IMPROVEMENTS IN "BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES
Year: 1885

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
17
I ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn, London, in the County of
Middlesex, England, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN "BICYCLES AND TRICYCLES" 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 those machines adapted to be propelled by the rider
in which motion is communicated to the driving wheel or wheels by a strap winding
about a clutch mechanism, and passing thence to vibrating foot levers or pedals,
and the invention is intended more particularly for use in those machines in which
the propelling wheel of relatively large diameter is located in rear of a small
steering wheel attached to an inclined shaft, the upper end of which is provided
with a steering bar or handle within reach of the rider who sits upon a saddle on
the main wheel above the propelling wheel. The improvements relate to the
construction of the main frame, the clutch mechanism, the saddle support and
various other details.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of my improved machine.
Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively a top plan view and a side view of portions of the
main-frame.
Fig. 4 is a vertical axial section through one side of the driving wheel and the
clutch mechanism.
Fig. 5 is a transverse section on the line 1-1 of the preceding figure.
Fig. 6 is a transverse section through the clutch mechanism in a modified form.
Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively an axial and a transverse section through the
clutch mechanism in still another form.
Fig. 9 is another axial section through the clutch mechanism.
Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively an end view and a side view of the collet to
which the winding spring is attached.
'
Fig. 12 is an end view of the same in modified form.
Fig. 13 is a section through one side of the drum of the clutch mechanism
showing the manner of attaching the operating strap thereto,

page_text: Fig. 14 is a cross section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the lower bearing
of the steering rod, and the connection of the seat-support therewith.
Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking downward, showing
the upper bearing of the steering shaft and the connection of the seat support
therewith.
Fix 16 is a vertical cross scntion on the line d
A of in 1 sharing the form of
of the steering rod, and the connection of the seat-support therewith.
Fig. 15 is a sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking downward, showing
the upper bearing of the steering shaft and the connection of the seat support
therewith.
Fig 16 is a vertical cross section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1, obowing the form of
the seat supporting bar.
Figs. 17 and 18 are views of the seat supporting springs.
Figs. 19, 20, and 21 are views illustrating the brake mechanism.
REFERRING TO THE DRAWINGS.
A represents the main or propelling wheel B the main-frame in which the wheel
is mounted; O the rider's seat on top of the frame, D the front steering wheel
and E the steering rod, turning in bearings at the front of the frame, its lower end
being forked to receive the journals of the steering wheel and its upper end
provided with a cross bar or handle F within reach of the rider. The wheels are
of the well known suspension type consisting of hollow, metal rims provided
with rubber tire and connected by wire spokes with flanges at the two ends of the
central hub. The hub is constructed with an opening from end to end to receive
the central stationary axle G, the ends of which are fixed in the ends of the frame
so that the wheel revolves loosely thereon. The frame consists of two corre-
sponding or complimentary halves located on opposite sides of the wheel and
united, as hereinafter explained. Each part consists of the arms a b c d. e and f
welded or otherwise rigidly united as shown in the drawings.
The arm a rises from the outer end of the axle and extends thence inward over
the projecting end of the hub to a point near where it joins the arm c. which
extends backward, outward and forward again to meet the arm, a, in the manner
represented in Figs. 1 and 2 for the purpose of affording a bearing for the two
ends of the pivot of the foot lever H The arm & extends upward and rearward to
sustain the rear end of the seat supporting bar, g, while the arm e is extended
upward and forward to support the upper bearing h of the steering-bar and the
devices which support the forward end of the seat bar g.
The arm is extended forward in a substantially horizontal direction to carry
the bearing at the lower end of the steering rod. It will be observed that the
steering rod connecting the two bearings, h and i, fixed against end motion therein,
serves to connect the arms e and f, and thus give additional rigidity to the frame.
The two halves of the frame are united by bolts passing through the seat bar and
through the bearings of the steering rod and also by the fixed axle passing through
the wheel. The axle may have its ends of round or of angular form as preferred.
In order that it may be held securely and prevented from jarring loose, the arms a
of the frame are split or divided from the axle outward, as shown in Fig. 3, and
this divided portion drawn together by means of a bolt k whereby it is contracted
tightly upon the axle.
On one side of the machine the bolt k is extended downward and provided with
a step by means of which the rider mounts to the saddle, This step is supported
by nuts above and below, it so that it may be raised and lowered on the bolt.
The seat supporting bar is preferably made of a form in cross-section as shown in
Fig. 16, whereby it is given great strength in proportion to its weight and also
adapted to embrace the upper edge of the wheel and serve as a guard to protect
the rider from dust and dirt thrown from the wheel. In order to relieve the rider
from the shock or concussion which would result from the wheels encountering
obstructions I propose to arrange the seat-supporting bar so that it may move
forward and backward with reference to the remainder of the machine, with a
constant tendency however, to assume its original position. To this end I support
the forward end of the seat by a pendant link m which may be secured at its
upper end to the upper bearing-h of the steering shaft or to the upper end of the

page_text: arms e. These links may be of any appropriate construction but I prefer to make
them of elastic wire having its upper ends coiled as shown in Figs. 1 and 15 to
form a spring which will yield and allow the seat bar to move forward but react
and carry the bar to its original position.
The elasticity or flexibility of the arm d is such as to permit the movement of
the rear end of the seat bar. The essence of the invention in this regard consists
in adapting the seat bar to move forward and backward.
Referring now to the mechanism for driving the wheel attention is directed
particularly to Figs. 1, 4, and 5.
To the rear end of the main frame there is pivoted on each side a foot-lever H
extending forward beneath the axle and thence upward, the forward end termi-
nating in a pedal or foot-piece below the saddle. Each lever is attached to one end
of a strap I which extends upward around a drum J to which it is fixed.
The drum revolves loosely on the end of the stationary axle, and contains in a
recess in its outer side a strong-coiled spring K the outer end of which is secured
to the drum while the inner end is fixed to a non-rotating collet or sleeve L
encircling the axle and interlocked by a pin or otherwise, with the side of the main
frame.
When the lever is depressed, the strap is unwound and the drum turned in a
forward direction, and when the lever is relieved from pressure, the spring turns
the drum in a backward direction rewinding the strap and lifting the lever. To
ears or projections on one side of the drum there are pivoted two pawls M the
outer ends of which engage with ratchet-teeth on the inside of an annular flange N
formed on the side of the wheel concentric with the axle so that as the drums are
turned forward they will impart a forward rotation to the wheel For the purpose
of throwing the pawls into and out of action with certainty and of avoiding the
noise which would result from their sliding backward over the teeth under spring
pressure I make use of a friction device susceptible of embodiment in various forms
equivalents of each other. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5 the device consists of a
divided collar O, encircling the axle with a moderate degree of friction, and con-
necting by links P with the outer end of the pawls. When the drum and pawls
are turned in a forward direction the links P resist the forward movement of the
pawls causing them to ride outward so as to engage the teeth of the wheel where-
upon the frictional resistance of the collar is overcome and the various parts rotate
together. When the drum and pawls commence their backward rotation, the
links P again resist the movement of the pawls and draw them inward out of
contact with the teeth. The frictional collar may be of any appropriate con-
struction but I prefer as shown in the drawings to make them of two semi-circular
parts united by screws o, bearing spiral springs p which urge the two parts
together.
In the modification shown in Fig. 6, the links P are actuated and the friction
collar provided with arms which are attached by a sliding connection directly to
the outer ends of the pawls. This collar by reason of its frictional engagement
with the axle resisting motion in either direction throws the pawls into and out of
action in precisely the same manner as in the first arrangement.
Referring now to the construction represented in Figs. 7 and 8, the axle, drum
springs and ratchet teeth are of the same construction as those previously alluded
to. The pawls M instead of being pivoted to the drum are made of angular form
and pivoted at q to the frictional collar O mounted either on the axle or on the
sleeve projecting from the hub of the wheel, and seated at their inner ends in a hub
or projection on the drum, When the drum is turned in a forward direction as
indicated by the arrow in Fig. 8, the friction of the collar tends to hold the pivots
of the pawls in a fixed position so that the pawls are turned upon their pivots and.
their outer ends thrown into engagement with the teeth after which the parts
revolve together. In like manner the backward rotation of the drum causes the
pawls to be turned so. as to disengage them. The friction collar may in this modifi-
cation be constructed in the same manner as in the preceding examples or in any
=

page_text: other appropriate manner. It will be seen that this organization differs from those
previously described in that the pawls are pivoted to an independent frictionally
held carrier or collar instead of being pivoted directly and firmly to the drum or
pulley. In practice it is sometimes found necessary to increase the tension of the
winding spring. In order that this may be done conveniently and without discon-
necting the parts, I make the inner end of the spring of a hooked form and
provide the collar with which it engages with a series of hooks as in Figs. 10
and 11, or with a series of openings as in Fig. 12 so that by turning the drum in a
forward direction (the strap being first unhooked from the lever) the spring will be
caused to ride forward from one to another of the notches so as to have an increased
tension when the drum is carried back to its operative position. The outer end of
the spring is also made of a hooked form and engaged as in Fig. 13, with a plate s
secured to the inside of the drum the plate being secured by a screw t which is
inserted from the outside and which also serves the additional purpose of attaching
the strap to the drum.
In machines of this type it is found desirable to provide for an increased leverage
at the will of the rider when hills are to be mounted. To this end I connect
each strap with the lever by means of an intermediate link R, the upper end
of which is pivoted to the lever, and the lower end pivoted to a strap or link
which straddles the lever and which is attached to the strap. By swinging the
link forward or backward the connection of the strap to the lever may be placed
nearer to or further from the fulcrum of the lever as required and thus the
rider enabled to apply the power with greater or less advantage as required,
The upward strain of the strap serves to hold the link in the position in
which it may be placed. In order to enable the rider to conveniently operate
the link without dismounting I pivot its swinging end to an arm S the upper
end of which is attached to a link T, pivoted to the lever, its upper end being
turned upward in such form that it may be conveniently operated by the
toe of the rider. The upper link stands at substantially right angles to the
lower link in consequence of which the rider is enabled to move the latter with
ease. The provision of this attachment to the main link is also advantageous in
the present style of machine for the reason that it brings the operating device in
such position that it may be conveniently reached by the foot of the rider and that
it may avoid contact with the hub of the machine.
In machines of this class having a long bearing on the central axle it is
necessary to maintain a constant and perfect lubrication of the wearing surface.
To this end I propose to construct the fixed axle of a hollow or tubular form, as
represented in Figs. 7, 8, and 9, that it may serve as an oil reservoir It will be
provided with one or more small holes through which the oil can escape directly
to the wearing surfaces, and also provided at either or both ends with a screw u,
through which the oil may be introduced In order to secure the axle against end
motion, it is provided with nuts at its extremities The screws u. having heads of
suitable size serve as a means of locking these nuts in position.
.
The spokes of the wheel may be constructed and applied in any appropriate
manner but I prefer as shown in Fig. 9, to construct the hubs of the wheel with
internally grooved flanges w. and to pass the spokes radially through said flanges
into the nuts x seated therein The holes through which the spokes pass may be
enlarged toward their outer ends, and the ends of the nuts may be of rounded form
as shown so that the parts may adjust themselves to take a firm and solid bearing.
In order to permit convenient access to the nuts for the purpose of adjusting the
tension of the spokes, or inserting new spokes in place, of those which may be
broken I propose to extend the flange of the wheel outward beyond the drum so
as to expose the nuts without removing the drum.
In order to cover and conceal the nuts I propose to form an annular flange y
on the cup-like cap or casing U which is slipped over the axle from the outer end
so as to encircle the drum and enclose the working parts. The periphery of this
casing will form in effect, a part of the drum, and serve as the actual surface.on

page_text: which the strap winds. An opening covered by a latch or otherwise closed, will be
made through the flange y so as to permit the nuts which are brought opposite the
same by turning the wheel, to be adjusted without removing the cap. For the
purpose of enabling the rider to control the forward motion of the machine
propose to make use of a brake mechanism connected with a steering bar or
handle as shown in Figs. 1, 19 and 20.
In Fig. 19, the brake lever V lies beneath and parallel with the steering bar
being jointed thereto at one end. At its middle it passes loosely around the
steering-rod and is swiveled to a sleeve a' connected by a link b¹ with one end of
the brake-shoe c² which is pivoted midway of its length to the main-frame and
arranged to bear on top of the main wheel. A spring d³, encircling the steering-
rod bears on the lever and by depressing the same holds the brake normally out of
action.
•
In Figs. 1 and 21, the brake is pivoted at its rear end and connected by its rear
end to the sleeve which is operated in this instance by a lever pivoted at its middle,
one end of the lever being in position to be grasped by the hand while the other is
connected with the sleeve for the purpose of depressing the same. It will be
observed that in each form of the brake its operating lever lies adjacent to and
turns with the steering bar so that it may be operated without removing the hands
from the bar.
In order to provide the rider with an elastic seat I make use of a saddle
constructed as seen in Figs. 1, 17 and 18, composed of a flexible seat or saddle'
proper el supported and strained longitudinally by means of two coiled wire
springs fand g¹ which are located beneath its extremities and secured by screws
clip bolts or equivalent fastening devices, to the supporting bar g The upper ends
of the spring are shaped as shown in the drawings to correspond in form with the
extremity of the saddle. In order that the tire may remain firmly seated on the
wheel when subjected to lateral strains and that it may not be punctured and
mutilated in passing over rough and stony surfaces I adopt the construction shown
in Fig. 16. The metal rim of the wheel instead of being formed with a semi-
circular or substantially semi-circular groove to receive a circular tire, is made with
a groove having a flat bottom or base and substantially perpendicular side walls
The rubber tire is made with an inner face corresponding in shape with the groove
but with an outer face with a semi-circular or approximately semi circular form.
In practice it is found that the rim thus constructed possesses far greater rigidity
in proportion to its weight than those of ordinary form and that there is no danger
whatever of the tire when cemented in place being forced out of position.
'
I construct my tire of an inner or base portion of highly elastic and strongly.
contractile rubber; The outer portion of softer rubber and an enclosing skin or
envelope of very tough and highly flexible rubber.
The several portions of the rubber are given the required consistency by variations
in the preparation and vulcanization in a manner familiar to every person skilled
in the art. The several parts are united in the process of vulcanization or other-
wise care being taken in the course. of manufacture that the outer or soft portion
is left free or practically free from tension, so that in the event of its being incised
or ruptured, the incisions will not open as in ordinary tires, the upper portions of
which are under tension. I am aware that tires having a soft base and a hard
outer portion are old, but I believe myself to be the first to produce a tire having a
contractile base applied under tension in connection with an outer portion of soft
rubber free from tension.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
'
1. The two-part frame for a bicycle each part consisting of arms a b c d e and f

page_text: 2. In a bicycle frame of the type herein described the arms a b and c constructed
and united as herein shown to support both ends of the lever pivot.
3. In a bicycle, the combination of the rear wheel, its stationary axle the frame
mounted on said axle, the forward steering wheel and the steering rod mounted
and fixed against end motion in bearings attached to the front of the frame,
whereby the rod is caused to serve as a forward member of the frame.
".
4. In combination with the main wheel, the stationary axle therein, and the
main frame having its sides perforated to receive the axle and divided and contracted
upon the axle by bolts substantially as described.
5. In a machine of the type herein described, the two part main frame and the
steering rod E, in combination with the bearings h and i for said rod confined
between the two parts of the frame.
6. In combination with the main frame, the main-wheel with a tubular axle, and
the stationary central axle of tubular form adapted to receive a lubricant, and
provided with one or more holes for the delivery of the same to the wearing
surfaces.
7. In combination with the wheel having a tubular hub or axle, the main frame
in which the stationary axle is mounted; and a screw or screws u affording access
to the interior of the central axle.
8. In a machine of the type herein described, the combination of the frame
the stationary central axle, the propelling wheel mounted loosely thereon, the drum
also mounted loosely on the axle and connected by a ratchet mechanism with the
wheel the spring to turn the drum in a backward direction, the central collet L
having a direct connection with the main frame to prevent its rotation.
9. In a machine of the type herein described, the propelling wheel, the drum
connected by a ratchet mechanism therewith, the spring to turn the drum in a
backward direction, and the collet provided with a series of shoulders or notches to
engage the hooked end of the spring whereby convenient adjustment of the spring
is permitted.
10. In a machine substantially such as herein described, the combination of the
propelling wheel provided with ratchet teeth N, the independently revolving drums
connected with and turned in a forward direction by a foot mechanism, a spring to
rotate the drum in a backward direction, pawls connecting the drum and ratchet
teeth and a frictionally held collar connected with the pawla, substantially as
described whereby the pawls are thrown into and out of engagement with the
teeth.
11. The combination of the stationary central axle, the propelling wheel revolving
freely thereon and provided with ratchet teeth, the independently rotating drum
-connected by a strap with a foot lever, the spring to turn the drum in a backward
direction, pawls to connect the drum with the ratchet teeth the friction-collar
mounted upon the stationary axle and connected with the pawls substantially as
shown.
12. In combination with the propelling wheel, the driving drum and the inter-
mediate pawls the divided collar O provided with screws o, and springs p and links
connecting the collar with the pawls.
13. The wheel having the externally flanged hubs in combination with the
spokes inserted radially through the flanges and the nuts applied to the spokes
within the flange as described and shown.
14. In combination with the externally flanged hubs, the spokes inserted therein,
and the nuts applied to the inner ends of the spokes, the cap or casing U enclosing
the clutch mechanism and provided with the flange y to cover the nuts.
15. In a bicycle or like machine the rim or felloe having an external groove with
a flat base and substantially upright walls in combination with a tire having its
inner face adapted to fit the groove and its outer face of convex form.
16. In a bicycle or tricycle, the combination of the two wheels, the main frame,
and the seat supporting bar connected to the frame so as to have a limited forward
and backward motion.

page_text: 17. In a machine substantially such as herein described, the seat supporting bar
movable forward and backward, in combination with the elastic sustaining link m
tending to resist its forward movement.
18. In a bicycle, the combination of the two wheels, the frame, and the seat
supporting bar B, sustained at one end by the rim d and at the opposite end by a
link m.
19. In a bicycle, the seat-supporting bar g, of U form in cross section located
directly above the wheel.
20. In a front steering bicycle, such as herein described, the vertically adjustable
step attached to the main frame adjacent to the axle of the main wheel.
21. In combination with the main wheel and the driving drum connected there-
with by a ratchet mechanism, the foot-lever H, the strap I winding upon the drum,
the link connecting the strap and lever and the operating arm or trip connected to
said link substantially as described whereby the attendant is enabled to operate
the link at will.
22. In combination with the seat-supporting bar, the flexible seat or saddle
proper, and the two sustaining springs therefor formed and secured to the bar
substantially as described.
23. The main frame and the propelling wheel fixed therein the forward steering
wheel, the steering-rod and handle in combination with the brake pivoted to the
frame and acting on the main wheel, and a brake operating lever connected to
and moving with the steering bar and united with the brake by a swiveling
connection.