IMPROVE- MENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: ALFRED OSBORN of N° 30 Doris Street, Kennington Cross in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my inventions for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VELOCIPEDES to be as follows :—
I propose to adapt a series of Wheels whose edges shall be either "Concave,
Convex, flanged or plain, to be so arranged that each Spindle, Axle, Crank, or
Disc shall revolve on the outer edges of such Wheels, thereby doing away with
Ball, Roller or plain Bearings altogether. And I further propose to have sets of
Chain or other wheels of various sizes to increase the revolutions of the "Driving
Wheels" attached to a Spindle capable of being thrown in and out of gear.
The arrangement I propose for the alteration of Speed is effected, by placing the
Smallest Chain or band Wheels on the Axle (which revolves) and a Row of larger
Chain or band Wheels varying in Size on a Spindle opposite, which Spindle reaches
across the Machine and by having a "Clutch" working on one side of each small
Chain or band Wheel on the Axle and the said " Clutch" to be worked, backward
and forwards by a "Fork" placed horizontally and drawing in and out the same
as a door bolt.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ALFRED OSBORN of 30 Doris Street Kennington Cross in the County of
Surrey, gentleman do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE-
MENTS IN VELOCIPEDES and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
The nature of my invention is firstly to do away or dispense with ball rollers
and plain bearings, and in their place to utilize a series of wheels so arranged that
each spindle axle, crank or disc revolves upon the outer edges of such wheels, and
as is hereafter more particulary described.
Secondly to vary the speed by placing on the axle (which revolves) a series of
chain or band wheels of equal size, and on a spindle (which reaches across the
machine and is paralell to the axle) a similar number of chains or band wheels
of different sizes, each of which is in a right line and connected with a corre-
sponding wheel on the axle, a clutch (on on the axle) being used to such wheels
in or out of gear as required.
The manner in which my said invention is to be performed (as applied to
velocipedes) is as follows.
The frame of the machine, as will be seen from the accompanying illustrations,
is, in shape like a tuning fork, the axle passes under the frame, having at each end
a driving wheel; The steering wheel I place behind. It can be placed in front.
Wheels of any size can be used, but I prefer for the purposes of my invention that
front wheels, of about 27 inches in diameter, and behind wheels of about 15 inches
are the best,
On the axle I place four chain wheels of equal sizes and diameters-their
positions will be seen on the accompanying plans. Behind the axle I place a
spindle, this spindle is parallel to the axle and has a bearing at each end in or on
the frame. On this spindle I place, in the ordinary way two cranks, as shewn in
the accompanying plans, and worked by levers, I connect the levers and cranks
by means of a chain passing around a small wheel attached to each lever and
passing over the bearing of each crank (instead of the usual rod) whereby friction
is reduced to a minimum. Then to the right and to the left of each crank and on
this spindle I place two chain or band wheels, that is four altogether. These four
chain, or band wheels are of different sizes, the sizes I use are two inch, 4 inch,
6 inch and 8 inch and I place them progressing from left to right Each of these
various chain or band wheels on the spindle is in a right line with one of the chain
or band wheels on the axle, and I connect each wheel on the spindle with the
wheel in a line with it on the axle, in the ordinary way, by chains.
The chain wheels on the axle work in a race cut round the said axle, and a pin
or screw passes through the said wheels, thereby keeping them in position, and
preventing them noving right or left. The wheels on the spindle are keyed on.
Now between each chain wheel on the axle I place a clutch and thus there are two
clutches-These clutches have a pin or screw passing through them the point of
which pin or screw works in a slot cut in the axle thereby enabling them to be
moved right or left, and so to put in or out of gear either of the two chain wheels,
next to them these clutches are worked along the axle backwards or forwards
by forks or levers (one on each side of the rider) The forks would be placed
horizontally and drawn in or out as door bolts-I prefer levers each of which
works by means of a fulcrum in a plate, which plates are fitted to the cross section
of the fraine; thus whatever speed is required can be thrown into gear.
Next I connect by a bar or tube the two sides of the frame. This connecting
bar I place over, or as nearly over the axle as can be This connecting bar can be
described in shape as three sides of an oblong, the two sides rising about eight
inches or more from the frame, this cross head forms really a part of the frame,
being of the same material on tubing, The cross piece of this connecting bar or

page_text: tubing serves as a basis for the seat-To the upright part on each side of this frame
is hung a flanged wheel about 8 inches in diameter each of which lands on a bush
or disc of some 11 inches or so attached to the axle, thereby allowing the flange
of each wheel to lap on the outer edge of the discs and so keeping the axle on
cach side in its place under the axle on both sides and on the outside of the
frame is a clip (to which two 3 inch flanged wheels or thereabouts are working
on to another bush or disc of about 1 inch diameter) and attached to the axle
thereby reducing the friction to a minimum and prevents the axle moving backwards
or forwards these clips are attached to the outside of the frame.
As to the hind wheel the spindle or axle on which it works is rigid in the fork
and on the outside of the boss or haub and on each side are attached three flanged
or plain ante friction wheels.
Referring to the accompanying drawings
A A shews the driving Wheels without spokes.
B
D
ARCAS0030
a
b
the Frame.
the Treadles.
the hind Wheel.
is the axle.
the bush on Axle.
c c¹ c² c³ are 2" toothed wheels.
dd
e
f
f" fo
are 3in inch anti friction wheels for axle.
is 8 inch
do
is crank spindle.
cranks.
do.
chains from cranks to treadles.
wheel on treadle.
bearings for same.
Bush on crank spindle.
3 inch anti friction Wheels.
disc in which AF wheels & spindle crank are placed.
2" toothed wheel on crank spindle.
A."!