Year: 1899

page_text: I, HUBERT ANTON BOES, of Maasstrasse, Kevelaer, Rhine Provinces, Germany,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object the construction of cycles so as to make them
simpler and cheaper than heretofore as well as to considerably lessen their weight
by making use of a single wheel only in place of the hitherto well known bicycles
or tricycles. For the practical carrying out of this idea it is of course necessary
that the weight of the cyclist should be chiefly supported at as low a point as
possible, but at any rate below the axle of the wheel, and that the direction of the
driving pressure should remain as far as possible invariable. With this object
the point of support of the body of the cyclist is not as hitherto, solely concentrated
on the saddle, but is mostly transferred to two carrying stays or supports provided
on both sides of the wheel below the axle thereof.
The pressure necessary for driving the wheel cannot, however be in this case of
a rotary character but must be vertically up and down, in which case the simplest
means may be utilized for the conversion of a rectilinear reciprocating motion,
into a rotary motion, as for instance by the use of the well known transverse
slide crosshead.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, a simple arrangement
is shown by way of example, of a single wheel acting on the foregoing
principle. The wheel R capable of rotating on the axle a, and made of a
suitable size to suit the average length of the legs of the cyclist, carries on its
side, bosses, which are formed as cranks 6 set at an angle of 180° to one another,
a slide block d or a friction roller or the like on the crank pin takes into the
horizontal guide e of the foot-bar f arranged on each side of the wheel R. In
order that the foot-bar itself, or the slide shall be prevented from following the
rotary motion of the slide block , but shall always maintain its up and down
vertical motion, there is also provided besides the guide e on the foot-bar f, a
vertical slide guide g through which the fixed axle- of the wheel R passes, and
by this means a side motion of the foot-bar f is rendered impossible. The foot-
bar f is provided at its lower end with the pedal and the up and down motions
of the slides e, g, do not cause any difficulty to the cyclist, because the wheel
fork almost entirely covers the slides. At a suitable part of the wheel fork h
a handle bar L is provided, which however is less intended for guiding the wheel
than to act as a support for the hands. The guidance of the wheel is effected
entirely by suitable side turning movements of the upper part of the body of the
rider and a saddle s is provided for the rider to rest upon.
The up and down treading motion of the feet can also be assisted, when
necessary, by a suitable motion of the hands as for example in cases where
the ground rises.
For this purpose the foot-bars f only require to be lengthened at their upper
ends so that their extrémities are formed into a rack f Figures 3 and 4. By
means of the handle bar L made to oscillate, an up and down motion is exerted

page_text: on the racks f, f', through the medium of the toothed gear m n, which of course
assists that of the feet. To enable the handle bar L to be firmly fixed when
required the arrangement shown in Figure 3 is such that the bar can be pushed
forward horizontally.so-far in the direction of the arrow, in Figure 3 that the
tooth m comes between two locking teeth p¹ which are firmly attached to the
handle-bar.
In the construction above described the gearing, which however does not form
an essential part of the invention, is only a simple one that is to say, that with one
complete treading motion of each separate pedal, only a half revolution of the
wheel of the cycle is obtained. A double or manifold multiplying gear can how-
ever be applied in various ways. In Figure 5 for instance it is so arranged, that
the crank which carries the slide block d is made as an entire disc or spur wheel,
into each side of which gears a toothed rack adapted to move up and down.
The outer circle of teeth b, is not however firmly connected with the other part
to, which the slide block is fixed, but there is between these two parts a so
called ball-clutch, so arranged that when turning in one direction both the toothed
ring and the arm system are firmly united by the wedging of the balls; but
when turning in the opposite direction both parts can liberate themselves from
each other. The toothed racks and r¹ are connected together by a slotted bar u,
movable about the pivot fixed to the turning bar f. If now, as shown in
Figure 5, a downward pressure is exerted on the left hand toothed rack in the
direction of the arrow by the pedal of the turning bar being pressed down by
the foot, there will be exerted on the slide block, and thereby on the wheel, a
threefold tangential pressure, the left hand toothed rack moving down whilst the
right hand rack moves upward, and finally the sliding block & exerts pressure on
a gradually increasing lever arm.
It will be understood that in this arrangement two fixed points, are pro-
vided against which the slotted bars u bear when being turned on their pivot, q.
These fixed points are easily formed by means of a couple of pins fixed on the
wheel-fork which is lengthened downwards beyond the axle of the wheel, or
the pivot may be placed in the middle of the pedal i and the turning of the
slotted bar be effected by turning the toes. This arrangement has the advantage
that the pedals have no dead point.
A second arrangement which permits of a multiplication of the gear, can be
easily arranged, similarly to the so called front driving, inside the spokes of the
wheel R, and which consists mainly as shown in Figure 6 of two toothed wheels v
attached to the fixed axle a, and into the teeth of which gear three spur pinions 20
which again gear into a larger toothed wheel y. The latter is firmly connected
with the wheel fork and by a system of arms keeps the small spur wheels we always
in the same position. This arrangement is preferable to the first described in so
far as it can be enclosed completely to keep out dust, and need only be of small
dimensions and weight.

page_text: same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:--
This invention has for its object the construction of cycles so as to make them
simpler and cheaper than heretofore as well as to considerably lessen their weight
by making use of a single wheel only in place of the hitherto well known bicycles
or tricycles. For the practical carrying out of this idea it is of course necessary
that the weight of the cyclist should be chiefly supported at as low a point as
possible, but at any rate below the axle of the wheel, and that the direction of the
driving pressure should remain as far as possible invariable. With this object
the point of support of the body of the cyclist is not as hitherto, solely concentrated
on the saddle, but is mostly transferred to two carrying stays or supports provided
on both sides of the wheel below the axle thereof."
The pressure necessary for driving the wheel cannot, however be in this case of
a rotary character but must be vertically up and down, in which case the simplest
means may be utilized for the conversion of a rectilinear reciprocating motion,
into a rotary motion, as for instance by the use of the well known transverse
slide crosshead.
In Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings accompanying my Provisional Specification,
a simple arrangement is shown by way of example, of a single wheel acting on the
foregoing principle. The wheel R capable of rotating on the axle a, and made of a
suitable size to suit the average length of the legs of the cyclist, carries on its
side, bosses, which are formed as cranks set at an angle of 180° to one another,
a slide block d or a friction roller or the like on the crank pin takes into the
horizontal guide e of the foot-bar f arranged on each side of the wheel R. In
order that the foot-bar itself, or the slide shall be prevented from following the
rotary motion of the slide block d, but shall always maintain its up and down
vertical motion, there is also provided besides the guide e on the foot-bar f, a
vertical slide guide through which the fixed axle of the wheel R passes, and
by this means a side motion of the foot-bar f is rendered impossible. The foot-
bar is provided at its lower end with the pedal i and the up and down motions
of the slides e, g, do not cause any difficulty to the cyclist, because the wheel
fork almost entirely covers the slides. At a suitable part of the wheel fork h
a handle bar L is provided, which however is less intended for guiding the wheel
than to act as a support for the hands. The guidance of the wheel is effected
entirely by suitable side turning movements of the upper part of the body of the
rider and a saddles is provided for the rider to rest upon.
The up and down treading motion of the feet can also be assisted, when
necessary, by a suitable motion of the hands as for example in cases where
the ground rises.
For this purpose the foot-bars f only require to be lengthened at their upper
ends so that their extremities are formed into a rack fl Figures 3 and 4. By
means of the handle bar L made to oscillate, an up and down motion is exerted
on the racks f, f', through the medium of the toothed gear m n, which of course
assists that of the feet. To enable the handle bar L to be firmly fixed when
required the arrangement shown in Figure 3 is such that the bar can be pushed
forward horizontally so far in the direction of the arrow, in Figure 3 that the
tooth m comes between two locking teeth p p which are firmly attached to the
handle-bar.
In the construction above described the gearing, which however does not form
an essential part of the invention, is only a simple one that is to say, that with one
complete treading motion of each separate pedal, only a half revolution of the
wheel of the cycle is obtained. A double or manifold multiplying gear can how-
ever be applied in various ways. In Figure 5 for instance it is so arranged that
the crank which carries the slide block d is made as an entire disc or spur wheel,
into each side of which gears a toothed rack adapted to move up and down.
The outer circle of teeth, is not however firmly connected with the other part
to which the slide block d is fixed, but there is between these two parts à so

page_text: 'called ball-clutch, so arranged that when turning in one direction both the toothed
ring and the arm system are firmly united by the wedging of the balls; but
when turning in the opposite direction both parts can liberate themselves from
each other. The toothed racks and r¹ are connected together by a slotted bar u,
movable about the pivot fixed to the turning bar f. If now, as shown in
Figure 5, a downward pressure is exerted on the left hand toothed rack in the
direction of the arrow by the pedal of the turning bar being pressed down by
the foot, there will be be exerted on the slide block, and thereby on the wheel, a
threefold tangential pressure, the left hand toothed rack moving down whilst the
right hand rack moves upward, and finally the sliding block d'exerts pressure on
a gradually increasing lever arm.
It will be understood that in this arrangement two fixed points a, are pro-
vided against which the slotted, bars bear when being turned on their pivot q.
These fixed points are easily formed by means of a couple of pins fixed on the
wheel-fork which is lengthened downwards beyond the axle of the wheel, or
the pivot may be placed in the middle of the pedal and the turning of the
slotted bar be effected by turning the toes. This arrangement has the advantage
that the pedals have no dead point.
A second arrangement which permits of a multiplication of the gear, can be
easily arranged, similarly to the so-called front driving, inside the spokes of the
wheel R, and which consists mainly as shewn in Figure 6 of two toothed wheels v
attached to the fixed axle a, and into the teeth of which gear three spur pinions w
which again gear into a larger toothed wheel y. The latter is firmly connected
with the wheel fork and by a system of arms keeps the small spur wheels we always
in the same position. This arrangement is preferable to the first described in so
far as it can be enclosed completely to keep out dust, and need only be of small
dimensions and weight.
By combining together on one axis two single wheels each provided with the
.above described driving apparatus and placing the said driving apparatuses
inside, one obtains a complete substitute for the tricycle heretofore in use.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
:-
First. A cycle consisting of a single wheel running between the legs of the
rider, and having the weight of the latter supported below its axis, while the
pressure of the feet effects an up and down vertical movement, at each side of the
wheel alternately, of two pedals placed below the axis, the said movements of
the said pedals being transformed into a rotatory motion of the wheel by means
of cranks and transverse slide crossheads, substantially as described.
Second. A modification of the cycle forming the subject matter of the first
claiming clause hereof, in which the up and down movements of the pedals are
effected or assisted by an oscillating movement of the steering or handle bar
and toothed gearing, substantially as described.
Datal
Vanamh. 1900.
H. A. BOES,
Per W. H. Beck
Agent. 115, Cannon Street, London, E.C.