IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES AND SIMILAR VEHICLES OR MACHINES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Henry Thompson, of Finsbury Circus, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT
AND CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES AND SIMILAR VEHICLES OR MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Henry Thompson
"IM-
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th June 1879.
WILLIAM HENRY THOMPSON, of Finsbury Circus, in the City of London.
PROVEMENTS IN THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES AND
SIMILAR VEHICLES OR MACHINES."
In carrying my Invention into practice, although other actions natural to the
human form may be applied as a power to give movement to the mechanism herein-
after described, I find it advantageous to arrange the mechanism so that the
operator may as nearly as possible work the machine with the action common to
rowing.
The body of the machine is advantageously formed by making each of the two
side frames from one length of elastic wood suitably bent and connected together
by cross stays; this body is mounted with an adjustable seat, and is also fitted
with a foot board or stretcher capable of adjustment so that the rider may get the
proper amount of purchase according to the length of the legs.
The two rowing levers are fixed in a proper position on each side of the machine,
and the whole is mounted by means of suitable axles on four wheels, two at each end;
those at the back end are of larger diameter than the front wheels, and are herein-
after termed the driving wheels, to which the impelling power of the rowing levers
is transmitted in following manner :-
Each of the driving wheels revolves independently of the other on its own axle,
and attached to and connected with each driving wheel is a ratchet wheel (or its
equivalent). This ratchet wheel works in the hollow of a circular drum or barrel
which works or rotates on the same axle. The interior. or hollow of the drum is
fitted with palls so arranged as to engage in the teeth of the ratchet wheel when
driven in the same direction as the wheel to which it is connected, and to slip freely
over the teeth of the said ratchet when driven or turning in an opposite direction.
Around the exterior of the said drum is coiled a suitable cord in as many coils as
may be necessary for the cord to obtain a proper bite on the drum. Each end of

page_text: this cord is continued from the drum and rove through a pair of pulley blocks in
the manner of ordinary block tackle (the number of pulleys in each block are
arranged according to the power available, and the speed required by the rider),
each of which pair of blocks is adjusted and connected with a cord or metal band
on the radius of an oscillating quadrant in such a manner that the said quadrant
in working to and fro causes the pair of blocks to be pulled apart, drawing a given
quantity of cord from off the drum, and at the same time admitting of another pair
of blocks (through which the other end of the cord has been rove), contracting to
pay on the aforesaid drum the quantity of cord as it is being absorbed or collected
by the first named blocks. Thus from the oscillating motion of the quadrant the
two pairs of blocks aforesaid alternately pay out and collect the cord from one to
the other through the medium of the drum, to which it transmits a rotary motion
which is imparted to the driving wheels by its connection with the ratchet wheel
aforesaid.
The aforesaid quadrant is attached to a vertical shaft or spindle (working in a
suitable bearing). The top end of this shaft is cranked so as to admit of the rider
using a rowing lever of any desired length without extending the width of the main
framing or body of the machine. This rowing lever is connected to the end of the
crank by a hinged joint made with a spring so as to give the requisite resistance to
the hand of the rider, and admit of the lever conforming to the action of rowing
by its having a vertical radial movement at the same time that it is being
horizontally radiated from the axis of the vertical shaft aforesaid.
In order to arrange each pair of blocks in their proper position for direct action
without the aid of guide pulleys, the quadrant aforesaid is made with two radiuses
of different sizes; the larger radius is connected to the blocks to which the pulling
power of the rider is applied. The other blocks which collect the cord in the return
stroke are connected to the smaller radius. The difference of traverse given to the
blocks by the unequal radiuses is made up by intercepting a spring between the
cord or band working in the smaller radius and the block to which it is connected,
which spring also keeps the cords (working through the blocks) taut.
The steering of the machine is effected by giving additional speed to either of the
driving wheels according to the desired direction, and when desirable to have the
assistance of the front wheels they are connected by a cross head (or its equivalent)
to the foot board or stretcher, and worked in the following manner :—
The said foot board is so arranged that either end may serve as a fulcrum and
radiate from either end by additional pressure from either the right or left foot of
the rider. Both ends of the board are held up to the brackets forming the fulcrum
by a spring, and connected to the steering wheel by a rod or a cord working with
adjustable pulleys.
A brake lever is placed ou each side of the machine in such a position as to be
brought into contact with the driving wheels, and the brake lever projects beyond
the framing such a distance as to clear the levers when being worked by the rider,
who can at will brake one or both of the wheels by depressing one or both of the
rowing levers so as to bring them with suitable pressure into contact with the brake
lever.

page_text: Calfica Ma
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a velocipede arranged and constructed in
accordance with my improvements, from which the wheels are removed so that the
mechanism may be more clearly described; Figure 2 is a plan from which part of
the framing has been taken in order that the driving gear may be more clearly
understood.
a, a, is the main frame or body of the machine; b, b, are cross stays; c, c, is a
longitudinal stay. Each of the driving wheels d, d, revolves independently of the
other on its own axle. Attached to and connected with each driving wheel is a
ratchet wheel e which works in the hollow of the circular drum or barrel f which
rotates on the some axle g. The hollow of the drum is fitted with pawls h, h,
which engage in the teeth of the ratchet wheel e when driven in the same direction
as the wheel d, d, to which it is connected, and slips freely over the teeth of the
ratchet wheel when they are carried by the drum fin an opposite direction. Around
the exterior or periphery of the drum fis coiled a suitable cord i in as many coils
Each end
as may be necessary for the cord i to obtain a proper bite on the drum.
of the cord i is continued from the drum f and rove through a pair of pulley blocks
jj, and k, k, in the manner of ordinary tackle (the number of pulleys working in
cach block may be arranged to attain an increased or diminished speed in accordance
with the strength or power available by the rider). Each pair of the blocks j, j,
and k, k, are adjusted and connected with a wire or cord and m attached to and
working on the radius of an oscillating quadrant n in such manner that the
quadrant n in working to and fro causes the blocks j, j, to be pulled apart, drawing
a given quantity of cord i off the drum f, at the same time admitting of the blocks
,, (through which the other end of the cord has been rove) contracting to pay on
to the drum 'the quantity of cord i as it is being collected or absorbed by the
blocks j, j. Thus from the oscillating motion of the quadrant n the two pair of
blocks (or pulley tackle) j,j, and k, k, alternately pay out and collect the cord i
from one to the other through the medium of the drum f, which thus receives a
rotary motion first in one direction and then in the other, imparting its forward
rotary motion to the driving wheel d, d, by means of its connection with the ratchet
wheel e.
The quadrant is attached to a vertical shaft o supported by and working in the
socket which is of a bracket form and mounted in the framing a, a. The top end
of the shaft o is cranked outwards so as to overhang the framing a, a.
The crank
may be lengthened or extended so as to admit of the rider using a rowing lever q
of any desired length without extending the width of the framing or body of the
machine. The rowing lever q is connected to the end of the crank by a hinged joint r
made with a spring as shown at Figure 3 (and described with reference thereto),

page_text: which spring presses the lever q in an upward direction so as to give the requisite
amount of elastic resistance to the hand of the rider and admit of the lever con-
forming to the action of rowing by its having a vertical radial movement from the
hinged joint while it is boing horizontally radiated from axis of the crank, which
is the shaft o.
The front end of the machine is carried on the smaller wheels 8, 8, by means of a
spring t attached to the axles u, u, and connected to the body of the machine by a
stud or pivot v which passes centrally through a socket on cross stay b, and acts
as a centre of radiation for the wheels 8, 8, when they are used for steering the
machine.
Figure 3 shows my improved means of working the propelling or driving
mechanism of velocipedes by horizontally worked levers so acted upon by a spring
(or its equivalent) as to counter balance or support the weight or pressure of the
rider's hands, and to admit of the use of levers of a desired or suitable length without
extending the width of the framing of the machine.
a represents a crank radiating horizontally on the vertical shaft b (to which the
mechanism for driving or impelling the vehicle is connected). At the end of the
crank is a hinged joint c connecting it to the rowing lever d, and which admits of
the levers having a vertical radial movement. The levers are counter balanced
so as to support the pressure or weight of the hands by means of its connection to
the spring e, hence it will be seen that the rowing lever d may be lengthened or
extended from the machine to any desired length without widening the support or
framing on which the axis of the crank is connected by increasing the length
or outward distance of the crank a from the axis on which it radiates.
Where it is found desirable to have or use a change of rowing or working levers
of various lengths, the hinged joint instead of being at the end of the crank is
placed at a suitable distance from the axis on which the crank radiates, and the
crank is continued so as to form one piece with the rowing lever, as shown at
Figure 4, in which a is the axis on which the crank radiates; b, the hinged joint;
c, the spring for counter balancing or resisting the weight or pressure of the hand;
d shows the continuation of the crank.
Figure 5 represents the mode of steering the vehicle with a moveable foot board
or stretcher.
The foot board w is connected by the springs b, b, to the axle spring t carrying
the steering or front wheels. The rider when in positon, by the pressure of his
feet extends the springs b, b, and keeps the foot board hard against the brackets c, c,
which are fixed to the framing a, a. When the foot board is in this position the
springs b, b, are adjusted so as to run this machine straight ahead, but when the
rider desires to turn either to the right or left he eases either one foot or the other
and the board radiates by the action of the springs from the foot on which the
greatest pressure is kept, communicating its motion to the axle spring, as shown by
dotted lines.
a, a, Figure 6, is the break lever radiating on pivot b, and worked by its con-
nection with the shaft c, c, which passes up through the vertical shaft on which the
crank carrying the lever q radiates; the shaft c, c, is held in position and pressed up
by a spring & acting under the head e. The head e is so fitted as to have sufficient
upward and downward play without coming in contact with the lever when being
worked by the rider, who can at pleasure depress the lever at any point of its
radiation, or at any point of his stroke below the usual height of working, and thus
bring it into contact with the head e, depressing it and bringing the break lever to
bear on the periphery of the wheel A.
I would remark that I am aware that moveable pulleys have been employed for
guiding cords for the purpose of propelling velocipedes, and I would have it under-
stood that the object of my arrangement and application of pulley blocks or moveable
pulleys for this purpose is not to gain power but to convert the manual power
exerted into speed.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of performing

page_text: or carrying the same into practice, I make no claim to any of the mechinical
parts separately, which are well known and in common use, nor do I limit myself
to the exact details hereinbefore described so long as the main features and character
of my Invention are retained, but what I claim is,-
First. The adaptation of pulley blocks for transmitting the power exerted by the
rider to the driving wheels of the velocipede, such pulleys not being used simply as
guide pulleys, but as intermediate mechanism for the purpose of converting the
power applied to them into speed which is governed by the number of pulleys
employed and the length of cord which they collect and distribute, substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn in the Drawings annexed.
Secondly. I claim the use of cranks to the propelling mechanism of velocipedes
for imparting motion by means of horizontally worked levers, such cranks over-
hanging or extending beyond the framing or axis on which they are supported or
radiate so as to admit of horizontally worked rowing or working levers being
carried out or extended to any desired or suitable length without extending the
width of the velocipede framing; and,
'
I also claim arranging such cranks with hinged joints combined with suitable
springs or their equivalents so as to admit of the rowing levers having a vortical
radial movement and being counterbalanced by the said springs so as to support
or give the requisite amount of resistance to the weight or pressure of the rider's
hands, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
Where horizontal or rowing levers are employed for propelling velocipedes,
whether radiating upon a fixed framing or otherwise, if having an upward radial
movement, I claim fitting the hinge joint upon which the lever radiates with a
spring arrangement, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
shown in Figure 3 of the Drawings annexed.
Thirdly. For working or giving motion to the steering mechanism of velocipedes
by the feet I claim the application of a foot board or stretcher capable of radiating
from either end by pressure or relief of either the right or left foot, substantially in
the manner herein described and shown in Drawings annexed.
Fourtly. I claim the employment of the rowing levers for working the break
mechanism by depressing the lever at any part of its motion, substantially as herein
described and shown in the Drawings annexed.
Lastly. I claim the improved general arrangement and combination of mechanism
for actuating velocipedes substantially in the manner hereinbefore described and
shown in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Henry Thompson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
W. H. THOMPSON. (L.S.)