Mechanism for Changing the Point of Application of the Load on Treadles and Levers.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Oct., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Nov., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Mechanism for Changing the Point of Application of the Load on
Treadles and Levers.
I FREDRIK LJUNGSTROM, Mechanician, of 44" Grefgatan, Stockholm in the
Kingdom of Sweden, 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 :-
This invention relates to an automatic device for changing the point of applica-
tion of the load or power on treadles, levers, and similar parts, having a rocking or
oscillating movement. The load or the power acts upon the loop or stirrup, herein-
after termed a bow, which is movable along the treadle arm, and which moves by
itself along the same, in consequence of the angular motion of the treadle. To the
treadle is fixed an adjustable part, into which the bow engages. By readjusting
this part, the bow can be brought to move in the one or the other direction along
the treadle arm, and to stop at a desired point. The device is chiefly adapted for
the treadles of velocipedes, but it may also be used with any treadle or lever where
a change of the lever arm, of the power, or the load, is desired.
Fig. 1 shows, in elevation, a velocipede provided with the device in question,
while
and
Fig. 2 shows a side view of the treadle, drawn to a larger scale.
Figs. 3 and 4 show some details, seen from the top and from behind respectively;
Fig. 5 shows another detail, seen from the top.
Figs. 6 and 6 show the steering handle.
The treadle or lever consists of a triangular frame; along its upward extending
arm a can the driving chain & be moved. The pedal c is fixed to the forwardly-
directed arm.
In the following, the arm a is considered to be the lever along which
the point of application of the power, or the load which is considered to act on the
chain b, is to be moved. According to the drawings, the load acts on the chain,
but such a case may be easily imagined that the motive power acts upon the chain,
drawing the loaded lever a to and fro. The arm a is, on its rear side, provided
with a sliding piece e, movable along the same, and having a series of holes f,
recesses, notches, or such like, and, on its fore side, the arm a is provided with a
longitudinal fixed ridge g, with low teeth, h, h', h², and so on.
The end of the
chain embraces the arin a, the sliding piece e, and the ridge g, by means of a
bow i, which comes in somewhere between the said teeth. The bow is provided
with two hooks k, k', which are made in one piece, and situated in the
plane of the arm a, these hooks being directed towards the sliding piece e,
so that they can engage into the holes of said piece. The hooks can
turn around the pivot on the bow, and tend to occupy the middle
position shown at A in Fig. 2, in consequence of the pull in the small spring m,
situated opposite the pivot l. The readjustment of the sliding piece e, that
is to say, its displacement or movement along the arm, takes place by means of
another bow-shaped sliding piece a', attached to the frame B, and clasped by the
said piece e by the two pivots a. From the sliding piece a', a chain, a rope, or
such like a, ascends through the tubular parts B, C, D, to the handle E. This
handle is pivotally mounted on the end of the part D, and is internally provided
with a groove b¹ running obliquely to the shaft of the handle, and into which enters

page_text: a projection & on the shaft. Thus, the handle is moved in a longitudinal direction
whan turned. The sliding piece a¹ is kept down by an overlying spring c¹, but it
can be drawn upwards by turning the handle E, whereby the sliding piece e is moved
upwards on the arm a. During the oscillation of the arm a, the angle which the
chain forms with the arm is changed, in consequence whereof, the upper hook k
comes in contact with the arm, when this is turned towards the one direction, and
the lower hook k¹ comes in contact with the arm, when this is swung towards the
other direction, compare Fig. 2, in which the arm is shown in its extreme positions
by dotted lines. By sliding upon the arm, the piece e can be brought in such a
position that. the holes f come in position for engagement with the upper or the
lower hook. Suppose that the piece e has such a position that the lower hook k
engages into a hole when the arm is swung forwards (as at A', Fig. 2), the
consequence will be, that the hook, at the beginning of the back motion of the arm
towards the right, holds onto the piece e, and that the bow in which the chain b
pulls, moves a step downwards over the tooth /'. When the arm reaches a middle
position, the hook k leaves the piece e free, in consequence of the variation of the
angle between the chain and the arm. When the arm reaches the opposite extreme
position, as at A³, the upper hook k rests against the piece e without meeting a hole
in the piece. During the next oscillation of the arm, the described movement
downwards of the bow is repeated, so that the bow is again moved one step, and so
on, until the end of the series of holes in the piece e. The adjustment of the
piece e necessary for this movement, is obtained by turning the handle E a certain
degree. If this handle is turned in the opposite direction, the piece e occupies
another position, so that the holes f come in position for engagement with the upper
hook k when the arm is swung towards the right, while the lower hook does not
engage into any hole. The bow is then moved upwards. If the handle is turned
to a middle position of the same, that is to say, so that the pivot 62 will come to be
situated as shown in Fig. 64, the piece e will come to occupy such a position that
neither the upper nor the lower hook comes into a hole, wherefore no movement of
the bow takes place. Hence it is evident that a movement upwards or downwards
of the bow can be interrupted in a desired moment by turning the handle back to
its middle position, and thus it is evident that the bows i can be placed upon the
arms a at a desired distance from the shaft of the arm, during the driving, according
to the desired gear. The described device might be somewhat modified, according
to the purpose of the lever. Principally, this concerns, however, only the mechanism
for the readjustment of the piece e, because this mechanism has, in the above
description, evidently been adapted to the form of the velocipede.
Other modifications, as, for instance, such a one in which the piece is turned
upon the arm for obtaining the described alternatives to the movement of the
bow, instead of letting the piece e slide up in the arm, may certainly be made,
but this does not go beyond the scope of the invention. The piece could also
The provided with two series of holes, and be capable of turning arou: the urine.
If the one series of holes is opposite to the hoaks, the one of the hooks ages
into the holes, whereby the bow is moved upwards, but if the other series of holes
is opposite to the hooks, the other hook engages into the holes, whereby the bow
is moved downwards. If none of the series of holes is opposite to the hooks, no
displacement takes place.
Another modification may consist therein, that the ridge or strip g is movable
along the arm, and this latter provided only with holes f on the opposite side,
instead of the movable part e. If the ridge g is adjusted so that the bow, in its
angular motion in relation to the arm, engages with the holes f by means of the
lower hook ¹, the bow moves downwards, and inversely, if it engages by means of
the upper hookk, the bow moves upwards. In another position of the ridge, none
of the hooks engage with the hole, so that no disp! et ts place. Thus,
the distance between the holes must be diftrent from that between the hooks,
so that the latter only engage alternately, because the how might otherwine move
one steppwards and one downwards mate
oscillions of the

page_text: treadle. The motion of the bow may thus be resembled to a sort of climbing,
caused by means partly of the hook piece k k¹ engaging directly into the arm, or
into a special piece mounted on the arm, and partly of the teeth k, situated on the
opposite side of the arm with respect to the hook piece.
In order to make the readjusting device now described still easier of management,
particularly on bicycles, there may be a pneumatic connection from the handles E to
the hooks, so that, in order to actuate them, one has only to press on a rubber
pneumatic or inflated air-ball attached to the handle. This is represented in the
Figs. 7 to 14, of which Fig. 7 shows the bicycle viewed from the side; Figs. 8
and 9 the treadle in a larger scale, with the hooks in different positions; Figs. 10
the bow viewed from the top; Fig. 11 the steering bar of the bicycle viewed
from the top; and Figs. 12, 13, and 14, modifications. The hooks k k¹ are in
separate parts, and each in the shape of a bent lever, the one end of which
constituting the hook itself and the other end being flattened and directed.
backwards. Between the latter ends of the two hooks there is a little rubber air
ball p, from which passes a tube p² along the treadle, down to the centre of
this, and further along the parts B, C, and D, of the frame, to a rubber,
air ball p placed at the handle E. The hooks at the one treadle are in
this way, by means of a tube, connected with a rubber air-ball at the one
handle, and the hooks at the other treadle are in the same way, by
means of another tube, connected with another rubber air ball, being at the
other handle E. As the tube is elastic, it does not prevent the movement of the
bow upwards or downwards along the arm a. The latter is, at the back, provided
with holes for the hooks k k¹. When pressing the air ball p³, which may easily
be effected by means of the thumb, when grasping the handle in the usual way, the
air ball p swells, thus causing the hooks k¹ to move towards each other (towards
the arm a). A spring holds, when the air ball p³ is not actuated, the hooks
distended, thus preventing them from getting spontaneously into the holes of the
arm a. If wanted to move the bow i downwards on the arm a, the air ball p³ has
to be compressed when the treadle is occupying its lower position; the air ball P
then swells, causing thus the hooks to move towards the arm a. The down-
most hook gets then into one of the holes f of the arm, while the topmost one only
rests against the arm, as there is no hole opposite it (see at A¹ in Fig. 8). When
the arm is then swinging to the right, the hook k sticks to the arm a, and the bow i
swings over the next lower elevation h. At A, Fig. 8, where the arm a is
represented in a middle position, the bow is shown swung half-way over the
elevation h. Before the treadle has reached its upper position, and before the
arm a is thus at the right turning point at A2, Fig. 8, the pressure upon the air
ball ceases. When the arm is then turning, and going back to the left, the
hook k is releasing the arm a, but by means of a repeated pressure upon the air
ball p, when the arm attains the extreme position to the left, it may be caused to
engage anew with the arm, the result of which being the moving downwards of the
bow one step, and so on.
If wanted to move the bow i upwards on the arm a, the air-ball p³ has to be
compressed when the treadle is raised. The arm a is then at A2, Fig. 9, and
in the said figure it is seen how the hook k is engaged in one of the holes f of the
arm. When the arm is then swinging to the left, Fig. 9, the bow i moves upwards
one step in the same way as described before with respect to the moving down-
wards of the bow. At A and A¹, the position of the hooks is shown, when the
readjusting device is not actuated. When the readjusting device is equal to both
the treadles, and each treadle being provided with its separate air-ball p³, the
hows may thus be readjusted on the arms a by compressing alternately the
air ball p³, according as the treadles arrive at the lower or the upper turning
point, depending upon whether the bows are to be moved downwards or upwards.
The pneumatic connection described between the bow and the steering handle
nay also be used when the books are in one piece. The shaft to which the
books are attached, may be caused to move through the bow i, as shown in Fig. 10.
-

page_text: Connected with the shaft is a spring r, fixed at the side of the bow, under which
spring the rubber air ball p is situated. When the air ball p³ is not actuated, the
hooks k, k, are somewhat at the side of the holes of the arm a, and can thus not
engage in the same. On compressing the air-ball p³, the air-ball p swells, bringing
the spring outwards, whereby the shaft is displaced, so that the hooks k k¹ get in
front of the holes on the arm a. If the air-ball på be now compressed, as the
treadle is down, the lower hook ¹ engages with the arm, and the bow is displaced
downwards, but if the compression takes place when the treadle is occupying its
upper position, the upper hook is engaging the arm, and the bow is moved
upwards. Figs. 12, 13, and 14, show other similar modifications. Thus, according
to Fig. 12, into the tubular arm a is inserted an arm s, provided with shoulders s¹
entering into the holes f. On the end of the arms is placed the air-ball p within
the tubc. When the air ball p³ is not compressed, the shoulders are up to the
outer side of the arm, wherefore the hooks k k¹ cannot catch this, but if the air-
ball be compressed, the arm s will be turned, so that the shoulders step outside of
the arm a, thus forming resting points to the hooks k k¹, in the same way as the
aforesaid holes f. The direction of the motion of the bow upwards or downwards
is determined, as before, by actuating the air ball p³, when the treadle is occupying
the upper or the lower position. The disposition in Fig. 13 differs from that
represented in Fig. 12 in that the arm s, when at rest, keeps the holes filled with
its shoulders s'. When the air-ball p, being under the arms, compressed, the
arm is brought downwards, so that the holes are opened, offering resting points to
the hooks k or '. According to Fig. 14, the arm a is externally provided with a
pivotted arm t, provided with holes f. Under a bent lateral projection t¹ of the
arm t the air ball p is placed. When the air-ball is actuated, the arint is
turned, so that its holes get in front of the hooks kk', but when ceasing to
compress the air ball, a spring, or its equivaleut, brings the arm to the side, so that
its holes are not in front of the hooks kk. It may be remarked, in respect of this
invention, that the bow, and with it the chain, may be moved as easily in one as in
the other direction along the treadle or the lever.
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 1
claim is
1. A device for changing the point of application of the load or the power on
lever arms (treadles, levers, or the like), consisting of a piece (a bow i), which is
movable along the arm, and on which the load or the power acts, of hooks (k, k¹)
which are fixed to the said piece, and which, during the angular motion of the
arm, seize alternately directly or indirectly said arm, thereby moving the piece (i)
stepwise over teeth (%) or such like, arranged on the arm.
2. A device for changing the point of application of the load or the power on
lever arms, treadles, levers, or such like, by means of a bow (i) or such like, which
is movable along the lever arm, the treadle, etc., and on which the load or the
power acts, consisting of a series of teeth (h), arranged along the arm, and between
which the bow enters, a piece or strip (e) mounted on the arm on the opposite side
of the same with respect to the teeth, and provided with holes (f), notches,
recesses, or such like, and which piece or strip may move along the arm, hooks (k, k³)
which are pivotally mounted on the bow, and which, according to the position of
the piece or strip, and in consequence of the variation of the angle between the arm
and the bow, which depends on the movement of the arm, alternately engage into
the holes, and move the bow, or that part by means of which the power or the load
is applied to the arm, the movement taking place in the one or the other direction
along the arm, one stop for every stroke of the same.
3. In the device stated in Claim 2, the arrangement that the holes, the notches,
etc., are placed on the piere or strip () in such a manner, that, by the re-adjustment
of said piece or strip, the holes can be brought not only into position for engage-
ment with the one or the other of the hooks (k), but also into such a position

page_text: that none of the hooks can engage into the same, with the view that no movement
of the bow may take place during the movement of the arm.
4. In the device stated in Claim 2, the modification wherein the teeth (h) are
arranged on a special strip, which is movable along the arm, and the holes or
notches on the opposite side of the arm are arranged directly upon the arm.
5. In the device stated in Claim 2, the arrangement wherein the hooks (k, k¹),
forming one piece, are pivotally mounted in the bow (i), and are acted upon by a
spring, or the like, in such a direction that they are brought out of engagement
with the strip (e) at the middle position of the treadle, and after the movement of
the bow over the adjacent tooth (h).
6. An arrangement for re-adjusting the piece (e), when the device stated in
Claim 2 is adapted for the treadles of velocipedes, consisting of a piece (a'), which
is movable along the standard, extending upwards from the treadle shaft of the
velocipede, with which piece, which is pressed down by a spring or the like, the
parts (e) are in engagement, and from which runs a rope, a chain, or such like, to
the one steering handle, this handle being movable in such a manner that the rope
or the chain may be pulled, whereby the piece (a¹) and the parts (e) are
re-adjusted.
7. In bicycles and other vehicles, the driving mechanism of which consists of
oscillating treadles or levers and chains or ropes connected with these and acting
upon the driving wheel of the shaft thereof, air arrangement for moving the point
of application of the chain or rope on the treadle or lever along the latter, consisting
of a bow movable along the treadle, provided with elevations (h), or such like, in
which bow the chain is fixed; further consisting of hooks (k, k¹) fixed to the bow,
and placed in opposite directions along the treadle, which hooks can engage in
holes, shoulders, or such like (f), disposed along the arm; an elastic air ball (p)
placed in such a way at the hooks actuated by a spring, that it is kept compressed
by these, and a pneumatic conduit (p³) to the steering handle, with a compressible
air-ball (3) attached to it, all with the view, that either hook may, at a certain
position of the treadle, be caused to engage with this by compression of the last
air ball, and that a movement of the bow may take place along the treadle at the
next swinging of the latter.
8. In the arrangement indicated at Fig. 7, hooks having the shape of two bent
levers (Fig. 8) between the ends of which, approaching one another, the air ball is
located, while their other ends constitute the hooks themselves, directed towards
the arm (a).
9. In connection with the arrangement indicated at Fig. 7, the modification
wherein the air-ball, in lieu of being located at the hooks, in order to actuate these,
is applied to act upon some other part (s or t) movable on the arm, which part,
according to the position occupied by it, causes the hook to catch the arm or not,
either directly or indirectly (Figs. 12, 13, 14).
10. The arrangement for moving the point of application of the load or the
power at lever arms, treadles, levers, or such like, substantially as represented
in Fig. 2.
11. The arrangement for pneumatically moving the point of application of the
load or the power at lever arms, treadles, and such like, substantially as represented
in Figs. 7 to 14.
Dated thin and 1
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.