IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Ferdinand Floran Villepigue
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th March 1869.
I, FERDINAND FLORAN VILLEPIGUE, of 16, Northumberland Street,
W.C., London, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES," to be as follows:-
1stly. A mechanical contrivance by which the necessity for lubricating
or greasing the parts which exercise friction is avoided, which effect I
obtain by the application of revolving plates or pieces which convert the
sliding or rubbing together of the parts into a rolling motion unattended
by friction; the plates or pieces being free and revolving within a box
without being fixed at their extremities by any pieces which could
connect them together and thereby occasion friction. This improvement
I apply to wheels, pedals, sockets, and other parts requiring lubrication.
2ndly. In the application of a particular system of pieces, which I call
a wheel guard, and which is intended to hinder the wheels from injuring
the clothes of the person using the velocipede by rubbing against them.
These wheel guards may be made in a single piece, but I apply them
more particularly in the form of two metal rods placed slightly above
the rim of the wheel and somewhat apart from it laterally, and which

page_text: follow the contour of the wheel. These pieces are fastened at one
extremity to the upper portion of the bifurcated frame which supports
the tiller, and at the other end they are fastened by means of a con-
necting rod to the lower extremity of the same frame.
3rdly. The application of an india-rubber band upon the tire of
the front moving wheel, thereby giving it a, greater adhesiveness in
descending an incline, hindering it from slipping on pavements and
breaking or deadening the effect of the shocks caused by inequalities in
the roadway. This india-rubber band is imbedded in iron of the U section,
and provided internally with steel wires, which keep it firmly fixed to
the tire or rim of the wheel, and so prevent the centrifugal force from
acting so as to detach it from the wheel.
4thly. The application of a stop, which is intended to limit the
gyration of the wheel laterally, or to prevent it from deviating too
much to the right or left, a movement which, is dangerous and likely
to occasion falls. This stopping effect I obtain by means of two teeth,
which I place one at the fork of the fore wheel, the other at the pole or
central bar of the velocipede; or I place one at the socket of the tiller,
the other at the conical shaft resting on the fork of the fore wheel.
5thly. The application of metal spokes, which can be adjusted and
changed at pleasure, and which are not liable to dislocation. In order to
obtain this result the spokes are terminated at one end by a base piece
bearing on and entering into the rim of the wheel, and the other end
is made as a screw. The spokes are screwed between two metal plates
which form the nave of the wheel, and as soon as the spokes have been
adjusted the two plates are tightly pressed together by means of screws.
The essential feature in this arrangement is the formation of the nave
by means of two plates which can be brought together, as in this way
all play or disturbance of the spokes is avoided.
6thly. The application of pedals made of aluminium, or of bronze and
steel, in such a way as to reduced their weight and to diminish the zig-
zag movement resulting from the inertia of the parts in motion.
.7thly. The application of a system of pedals so balanced that their
centrifugal force when the wheels are in motion shall be neutralized,
and shall not have any tendency to drive the weightier parts away
from the centre of rotation.
8thly. The application of triangular pedals, which will afford an easy,
certain, and perfectly vertical support to the feet in every change of

page_text: position of the wheel. This triangular pedal I form by means of three
thin round bars of metal fixed between two side plates.
9thly. The application of a kind of saddle so adjusted as to be capable
of being altered to any required position, either up or down, without
the person using the velocipede having to get down from it; this being
effected by means of a rod fixed to the hinder portion of the vehicle
and resting on the spring. This rod has a double-screw adjustment
right and left, which admits of its rapid action.
10thly. The application of a differential movement to the fore wheel,
thereby communicating a difference of velocity, or a difference in the
number of revolutions made respectively by the crank and the fore wheel;
that is to say, that according to the slope or other conditions of the
road you are travelling over, or the speed which you wish to attain in
relation to the force expended, you can make the wheel describe more
or fewer revolutions than the crank. Thus, for example, if the road
be good the wheel may perform two revolutions, while the crank
revolves once; or contrariwise the wheel may be made to make only
half a turn while the crank is making a whole one if the ground should.
be bad and the inclination steep.
11thly. The combination of velocipedes having three wheels, two of
which are fore wheels and one hind ditto, either arranged for two or
more persons, or for one. This system is specially adapted for combining
great stability with the high rate of velocity obtained by my system of
differential movement, in consequence of the vehicles being exceedingly
light and susceptible of receiving the application of great motive power.
12thly. The combination of velocipedes having four wheels, or of
coupled velocipedes, which admit of great stability, and according to
my system of the application of great motive power, and especially of
the placing between the two hind wheels a seat for one person, or for
two or more; and finally of being converted into two single velocipedes,
cach with two wheels if required.
In conclusion, I claim as my exclusive property the various appli-
cations and improvements herein-before described, either separately or in
combination, whether as regards their construction, manufacture, or sale.