A DUPLE SPEED, POWER AND SAFETY BICYCLE
Year: 1885

page_text: I, WALTER CHATWOOD BURTON of 11 Promonade, South Street Rochdale, in the
County of Lancashire Engineer's Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of
my said invention for A DUPLE SPEED, POWER AND SAFETY BICYCLE to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to a device for enabling persons to ride or travel quicker,
easier and with greater safety, than can be accomplished with the present ordinary
Bicycle. My device consists essentially of a large front driving wheel and small
hind wheel, which. are connected by a large fork, extending from the large wheel
centre, horizontally; until its smaller extremity passes or extends just above the
rim of the hind wheel, & this extremity is so arranged as to allow of the upper
extremity of the hind wheel fork swivelling in its socket, and thus allow of the
steering being accomplished through the medium of the hind wheel.
The riders saddle is supported from the large fork, and motion or power is com-
municated from the rider's hands, feet, or both simultaneously; through a series of
levers (which swivel or turn round two fixed centres which are secured to the sides
of the large fork) to the cranks which are free to turn round on the central stud
of the driving or large wheel.
Behind each crank there is placed a pair of small toothed wheels, on the central
and crank end studs respectively, and hence the motion is transmitted from the
crank; through these wheels; to the driving wheel.
There is an arrangement for rendering or making the wheels on the crank studs,
dead or free from revolution round their own centres, so as to cause the driving
wheel to revolve twice during each revolution of the cranks, assuming the size or
diameter of the toothed wheels to be the same; hence a great rate of speed can be
attained without an increase in the speed of the cranks and consequently the
treadles.
The driving mechanism is so arranged as to enable the rider to steer the machine,
without disengaging his hand, from the handle rod, which he may be using to
propel the machine. This is easily accomplished by securing a pinion or small
.
077

page_text: wheel, in a position whereby its motion can only be one of revolution; a square
handle bar or rod passes centrally through this pinion, and is further connected to
the levers, hence any motion of revolution of the handle bar would cause the
pinion to revolve and thereby communicate the motion to the rack in connection
with the hind wheel steering lever.
In order to give great stability to the machine, a pair of rods, provided with
small discs at their lower extremity, are secured to the sides of the fork, and bent
outwards these rods extend to within a small distance from the ground and thereby
form a broad wheel base, which greatly increases the stability and consequently
the safety of the machine.

page_text: www baby Divy cie
I, WALTER CHATWOOD BURTON. of 11 Promenade, South Street Rochdale in the'
County of Lancaster Engineer's. Draughtsman do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention for A DUPLE SPEED, POWER, AND SAFETY BICYCLE 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 a device or machine, for enabling persons, to ride or:
travel quicker, easier, and with greater safety, than can be accomplished upon an
ordinary type of Bicycle.
'
:
My device consists essentially of a large front driving wheel, and a smaller, hind
wheel, A curved fork or frame passes from the centre of the large wheel or ball
bearing brackets, horizontally rearwards, until its other extremity, terminates in:
the shape of a socket or stud, and extends just above the external circumference
of the hind wheel.
The upper extremity of the hind wheel fork is arranged so as to slide freely in
the socket or upon a spindle centre, and thus allow of the steering being accom-
plished through the medium of the hind small wheel.
The riders saddle, is supported, or fixed upon the end of a vertical bar, which
is supported from the fork or frame, and nearly midway between the two wheel
centres.
Motion is communicated from the riders hands, or feet, or both simultaneously:
through, connecting and balance or treadle levers, The latter of which swivel or
turn upon fixed centres, one of which is fixed into each of the fork fangs or sides,
The motion is further transmitted (from the connecting rods) to the cranks, the
latter of which are free to revolve round the central axis or stud of the large.
driving wheel.
There is fixed, upon each side of the machine a pair of toothed wheels, which
are placed upon the central studs, and crank end studs respectively, and in close
proxomity to the face of the cranks.
These gear wheels communicate motion from the cranks, to the front, or large
wheel.
An arrangement is made, whereby the wheels, upon the crank studs, can be
rendered, dead, or secure from revolution round their own centres, thus, causing the
driving wheel tu revolve twice during each revolution of the cranks, and thereby
create a greater speed of the large driving wheel, without a corresponding increase
in the speed of the treadles.
The driving mechanism is so arranged as to enable the rider, to steer the machine
easily, without disengaging his hands from the handle rods, which he may be '
using for propelling purposes.
The bandle rods are disengagable at the will of the operator, in order that the
machine may be propelled entirely by the riders feet.
し
The beforementioned steering, and hand propelling motions, are 'accomplished
simultaneously by placing a pinion or toothed wheel, in such a position, that, it'
can revolve freely, but at the same time it must be secure from all lateral motion.
4

page_text: A square handle rod (or equivalent piece of mechanism) passes through the before-
mentioned pinion, and hence (any thrust or pull, communicated to the rod by the
hand) would cause the handle rod to slide through the pinion, and transmit the
motion forward, to the balance lever. Any motion of revolution of the rod, would
compel the pinion to turn; and this pinion would further communicate the motion,
to the rack and rod, in connection with the top of the bind wheel steering lever,
and thence to the hind wheel.
.
In order to give greater stability to the machine, I attach a pair of bent rods or
forks, to the fixed studs, in the sides or fangs of the fork or frame.
The lower extremities of these bent rods or forks, are each prepared to carry
a small disc or wheel, which (in their normal position) will be slightly elevated
ground or level of the large driving wheel base, Each rod is provided with a
spiral spring, which causes the wheels or discs to rise or fall slightly when in
contact with rough or uneven ground, and thus automatically adjust themselves to
whatever tends to retard their progress.
In order to describe the nature of my said invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have caused to be annexed to this specification, the accompanying
sheet of drawings, illustrative of the application of my invention to a Duple, Speed,
Power and Safety Bicycle, With respect to the before referred to sheet of drawings
and the figures, and letters of reference thercon indicated.
Fig. 1, represents a side elevation, complete, with hands and feet propelling gear,
and rear steering mechanism.
Fig. 2, is a front elevation..
Fig. 3, front elevation of steering mechanism which is used during the disengage-
ment of the hand driving or propelling gear.
Fig. 4, side elevation shewing the machine devoid of the hand gear, and safety
supports, and arranged for the steering or smaller wheel, running in front, as in
the ordinary class of safeties.
Fig. 5, front view, of (one side only) the two speed gearing.
Fig. 6, 7, side view and plan of the hand propelling and simultaneous steering
mechanism.
In order to make my description clear I will describe the mechanism on one side
of the machine, as both sides are alike; excepting the pinion and rack rod steering
arrangements, which are only required upon one side of the machine.
a², a³, represents the large and small wheels (front and hind) respectively. g is
the fork or frame, each fang of which is secured to the front large wheel central
stud ball bearings brackets, The upper extremity of the hind or smaller wheel
fork is made to swivel freely, through the boss or upon the stud, which is formed
upon the frame extremity g'. The saddle bar or support x is secured in position
in the fork or frame, by a taper pin or screw Upon this bar there is placed
a handle bar support c-which is capable of being turned to suit any position
desirable for front or rear steering. Attached to the side of the handle bar.
support c there is a boss t Figs. 1 and 6, prepared to receive the long boss of the
pinion which is secured from lateral motion by the tightening nut t³.
The round handle-bar v passes through the pinion boss, and is arranged with a
key. way along its length; into which is fitted (or slides) a key, This key compels
the pinion u to revolve with the rod v although, at the same time, it allows the
rod to slide vertically through the pinion, which mechanism is preferable to the
square rod and recess, beforementioned.
The lower end of the handle bar v' is prepared to turn, in the swivel hook w
but compelled; by the screw m² to move together, in a vertical or inclined
direction The screw m² fits into a circular slot prepared in the handle bar or rod vl
When the small lever R² is in its normal position, (as shown) the spiral spring &²
will keep the hook mouth or opening closed and thus prevent the upper extremity
of the rod 8 from falling out, If the lover R2 be pressed down, the spiral spring
will be compressed, and the rod s will be disengaged, by its passing out of the
hook mouth, and will be free from falling, in consequence of its being guided through

page_text: the ring X The handle rod v1 will thus be disengaged, and any upward or downward
movement, would not be transmitted to the balance or treadle lever The catch y,
by encircling a slot in the rod, retains the rod v¹ in its out of gear position The
pinion a works into the rack e2 which is in connection with the steering rod e
The rod e slides through an opening in an enlarged surface of the boss and is
kept firmly in contact with the rack; by the action of the screw, m* and the steel
spring m³.
The upper extremity of the handle bar support c is prepared to receive an
handle cross bar, a which is capable of turning upon its support, and communicating
such motion, through the lever b. and thence to the rack, which steers or guides
the bind small wheel, This mechanism only being operated by the rider, whilst
the hand gear is disengaged, or during the time that the machine is being propelled
entirely by the feet of the operator, The lever is centred at b whilst its opposite
extremities, are in contact, with the hand cross bar, and rack rod respectively.
The treadle or balance lever h is capable of turning round the fixed centre h³
Its upper extremity is jointed to one end of the connecting rod n whilst the other
end is jointed to the crank end stud,,The toothed wheel R is keyed or otherwise
secured to the large driving wheel contral stud and is in gear with another toothed
wheel which is free to revolve round the crank end stud, A small hole is
provided in the face of each wheel, and is prepared, to receive a small split pin or
screw, whilst corresponding holes are made in the crank and connecting rod
respectively, When the crank and toothed wheel p, are free to revolve round their
respective centres, any motion communicated through the treadle or balance lever,
would not effect the large driving wheel, but if a pin or screw, be pushed into
the holes R, R in the crank and wheel R respectively, then an up and down
motion of the treadle lever, would produce one revolution of the crank, and
consequently the front large driving wheel, Again, if the pin or screw, be now
detached, and placed into the holes S S namely in the wheel, and connecting
rod n then the wheel p will be rendered dead or free from motion round its own
centre and hence we shall get two revolutions of the large driving wheel, for each
revolution of the crank.
The safety bend or support is made to carry a small wheel or disc m which is
slightly elevated from the ground, or level of the large driving wheel.
This bend or support is capable of turning upon its fixed centre stud h' and is
fixed in a definate position by the action of an adjustable spiral spring / which has
its opposite ends secured to the fork and bend respectively, The spring
compensates for the rough, or uneven roads, the machine, may be passing over, by
slightly allowing the bend or support, to turn upwards, when in contact with
obstacles in the road, & returning to its normal position immediately the resistance
is overcome, These bends are only in contact with the ground (unless travelling
upon uneven ground) during the time that the machine is slightly tilted, or the
rider out of balance, and at such times the machine will practically become, a two
track tricycle, One or both of these bends or supports can be disengaged at the
will of the rider. The small wood blocks m³ are used for the purpose of elevating
the large driving wheel from the ground, whilst using the machine for indoor
exercise or, cleaning purposes. Used under these conditions, the dotted line
represents the ground line.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of my
said invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is
1st In all Safety Bicycles, or machines of kind herein indicated, the employment
of a curved fork or frame, which extends from the central ball bearing bracket, of
the large front wheel; to a position almost vertically over the centre, and just above
the circumference of the hind wheel, The smaller extremity of the fork or frame,
being prepared to receive the upper extremity of the hind steering wheel fork,
substantially, as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated.
.

page_text: 2ndly The combination of mechanism, or hand gear for actuating the balance or
treadle levers, when such are being propelled or, aided in their propulsion and
steered simultaneously by the hands of the rider.
3rdly The employment of the cross handle bar and steering lever, which is used
for the purpose of steering the machine, during the time, that the handle rod, or
hand gear, mechanism is inoperative, or disengaged, substantially as set forth and
indicated.
4thly The balance or treadle levers, which turn upon a fixed centre, and are
provided with the treadles at one end of the levers, whilst the power transmitting
rods, are attached or jointed to the opposite extremities, substantially as set forth
and indicated.
5thly The arrangement of the holes, in connection with the toothed gearing,
cranks, and connecting rods, the use of which enables me to attain two speeds or
velocities, without altering the size of the gearing, substantially as set forth and
indicated.
6thly The employment of the safety apparatus or supports, substantially as and
for the purposes, herein before described and illustrated.
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