Improvements to Lessen the Expenditure of Motive Power Required in Propelling Bicycles, Tricycles, and other similar Vehicles, including Bath Chairs.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 16th May, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 16th Feb., 1892-Accepted, 19th Mar., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements to Lessen the Expenditure of Motive Power Required
in Propelling Bicycles, Tricycles, and other similar Vehicles,
including Bath Chairs.
, JAMES HENRY BUMSTEAD, residing at 15 Elletson Street, Poulton-le-Fylde,
Preston in the County of Lancaster, Clerk in Holy Orders, Vicar of Hambleton
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements consist of the addition and application to any bicycle, tricycle,
or other similar vehicle including bath chairs, of a fly or balance wheel, with its
intermediate connection, driven at a high rate of speed. The speed is to be com-
municated to the fly or balance wheel through the instrumentality of any rotating
portion of the said bicycle, tricycle or similar vehicle, including bath chairs, which
is applicable for the purpose of conveying the said rotary motion.
The fly or balance wheel may be made inoperative at will.
Dated this Fourteenth day of May 1891.
JAMES HENRY BUMSTEAD.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements to Lessen the Expenditure of Motive Power Required
in Propelling Bicycles, Tricycles, and other similar Vehicles,
including Bath Chairs.
1, JAMES HENRY BUMSTEAD, Clerk in Holy Orders, 15 Elletson Street
Poulton-le-Fylde Preston, Lancashire do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
:
My invention relates to the addition and application of a fly or balance wheel
with its intermediate connection, driven at a high rate of speed, to any bicycle,
tricycle, or similar vehicle. It is self apparent that a cycle travelling on its
ordinary course meets with many irregularities in the road and other retarding
objects and causes which tend to produce a want of uniformity in the working of
the machine. To overcome these retarding causes an extra expenditure of the
motive power is required, causing fatigue to the rider. It is also apparent that
when these obstacles are met with at the point when the cranks are on the "dead
centres a heavy thrust on the crank is often given, which, unless given after the
crank has sufficiently passed its "dead" point does not produce a corresponding
result. The want of uniformity in the working of a cycle may be produced by
three different causes.
1st. By an irregularity in the action of the power, or first mover.
2nd. By want of uniformity in the resistance.
"
3rd. Because the machine, in the different positions which its parts assume
during the motion, may transmit the impelling power to the working point, with
different degrees of force.
These various irregularities are to some extent equalized by the intervention of
the fly or balance wheel. The fly or balance wheel has also another property,
which is the accumulating or collecting together the successive exertions of a
power.
It is well known that a small force applied in giving rotation to fly wheel and
continued until the wheel has gained a great velocity would cause such a quantity

page_text: .:
:.
I
of force to be accumulated in its circumference as would overcome a resistance quite
disproportionate to the immediate action of the first force.
Thus it will appear that the object of my invention is to provide a bicycle,
tricycle, or similar vehicle with a fly or balance wheel, driven at a high rate of
speed by its intermediate gearing, for the purpose of regulating any want of
uniformity in the working of the cycle and also for the purpose of accumulating
or collecting the successive exertions of the power, which it maintains and
distributes with uniform motion.
The accompanying drawings show a convenient method of placing the fly or
balance wheel on a rear driving bicycle of the class now in use. A similar
application may be adopted in the case of the tricycle.
In a bicycle known as the "Ordinary" class having one large and one small
wheel it may be found convenient to place a fly or balance wheel on each side of
the large wheel of the machine. In this case I extend the forks, placing the fly or
balance wheels beneath the crank-axle and driving by a tooth-wheel or friction-
wheel attached to the crank-axle of larger diameter than the one attached to the
Hly or balance wheel. Friction and intermediate friction wheels may be found in
some cases superior to tooth-wheels for the purpose of conveying the rotating
motion to the fly or balance wheel and also for increasing its speed.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and carried into effect I
hereunto append one sheet of explanatory drawings, showing one simple method of
application to a safety bicycle. Slight alteration may be found necessary in
the adaptation to some machines which will be readily apparent to those skilled
in their manufacture.
Figure 1. shows in elevation one method of applying my invention to a rear
driving safety bicycle.
Figure 11. shows the side view of the fly wheel or balance wheel on the geared
side with its pinion wheel attached.
Figure II. is a front view of the bottom or crank bracket showing the position
of the fly or balance wheel situate on the crank-axle, having its centre concentric
with the centre of the crank-axle and revolving on the same, but with a higher
speed, on the usual bearings adopted for such purposes. It also shows the driving
gear wheel keyed to the crank axle and revolving with it. It also shows the
intermediate gear wheels, which communicate to the fly or balance wheel its rotary
motion and increased speed. These wheels or compound wheel revolve on a pin
affixed to the side of the bracket.
Figure IV. gives a side view and
...
Figure V. a front view of the intermediate gear wheels or compound wheel.
Figure VI. shows front view of the driving gear wheel keyed on the crank-axle
or shaft which communicates the motion from the crank-axle through the inter-
mediate wheel or wheels to the fly or balance wheel.
Referring to Figure I. A is the fly or balance wheel shown in its position on the
crank shaft B. C is the bottom bracket or crank bracket.
Referring to Figure II. A. is the fly or balance wheel D the gear wheel attached
to the fly or balance wheel.
Referring to Figure III. A. is the fly or balance wheel, B the centre of the
crank-axle, C the bottom or crank bracket, D the pinion or wheel affixed to the fly
or balance wheel, E the gear wheel affixed to the crank-axle or shaft, F the
intermediate gear wheels or compound wheel gearing with the fixed wheel E and
conveying from it to the pinion D on the fly or balance wheel, the required rotary
motion and speed of the same.
Referring to Figures IV. and V. F shows side and front views of the intermediate
wheels, or compound wheel, or wheel and pinion attached.
Figure VI. shows the driving gear wheel E keyed on the crank shaft.
Friction wheels and pinions may be substituted in some cases for these gear wheels
with advantage.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In bicycles, tricycles, and other similar vehicles the use of a fly or balance
wheel revolving at greater speed than the portion of the mechanism of the cycle
from which it receives its rotary motion for the purpose hereinbefore described and.
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In bicycles, tricycles, & other similar vehicles a fly or balance wheel having
attached to it a gear or friction wheel or pinion for the purpose hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3rd. A gear or friction wheel of larger diameter than that affixed to the fly or
balance wheel; but of pitch to gear with it, itself affixed to the crank-axle or
other portion of the machine capable of conveying the rotary motion required for
the fly or balance wheel, for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
4th. Intermediate gear or friction wheels, or a combination wheel, or pinion and
wheel attached, to gear with the before inentioned wheels where the construction
and adaptation requires their intermediate aid, for conveying the rotary motion
and speed from the wheel keyed on the axle or shaft to the pinion affixed to the
fly or balance wheel for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
5th. A cycle constructed with one or more such fly or balance wheels, driven by
gearing or friction wheels for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Thirteenth day of February 1892.
JAMES HENRY BUMSTEAD.