Year: 1887

page_text: I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E. 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 :-
•
The present invention relates to velocipedes with one or two driving wheels of a
very large diameter (6 feet or more) for the purpose of obtaining a greater speed with
the same motive power than is possible with the velocipedes used up to the present
time.
The employment of driving wheels of such dimensions results of course in a peculiar
construction of the wheel as well as of the whole machine.
If one wheel only is used the driver must necessarily sit within the wheel and be
enabled to enter it from the side of the machine.
The weight of the driver must also be placed properly i.e. preferably lower than the
centre of the wheel.
In the accompanying drawings Figures 1 and 2 represent a velocipede with one
driving wheel in side elevation and vertical cross section.
The driving wheel in this instance consists of two parts an inner and an outer one.
The inner one consists of two rings or hoops A held apart by rods a at such a distance
that the driver has sufficient room between them. These rings A are fixed to the
naves c by the strong spokes b and are further braced and strengthened by the stays d
and e.
The stays d are bent in such a manner that the driver can easily enter the
machine. The outer part of the driving wheel consists of the tire B which is fixed
to the inner rings A by the spokes f. This driving wheel is placed on a deeply
cranked or curved axle C to which are attached the saddle for the driver the pedal
support and steering mechanism. The axle C is deeply cranked or curved so that the
[Price 8d.1

page_text: weight of the driver should be placed as low as possible. The axle may be straight and
the saddle suspended therefrom but the former arrangement is preferable for stability
and security.
The saddle D is provided with a spring and is so placed that the driver may easily
reach it in entering the machine.
The wheel B is driven by the usual pedals E upon the crank or pedal axle the
movement being communicated to the wheel by means of pitch wheels g g¹ and pitch
chains h.
To prevent the wheel from falling it is provided with a hind wheel F and small side
wheels ii which latter also serve to steer the machine. These side wheels are not to
touch the ground during the driving of the machinė but are lifted up and brought
close to the driving wheel.
q
For this purpose they are arranged in suitably bent rods G which are pivoted at k
to the forked frame H of the hind wheel F. The upper ends of the rods G pass
through a slot in a draw bar m which passes through the axle C and is attached at
its inner end to a lever o at p which lever o is pivoted to the axle C and
and moves
or slides on a guide bars provided with stops n to limit its movement. By this
arrangement one or other of the side wheels i or both may be lifted or lowered at will
by moving the levers o. The hind wheel F is journalled in the fork H¹ pivoted
at P to the forked frame H which is attached to the axle C. To prevent the hind
wheel from altering its course by itself a spring t is arranged in the pin u of the pivot
which keeps the hind wheel in the same course with the driving wheel.
Figures 3 and 4 represent a modification in side elevation and cross section.
The inner part of the driving wheel is constructed exactly the same as in the above
described machine but the outer part in this instance consists of the tire B which is
fixed by the spokes f to two rings K having the same distance from each other as the
rings A. These rings K are provided with a suitable number of rollers w which roll
on the rings A of the inner part. The saddle-pedal-and-steering mechanism are the
same as the above described only in this instance each of the rods G is provided with
two side wheels i instead of one and the hind wheel is omitted.
To drive the outer part the rings K are connected with the nave c by rods or bars J
which turn with the nave and thus drive the outer part.
If desired the spokes 6 of the inner part may be so arranged that they do not turn
with the nave so that the outer part will then revolve round the inner stationary one.
As the hind wheel with its fork is omitted in this construction the rods G are
pivoted to arms L of the axle C.
The side wheels and hind wheels may be made detachable if desired.
The inner part may be omitted if desired and the tire provided with outwardly bent
spokes with suitable bearings for the axle C with the attached mechanism.
Figures 5 and 6 represent vertical and horizontal sections of a machine consisting
of two driving wheels the saddle being replaced by a complete seat N so as to make
the machine especially adapted for ladies use. In this construction each of the rings A
provided with a separate tire B.
The pedal mechanism is arranged at the bottom of the seat and to serve for steering
apparatus as well it consists in this instance of two separate cranks y¹ y¹ having
a third bearing M in the middle of the bottom of the seat so that each crank may be
turned independently of the other to permit the machine to describe curves.
Underneath the seat a rod with two small wheels i may be arranged so as to give
the seat support against tilting.
These wheels are not absolutely necessary and may be made detachable.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent and in what manner the same is
to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A velocipede consisting of a driving wheel of such dimensions and construction
that the driver can enter it from the side and sit in it with ease to drive and steer it
substantially as specified and represented.

page_text: 2. The driving wheel consisting of two parts either rigidly connected, the inner
one consisting of rings A tie rods a spokes 6 nave c and stays d or not connected the
outer one revolving round the inner one on rollers w and driven by rods or bars J
connecting the outer part with the nave substantially as specified.
3. The arrangement of small side wheels i on both sides of the driving wheel which
can be lifted or lowered from the interior of the machine by the rods G drawbar m
and lever o substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. A velocipede consisting of two driving wheels each of the rings A of the inner
part having a separate tire B and provided with a pedal mechanism in which both
pedals may be worked independently of each other substantially as and for the
purpose specified.