New Construction for Utilising Human or other Force for Driving or Propelling Purposes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th May, 1897-Accepted, 7th July, 1897,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
New Construction for Utilising Human or other Force for Driving
or Propelling Purposes.
ANDOR BODDING, Captain, 3, Princess Road, Regent's Park, London N.W. do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists of a new construction by means of which it is possible to
utilise a certain amount of working force, produced by man, by engine or by any
other source, in a more advantageous way, than can be obtained by the usual
constructions, hitherto applied for this purpose.
The invention is applicable to velocipedes and other kinds of vehicles, for propelling
launches and all other kinds of transporting appliances through water and through air,
as well as for driving machinery.
The corresponding construction now most in use, for instance in velocipedes, is the
crank arrangement, in most cases with a chain-wheel fixed to the crank axle.; by this
arrangement the great pressure upon the bearings of the crank-axle causes a friction
which, although considerably reduced by applying ball bearings, must involve a
certain loss of power; and if chain-wheel and chain are used, these parts always
cause a considerable loss of power through the friction within and between them.
With the new construction, now to be shortly described, my aim is to get quite rid of
all kind of friction just mentioned, and at the same time to provide for the most
favourable leverage without increasing the motive work.
My present invention is based upon a special application of the theory of the
pendulum, more specially that of the socalled "cycloidal pendulum," although with
considerable modifications, only one half of said apparatus being applied, whilst the
other half is substituted by another arrangement as described below. The
"generating line" of the pendulum is provided for by a light steel rim of proper
shape and strength, fixed by suitable means and in proper position to the frame of
the vehicle etc. The supporting string of the pendulum is substituted by a thin
steel band, strong enough to safely carry the weight which is to be put on; (this steel
band, in the following description, is signified by A.). The upper end of this band is
carefully fixed at the upper end of the steel rim, with its flat side closely to the flat
part of the rim. At its lower, inoveable end the band A is connected with a rod of
a special construction, the purpose of which is to take up and transmit the driving
force, which is to be applied at this point and is acting, as a rule, vertically downwards.
In the first stage of the working position, the band A is wound on to the steel rim,
so as to rest closely along the convex (lower) side of same, from its upper fixed end
to its lower end with said transmitting rod. In this first (upper) stage, the
transınitting rod has an almost horizontal position, its other end being fitted to and
supported by another thin steel band (B), the upper end of which is fixed closely to
the upper end of the steel band A, the position of the steel band B being at this
moment not far from a vertical one.
The action of this construction is as follows:
Supposed the band A with the end of the transmitting rod being in its first (upper)
stage of working position, and that a downwards acting force is applied as mentioned
above, this end of the rod will be driven down, describing a certain curve (a cycloide)

page_text: downwards and backwards, viz.: in the direction from the convex side of the rim,
whilst the band A successively unwinds from the rim. The vertical extension of this
stroke, however, is supposed to be only 5 to 8 inches, when the motion on this side
discontinues and the further work is taken over by the mechanism of the other side
(see below). During this stroke, the other end of the rod will move backwards on a
circle, the centre of which is the upper fixed point of the band B. This last motion
will involve a very considerable force, acting almost horizontally, and by proper
mechanical arrangement of the transmitting rod in connection with corresponding
working parts on the vehicle etc., this force is easily transferred to a driving wheel or
otherwise utilised for the purpose required. In order to secure a steady and reliable
motion, the bands A and B are guided by flanches, and the transmitting rod by
flanches, rollers or similar arrangements.
Two such apparatuses as above described, are to be applied, one placed symmetrically
at the side of the other, with the purpose of acting alternately, viz.: by each down
stroke. The upwards motion is idle, as it is only produced by the continual running
of the driven wheel in order to bring the band A and the rod back into their upper
working position.
When this construction is to be adapted for human power, (for instance in
velocipedes and the like), which is the principal supposition, there is to be fitted to
the end of each transmitting rod, where the driving force is to be applied, a small
light platform, upon which the riding or driving person places his foot, thus
becoming able to work in standing position, if he likes.
Dated this Seventh day of July 1996
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
New Construction for Utilising Human or other Force for Driving
or Propelling Purposes.
ANDOR BODDING, Captain, 3, Princess Road, Regent's Park, London N.W. 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:-
My invention relates to a new construction the purpose of which is to utilise a
certain amount of working force, produced by man, by engine or by any other source,
in a more advantageous way, than can be obtained by the usual constructions,
hitherto applied for this purpose. The invention is appliable to velocipedes and
other kinds of vehicles, for propelling launches and other kinds of transporting
appliances through water and through air, as well as for driving machinery, its
principal aim being to reduce the friction to a minimum, and at the same time to
provide for the most favourable leverage without increasing the motive work.
The present description of this invention refers to the accompanying drawings
which represent, as a mere example, the principal mechanical arrangements through
which the invention is to be performed. The example chosen is the application of
my invention to a tricycle; but its different other applications, indicated above, will
only require modifications of common mechanical nature, not constituting any new.
element upon which further claims might be based. Therefore, it is understood that
all modifications of the said nature, although not especially described in this
specification, shall be included therein.
In the said drawings, in which corresponding parts in the different figs. are
designated by the same letters,-

page_text: Fig. 2. represents the construction in plan (partly sectional).
Fig. 3. shows, in larger scale, the section of the rim R and the band A.
Fig. 4. and
Fig. 5. show, in larger scale, details of the lever C and the rack arrangement, both
with corresponding sections.
My present invention is based upon a special application of the theory of the
pendulum, more especially that of the socalled "cycloidal pendulum," although with
considerable modification, only one half of the said apparatus being applied, whilst
the other half is altered as described below. The arrangement,-which is now to be
particularly described and ascertained, is applied symmetrically on both sides of the
vehicle. The description is supposed to refer to the left side parts which are
principally represented in the drawings, the right side parts being, to a great extent,
hidden by the first ones and therefore not visible in the drawings; but where the
right side parts are referred to in the description, they are designated by the same,
but dashed, letters as the corresponding left side parts, even when not visible in the
drawings:
To the frame of the vehicle,-which is slightly modified in order to provide for the
necessary fixing points for the special parts, is fixed a light steel rim R (Figs. 1, 2,
and 3.) of U shape dsection (see Fig. 3) and of the proper shape (see Fig. 1.) to
constitute the "generating line" of a "cycloïdal pendulum." This rim is fitted in a
suitable way to the stud tubes t, t, and t, (Figs. 1 and 2) on the frame and, if
necessary, stiffened by extra stays froin the frame. To the stud tube t is further fixed
the one end of a thin steel band, (or a steel wire) A (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) of such a width
as to fit exactly between the flanges of the rim R, and of such a length that when
the band is stretched along and close to the bottom of the U shaped rim R, its lower,
moveable end will just correspond with the lower end point of the said rim (at a).
The said lower end of the said band A is properly fixed (at a, Figs. 1 & 4) to the end part
of a lever C (Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5) the purpose of which is to take up and transmit the
driving force which is to be applied at its front end, and is acting, as a rule, vertically
downwards. This lever C is of the following construction:-It is truss-shaped in
order to give it strength and lightness. The back part of it forms a double rack
(see especially Fig. 5) the upper branch b and the lower branch of which are
working alternately, the first one into the pinion cam D, and the latter into the
pinion cam E, (see Fig. 5), which cams are fixed, one close to the other, on the
spindle which is running in ball bearings, fitted to the frame of the machine. (To
the same spindle fare also fixed the corresponding pinion cams of the other side of
the machine.) The front end part of the lever C forms a head g (see especially
Fig. 4.) with a fixed horizontal pin h. This pin is carrying a footstep F (see Figs. 1
& 2), fitted by a collar i with arms in such a way (see Fig. 4.) as to allow it a limited
rotatory notion on the spindle h in order to provide for a position of the footstep
which is suitable to the rider during the up and down motion of the lever, at the
same time as the footstep is prevented from slipping away under the pressure of the
foot. This is attained by applying to the bearing collar i of the footstep Fa
projection which limits the rotatory motion of the collar by turning against one or
the other of the projections m on the lever, or by other suitable arrangement.
Instead of applying the footstep F underneath the lever, as shown in the drawings, it
may, if prefered, be placed above same. The other end of the lever C is supported
(at c Figs. 1 & 5) by a thin steel band or a steel wire B (see Fig. 1) fixed to another
stud tube n which is applied to the frame of the machine, close to the stud tube t.
In order to secure for the lever Ca steady motion in the vertical plan, it is enclosed
by a fork-shaped guide G (see Fig. 1), fixed to the frame of the vehicle and, if
necessary, a regular motion is further secured by a roller r (see Fig. 1). The
rack (b and d) is provided with covering plates on each side so as to quite enclose the
cams D & E.
.
To complete this description, it is now only necessary to add, that the rotatory
motion of the spindle f, produced by the rack (b & d) acting upon the cams D & E

page_text: (see below), is transmitted to the driving axle o of the vehicle, by ordinary
mechanical means. In the drawings, this is supposed to be performed by a
cogwheel H (only one), fixed to the axle f and working into the pinion K on the
driving axle o (see Figs. 1. & 2.).·
Having thus completed the description of this invention, I should now explain the
action of the construction:-Fig. 1 shows the left hand lever C in its upper position
when the band A is running close along the bottom of the rim R, whilst the band B is
in a nearly vertical position. Corresponding herewith, the right side lever C¹ (see Fig. 1.)
is in its lowest position, its band, A¹, having left the rim at the most part of its
length, running now straight down to its fixing point on the lever, whilst the back
band BI has described with its lowest point c a part of a circle about its upper fixed
point at n. The corresponding position of the racks is as follows:-On the left side,
the first tooth of the pinion cam D is just engaging into the upper branch of the
rack, whilst the last tooth of the pinion cam E is just disengaging from the lower
branch d. On the right side, the position is reverse, viz. the first tooth of E' is just
engaging into the lower branch d¹ of the rack, and the last tooth of D₁ is disengaging
from the upper branch b. If now the rider,-either in standing or in sitting position,
applies a pressure to the left side footstep, the consequence will be that the point a
of the lever C will move down and backwards, discribing a certain curve (a cycloïde),
whilst the band A successively unwinds from the rim R. At the same time, the
point c of the same lever moves backwards on circle (see above), supported by the
band B. This will result in a rotatory motion of the spindle f (with the cogwheel H),
through the action of the branch 6 of the rack upon the cam D. At the same time,
the corresponding cams (D' & E¹) on the right side of the vehicle will, of course,
also partake in the rotatory motion of the spindle f, with the effect that the lever C¹,
through the action of the cam E upon the lower branch d¹ of the right side rack,
will move from its lower position towards its upper position which it will reach at the
same moment as the other lever C has reached its lower position. At that moment
(viz. at the end of one stroke downwards with the left and one movement. upwards
with the right foot), the rôles of the levers simply change, and the propelling of the
vehicle is effectuated by working alternately the levers C and C which will produce a
continual rotatory motion of the transmitting wheel H.
It may be noticed that a stroke of about 5 to 7 inches vertical extension will be
sufficient to propel the vehicle with a very satisfactory result.
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 I claim is :-
1. New construction for utilising human and other force, characterised by the
application of a modified form of the socalled "cycloïdal pendulum " in order to
transform a vertically or nearly vertically acting force into a horizontal or nearly
horizontal pressure, with the purpose of thereby producing the rotatory motion of
driving wheels etc.
2. A form of performance of the construction characterised in Claim 1, in which
the "generating line" of the said pendulum is provided for by a steel rim (R), and
the supporting string of the pendulum is substituted by two steel bands or
wires (A and B), which are fixed at one end, and at the other end carry a lever C provided
with suitable means for applying the driving force, (for instance a footstep F), and at
the other end part with a double rack (b & d) working, during the down and upwards
reciprocating notion of the other end of the lever, alternately into corresponding
cams (D & E), producing through its action upon the first cam (D) the rotatory
motion, aimed at, whilst through the contact with the other cam (E) the lever C
is brought back from its lower to its upper position,-essentially as set forth in the
above specification and the accompanying drawings.
Dated this Seventh day of May 1897