IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Moss at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th Juno 1882.
GEORGE Moss, of 46 Barbican, in the City of London, Bicycle Manufacturer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.
"
The first part of my Invention relates more particularly to those machines
that are driven by a reciprocating action or motor, such as a lever or ratchet;
although it may be applied to those machines which have a crank action. In
those machines with ratchet action, I attach a pad to such portion of the pawl,
that the said pad, bearing upon the ratchet wheel, or its equivalent, shall dis-
engage the pawl from the ratchet wheel, as the pawl recedes for the following
stroke, and thereby make the ratchet silent. Further, in order to obtain power
to drive such a machino backwards, as well as forwards, I arrange handles, or
catch levers, in such a manner that the rider may be able, at will, to disengage
the pawl from the ratchet, and put the ratchet out of gear. To accomplish this
object, I employ two sets of ratchets and pawls to each driving lever, one
ratchet wheel being arranged to drive in the opposite direction to the other.
I attach to each driving lever, a smaller, lever, handle; or catch, which acts
directly on each pawl, and, when desired, disconnects it entirely from the
ratchet wheel. By this means I can, at will, put either the backward or for-
ward-driving ratchet into gear, or disengage both pawls and leave the driving
lever quite free, or use it as a foot-rest in travelling downhill.
The next portion of my Invention relates to brukes and clutches. At present
the brake is applied either to the tyre of the wheel, or wheels, or by means of
a friction band round a drum, on the driving wheel or shaft. In lieu thereof,
I construct the brake in such a manner that it forms a brake, or clutch, at
will. I place the brake on the driving shaft, or other convenient position, the
said brake being also the driving wheel, by which the chain, or other connect-

page_text: ing wheels, communicate their action to the travelling wheela; but the clutch
may be independent of the brake. By moving the crank, lever, or other motor,
in one direction, I connect the clutch and drivo the wheels, but, by moving
the said brake disc, or wheel, in the opposite direction, and pressing it against
a portion of the machine, specially constructed for the purpose, it acts as a
powerful and efficient brake upon the machine. I make the brake itself of
Rubber, Leather, or other equivalent material, which may be attached either
to the framework, or to the disc itselt. When the said dise is moved for the
purpose of driving, it passes over double inclined planes, by means of rollers
contained inside, upon which the bore of a dise or boss slides, and, so com-
pressing the inclined planes, levers, bars, or rollers, causes them to extend
longitudinally and hold the clutch a fixture for driving, against a stop fixed
upon the shaft. I may construct the brake in one or more parts, as may be
convenient. The inclined planes, levers, or bars, to which rollers may be
attached, are jointed or pivoted at each end, so as to form a thrusting action,
and to which a spring may be attached, if desired, for a more immediate dis-
connection.
The other part of my Invention relates to the travelling wheels, and will
answer for other vehicles, as well as velocipedes. I construct an outer-or
spring-tyre, in one or more paris, so as wholly or partly to box in the spring,
and its mechanism. The rim, or felloe, of the inner wheel is made to pass in-
side the outer rim, or felloes; allowing enough space between the two rims, to
admit of the springs placed between them, acting freely, and being kept from
exposure. I make these springs of an elliptical or other suitable shape, and so
constructed, that they are carried, by or in direct contact with, a bolt and adjust-
able lock-nuts, for the purpose of trueing the outer tyre, and also for easy
removal and adjustment. I also make the outer tyro tubular, of circular, square,
ovil, or clongated flat section, and curved into a perfect circle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent and of
an order of the Lord Chancellor filed by the said George Moss in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd January 1883.
GEORGE Moss of 46 Barbican in the City of London Bicycle Manufacturer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
The first part of my invention relates specially to machines driven by a
reciprocating action or motor such as a lever or ratchet though applicable to
those having a crank action. In machines with ratchet action I attach a pad
to such a portion of the pawl that the pad bearing upon the ratchet wheel shall
disongage the pawl from the ratchet wheel as the pawl recedes for the follow-
ing stroke and thereby render the ratchet silent And further in order to drive
such Machine backwards as well as forwards I arrange handles or catch levers
in such a manner that the rider may be able at will to disengage the pawl and
put the ratchet out of gear. For this purpose I employ two sets of ratchets
and pawls to each driving lever one ratchet wheel being arranged to drive in
an opposite direction to the other I attach to the driving lever a smaller
lever handle or catch which acts directly upon each pawl and, if desired, dis-
connecta, it entirely from the ratchet wheel. By this means I can at will put
either the backward or forward driving ratchet into or out of gear or disengage
both pawls leaving the driving lever quite free or using it as a foot rest when
travelling down hill
The next part of my invention consists in constructing the brake in such a
manner that it forms a clutch or brake at will. I place the brake on the crank
shaft or other convenient position using it also as the driving wheel by which
the chain or connecting wheel communicates its action to travelling wheels.
By moving the crank lever or other motor in one direction it connects the clutch
and drives the wheels but by moving the said brake disc or wheel in the oppo-
site direction and pressing it against a portion of the machine specially con-
structed for the purpose it acts as a powerful and efficient brake upon the machine
I make the brake itself of rubber leather or other equivalent material which
may be attached either to the framework or to the disc itself. When the said
disc is moved for the purpose of driving it passes over double inclined planes
by means of rollers contained inside on which the bore of a disc or boss slides
and compressing the inclined planes levers or rollers causes them to extend
longitudinally and hold the clutch a fixture for driving against a stop fixed upon
the shaft. The inclined planes or levers are jointed at each end so as to form
a thrusting action and a spring may be attached to them for more immediate
disconnection.
The other part of my Invention relates to the travelling wheels themselves.
I construct the outer or spring tyre described in Letters Patent No. 181 of One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two in one or more parts so as to box in
wholly or partially the spring and its mechanism. Sufficient space is allowed
between the inner and outer rims or felloes to admit of the springs placed
between them working freely and a flange on the outer rim is so arranged as
to keep the springs from exposure when required. These springs are of an
elliptical or other suitable shape and so constructed that a slot at one end is
carried by or in contact with a bolt which allows of easy removal when
needed and adjustment the other end being provented from slipping by the
aforesaid flange I make my tyre of round, flat, square, or other suitable section
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be carried out I remark in
conclusion that I claim as the Invention secured to me by the said Letters
Patent of twenty seventh June One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.

page_text: First The modo of producing a silent ratchet and a reversing ratchet action
aubstantially as described herein
Secondly The manner of forming and applying the brake clutch substan-
tially as described herein.
Thirdly The manner of closing in the springs of the travelling whools and
providing for easy removal of such springs when needed substantially as herein
described
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this Twenty-eighth
day of December One thousand eight hundred and eighty two