Improved Governors for Safety Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Governors for Safety Bicycles.
BENGT PETTER OLSSON, usually known as B. Ohlson, Master Tailor 70 Elspeth
Road, Clapham Common London, S.W., do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to or is to regulate the speed of Bicycles by means of centri-
fugal action. I mount a pair of governor balls similar to those employed in steam
engines, the said governors are brought into action by connecting them with a
train of gearing wheels, the said wheels may be toothed like clock wheels & bevelled
if desired or I may connect one into the other by means of chain gearing. Now I
may first mount or brace a small constructing frame into the frame of the machine
in front of the hind wheel & on to the down shaft or tube of the bicycle, into this
constructing frame I propose mounting the mechanism. Now I mount a driving
wheel which I call No. 1 in the centre of the axle, in which the cranks & peddles
are attached to, I have a slot cut in the bracket so that I may conveniently gear
another wheel into the said driving wheel No. 1 & which I propose doing in the
following manner. I mount a spindle in the constructing frame on this said
spindle I mount a gear lever spring attached, the upper end I lead on to the down
shaft either the one that the saddle is mounted on or the one that
leads from the head of the machine, this end of the gear lever I
connect to a band which I lead on to the saddle or the handles & attach
in a suitable manner, so that it may easily be used for throwing the mechanism
in to gear & when released the spring attached, will force it out of gear. I may
also arrange that it may be thrown out of gear by the foot. Now I mount a
spindle in the down ends of the gear lever & on this spindle I mount a gearing
wheel No. 2, now I mount a bossed gearing wheel No. 3 on the spindle on which
the gear lever is mounted & in between the two lever ..ms, I mount this said wheel
so that it can rotate, free on the said spindle, independant of the action of the said
gear lever, this wheel No. 3 is geared into No. 2. Now by moving the gear lever
upwards I am able to throw wheel No. 2 into gear with driving wheel No. 1 & by
again releasing the gear lever, the spring attached to the gear lever, will force
wheel No. 2 out of gear as desired.
I may so arrange the gear lever by having pins fixed on points in the frame for
the gear lever to work against, so that wheel No. 2 cannot be geared too tight to
wheel No. 1 & also that it cannot be thrown too far out of gear.
Now I mount another wheel No. 4 on a spindle, the said spindle is mounted in
bearings in the constructing frame in such a position, that it gears into wheel No. 3,
on the gear lever.
Now I mount another spindle into the frame & on this spindle I mount wheel
No. 5, this said wheels gears into wheel No. 4. Now again I mount another spindle
to the frame in bearings & on this said spindle I mount a gearing wheel No. 6,
with a friction roller or wheel attached, this wheel No. 6 gears into wheel No. 5.
I also mount another spindle in bearings with wheel No. 7, so that it gears into

page_text: wheei No. 6, with a friction roller or wheel attached. I mount this said wheel
No. 7 at the back of wheel No. 6 with friction rollers attached, on the same spindle
as No. 7 wheel is mounted, I mount a bevelled wheel No. 8, above this last wheel
I mount or brace into the constructing frame a stayed bar, through this I mount
in bearings a sleeve with a key way in it, to the bottom end of this said sleeve I
mount a bevelled driving wheel No. 9 for the governors, which will gear into wheel
No. 8, through the key way of the sleeve I mount a spindle in a key way in a
perpendicular position, the upper end of the said spindle is mounted in bearings
in the constructing frame so that it may rotate & work up & down. Now I mount
into the upper end of the said spindle the arms on which the governor bails are
mounted. The lower arms of the governors I mount into the sleeve, with driving
wheel No. 9 attached. I now mount a friction lever one end into the constructing
frame in bearings & in such a position that it rests on the friction roller. I lead
it straight under the governor spindle. I may have a small groove cut into the
end of the friction lever, for the point of the governor spindle to fit or rest in, so
that when the governor balls are in action & go round at a high speed, they will
open out & pull the said governor spindle & press on the friction lever, forcing
tight against the friction roller consequently reducing the speed, to make the
friction lever act more effectually, the same may be curved so that it will grip
round the friction roller firmer.
I will so arrange the wheel that gears into the governor driving wheel, so that
it rotates the same way as driving wheel No. 1, I should thereby have the whole
force of the gearing, as well as the governors brought to bear on the friction roller.
To obtain an extra high speed for the governors, I may have a double gearing
wheel mounted, on the various spindles, so that the larger wheels gears into the
smaller ones. I may adopt another method to throw the mechanism into gear, I
may have a spring pawl or clutch mounted on either of the spindles on which the
1st or 2nd wheel is mounted, that the said may be slided in. & out of gear. For
instance wheel No. 2 may be bevelled on one side & driving wheel No. 1 being
bevelled for the said to gear into, wheel No. 2 may be toothed or coged outside
& so remain permanent gear with wheel No. 3, I would attach a band to the spring
pawl or clutch & lead it on to the saddle or the handles of the machine as afore
described or it may be thrown out of gear by the foot, I should have a spring on
the spindle that would force wheel No. 2 out of gear.
I may have another method of obtaining my driving power by mounting the lat
driving wheel on the hub of the hind wheel, this wheel I call No. 1, now I mount
in the constructing frame a driving spindle in bearings on the outer end of this
spindle I mount a wheel No. 2, which I connect to wheel No. 1, either by chain
gearing or the said wheel may be toothed & bevelled, I should then mount a
spindle in any suitable way in bearings having a bevelled wheel mounted on each
end, which would connect or gear into the said wheels Nos. 1 & 2 & so obtain my
driving power by this method or I may adopt another method or way in mounting
the 1st driving wheel No. 1 on the axle inside the left crank to which the peddles
are mounted & connect the same to the other wheels in a similar manner as afore-
said described by either chain or tooth gearing. I may also mount the 1st driving
or gearing wheel in such a way that it may be geared from the same chain as
drives the machine or I may have a double gearing wheel mounted, so that one
side of this said wheel drives the machine & the other the governors. I may have
a box or cover made dust proof of any suitable metal or composition, such a
Aluminium or Celluloid in such a way as to enclose all or partly all the mechanism.
I do not however confine myself to all the precise details herein described, as the
same may be varied without departing from the true nature of my invention.
My Invention has for its objects to regulate the speed of the rider in busy
thoroughfares, to a pace say 4 6 or 8 miles a hour & thereby avoid many an accident.
Further it will be found very useful to riders on hilly roads, where going down
a steep hill when the governors are in action, the machine cannot over-run.
I may have a friction roller with a spring at the back, attached to wheel No. 2,

page_text: which gears into driving wheel No. 1 so that when thrown into gear it would not
cause a strain to the mechanism or I may have any other little contrivances to
effect the same object.
I may have a wheel mounted in bearings in between friction wheel No. 6 &
wheel No. 7, so that I may increase the length of the friction lever & thereby get
increased power on the friction roller.
T: 9 la of Decambion 1906
Improved Governors for Safety Bicycles.
I BENGT PETTER OLSSON commonly known as B. Ohlson of 70 Elspeth Road
Clapham Common, London S.W. Master Tailor 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:-
The object of this invention is to prevent bicycles from attaining more than a
predetermined speed when travelling on the level or when descending hills. This
object I attain by connecting a centrifugal governor to any convenient rotating
part of the machine which governor when the said speed is attained applies a
friction or other brake to the machine and controls the speed of the same without
any effort on the part of the rider.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I will proceed to
explain the same with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings ia
which:-
Fig. 1. represents elevation of an apparatus constructed according to this
invention.
Fig. 2 is plan of same with casing removed.
Fig. 3. is section of same.
Fig. 4 shews a modification of same in which the centrifugal governor acts also
as a brake.
Fig. 5 is section of same.
Fig. 6 shews a modified form of the invention adapted to be applied to the back
wheel of the machine.
Fig. 7 shews the apparatus applied to the back wheel.
Fig. 8. shews the apparatus adapted to be put into or out of action by means of
a clutch.
Fig. 9. shews one method of connecting the disengaging apparatus to the front
of the machine.
Fig. 10. is front view of rack.
Fig. 11 is side view of same.
Fig. 12. shews my controlling apparatus driven by means of a lay shaft from the
hub of the back wheel.
Fig. 13. shews same apparatus driven by means of sprocket wheels and chains
from the hub of the back wheel.
Fig. 14 shews governor acting on a band brake on the hub of the back wheel
or on a spoon brake bearing on the tyre of the back wheel.
The same figures denote the same parts in all the figs. 1 is the crank bracket
2 the crank axle 33 the cranks. 4 is a spur wheel keyed to the crank axle which
gears with a pinion 5 rotating on a pin 6 secured in an oscillating lever 7 which
lever oscillates on the axle 8 and by the movement of which lever the pinion 5 may
be caused to gear with the wheel 4 or be disengaged therefrom.

page_text: Rotating on the axle 8 is a pinion 9 which gears with the pinion 5. To the
pinion 9 is secured a spur wheel 10 which gears with a pinion i1 rotating on the
axle 12.
This pinion has secured thereto a spur wheel 13 which gears with a pinion 14
rotating on the axle 15. To the pinion 14 is secured a wheel 16 having spur and
bevil teeth thereon of which the bevil teeth impart motion to the governor 17 by
means of the bevil pinion 18 the spur teeth engaging with the pinion 19 attached
to a friction brake drum 20 rotating on the axle 12. 21 is a brake band encircling
the drum 20 the said strap being attached at one end to the axle 15 and at the
other end to the short arm of a bent lever 22 pivotted at 23 the long arm of which
is adapted to be depressed by the action of the governor 17 and so tightening the
brake strap when the speed of the machine reaches a predetermined rate. The
axles 2. 8. 12 and 15 are secured in side plates 32 secured to the bottom bracket 1
and the back forks A A the whole of the gear being covered by a metal casing 38.
Suitable means are provided whereby the apparatus may be placed in gear with
the crank shaft when descending inclines or be detached therefrom when riding
on level ground and when going uphill. For example see Figs. 9. 10 and 11 the
end of the lever 7 may be connected by means of a rack 24 to a pinion 25 secured
to a shaft 26 to the other end of which is secured a bevil pinion 27 which gears
with a bevil pinion 28 secured to a shaft 29 furnished at its upper end with a
handle by means of which the shafts 26 and 29 may be rotated. The pinion 25
may be eccentrically mounted on the shaft 26.
Or instead of using bevil pinione 27 and 28 I may use a worm and wheel or
screw gearing.
This latter arrangement holds the apparatus either in or out of gear without any
effort on the part of the rider. Or the lever may be actuated by any other suit-
able means whereby the rider is enabled to move the mid lever sufficiently to
throw the apparatus into or out of gear with the crank shaft without dismounting.
To enable the rider to adjust the speed of the machine to his own requirements
I cause the governor to act against a spring the tension or compression of which
may be altered at will.
The said springs may be attached to the lever 22 as shewn at 36 Fig. 1, the
pressure of the said springs against the govornor being regulated by a wing nut 37
(or by other suitable means) outaide the casing 38 or the springs may be attached
directly to the governor as shewn at 39 Fig 3 the compression of the said springs
being regulated by lock nuts 40 on the spindle 41 which is depressed as the governor
balls fly outwards.
The links 42 are pivotted to a sleeve or hollow spindle 43 which rotates in a
bearing 44 carried by a bridge piece 45 or by other suitable means. 46 is a casing
enclosing the governor. Or instead of the governor acting on a friction, drum by
means of a strap or band the governor itself may form the friction brake.
One form of such arrangement is shewn by Figs 4 and 5 of which Fig 4 is a
plan and Fig 5 a section through the governor and drum.
The governor balls 47, take the form of heavy weights rotating inside a ring or
drum 48.
The said weights as shewn in dotted lines Fig 5 are normally clear of the drum
or ring 48, but rotate in contact therewith as soon as a predetermined speed is
attained.
Or the drum or ring 48 may be caused to rotate in a contrary direction to the
balls or weights 47 as shewn by Fig 5 in which the bevil wheel 16 on the shaft 15
drives the governor arms in one direction by means of the bevil wheel 18 while
the drum 48 is driven in the opposite direction by means of the bevil wheel 56
secured to the shaft 15 and the bevil wheel 55 attached to or forming part of the
drum 48 the said drum revolving on a bearing forming part of the bridge piece 46.
By causing the balls and the drum to rotate in opposite directions the frictional
resistance is increased.
According to a modified form of my invention the lever 7 is dispensed with and

page_text: the apparatus thrown into or out of gear by means of a clutch between the wheels 9
and 10 see Fig 8.
The pinion 9 may be keyed to the axle 8 and the wheel 10 run loose thereon the
said wheel having a fixed clutch piece 49 formed thereon the clutch piece 50
sliding on a feather key 44 in the axle 8. 51 is a bell crank lever to move the
clutch piece 50. I prefer to construct the apparatus so that the clutch piece 50 is
normally urged towards the piece 49 by means of a spring so that by merely
releasing a fever or catch the apparatus is instantly brought into action.
Suitable means are provided whereby the clutch piece 50 may be moved into
or out of gear with the piece 49 at the will of the rider the operating catch or lever
being attached preferably to the handle bar and connected with the crank 51 by
rods or other suitable means.
According to another modification of my invention I may drive the governor
and brake wheel from the hack wheel tyre by means of an indiarubber covered or
other suitable roller 52 see Figs 6 and 7 to which is connected in such a manner
as to rotate therewith a spur wheel 54 gearing with the wheel 16 to which is
attached the brake drum 20. This apparatus is pivotted to the bridge across the
back stays 55 and is connected by any suitable means such as a wire or levers to
the ordinary brake lever which is preferably provided with a catch or other suitable
device such as a Croll's brake holder to obviate the necessity of the rider keeping
his hand on the brake lever while going down hill after having put the apparatus
in gear. When not in use the apparatus is held out of contact with the back
wheel by means of a spring.
According to another modification of my invention as shown at Fig 12 the
apparatus may be driven by means of a bevil wheel 58 secured to the hub of the
hack wheel which gears with a bevil pinion 59 keved or otherwise attached to a
lay shaft 57 rotating in bearings 62. 63 secured to the back fork.
At the opposite end of the said shaft is a bevil wheel 60 gearing with a pinion 61
secured to the shaft 15 Fig 1. so that should the chain break the apparatus would
still act, the apparatus in this case would be similar to that shewn at Fig 6 the
necessary speed of the governor and brake drum being obtained by means of the
bevil wheels.
In machines of the Acatene type the apparatus may be driven from the lay
shaft connecting the crank axle to the back wheel.
Or the apparatus may be driven from the hub of the back wheel by means of a
pitch chain 65 see Fig 13 and sprocket wheels 64 and 66 (or the apparatus may
be driven by the ordinary driving chain). According to a further modification
of my invention the governor arms may be connected to a suitable bobbin as in
Steam Engine governors which engages with a bent lever 72 pivotted at 73 the free
end of the said lever being connected by means of a bell crank lever 69 pivotted
at 70 and rod or wire 71 to a brake strap surrounding a brake drum 67 attached
to the hub of the driving wheel see Fig 14.
Or the said bobbin or flanged sleeve may engage with a straight lever 74 shewn
in dotted lines Fig 14 which is connected by means of a rod or wire 75 to a bell
crank lever 76 pivotted to the back stays or mud-guard bridge the free end of the
said lever carrying an ordinary spoon brake 77 which acts on the tyre of the
driving wheel in the usual way. If necessary I may use two friction drums and
brake straps if one is found insufficient I may also interpose a spring or springs
in the usual well known way between the wheels 9 and 10 to prevent overstraining
the mechanism when suddenly thrown into gear. This invention is also applicable
to Velocipedes other than hieveles. In conclusion I would remark that I do not
hind myself to the precise details as specified and shewn by the drawings as the
same may be varied within wide limits without departing from the subject matter
of my invention neither do I bind myself to use any or either of the means herein
set forth for throwing my speed controlling mechanism into or out of gear with a
suitable revolving part of the machine as I reserve to myself the right to use any

page_text: suitable device or devices for this purpose such devices being more in the nature
of an accessory to than an integral portion of my invention.
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. In an apparatus for controlling the speed of Velocipedes the construction
and use of a friction brake put into action by a centrifugal governor when the speed
of the machine reaches a predetermined rate.
2. In an apparatus for controlling the speed of Velocipedes the combination of
a brake drum and a centrifugal governor driven in any convenient manner from a
revolving portion of the machine with a brake band adapted to be tightened
around the said drum by the said governor substantially as herein before specified.
3. In an apparatus for controlling the speed of bicycles and other Velocipedes,
the combination of a revolving brake drum rotated by means of suitable gearing,
from the crank shaft or other suitable rotating portion of the machine with a
brake strap encircling the said drum, a spring regulated centrifugal governor to
tighten the said strap and a means whereby the said apparatus may be put into or
out of action at the will of the rider substantially as hereinbefore specified.
4. In an apparatus for controlling the speed of bicycles and other Velocipedes.
the combination of a centrifugal governor the halls of which take the form of
heavy weights with a fixed or rotating drum or ring surrounding the said weights
which press against the inner surface of the said drum or ring when the speed of
the machine reaches a predetermined rate, gearing to rotate said governor (and
ring or drum if desired) and a means whereby the controlling apparatus may be
put into or thrown out of action all substantially as herein before specified.
5. In an apparatus for controlling the speed of bicycles the combination of a
roller adapted to be rotated by the tyre of the driving wheel a spur wheel rotated
bv said roller a spur wheel gearing with said wheel a centrifugal governor actuated
by spur and bevil gearing driven by said wheels a friction brake operated by said
governor and means for holding said roller in or out of contact with tyre of driving
wheel substantially as hereinbefore specified.
6. In an apparatus for controlling the speed of bicycles the combination of a
friction brake operated by a centrifugal governor, bevil wheels and lay shafts for
transmitting motion to said governor and brake from the hub of the driving wheel
and means for putting the said governor and brake into or out of action all sub-
stantially as hereinbefore specified.
7. In an apparatus for controlling the speed of bicycles the combination with
apparatus as hereinbefore described and claimed of a rack 24 a pinion 25 gearing
therewith, shaft. 26 bevil pinions 27 and 28 shaft 29 and a handle to rotate the
shaft 29 all substantially as hereinbefore specified and for the purpose stated.
8. Apparatus for controlling the speed of bicycles constructed as hereinbefore
described and shewn and operating in the manner specified.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1897
T. E. HALFORD
11 Furnival Street London EC Agent for Applicant.