Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 13th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, MARIE JOSEPH ANSELME DE BELLEVILLE, of 25 Rue Yvers, Niort,
2 Sévres, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a new kind of velocipedes in which the axles of the
wheels, instead of being attached to the frame by rigid parts, are connected thereto
elastically by jointed parts or levers submitted to the action of springs arranged
in a special manner; these springs have the tendency to maintain the axles of the
wheels in their normal position relatively to the fixed body of the frame, but they
yield as soon as the corresponding wheel encounters an obstacle, and their arrange-
ment is such that they will enable this wheel to rise without imparting an upward
movement to the body of the frame itself and consequently without the cyclist
receiving any shock.
I thus obtain such an elasticity in the machine itself that the employment of
pneumatic tyres, which present many inconveniences owing to the innumerable
accidents to which this kind of tyre is liable, becomes useless and that it is
sufficient to use a hollow indiarubber or even a solid indiarubber tyre.
For the same reason it is unnecessary to employ a saddle supported upon springs;
this is a great advantage not only as regards economy, but also and particularly
because the cyclist mounted upon a fixed saddle avoids a great loss of power by
reason of the fact that the distance always remains strictly constant between the
seat which supports him and the axis of the pedal upon which he acts.
In order that the characteristic features of my velocipede may be understood I
will proceed to describe in detail a mode of carrying the same into practice in the
case of bicycles.
According to this invention the axle of the front wheel, instead of being
mounted in a rigid fork, is held in a fork, each of the branches of which is jointed
at a point approximately two-thirds of its length from the axle of the wheel; the
lower part of the branches is prolonged upwards beyond the joint by a lateral arm
which terminates in a kind of fork with lugs carrying a guide bolt which is bent to
an arc of a circle the centre of which is at the pivot point of the fork; upon this
bolt is wound a helical spring comprised between the front lug of the lateral arm
and a lug extending from the rear of the fork head.
It will be understood that if with this arrangement the front wheel passes upon
an obstacle it will rise by turning about the joints of the fork without imparting
any upward movement to the frame, because the pressure is transmitted to the
springs virtually in a horizontal direction; the wheel is in like manner brought
back to its normal position without any displacement of the frame by the springs
which are compressed during the upward movement; a leather washer interposed
between the lug of the fork head and the rear lug of the lateral arm obviates
the noise which the shock of these two lugs would cause at the end of the
movement.
The mounting of the rear wheel is effected elastically in a similar manner.
The
axle of this wheel is held between the apices of two identical triangles which are
jointed on the one hand to the frame near the pedal shaft by their apex, and on the

page_text: other hand to the rear extremity of a forked lever by their upper apex. Lastly
the forked lever is jointed by its front extremity to a slide which is located in the
upper tube of the frame and against the front face of which presses a helical spring
located in the said tube.
If with this arrangement the rear wheel passes upon an obstacle it can rise by
turning about the joint at the pedal shaft; at the same time it will compress the
spring without imparting any upward movement to the frame, because the pressure
is transmitted horizontally as in the case of the front wheel; the wheel will then
be brought back to its normal position by the said spring.
The said spring is wound upon a guide tube provided at its front extremity with
a screw threaded part enabling it to be screwed into a tapped hole in a buffer which
is secured by a pin or by brazing in the upper tube of the frame to form the
abutment for the spring; the guide tube is furnished at its rear extremity with a
head the diameter of which is equal to that of the interior of the tubular part
wherein it is received; this head is slit for the reception of a screw driver; a hole
pierced in the saddle supporting tube in line with the upper tube of the frame
permits of the spring and its guide being put in their place; this hole is closed by
the saddle rod when it is in its position.
The ring or slide transmits to the spring the pressure of the rear axle; this ring
which is slid upon the guide tube behind the spring has lateral pins which pass
into grooves formed in the upper tube of the frame and which receive the eye
formed at the front extremity of each of the branches of the fork; leather washers
are interposed between the upper tube of the frame and the eyes for obviating the
noise and friction.
The eyes are held in their place upon the said pins by screws which exert a
pressure upon washers slid upon the end of the pins. The washers are fitted upon
squares which prevent them from turning and obviate the loosening which the
movements of the fork might cause.
For facilitating the mounting, the branches of the forked lever are independent,
each being furnished at its rear extremity with a socket which is placed in
the prolongation of a similar socket on the other branch, the union being
effected by means of a tubular piece terminating in flanges; this tubular
piece is made in two parts which are of unequal length in order that the joint
may not coincide with the joint of the sockets. The distance which separates
the inner faces of the two flanges must be slightly greater than the total length of
the sockets so that the tightening of the joint bolt at the upper apex of the
triangles may not block the tube with the sockets wherein it must turn freely.
The tightening and assemblage of the joint at the pedal shaft is effected as in
the case of the upper apex. These arrangements permitting of the general
tightening of the assemblages insure the vertical position of the wheel in such a
manner that no turning force will be able to turn it over on one or the other side.
In the case of a tandem the arrangements in front and at the rear are the same
as in the case of a bicycle; the power of the springs must be increased in proportion
to the greater weight and the position of the riders.
In the case of a tricycle the frame is similar to that of the bicycle hereinbefore
described. The arrangements of the springs and joints are identical; the only
notable difference is that the assemblage of the axle of the tricycle at the rear
corner of the triangle takes place between the two wheels in lieu of being effected
on either side of the single wheel as in the case of a bicycle.
The preceding description will be amply sufficient to show clearly how the
invention may be applied to any other types of velocipedes.
n
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: TO and relating to velocipedes.
I, MARIE JOSEPH ANSELME DE BELLEVILLE, of 25 Rue Yvers, Niort,
2 Sévres, in the Republic of France, Gentleman, 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 kind of velocipedes in which the axles of the
wheels, instead of being attached to the frame by rigid parts, are connected thereto
elastically by jointed parts or levers submitted to the action of springs arranged in
a special manner; these springs have the tendency to maintain the axles of the
wheels in their normal position relatively to the fixed body of the frame, but they
yield as soon as the corresponding wheel encounters an obstacle, and their arrange-
ment is such that they will enable this wheel to rise without imparting an upward
movement to the body of the frame itself and consequently without the cyclist
receiving any shock.
I thus obtain such an elasticity in the machine itself that the employment of
pneumatic tyres which present many inconveniences owing to the innumerable
accidents to which this kind of tyre is liable, becomes useless and that it is
sufficient to use a hollow indiai ubber or even a solid indiarubber tyre.
For the same reason it is unnecessary to employ a saddle supported upon
springs; this is a great advantage not only as regards economy, but also and
particularly because the cyclist mounted upon a fixed saddle avoids a great loss of
power by reason of the fact that the distance always remains strictly constant
between the seat which supports him and the axis of the pedal upon which
he acts.
In order that the characteristic features of my velocipede may be understood I
will proceed to describe in detail a mode of carrying the same into practice in the
case of bicycles.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a general view to a small scale of a bicycle constructed according to
my said invention and
Figures 2 to 10, show details of construction drawn to a larger scale.
As shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 the axle of the front wheel, instead of being
mounted in a rigid fork, is held in a fork, each of the branches of which is jointed
at a point G approximately at two-thirds of its length from the axle of the wheel;
the lower part of the branches is prolonged upwards beyond the joint by a lateral
arm which terminates in a kind of fork with lugs carrying a guide bolt F H which
is bent to an arc of a circle the centre of which is at G; upon this bolt is wound a
helical spring comprised between the front lug of the lateral arm and a lug N
extending from the rear of the fork head.
It will be understood that if with this arrangement the front wheel passes upon
an obstacle it will rise by turning about the joints G without imparting any upward
movement to the frame, because the pressure is transmitted to the springs virtually
in a horizontal direction; the wheel is in like manner brought back to its normal
position without any displacement of the frame by the springs which are compressed
during the upward movement; a leather washer interposed between the lug N of
the fork head and the rear lug of the lateral arm obviates the noise which the shock
of these two lugs would cause at the end of the movement.
As
The mounting of the rear wheel is effected elastically in a similar manner.
shown in Figure 1, the axle of this wheel is held between the apices B of two
identical triangles A B C which are jointed on the one hand to the frame near
the pedal shaft by their apex A, and on the other hand to the rear extremity of a
forked lever CD by their upper apex C. Lastly the forked lever C D is jointed

page_text: by its front extremity D to a slide which is located in the upper tube of the
frame and against the front face of which presses a helical spring R located in
the said tube.
If with this arrangement the rear wheel passes upon an obstacle it can rise
by turning about the joint A at the pedal shaft; at the same time it will compress
the spring R without imparting any upward movement to the frame, because the
pressure is transmitted horizontally as in the case of the front wheel; the wheel
will then be brought back to its normal position by the said spring R.
Figures 4 to 8 show the details for mounting the spring R and the fork C D.
It will be seen that the said spring R is wound upon a guide tube U provided
at its front extremity with a screw-threaded part enabling it to be screwed into a
tapped hole in a huffer T which is secured by a pin or by brazing in the upper
tube of the frame to form the abutment for the spring; the guide tube U is
furnished at its rear extremity with a head the diameter of which is equal to that
of the interior of the tubular part wherein it is received; this head is slit for the
reception of a screw driver; a hole pierced in the saddle supporting tube in line
with the upper tube of the frame permits of the spring and its guide being put in
their place; this hole is closed by the saddle rod when it is in its position.
S designates the ring or slide which transmits to the spring the pressure of
the rear train; this ring which is slid upon the guide tube U behind the spring
has lateral pins which pass into grooves formed in the upper tube of the frame
and which receive the eye M formed at the front extremity of each of the
brauches of the fork; leather washers Z are interposed between the upper tube
of the frame and the eyes M for obviating the noise and friction.
The eyes M are held in their place upon the said pins by screws V which exert
a pressure upon washers slid upon the end of the pins. The washers are fitted
upon squares which prevent them from turning and obviate the loosening which
the movements of the fork might cause.
For facilitating the mounting, the branches of the forked lever are independent,
each being furnished at its rear extremity with a socket K which is placed in the
prolongation of a similar socket on the other branch, the union being effected by
means of a tubular piece L terminating in flanges; this tubular piece is made in
two parts which are of unequal length in order that the joint may not coincide
with the joint of the sockets K. The distance which separates the inner faces of
'the two flanges must be slightly greater than the total length of the sockets K
so that the tightening of the joint bolt at the upper apex C of the triangles may
not block the tube L with the sockets wherein it must turn freely.
Figures 9 and 10 show the joint at the apex A of the triangles with the pedal
shaft. The tightening and assemblage are effected as in the case of the upper
apex C.
These arrangements permitting of the general tightening of the
assemblages ensure the vertical position of the wheel in such a manner that
no turning force will be able to turn it over on one or the other side.
In the case of a tandem the arrangements in front and at the rear are the same
as in the case of a bicycle; the power of the springs must be increased in pro-
portion to the greater weight and the position of the riders.
In the case of a tricycle the frame is similar to that of the bicycle hereinbefore
described. The arrangements of the springs and joints are identical; the only
notable difference is that the assemblage of the axle of the tricycle at the point B
takes place between the two wheels in lieu of being effected ou either side of the
single wheel as in the case of a bicycle.
The preceding description will be amply sufficient to show clearly how the
invention may be applied to any other types of velocipedes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inveu-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. An improved device for velocipedes, having the characteristic feature, that

page_text: the branches of the fork of the guide wheel are jointed at one point of their
longitudinal extension, while the lower parts of these branches are continued
upward in the form of a side arm above the joint, this side arm being acted upon
by springs arranged nearly horizontally, and that the axle of the rear wheel is
supported by one of the apices of a rigid double triangle which is pivoted to the
frame by another apex, and which at the third apex is acted upon by a spring
arranged nearly horizontally; the whole arrangement being such that the wheels
are enabled to yield upwardly when meeting with a projecting obstacle, without
the main part of the frame and the saddle participating in this rising motion.
2. A velocipede in which the lower parts of the branches of the guide fork each
extend above the joint G in the form of a side arm terminating in a framing
provided with a spiral spring heid in position between a lug arranged at the face
of the side arm-framing and a lug N projecting from the rear of the fork head.
3. A velocipede, in which the rear wheel axle is mounted between the apices B
of a double triangle A B C pivoted at A near the pedal, and connected at C to a
forked lever C D the front extremity D of which is pivotally connected to a slide
arranged in the upper tube of the cycle frame, and against the front face of
which bears under pressure a spiral spring R, located in the said upper tube.
4. In the device referred to in the third claim, a forked lever C D having its
independent arms provided with sockets K, the connection of which is effected by
means of a tubular piece L, divided into two unequal parts, terminating in flanges,
the distance of which from one another is slightly greater than the total length of
the sockets K, so that the rigid securing of the pivot bolt at the apex C of the
double triangle ABC has not the effect of blocking the tubular connecting-
piece L in the sockets.
5. In the device referred to in the third claim the arrangement according to
which-between the bolt serving to pivotally connect the double triangle A B C to
the cycle frame at the apex A and the socket receiving this pivot bolt-a bipartite
tubular connecting piece terminating in flanges is interposed, the distance of which
flanges from one another is slightly greater than the length of the socket, for the
purpose of insuring the free movement of the joint in spite of the fact that the
bolt is rigidly secured.
6. The velocipede arranged and combined substantially as hereindescribed and
as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of November 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.