Year: 1897

page_text: Telipedes.
I, SERAPHICUS FRANCIS PICHLER, of 29, Albany Street, London, N.W., Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the method of driving
steering, ringing bells or sounding alarms applying brakes, construction of
saddles and generally the construction of cycles more especially tricycles.
According to my invention relating to driving gears, I make use of cranks and
connecting rods, the cranks being set at an angle of 90° or thereabouts with one
another. The pedal cranks are however set at an angle of about 150° with each
other at an angle of about 100° with the driving cranks so that the pedals are
directly opposite to each other, that is to say, at 180°. By this means one pedal
is always in advance of the driving crank and the other behind, whereby a more
equal distribution of propelling power is attained.
In order to attain the requisite speed I provide the hub with a gear wheel which
is worked by a pinion fitted to one of the cranks as in a sun and planet gear.
As an auxiliary or as the main driving gear I utilize the downward stroke and
weight of the thighs of the rider to operate the driving wheel by means of suit-
able connecting rods cranks and thigh rests. This may be arranged to act in
combination with or independent of the saddle action hereinafter described.
My improvement in steering consists in mounting the steering wheel with the
steering head inclined away from the velocipede and forks suitably curved inwards
and towards the velocipede. The handle bar is divided and attached to the side
links of a parallel motion, the bars of the parallelogram being fitted to the steer-
ing stem and dummy steering stem respectively. It will thus be seen that the
steering is effected by a longitudinal reciprocating action relatively to the veloci-
pede. This arrangement of handle bar enables me to provide means whereby on
depressing the handle bars a brake or brakes is or are applied and on raising or
turning the bars a bell or other suitable warning may be operated. For this pur-
pose the brake, which consists of a long shoe coinciding with the general contour
of the tyre, is fitted with a plunger rod enclosed by the tube or tubes of the veloci-
pede and connected by suitable levers to the inner ends of the handle bars in such
a manner that a depression of the handle bars causes the brake to be applied.
The inner ends of the handle bars are formed also with suitable projecting catches,
cups or analogous devices to operate a bell or compress a pneumatic ball or other-
wise operate an alarm when such handle bars are raised or turned round.
My improvement in saddles consists in hinging flaps to the saddle in substitu-
ion for the peak. The flaps are supported by a lever suitably pivoted to the
frame of the saddle or cycle and connected to the saddle flaps by suitable connect-

page_text: ing links or rods in such a manner that the downward pressure of one flap will
cause the other to rise and vice versa.
I construct the axles of tricycles in two short parts and in the shape of a V,
each portion of the axle carrying a driving wheel at right angles thereto, as usual,
at its outer end and is mounted in a suitable bearing on the frame. The inner
ends are cranked and fitted in bearings mounted on the frame of a parallel motion
suitably jointed to the cycle frame so that when turning a corner the wheels give
The wheels are
way and the frame is thrown towards the centre of the curve.
thus at an angle with the ground but the inner spokes at the top of the wheel are
at right angles thereto. This enables me to gain a sufficiently wide wheel base,
and thus render the tricvele stable.-The cranked shafts are connected with the
driving cranks as before described, suitable universal joints being used to accommo-
date the necessary motions of the working parts.
The backbone of the cycles I construct of an inverted trough section varying in
depth, according to the strain at the particular points, and attach the fittings, such
as the stays, crank.bracket and steering socket, thereto. The back wheel is fitted
so that the tyre is enclosed by the trough thereby acting as a mudguard. This
section also enables me to, arrange the brake fittings so that they are invisible and
serves to retain the mud spray usually given off when the brake is applied.
Dated 25th January 1897.
I, SERAPHICUS FRANCIS PICHLER, of 29, Albany Street, London, N.W., Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:
The object of my invention is to effect improvements in the method of driving,
steering, ringing bells, or sounding alarms applying brakes, construction of
saddles and generally the construction of cycles more especially tricycles.
According to my invention relating to driving gears, I make use of cranks and
connecting rods, the cranks being set at an angle of 90° or thereabouts with one
another. The pedal cranks are however set at an angle of about 150° with each
other and at an angle of 100° with the driving cranks so that the pedals are
directly opposite to each other, that is to say, at 180°. By this means, one pedal
is always in advance of the driving crank and the other behind whereby a more
equal distribution of propelling power is attained.
In order to attain the requisite speed I provide the hub with a gear wheel which
is worked by a pinion fitted to one of the cranks as in a sun and planet gear.
As an auxiliary or as the main driving gear I utilize the downward stroke and
weight of the thighs of the rider to operate the driving wheel by means of suit-
able connecting rods, cranks, and thigh rests or flaps. This may be arranged to act in
combination with or independent of the saddle action hereinafter described.
My improvements in steering consists in mounting the steering wheel with the
steering head inclined away from the velocipede and forks suitably curved inwards
and towards the velocipede. The handle bar is divided and attached to the side
links of a parallel motion, the bars of the parallelogram being fitted to the steer-
ing stem and dummy steering stem respectively.

page_text: It will thus be seen that the steering is effected by a longitudinal reciprocating
action relatively to the velocipede. This arrangement of handle bar enables me
to provide means whereby on depressing the handle bars a brake or brakes is or
are applied and on raising or turning the bars a bell or other suitable warning may
be operated. For this purpose the brake, which consists of a long shoe coinciding
with the general contour of the tyre, is fitted with a plunger rod enclosed by the
tube or tubes of the velocipede and connected by suitable levers to the inner ends
of the handle bars in such a manner that a depression of the handle bars causes
the brake to be applied.
The inner ends of the handle bars are formed also with suitable projecting
catches, cups, or analogous devices to operate a bell or compress a pneumatic ball
or otherwise operate an alarm when such handle bars are raised or turned round.
My improvement in saddles consists in hinging flaps to the saddle in substitu-
tion for the peak. The flaps are supported by a lever suitably pivoted to the
frame of the saddle or cycle and connected to the saddle 'Haps by suitable connect-
ing links or rods in such a manner the downward pressure of one flap will
cause the other to rise and vice versa.
I construct the axles of tricycles in two short parts and in the shape of a V,
each portion of the axle carrying a driving wheel at right angles thereto, as usual,
at its outer end and is mounted in a suitable bearing on the frame. The inner
ends are cranked and fitted in bearings mounted on the frame of a parallel motion
suitably jointed to the cycle frame so that when turning a corner the wheels givè
The wheels are
way and the frame is thrown towards the centre of the curve.
thus at an angle with the ground but the inner spokes at the top of the wheel are
at right angles thereto. This enables me to gain a sufficiently wide wheel base,
and thus render the tricycle stable.
The cranked shafts are connected with the driving cranks as before described,
suitable universal joints being used to accommodate the necessary motions of the
working parts.
The backbone of the cycles I construct of an inverted trough section varying
in depth, according to the strain at the particular points, and attach the fittings,
such as the stays, crank bracket, and steering socket, thereto. The back wheel
is fitted so that the tyre is enclosed by the trough acting as a mud guard.
This section also enables me to arrange the brake fittings so that they are
invisible and serves to retain the mud spray usually given off when the brake
is applied.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar
letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. illustrates a safety bicycle constructed according to my invention and
fitted with my improvements in details.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of a portion of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a sectional end view illustrating the method of sounding an alarm.
Fig. 4 is an underside view of my improved saddle and fittings.
Fig. 4 being a modification.
Fig. 5 is an elevation illustrating my improvements in tricycles with automatic.
steering arrangements.
Fig. 6 is a back end elevation of Fig. 5 and Fig. 7 is a sectional plan of a portion
of Fig. 5.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is the frame which is formed of a trough section,
varying in depth towards each end, provided with a saddle support 6 and head
tubes c and d, and struts or stays e. As shewn the rear end of the frame encloses
the tyre of the rear wheel, thereby acting as a mudguard.
The driving gear consists of cranks and rods which cranks are set at an angle
to each other f is the pedal crank which is keyed or otherwise fixed to the crank
pin of the crank g which is secured to the crank shaft, the angles being approxi-
mately as shewn. h are connecting rods connecting the driving cranks with the

page_text: driven cranks of the driving wheel, i represents sun and planet gearing for increas-
ing the revolutions of the driving wheel relatively to the crank shaft in a manner
similar to analogous gears in common use.
The head tube c contains the steering tube carrying the forks of the front wheel.
The upper end of the steering tube is provided with a cross head c¹ which is con-
nected at its extremities with the crosshead d by two rods loosely attached
thereto, and carrying handles at their ends. The crosshead is pivoted
within the head tube & which is also provided with a sliding rod or tube connected
to the cross head at one end and linked to a lever d at the other end. This is so
arranged that on depressing the handles the brake band or shoe is forced into
contact with the rear wheel by means of the links and cranks shewn by dotted lines
in Fig. 1. The steering gear is shewn in plan in Fig. 2 and is also shown pro-
vided with means for ringing a bell 7. For this purpose suitable lips or
projections . are provided so that on twisting the rods 2 by lifting the outer ends
of the handles the jointed levers or hammers of the bell are operated, Fig. 3,
similarly other alarms may be sounded or operated, such for instance as a whistle
or other sound by compressing a pneumatic ball.
My improved saddle is shewn in Figs. 1. 4 and 4* and consists in hinging flaps
or thigh portions m to the seat n, the flaps may be connected by links m¹ to a cross
head pivoted to the saddle pillar o to which the seat is fitted with or without
springs. Thus, the usual peak is dispensed with, the flaps rising and falling
Synchronously as will be readily understood.
In Fig. 4 the links m' are dispensed with and fixed brackets or projections m²
are employed. These are arranged to act against the faces of a pivoted cross
head n, the face of which is in a line with the centre of the saddle pillar.
In utilizing the thigh action as a means, auxiliary or otherwise, of propulsion,
the links m' are of sufficient length to connect with the cranks on either the driving
wheel axle or the crank axle, the cranks being in this case set in line i.e.
180 degrees apart. In such cases the pivoted crosshead n' is dispensed with as
will be readily understood.
My improvements in tricycles is illustrated by Figs. 5, 6 and 7. I construct
the axles in two short lengths as shown in Fig. 6, set at an angle and provide the
same with cranks and in some cases with sun-and-planet gear The outer ends
of the axles are mounted in the ends of the back stays p and the inner ends are
carried or supported in suitable bearings on a link frame q suitably pivoted to the
members of the main frame. This link frame is so arranged that either wheel
is capable of being caused to more nearly approach the vertical position, and
incidentally one wheel is raised thus throwing the weight and support upon the
other. It will thus be seen that when turning a corner the wheels automatically
adapt themselves to the necessary angle of the frame thus throwing the weight
towards the centre of the curve round which the tricycle is travelling. In order
to ensure this action, I provide means whereby the action of steering the front or
steering wheel causes a simultaneous and proportional yielding or displacement
of one or other of the driving wheels. For this purpose the top bar s of the link
frame is fixed on a rod or tube enclosed by and passing through the member r of 4
the frame, the front end of the rod or tube being provided with a crosshead t fixed
thereto. The crosshead is connected to the steering wheel forks by two sets of
links or connecting rods and bell cranks or levers as shewn in Fig. 5, the leverage
of the cranks or levers being such as will give the best effect for the purpose. Thus
when the tricycle is stationary or being propelled with all wheels in parallel the 5
frame is supported vertically, but on steering away from a straight course the back
wheels are thereby altered in position so as to cause the frame to incline towards
the centre of the curve.
The link frame may be dispensed with, in some cases, and a rigid frame pivoted
to the tricycle frame substituted therefor. In such cases it is necessary to employ 5
universal or other joints to the bearing connections to accommodate them to the
varying angular positions of the rigid frame..

page_text: In order that both driving wheels may be driven under all circumstances the
inner ends of the crank pins are connected by a link u suitably pivoted to them,
thus causing both cranks to remain in their proper angular position.
In some cases I provide the driving cranks and crank axle with sun-and-planet
gear in addition to or substitution for the gear on the driving wheel or wheels, and
the driving cranks g may be accommodated within the trough frame thereby
reducing the width of the head, the connecting rods being cranked or bent
accordingly.
-
The position of the head c is so arranged that a vertical line i drawn through the
spindle also bisects the upper ball race of the head, and the centre line y of the
head cuts the ground line at a point equidistant between the vertical z of the front
edge of the wheel and the vertical of the spindle. This position of the head
enables the steering to be more easily controlled and less erratic than when fitted
in the position usually adopted in cycle construction.
In order to secure a narrow tread and accommodate the close proximity of the
connecting rods h to each other, Figs. 5 and 6, I provide a disc having a groove
in its periphery, the disc being mounted in ball bearings in the frame and of
sufficiently large diameter to ensure rigidity. The crank pins may be directly
fixed therein instead of employing the cranks g.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. In velocipedes, the application and use of pedal and driving cranks set at an
angle as described and shewn in combination with connecting rods and driven
cranks, with or without the sun-and-planet gear, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by the drawings.
2. In velocipedes, the improved method of apparatus for steering, substantially
as herein before described and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.
3. In velocipedes, the combination with the steering mechanism of the means
for sounding an alarm, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings.
4. In velocipedes, the combination with the steering mechanism of the means
for operating and applying the brake, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings.
5. In velocipedes, the application and use of the saddle or seat, constructed and
operating, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in and by
Figs. 1. 4 and 4*. of the drawings.
6. In velocipedes, the application and use of a pair of driving wheels inclined
towards each other, mounted in a link or other frame connected to the main frame,
constructed, arranged, and operating, substantially as and for the purposes described
and illustrated by Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
7. In velocipedes, the application and use of the means described whereby the
action of steering the front or steering wheel causes a simultaneous and proportional
movement of the driving wheels whereby the position or angle of the frame is
altered to balance the centrifugal and other forces, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
8. In velocipedes, the application and use of a frame constructed of a trough
section, substantially as herein before described and shewn on the drawings.
9. In velocipedes, the application and use of a steering head and inwardly
curved forks, so arranged that a vertical line drawn through the spindle also bisects
the upper ball race of the head and the centre line of the head cuts the ground line
at a point equidistant between the vertical of the front edge of the wheel and the
vertical of the spindle, substantially as described and shewn in Fig. 1 of the
drawings.
10. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of the several and

page_text: respective parts constituting my improvements in or relating to velocipedes, sub-
stantially as described and shown by the drawings.
DOCth Outab 1907
GEO.
DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent.