Improvements in Electrically Propelled Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 31st Oct., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Electrically Propelled Velocipedes.
We, CLOVIS PIERRE FRANCIS CLERC of 28 Rue Grange Batelière, Paris,
Gentleman and ADOLPHE GEORGES PINGAULT of 98 Rue du Chemin Vert,
Paris, Electrician, both in the Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in means for propelling velocipedes by
electricity.
The object of such improvements is to supplement the force exerted by the legs
of the rider, an electro-motor being used for the purpose, the said improvements
being equally applicable to every description of velocipede, but more especially to
tandems, triplets or cycles used to carry even a greater number of riders.
The electro-motor is fixed upon the lower portion of the frame of the machine
and transmits its motion to the driving wheel by means of suitable gear wheels,
and the ordinary chain and chain wheels; the said gear wheels being so arranged
as to reduce the speed of rotation transmitted by the motor to that transmitted by
the pedals.
One of the gear wheels which serves to transmit the force of the motor is covered
with leather in order to obtain easiness in running.
The gear for transmitting the motion of the motor is arranged upon one side of
the machine and the usual gear for transmitting the motion of the pedals by means
of chain and chain wheels, is arranged upon the other side.
The electromotive force is supplied to the motor by secondary batteries suitably
arranged between the upper and lower members of the frame of the machine.
Dated this 24th day of June 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Electrically Propelled Velocipedes.
We, CLOVIS PIERRE FRANCIS CLERC, of 28 Rue Grange Batelière, Paris,
Gentleman, and ADOLPHE GEORGES PINGAULT of 98 Rue du Chemin Vert,
Paris, Electrician, both in the Republic of France, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in electrically propelled velocipedes the
object of such improvements being to supplement the force exerted by the rider or
riders by the power developed by an electro-motor the said motor being equally
well adapted for use with velocipedes of every description whether intended for
racing or ordinary road or touring purposes, although more particularly intended
to be applied to machines used for "pacing" or training racing men, such as
tandems, triplets, or machines for a larger number of riders.
In order that the essential features of our said invention may be clearly under-
stood we will now describe same with reference to the accompanying drawing, in
which

page_text: Figure 1 represents a longitudinal side elevation of a tandem bicycle to which
our invention has been applied and
Figure 2 represents a transverse section through that part of the frame of the
tandem to which the motor is fixed, such section being taken in front of the motor.
The electro-motor a is fixed beneath the lower tubes b, b of the tandem by
means of lugs c, c brazed upon the tubes b and bolted to the polar mass of the
motor a.
At the extremity of the shaft d of the motor a is mounted a toothed pinion e
composed of sheets of leather compressed between the two metal plates f,f by
means of a sufficient number of bolts g, g.
The motor a receives its current from the accumulators h, h, h arranged as
shewn in the drawing, and transmits its rotary movement by means of the pinion e
to the toothed wheel 1, which is of larger diameter. The first reduction of the
speed of rotation is thus obtained. The toothed wheel is keyed or fixed upon a
shaft i running upon balls in the bearing which is arranged in the usual manner
with reference to the tubes b, b to which it is rigidly attached by brazing; upon
the shaft is also fixed a pinion k which drives the wheel n by means of the
chain m the said wheel being mounted upon the hub of the hind wheel of the
tandem.
In the drawing, the arrangement for transmitting the motion of the electro-
motor is shewn on the left side of the tandem, this permits of the chain p for
transmitting the force exerted by the riders on the pedals to the driving wheel
being arranged upon the right hand side, as hitherto.
It is obvious that we can if desired combine the force exerted by the riders and
that exerted by the motor, and arrange the gear for transmitting such respective
forces either on the right or left hand.
We would also point out that we may form the wheel of compressed leather
and the pinion of metal or the two parts may both be of compressed leather or
both of metal.
In such cases in which there is only a single tube b at the lower portion of the
frame of the velocipede, we give to the pendent portion of the lug c the form of an
inverted U.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, what we claim in a
velocipede in which the force of the rider is supplemented by the force exerted by
an electro-motor, is
1. The method of fixing the electromotor beneath the frame of the tandem or
other bicycle by means of lugs brazed upon the lower tube or tubes of the frame
and bolted to the polar mass of the motor.
2. The method of transmitting the motion of the motor to an intermediary shaft
consisting in the employment of a toothed pinion, rigidly fixed to the extremity of
the shaft of the motor and driving a second toothed wheel fixed upon the said
intermediary shaft which runs in ball bearings fixed to the lower tubes of the
frame in the usual manner.
3. The device for transmitting the motion of the intermediary shaft to the
driving wheel, consisting in the employment of two pinions and a chain located
upon the side opposite that upon which the pinions and chains actuated by the
riders are placed.
4. The combination of the arrangements forming the object of the foregoing
claims.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.