Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 7th May, 1898
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, HERMANN GOTTFRIED MEUMANN, Manufacturer, of Bessemer, in the County of
Jefferson, and State of Alabama, United States of America, 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 more particularly to that class of in-
ventions which may be run singly or converted into a duplex," and driven by
power other than manuel.
The object of the invention is to provide a machine of this character in which
the parts may be quickly assembled to form the duplex, and which may be as
readily separated and removed to allow the bicycles to be used separately, and
driven by foot power. In this class of machines great difficulty has been
experienced heretofore in devising means by which two bicycles of ordinary and
well known construction may be coupled together and furnish means for support-
ing an engine.
In the present case the bicycles used to form the machine are of the well known
type, and are coupled together in a simple manner, so that should the engine
oreak down, or the power give out, the engine may be removed and stored away,
and the riders may then propel their individual wheels by foot-power; or the
mechanism may be left connected together.
With the above objects in view, the invention consists of certain features of
construction and combination of parts which will be hereinafter set forth and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings, which show the preferred embodiment of my
invention, and in which like letters of reference and numerals denote correspond-
ing parts:
Figure 1 is a top plan view, illustrating the bicycles of ordinary construction,
coupled together and supporting an electric engine, the seat being removed to
show the underlying parts;
Figure 2 is a front view of the same;
Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line y-y, Fig. 1, looking in the
direction of the arrows;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary view of the middle supporting frame, the steering
lever and the posts which will be hereinafter described, which will be connected
thereto;
Figure 5 is a detailed perspective view on an enlarged scale, illustrating one
of the hanger sleeves used in connecting the main frame of the machine to the
bicycle frames;
Figure 6 is an enlarged elevation partly in section, of one of the crank-shaft
hangers of one of the bicycles, illustrating the form of crank-shaft employed, and
the application of the crank-shaft used when the bicycles are separated from the
main frame, and are adapted to be propelled by the rider;
Figure 7 is á vertical sectional view on the line - of Fig. 6;
Figure 8 is an enlarged view of one of the bolt clamps shown in Fig. 5;

page_text: Figure 9 is an enlarged elevation partly in section, of one of the spring
balances;
Figure 10 is an elevation of one of the spring balances;
Figure 11 is a fragmentary elevation of the central section of the main frame
showing the clip for attaching the electric engine in position;
Figure 12 is a sectional view of one of the driving clutches;
Figure 13 is a side view of a portion of the same showing to the right in side
and plan views, the locking roller;
Figure 14 is a side elevation of the clamping hub of the brake wheel, showing
in section, the shaft to which it is clamped;
Figure 15 is a sectional view of a clutch employed to throw the machine into
and out of gear with the engine.
In the drawings;-1 denotes the frames of two ordinary safety bicycles, and 2
denotes the main frame, to the sides of which the bicycles are attached. This
frame consists of three sections a, b, c, the central section supporting the electric
motor f.
The main frame is secured to the bicycle frame in a manner to permit of the
four wheels of the two bicycles remaining on the ground, whether the machine
is travelling upon a flat surface or a rolling or uneven surface. The connections
comprise sleeves 3, provided with heads 4 which have clamping bolts 5 which are
clamped about the parts of the bicycle frame near the crank shaft hanger of each
bicycle. These sleeves have threaded portions and extend through bearings 7
on the two outside sections of the main frame, and are held therein against side-
wise movement in a novel manner, the description of which is as follows:-
Rings 8-8 are screwed upon the threaded portions of the sleeves, and nuts 9
are placed upon the outer ends of the sleeves. The sleeves are then inserted
through the bearings 7 of the frame from the outside thereof, and the nuts are
then engaged with interior threads on the bearings and screwed up until they
contact with one of the rings. Similar nuts 10 are now screwed upon the threads
at the outer end of the bearings until they abut against one of the screw threaded
rings, so that it is impossible for the sleeve to have any sidewise movement what-
ever when thus secured, while at the same time the main frame of the machine
is permitted to have a rocking movement.
Now to regulate this movement, I connect the front and rear ends of the main
frame with the front and rear parts of the bicycles by spring balances, which con-
sist of segmentally curved tubes 11, one of which is secured at the front end, one
at the rear end, and one intermediate the ends of the main frame, on each side
of the movement, as shown more clearly in Fig. 1 of the drawing.
Located within each of these segmental tubes are two springs 12, having located
between their inner or adjacent ends a sliding block 13, provided with a screw-
threaded aperture 14. This tube is provided with a segmental slot 15, through
which passes a clamping bolt 16, shown more clearly in Fig. 10. This bolt has
its inner screw threaded end engaging the screw-threaded aperture of the block,
while its clamp section is clamped about the frame of the bicycle, as shown in
Fig. 1. The tube has on its opposite side two fixed studs, having collars 17, which
are brazed or otherwise permanently secured to the main frame of the machine.
It will thus be seen that the main frame is nicely balanced, permitting the
wheels of the two bicycles to always remain upon the ground, whether the machine
is travelling over smooth or uneven ground, and at the same time, owing to the
rocking motion of the main frame of the machine, the occupants of the machine
will not be jolted or jarred, as would be the case were the frame rigidly secured
to the bicycle frames.
The crank shaft hangers of each bicycle are of usual construction, having the
ball cups 18, cones 19, and confined balls 20. A sleeve 21 extends through each
of these crank-shafts, and has a drive sprocket 22, which is geared by a chain 23
with the small sprocket wheels 24, which are secured to the axles of the rear
wheels of the bicycles.

page_text: P are main drive shafts which are suitably journaled in bearings 26 in the main
frame, and projects through the hanger-sleeves 3, and through the sleeves 21, and
are keyed thereto, so that when the said shafts are rotated, the sleeves with their
sprocket-wheels will be likewise rotated, and this motion communicated to the
drive wheels of the bicycles.
The bicycle frame has projecting from its crank hanger at both sides a straight
ahaft H, and to the ends of this shaft are secured gear wheels h.
A clutch ring I
is secured to each of the gear wheels h by bolts h', and is provided in its periphery
with a tangential recess or pocket i.
J denotes the brake wheels, each of which has an annular recess in its inner
face to receive the outside member K of the clutch section, which is held in place
by a ring L, through which bolts M. pass, and in this way holds ring K, brake
wheel J and ring L together, the ring L at the same time holding brake wheel J
to gear wheel h.
The inner periphery of the section K of the clutch is provided
with the tangential recesses or pockets 1, which, with the pockets i receive the
rollers N.
O denotes the hub of the brake wheel, which is formed of split sections o and a
clamping block o¹, which is formed with a V-shaped recess to engage the V-shaped
end of the drive-shaft P, which extends through the sleeve 3, and has a spline-
groove connection with the sleeve 21.
Qdenotes a nut which engages the threaded exterior of the hub, and is provided
with a wrench face q, whereby it may be screwed upon the hub to clamp its split
sections and the block firmly to the shaft.
By referring to Fig. 1 of the drawing it will be seen that the wheel h is in gear
with the pinion g', which is mounted on a shaft 96, having a gear 97, in mesh with
a gear 98, on the engine-shaft having fly-wheels 9, and that when the gear g³, is
rotated the power will be transmitted from it to the gear h, and thence to the drive
shaft to rotate the drive sprockets 22, which are geared to the sprockets 24, by
the chain 23, in the usual manner.
In operation, the wheel h being rotated by the pinion g*, will rotate the brake
wheel J, and the rollers N will be moved toward the contracted ends of the
recesses of the clutch ring I, and lock the two parts together, and cause the rota-
tion of the drive shaft.
In going down grade, the machine will run ahead of the engine power, and by
reason of the rollers, falling into the enlarged portions of the sockets, with the
engine wheel running, as soon as the speed of the wheel lessens, the rollers will
be forced into the contracted ends of the sockets, and cause the machine to be
driven by the power transmitted from the engine. This construction also permits
of one wheel turning faster than the other in turning short corners.
It will be understood that bands will encircle the brake wheel, and extend to
any suitable point of the machine and be connected so as to be tightened around
the brake wheels to regulate the speed of the machine.
S denotes the steering lever, the forward end of which is loosely clamped to
the steering head of the frame b, and the rear end of which projects within con-
venient reach of one of the occupants of the machine. A bars is connected to
this lever, and extends across and is connected to arms &¹ (see Fig. 3), of the steer-
ing posts of the bicycles 11. It is evident therefore, that when this lever is moved
from one side to the other, the front wheels of the bicycles will be correspondingly
turned. This lever is in the form of a tube, and it encloses a bell-actuating rods,
the forward end of which is pivoted to a pivoted bell hammer, while its rear end
is pivoted to a lever, by means of which the bell hammer is actuated.
Surrounding this lever is a sleeve T, the rear end of which is provided with a
hand wheel t, and the forward end of which is provided with a bevel gear t, which
meshes with a similar gear 2, journaled on the steering head of the middle frame b.
Keyed to or forming part of this pivoted gear is a gear wheel 8, which meshes
with a gear wheel secured to the upper end of a shaft 5, which is connected with
mechanism that governs the controlling valve of the engine.

page_text: In operation, it is desired to start the engine before its power is applied to the
machine to drive it, and to this end I have provided the clutch shown in Fig. 15,
which consists of a bevel gear U, which is splined to the armature shaft and works
into a recess u formed in the face of each pinion 98. The hub of this clutch sec-
tion has a collar that is engaged by the flange of a nut V, which has a quick thread,
The yoke go has its end formed with hubs g, and the exterior surfaces of these
hubs are formed with quick threads which engage the threads of the nuts. It is
evident, therefore, that when this yoke is operated, the clutch section U will be
forced into engagement with the pinion g³, and said pinion be caused to turn with
the crank shaft.
By this construction I am enabled to start my engine, and then by manipulat-
ing the yoke, the engine will be connected with the driving mechanism of the
machine.
When it is desired to stop, by simply reversing the movement of the yoke, the
engine may be thrown out of gear with the machine, but be allowed to continue
working. I prefer to employ the clutch shown in Fig. 15, but any other well
known or approved form may be substituted without departing from the spirit
of my invention.
The electric motor receives its power from a storage battery (not shown), which
storage battery is adapted to be supported by the center section of the main frame,
the space being shown in Fig. 3, of the drawing.
g denotes a seat which extends across the machine, and is capable of support-
ing two or more passengers, and 913 represents a foot rest which also extends across
the machine, and has its ends secured thereto as shown in Fig. 3. This foot rest
consists preferably of slats hinged together, and is made removable so that it may
be taken off and rolled up, into small compass. g denotes a seat, one to be
employed for each bicycle when separated from the main frame.
7 denotes a lamp, which may be lighted by oil, or electricity. When employed,
I may find it advisable to generate a sufficient amount of electricity to supply the
lamp.
Should the machine break down, all that is necessary is to disconnect the clamp-
ing bolts from the bicycles, remove the bicycles from the main shaft of the main
frame, and then insert the two-part crank-shaft 29, shown in Fig. 6. Fach part
of this crankshaft is provided with squared portions or extensions 30, which fit
into slots 31 formed in the ends of the crankshaft-hanger sleeve, and nuts 32 are
used for clamping the two parts of the axle in place against endwise movement.
After the bicycles have been thus separated from the main frame of the machine,
and the crank-shafts applied, the occupants may ride off and leave the injured part
in the care of some person, until they have secured the assistance of some com-
petent or skilled person to repair the damage.
It will be noticed that in removing the bicycles from the main frame, the balls
in the crankshaft hangers will not be disturbed in the least, owing to the fact
that the sleeve always remains in the hanger.
While I have shown and described an electric motor for driving the velocipede,
I would have it distinctly understood that I contemplate as coming within the
scope of my invention the use of other motors, such for instance, as a steam or
gas motor; and wherever the word " motor ог engine" appears in the claims,
the same is intended to cover any form of motor which I may desire to employ
for driving the velocipede.
دو
«
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. In a velocipede, the combination with two bicycles of ordinary construction,
and the frame of another bicycle, means for connecting the parts together, an
engine frame supported by the bicycle frames, the driving shaft connected with
the driving shafts of the two bicycles, and connections between the engines and

page_text: the driving shafts for imparting the movement of the engine to the driving shaft,
substantially as set forth."
2. The combination with two bicycles and the main frame, said parts being
removably connected together, of an engine supported by the main frame, pro-
vided with a drive shaft having a geared connection with the engine shaft and
with the drive shafts of the two bicycles, substantially as set forth.
3. In a velocipede, the combination with two bicycles of the usual or well
known construction, the main frame removably clamped thereto, an engine sup-
ported by said frame, an engine shaft, gear wheels loosely mounted upon the ends
of said shaft, a driving shaft connected to the driving sprockets of bicycles, gear
wheels on said driving shaft in mesh with those on the engine shaft, clutches
connecting said gear wheels with said driving shaft, whereby the gear wheels are
caused to turn in unison with the driving shaft, the construction being such that
the machine may run faster than the working of the engines, substantially as set
forth.
4. The combination with two bicycles of the usual and well known construction,
the main frame clamped thereto, of an engine for driving the bicycles, a steering
lever, a rod connecting the steering heads of the two bicycles and connected to
the steering lever, whereby when said lever is actuated, the steering of the two
bicycles will be moved in unison, substantially as set forth.
5. In a velocipede, the combination with two bicycles of ordinary construction,
of a frame having a spring-controlled rocking connection with said bicycles, a
motor supported by the main frame, and geared with the propelling mechanism
of the two bicycles, substantially as set forth.
6. In a velocipede, the combination with the two bicycles of ordinary construc-
tion, of a frame removably hung to the bicycle frame, spring balances connected
to the frame and removably connected to the bicycle frames, and a motor supported
by the main frame and geared with the propelling mechanism of the two bicycles,
Bubstantially as set forth.
7. In a velocipede, the combination with two bicycles of ordinary construction,
of a main frame having bearings, hanger sleeves extending through said bearings
and provided with clamping bolts to removably connect the bicycle frames with
the main frame, spring balances consisting of segmental tubes suitably secured
to the main frame and provided with a segmental slot, springs arranged within
said tubes, blocks interposed between the adjacent ends of the springs, a clamp
bolt connected to said block and removably clamped to the bicycle frame, and a
motor supported by the main frame and geared with the driving mechanism of the
bicycles, substantially as set forth.
8. In a velocipede, the combination with the bicycle frames, and the main
frame, of a hanger sleeve removably connected to the bicycle frame and sup-
ported in bearings formed in the main frame, and provided with the threaded
portion, rings screwed upon said threaded portion, and nuts screwed upon the
bearings of the main frame and against said ring, whereby the main frame is
allowed a rocking motion with respect to the bicycle frames or vice versa, and is
prevented from shifting sidewise or laterally, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 7th day of Santamber 1807
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.