wheels C may be provided with
cogs or spur teeth, so as to gear with one another in lieu of gearing by means of
friction as shown in the drawings.
Also in accordance with our invention we are enabled to increase the driving
gear L of the bicycle to a great extent and by so doing accelerate the speed at
which the machines may be driven.
The main driving wheel may if desired be provided with only one auxiliary rim
and weight bearing wheel, and it may be a disc wheel in lieu of a spoked wheel as
shown, in which case it would preferably be composed of two thin sheet steel discs a
Figure 2. suitably bound together and if desired perforated, fretted out or formed
with ribs so as to lighten the same.
When applying our invention to a tricycle or the like, we may provide each of
the back wheel with one or two auxiliary rims and weight bearing wheels, which
would be mounted on axles carried by a suitably arranged frame work which would

page_text: have the saddle and treadles connected to it. Also if desired we night increase
the driving gear of the tricycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
:-
(1) In the construction of bicycles, tricycles and the like the arrangement whereby
through the medium of the rider's weight in combination with the ordinary driving
power, a higher pitch of gear can be used without exerting more power than is
necessary at present to drive a machine geared to a lower pitch; and also whereby
an ordinary machine geared as at present can be driven with less exertion than is
necessary to drive an ordinary machine of the present type geared to the same
pitch, substantially in the manner as hereinbefore described.
(2) The weight bearing wheel or wheels C, arranged and operating substantially
in the manner as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the
annexed drawings.
(3) The combination of the weight bearing wheels C with the framing D, D',
and D, for supporting the saddle and treadles substantially in the manner as, and
for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown in the annexed drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of August 1892.
JOHNSONS,
115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.