Improvements in Odometers or Apparatus for Registering the Distance Travelled by Velocipedes, Tricycles, and Analogous Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May. 1892
Complete Specification Left, 13th Feb., 1993-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Odometers or Apparatus for Registering the
Distance Travelled by Velocipedes, Tricycles, and Analogous
Vehicles.
We MARGUERITE ADELE DESCHIENS, née Dupuids widow of Eugene
Deschiens, and JUSTIN CHAUDEUR, both of 123 Boulevard St. Michel, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Mathematical Instrument Makers, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in odometers or apparatus for registering
the distance travelled by velocipedes tricycles and analogous vehicles.
The odometers hitherto used have been simply counters of revolutions, they
certainly indicated, by the number of revolutions of the wheel the distance
travelled, conditionally however upon an arithmetical operation; but a veritable
want in these odometers is that after being put back to zero, there remained
nothing to prove the distance travelled, nothing to recall the road traversed.
As the marksman desires to collect his targets we have considered that the
velocipedist would like to preserve a palpable and indelible tracing of his travels.
In addition to this satisfaction, now that the velocipede has entered into the
domain of utility, that it is used in the army, is it not of great importance that it
should be possible in setting out topographical statistics to be enabled to possess in
addition to the distance travelled a delineation of the way noting the irregularities
of the road, ascents and descents, bridges, level roads etc.?
The registering apparatus the subject of our invention and to which we give the
name of "Velograph" meets all these requirements.
Upon the accompanying drawing :-
Figure 1 shows our apparatus open,
Figure 2 is a cross section thereof, and
Figure 3 shows a card illustrating the way in which the tracing of the track is
produced.
This register or "Velograph" is composed of a metal box with a lid hinged
thereto, a toothed plate A is mounted in the centre of the box and may turn freely
on a pivot when actuated by the worm or spiral screw B turning in a plane
perpendicular to that of the plate.
The worm B has a ratchet wheel C actuated by the rod D pinned in the slide E
of the indicator.
This rod D is flexible and acts as a pawl upon the toothed ratchet C.
The slide is fixed by two screws a, a' which entering into the slot 6 limit its
travel.
The slide is actuated by the finger on detent F the tooth f of which enters into
the notch g of the slide.
The detent F is set on an axle which passes through the box to the outside to
be actuated by a tappet or driver on the wheel of the velocipede.
At each turn of the wheel of the velocipede the ratchet wheel C advances by
one tooth and possessing 10 teeth (for example) advances the plate A by one tooth
when the worm B has made a complete revolution, the result being that each tooth
of the plate A corresponds to 10 revolutions of the wheels of the velocipede.
The number of teeth on the plate A is calculated so that one entire turn
corresponds to 10 kilometers, or to a corresponding distance in foreign measure-
ments.
At the same time that the plate A turns, a milled wheel acting as cursor

page_text: moves so as to trace a helicoidal curve from the circumference to the centre
which may be repeated 20 times upon the surface of the plate, a card may
therefore furnish indications for a journey of 200 kilometers.
The starting lever G set on the axle g¹ is actuated by the tappet H set on the
spokes of the wheel of the velocipede a few centimeters away from the nave.
The tappet is composed of two clipping plates o, p embracing two spokes of
the wheel.
A tightening screw 9 unites these two plates and serves as axle to an india.
rubber roller intended to strike the lever Gat each revolution of the wheel.
The detent F actuated by the lever G is returned by the spring 1, the slide is
always kept in gear with the tooth f by the second spring j.
The cursor is composed of a milled nut K set upon the screw L.
This nut presses on the plate A bearing upon it a circular card placed on the
plate (see Figure 3).
The cursor is set on the lid of the box which closes hermetically to preserve the
interior parts. When it is closed the nut K exerts a pressure upon the plate A,
the result is that the milling imprints itself upon the card as the plate turns.
The nut K in turning descends by degrees under the action of the screw L so
as to near the centre, thereby describing a helicoidal line.
The card (Figure 3) is placed in the centre of the plate and is held there
by pins.
It is divided into sectors each corresponding to a fixed linear distance, based
upon the circumference of the wheel of the velocipede.
By this division it is easy to judge at a glance the road travelled.
The line traced being the exact repetition of the distance covered it will be easy
to note thereupon the accidents of the road by convential signs which may be
executed by hand or automatically.
These signs which occupy their actual place permit making a very exact abstract
of the road.
The indicator or velograph is fixed on the axle of the nave where it is held by
the lock nut it is then connected to the fork of the velocipede by a collar provided
with a nut S the stem of which slides in the slots which permits giving to the
indicator an inclination permitting the regulation of the travel of the lever G.
Dated this Twelfth day of May 1892.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Odometers or Apparatus for Registering the
Distance Travelled by Velocipedes, Tricycles, and Analogous
Vehicles.
We, MARGUERITE ADÈLE DESCHIENS, née Dupuids widow of Eugene
Deschiens and JUSTIN CHAUDEUR both of 123 Boulevard St. Michel, Paris in
the Republic of France, Mathematical Instrument Makers, 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 relates to improvements in odometers or apparatus for registering
the distance travelled by velocipedes, tricycles and analogous vehicles.
The odometers hitherto used have been simply counters of revolutions, they
certainly indicated by the number of revolutions of the wheel the distance travelled,
conditionally however upon an arithmetical operation; but a veritable want in
these odometers is that after being put back to zero there remained nothing to
prove the distance travelled, nothing to recall the road traversed.
As a marksman desires to collect his targets we have considered that the

page_text: velocipedist would like to preserve a palpable and indelible tracing of his
travels.
In addition to this satisfaction, now that the velocipede has entered into the
domain of utility, that is, used in the army, is it not of great importance that it
should be possible in setting out topographical statistics to be enabled to possess in
addition to the distance travelled a delineation of the way, noting the irregularities
of the road, ascents and descents, bridges, level road etc.?
The registering apparatus the subject of our invention and to which we give the
name "Velograph" meets all these requirements.
Upon Sheet of the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1, shows our apparatus open
Figure 2, shows an end elevation thereof and
Figures 3, and 4 show a card illustrating the way in which the tracing of the
track is produced.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, detached parts.
The register or velograph is composed of a metal box with a lid hinged thereto,
a toothed plate A is mounted in the centre of the box and may turn freely on a
pivot when actuated by the worm or spiral screw B turning in a plane perpendicular
to that of the plate.
The worm B has a ratchet wheel C actuated by the rod D pinned in the slide E
of the indicator.
This rod D is flexible and acts as a pawl upon the toothed ratchet C.
The slide is fixed by two screws a, a' which entering into the slot limit its
travel.
The slide is actuated by the anger or detent F, the tooth f of which enters into
the notch of the slide.
The detent F is set on an axle which passes through the box to the outside to be
actuated by a tappet or driver on the wheel of the velocipede.
At each turn of the wheel of the velocipede the ratchet wheel C advances by one
tooth, and possessing 10 teeth (for example) advances the plate A by one tooth
when the worm B has made a complete revolution, the result being that each tooth
of the plate A corresponds to 10 revolutions of the wheel of the velocipede.
The number of teeth on the plate A is calculated so that one entire turn corre-
sponds to 10 kilometers or to a corresponding distance in foreign measurements.
At the same time that the plate A turns, a milled wheel acting as cursor moves
so as to trace a belicoidal curve from the circumference to the centre which may
be repeated 20 times upon the surface of the plate, a card may therefore furnish
indications for a journey of 200 kilometers.
The starting lever G set on the axle g' is actuated by the tappet H set on the
spokes of the wheel of the velocipede a few centimeters away from the nave.
The tappet is composed of two clipping plates o, p embracing two spokes of the
wheel. A tightening screw unites these two plates and serves as axle to an
india rubber roller r. intended to strike the lever G at each revolution of the
wheel.
The detent F actuated by the lever G is returned by the spring I, the slide is
always kept in gear with the tooth by the second spring J.
The cursor is composed of a milled nut K set upon the screw L.
This nut presses on the plate A bearing upon a circular card placed on the
plate (see Fig. 3).
The cursor is set on the lid of the box which closes hermetically to preserve the
interior parts.
When it is closed the nut K exerts a pressure upon the plate A, the result is
that the milling imprints itself upon the card as the plate turns.
The nut K in turning descends by degrees under the action of the screw L so.as
to near the centre, thereby describing a helicoidal line.
The card (Fig. 3) is placed in the centre of the plate and is held there
by pins.

page_text: It is divided into sectors each corresponding to a fixed linear distance, based
upon the circumference of the wheel of the velocipede.
By this division it is easy to judge at a glance the road travelled.
The line traced being the exact repetition of the distance covered, it will be
easy to note thereupon the accidents of the road by conventional signs which may
he executed by hand or automatically.
These signs which occupy their actual place permit making a very exact abstract
of the road.
The indicator or velograph is fixed on the axle of the nave where it is held by
the lock nut, it is then connected to the fork of the velocipede by a collar provided
with a nut S the stem of which slides in the slots m which permits giving to the
indicator an inclination permitting the regulation of the travel of the lever G.
We have above stated that this register, indicator or velograph permits obtaining
topographical statistics of the road by tracing conventional signs indicating the
various irregularities of such road.
The accompanying drawing, Sheet II represents the register constructed to
make these abstracts automatically that is to say without descending from the
velocipede.
Figure 1, shows the register open.
Figure 2, is a section following the lines X, Y, Z.
Figures 3 and 4, show the cursor.
Figures 5 and 6, show details of the style or pencil holder.
Figures 7 and 8, the working handle or lever for permitting the tracing of the
signs indicating the accidents or irregularities of the road.
Figure 9, a view of the register closed.
Figure 10, the front wheel of the velocipede with register applied.
The interior parts of the register are the same, the cursor alone has undergone
a modification. Instead of the milling wheel or nut K lowering and making the
tracing it is fixed on the screw L and the tracing is executed by a movable cursor
(Figs. 5 and 6) which is moved by the screw L.
The cursor is composed of a nut 1, having at the back a projection 2 pierced
with a hole into which passes a rod 3 which prevents the nut 1 from turning, but
permits it to rise or to lower according to the impulsion given to the screw L.
In the front of the nut is a socket 4 which receives the rod 5 of the style.
This style is composed as may be seen at Fig. 6 of a small milled stud 6
carrying the rod 5 which passes through it, this rod which is preferably of silver
is pointed and bears against the card, which in this case is impregnated with a
coating of white lead in order that the silver style may leave a black stroke.
To this stud is fixed a spiral spring 7 which engages on the socket 4 of the nut
in such a way as to exert a constant pressure on the stud and thereby keep the
style in contact with the card.
The rotary movement of the screw L in causing the descent of the nut produces
the tracing upon the card spirally as was done by the milled wheel or nut K.
This milled wheel is now fixed, it carries teeth which gear with the teeth 8 cut
upon the surface of the plate A (Fig. 2) in such a way that the rotation produces
that of the milled wheel K and of the screw L. To permit the style to make
conventional indications, the screw threaded rod L is susceptible of a rising and
lowering movement, the screws and 10 which hold it (Fig. 2) entering into a
chamber deeper than their length.
The normal position of the style is obtained by the lever 11 (Fig. 1) which is
held by the screw 12.
The lever 11 has a double fork 13 and 14; the fork 13 is engaged with a pin 15
on the disc 16.
The fork 14 is engaged with a collar 17 of the screw L.
The disc 16 segmented upon one of the parts of the circumference receives upon
this face the pressure of the spring 18 which keeps the lever L in a horizontal
position.

page_text: In the disc 16 is made to pivot by the aid of the lever 19 (Fig. 9) the displacement.
of the screw L is obtained upwards or downwards (Figs. 3 and 4).
This displacement changes the position of the style which then makes on the
cards a vertical stroke according to the impulsion given.
The change of position of the disc 16 and the keeping it in one of the three
which it may take therefore permits obtaining a variation in the drawing as inay
be seen at Fig. 1.
These variations produce conventional signs which permit making a very exact
abstract of the road traversed because they are produced at the kilometric point.
given to the tracing of the style upon the card; thus:-an ascent, a descent, &
bridge, a level way etc. may be noted on the drawing, their position or their length
being also exactly reproduced.
The working handle or lever (Figs. 7 and 8) is placed conveniently to the hand
of the velocipedist.
This handle is fixed either upon the guide lever or upon the fork of the machine.
as shown (Fig. 10).
This handle is composed of a lever 20 which is fixed upon the collar 21; it
may take the three positions required for the working of the disc 16 in pivoting
round the screw 22 (Figs. 7 & 8).
A projection 23 engages in one of the notches 24 cut in the collar or cap 21, a
spring 25 keeps this projection in one of the notches until the velocipedist disengages
it by lifting the lever 20 which slides in the groove 26. The spring 25 brings it
back to permit it to engage in the chosen notch.
The lever 20 in taking successively the position indicated by the dotted
lines (Fig. 8.) changes the position of the milled studs 27 and 28 which holds.
cords 29 and 30 attached to the small lever 19 of the register which they cause to
pivot in the direction in which they themselves pivot.
In this way the velocipedist actuates the cursor and causes it to produce all the
desired signs by a simple stroke of the finger upon the lever 20.
The cords used will generally be of gut to avoid any stretching which might
affect the working.
To prevent at the end of the journey the cursor striking against the milled
wheel K, the thread of the screw L ceases at a fixed distance and the nut 1 passes
from the last thread leaving the screw to revolve free.
To put this nut again into gear the milled wheel K must be turned in the
opposite direction and to facilitate the engagement of the screw with the nut 1 a
small spring 31 (Fig. 1) fixed on the wheel K pushes the nut against the last
thread so as to re-engage it directly a return movement is given to the screw.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A register or apparatus intended for velocipedes, bicyclettes and other
machines giving graphical indications of the road traversed, substantially as
described.
2. The arrangement of the parts of the graphical register giving the indications
of the road traversed by the combination of a toothed plate actuating a cursor
imprinting the road traversed upon a movable card, substantially as described with
reference to the drawings.
3. The arrangement of the cursor to allow it a vertical displacement upward or
downward in order to vary the tracing made by this cursor and mark the
irregularities and incidents of the way substantially as described with reference to
the drawings.
4. The working of the cursor by the aid of a handle placed upon the velocipede
near the hand of the velocipedist permitting him to make the desired notations
without descending from his machine substantially as described with reference to
the drawings.

page_text: 5. The special arrangement of the attacking tappet or piece H set on the spokes
of the wheel of the velocipede and which at each rotation of the wheel strikes the
lever G permitting a sure and rapid regulation of the course of this lever sub-
stantially as described..
Dated this Thirteenth day of February 1893.