Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Monocycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL
SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Monocycles.
I. HERMANN GANSWINDT of 10 Herbert Strasse, Schoneberg near Berlin, in the
Empire of Germany, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to the construction of a driving mechanism for mono-cycles
which, as compared with the known forms of cycles (bicycle, tricycle) have the
obvious advantage of causing much less friction with the ground and therefore are
considerably easier to ride. Moreover, the monocycle is produced at a much cheaper
figure, is of small weight and occupies very little space so that the disposition and
storing of same does not necessitate any difficulty. It can therefore be justly main-
tained that the monocycle has the same if not greater advantages over the bicycle
than the latter has over the tricycle or quadricycle. The attempts which have
hitherto been made to produce a monocycle adapted for practical use failed in most
cases on account of the difficulty of employing the known treadle mechanismus for
affording the rider a sure hold or sufficient support so that he could maintain his
balance without any special trouble and was not exposed to the danger of being
thrown off; for this reason such monocycles have hitherto only been used by so
called professional riders, for instance, for shows and were generally made in the
simplest manner from a so called high-cycle (ordinary bicycle) the rear supporting or
guide wheel being detached therefrom.
Monocycles have as yet not been brought into practical or general use.
The object of my invention is to remove the said difficulty by employing a strap
or rope pulley-driving mechanism being operated by treadle levers arranged below the
axle; the rider is able to balance himself without difficulty by means of this driving
mechanism. The frame of the monocycle, for which a saddle or a like support for the.
rider is not provided, consists of an upper part made in the usual manner from steel
tubes, which upper part surrounds the upper part of the wheel and terminates behind
in a shoe-like bent part whereas at the opposite end it is joined with the fork by a
connecting member, in which a bolt or axle is mounted on which the treadle levers
provided with foot treadles oscillate. At the upper part of the frame the pillar,
receiving the usual steering rod, is secured, such pillar being extended below by a fork
enclosing the wheel.
The parts of the frame are connected in the centre to a drum like casing to which
the rear fork is also secured, the latter being attached to the lower rear end of the
apper part of the frame.
The axle is arranged in such manner that it is situated in about the middle of the
troke of the oscillating treadle levers.
The hub of the wheel is in the form of a box-like hollow casing which is divided
by a central partition-wall on the axle of the wheel, to' whose flange-shaped rim the
wheel spokes are-attached.

page_text: The driving mechanism is arranged in the casing and consists of ratchet gear which
comprises a strap or rope-pulley acted upon by a spiral spring, a ratchet wheel which
is keyed on to the axle and ratchet pawls which preferably work noiselessly under
spring action. Bail bearings are provided for the axle and the ratchet wheels keyed
thereon on both sides of the casing.
A strap is secured to each pulley the free end of such strap being firmly attached
to a laterally bent stud or bolt of the treadle lever below to which the foot treadles
are preferably hinged.
...
The reciprocatory or oscillating movement of the treadle levers thus cause the axle
of the wheel to be driven regularly. in the same direction.
According to another modification the wheel of the axle is mounted as usual in the
frame of the cycle and the casing for the driving mechanism arranged outside the
wheel and connected with the upper part of the frame, the form of which is to be
modified accordingly.
A chain wheel is firmly attached to the axle of the driving mechanism, the motion
of such chain wheel being transmitted to the axle of the wheel by means of a chain
and chain wheel.
According to arrangements specified, both driving mechanisms are in such
'close proximity with one another that same occupy very little space so that the rider
need not be subjected to an inconvenient straddling position.
According to described construction of the mono-cycle, the foot treadles are
arranged below the axle of the wheel since by keeping the body of the rider in an
upright position on the foot-treadles situated below the axle and firmly holding the
handles connected with the frame a tilting of the frame around the axle or even dis-
placement of same towards the horizontal plane in the direction of the course cannot
take place, since this is only possible by bringing a force into action capable of
raising the body of the rider.
Now, since the feet of the rider repose on the. entire sole it is easier for him to
maintain his body in a vertical position than for a skater on skates or roller skates,
seeing that the former has the advantage of supporting himself by the handles.
Since the treadle levers oscillate round an axle, which is arranged in the
middle of the stroke of the treadle levers, the foot treadles practically do not get out
of the vertical line during the operation and for this reason it is easy for the rider to
Inaintain his balance as he is not compelled to measure his tread, but can stop
during the course until he has again got a sure hold. The retarding of braking
action of the wheel is effected by the rider leaning backwards and drawing the frame
towards himself by both hands so that the part on the lower rear end of the upper
part of the frame is directed towards the ground. The steering is effected by a
lateral inclination of the body and the wheel.
It is evidently easier to maintain the balance of the body by means of this mono-
cycle than by a bicycle, since in consequence of au unintentional lateral inclination
during the course, the monocycle automatically makes a curve on that side on which
the inclination has taken place & by means of the centrifugal force, the vertical
position is again attained."
It is also evident that it is easier to learn to ride a nonocycle than a bicycle.
Moreover for the purpose of learning to ride the monocycle, a roller may be
provided on the axle for the oscillating treadle levers so as to support the cycle in
the event of tilting forwards.
In contrary to the known bicycles having wheels of small diameter, the chain gear
employed in the said bicycles may be dispensed with in the present invention since
any desired transmission may be directly attained by employing driving pulleys of a
larger or smaller diameter.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Mechanism of Monocycles.
I, HERMANN GANSWINDT, of 10 Herbert Strasse, Schöneberg, near Berlin, in the
German Empire, 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 :-
The monocycles heretofore in use have been mostly produced simply by detaching
the hind supporting wheel from the so called high wheel of the high bicycle.
Monocycles of this kind, however, do not give the rider any sure hold in the
direction of motion, so that the maintenance of an equilibrium is exceedingly
difficult. In consequence of this, such monocycles are only used by professional
riders for show purposes; and have not, up to the present time, so far as I am aware,
been employed for ordinary purposes.
Monocycles with pedals below the axle are already known, but in these the pedals
are arranged obliquely to the axle of the wheel, so that the pedalling movements of
the rider are effected in a direction oblique to the axle, and the point of application
of the power lies always in a direction oblique to the plane passing through the axle
of the wheel and the centre of gravity of the rider. Consequently, in this
arrangement, also, the maintenance of an equilibrium is exceedingly difficult. Owing
to the oblique position of the lever through which the power is applied the rider
requires a special support behind him in the shape of a saddle or the like, by which,
however, he is considerably hampered in the movements of his body necessary for
maintaining his balance.
My present invention obviates these inconveniences by means of an arrangement
of pedal levers in which such pedals make an approximately vertical up and down
movement, when the wheel is driven forward, and, consequently, the weight of the
rider always comes below the axle of the wheel and in the vertical plane passing
through that axle. By this means the rider is enabled to constantly assume an
upright position, without requiring any special support behind, such as a saddle or
the like. The rider has consequently complete freedom of motion, and is enabled to
yield to any irregular motion of the wheel by a corresponding inclination of the body,
and thereby constantly to keep his balance in a certain and easy manner.
In my Monocycle, unlike all others heretofore in use, the necessity for the rider to
assume a too rigid position is avoided.
I will now proceed to describe my invention with the aid of the accompanying two
sheets of Drawings in which Figures 1, 2 and 3 represent side, front, and plan views
respectively of a inonocycle constructed in accordance with my invention with the
driving mechanism arranged direct on the axle of the wheel and Figure 4 a vertical
section of the driving mechanisın employed in the arrangement shown in
Figures 1 to 3, but drawn to a larger scale than those Figure. Figures 5, 6 and 7
represent side, front and plan view respectively of a monocyle in which the wheel is
operated by means of a chain gear actuated by driving mechanism arranged
independently of the axle of the wheel.
The frame of the monocycle, on which neither saddle nor other support for receiving
the weight of the rider is placed, consists of the upper part a made in the usual
manner of steel tube, and which, in the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 4,
surrounds the upper part of the wheel A like a hoop, terminating behind in a shoe-
like bent part, and connected at the front end with the part b by means of a
connecting piece c, in which is also secured the fulcrum pin d on which the
levers e e¹ with the pedal pieces f flare free to make upward and downward oscillatory
movements. To the upper part of the frame is attached the stay g with the,

page_text: haudes, corresponding to the ordinary steering bar and the lower end of
the stay g is shaped as a fork i which embraces the wheel A between its two arms.
The driving mechanism (Figure 4) is provided on the axle D in the hub of the
wheel A.
The hub of the wheel A has several parts and consists of two lateral hollow box-like
casings B, and a central partition C. To the flanged part C of the latter are attached
the spokes E of the wheel A. At the flanged part are formed two central ratchet
wheels H and the central partition C extends to a sleeve C which encircles the axle D
and receives the bearing shells or brasses S for the balls J.
The counter-acting bearing of the balls J is formed by the boxes I, which are
mounted on the axle D, the two casings B being rotatably mounted on the boxes 1
by means of the balls M and by means of screw-threaded shells or brasses N; flanges O
are formed on the casings B for receiving the covers G which form the pulleys for the
belts or straps and sleeves P are also formed in which the ratchet pieces I, actuated
by the springs Q are guided, such ratchet pieces I engaging with the ratchet gears H
on the downward stroke of the straps which are secured to the pulleys G, whereas
the ratchet pieces I on the return movement of the casings B, such movement being
effected by the spiral springs F which are mounted at one end of the former, slide
along out of gear with the ratchet-wheels H..
On their other end, the spiral springs F are secured to arms R for the forks i.
On each pulley G is fixed a strap or cord & the free end of which is firmly secured
to a pin or bolt extending laterally from the corresponding trendle lever e or e¹ below
the hinged pedal piece for f, see Figure 2. In this way, by alternately pressing
down the levers e e¹ the rotation of the axle D of the wheel is effected in the desired
direction.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 5 to 7 the wheel axle is secured in the frame
of the vehicle in the usual way and the casing B for the driving mechanism is
placed, independently of the wheel A, at the upper part of the frame a, the shape of
which latter is correspondingly altered. On the shaft D¹ of the driving mechanism
is fixed a chain wheel K the motion of which is transmitted to the wheel A by means
of a chain L and chain wheel M.
In the above described arrangement. the two driving mechanisms are placed so
near to one another, that they occupy a very narrow space so that the rider is not
under the necessity of assuming any inconvenient rigid position.
In the construction of monocycles the arrangement of the pedals below the wheel
axle is essential, because it is by that means that the body of the rider is kept upright
on the pedals, the said body being at the same time supported by the handle bar h h¹
connected with the frame; a tilting of the frame round the axle, or even an alteration
of the position of the said frame in relation to the horizontal plane in the direction
of travelling is impossible, without an expenditure of power capable of lifting the
body of the rider.
As, moreover, the rider rests on the whole surface of the soles of his feet it is no
more difficult for him to keep his body quite perpendicular, than it would be for an
ordinary skater, but on the contrary easier, because the handle bars afford him a
firm hold.
As the pedal levers oscillate on a fulcrum which is placed at the height of the half
stroke, the parts of the pedals where the feet bear do not leave the position vertically
below the axle while the pedals are in motion. It is therefore easy for the rider to
keep his balance, especially as by the arrangement of the gear inside the driving
pulleys, he is not bound to tread according to time, but upon any accidental shaking
or displacement of his body whilst travelling he can cease pedalling entirely until he
has again secured a firm hold.
The braking of the wheel is effected by the driver leaning somewhat backwards
and pulling the frame with his hands, so that the part al at the hinder end of the
upper part a of the frame comes in contact with the ground.
The guidance of the monocycle is effected by a sideward inclination of the body
and of the wheel. Keeping the side balance is evidently easier with this monocycle

page_text: than with a bicycle, because, in the event of any unintentional lateral inclination in
riding, the monocycle automatically describes a curve in the direction of that side
towards which the inclination occurs and the centrifugal force thereby generated
causes the monocycle to resume the vertical position.
In consequence of this, also, it is easier to learn to ride with a monocycle than
with a bicycle. Moreover, in monocycles a roller R can be attached, to the axis or
fulcrum pin of the treadle levers, in order to prevent forward tipping or upsetting.
Unlike ordinary bicycles with wheels of small diameter, transmission by chain
gear can be dispensed with in monocycles constructed in accordance with my invention
because with sufficient length of stroke of the pedal levers, and the consequent
mobility of the legs in pedalling any variation of speed or power can be effected by
simply increasing or diminishing the diameters of the driving pulleys.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First. In a monocycle with band or rope pulley driving gear actuated by means
of pedal levers the arrangement of the pedals f f of the pedal levers e e¹ placed on
both sides of the wheel, vertically, or nearly so, below the axle of the wheel,
substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
Second. In a monocycle of the kind forming the subject of the first claiming
clause hereof, arranging. the driving ratchet gear directly on the wheel axle
substantially as described with reference to Figures 1 to 4 of the Drawings, and for
the purpose specified.
Third. In a monocycle of the kind forming the subject of the first claiming
clause hereof the arrangement in which the transmission of the driving power from
the driving ratchet gear to the wheel is effected by chain gear substantially as
described, with reference to figures 5 to 7 of the Drawings, and for the purpose
specified.