Improvements connected with the Wheels of Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application. 26th Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 17th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Wheels of Velocipedes.
I COUNT CHARLES DE ROSSETTI, of 61 Warwick Street, South Belgravia, in
the County of London, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of wheels for.
velocipedes and is designed to secure uniformity of speed and ease of driving.
velocipedes, with other advantages.
In carrying out my invention I provide on the hub of a wheel or in connection
therewith a disc or weighted wheel or series of part wheels or weighted arms
adapted to absorb the centrifugal force during the revolution of the wheel and to
give off such force in aid of the rotation of the wheel when the power required for
driving is increased by an acclivity or otherwise.
This disc, or equivalent rotatory weight, I prefer in a cycle to apply to the hind.
wheel of the vehicle although the same may be applied to each wheel, and the
weighted mass is located in the centre of the space between the spokes where such
exists, or in equivalent position.
Dated the 26th day of April 1894.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements connected with the Wheels of Velocipedes.
I COUNT CHARLES DE ROSSETTI of 19 Porchester Gardens, Bayswater,
formerly of 61 Warwick Street, South Belgravia in the County of London, Civil
Engineer, do bereby 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 relates to certain improvements in the construction of or in
connection with wheels for velocipedes and is designed by securing uniformity of
speed to attain the highest economic utilization of the power expended by the
rider, ease of driving velocipedes, with other advantages.
In carrying out my invention I apply on the hub of a wheel a peripherally
weighted propulsive wheel in the plane of the wheel proper so as to utilize most
effectively the rotative and the translatory propulsive forces of the mass of the
wheel to absorb the centrifugal force during the revolution of the wheel and serve
to equalize and distribute the amount of work required of the rider in the most
beneficial manner.
This wheel I prefer, in a cycle, to apply to the front or hind driving wheel or
preferably to both front and hind wheels of the velocipede when steadiness. is the
greater requisite and the peripherally weighted propulsive wheel is located in the
centre of the space between the spokes, where such exists, or in equivalent
nosition

page_text: i DESCRIPTION OF The Drawings.
Fig. 1 shows one wheel of a velocipede with my propulsive wheel applied within
the spokes and upon the hub thereof, in side view.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line A. B. Fig. 1.
Figs. 3 and 4 are separate views partly in section, of details of the above parts.
a is the annulus of the propulsive fly wheel, b the tubular arms connecting and
supporting the same from the socket piece c on the hub of the wheel of the
velocipede, and constructed so as to preserve lightness.
Fig. 5 shews a modification in the form of the rim of the propulsive fly wheel in
order to admit of the greatest possible enlargement of diameter to the fly wheel.
Holes of an elliptical shape are formed in the rim of the propulsive fly wheel,
through which the spokes of the bicycle pass.
Fig. 6 shews another form of the rim of the propulsive fly wheel and velocipede
wheel in order to admit of a great enlargement of diameter of the propulsive
fly-wheel.
Fig. 7 shews by a side view, a bicycle having my improvements applied.
a is the annulus or rim of the propulsive fly wheel.
bare the spokes or arms carrying the rim, here shewn as four in number, but
these may be arranged in greater or lesser number, c is the four socketted centre
piece into which the arms b may be brazed at one end and at the other ends these
arms may be let into and secured in sockets a' in the rim a and be secured by
screws a³ (see Figs. 3 and 4); or these parts may be brazed or otherwise secured
together and to the hub of the velocipede wheel d.
The dotted lines e indicate that one of the ordinary sprocket or chain wheels
which is secured on the driving wheel.
indicates the other sprocket wheel driving the chain e¹ and thereby the wheel e
and the velocipede wheel c.
!
1...
is the framing of the machine, k are the spokes of wheel C upon which is
borne the tyre.D.
The propulsive fly wheel arranged within the bearing wheel or wheels of a
velocipede as described is designed to comply with the conditions following viz. :-
To enable the greatest effective momentum to be obtained; to preserve the utmost
rigidity, strength and lightness and this is secured by means of the weight distributed
as an annulus giving the greatest possible radius of gyration without contact with
the "machine" wheel. The annular weight is rigidly supported within the wheel
by the tubular arms socketted in the part e formed integral with the machine wheel
hub. By this construction the mass of the propulsive fly wheel is almost entirely
embodied in its rim, the spokes and central socket piece being relatively negligable
quantities, whilst by arranging the propulsive fly wheel as shewn, it is at all times
protected from accident and does not present either in front or sidewise, any
appreciable surface to be acted on by the wind.
By the application of these propulsive fly wheels placed and constructed as
described below I. enable (as has been demonstrated by experiment) such high
gearings to be used as are at present found practically impossible to employ with
advantage.
The results attained by the introduction of the propulsive fly wheel constructed
and applied as described, either in one or more of the wheels of a velocipede, are
various, thus; such a wheel serves to equalize the weight of the vehicle and
consequently impart stability to the machine, it conduces to ease of guidance o
the machine and owing to the accumulation of momentum in the propulsive flyj
wheel it serves to economise and increase the effective motion imparted to the
machine..
"
The propulsive fly wheel may be attached and applied as described in the rea
wheel, or wheels only, or in the front wheel or wheels only whichever is the driving
wheel or wheels or a propulsive fly wheel may be applied in each driving whee
front and back.
J

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and application of a propulsive fly wheel in combination with
and within a velocipede wheel as and for the purposes set forth and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction and application of propulsive fly wheels of the form described,
within the fabric of velocipede wheels, so as to secure the inaximum radius of
gyration to the propulsive fly wheels, whilst preserving the same from accident,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
3. The application or arrangement and combination within the fabrio of a
velocipede driving wheel of said propulsive fly-wheels constructed as hereinbefore
described so as to enable much higher gearings to be used with advantage than are
at present practically possible with ordinary constructions as set forth.
1004
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant..