Improved Mechanism for Working Velocipedes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 19th Sept., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Mechanism for Working Velocipedes.
I, BIRGER LJUNGSTRÖM, Mechanician, of 44" Grefgatan, Stockholm in the
Kingdom of Sweden, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to that class of velocipedes which are driven by the
reciprocating action of a pair of treadle levers, the objects being, that the
movements of the treadle levers shall be reciprocal, and that, by their simultaneous
depression, the brake may be applied to the driving wheel. In velocipedes of
this class, the pedal levers are more or less independent of each other, and a
disarrangement of the driving gear is not infrequently the result.
In carrying out my invention, I fit to the central casting which carries the
treadle axle, a pair of hollow rods, which, extending rearwards, form the bearings
for the driving axle. In the front of this casting is a pair of lugs, which are
intended to receive the trunnions of a horizontal rocking frame. This frame
terminatos, at front, in a forked bearing, in which is mounted a hollow bar, which
projects rearwards, and underlies the pair of hollow rods, in the bearings of
which the driving wheel is mounted.
The lower
This bar, at its rear end, terminates in a pair of upwardly curved prongs,
which carry lateral pins for entering guides formed by slotted bars attached to
the pair of hollow rods. These curved prongs serve also as bearings for the axle
of a brake wheel, which, when the horizontal rocking frame is depressed, as will
be presently explained, bears against the driving wheel, and puts the required
friction thereon. The hollow bar carried by the rocking frame has mounted
upon it a guide pulley, over which the driving chain or cord is passed, on its
passage from one treadle lever to the other. The driving wheel is actuated by a pair
of clutch pulleys, around which the cord or chain leading from the central guide
pulley is lapped, the opposite ends being then secured to the treadle levers. The
guide pulley is adjustable in order to maintain the proper tension of the chain.
The pedal levers take the form of bell cranks, and they are mounted loosely upon
their axle. The bosses of these pedal lovers are cam-shaped, and serve to support
a pivotted frame, which is mounted upon the rocking frame, and at right angles
thereto, and is tipped from side to side by the action of the cams.
edge of this frame, or the parts overlying the cams, are furnished with anti-
friction rollers, and the upper part of this frame is open, the top edge of the
opening being concentric with the pivot pin by which this frame is attached to
the rocking frame. This segmental opening is intended to receive a check pin
projecting from the central casting which carries the pedal axle. The check pin
is furnished with a head, which, by presenting a forward obstruction, prevents.
the rocking frame from tipping, until the pin comes opposite a notched or
enlarged part of the concentric opening. This rocking frame carries a vertical
arm, in which is fitted a pin, that connects with a T-headed link inserted in one
of the hollow rods which carry the driving wheel. This rod is closed at its
forward end, to retain a coiled spring, which surrounds the link, and lies between
a nut on the end of the link and the plug which closes the hollow rod. The
T head of the link is slotted longitudinally to receive the pin, which connects
it with the rocking frame; thus, a tendency is given to the frame to retain

page_text: or recover its normal position, against the strain put upon it by the treadle levers,
when both are simultaneously depressed, to put on the brake. So long as these
pedal levers are working as drivers, the check pin will retain the verticality of
the pivot frame, but when the positions of the two pedal levers correspond, the
check pin will be near the centre of the pivot frame, or at the enlarged portion
of the opening in that frame. At this time the check pin will cease to act, and
no obstruction will be offered to the forward depression of the two frames, which
movement is requisite to put on the brake.
The arrangement, therefore, of my driving gear provides for the alternate
action of the pedal levers, und also for their simultaneous action when desired.
Dated this 16th day of November 1895.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
1 BIRGER LJUNGSTROM of 44" Grefgaten Stockholm in the Kingdom of Sweden,
Mechanician, 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 :-
That type of driving mechanism for velocipedes consisting of oscillating treadles,
and connecting chains or ropes therefrom to ratchet driving mechanism as now
commonly constructed, presents disadvantages beyond those fitted with rotary crank-
driving devices, in that the oscillating treadles have not been heretofore efficiently guided
or controlled, but are liable to become, or may be, thrown up or raised, the one
independently of the other: now the object of the present invention is to overcome
this difficulty or defect in an efficient and practical manner and the invention also
provides for operating the brake mechanism when the treadles are in required positions
all as hereinafter described.
With this object I provide a transverse rocking member or part between the
oscillating treadles, such member or part co-acting with a cam upon or connected
with each treadle, at or near the axis of same, so that while the treadles are operated
in the ordinary manner, the transverse member is rocked, and allows of such
movement, but a pressure upon one of the treadles from below does not affect the
position of same. Means in conjunction with the formation of the rocking part
are also provided whereby the braking of the machine can be effected when the two
treadles have arrived at the middle position of their throw.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar letters of reference refer to
like parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 is a sectional front elevation of lever-controlling mechanism constructed
according to my invention. Figure 2 is a sectional' side elevation of same.
⋅
Figure 3 is a detached front elevation of the transverse rocking member or part
and of a frame connected therewith.
Figure 4 is a plan of the parts shown at Figure 3, and
Figuro 5 is a diagram view of a bicycle to shew the relative position or
arrangement of the device applied thereto according to my said invention.
According to my invention the treadle carrier, or bottom bracket 1 carried by and
forming part of the framework 1* of the machine supports the treadle axis or sliaft 2;
this bracket 1 is formed or provided with two somewhat forwardly directed forks or
recesses 3, shewn by dotted lines at Figure 2, in which is located the trunnions.5
of a frame 4. The frame 4 shewn detached at Figures 3 and 4 has an upwardly
"extending arm 6 having a stud 7 at its upper end, taking into the slotted head 8

page_text: of a pin 8, Fig. 2, which enters one of the lower rear stay tubes 9 of the cycle
framework; 10 Fig. 5 being the upper rear tubes, forming with the said tubes 9,
the rear fork of the machine. The pin 8x is retained by a spiral spring 11,
supported by the cap 12 fixed into the end of the stay tube 9, the tension of the
spring 11 being adjusted and maintained by the nut 18 on the pin 8*.
On a shaft 14, journalled in the frame 4 (see Figs. 3 & 4) is mounted the
transverse rocking part 15, so as to be capable of a rocking motion on the said
axis 14; the rocking part 15 is fitted at each end with rollers 16, which latter
bear upon, or are in contact with, cam plates 27 formed or fixed upon the naves
or bosses 17 of the treadles; these cam plates 27 are somewhat excentric and are
curved upwardly at their ends.
A fork 18 is provided, the rear bent legs of which enter slots or guides 19 formed
or provided upon the bottom rear stay tubes 9, the forward end of the fork part 18
being held to the frame 4 by pivots 21. This fork 18 is constructed to carry a
brake disc 20, to act upon the (in this case) rear wheel 33 when the said fork is
slidden rearwards as hereafter described, and the fork or its extension also supports
a pulley or disc 22, which latter is free to revolve and around which, the rope or
chain 28 (see Figure 5) passes to connect the treadles; this disc 22 is fitted so as
to be capable of adjustment backwards or forwards by means of a screw 23, in order
to give the rope or chain 28 a proper tension.
The rocking part 15 has an aperture 29, through which passes a pin 25, fixed
into the framework of the machine and provided with a head 24. The two alternately
operated treadles are each two armed, the one arm 26 of each being connected
(see Fig. 5) by chains or ropes 30, with discs 32, upon which the chains or ropes
are alternately wound or unwound, the said discs 32 being connected by ratchet
couplings with the hub or axle 31 of the driving wheel 33, so that when the discs
are alternately rotated in one direction, the driving wheel is driven.
As before stated the two treadles are moved alternately up and down, the one
roller 16 of the rocking part 15, being in contact with the cam 27 of one treadle,
and the other roller 16 being against the cam 27 of the other treadle, and those
cams being excentric as shown, the part 15 receives a rocking motion on the
shaft 14. It will now be understood that the treadles cannot move upwards
simultaneously, unless the frame 4 is pushed outwards, which is prevented by the
spring 11. The driving motion of the treadles by the feet is not prevented by the
pressure of the rollers 16, because the cams 27 permit the part 15 to rook in such a
manner, that the one roller 16 moves inwards towards the centre of the treadle,
while the other moves outwards. A pressure on the treadle from below, for instance
by letting the one depressed treadle rost against the border of the side walk
for holding the velocipede upright, does not cause any movement of the treadles.
If the two treadles are in their middle positions, the head 24 of the pin 25 is
opposite to the wider part of the aperture 29, (Fig. 4) of the rocking part 15, and
in this position the brake can be applied by pressing simultaneously on the two
treadles, for example, in the manner substantially as described in the Specification
of my prior Patent No. 19874 dated October 21st 1898. During this action the
piece 4 swings on the pivots in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2), wheroby the
spring 11 is stretched and the fork 18 moves backwards with the brake disc 20,
towards the driving wheel 33. If on the other hand, the treadles are not opposite to
each other, for instanco, if they are at their extreme turning points, the brake
cannot be applied, as the pin head 24 prevents the rocking part 15 and con-
sequently the piece 4 from swinging outwards.
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, as follows:-
1. In velocipedes driven by a pair of alternately reciprocated treadles, the
connecting means, essentially composed of a transverse rocking part pivotted to, or
in connection with, the framework of the machine, and acting in conjunction

page_text: with a cam part, carried upon or by each treadle, and generally near or upon the
naves or near the axes thereof, whereby while the treadles can be reciprocated in
the ordinary manner, the relative position of the treadle or treadles cannot be
disarranged, substantially as set forth.
2. The construction and arrangement of device for controlling and regulating the
relative position of the treadle or treadles, substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The combination with the treadle coupling and controlling mechanism, as
claimed by Claims 1 and 2, of the brake mechanism and parts connected therewith,
arranged and acting substantially as and for the purposes described and illustrated
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 14th day of Anost 1806
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.