Year: 1894

page_text: part or lever 7 is capable of a forward and backward rocking motion which is in
imitation of the movements of a horse in running.
The driving axle 2 carries a fixed double ratchet 9 keyed to the shaft, and 10
and 11 represent respectively, right and left ratchets which are rotatably mounted
upon the driving axle and are provided with exterior peripheral teeth 12, which
are inclined, respectively in opposite directions, and interior clutch teeth 13, which
are arranged to engage the fixed ratchet upon the axle. While capable of rotation
independently of each other and of the shaft, these rotary ratchets are held at such
an interval that only one can engage the fixed ratchet at a time, and hence to
engage the other ratchet therewith they must be moved laterally or shifted.
14 and 15 represent pawl-bearing arms, which are pivotally connected at their
upper ends to a cross bar 16 upon the oscillating part or lever and are provided at
their lower ends with oscillating extensions or links 17 having rings 18 rotatably
and slidably mounted upon the driving axle between the rotary ratchets, the
combined widths of said rings which are interposed between the inwardly extending
flanges 12ª of the side ratchets being such as to prevent both of the ratchets 13
from coming in contact with the fixed ratchet, simultaneously. Said rings 18.
being slidable adjust themselves to the position of the side ratchets and hence
enable either side ratchet to engage with the juxtaposed end of the fixed ratchet,
said rings performing the additional function of interposed washers to cominunicate
the slidable motion of one side ratchet to the other, when the first ratchet is pushed
laterally by the shifting mechanism.
Each pawl bearing arm carries two oppositely-disposed pawls 19 arranged
respectively in operative relation to the rotary ratchets, and pivoted to the
extensions or links 17.
The motion of the pawl bearing arms during operation is essentially reciprocatory
and as the free ends thereof are arranged respectively upon opposite sides of the
driving axle and pawls carried by each arm are oppositely disposed and connect
respectively to the right and left ratchets, both of the latter will receive a rotary
impulse at each vibration of the bearing arms and hence at each vibration of the
oscillating part or lever.
Inasmuch as only one of the rotary ratchets is in operative relation to the fixed
ratchets at a time, it will be understood that during operation one of said rotary
ratchets turns idly while the other operates the driving axle, and hence in order to
provide for movement of the device in opposite directions it is necessary to employ
a shifting device whereby either rotary ratchet may be thrown into engagement
with the fixed ratchet. The means which we prefer to employ for this purpose
consists of shifting blocks 20 which are arranged respectively in contact with the
outer sides or hubs of the rotary ratchets and fit slidably in guides 21, said blocks
and guides being provided with correspondingly disposed bevelled shoulders 22,
whereby as the guides are moved simultaneously in a direction parallel with the
direction of movement of the vehicle, the shifting blocks will be moved transversely
or in a direction perpendicular to the direction of movement of the vehicle, thereby
causing a corresponding lateral movement of the rotary ratchets, and causing the
latter to engage the fixed ratchet alternately.
This
In order to enable the shifting mechanism to be automatically operated we
provide a reversing bar or frame 23, which is slidably mounted upon the vehicle
carries the guides 21 and projects at its extremities in front and in rear of the
vehicle in order to be the part which first encounters an obstacle.
reversing bar is preferably carried by the front and rear axles of the vehicle, the
guide 21 forming the means of connecting the bar to the rear axle, and it is provided
at its extremities with cross heads 24 which are provided with suitable padding 25 to
avoid injuring articles with which they come in contact.
The operation of the device when used in connection with a hobby-horse will be
readily understood from the foregoing description. The oscillation of the lever or
body of the device causes a reciprocation of the pawl-bearing arms which is
communicated by means of the rotary and fixed ratchets to the driving axle, hence

page_text: causing the vehicle to advance in one direction or the other according to whether
the right or left hand rotary ratchet is in operative relation to the fixed ratchet.
Progression in this direction continues until the forward end of the reversing bar
encounters an obstacle and is repressed, when the longitudinal movement of such
reversing bar is converted by means of the shouldered guides and shifting
blocks into a transverse movement of the rotary ratchets, thereby bringing
the previously idle ratchet into operative position and causing the operation
of the oscillating part or lever to produce a rectilinear movement of the vehicle
in the opposite direction to that which was produced previous to contact with the
obstacle.
In order to enable the propelling mechanism to be detached when the device, as
illustrated, is to be used as an ordinary rocking horse, we provide a catch for
connecting the upper ends of the pawl bearing arms to the cross-bar which is carried
by the oscillating part or lever, such catch consisting of a hook 26 and a slide 27 to
close the mouth of said hook.
From the above description it will be understood that the form of the oscillating
part or lever constitutes no part of the invention and may be varied at will.
When the mechanism as described is used in connection with velocipedes and
other similar vehicles the power may be derived from hand or foot levers in the
ordinary or any approved manner without departing from the spirit or intent of
the invention.
Furthermore, various changes in the form, proportion and minor details of
construction can be resorted to in adapting the mechanism to various styles of
vehicles without departing from the invention or sacrificing any of the advantages
thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. In a vehicle, the combination with the driving axle, of a ratchet fixed to and
carried thereby, reverse driving ratchets rotatably mounted upon the axle and
adapted to alternately engage the fixed ratchets, shifting mechanism connected to
the said driving ratchets, an operating part or lever, connections between said part
or lever and the driving ratchets, and a reversing bar connected to the shifting
mechanism substantially as specified.
2. The combination with the driving axle, of oppositely rotatable driving ratchets
mounted upon the axle and adapted to be alternately connected thereto, an operating
part or lever, connections between said part or lever and the driving ratchets, a
shifting mechanism connected to the driving ratchets, and a reversing bar connected
to the shifting mechanism, substantially as specified.
3. The combination with the driving axle, of oppositely rotatable driving ratchets,
clutch mechanisms for connecting either of said ratchets with the axle, an operating
part or lever, connections between said part or lever and the driving ratchets, and
a reversing bar provided with shifting devices to operate said clutch mechanisms,
substantially as specified.
4. The combination with the driving axle, of rotatable driving ratchets, clutch
mechanisms for connecting either of said ratchets to the driving axle, an oscillating
part or lever operatively connected to the said ratchets, a reversing bar, shifting
blocks connected to said clutch mechanisms, and a shifting guide carried by the
reversing bar and operatively connected to the shifting blocks, substantially as
specified.
5. The combination with the driving axle of rotatable driving ratchets, a clutch
mechanism for connecting either of said ratchets with the axle, an operating part or
lever operatively connected to said ratchets, whereby they are rotated continuously
in opposite directions, a slidable reversing bar provided with shifting guides,
and slidable shifting blocks operated by said guides and connected to the clutch
mechanism, substantially as specified.

page_text: 6. The combination with the driving axle, of oppositely rotatable driving
ratchets, a clutch mechanism to connect either of said ratchets to the axle, an
operating part or lever connected to said ratchets to impart continuous rotary motion
in opposite directions thereto, a slidable reversing bar capable of movement in a
direction perpendicular to the axis of the driving axle, guides carried by said bar and
provided with bevelled shoulders and shifting blocks slidably mounted upon the axle
in operative relation to the clutch mechanism and provided with shoulders engaging
the shoulders of the guides, substantially as specified.
7. The combination with the supporting framework, a driving axle, and an
oscillating part or lever mounted upon the supporting framework, of a reversible
driving mechanism operatively connected to the axle and having oppositely rotatable
driving ratchets a clutch mechanism for connecting either of said ratchets to the
axle, means for operating said clutch mechanism, and pawl bearing arms connected
to the oscillating part or lever and carrying oppositely disposed actuating pawls
engaging the driving ratchets, respectively, to impart rotary movement in opposite
directions thereto, substantially as specified.
8. The combination with the supporting framework a driving axle, and an
oscillating part or lever mounted upon the supporting framework, of a reversible
driving mechanism operatively connected to the axle and having oppositely rotatable
driving ratchets, a clutch mechanism for connecting either of said ratchets to the
axle, means for operating said clutch mechanism pawl bearing arms operatively
connected to said driving ratchets, to impart rotary movement in opposite
directions thereto, and a detachable connection between said arms and the oscillating
part or lever, substantially as specified.
9. The combination with the supporting framework, a driving axle, and an
oscillating part or lever mounted upon the supporting framework, of a reversible
driving mechanism operatively connected to the axle and having oppositely rotatable
driving ratchets, a clutch mechanism for connecting either of said ratchets to the
axle, means for operating said clutch mechanism, pawl bearing arms operatively
connected to said driving ratchets to impart rotary movement in opposite directions
thereto, and a catch for connecting said arms to the oscillating part or lever, the
same comprising a hook to engage a cross bar carried by the said part or lever, and
a slide to close the mouth of said hook, substantially as specified.
10. In a vehicle, the combination of a supporting framework provided with
upwardly divergent supporting arms, carrying wheels, a driving axle, a reversible
operating mechanism connected to said axle, and having rotatable driving ratchets,
a reversing bar connections between said reversing bar and the driving mechanism,
an oscillating part or lever connected by links to said supporting arms, and pawl
bearing arms pivotally connected to said part or lever and having their pawls
arranged in operative relation to the driving ratchets, substantially as specified.
Dated this 27th day of March 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicants.