AN IMPROVED VELOCIPEDE OR MONOCYCLE
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Edgar Hatch at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 29th April 1881.
JAMES EDGAR HATCH, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey. "AN IMPROVED
VELOCIPEDE OR MONOCYCLE."
This Invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes.
My improved velocipede consists of a wheel of sufficiently large diameter to
permit the rider to sit within it. The wheel has but a few spokes, and these are
bowed outwards to permit of the rider being carried in such a position that the
centre of gravity may be in the plane of the tyre of the wheel.
The periphory of the wheel is also strengthened by segmental trussing.
:
Into the central boss of the wheel a stud axis is fixed, and from this a frame
hangs suspended.
This frame at a short distance below the stud axis carries the seat, and at its
lower end it has bearings holding a cranked axis. On the cranks there are treddles,
and the rider in the usual way by operating with his feet upon the treddles rotates
the cranked axis.
Upon the inner end of this axis there is also a chain wheel, and a similar chain
wheel is fixed upon the stud axis of the main wheel.
An endless chain passes around these two chain wheels, and so motion imparted
to the treddle axis is communicated to the main wheel, and the machine is propelled
forward.
The chain wheels and chain may be replaced by cranks and a connecting rod.
The suspended frame also carries a brake lever having a palm, which when it is
desired to check the progress of the velocipede can be made to press against the
periphory of the main wheel.
The position of the seat is such that the feet of the rider may at any time be
removed from the treddles and placed upon the ground whilst he remaining still
in his seat; the velocipede is consequently very safe, and from the large size of
the wheel and the absence of any second wheel it will be very easily propelled.
.3

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Edgar Hatch in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th October 1881.
•
JAMES EDGAR HATCH, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey. "AN IMPROVED
VELOCIPEDE OR MONOCYCLE."
This Invention has for its object an improved velocipede or monocycle.
My improved velocipede consists of a wheel of sufficiently large diameter to
permit the rider to sit within it. The wheel has but a few spokes, and these are
bowed outwards to permit of the rider being carried in such a position that the
centre of gravity may be in the plane of the tyre of the wheel.
The periphery of the wheel is also strengthened by segmental trussing.
Into the central boss of the wheel a stud axis is fixed, and from this a frame
hangs suspended.
This frame at a short distance below the stud axis carries the seat, and at its
lower end it has bearings holding a cranked axis. On the cranks there are treddles,
and the rider in the usual way by operating with his feet upon the treddles rotates
the cranked axis.
.
Upon the inner end of this axis there is also a chain wheel, and a similar chain
wheel is fixed upon the stud axis of the main wheel. An endless chain passes
around these two chain wheels, and so motion is imparted to the treddle axis is
communicated to the main wheel, and the machine is propelled forward.
The chain wheels and chain may be replaced by cranks and a connecting rod.
The position of the seat is such that the feet of the rider may at any time be
.removed from the treddles and placed upon the ground whilst he remains still in
bis seat; this velocipede is consequently very safe, and from the large size of the
wheel and the absence of any second wheel it will be very easily propelled.
In order that my said Invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 is a transverse section of my velocipede
or monocycle..
a, a, is the metal hoop of the wheel and a¹, a¹, a vulcanised india rubber tyre,
which it supports; b, b, are stumps fixed upon the metallic hoop to admit of its
being braced or stiffened by the application of the ties c; c. Figure 3 shows to a
larger scale a section of one of the stumps with the ends of the braces c, c;
also at wider intervals there are laterally. projecting levers d, d, fixed to the
hoop b, b, of which details are shown at Figures 4 and 4. These Figures
represent two somewhat different and alternative constructions; in Figure 4 the
connection with the hoop is rigid, and in Figure 4ª the arm is pivoted to a support
fixed to the hoop.
:
The wire spokes e, e, of the wheel are fixed to the longer arms of the levers d
and the ties c, c, to their shorter arms.
The spokes e, e, pass to the boss f of the wheel, into which the stud or over-
hanging axis g is fixed; the Drawing represents it tubular.
:
From the axis g there is suspended the bar or frame h, which at its lower end
carries the axis i of the treddles i¹, i¹.
The treddles shown in Figures 1 and 2 do not rotate continuously, but
reciprocate, the downward movement being given by the feet and the upward by
springs, not represented in the Figures. An arrangement with rotating treddles is

page_text: shown at Figure 5, hereinafter described. Each treddle i by a rod i* gives
motion to a lever j, which can turn freely on the axis g, and which carries a
pawl j. The pawls j¹ engage with ratchet wheels fixed on the axis g, which is in
this way rotated, carrying the wheel with it.
The bar or frame h carries the seat bracket m; it is supported by a spring m'
beneath, and the seat n is pivoted to it at n¹. Upon the front of the seat there is
a toothed arc n² in gear with a similar arc o' upon the steering lever o.
A sectional plan and an elevation of these parts is shown at Figures 6 and 7.
The steering lever turns upon the upright of the bar or frame h, and it operates
to show the plan of the wheel in relation to the position of the driver in his seat.
For the purpose of assisting learners I sometimes provide an additional small
wheel p; it is carried at the lower end of a spring telescopic rod q, and this rod is
fixed at the end of a bar r, which is passed through the hollow axis g. The bar r
at its other end has a head, in which a notch is cut to receive a projection h¹ from
the hanging bar or frame h. The auxiliary wheel p can thus be removed when-
ever it is not required. Figure 5 shows to a larger scale the arrangements in
connection with the bar or frame h when a driving chain is employed. The
treddles in this case rotate continuously with their axis, which carries a chain
wheel. An endless chain passes around this chain wheel, and also another which
replaces the ratchet wheels 1, 2, on the axis g.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim, my monocycle or
improved velocipede, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Edgar Hatch, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty eighth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
J. EDGAR HATCH. (L.S.)