Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, JOSÉ BARADAT Y GUILLE, of Gracia, Barcelona, in the Kingdom of Spain,
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:-
In the use of velocipedes of ordinary construction the health of the rider is often
very much injured, so much so that many eminent medical men have given an
unfavourable report on the matter. After a careful study of all the causes that
give rise to such inconvenience I have discovered that one cause is due to the way
in which cycles are propelled, that is to say, to the use of rotary pedals by which
the feet in pedalling are caused to describe a complete circle.
Such movement is unnatural and anti-hygienic because the locomotive apparatus
of man must necessarily be weakened when it is impelled to a movement contrary
to nature as the strain is much greater than that of walking jumping or running
which are all natural movements.
Another cause of injury to health arises from the considerable amount of strength
wasted in guiding and maintaining the direction of the machine, because, as this is
done horizontally, the weight is on the chest.
The improvements to which this invention relates provide the means whereby
the above mentioned defects may be obviated and they consist in transmitting the
motion of the feet by means of levers of such length that the curve described
thereby will be so slight that it is almost a straight line the movement of the feet
being similar to that effected when going up a staircase or climbing a hill.
My improvements comprise the combined mechanism for transmitting motion
from the levers to the driving wheel, the latter being independent of the backward
movement of the said levers.
Another improvement consists in a combination by which the hind wheel
becomes the leading wheel and in transmitting the necessary power to drive the
cycle by means of a horizontal shaft so that all the driving effort may be vertical.
A further improvement consists in the application of metallic pneumatic tyres
or metallic hoops mude of one or more parts filled with compressed air the breakage
of which can be avoided by taking the necessary precautions.
Another advantage of my invention consists in applying to the tyre of the wheel
a number of pneumatic chambers, leaving a free space between each and surrounding
them with a metallic strip or wooden ring that rubs against the ground.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved machine.
Figure 2 is a plan of the driving wheel shaft to which is adapted a device for
ransmitting the movement of the levers;
Figure 3 is a detail view of the ratchet wheel.
Figure 4 represents the driving wheel shaft with another arrangement for
ransmitting motion from the levers applied thereto.
Figures 5 to 14 show metallic pneumatic tyres provided with arrangements to
revent their being broken and for closing them at their ends.
Figure 15 is a view of the driving wheel shaft with a modified form of device
or transmitting the movement of the levers.
Figure 16 is a face view of the ratchet.

page_text: Figure 17 represents a transverse. section of the driving wheel shaft taken
between the pulley and the arm of the frame of the machine and
Figure 18 is a side elevation of a wheel with the pneumatic tyre applied thereto.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the
drawings.
The frame of the improved machine is not materially modified except in so far
as is necessary to adapt it to the improved arrangements to which this invention
refers. One of the improvements consists in the application of the levers a and a¹
Figure 1 the revolving shaft of which is arranged at the end b and supported by
the frame the said levers at their free ends being provided with pedals a and a
The fore wheel is arranged between the said levers to each of which is fastened one
end of the chains c or c¹..
The driving wheel shaft carries at each end a double grooved pulley e d or e¹ d'
with clutches h and h¹ that are constantly acted upon by their corresponding
springs i or¹ so that they may gear with the respective wheels k or k¹ that are
fixed to the shaft. In the grooves d or d' are fixed the respective chains c or c¹
and in the grooves e or e¹ are fixed the ends of a chain which passes round a
pulley 9 supported by the frame. The said pulleys are loose on the shaft each of
them being provided with a pawl or catch (Figure 3) that engages with a
wheel fastened on the shaft 7. Therefore when the pulleys turn in the direction
of the catch that is to say when the corresponding lever descends it drives the
wheel compelling the shaft to rotate and when it rotates in the contrary way the
catch is released and the wheel and shaft are left free. Instead of the chains
I may use ropes or belts and they are so arranged that when the treadle a* is
pressed down, the chain c is unwound from the groove d and the chain / wound
upon the groove e, the pawl on the pulley de engaging the ratchet wheel k turns
the shaft. During this movement the chain fis unwound from the groove e¹ and
the chain wound upon the groove d' thereby raising the pedal a¹ the pulley d¹ e¹
being thus rotated in the opposite direction to the shaft and the pawl sliding
loosely over the teeth of the ratchet. On the pedal a¹ being depressed the above
described operation will be repeated but in the reverse order the pawl h' on the
pulley de engaging with the ratchet k¹ and thus causing the shaft to continue its
motion in the same direction as above described.
In some cases I may use instead of the chains suitable toothed bars secured to
the levers and engaging with ratchet wheels on the shaft 1.
The parts and mechanism shown in Figures 2 and 15 are similar and they work
in the same way, the only difference being that in Figure 2 the pulleys rotate on
the same shaft of the driving wheel and in Figure 15 they do so on sockets or
projecting rings that are fixed to the arms; and j¹ of the velocipede frame.
The shaft (Figure 17) passes through the socket or ring and its end is fixed or
fastened to the centre of the wheel k (Figure 16)..
The hereinbefore described arrangement may be substituted by that shown in
Figure 4. It consists in using the hub of the driving wheel and in passing
through the same another shaft p that bears on one of its ends a grooved pulley
with its chain c and on the other end another grooved pulley m provided with a
chain n.
The latter chain winds ou the pulley o which is connected to pulley o¹
both being supported by the arm g fitted to the frame j.. The shaft bears as in
Figure 2 the ratchet wheels k and k¹ and the grooved pulley d' with its chain c¹;
connected to this pulley is the pulley that receives chain. n¹ from pulley o'..
By this arrangement when the chain c is pulled n winds round m and the
pulleys o and o' rotate imparting their motion to d¹ so as to wind the chain c¹.
When the latter is drawn theu the pulleys d' and d² execute contrary movements
that are imparted to pulley m by means of chain n and by the centre shaft p to
pulley and chain c. The pulleys m and. o may be substituted by toothed. wheels
gearing into each other and arranged as shown in Figure. 4..
The chain may be substituted by springs: fixed to the pulleys d and d¹ forcing
them to wind the chains c and c¹ when they are free.

page_text: I might also add in a suitable part of the frame a pulley so placed as to receive
a cord or chain ending in the levers so that one of these should invariably rise
when the other descends thus relieving from this work the chains c and c¹.
Another improvement consists in the arrangement of the back wheel as the
steering wheel together with the device adapted for this purpose. Such device
consists in the handle bars m and m¹ being fixed to the end of a tube n³ (Figure 1)
that carries at its other end the arms n³ and n; on the latter is supported a
swivelling fork, the arms o and o³ of which are conveniently arranged so that
between them may pass the vertical shaft p' connected to the horizontal part p³ and
the part p by which the back wheel of the velocipede is controlled. In this
arrangement I might dispense with the use of the arm n³ the swivelling fork o' aud
the vertical shaft p¹ by turning the arm into a fork which should hold the
horizontal part between its branches. I might also substitute the fork o' o'
by a single arm and change the vertical shaft p¹ into a swivelling fork worked by
the former. With this modified arrangement the result would be the same as
described. The levers a and a' may be hollow or solid and made of any suitable
metal; they may also be made of wood of a bent or straight shape and of suitable
length weight and strength. I can also use any suitable ratio between the power
and resistance.
The ratchet wheels k and ki may be of several sizes and constructed of different
metal and the catch and teeth conveniently shaped and they may be placed on the
outside circumference or on one side according to the arrangement of the
velocipede.
The chains may be substituted by means of cables or cords and may be of any
suitable class, strength or length.
Another improvement consists in obviating the difficulty to which the use of
metallic pneumatic tyres gives rise on account of their frequent breakage by
limiting the action of their elasticity, that is to say, by avoiding too much com-
pression. Figure 5 shows in cross section the pneumatic tyre adapted to the rim
and Figures 67 and 8 represent separate sections of each piece.
The pneumatic tyre is formed of a tube a² of circular section applied to the
rim b' by means of screws soldered to the pneumatic tube; these screws are
driven through holes in the rim and are afterwards fastened by means of nuts d³.
The pneumatic tube is protected by a wrapper or casing of leather, india rubber,
or strong canvas which is thicker towards the tread. In order to avoid too great
compression of the tyre lugs or ears f¹ aud f¹ are provided which are fastened at
intervals to the rim and fitted in such a way that they may run on the ground
when the tube is compressed to nearly half its original size; between the lugs and
the tube there are free spaces g and gl so that the latter may expand without
rubbing the former.
Instead of these lugs I may employ complete hoops or rings each being provided
with india rubber stops or springs.
Figures 9, 10 11 and 12 represent a modified arrangement of the tyre and the
pneumatic tube and its wrapper or casing.
In Figure 9 the metallic pneumatic tube a' is provided with an envelope or cover e
made of caoutchouc leather or linen which is fastened by tying it to small hooks g³
soldered to the pneumatic tube at suitable intervals.
The basis of the pneumatic tube is plain and held to the bollow rim b' as
hereinafter described. At given intervals projecting ears a³ are soldered to the
pneumatic tube which ears correspond with other ears 6 soldered to the rim b¹ and
through orifices formed at the end of said ears, screws c³ are passed which together
with their nuts securely hold the pneumatic tube to the tyre.
The ears which are soldered to the rim b' and to the tube a' are represented in
the drawing by lines placed somewhat apart, in order to show the arrangement
more clearly.
To prevent the flattening of the pneumatic tube a beyond a certain limit it is
provided on the inside with pins projections or other convenient. devices ³ made of

page_text: wood, caoutchouc or the like and arranged at suitable: intervals around the tyre.
The bases of the said devices are plain and are fastened: to the plain inner face
of the pneumatic tube.
3
Should the metallic pneumatic tube a* be formed as usual of an endless ring the
said device can be made in the form of an endless ring of caoutchouc, wood or
other suitable material.
.
The metallic pneumatic tube may be made of an endless hoop or otherwise a
hoop joined at its ends or a hoop divided into two or more parts. The hoop or the
different parts of which it is made may have their ends open and in such a case
they can be closed according to any of the arrangements shown in Figure 13 which
is a longitudinal section of the pneumatic tube.
The arrangement shewn on the left hand side of the drawing consists of an india
rubber plug provided with flanges that adapt themselves to the inner circum-
ference of the tube a not only on account of their own elasticity and of the air
pressure but also owing to the action of a ring & that tends to fasten the flanges of
the plug against those of the pneumatic tube. The other arrangement shewn on
the right hand side of Figure 13 consists of a plug e with its flanges leading
outwards. The end of the pneumatic tube a' is flanged inwards and fastens the
flange of the plug e. Between the plugs e I place an india rubber distance
piece of a suitable shape.
According to Figure 14 the ends of the pneumatic tube are made of metal and
I also place between them an india-rubber distance piece . Figure 18 shows the
pneumatic tube a³ or solid or hollow tyre divided into several parts arranged
at suitable distances apart; they are surrounded by a metallic or wooden hoop b
that bears upon the ground to form the tread. The hoop may be of one single
piece or of several parts fixed to the pneumatic tube or it may also be attached to
the tyre in any suitable way.
The improvements herein mentioned present many advantages such as easiness
of movement of the feet up and down from any height limiting the pace when
desired because there is no necessity for running a fixed distance.
'
The chains for transmitting motion usually employed on cycles are dispensed
with because they have the disadvantage of becoming loose and in some cases
breaking.
As the back wheel is the steering wheel it will always tend to place itself in the
direction of the fore wheel because the arm where the shaft is supported is some-
what inclined forward consequently a very small effort is required to keep the
direction of the velocipede and even less power than usual to guide it.
The chief advantage of the herein described pneumatic tyres over those
ordinarily used is that they last much longer and therefore are less expensive.
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:
•
1. The application of reciprocating levers to velocipedes at one of its ends and
the arrangement of the same in such a way that each lever may be actuated by the
feet at the opposite end, motion being transmitted by means of a chain cord belting
or steel band to a wheel or grooved pulley loose upon the shaft of the driving
wheel or upon a centre shaft fixed to the framing of the velocipede which pulley is
provided with a ratchet wheel which in the forward movement of the same gears
with a wheel fixed to the shaft but which slides freely in its backward motion.
2. The application to velocipedes of a chain, cord or belt f which passes over a
grooved pulley g causing one of the levers to rise when the other descends either if
the chain or belt moves on an intermediate pulley connected to the one that
receives motion from the levers or directly upon the latter.
:
'
3. The arrangement of the shaft of the driving wheel as a hollow tube through'
which is passed another shaft or axle carrying one of the pulleys or ratchet wheels
which are actuated by the feet and another pulley or ratchet wheel m which by

page_text: means of other chains and pulleys or intermediate wheels imparts retrogressive
motion to the second driving pulley d' the latter transmitting it to the former by
the same intermediate process.
4. The application to velocipedes of the same kind of levers and arrangement of
parts as in Claim 1 but substituting for the chains toothed bars fastened to the
levers, and for the pulleys ratchet wheels engaging with the said bars.
5. The arrangement of the steering wheel so that the part of the framing on
which it bears may have the shape of a vertical shaft p³ terminating in an horizontal
shaft p operated by a fork that reciprocates with an horizontal shaft n' or other-
wise carries a projection that passes through a fork supported by the rotary
shaft n². Instead of the arm or projection p¹ I may use a pivoted fork carrying
between its branches a rotary arm actuated by shaft n³.
6. The application to velocipedes of an horizontal shaft n' provided with guiding
handles for imparting motion to the steering wheel so that the necessary effort for
this purpose is made in a vertical direction.
7. The application to the wheels of velocipedes of metallic pneumatic tubes or
metallic hoops made of one single piece or of several pieces filled with compressed
air or with any other kind of pueumatic tubes carrying in their interior stoppers or
plugs arranged at convenient distances apart and also applying hoops or rings made
of wood or india rubber or any other suitable device so as to minimize the
compression of the pneumatic tubes as much as may be desired.
8. The application to tyres of velocipedes of projecting lugs ff' arranged at
convenient distances apart and which may also be composed of rings or hoops with
free spaces 9 and g¹ between them and the pneumatic tube.
9. The application to the wheels of velocipedes of india rubber pneumatic tubes
or hollow or solid tyres divided into several sections with their ends closed and
arranged at suitable distances apart or touching each other surrounded by an
endless or divided hoop made of metal, wood, leather, india rubber or other suitable
material or device that may cover them entirely or only a suitable part thereof.
10. The application to the wheels of velocipedes of metallic or india rubber
pneumatic tubes divided into two or more parts having their respective ends closed.
11. The surrounding of the pneumatic or caoutchouc bands with a hoop or
metallic strip that bears upon the ground, said hoops being made either of one
single piece or divided into several parts.
Dated this 13th day of April 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.