Improvements in or relating to Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, HERBERT MASSON of 38 Kentish Town Road, London, N.W. Teacher of
Music, 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 :-
This invention is designed to effect the increase of power and the storage thereof
with a view to apply the same more effectively than hitherto in the propulsion of
bicycles, tricycles and all kinds of wheeled vehicles.
As many bicycles and tricycles have their driving cranks too near the ground to
allow of the pedal attachment described in my application for a Patent No. 18,875
of 1890, being employed; I have devised the following modification of my inven-
tion which can be applied to all kinds of cycles, whether their driving cranks are
near the ground or not, as well as to all other wheeled vehicles.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which Fig. 1 shews an elevation of my invention detached. Fig. 2 shews a
front elevation of it attached to a crank axle, and Fig. 3 shews a side view of
the same.
It is constructed of the following parts.
a is a drum or cylinder, which by means of the eye bis pivotted to a pin placed
on some part of the frame of the cycle or vehicle. The cylinder a contains a
coiled spring or series of springs which are compressed by the tension applied to
the rod c.
Inside the coiled spring is the tube d, with a flange at its upper end e.
This
tube may extend from near the top of the cylinder to near the top of the eccentric.
Inside the tube d is the rod c which at its lower end carries or is attached to the
eccentric ring, which embraces the eccentric g. The rod may be attached to the
tube or if the tube be slotted and cross pins be attached to the rod to compress
the springs, the rod may slide inside the tube. is the fork of the bicycle, and i is
the arm of the driving crank. In Fig. the eccentric g is shewn in the position
it would occupy when attached to a crank axle, or to the hub or fixed axle of a
revolving wheel. As the crank or wheel revolve, the eccentric revolving with it
draws out the rod at each down stroke, and so compresses the spring in the
cylinder. When the upstroke is reached the compressed spring, (shown by dotted
lines in its extended position,) begins to expand, and by means of the eccentric
draws up the crank. In order to minimise friction ball bearings can be inserted
between the eccentric rings and the peripheries of the eccentrics.
I wish it to be understood that I do not restrict myself to any special form of
spring, as any other kind can be used without affecting the principle of my invention,
by means of which I believe I have found and successfully applied a method of
storing and utilising power for wheeled vehicles which has hitherto been over-
looked.
In my combination of eccentric and compressed spring I store up a portion of the
force exerted in producing the downstroke, and by means of the potential energy
thus stored, and by the application of it to the cranks, or to both sides of the
driving axle, or to both hubs, as the case may be, at the commencement of the
return or upstroke, I obtain for each crank alternately, valuable assistance at
the moment when it is most required. Inside the cylinder I may employ a
combined spring or series of springs with washers k, between, as described for the
pedal attachment. The washers k, and also the hole in lower end of cylinder may
be furnished with small guide tubes as described in my pedal all attachment
No. 18875, aforesaid, around which the ends of the springs can be coiled,

page_text: Instead of the cylinder and coiled spiral spring, a flat oblong case may be used,
and a flat S shaped spring, or a series of such springs may be employed, or an
india-rubber spring may be used with suitable attachments.
In the case of applying my invention to ordinary vehicles, the inner part of the
hub may be enlarged on one side so as to form the eccentric, or the eccentric may
be fitted to the hub.
The advantages of this invention consist in the saving of power in effecting the
movement of wheeled vehicles of all kinds. The springs absorb power which they
return under such favourable conditions and circumstances as to assist the motion
of the wheels on which they act.
In the case of bicycles to which my invention more particularly refers, the action
of my apparatus throws up the foot on the return stroke, and prevents any drag
upon the free upward movement of the crank, a succession of steady downward
pressures being all that is needed as the foot is constantly thrown into position
without effort by the action of the springs.
I also attach much importance to the fact that in bicycles owing to my apparatus
being attached to both cranks it has an alternate or reciprocating action and that
as the stored energy is exerted in the same direction as the motion of the crank
itself; which thus forms a moving fulcrum to the attachment, the power is applied
under most favourable conditions.
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 wheeled vehicles of all kinds the method of storing power and utilising the
same, as herein explained and set forth.
2. In velocipedes and other wheeled vehicles the combination therewith of the
eccentric, the ring rod, and springs as herein explained and set forth.
Dated this 21st day of November 1800.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
.97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Patent Agent.