IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Charles Crozat at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 9th August 1882.
CHARLES CROZAT, of Paris, in the Republic of France, but temporarily of
Richmond Road, Earl's Court, in the county of Middlesex
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES
Although bicycles have been in use for many years, it is only in recent years
that its use has become more general since the diameter of the driving wheel has
been increased so as to allow of greater speed being obtained.
Bicycles, as at present constructed possess many disadvantages. They necessitate
a somewhat long tuition and persons riding them are at any moment liable to
accident from their unstable position of equilibrium so that bicycles have hitherto
been chiefly used for pastime and not for useful purposes.
Bicycle manufacturers have recently endeavoured to increase the stability of
their velocipedes by the addition of a third wheel, but the machines produced
have generally been heavy, complicated and expensive and could not be driven at
a high speed.
Now the object of my improvements is to obviate the said inconveniences and
the invention consists in placing the seat of the velocipede and consequently its
centre of gravity below or under the axis of rotation of the driving wheels. A
suitable arrangement for carrying out my invention is as follows:-
The machine is constructed of two large wheels keyed on a double cranked axle;
this axle works in a sleeve the friction being reduced as far as possible by means
of steel rollers or balls. Below this sleeve and connected to it by means of n
suitably shaped spring is the saddle forming the seat of the machine; set screws
are provided to regulate its height and inclination Two vertical rods are besides
firmly fixed to the sleeve on either side of the saddle and carry at their lower ends
two treadles similar to those employed in the ordinary bicycles. These treadles
transmit the motion of the feet to the cranked axle by means of cranks and vertical
connecting rods. The steering is effected in a simple, and novel manner by
diminishing the speed of the wheel on that side on which it is desired to turn.
For this purpose two oblique curved levers are fixed to the herein before described
vertical rods; each of these oblique levers carries at its lower end a roller which

page_text: may be put in contact with the ground by operating the handle at the other end
of the lever. If both levers be operated at the same time both rollers act together
and thereby form a brake when running down hill. A suitable arrangement is
employed for keeping the levers in their proper place.
I may also employ a third wheel or other suitable arrangement, and to allow of
turning more easily one of the wheels may be loose and capable of being fixed by
a suitable clutch. When seated, the rider is in a perfectly stable position; he is
protected from collisions by the two side wheels and, even when going rapidly down
hill he cannot fall.
The muscular exertions of the rider are at least as fully utilized as in bicycles
hitherto constructed and motion is communicated to the velocipede even more
easily than in bicycles at present in use by reason of the length of throw which
can be given to the cranks relatively to the treadles. As the wheels can be made
as large as may be desired, the speed of the machine, which is proportionate
to the diameter of these wheels, will only be limited to the muscular power of
the rider.
If the improved velocipede is to be used by a lady, the herein before described saddle
will be replaced by a more suitable seat fixed to the vertical rods. As described for
the saddle, two set screws are provided to allow of giving a convenient height and
inclination to this seat and, in order to enable the rider to easily get into the seat,
the said seat opens by turning it round one of the above described vertical rods; a
catch then serves to keep it in its proper place.
My improved arrangement affords particular advantages for velocipedes intended
to seat two, three or four persons. By providing a double seat upon which they
may be seated back to back and fixing this double seat to the two vertical rods a
most convenient carriage is formed. The herein before described treadles are
replaced by an axle cranked at four, six, or eight places as the case may be and
which are worked by the riders by means of levers placed under their feet.
By the addition of a light awning to protect the riders from the sun or the rain
a very pleasant carriage is provided and which can be worked by a servant
standing behind the carriage.
The velocipede may also be worked by means of electricity.