CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT George Duncan Macdougald Analytical Chemist of Dundee
in the County of Forfar for an invention of
CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES."
" IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Duncan Macdougald
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th May 1882.
GEORGE DUNCAN MACDOUGALD, Analytical Chemist, of Dundee in the County of
Forfar, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES."
This invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of
velocipedes whereby they are made to move with less exertion and with greater
comfort on the part of the rider. The invention consists, first, in the use of slides
(afterwards more fully described) in connection with two bars or levers having
pedals at one of their extremities. These bars are connected directly with the
driving cranks of the velocipede and forms the driving mechanism. If it be wished
to place the work to be performed between the pedal end of the levers and the
slide (which is the most convenient arrangement for two wheeled velocipedes) then
the extremities of the levers opposite the pedal end are attached to the slide and
the crank is placed at some point midway. If the converse be wished (which is
the most convenient arrangement for velocipedes with more than two wheels) then
the extremities of the levers opposite the pedals are attached to the driving cranks
and the slides which act as fulcra are placed at some intermediate point to suit the
length of leg and wishes of the rider. The slide, which, taken in connection with
the driving levers provided with pedals at one extremity, forms the first feature in
this invention, may be fashioned either as an ordinary engine slide with or without
anti-friction bearings, or by means of fixed balls or discs on which the driving
levers roll. The second feature in this invention is a method of construction
whereby the advantages of an open front to a three-wheeled machine may be
obtained without the use of forks and heads. It consists in articulating the studs
which bear two front steering wheels directly with the frame or to a special stud
affixed to the frame in such a manner as to allow of motion in the horizontal plane

page_text: only. The steering is effected with the aid of a piece of metal which projects from
the wheel bearing stud and which is affixed to a rod or rods, which are in turn
actuated by the steering handle by rack and pinion, eccentric, or any other
convenient method of giving motion to the rod. The third feature in the
invention consists of a method of construction whereby the friction of the moving
parts is made exceedingly small. This is effected by the introduction of peculiarly
formed bearings provided with a series of double discs of hard and durable metal.
These double discs are provided with a short neck between each disc with which a
"
cage engages and holds each member of the series up to its work. It is
alsolutely essential in this bearing that the inner faces of the discs be perfectly
parallel to each other and that the "case" (which is a flat ring provided with slots)
exactly fit the space left between the discs.
"
The fourth feature of this invention consists of a method of rendering the
machine smoother in its action while running by the introduction of what I term
"stiff joints." These are intended for the frame of the machine and not for the
wheels or bearings or other parts of the machine. The methods I adopt to form
my new stiff joints are various according to the parts of the machine to which it is
to be applied. When applied to the back bone of a two wheeled velocipede I
divide the back bone some distance above the small fork and if the back bone be
hollow I introduce at the point of division a piece of rubber with or without an
iron core.
When the back bone is small and the division weakens the part too
much I overlap the-divided. part with a short metal tube of oval or round section
and provided with rubber between the acting surfaces.. In applying this part of
the invention to a solid back bone I divide it as usual and introduce a piece of
rubber between the surfaces overlapping the divided part in a similar manner to
that of the hollow joint. In building new machines I find it convenient to use the
piece of metal or tag at the top of the back fork and proceed to form a joint as
usual with this tag as the inner iron core. These joints may be applied to any
portion of the frames of velocipedes where there is a jarring action. The rubber
portions of the joints may or may not be cemented into position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Duncan Macdougald in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th November 1882.
GEORGE DUNCAN MACDOUGALD, Analytical Chemist, of Dundee, in the County of
Forfar, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES,"
This invention consists of certain improvements in the construction of velocipedes
whereby they are made to move with less exertion and with greater comfort on the
part of the rider. The invention consists First In the use of slides (afterwards
more fully described) in connection with two bars or levers having pedals at one of
their extremities. These bars are connected directly with the driving cranks of the
velocipede and forms the driving mechanism. If it be wished to place the work to
be performed between the pedal end of the levers and the slide (which is the most
convenient arrangement for two wheeled velocipedes) then the extremities of the
levers opposite the pedal end are attached to the slide and the crank is placed at
some intermediate point-See fig: 1 a, being a slide arrangement b, levers or
driving bars c, crank attachment, d, pedal-If the converse be wished, which is the
most convenient arrangement for velocipedes with more than two wheels then the
position of the slide and crank are reversed, the extremities of the levers opposite
the pedals being attached to the driving cranks and the slides, which act as fulcra,
are placed at some intermediate point, see fig 2 a being a slide arrangement
6 levers or driving bars, c crank attachment d, pedal. The slides, which, taken in
combination with the driving levers having pedals at one extremity form the first
feature in this invention, may be made after the fashion of an ordinary engine slide,
see a fig 2 with or without anti-friction bearings, or by means of fixed balls or
discs on which the driving levers roll, see a fig 1.
The second feature in this invention is a method of construction whereby the
advantages of an open front may be obtained without the use of forks to the
steering wheels. It consists in articulating the studs, which bear two front steering
wheels, directly with the frame or to a special stud affixed to the frame, and in such
a manner as to allow of motion in a horizontal plane only. In Figs. 2 and 3 a a are
the wheels on the moveable studs which are shown articulated at b b. The steering
is effected with the aid of a connecting piece which projects in any convenient
direction from the wheel bearing stud and which is affixed to a rod or rods actuated
by the steering handle through a rack and pinion, eccentric, or by any other
convenient method of giving motion to the rod. In figs 2 and 3 c. c represent the
tag or projection from the wheel bearing stud, which may be directed as shown, or
in any other convenient direction and which receives motion from the steering
handle through the rods and attachments as also shown
The third feature in the invention consists of a method of construction whereby
I reduce the friction of the moving parts. This is effected by the introduction of
peculiarly formed roller bearings. The essential feature of this bearing is a series
of double discs of hard and durable metal and a novel "cage" to engage with the
discs and hold each member of the series up to its work. The double discs are
provided with a narrow neck between each disc. The cage is a simple flat piece of
durable metal provided with slots and of just such a thickness as will allow of its
passing between the discs and the slots engaging with the necks of the discs as
shewn in figs 4. 5. 6 and 7, a b. c are the discs showing the narrow necks. d is the
cage with seven of the double discs in position the necks of which have passed into
the slots with which the ring is provided and which are shown at e. c. e at fis
shown the edge of the cage with the double discs engaged in the slots. At gg

page_text: Fig 4 is shown the bearing enclosed in a convenient form of case-It is essential
that the inner faces of the double discs-that is the faces which engage with the
cage should be parallel, but it is not essential to have the outside faces parallel.
They may be curved or flat.
iron core.
"
stiff
The fourth feature in this invention consists of a method of rendering the machine
smoother in its action while running by the introduction of what I term
joints" These are intended for the frame of the machine and not for the wheels,
bearings or other parts of the Machine. The methods I adopt to form my new
stiff joints are various according to the form of the parts of the machine to which
it is to be applied. When applied to the backbone of a two wheeled velocipede I
divide the backbone some distance above the small fork and if the backbone be
hollow I introduce at the point of division a piece of rubber with or without an
When the backbone is small and the division weakens the part too
much I overlap the divided part with a short metal tube of elliptical or circular
section and provided with rubber between the acting surfaces In applying this
part of the invention to a solid backbone or to a solid fork I divide it as usual and
introduce a piece of rubber between the surfaces overlapping the divided part in a
similar manner to that of the hollow joint-In building new machines I find it
convenient to use the piece of metal or tag at the top of the backfork and proceed
to form a joint as usual with this tag as the inner iron core-These joints may be
applied to any portion of the frames of velocipedes where there is a jarring action.
I now proceed to show more particularly how I form and adapt my new " stiff
joint" to the more important parts of the machine. When I apply it to the lower
portion of the backbone at a point immediately above the fork of the small wheel,
in which position it is particularly effective for preventing vibration, I make the
tag of the back fork smaller than in the ordinary bicycle and instead of fitting and
soldering it to the interior of the backbone I leave an annular space which I fill
with a ring or pads of rubber or some such yielding body. I strengthen the
bottom of the backbone by affixing to the outside a short tube and ring and apply
rubber to a space left between the ring and the shoulder of the fork.
then pin
the whole securely together by means of a short bolt passing through the whole
from side to side which bolt may or may not have rubber pads applied to its
extremities In Figs. S. 9 and 10 a is the tag or projection from the backfork b, the
backbone, c. c the strengthening tube and ring d, d, d, d India rubber. k is the
rim of the wheel and the fork. The same description applies to the method I
adopt for placing the stiff joint on the front forks of a two wheeled velocipede.
At a Fig 9 (which is a side view) is shown the tag or solid termination of the front
fork. In a similar manner I apply rubber to this joint and pin the whole together
from side to side by a pin shewn at f. These joints may be made further up the
backbone or at any part of the frame of the machine as already described in which
case a separate piece of metal may be used as a core instead of the tags with or
without an outside tube or tubes to strengthen the divided part. When applying
the joint between the neck and the head I insert the tag at the top of the neck
into a short coned tube split or otherwise or other suitable piece of metal as shewn
at g Fig. 10 and between the tube and the head insert an annular piece of rubber
or leather as in the other forms of joints. The recess, into which the rubber or
leather fits, is coned so as to enable wear to be taken up and to enable the whole
to be wedged into a compact joint as shewn at h h Fig. 10.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I claim :-
First, The use of slides in combination with driving levers having pedals at one
of their extremities substantially as described and shewn on the drawings.
Second. The use of pedal levers with the fulcra supported by anti friction and
other rollers, substantially as described and shewn on the drawings.
Third. The use of a steering arrangement the essential features of which consist
in a wheel bearing stud or studs, one to each wheel, jointed to the frame or to a
separate stud substantially as described and shewn on the drawings

page_text: Fourth-The use of bearings consisting of a series of double discs having their
inner faces parallel in combination with a slotted ring acting as a cage substantially
as described and shewn on the drawings.
Fifth. The use of "stiff joints" formed and applied to the frame of the machine
substantially as described and shewn on the drawings Figs: 8. 9 and 10
In witness whereof I the said George Duncan Macdougald have hereunto
set my hand and seal this seventeenth day of November in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
G. D. MACDOUGALD. (L.S.)