Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1895-Accepted, 1st June, 1895
1, HUGO BEYER, of 111 Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, W., Professor of
Music, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to velocipedes and comprises the improvements hereinafter
indicated.
The object of my said invention is to provide improved means for driving velocipedes
such means not involving the rotation of pedals by the feet of the rider in the manner
heretofore customarily adopted.
The chief feature of my invention relates to the provision of means whereby the
weight of the rider sitting on the saddle of the machine is caused to rotate the wheels
and propel the vehicle.
According to my invention I arrange that the saddle instead of being rigidly
attached to the frame of the machine shall be mounted on two links. One of said
links which I will call the radius bar is pivoted at its opposite end to any suitable
part of the frame, and the other of said links which I will call the connecting rod
link is pivoted to a suitable crank or other device adapted to rotate the driving wheel
of the relocipede.
The rider by alternately resting his weight on the saddle and taking it off the
same moves the saddle up and down. By means of the connecting rod link this up
and down motion is converted into a rotary motion of the driving wheel.
The frame of the machine may be of any suitable design. I generally provide
foot-rests permanently and securely attached to the frame of the machine so that
the rider can readily relieve the saddle of his weight for the purpose above
specified, but in a modification of my invention hereinafter described said foot rests
are attached to cranks and are reciprocated by the rider when the machine is
running.
In order that the nature of my invention may be clearly understood I will briefly
describe by way of example one or two methods of carrying the same into practical
effect.
In one construction the connecting rod is pivoted to a crank which is rotated
when the saddle is moved up and down by alternate applications of the weight of
the rider. The rotation of the crank is transmitted to the driving wheel by any
suitable gearing, for example by means of a chain gear as used in the modern
safety bicycle.
In another somewhat similar construction the connecting rod is connected to an
internally toothed gear wheel which is pivoted on the frame eccentrically to the
driving wheel. Said driving wheel has secured to its axle an externally toothed wheel
adapted to engage with the teeth of the internally toothed wheel aforementioned.
It will be readily understood that the up and down motion of the saddle communicates
a rotary motion to the driving wheel.
In order to assist the saddle in rising I sometimes provide a suitable spring
between the saddle and the frame which spring is deformed when the saddle is
pressed down and will therefore in trying to regain its original shape exert a lifting
force on the saddle. For example I may dispense with the radius bar herein-
before mentioned and substitute therefor a flat or V-shaped spring one end of which
is secured to the frame the other end thereof being pivoted to the saddle and
connecting rod link.

page_text: In a modification of my invention the pedals are not firmly attached to the frame
but are carried on a projection from a segmental interually toothed rack which is
pivoted on the frame. The connecting rod link is pivoted to a projection from the
opposite side of said rack. A gear wheel pivoted on the frame of the machine
gears with the rack and is provided with a crank which is connected to a projection
from an internally toothed gear pivoted to the frame eccentric with the driving
wheel. When the saddle is moving down the pedals are moving up and when the
saddle is moving up the weight of the rider depresses the pedals. The up and down
motion thereby communicated to the segmental rack rotates the gear wheel and its
crank backwards and forwards, this movement causing the driving wheel to
continuously rotate in the manner herein before described.
I may use other descriptions of gearing than those hereinbefore described for
transforming the up and down movement of the saddle into the rotary motion of the
driving wheel.
By my improved method of driving a greater proportion of the rider's weight
is utilized than has heretofore been possible, moreover the position of the rider is
much more comfortable than that hitherto necessitated. My invention is especially
applicable to bicycles but may be applied to tricycles and other descriptions of
velocipedes.
Datel this 3rd day of A poust 189.1
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
1, HUGO BEYER, of 111 Gloucester Terrace, Hyde Park, W., Professor of
Music, 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 :-
This invention relates to velocipedes and comprises the improvements hereinafter
indicated.
The object of my invention is to provide means whereby the rider can propel the
velocipede by the alternate application and removal of his weight to and from the
seat or saddle of the machine."
According to my invention instead of rigidly connecting the saddle to the frame
of the machine I so arrange the said saddle that it is free to be reciprocated, its
movement in one direction being produced by the weight of the rider and its move-
ment in the opposite direction by the reaction of a suitably arranged spring, or by
means of an oscillating lever upon which the rider bears when he removes his weight
from the saddle. This reciprocating movement of the saddle is, by appropriate
mechanism, converted into a continuous rotary movement for actuating the driving
wheel to propel the velocipede.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed in which,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed in accordance with my
invention, and
Figure 2 is similar view but showing my invention applied in a modified
manner.
In these figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.
A is the frame of the bicycle; B the driving wheel and the reciprocating seat
or saddle.
Referring more particularly to Figure 1 the saddle is provided with a radius
bar c which is connected to the frame of the machine by a pin c¹ about which

page_text: the said radius bar is free to rock. Near the outer end of the radius bar is
pivotted a connecting rod d whose lower extremity is attached to the inner
end d¹ of the oscillating lever D, the outer end of this lever being provided with
pedals d*.
The lever D is mounted on a transverse stud d² carried by the cheeks d³ of the
frame A and is formed with an elliptical or segmental portion d' having internal
teeth which gear with a pinion d³ mounted on a transverse stud d. This stud,
like the one already referred to, is carried by the aforesaid cheeks and is
provided with an oscillating crank d. is a rod connecting the crank with
the slotted arm of a disc which is mounted on a pin 62 carried by the
frame of the machine and located in proximity to the driving wheel axle. The
said dise b is formed with teeth which gear with a pinion mounted on the driving
wheel axle.
When a rider is mounted on the saddle his weight causes it to descend and the
outer or pedal end of lever D to rise. This movement is transmitted to the
crank by the toothed gearing d', №³, said crank completing its forward stroke
and thereby exerting a pull upon the connecting rod which causes the disc b to
Lurn in the direction of the arrow. The said disc thus imparts a partial rotary
movement to the driving wheel B through the pinion 63. The rider now raises
himself by bearing with his feet on the pedals of the lever D thus removing his
weight from the saddle. This operation has the effect of depressing the outer or
pedal end of the said lever D, the opposite end thereof consequently rising and
elevating the saddle into its former position through the intervention of the rod d.
Simultaneously with this movement the crank performs its backward stroke
thereby exerting a push upon the connecting rod which causes the disc
continue its revolution and the driving wheel to be driven in the same direction as
before. The saddle having completed its upward movement the rider again applies
his weight thereto and removes the pressure of his feet upon the pedals. This
action causes the saddle to make a fresh descent and a similar operation to that first
explained to be repeated. By the rider continuing this alternate application and
removal of his weight to and from the saddle, in a somewhat analogous manner to
that adopted when riding a horse, the various movements of the incchanism are
caused to take place in uninterrupted sequence and the velocipede to be continuously
propelled.
to
In the modified construction illustrated at Figure 2 I have shewn my invention
applied to a bicycle provided with ordinary chain gearing. In this construction the
pedals instead of being connected to an oscillating lever D, as in the previously
described arrangement, are rigidly fixed to the frame of the machine, and the return
of the saddle to its elevated position is effected by means of a spring, one limb el of
which is affixed to the frame of the machine and the other limb e to the saddle.
In this case the rod d is connected directly to a crank d which instead of oscillating,
rotates about its axis.
The working of this machine is much the same as that already described, the
rider resting his feet upon the fixed pedals d and depressing the saddle by
allowing his weight to come thereon. This action causes the limb of the spring
to approach the limb e and at the same time causes the crank d³ to be partially
revolved by the depression of the connecting rod d. The rider then raises himself
by bearing with his feet on the fixed pedals d thereby removing his weight from the
saddle and allowing the limb of the spring to react and elevate the saddle
into its former position, the crank being caused to continue its revolution by
the upward movement of the said connecting rod. By the constant repetition of
these movements a continuous revolution is imparted to the said crank and is
transmitted to the driving wheel of the machine by the chain gearing in the usual
manner.
I wish it understood that I do not confine myself to the use of the driving
mechanism shewn in the drawings, as it is obvious that such may be varied
without departing from the nature of my invention. I also wish it to be

page_text: understood that although in the drawings I have shown my invention applied to
a bicycle it can be equally well applied in an analogous manner to other types of
velocipedes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A velocipede which can be propelled by means of a reciprocating seat
or saddle actuated by the rider substantially in the manner hereinbefore
described.
2. In a velocipede propellable by a reciprocating saddle the use of an oscillating
pedal lever, or a spring, for bringing the saddle to its normal position each
time the rider removes his weight therefrom, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. In a velocipede propellable by a reciprocating saddle the means for converting
the reciprocating movement into a continuous rotary movement substantially as
described.
4. A velocipede constructed substantially as hereiubefore described with
reference to Figure 1 or to Figure 2 of the accompanying drawings and for the
purpose specified.
Dated thin 10+ 1... L
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applican..