IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Miller at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th September 1882.
"
SAMUEL MILLER, of 402 Kennington Road, in the county of Surrey, Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
"
This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, the objects of the
improvements being to so arrange and construct the gear that it shall be protected
from dust and the effects of the weather and to better adapt the machine for hill
climbing.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a tricycle I provide between two
large driving wheels a hollow axle divided in the centre by a sphere or what I
term an "orb" which contains bevil cog wheels used for the propulsion of the
tricycle; from the said orb extends a tube running diagonally and terminating in
another but smaller orb which contains the remainder of the driving gear; a
detachable oval tube passes from the smaller orb to the front or steering wheel
which terminates in a centre steering head from which depend the forks to the
centre of the wheel in the usual manner. On each side of the small orb and
running parallel with the main axle is a suitable ball or roller bearing to take a
spindle or small axle which runs right through and carries on either side an
ordinary bicycle crank. Keyed on to this small axle and within the small orb is a
bevil cog wheel, and running into it is another bevil wheel keyed to a spindle
running in the diagonal tube; this latter spindle terminates in the other and larger
orb and keyed on to this end are two other bevil wheels each running into a bevil
wheel right and left of the orb and keyed on two half axles running on suitable
ball or roller bearings within the main axle tube; the said bevil gearing form speed
and power gear respectively.
The machine is driven by means of a pair of ratchet wheels operated from the
pedals the said ratchets being fixed respectively on the hereinbefore described half

page_text: axles; the ratchets are so arranged that when the pedals are driven forward one of
the ratchets is driven and operates one of the half axles having the speed gear
but
when the pedals are driven backwards the other ratchet is driven and operates the
power gear so that the speed of the machine will be diminished for the purpose of
facilitating the climbing of hills.
The gear is enclosed within the two orbs and the diagonal tube so as to make it
practically dirt and weather proof.
In ascending a hill, if the machine is required to stand at rest it is only
necessary to stop treading and the machine will remain at rest, and will not run
backwards.
When required to push the machine backwards a suitable clutch is released.
Rubber or spiral steel springs are so adapted to the upright and purchase and
steering handles that vibration is to a great extent prevented.

page_text: by the said Samuel Miller in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th March
1883.
SAMUEL MILLER of 402 Kennington Road, in the county of Surrey, Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES”
This invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, the objects of the
improvements being to so arrange and construct the gear that it shall be protected
from dust and the effects of the weather and to better adapt the machine for hill
climbing.
In carrying out my invention as applied to a tricycle I provide between two
large driving wheels a hollow axle divided in the centre by a sphere or what I
term an "orb" which contains bevil cog wheels used for the propulsion of the
tricycle; from the said orb extends a tube running diagonally and terminating in
another but smaller orb which contains the remainder of the driving gear; a
detachable tube passes from the smaller orb to the front or steering wheel which
terminates in a centre steering head from which depend the forks to the centre of
the wheel in the usual manner. On each side of the small orb and running parallel
with the main axle is a suitable ball or roller bearing to take a spindle or small
axle which runs right through and carries on either side an ordinary bicycle crank.
Keyed on to this small axle and within the small orb is a bevil cog wheel and
running into it is another bevil wheel keyed to a spindle running in the diagonal
tube; this latter spindle terminates in the other and larger orb and keyed on to
this end are two other bevil wheels each running into a bevil wheel right and left
of the orb and keyed on two half axles running on suitable ball or roller bearings
within the main axle tube; the said bevil gearing form speed and power gear
respectively.
The machine is driven by means of a pair of ratchet wheels operated from the
pedals by means of the herein before described gearing the said ratchets being fixed
respectively on the herein before described half axles; the ratchets are so arranged
that when the pedals are driven forward one of the ratchets is driven forward and
operates one of the driving wheels on the half-axle having the speed gear but when
the pedals are driven backwards the other ratchet is driven forward and operates
the driving wheel on the half axle having the power gear so that the speed of
the machine will be diminished for the purpose of facilitating the climbing
of hills.
The gear is enclosed within the two orbs and the diagonal tube so as to make it
practically dirt and weather proof.
In ascending a hill, if the machine is required to stand at rest it is only
necessary to stop treading and the machine will remain at rest, and will not run
backwards.
When required to push the machine backwards a suitable clutch is released.
Rubber or spiral steel springs are so adapted to the upright and purchase and
steering handles that vibration is to a great extent prevented.
In order to enable iny invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
the same by reference to the accompanying drawing in which figure 1, is a section
taken through one of the axles of a tricycle constructed according to my improve-
ments; figure 2, is a vertical transverse section through the axle and diagonal
tube of the tricycle, only those parts being shewn which are necessary to explain
my invention; figures 3, and 4, are detached views of one of the ratchet driving
arrangements; figure 5, is a section through the larger "orb". shewing my

page_text: improvements in connection with an automatic balance gearing of the kind known
as Starley's Automatic balance gearing. Figure 1, is drawn to a scale of about
one inch to the foot and figures 2, to 5, about half full size. Similar letters in all
the figures represent similar or corresponding parts.
I will first describe my invention by reference to figures 1, 2, 3, and 4.
a, and b, represent the driving wheels of the. tricycle and c, the hollow axle;
d, is the larger sphere or "orb;" e, f, g, and h, represent the bevil cog wheels
within the sphere or "orb" d, for the propulsion of the tricycle as hereinafter
described; i, is the diagonal tube extending from the sphere or orb d, to the
smaller orb j, containing the bevil wheels k, and I, formning the remainder of the
driving gear; m, is the detachable tube passing from the smaller orb j, to the front
or steering wheel n, and terminating in the centre steering head o, from which
depend the forks p, to the centre of the wheel n, in the usual manner; q, are the
bearings in the small "orb "j, in which works the spindle or small axle r, carrying
the cranks 8, 8, and the bevil cog wheel k, gearing with the bevil cog wheel 1,
keyed to the spindle u, working in the diagonal tube i; on the upper end of the
spindle u, are keyed the bevil wheels e, and f, the bevil wheel e, gears into the
bevil wheel g, on the right hand side and the bevil wheel f, gears into the bevil
wheel h, on the left hand side of the orb; the bevil wheels g, and h, are keyed on
the half axles x, and y, respectively working in the main axle tube c, the said bevil
gearing forming speed and power gearing respectively as hereinafter described;
z, and 2, are the ratchet wheels fixed on the half axles x, and y, respectively;
a¹, and b¹, are the pawls of the same pivotting on the hubs respectively of the
driving wheels a, and b; c', and d', are springs for keeping the pawls in the teeth
of the ratchets; el; is a pin fixed on a plate f', which is moveable within the
case g¹, containing the ratchet z, and pawl a¹; the pin e¹, when the plate f¹, is
partially rotated by means of the projections or handles h', h¹, bears against and
releases the pawl a¹, from its ratchet z, for the purpose hereinafter described.
By these improvements when speed is required the cranks 8, are driven in a
forward direction by treading the pedals t, forward, the gearing %, and 1, will operate
the spindle u, and speed gear e, and g, so that the ratchet z, on the half axle x, will
be engaged with the pawl a', on the hub a, of the right hand driving wheel; at the
same time the ratchet z¹, on the other half axle y, will by means of the gear f
and h, be driven in a backward direction and the pawl b', on the same will thereby
slide over the teeth of the ratchet 2¹, so as to allow the driving wheel b, to move
forward and the tricycle will thus be driven forwards by the speed gear. If
however power is required for the purpose of ascending a hill or otherwise the
cranks are driven in a backward direction the ratchet z', on the half axle y, carrying
the power bevil wheel h, will engage with the pawl b', on the hub b, of the left
hand driving wheel, the speed gear will then be driven backwards, the right hand
driving wheel will be free to move forward and the tricycle will be driven
forward at a diminished speed the driving power being proportionately increased.
In ascending hills if the machine is required to stand at rest it is only necessary to
stop treading and the machine will remain at rest and will not run backwards as.
the pawls on each side of the machine will engage with their ratchets-When
however it is required to push the machine backwards it is simply necessary to
disengage the pawl a', on the right hand driving wheel from its ratchet z, by
means of the pin e', on the plate f¹, in the manner herein-before described, the act
of pushing the machine backwards causing the pawl b¹, to disengage from and slide
over the teeth of its ratchet z¹; a², and a³, are stops on the plate f¹, and case g',
respectively for limiting the movement of the plate f¹.
Iu figure 5, I have shewn my improvements provided with a balance gear such as
that known as Starley's Patent Automatic balance gear, the arrangement otherwise
being substantially the same as that herein before described by reference.to figures
1, to 4, with the exception that the speed and power bevil wheels g, and h, are
mounted loosely on the half axles x, and y, and carry the pawls a', and b', engaging
with their ratchets z, and 2¹, which are fixed or formed on the drum ¹, of the

page_text: balance gear. By this arrangement the machine is rendered double driving, both
the half axles being driven at the same time and when it is required to turn the
machine at the corners of roads or otherwise the outer or racing wheel is driven at
a greater speed than the inner wheel by the small bevil pinions j¹, j', of the balance
gear on their spindle k², travelling round the bevil wheel on the end of the axle
of the inner wheel and driving the outer wheel in the manner usual when balance
gear is employed.
Although I have described and shewn a spindle and bevil gearing for trans-
mitting motion from the cranks to the driving gear it will be evident that other
suitable means may be employed such as bands or chains and pulleys.
More than one pawl may if required be employed for each ratchet. I have
described my invention as applied to a tricycle, but it will be evident that it is
equally applicable to velocipedes having more than three wheels.
Having thus described my said invention and the best means I am acquainted
with for carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that what I
claim is:-
Firstly. In velocipedes the application and use of driving gear so arranged that
when the pedals are driven in one direction speed gear shall be operated and
when driven in the opposite direction power gear shall be operated as and for the
purposes described.
Secondly. The combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved
tricycle herein described whereby the act of treading the pedals in one direction
will operate the speed gear and treading the pedals in the opposite direction will
operate the power gear substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein-
before described and represented in figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, of the accompanying
drawing.
Thirdly. In a velocipede the combination with speed and power gearing
constructed as hereinbefore described of a suitable balance gear the whole operating
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and
represented in figure 5, of the accompanying drawing.
Fourthly. The method herein described of enclosing the gearing of velocipedes
by employing hollow spheres or orbs connected by a tube and constructed sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and represented in figures 1, 2, and 5, of the
accompanying drawing.
In Witness whereof I the said Samuel Miller have hereto set my hand
and seal this thirtieth day of March in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three
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MILLER
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