Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st July, 1892-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, EDMOND JAEGER, of 75, Rue St. Sauveur, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Clock and Watch Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to velocipedes and comprises a driving mechanism which
has for its object to facilitate the ascent of hills and enable the normal speed to be
maintained on level ground. For attaining this object I provide in velocipedes,
such as tricycles, safety bicycles, for two different speeds which are independent of
each other.
The crank axle or driving axle has fixed upon one of its extremities a wheel
provided with 18 teeth. This wheel is connected by a chain or by intermediate
gearing with the rear wheel which carries a wheel with 9 teeth. The power to be
brought to bear upon the driving wheel is therefore double that of the resistance
offered by the rear wheel.
At the other extremity of the crank axle or driving axle is fixed a wheel with
9 teeth actuating another chain or gearing, and the rear wheel has a second wheel
provided with 9 teeth. Accordingly the power to be exerted upon the driving
wheel is equal to the resistance offered by the rear wheel, so that the power used
for ascending hills is doubled.
The number of teeth of the gear wheels may be varied according to the power
of the person riding the machine.
An instantaneous change of velocity is effected as follows. The rear wheel and
its axle are fixed together and the axle is supported at each extremity by two ball
or other bearings. On either side of the nave are the above-mentioned two toothed
wheels provided with 9 teeth and carrying away the rear wheel; they are both
independent of the rear wheel and its axle.
Through the nave of the rear wheel extend two or more steel rods which can be
displaced in the said nave and connected with each other by a steel disc enabling
them to work together. By means of a forked lever, the said disc can be displaced
so as to carry away the steel rods and cause them to enter one or the other toothed
wheel.
Therefore the rods may occupy three different positions, that is to say either
they enter one of the aforesaid toothed wheels, or leave this toothed wheel to
become inoperative, or they enter the second toothed wheel above referred to.
The forked lever which actuates the disc is articulated upon a support fixed to
the fork which supports the rear wheel. This articulated lever is secured to the
extremity of a rod held in its place against the body of the apparatus by a
fastening device, which however allows it to turn. The other extremity of the said
rod is articulated upon a sector fixed to the apparatus, and it is actuated upon this
sector by a lever.
The aforesaid sector which serves to limit the movement of the last-mentioned
lever presents three notches which hold the lever in the desired position, either for
riding at a great or at small speed, or for arresting the rotary movement of the
crank axle when the said lever occupies the vertical position.
For the sake of greater safety as regards the fixing of the rods in one or the
other of the two toothed wheels and for the inoperative position, the nave carries a
spring terminated by a point which enters one or the other of the three notches
formed on one of the said rods.
Instead of providing the device for changing the velocity upon the axle of the

page_text: rear wheel it may be arranged upon this crank axle. In this case the axle of the
rear wheel carries only the above-mentioned two toothed wheels.
Dated this 31st day of October-1891.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, EDMOND JAEGER, of 75, Rue St. Sauveur, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Clock and Watch Maker, 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 velocipedes and comprises a driving mechanism which
has for its object to facilitate the ascent of hills and enable the normal speed to
be maintained on level ground. For attaining this object I provide for two
different speeds in velocipedes, such as tricycles, safety bicycles, which speeds are
independent of each other.
In the accompanying drawing I have shown how my said invention may be con-
veniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of part of a bicycle showing my improvements
applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same, and
Figures 3 and 4 show details of the said invention.
The pedal shaft or driving axle A has fixed upon one of its extremities a
wheel B provided with 18 teeth. This wheel is connected by a chain or by
intermediate gearing with the rear driving wheel C which carries a wheel D with
9 teeth. The speed of the said driving wheel shaft will therefore be double that
of the pedal shaft.
At the other extremity of the pedal shaft or driving axle A, is fixed a wheel E
with 9 teeth for actuating another chain or gearing connected to the rear wheel by
means of a second gear wheel F provided with 9 teeth. Accordingly in this case
the speed of the driving wheel shaft is equal to that of the pedal shaft so that
as the speed is halved the power used for ascending hills will be doubled.
The number of teeth of the gear wheels may be varied according to the power of
the person riding the machine.
An instantaneous change of velocity is effected as follows. The driving wheel
and its axle H are fixed together and the axle is supported at each extremity by
two ball or other bearings J. On either side of the nave are arranged the above-
mentioned two toothed wheels D and F each provided with 9 teeth and so arranged
that either gear wheel may operate the shaft H independently of the other as may
be desired.
Through the nave of the driving wheel extend two or more steel rods b which
can be displaced in the said nave and which are connected with each other by a
steel disc G enabling them to work together. By means of a forked lever I the
said disc G can be displaced so as to operate the said steel rods and cause them
to enter corresponding holes or recesses in one or the other toothed wheel. The
rods may therefore occupy three different positions, that is to say, they may engage
in the holes or recesses in one of the aforesaid toothed wheels F or they may be
disengaged therefrom and occupy a central position so as to become inoperative or
nay engage in the recesses in the toothed wheel.
The forked lever I which actuates the disc G is articulated upon a support L
fixed to the fork M which supports the rear wheel C. This articulated lever I is
secured to the extremity of a rod N held in its place against the body of the
apparatus by a fastening device O which however allows it to turn. The other

page_text: extremity of the said rod N is pivoted to a sector plate P fixed to the frame as in
Figure 3 and it is actuated upon this sector by a hand lever S.
The aforesaid sector plate P which serves to limit the movement of the lever S
is provided with three notches which hold the lever in either of the three positions
above mentioned either for riding at a great or at a slow speed, or for arresting
the rotary movement of the crank axle when the said lever S occupies the
vertical position.
For the sake of greater safety as regards the fixing of the rods 6 in one or
the other of the two toothed wheels D or F and for the central inoperative
position, the nave carries a spring c terminated by a point d which enters one
or the other of the three notches e formed on one of the said rods b.
Instead of providing the device for changing the velocity upon the axle of
the rear wheel it may be arranged upon the pedal shaft V as shown in Figure 4.
In this case the axle of the rear wheel is only provided with the above
mentioned two toothed wheels D and F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The improved driving mechanism for velocipedes, and the like, which com-
prises two chain or gear wheels arranged on the pedal shaft and two on the
shaft of the driving wheel, the said chains connecting the two shafts in such a
manner that the speed and consequently the power transmitted can be changed,
and so that the rear wheel can be rendered independent, as hereinbefore set forth
with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 21st day of July 1892.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.