IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALEXANDER JAMES ELI of 26 Francis Street Tottenham Court Road in the
County of Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to effect certain improvements in Velocipedes
whereby the power and speed may be varied to suit the nature of the ground.
In carrying out my invention I use two large wheels parallel to each other and
one small wheel. In the case of a Tricycle it may be arranged either as a front or
hind steerer, the small wheel being the steering wheel.
The axle of the small wheel is made hollow, and is used as a support and
bearing for the pedal axle. The pedal axle may be revolved and driven indepen-
dently of the small wheel, when required.
The seat of the rider is placed nearly in a vertical line above the axle on the
small wheel, and the steering handle is conveniently placed for the rider to rest his
hands upon and steer the tricycle.
The pedal axle is fitted with driving pullies or chain wheels, which, by means of
bands or pitch chains, are geared to corresponding pulleys or wheels on the main
axle. These latter pulleys or wheels are so mounted that they may be connected
(so as to drive,) or disconnected from, (so as to run freely upon) the main axle, by
means of clutches or other connecting and disconnecting gear. In an analogous
manner the pedal-axle may be made to drive the small wheel, by being made fast
thereto, or to run independently thereof.
When very little power and a high speed are required, as on going on a level
road, or down an incline, the pedal axle is set free of the small wheel, and the
driving gear on the main axle is made fast thereto; whereby the large wheels
become the drivers.
When great power and less speed are required as on ascending a steep hill,
the pedal axle is made fast to the small wheel, and the driving gear on the main
axle is caused to run free thereof; whereby the small wheel becomes the driver.
Dated this 20th March 188
GEO.
DOWNING,
· Agent for Applicant.

page_text: I ALEXANDER JAMES ELI of 26 Francis, Street, Tottenham Court Road in the
County of Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare that the nature of my Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES".and in what manner the same is to bo
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
The object of my Invention is to effect certain Improvements in Velocipedes
whereby the driving power and speed may be varied to suit the nature of the
ground.
In carrying out my invention I use two large wheels mounted parallel to each
other, and one small wheel. The machine may be arranged either as a front or
hind steerer. The hub of the small wheel is inade hollow and through it passes
the pedal axle the power being conveyed by ordinary clutch or other gearing which
The saddle can be placed to
permits the small wheel to run loose when necessary.
suit the convenience of the rider and the position of the steering apparatus. The
pedal axle is fitted with driving pullies or chain wheels, which by means of bands
or pitch chains are geared to corresponding pullies or wheels on the main axlo,
provision being made for throwing the same into or out of gear as may be required.
When moderate power and a comparatively bigh speed are required as in travel-
ling on level ground or down an incline the small wheel ruus free of the pedal axle,
the driving power being conveyed to the large wheels; but when more power is
required as when ascending a steep incline the machine is propelled by the small
wheel.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I have hereto annexed
two sheets of drawings illustrative thereof.
Fig. 1 represents a side; elevation of my machine with lever pedals; Fig. 2
represents details (about half size) of small wheel with driving and steering appa-
ratus; Fig. 3 is a Plan view and Figs. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 are details hereinafter
referred to.
A is the backbone of the machine which is slotted at a for the reception of the
main axle B. The main axle does not revolve, being square or rectangular at that
part thereof which passes through the slot in the backbone to which part is attached
the handle bar C, the said bar passing through the axle and being fixed at a
suitable height by means of a lock-nut. D are the large wheels, to the hubs of
which are attached sleeves E and into these sleeves are screwed bosses F formed
on the sides of the universal pullies G the ends of the bosses resting against
friction rollers H on the main axis. The ends of the main axle B are supported
in conical bearings formed in blocks J which are screwed into the hubs of the
large wheels and which serve to determine the angle or inclination thereof. In

page_text: Fig. 7 is shewn in section one half of the axle and the method of attaching the
wheel and driving pulley thereon.
The backbone is forked to carry the small wheel K, the hub of which contains
clutch gear of a similar kind to that shewn in Figs. 8 and 9, which causes the
wheel to revolve at the same rate as the pedal axle or leaves it free to travel faster
when required. On the pedal axle are mounted two pullies L over which pass the
driving bands 6 the said driving bands also passing over the universal pullies G
attached to the sleeve of the large wheel.
The chief feature of my Invention is that the driving power may be communi-
cated to either the small wheel K or to the large wheels D or to either one of the
said large wheels at the pleasure of the Rider, this transference of power being
effected by shortening or increasing the distance between the pullies G and L so as
to slacken the bands b in which case they become inoperative or to tighten thein
and thereby convert them into drivers. This alteration in the tension of the bands
is provided for by the slot in the backbone through which the main axle passes.
On each side of the slotted parts are lugs a with short slots into which enter pins &
fixed upon lever arms M mounted upon a stud e which passes through a revolving
collar mounted on the handle bar. On the stud e is also fixed a lever handle N
provided with a locking bar / (see detail Fig. 4). As the Rider draws the handle N
towards him the backbone is shortened (see Fig. 5) and the bands then become
slack but on releasing the handle N the spring O causes it to resume the position
shewn in Fig. 2. By the nut k the tension can be so regulated to suit the weight
or strength of the rider as to slacken the bands and transfer the driving power
from the large wheels D to the small wheel K automatically or without the use of
the handle N.
f
For the purpose of steering the machine the Rider makes use of the handle bar
in the usual manner as shewn in Fig. 3. In this position it will be seen that the
bands are subjected to unequal tension the wheel nearest the centre of the curve
being thrown out of gear whilst the outer wheel alone is driven thus enabling the
machine to turn readily and answer to the Will of the Rider. The bands being of
equal length and acting at equal distance and with equal power on each side of the
machine prevent it from swerving should he momentarily relax his control over
the steering apparatus.
Instead of using pullies with the universal joints as shewn in Fig. 7 I may use
ordinary pullies working at right angles to the main axis the bands being kept in
the grooves thereof by means of guide pullies as shewn in Fig. 3.
In the foregoing description I have spoken only of driving the machine by means
of pullies and bands placed in or out of operation by shortening the backbone but
it will be seen that other means may be adopted for throwing the pullies upon the
small axle into or out of gear with those attached to the large wheels in which
case instead of bands and grooved pullies I might use chain wheels and chains for
driving the machine.
In applying a brake to my machine it can be so arranged as to act upon the
circumference of the small wheel by means of a " spoon" or slipper or it may be
caused to act on the sides or within the groove of the pullies attached to the large
wheels by means of a lever handle placed near the guiding bar, so as to be readily
actuated when required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The construction of a machine or tricycle in which the propelling power may
be transferred to either the large or small wheel substantially as herein shewn and
described.

page_text: 2. The use of the pullies G and L and bands b or their mechanical equivalent,
for transferring the driving power from the axis of the small wheel to one or both
of the large wheels substantially as and for the purpose herein shewn and
described.
3. The method of mounting the wheels upon a non-revolving axis to which the
handle bar is attached substantially as herein shewn and described.