Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1890-Accepted, 1st Mar., 1890
Fig. 1 is a front elevation
Fig. 2 a side view, of the improved bicycle, and
Fig. 3 represents a detail.
The two main wheels R rotate about the ends of a common axle w, bent down
crank-fashion in the middle, and their naves n are rigidly connected on the inner
sides with toothed wheels :.
From the crank bend of the axle are suspended, so as to freely oscillate, two
bearing rails I carrying the saddle or seat S and, revolubly lodged, the main shaft a,
the intermediate shaft b and the crank shaft k. A chain wheel provided on the
latter is connected through a driving chain with a chain wheel mounted on the
intermediate shaft b, the spur wheel o of which gears into the toothed wheel p of
the main shaft.
The wheel p and the smaller toothed wheel p² are secured on a common tube u,
adapted to be displaced on the shaft a by means of a hand lever q.. By displacing
the said tube, the wheel gearing op, for slow travel, is disengaged and the wheels o¹ pl
are geared for rapid riding.
This disposition is intended to enable the rider to overcome gradients without
increased expenditure of power, or to increase at pleasure the speed of the vehicle on
level ground.
The coupling wheels c, revoluble about the shaft a, follow the rotary motion of the
latter by aid of the couplings d adapted to be engaged by means of hand levers h h¹
and impart this motion to the toothed wheels z and thereby to the mainwheels R,
while, when said coupling is disengaged, the respective mainwheel is at rest and the
shaft a is allowed to to freely revolve in the coupling wheels.
The toothed wheels z are connected with brake disks f, surrounded by brake bands g
which are actuated by means of the hand wheels m through screw spindles n.
The improved vehicle is driven by depressing the cranks and guided by dis-
engaging one of the coupling wheels c so as to cause the vehicle to turn round the
disengaged and braked main wheel.
The whole driving apparatus being suspended from the crank bend of the axle, the
centre of gravity of the vehicle lies below the centres of the main wheels. A tilting
of the vehicle is therefore rendered impossible, and as also a lateral turning over is
precluded through this construction, the improved bicycle affords absolute safety even
for inexperienced riders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:
In bicycles, a driving apparatus suspended from the downwardly bent main shaft
and consisting of rails which carry a seat S and in which are lodged
1) The driving shaft a the displaceable coupling wheels of which c gear into the
oothed wheels of the main wheels R,

page_text: 2) The intermediate shaft b with the transmission wheels o and o¹ adapted to be
at pleasure geared through the hand lever q into the wheels p and p², displaceable
on the shaft a for the purpose of allowing the speed of the vehicle to be regulated.
3) The crank shaft k with chain wheel the rotation of which is transmitted
through a driving chaint and wheel to the intermediate shaft 6 the whole
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated thin 27th of In 1800
G. HANDWERG.
Per Huelser & ('o.,
142, Fleet Street, London, Attorneys.