US664826A - Bicycle. - Google Patents

Description

Q 0 m 2 c B D d e t n e t a P S H a E u WY .w PUB H 6 2 4 6 6 o N (Application filed Mar. 26, 1898. Benewad Kay 8, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sbaat I.

(No Model.)

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Dec. 25, I900. H. 0. WEEKS.

BICYCLE.

(Application filed Mar. 25, 1896. Banewed Kay 8, 1900.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Shoat 2.

ml'mmumml W1 WITNESSES. l/Vl/E/VTOI? %zzaga fifiwzaz Z 66. s/wd BY Am rm: uomwvs PETERS w. morcxuma, wgsmnovom llnrrnn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY O. WEEKS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

BICYCLE.

SIBEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 664,826, dated December 25, 1900.

Application filed March 26, 1896. Renewed May 8, 1900.

serial No. 15,981. kNo model.)

To all w/"tmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY O. Wnnns, of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Bicycle-Gear, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention is an improvementin bicycles in respect to propulsion-gearing and brake mechanism. The gearing is of the class that is adapted for the application of power by the rider walking or pushing backward with his feet upon an endless traveling belt, and the brake is adapted to be operated from and by the handle bars, which are peculiarly arranged and geared for the purpose.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improvement as applied on a safety-bicycle. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the brakeband and adjacent parts. Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the band and pulley. Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional plan View of the mechanism for operating the brake, the section being taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a transverse section of the same on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5.

The improved bicycle-gear illustrated in the drawings is applied on an ordinary safetybicycle having the ordinary main frame A, the steering-wheel B, and the driving-wheel C. On the latter is secured a sprocket-wheel D, over which passes a crossed sprocket-chain E, also passing over a large sprocket-wheel F, secured on a driving-shaft G, j ournaled in suitable bearings in the frame directly in front of the driving-wheel O and at the foot of the vertical main or center brace of the frame in which the saddle-post is inserted.

On the outer end of the shaft G on opposite sides of the frame A are secured pulleys H, over each of which passes a belt or band I, also passing over a large pulley J, secured on a shaft K, journaled in adjustable bearings (see Fig. 9) in the front portion of the frame A in the rear of the steering wheel B, as plainly indicated in Figs. 1 and 2. The upper run of the belt or band I is inclined forwardly and upwardly, so as to form an inclined walkingsurface for the feet of the rider to walk on, and thereby propel said bands or wheels in the direction of the arrow a. In doing so a rotary motion is given to the pulleys H and shaft G, which by the sprocket wheel F, sprocket chain E, and sprocket wheel D causes a turning of the driving-wheel O in the direction of the arrow b, thereby propelling the machine forward.

In order to prevent slipping of the belts or bands I on the pulleys J and H, I provide the under side of the bands or belts I with suitable transverse ribs or teeth I, adapted to mesh in corresponding teeth J on the periphery of the pulleys J and H. It is understood that the rider, when propelling the wheel forward in the manner described, stands with both feet on the upper runs of the belts, and

by exerting his walkin gpower he imparts mo-.

tion alternately to the two belts by the right and left foot, so that the machine receives continuous impulses for propelling the machine steadily and continuously forward.

The frame A is provided with a saddle, as indicated in Fig. l, on which the rider may rest, or when he desires to reduce the speed of the machine, or when he goes downhill by the momentum of the machine.

In order to give full control to the rider when he desires to stop the machine or reduce the speed, I provide a suitable brake mechanism connected with the front shaft K. On the latter is secured a brake-pulley L, adapted to be engaged by a brake-band N, connected at its ends to opposite ends of a lever O, fulcrumed at its middle on a bracket held on the frame A. The end of the lever O is connected with a cord or chain P, passing under pulleys Q Q and over a pulley Q all journaled on the main frame A, as indicated in Fig. 1. The upper end of the chain P is connected with a longitudinally-extending rack R, in mesh with a segmental gear-wheel S and fitted to slide longitudinally in suitable bearings in a head T carrying the stem of the handle-bars T T for manipulating the steering-wheel B. The handle-bars project laterally or horizontally and are in alinement, as usual. Their adjacent inner ends are curved downward and form practically vertical journals, Fig. 6,

having bearings in the head T and passing through the segmental gears, to which they are rigidly attached. The segmental gearwheel S is fastened to the stem of the handlebar T, and on the under side of said segmental gear-wheel S is formed or secured a second segmental gear-wheel S, in mesh with a segmental gear-wheel S fastened on the stem of the other handle-bar T. Thus when either of the two handle-bars is turned a rotary motion is given to the segmental gear-wheel S t? shift the rack R longitudinally. so as to draw the brake-band N in contact with the brakepulley L, or to release the said brake-band by moving the corresponding handle-bar in the opposite direction.

Now it will be seen that by the arrangement described both handle-bars can be readily used for turning the steering-wheel B to the right or to the left, according to the direction in which the machine is desired to go, and said handle-bars can also be used for applying the brake whenever it is necessary and Whether the rider is steering or not It will be seen from the foregoing that the rider not only utilizes the walking-powerof his legs, but his weight also assists in the propulsion of the machine, and the rider by pulling upon the handle-bars can add to the power of his legs, so that the rider is enabled to propel the machine forward at a very high rate of speed.

It will be seen that by the arrangement described the rider is in an upright position while propelling the wheel, and consequently his health is not liable to be impaired, as is so frequently the case with persons using ordinary safety-bicycles in which a stooping position is more or less necessary.

It will be seen that in going uphill the upper run of the band is more inclined to the horizontal, and consequently the weight of the rider acts to greater advantage. It will be seen that the weight of the rider will act as a natural belt-tightener.

7 Having thus fully described my invention,

I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The improved bicycle, comprising front and rear wheels, a connecting-frame having braces inclined downward from the head, or front, tube and the saddle-post tube, a hanger connecting the lower ends of such braces, the

ing with and suspending such rear hanger, r the shaft arranged in the latter and having pulleys on its extended ends, broad endless belts running on the two sets of pulleys and inclined downward from front to rear, and

gearin connectin the rear shaft and rear b 23 7 wheel, as shown and described.

2. In a bicycle, the handle-bar proper, composed of two horizontal parts having horizontal meshing gears arranged on the head of the machine and with which the parts of the handle-bar are rigidly connected, respectively, a rack-bar that meshes with one of said gears, a brake mechanism, and means which connect the rack with the brake, as shown and de- 7 scribed, whereby the handle-bar is adapted to V a perform its usual function and also apply the brake, as specified.

3. A bicycle-gear, provided with a brake mechanism comprising a brake-pulley on one of the driven shafts, a brake-band encircling said pulley, a lever connected with the ends 7 of the band, a rope connected with said lover, a rack connected with said rope, and a segmental gear-wheel in mesh with said rack and secured on one of the handle-bar stems, said stems being pivoted in vertical planes, and geared together and projecting laterally from their respective gears, shown and described.

HENRY 0. WEEKS.

Witnesses:

THEO. G. HOSTER, JAMES M. HENLEY.

785' substantially-as"

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