Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 18.h Dec., 1895-Accepted, 22nd Feb., 1896
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, ALFONSE GRAVIER, of 8 Rue Charlet, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Electrical Engineer, 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 :—
My invention relates to various improvements in the construction of velocipedes
of the class described in the Specification of my application for Letters Patent
No. 750 of 1895 and has for its object to provide machines of simpler construction
and more efficient working than those hitherto produced.
According to my present invention I employ a pawl and ratchet or other like
engaging and disengaging device as a substitute for the clutch described in the
Specification of my said prior application and I obtain the return or upstroke of
the pedals by means of a pinion and bevel wheel or the like operating the aforesaid
engaging and disengaging parts alternately on each side. I also employ means for
readily altering the speed of the velocipede as hereinafter described.
I will describe my invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which―
Figure 1 shews in side elevation a bicycle constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation (drawn to a larger scale) on the line 1-2,
Figure 3 of engaging and disengaging mechanism formed by a pawl and ratchet
device mounted on the axis of the driving wheel. Figure 3 is a transverse section
of the same.
Figure 4 shews in elevation a part of the pedal lever drawn to a larger scale
with means for regulating the length of chain cable or flexible band.
Figures 5 and 6 shew in side elevations also drawn to a larger scale modified
forms of engaging and disengaging mechanisms constructed according to this
invention.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3 A is the fixed axle of the driving wheel of the
bicycle round which internal annular parts B B and an external ring C can rotate
on ball bearings a. The parts B B' engage by means of teeth on annular parts b b¹
with a central bevel wheel or pinion D which is free to rotate on ball bearings on
a shaft D' so that when the part B revolves in one direction the part B' will be
caused by the said pinion D to revolve in the opposite direction while the outer
ring C can always turn in the same direction. The internal parts B B' are formed
with recessed parts c c to each of which one end of a driving chain cable or
flexible band d or d¹ (I will refer to it as a cable) is attached and round which it
is wound, the other end being attached to a triangular pedal lever E or E'. The
external ring C supports the spokes and tyre of the driving wheel C¹ and is formed
with sets of internal teeth e e¹ with which pawls F F' engage. The said pawls are
fast on spindles fƒ ƒ' mounted in bearings in the parts B B₁; each spindle for f
has fixed thereon one end of an arm the other end of which is connected by a
pin fso as to slide in a slot f* formed in a lug f³ projecting from a friction ring f
turning in a recessed collar on the axle A.
When the part B is rotated in the direction of the arrow (Figure 2) the pawl F
engages with the teeth e on the ring C and so rotates the wheel; when the part B
is rotated in the reverse direction the pawl F will ride over the ratchet teeth & the
slot admitting of this motion, when the part B is again operated to rotate in

page_text: the direction of the arrow the pin f³ on the end of the arm f' will be forced to
the outer end of the slot and at the same time cause the pawl F to enter the
teeth e and so give a fresh impulse to the wheel.
Any suitable brake mechanism may be arranged to act on the external surface
of the ring C at the recessed part g and may be operated in the ordinary manner
by a lever for example attached to one of the steering handles of the velocipede.
A brake may also be arranged to act at g¹ on the opposite side for further security,
operated independently from the right handle or when necessary both brakes may
be applied simultaneously.
Referring to Figure 4 the cable d is fixed at one end round the recessed part c
of the driving wheel C₁ and the other end thereof passes through a sleeve / sliding
on the arm E of the reciprocating pedal lever which is centered at Es on the frame
of the machine and supports the pedal H, the said cable d is finally attached to a
collar h¹ fixed on the said arm E. The lever arm E is preferably grooved or
recessed for the reception of the cable. By means of a clamping screw h³ the
sleeve on the arm E may be secured in any desired position.
The angle
described by the pedal lever when in motion will always be the same but the full
stroke of the cable will only be obtained when the sleeve h is in a position nearest
the point, the machine being then capable of being propelled at its greatest
speed. The speed will be decreased in proportion as the sleeve is slidden in the
opposite direction towards the point E³ on which the lever is pivoted, the length
of the actual working arm of the lever depending on the length of cable held
against the said arm E by the aforesaid sleeve h.
A corresponding lever E' with a pedal H' is mounted on the opposite side of the
frame of the machine and is attached to the cable d' operating the part B₁ already
described.
The bicycle is propelled in the following manner :
The rider applies a downward pressure on the pedal H, causing the lever E to turn
on its pivot at E and unwind the cable d from the recess c on the inner part B turning
the said part B in the direction of the arrow (Figure 2). The pawl F thereupon
engages with the teeth e on the ring C and so causes the wheel C¹ to rotate as already
described. The pedal lever on completing its downward stroke is drawn up again by
causing the part B to turn in an opposite direction and so wind up the cable d. This
is effected by the operation of the pedal H' mounted on the lever E' which when
depressed, in its turn causes the part B₁ by the unwinding of the cable d' to be
rotated and so the central bevel wheel or pinion D in gear therewith. Thus the
ring C with its wheel C¹ will always be rotated in a forward direction being
propelled by the pedals H H¹ operated successively on each side.
Figures 5 and 6 shew in elevation two modified forms of engaging mechanism
the said engaging parts are shewn in dotted lines behind the front casings B and C.
In place of the pawls I use wedges F or F* mounted on spindles f on the inner end
of which are fixed arms provided at their other ends with pins f* engaging in
slots formed in lugs fo on the friction ring fº.
When the inner part B is rotated in the direction of the arrow the wedge For F*
is forced against an internal rim e on the outer part C so as to cause the said part
to rotate; when the inner part B is turned in the reverse direction the wedges will
be released from the said ring in the manner already described with reference to
Figures 2 and 3 leaving the wheel to receive a fresh impulse by the engaging
mechanism on the other side which is then operated by the depression of the
corresponding pedal.
My invention is not limited to the precise details which I have illustrated in the
drawings. for example I may reverse the arrangement shewn in Figures 2 and 3
and mount the pawl on the outer part C so as to engage with teeth on the inner
part B, and I may reverse the mounting of the wedges in a similar manner.
I have described my invention with reference to a bicycle but it is equally
applicable to any other similarly propelled vehicle such for example as a
tricycle.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved mechanism for propelling velocipedes consisting of the com-
bination of an outer part and two inner parts connected by chains, cables or
flexible bands with pedal levers and provided with pawl and ratchet or wedging
mechanism for connecting each of the inner parts in turn with the outer part and a
bevel pinion situated between the two inner parts for rotating them successively in
a reverse direction so as to wind up the cable which has been unwound by the
depression of the corresponding pedal substantially as described.
2. The improved arrangement and combination of parts constituting mechanism
for propelling velocipedes with means for engaging and disengaging the same
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 of the
accompanying drawings.
3. The modifications of the mechanism claimed in Claim 2 substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figure 5 and in Figure 6 of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The improved means for varying the speed at which a velocipede may be
driven substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 4 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of December 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.