Improved Means or Apparatus for Propelling Velocipedes, or for other like purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 11th Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1995
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Propelling Velocipedes, or for
other like purposes.
I ALFONSE GRAVIER of 8 Rue Charlet Paris in the Republic of France
Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention has for its object to provide improved means or apparatus for
propelling velocipedes or for other purposes such for example as propelling boats
whereby the power exerted is more efficiently utilised than has been possible
hitherto. The transmission gear usually employed for propelling velocipedes
consists of a crank and multiplying chain gear which though simple in construction
involves a considerable waste of the power exerted to propel the machine.
According to this invention I substitute for the crank intermediate chain and
gearings and other accessory parts for propelling the machine, engaging devices
preferably mounted on ball bearings on the hub of the wheel, operated by levers
which are worked by the winding or unwinding of chains or flexible bands.
It will be understood that the engaging devices and other parts described are in
duplicate as they will be situated on each side of the wheel.
The parts forming one of the said engaging devices consist of a nave or bub
mounted in ball bearings on the fixed axle of the machine and having a plain
cylindrical rim with which are cansed to come into contact engaging and
disengaging jaws carried in a clutch box loose on the hub of the wheel. In the
said clutch box is mounted an axle or axles on which are mounted lever arms
supporting a cross connecting piece constituting a bearing for the jaws which when
the clutch box is in operation grip round the nave of the wheel. On the part
supporting the jaws is a projecting piece held loosely in a slot formed on a lever
which is mounted at its other end in frictional contact with a circular channel
formed on the boss of the wheel, the said lever arm being adjustable round the hul
by means of screws for example employ by preference two such lever arms
operating the jaws but I do not limit myself to the precise number that may be
used.
Against the clutch box and loose on the nave of the wheel are formed two
recessed-or grooved parts in which the chains, or flexible bands wind or unwind in
opposite directions, one chain being employed for imparting the forward motion to
the machine and the other chain being used for effecting the upstroke of one of the
oscillating treadles used for driving the machine.
The chain for imparting the forward motion is connected at one of its ends to
the recessed part against the clutch box and at its other end to one of the arms of
a double-arned lever or triangle oscillating on the frame of the machine and on
the other arm of which one of the treadles used for propelling the machine is
mounted.
The chain for effecting the upstroke of the treadle is likewise connected at one
of its ends to the raised part against the clutch and at its other end to a roller fast
on an axle mounted in bearings situated in that part of the machine where in
ordinary crank machines the treadle box is found. The flexible bands or chains
are so connected that when the chain is wound up on one recess, the chain on the
adjacent recess will be unwound. In the length of the chain or flexible band

page_text: employed to obtain the upstroke of the treadle is arranged a spring which
regulates the tension of the said chain and allows the same to expand when used as
a brake.
By applying a downward pressure on one of the treadles the propelling chain or
flexible band is unwound and operates its clutch box so that it the jaw comes into
frictional contact with the nave of the wheel and so the wheel is propelled. When
the treadle reaches the bottom of its course it is raised by the action of the treadle
lever on the opposite side of the machine and the clutch box is now caused to
oscillate in a contrary direction and so remove the jaws from the nave of the wheel.
The clutch devices come into operation alternately on each side of the hub an
thus impart a continuous forward motion to the machine. To stop the machine it
is only necessary to press firmly with both feet on the treadles and both jaws
through the elasticity of the spring can then grip the hub and act as a brake.
When the machine is at a standstill without its rider the clutch gear is released
from the wheel by means of the springs in the chains herein before referred to and
the driving wheel can then be moved freely in either direction.
Dated this 11th day of January 1895.
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
47 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London. W.C., Agents.
Improved Means or Apparatus for Propelling Velocipedes, or for
other like purposes.
I, ALFONSE, GRAVIER of 8 Rue Charlet Paris, in the Republic of France
Electrical Engineer 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 has for its object to provide improved means or apparatus for
propelling velocipedes or for other purposes such for example as propelling boats
whereby the power exerted is more efficiently utilised than has been possible
hitherto. The transmission gear usually employed for propelling velocipedes con-
sists of a crank and multiplying chain gear which though simple in construction
involves a considerable waste of the power exerted to propel the machine.
According to this invention I substitute for the crank intermediate chain and
gearings and other accessory parts for propelling the machine engaging devices,
preferably mounted on ball bearings on the hub of the wheel, operated by levers
which are worked by the winding or unwinding of chains or flexible bands.
It will be understood that the engaging devices and other parts described are in
duplicate as they will be situated on each side of the driving wheel of the
machine.
I will now describe by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings a bicycle made in accordance with my invention but I do not limit myself
to the precise details shewn.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the bicycle.
Figure 2 shews in elevation one of the engaging clutches mounted on the axle of
the wheel drawn to a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a vertical section on the line 1-2 Figure 2 and
Figure 4 is a plan shewing a duplicate arrangement of chains cables or flexible
bands and rollers employed for raising each of the treadles in turn after it has been
depressed.
The parts forming one of the engaging devices consist of a nave or hub A
mounted in ball bearings a on the fixed axle B. of the machine and having a plain

page_text: cylindrical rim C, with which are caused to come into contact engaging and
disengaging jaws D carried in a clutch box E loose on the hub A of the wheel.
In the clutch box E is mounted an axle e with lever arms e' supporting a connecting
piece constituting a bearing for the jaws D which when the clutch box is in
operation grip round the rim C fast on the nave. A of the wheel. On the part et
is a projecting piece e held loosely in a slot formed on each of the arms e of a
friction ring made in two parts mounted in. frictional contact on a circular channel
formed on a boss a' on the axle B, the said arms e being adjustable round the hub
by means of clamping screws e for example. I employ by preference two such
arms operating the jaws as shewn in drawings but I do not limit myself to the
precise number that may be used. The aforesaid parts are closed in and protected
from dust by a plate e Figure 3.
Against the clutch box E and also loose on the nave of the wheel are formed
two recessed or grooved parts F, G, in which the chains or cables or flexible
bands fg (I will refer to them as cables) wind or unwind in opposite directions, one
cable being employed for imparting the forward motion to the machine and the
other cable being used for effecting the upstroke of one of the oscillating treadles K
and for returning the clutch to its initial position.
The cable for imparting the forward motion is connected at one of its ends to
the recessed part F against the clutch box E and at its other end to one end ¹ of
a double-armed lever or triangle H centered at 2 on the frame of the machine and
at the other end 3 of which one of the treadles K used for propelling the machine
is mounted. The cable g for effecting the upstroke of the treadle is likewise
connected at one of its ends to the recessed part G and at its other end to a roller
or pulley mounted loosely at L on the frame of the machine.
is
The said cables fg are so connected that when one is wound up on one recess the
other on the adjacent recess will be unwound. In the length of the cable
arranged a spring g' which regulates the tension thereof and allows it to expand
when used as a brake.
By applying a downward pressure on one of the treadles the cable fis unwound
from the recessed part F operating the clutch box E so that the jaws D come into
frictional contact with the nave B of the wheel at the part C, and so the wheel is
propelled. When the treadle reaches the bottom of its course it is raised by
the action of the treadle lever and the cable g on the opposite side of the machine the
clutch box being also caused to oscillate in a contrary direction and so remove the
jaws from the nave of the wheel. The clutch devices come into operation alternately
on each side of the hub and thus impart a continuous forward motion to the
machine. To stop the machine it is only necessary to press firmly with both feet
on the treadles and both jaws through the elasticity of the springs can then grip
the bub and act as a brake.
When the machine is at a standstill without its rider the clutch gear is released
from the wheel by means of the springs in the bands herein before referred to and
the driving wheel can then be moved freely in either direction.
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. The improved clutch for use in propelling velocipedes and other vehicles
consisting of jaws mounted in bearings in a clutch box loose on the nave of the
wheel a projecting part on each bearing taking into a slot on the corresponding
arm of a friction ring so that when in operation the jaws are clamped round the
nave of the wheel for propelling it in a forward direction and are released
therefrom when the clutch is returned to its initial position substantially as
described.
2. For propelling velocipedes and other vehicles the combination with clutch
boxes with engaging and disengaging parts and adjustable friction rings of operating
cables each being attached at one end to one of the treadle levers of the machine

page_text: and at the other end round a part adjacent to a clutch box substantially as
described.
3. The combination with the propelling mechanism herein before described and
claimed of chains or cables each winding alternately at one end round a part
adjacent to a clutch box and at the other end round a roller mounted in the frame
of the vehicle for effecting the upstroke of the treadles and returning the clutch to
its initial position substantially as described.
4. The improved means for propelling velocipedes and other vehicles
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 11th day of November 1895
JOHNSONS & WILLCOX,
Agents.