IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Jeans at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 29th January 1883.
WILLIAM JEANS, of Christchurch, in the County of Hants,
VELOCIPEDES
"
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and its chief object is to
provide a tricycle which will be simpler in construction, cheaper and more effective
than those heretofore made.
In constructing a velocipede according to my present invention, I proceed in the
following manner, that is to say :-I provide the axle of one of the wheels with a
toothed wheel or pinion fixed upon the said axle near its bearing, and I connect
the axle of the other wheel with a sheath or sleeve which encircles the first named
axle and extends from the bearing of the second axle as far as the said pinion,
where it terminates in the form of an internal gear-wheel. The toothed rim of
this gear-wheel is concentric with the said pinion and is geared therewith by means
of a small intermediate pinion carried by a stud projecting from the side of a brake
drum. This brake drum encloses the gearing above described and is fixed to
another sheath or sleeve encircling the first sleeve and extending from the said
drum to the bearing at the opposite side of the velocipede, where it is provided
with another brake drum.
I provide rings which are fitted upon smaller drums which drums are fixed to
the outer sheath or sleeve, the aforesaid rings being capable of oscillation thereon
as hereinafter set forth. Each of these rings is made with a projection or lug to
receive a pin or stud forming the fulcrum of a nipping lever; one arm of the said
lever is connected by a steel band or other suitable means with one of the treadles.
One end of a cord or chain is attached to the other arm of the said lever, and the
said cord or chain is passed around two pulleys carried by a frame fixed adjustably
to the frame of the velocipede. The other end of the said cord or chain is attached
to the corresponding arm of the lever carried by the ring encircling the other drum.
By these means one of the said drums is partially rotated in one direction by the
downward movement of the corresponding treadle which movement forces the
lever down upon a loose tongue piece or block carried by the ring encircling the
drum, thereby causing the said drum to rotate with the ring, the said movement
also raises the other treadle, by means of the said cord or chain, which, acting upon

page_text: the short arm of the corresponding lever, releases the ring from the drum and
allows it to move independently thereof so that the second lever is brought into
position to be moved downward to partially rotate the corresponding drum.
The weight of the rider and of parts of the machine are borne by spiral springs
resting upon india-rubber or other elastic cushions, these cushions rest upon blocks
sliding in V-shaped grooves in slots in the frame, the said blocks are provided with
rollers which bear upon the axle.
The treadles are fixed to curved levers which are suitably pivotted to the frame,
and the said cords or belts are connected to them in the following manner, that is
to say, a rack is free to slide upon each of the said levers and can be moved to and
fro by means of a worm-wheel into which gears a worm or endless screw operated
by means of a rod and handle, the latter being within reach of the rider, and the
said worm wheel is fixed to the end of a spindle which also carries two toothed
pinions to engage with the teeth of the said racks. To one end of each rack is
attached the cord belt or steel band from the corresponding ring and nipping lever.
By these means the power exerted upon the whee's hy pressure upon the treadles
can be increased or diminished by simply turning the said handle in one direction
or the other. I prefer to pivot the treadle levers upon centre points or conical
bearings adjustable by means of set screws to compensate for wear and prevent the
rattling noise resulting therefrom.
The seat or saddle of my improved velocipede is constructed as follows, that is
to say, the frame of the seat is formed of a curved metal rod which is bent under
the seat at each side and passes through vertical slots in each end of a plate. The
two parts of the said rod are coiled to form springs and their ends are fixed in the
ends of the said plate, opposite to the slots through which they pass, by means of
two nuts in such a manner that they can be adjusted to regulate the tension on the
covering of the seat. The object of this improved construction is to ensure
coolness, flexibility and lightness of the seat or saddle