IMPROVEMENTS IN 1 CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Arthur George Meeze, of Redhill, in the County of
Surrey, and Nahum Salamon, of Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,
Sewing Machine Factor, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
1 CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF VELOCIPEDES."
THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Arthur George Meeze &
Nahum Salamon at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
30th April 1881.
ARTHUR GEORGE MEEZE, of Redhill, in the County of Surrey, and NAHUM
SALAMON, of Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, Sewing Machine Factor.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF VELOCIPEDES."
The object of this Invention is to improve the construction and working of
velocipedes and to bring them more completely than heretofore under the control
of the rider.
Instead of transmitting motion from the treadle shaft to the driving wheels by
means of chains or gearing we attach to the axles of the driving wheels discs or
their equivalent, and to the treadle axle also discs or their equivalent, and connect
then together by sets of link rods so arranged that at least one rod of each set
will always be in a position to pull upon the disc of the driving wheel, and
thereby as the treadle shaft is being rotated transmit that motion to its wheel.
The rods will be connected to the outer sides of the discs on the treadle shaft by
suitable joint pins, and will be similarly connected to the inner sides of the discs
which drive the axles of the pair of running wheels. Short sleeves are fitted to
the frame of the velocipede to receive the axles which carry the upper discs on
their inner ends. The outer ends of these axles are fitted with a bar or cap, which
serves to connect them with the hubs of their respective wheels, such wheels being
The sleeves are formed with
mounted upon the before mentioned sleeves.
shoulders to receive antifriction balls which bear against opposite sides of the
wheel hubs, and thus a compound bearing is formed, the wheel running freely on
the sleeve and the balls receiving the lateral pressure of the hubs.

page_text: To provide for the lateral contraction of the velocipede when it is desired to
pass it through a narrow entry or stow it away in a contracted space, the frame,
which is formed with lateral arms to carry the bearings for the treadle shaft and
wheel axles, is made of detached parts; and the arms are so arranged that by means
of a right and left handed screw or equivalent means the arins may be drawn
inward and thus caused to contract the width of the machine.
Another mode of obtaining this result is to joint the parts of the frame together
on the pentagraph principle and thus allow the side frames to approach cach other
when a stay pin which secures the rigidity of the frame is withdrawn. In this
case the treadle action will form one of the limbs of the pentagraph and will be
made in three parts, two short end pieces which respectively carry the driving disc
before mentioned or its equivalent being connected to the main portion of the
treadle axle by hinged joints. This compressible pentagraph frame we propose to
adapt to quadricycles, the driving wheels receiving their motion from the crank axle
by discs and link rods.
In this instance we place the driving wheels one in advance and the other in
rear of the crank axle and on opposite sides of the carriage frame, and we employ
a pair of steering wheels which balance each other in the same manner, such
steering wheels being operated simultaneously by a steering handle.
For the purpose of disconnecting one or other of the driving wheels from the
treadle shaft clutches may be employed for connecting the discs with their axles.
By throwing one or other of these clutches out of action the driving of one or
other wheel will be suspended, and thus the steering of the vehicle will be
facilitated. To ensure an easy locking of the clutch when put into action a
cushion of india rubber is provided, which will absorb the jar due to the sudden
interlocking of the rigid parts. India rubber may also be applied between the
leaves of the steel spring or springs, by which the seat or saddle is supported. As
the running wheels are independently driven it is proposed to supply them
both with a strap brake, which brake may be conveniently applied by hand
levers.
When using a pair of steering wheels we provide a means for enabling these
wheels to adjust themselves when turned to direct the vehicle round a curve.
The steering wheels will be operated simultaneously by a steering handle, but the
forks in which they are mounted we propose to connect elastically with the vertical
spindle of the steering handle through U springs or their equivalent in order to
allow of the wheels adjusting themselves to their work when their position has
been shifted by the steering handle.

page_text: "
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Arthur George Meeze & Nahum Salamon in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 29th October 1881.
ARTHUR GEORGE MEEZE, of Redhill, in the County of Surrey, and NAHUM
SALAMON, of Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London, Sewing Machine Factor.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND FITTING OF VELOCIPEDES."
The object of this Invention is to improve the construction and working of
velocipedes.
Our Invention relates, firstly, to means for transmitting motion to the driving
wheels from the treadle or crank shaft, and to an improved compound bearing for
the driving wheels.
Instead of transmitting motion from the treadle shaft to the driving wheels by
means of chains or gearing as usual, we attach to the axles of the driving wheels
discs or their equivalent, and to the treadle axle discs or their equivalent, and
connect them together by sets of link rods so arranged that at least one rod of each
set will always be in a position to pull upon the disc of the driving wheel, and
thereby, as the treadle shaft is being rotated, transmit that notion to its
wheel.
In Slicet I. of the accompanying Drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2, a
side elevation of a tricycle constructed according to this part of our Invention,
and shewing also a novel construction of framing which will be hereafter more
particularly referred to..
A, A, are the driving wheels, and B is the steering wheel: Cis the treadle or
crank shaft from which notion is transmitted to the driving wheels by link
rods D, D. These rods are connected by pivot pins to discs C₁ keyed on the crank
shaft, and at their other ends they are similarly connected to discs D' mounted
loosely on the axles A¹ of the driving wheels, and locked thereto by the clutch.
arrangement to be hereinafter particularly described.
In Sheet II. these parts are shewn detached in front and sectional elevation,
half-size, at Figures 3 and 4.
The link rods D are connected to the outer sides of the discs C' of the treadle-
shaft, and to the inner sides of the discs D' which drive the axles of the running
wheels.
These discs C¹ and D₁ are set in different vertical planes (as best seen in Fig. 4),
and the ends of the link rods D are screwed into sockets formed at an angle to the
vertical face of the discs in order that the said rods may clear one another while in
action. The ends of each of the link rods are furnished respectively with right
and left handed threads for the purpose of tightening them up equally. The
socketted ends of these rods turn freely on pivot-pins inade fast in the discs C¹.
By this means the necessity for bending the ends of the link rods is avoided.
The axles A' have their bearings in short sleeves E made fast to the frame A*
of the velocipede (see the sectional elevation, Fig. 4), and upon these sleeves the
driving wheels are loosely mounted.
The axles extend through their respective sleeves, and are fitted at their inner
ends with the discs D', and on the opposite or outer ends with cap-pieces a¹, which
connect the axles A¹ with the hubs of their wheels A in the manner best seen at
Fig. 4, which shews the cap piece a¹ in front view.
The sleeves E are formed with shoulders e, e, to receive antifriction balls el
which bear against opposite sides of the wheel hub a, and thus a compound
bearing is formed, the wheel running freely on the sleeve, and the balls receiving
the lateral pressure of the hubs. By this mode of driving the wheels of velocipedes

page_text: the following advantages are obtained, viz., one at least of the link rods is always
in a position to transmit motion from the crank shaft to the upper disc, so that the
dead points are in a great measure overcome. The number of joints is also far less
than when a chain is used, thereby greatly diminishing the friction; and moreover
the joints can be lubricated. There is also no possibility of mud and dirt being
carried up by the link rods as is the case with chain drivers. By the improved
compound bearings, above described, the friction is distributed over a greater
surface in the bearings of the driving wheels, and a steadier motion is imparted to
velocipedes.
The second head of our Invention relates to means for laterally contracting the
velocipede when it is desired to pass it through a narrow entry, or stow it away in
a contracted space, and consists in jointing the parts of the frame together on the
pantograph principle by a peculiar construction of elbow joint. We allow the side
frames to approach each other by releasing the fastenings of the joints by which
the perfect rigidity of the frame when extended is secured, at the same time
maintaining the parallelism of the wheels.
In Fig. 1, Sheet I, the pantograph frame is shewn as composed of the side
frames A2, A3, and the cross bars A3 and A', jointed or hinged thereto at a*. The
trame is shewn in this Figure as extended to its full width, and its overlapping
elbow joints or hinges rigidly locked by the four bolts A". The peculiar construction
of the joints * is shewn on an enlarged scale at Figs. 1. The front-ends of the
side frames are bent downwards and then curve upwards in order to carry
the bearings for the treadle axle or crank shaft C, as best seen in the side elevation,
Fig. 2.
In order to allow of the contraction of the velocipede when. the bolt nuts are
unscrewed, the central portion A of the crank shaft, and also the pedals o²,
are each made detachable, as shewn in the enlarged views, Figures 5, Sheet II.,
and the crank arms A, and the central portion A³, are formed with slots for the
adjustment therein of the pedals.
When it is desired to contract the width of the machine the entire central portion
of the cranked axle, or simply the spacing piece A, will first be removed by
unscrewing the nuts us, and having also removed the bolts which rigidly unite
the overlapping hinged portions of the frame the velocipede will be free to close up
into the position shewn at Fig. 6, Sheet III, without in any way disturbing the
bearings of the crank shaft or throwing out of gear the parts for transmitting
motion from the crank shaft to the driving wheels. Should it be found that the
pedals a, a, in any way impede the complete closing of the machine they may be
removed, together with the spacing piece A, by simply unscrewing the outer nuts a
but for ordinary cases it will suffice to remove the spacing piece As alone. It should
be remarked that it is essential in this construction of frame that the distance
between the hinges * at back and front should be equal. The steering rod will
be drawn out from its connection with the operating handle during the contraction
of the machine, and may be laid alongside the side frame, or it may be temporarily
removed by detaching its rear end, as shewn, by withdrawing the joint-pin which
connects it to the steering lever b. When the velocipede is contracted the steering
wheel should be brought into a position parallel with the driving wheels. The
velocipede in its closed condition, as shewn in Fig. 6, Sheet III., can then be readily
run and steered through narrow entries.
To add to the stability of the frame a central longitudinal bar may be adapted
to the frame (as shewn in dotted lines in Fig. 1), and to this longitudinal frame the
steering wheel may be pivotted.
This hinged pantograph frame we propose to adapt to quadricycles, the driving
wheels receiving their motion from the crank axle by discs and link rods, as above
described, and the driving wheels being mounted in a similar manner on compound
bearings.
For the purpose of connecting the discs D', which are loosely mounted on the
axles A¹ of the driving wheels A, with the said axles we employ the silent pawl

page_text: clutch arrangement shewn in section at Fig. 4, and in front view at Fig. 7, Sheet II.
This clutch arrangement consists of a disc or drum F keyed on the axle Ai, and
having a V-shaped groove on its periphery, into which groove take pawls f, carried
by the disc D. These pawls are shewn detached in side and front view at Figs. 8,
and it will be seen on referring to Fig. 7 that when the disc D₁ is driven in the
direction of the arrow the pawls f will bite and cause the drum F, shaft A¹, and
wheels A, A, to be driven. But when the treadle shaft is held stationary the
wheels will be free to over-run the discs D. In order to allow of "back pedling"
and running round curves clutches F¹ are provided, which are mounted on the
shaft A outside of the clutches F. These clutches consist of a collar Finounted
loosely on the shaft A', and carrying pins f, which pass through holes in the hub
of the clutch F. When this clutch F is moved into its acting position by the
handle these pins will be projected through the hub of the clutch F, and will
enter holes made in the back of the disc D₁, which will then be rigidly connected
with its driving wheel, either for backward or forward motion. A spring catch
(not shewn in the Drawing) will serve to lock the hand lever in either position as
required.
To prevent the wheels of the velocipede from slipping when mounting an
acclivity, the upper disc or wheel D is provided with a V-shaped groove on its
periphery, into which a pawl f* hinged to the framing is dropped when required
and which when out of action lies back on the framing, as shewn in the dotted
position of Fig. 2.
For the purpose of diminishing the jarring produced by travelling over rough
ground india-rubber may be applied between the levers of the steel spring or
springs by which the seat or saddle is supported.
Fig. 9 shews in elevation this construction of spring, which is built up of alternate
layers of steel and rubber.
A
When the wheels of the velocipede are driven independently, as is the case in the
tricycle above described, the wheels may be fitted with strap brakes applied to the
periphery of the drums F in the grooves f², made therein for that purpose, and
these brakes may be actuated by hand levers in any well known manner.
double-acting spoon brake may also be adapted to the driving wheels if desired.
We would observe that the arrangement of driving mechanism above described
permits of a reciprocating movement in lieu of a rotary notion of the crank axle
being used when desired to propel the machine. This will be found to offer means
for greatly relieving the strain on the muscles during a long run.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention of "Improvements in the
Construction and Fitting of Velocipedes," and having explained in what manner
the same may be carried into effect we wish it to be understood that we claim,-
First. The adaptation to velocipedes in the manner and for the purpose, sub-
stantially as herein shewn and described, ofthe link-rod arrangement for transmitting
motion from the treadle axle of the driving wheels.
Secondly. In combination with the link-rod arrangement for transmitting motion
from the crank axle to the driving wheels of volocipedes, the arrangement of
clutches, substantially as herein shown and described.
Thirdly. The compound bearing for the driving wheels of velocipedes, sub-
stantially as herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. The application to velocipedes of a collapsible pantograph frame
having overlapping hinged joints constructed in the manner and for the purpose
above set forth, the several parts of the frame being so arranged that the contraction
of the machine may be effected on the removal of the retaining bolts and of the
central portion of the treadle axle without in any way disturbing the parallelism
of the wheels, or the bearings of the treadle axle, and without deranging the parts
for transmitting motion from the said axle to the driving wheels.
Fifthly. A treadle or crank axle for velocipedes having its central portion (such
as A³) and also its pedals detachable in the manner and for the purpose above set

page_text: forth; the said central portion and also the crank arms (such as A°) being formed
with slots for the adjustment therein of the pedals.
In witness whereof, I, the said Nahum Salamon, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twentyeight day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
N. SALAMON.. (L.S.)