Indicating and Recording Apparatus for Cyclists' Home Trainers,.or for Mechanical Horses or the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1892-Accepted, 18th June, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Indicating and Recording Apparatus for Cyclists' Home Trainers,.or
for Mechanical Horses or the like.
I, LOUIS FLORIAN GUIGNARD of Lausanne, Switzerland, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The main object of my invention is an apparatus for indicating and recording
the speed, or rate of travel corresponding with the speed, at which cyclists'
home trainers are ridden or worked and the distance they have (in effect) travelled,
and when desired the relative speeds and distances of several home trainers-ridden
in competition; the apparatus is also applicable to similarly indicating and recording
the speed and distance travelled by dummy horses or the like, caused to run along
a track by motion transmitted from dynamos or other machines or by horses or the
like worked by the rider.
The apparatus consists of an endless steel or other band, belt, chain, or the like
travelling over rollers or wheels and carrying a hand, indicator or cursor, preferably
in the form of a small tin figure (such as a small cyclist, a horseman or the like)
running along a table representing a racecourse, hippodrome, cyclodrome or the
Jike, the said endless band or the like being driven by any suitable means of trans-
mission from one of the wheels of the home trainer or from the moving horse or
the like. The table representing the racecourse or the like has a slot, slit or opening
to allow a rod or equivalent piece which connects the cursor or tin figure to the
endless band to pass through and travel along the table.
A series of home trainers and of apparatus such as above described may be
combined either by arranging them so as to have each cursor or indicator moving
on a separate table or to have all the cursors or indicators moving on the same table.
In the latter case I provide suitable means, self acting or not, for connecting the
parts of the table which separate the slots on the one hand with that part which is
surrounded by the track, and on the other hand with that part which surrounds the
track.
The apparatus is provided with suitable means for moving the endless band
independently of the home trainer so as to allow the cursor or indicator to be placed
at the starting point. It is also provided with suitable means for showing or
indicating to the spectators the number of laps which have been run or covered by
the cursors or indicators.
The table may be either horizontal or vertical.
The apparatus will be found particularly useful not only in private but also in
public places such as theatres, because while the spectators will see the performers,
cyclists, borsemen &c. working the home trainers or similar apparatus they will be
able to follow the progress of the race or exercise. The performers also will be
able to see their own progress on the track upon which the cursors or indicators
travel.
In some cases I combine with the apparatus a tachometer or instrument for
showing the speed at which the home trainer is being worked, this instrument
having a hand or indicator for recording the maximum speed attained.
Dated this 8th dex of July 1891.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Indicating and Recording Apparatus for Cyclists' Home Trainers, or
for Mechanical Horses or the like.
I, LOUIS FLORIAN GUIGNARD of Lausanne, Switzerland, Gentleman 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 main object of my invention is an apparatus for indicating and recording the
speed or rate of travel corresponding with the speed, at which cyclists' home trainers
are ridden or worked and the distance they have (in effect) travelled, and when
desired the relative speeds and distances of several home trainers ridden in com-
petition; the apparatus is also applicable to similarly indicating and recording the
speed and distance travelled by dummy horses or the like, caused to run along a
track by motion transmitted from dynamos or other machines or by horses or the
like worked by the rider.
The apparatus consists of an endless steel or other band, belt, chain or the like
travelling over rollers or wheels and carrying a hand, indicator or cursor, preferably
in the form of a small tin figure (such as a small cyclist or horseman or the like)
running along a table representing a racecourse, hippodrome, cyclodrome or the
like, the said endless band or the like being driven by any suitable means of trans-
mission from one of the wheels of the home trainer or from the moving horse or
the like. The table representing the racecourse or the like bus a slot, slit or opening
to allow a rod or equivalent piece which connects the cursor or tin figure to the
endless band to pass through and travel along the table.
A series of home trainers and of apparatus such as above described, may be
combined either by arranging them so as to have each cursor or indicator moving
on a separate table, or to have all the cursors or indicators moving on the same
table. In the latter case I provide suitable means, self-acting or not, for connecting
the parts of the table which separate the slots on the one hand with that part which
is surrounded by the track and on the other hand with that part which surrounds
the track.
The apparatus is provided with suitable means for moving the endless band
independently of the home trainer so as to allow the cursor or indicator to be placed
at the starting point. It is also provided with suitable means for showing or
indicating to the spectators the number of laps which have been run or covered by
the cursors or indicators.
The table may be either horizontal'or vertical.
The apparatus will be found particularly useful not only in private but also in
public places such as theatres, because while the spectators will see the performers,
cyclists, horsemen &c. working the home trainers or similar apparatus they will be
able to follow the progress (on the track) of the race or exercise. The performers
also will be able to see their own progress on the track upon which the cursors or
indicators travel:
In some cases I combine with the apparatus a tachometer or instrument, for
showing the speed at which the home trainer is being worked, this instrument having
a hand or indicator for recording the maximum speed attained.
I will now proceed to describe the invention with reference to the accompanying
drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of an apparatus constructed in accordance
with my invention..
Figure 2 is an end view partly in section and
Figure 3 a plan of the apparatus.
It is shown as being provided with four endless bands and with four figures
intended to be each combined with a home trainer, though only one such home

page_text: •
trainer is shown in the drawing; the three other home trainers and their connections
or transmissions with the endless bands being precisely the same as the one shown,
I have not shown them in the drawings.
Figures 4 to 7 show constructive details of an apparatus of the same kind but
having only three endless bands.
Figures 4, 4B and 4 show an electric recording device intended to be used in
some cases in lieu of the recording device shown in Figure 4.
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a vertical arrangement of the indicating and recording
apparatus.
X and Y are the wheels of the cycle working upon the rollers or wheels A, B, C
of the home trainer, the latter being represented as constructed according to my
Patent No. 20314 of 1890.
The driving wheel X of the cycle causes the rotation of the roller A of the home
trainer, which in its turn causes by means of chain gearing a, the roller C to be
rotated and thereby rotating also the second wheel Y of the cycle, and the roller B
of the home trainer.
The axis of the roller C causes, by means of bevel gearing J, the rotation of a
horizontal shaft K which transmits its rotation by means of a chain or belt L to
bevel gearing J.
The vertical shaft D of the latter is provided with a small pinion gearing into
the holes e of one of the endless metallic bands (band, belt, chain or the like) E of
the apparatus.
The just described arrangement of the apparatus is repeated for each of the
three other home trainers so as to have each of them acting by means of a
pinion upon one of the endless bands E which pass round suitable pulleys G.
d
The bands E each carry a small tin figure H or the like placed on the table F,
the tin figures H running on the said table with a speed which is proportional to
the surface speed of the corresponding rollers C or of the corresponding wheels X
of the cycle worked on said rollers C. In order to allow of any of the figures H
being placed at will at any place on the track independently of the connections
existing between its endless band E and the corresponding home trainer I provide
a coupling box b which permits of the disengagement of the shaft D from the bevel
gearing Ji, and I also provide bevel gearing J which may be turned by means of a
handle when the coupling box has disengaged the shaft D from the gearing J¹.
In order to allow the rods which connect the figures H to the endless bands E
to pass through the top of the table F, the latter is provided with suitable slots,
slits or openings and suitable means may be adopted for affixing those parts of the
table which are situated between two such slots. There may for instance bo
provided arcades having their ends fixed to the outer aud inner fixed parts of the
table and having the intermediate parts of said table suspended to them, the said
arcades being formed so as to allow the tin figures H to pass beneath them. Or I
may provide either a combination of suitable spring-locks or swivels supporting said
intermediate parts of the table, or suitably formed bearings placed in the table and
supporting said intermediate parts.
The Figures 5, 5, 6 and 7 show a table provided with such means.
In the table F there are bearers M to support the intermediate portion F' of the
top of the table. These bearers M have the said portion F' fixed to their top and
their lower portion provided with pairs of rollers m³ which bear upon corresponding
pairs of rollers m³ pivoted to a support M' fixed to the bottom of the table F.
The arm connecting the endless band E with the figure H and running between
the fixed portion F and the aforesaid portion F¹ of the table has its horizontal arm
arranged so as to be able to pass between the rollers m' and the rollers m by
slightly lifting the former and the bearer M and portion F of.the table.
The intermediate portion F of the top board of the table, placed between the
middle and the inuer tracks, is supported by means of suitable swivels, an underside
plan view of which is shown in Figure 6, in which the cover plates covering the
same are supposed to be withdrawn. Each of these swivels is pivoted to a fixed

page_text: portion (F or F) of the top board of the table and lodged in a suitable recess partly
provided in the said fixed portions F and F and partly in the intermediate
portion F which is to be supported. The swivels N lodged in the said recess are
formed or shaped so as to have always at least one of their arms engaged in the
recess in the portion F of the table, that is to say to have always at least one of its
arms supporting the said portion F' as shown in Figure 6. The said swivels aro
maintained in position by means of suitable springs n³ and n³ until one of the rods h
running in one of the track-slots meets the arm of the corresponding swivel
projecting across the said slot; the said arm being then pressed forward the swivel N
is caused to rotate and allow the rod h to pass, but it at same time projects its next
arm across the track alot and under the portion F, the latter being thus at no time
without support.
The recess in which the swivels N and their springa. n' and n² are placed, as
mentioned above, is covered by means of a suitable plate fixed into a corresponding
recess N¹, thus making the lower surface of the portions F2 and Flevel.
The small tin-figures H, or their equivalent, are connected to their corresponding
rods (fixed to the endless bands E by means of small tubes h and binding screw A.
Each rod is provided with a small carriage formed of two rollers ³ rolling against
the lower surface of the top-board of the table so as to counteract the action of
the centrifugal force which tends to cause the small tin-figures H to be inclined
outsido.
In order to cause the small tin-figures H to be inclined inwards, when running in
a curved portion of the track, as would be the case in a natural race, each rod h is
provided with a movable piece, hinged to it, and maintained in its vertical
position by means of a spring ; the piece has an arm to which is pivoted a
small roller which remains inactive as long as the rod runs in a straight portion
of the corresponding track-slot. In the curved portions of the track-slots the lower
surface of the table top is provided on its inside border, with a suitable projection f
(Figures 5 and 7) on which the small roller is caused to roll as shown in Figure 6,
thereby causing the piece with the tin-figure H fixed to it to be inclined; as soon
as the roller gets into a straight portion of the track where no projection
provided, the spring returns the small tin-figure to its vertical position.
is
The table is covered with a cloth O the track-slots of which are smaller than
those of the top board and thus the tyres or rims H* of the cycle wheels of the
small tin-figures H seem to roll on a continuous table.
The apparatus above described is combined with suitable means for recording
the number of laps of each tin-figure II.
a
As shown in Figure 4 the said means consist of a hollow post P supporting
recording device Q. The latter consists of a box having an opening
in which
plays a rotative disc bearing the figures indicating either the laps, or the number of
iniles, kilometers or other distances. The said disc bears a click wheel R acted
upon by a click S which by means of suitable connections (for instance by means
of a chain T and bell-crank t) is acted upon by a rocking lever T* pivoted to a
suitable bearing inside the table, and rocked by the rod fixed to the corresponding
band E, each time the small tin figure II has completed one lap. A spring connected
to the click S causes the latter to be lifted again after cach depression of the same,
caused by the devices just described and a small lever x, connected to the bell-
crank, and projecting through the top of the table, allows of setting the disc of
the recording device Q by hand to zero without the aid of the rod and lever T.
The arrangement just described may of course be replaced by a suitable device
acted upon by means of an electric current or by any other suitable means
whatever.
Such a recording-device acted upon by means of an electric current, is shown for
instance in the Figures 44, 48 and 4".
In a cylindrical box Q is a rotative disc Q pivoted to an axis q' and bearing
figures which indicate the miles, kilometers or laps as in the above described device,
the figures showing through a suitable opening in the said box.

page_text: To the disc Q there is affixed a smaller disc q3 provided with a circular set of
teeth or pins projecting vertically from its inner face. The axis of the disc Q3 is
further provided with a small pulley P' around which there is wound a cord p³ one
end of which is attached to a spring S³ the other end being passed through a suit-
able hole of the box Q2 so that it can be acted upon by hand when the recording
device has to be set to zero.
The spring S acting upon the pulley 13 by means of the cord p³ causes the disc q*
to be rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 4.
There is also a spring Aª having two projections a and b the one of which
projects into the path of the pius or teeth of the disc when the device. is at rest.
There is also an electro.maguet B3 which is connected to an electric circuit generally
interrupted, the latter being closed by the cursor or tin-figure H once during
each lap.
The electro magnet B is placed to act upon the aforesaid spring A³ each time
the said circuit is temporarily closed and when this occurs the projection a³ is
retracted out of the path of the teeth or pins of the disc 3 leaving the latter free
to rotate together with the disc Q3 bearing the figures. The projection of the
spring A which, when the latter is at rest, is clear of the pins of the disc ³, is
placed in the path of the said pins at the same time that the projection a³ is retracted
out of the said path, and thus the rotation of the discs y and Q is equal to one of
the teeth of the disc g which corresponds to une division or figure of the disc Q³.
As soon as the electric circuit is again interrupted, the spring A³ returns, by
means of its own elasticity, to its first position.
The setting of the disc Q to zero is effected by drawing the cord p³ until the
projection of the disc meets the catch g fixed to the box Q.
The main part of the above described apparatus may be arranged vertically
instead of horizontally. Figures 8 and 9 show a vertical construction arranged to
act as a recording device for only one home-trainer.
A is a hollow pillar placed next to a home trainer the wheel or roller of which
is connected by any suitable means to the shaft 1x placed in the post so as to rotate
with a speed proportionate to the speed with which the home trainer is worked by
the cyclist.
The shaft B* carries a bevol wheel (or endless screw or the like) * intended to
act upon the vertical recording device. The latter is composed of a perforated
endless band Ex running as in the above described horizontal apparatus, over suitable
pulleys G. One of the latter is provided with a gear wheel, acted upon by means
of suitable intermediate wheels, by the above described bevel wheel b*. In the
drawing the bevel wheel 6x gears with a corresponding bevel wheel b' and the latter
may be put out of gear with the wheel o* by means of a suitable hand lever c* when
the recording apparatus is to be stopped. There is further provided a spring
catch to which the lover c* may be secured if the recording devico is to be kept
stopped.
The endless band Ex bears an indicator or cursor H* which travels in front of a
board or box F* which is marked with suitable speed recording divisions and
figures.
The upper pulley G* is provided with a suitable pin acting at each lap of the
indicator H upon mechanism similar to that described with reference to Figure 4
and causing the disc Q to be rotated to the extent of one division or figure in front
of the opening of the box enclosing the same. The disc has pins 7 causing the
bell T to be struck by a hammer at each completion of a mile, kilometer or other
distance and if several similar apparatus as described are combined the respective
bells T of the same will preferably be made with different tones so that the bell
which has been sounded can be easily distinguished.
The pillar A may further be suitably provided with a tachometer R* acted
upon by the shaft B3* and having two hauds one of which indicates the maximum
speed.

page_text: 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. An apparatus for indicating and recording the speed or rate of travel corre-
sponding with the speed at which cyclists' home trainers are ridden or worked and
the distance they have (in effect) travelled and when desired the relative speeds
and distances of several home trainers ridden in competition, or for indicating and
recording the speed and distance travelled by dummy horses or the like caused to
run along a track to which motion is given from dynamos or other machines or by
the rider, the said apparatus being essentially composed of as many endless steel or
other bands, belts, chains or the like as there are home trainers or tracks to be
controlled, travelling over rollers or wheels and carrying each a hand, indicator or
cursor. running along suitable slots, slits or openings provided in a table or board
which may represent a race course, hippodrome, cyclodrome or the like, or which
may be provided with suitable figures and divisions-intended to record the progress
of said hand, indicator or cursor or of said hands, indicators or cursors, substantially
as set forth.
2. In an apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, the use of perforated
metallic endless bands E substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In an apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, the use of suitable bearers M
with rollers and of supports M¹ with rollers m³ placed inside the table, to support
those parts of the table plate situated between two track slots, as for instance the
part in Figure 5, substantially as shown and described.
4. In an apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, the use of swivels N to
support those parts of the table situated between two track slots as for instance the
part in Figures 5 and 6, substantially as shown and described.
5. In an apparatus of the kind specified in Claim 1, the combination of tho rod h
which is fixed to the endless band E and to which is connected the tin figure or
cursor H, of a small carriage h³ as and for the purpose specified.
6. In an apparatus of the kind' specified in Claim 1, the combination of the rod
with a piece hinged to the said rod h and bearing the tin figure H and having an
arm with roller hand with a spring the whole acting in combination with
suitable projections of the table-board, so as to cause the tin figure H to be
inclined in part of its race, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 7th day of May 1892.
J. C. MEWBURN,
55 & 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent.