IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Jeans at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 16th October 1882.
"
WILLIAM JEANS, of Christchurch, in the County of Hants, IMPROVEMENTS
IN VELOCIPEDES
"
My invention relates to improvements in velocipes, [sic] its chief object being to
provide a tricycle which will be simpler in construction, cheaper and more effective
than those heretofore made
In a velocipede constructed according to my invention the wheels, instead of
being driven by cranks or by chain-wheels, are driven by clutches adapted to
partially rotate upon drums fixed to the sheath or sleeve through which the axle of
one of the wheels passes; each of the said clutches is partially rotated in one
direction by the downward movement of the corresponding treadle, to which one
end of a cord or belt is connected as hereinafter described, the other end passing
over the clutch and being secured thereto. Each clutch is provided with a number
of rollers arranged within suitable recesses in such a manner that, when the treadle
is moved downward, the said rollers will be wedged between the clutch and the
drum and will cause the latter to rotate with the clutch, and, when the said clutch
rotates in the opposite direction, the said rollers will be released and the clutch will
move freely on the drum.
On the inner side of each clutch is fixed a toothed bevel wheel, both of these
wheels gear with another toothed bevel wheel which is free to rotate upon a pin or
stud fixed to the main tube of the frame of the velocipede; by these means the
return motion of one treadle and clutch is caused by the downward movement of
the other treadle.
To the aforesaid sheath or sleeve are fixed two brake drums, and the wheel on
one side is fixed to the said sheath or sleeve, the axle of the wheel on the other side
passing nearly through the said sleeve. On the axle of the latter wheel is fixed a
toothed wheel gearing with two smaller toothed wheels which in their turn gear
with teeth on the internal circumference of one of the brake drums. The two
smaller toothed wheels are free to rotate upon pins or bolts which also serve to hold
the sides of the said drum together.
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

page_text: 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 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 tootlied
pinions to engage with the teeth of the said racks. To one end of each rack is
attached the cord or belt from the corresponding clutch. By these means the
power exerted upon the wheels by 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.
to
The seat or saddle of my improved velocipede is constructed as follows, that is
say,
the frame of the seat is formed of a curved metal rod, which is bent under
the sent 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 of the
covering of the seat. The object of this improved construction is to ensure coolness,
flexibility and lightness of the seat or saddle