US357249A - valiquet - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3. L. P. VALIQUET.

VELOGIPEDE.

N0. 357,249. Patented Feb. 8, 1887.

INVENTOR:

WITN ESSES:

By his flttorneys,

7 U TED STli'i s PATENT OFF CE.

COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. I

. VEL OC|PEDE.' I 5 SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No.' 357.249, dated Pebruary a, 13 87.

Application filed March 29, 18st. Seria1No. 196:960. (N model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LoUIs P. VALIQUET, residing in Brooklyn, in the county ofKings and State of New York, ,haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Tricycles and Similar Vehicles, of which the following is a specification. I i

This invention includes several improvements in tricyclcs,,with reference more esro pecially to ladies tricycles, such as the one illustrated in my Patent No. 313,460, granted March 3, 1885. My improvements pertain to the driving-levers, the clutches,'the brake, the axle, the I 5 frame, and the step. Figure 1 of the accompanyingdrawings is side view of my improved tricycle, in vertical section, on the line 1 l in Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan'thereof, and Fig. 3 is a front elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is a detail view, on a larger scale, of the middle portion of the axle, partly in section, and Fig. 5 is'a transverse section on the line 55 in Fig. 4 Figs. 6, 7, and 8are' enlarged detail views, in.-secti0n,,ofthe driving-clutch. Fig. 9is a detached view of the disengaging device therefor. Fig. 10 is a detached fragmentary view of the brake mechanism. Fig. 11 shows a modification of the driving-lever, and Fig. 12 shows the connecting-ring r in enlarged plan and section.

Referring first to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, let A designate the axle, and B B the large wheels mounted on the-ends thereof; 0, the steeringwheel; D D, the propelling-levers; E E, the pedals thereon; F F, the frame; G, the seat or saddle; H, the steering-levers, and I the brake-lever.

The axle A is made in two parts or sections united at the center bya swivel-joint, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, so that the two sections may turn independently of each other. The wheels B B are fixed upon the opposite ends of the axle, so .that each wheel turns with the sectionof the axle to which itis fastened.. On each section of the axle is a one-way clutch, K, which is oscillated by the vibratory movement of the lever D, through the medium of a .rope, strap, or chain, c, with a retractingspring to turn it back. Asthe clutch rotates 5o forward it carries the axle with it, and as it turns backward it disengages itself and re-, volves freely. The forward movement of one lever is thus transmitted to the wheel B on the same side of the machine as that lever, and the alternate movement'of the two levers imparts an alternate driving movementto the two wheels. I thus avoid thecontinuous side draft that is experiencedin single drivers, or those tricycles wherein only onewheel is utilized as the driving-wheel, and at the same time I avoid the necessity for complicated connecting mechanism between the two wheels, or two sections of the axle, such as is found in double drivers. What side draft there is is alternating, and practically neutralizes itself, 6 so that it does not interfere with the steering. The swivel-joint in themiddle of the axle is made by entering the end of one portion or section, A, 'of the axle into the end of the other portion, A, thereof, which is made tubuo lar or cup-shaped. This tubularportion abuts against a shoulder, a, on, the portion A. A groove, b, is formed around the entering end, and a screw, 0, is passed through the tubular portion, so that it enters this groove tangentially, thus serving to prevent the pulling apart of the joint. This feature is designed,

\ chiefly, to prevent any end-play and rattle, as

the bearings for the axlein the frame-are sufficient to prevent the opening or separation of the joint.

The frame F of the machine is of usual construction, the front part being of U shape, and

.the rear portion, F, projecting rearwardly in a straight line The. side limbs of the U- shaped front frame pass just beneath the axle A, and to it are fastened bearings d (1, through which the axle passes. To the front ends of this frame are pivoted the propelling-levers D D. The rear end of the frame F has averc .ticalbearing for the. steering-shaft J, the

forked lower portion of which carries the wheel 0. This shaft has a cross-head, j, the ends of which are connected by rods h h with. the steering-levers H H. This method of steering is the same; as that shownin my said patent. It is not essential to my present invention, as any suitable known steering-gear may be used in its stead, and the steeringwheel may be placed either in front or rear, :cc

'2 I "as-1,24%:

as maybe desired. I I prefer a. rear steeringwheel, however,'par,ticularly for a tricycle for ladies use. y

The propelling mechanism is, in general, the

same as in my said previous patent. The

rope, cable, strap, or chain e from the lever D extends backward and upward and winds about the oscillating pulley f of africtionclutch,K. Aretracting-spring, g, rotates this in pulley backward, so that it winds up the rope and draws back the lever I). .A cup, k, is

.keyed fast to the axle, and within it are two (or more) inclined pawls, M, the inner ends of which are confined in notches in the hub of the pulley f, light springsss being arranged to keep theinner ends drawn into thesenotches and the outer ends pressed out into engagernent with the inner surface of the cup. As the pulley f is turned forward, these pawls straighten out, bite against the surface of the cup,and'carry the cup around with the pulley, thus driving the axle and wheel forward. As the pulley turns backward, the pawls disengage and slide back freely.

It is at times desirable to move a tricycle backward, especially when the rider hasdismounted and desires to put the machine away. The backing of the machine is prevented by my construction of these clutches, as shown 0 in my said patent. In order to admit of locking the machine, I have provided a disengag ing device for the clutch, which" I will now describe. On the inner surface of the pulley f isturned an annular'groove, l, as shown in 5 Figs. 6 and 7, and inthis groove is fitted a ring or partial ring, at. (Shown detached in Fig. 9.) Projections or fingers n n from this ring (preferably made by turning up its ends at right angles) stand behind the pawls z i, so that by turning the ring in the direction of the arrow marked on it in Fig. 6 the pawls are turned up far enough to carry their ends clear of the cup In, as shown in dotted lines. -The ring'is thus turned by means of a thumb-piece or button, 0', on the outer side of the pulley f, which is joined to the ring by its stem passing through a slot in the pulley. The friction of the parts is sufiicient to hold them in either position, the springs s 8 being too light to cause the pawls to re engage themselves. Any suitable known device for increasing the friction may be used, if ,desired, or any sort of positive catch or snap for holding the disengaging device in one position or the other. This disengaging device is quickly thrown in or out and is very simple and efl'ective. It maybe applied with advantage in coasting down hills, to save the pawls from wear.

' The levers D-D are fulcrumed at a point in 50 front of the axle, and on nearly or approximately the same level, as shown. The pedals E E are somewhat lower when the levers are in the normal position, or retracted, as shown in full lines in Fig. '1. The movement of the pedals is thus in an are extending downward and forward to the position indicated in dot- 'ropee, slips over the arm, p, and enters one or nection within reach of the hand of the rider,

ing the stroke in the best ratio to compensate ted lines. Each lever is formed with an arm or portion, which extends from the fulcrum rearwardly, toward the axle or toward the clutch K. This portion has notches q q on its under side. The levers are made, by preference, in the form of elbow-levers, as shown in Fig. 1.

A ring, 1, is connected to the end of the another of the notches q q. When it is desiredto increase or decrease the leverage, the rider slips the ring along the arm p from one notch to another. This adj nstment is easily and quickly made with one hand and without 80. leaving the saddle or stopping the machinei Such an adjustmentof the leverage is highly desirable, in order that the rider may apply his strength to greater advantage of leverage when climbing hills or running over sandy 8 roads thanwhen running on a smooth, level road. An adjustment of this "character has heretofore been effected by means'of notched pedal-levers, the-connection of the rope or chain being shifted from one notch to another.

This has been done, however, only when the lever extended in adownward curve from the fulcrum to the pedal. I

It will be observed that myleverD is formed with its arm 1) extending backwardly and upward] y, when the lever is retracted, as nearly in line with the rope or other device 6- as possible.- This has a double advantage: First, it facilitates the adjustment by bringing the contoo so that he has only to reach forward and move the link from. one notch to. another,- pulling the rope forward or letting it back,as may be I required; and,second, the leverage varies dur- 10 for the variations in leverage of the human 5 leg-that is to say, at thebeginning' of the stroke, when the leg is raised, and when, consequently, the muscular power is exerted at a disadvantage, the arm and the rope are nearly in line, so that the angular movement of the arm downward pulls the rope proportionately but a short-distance, and as the leg straightens out and its powerincreases on the well-known toggle principle, the pull of the arm 1) against the rope becomes more direct, so, that as the leverage increases in oneway it correspondingly decreases in the other.

The rope e is preferably a wire rope or cable. In such case I make the ring 1-, as best shown in Fig. 12, with a socket, r, at one end. The end of the wire rope is inserted in this socket and solder is run in to make a solid joint. I

Fig. 11 shows a modification of the lever D. Instead of being an elbow-lever, ,it is a simple lever bent to bring the portion}; in the proper direction r'elativelyto the position of the pedal E. A strap, 0, is here shown instead of a wire rope, and a hook, 1', instead of a ring. The end of the strap passes around the upper bar of the hook and is lapped and riveted. The hook may be passed over the lever 12 when I forward and around the periphery of the cup k of the clutch, and its opposite end is fixed to the frame F. By pressing the lever I forward both brakes are thus applied simultaneously and equally. The retardation is thus transmitted through the respective sections of the axle to both wheels B B, thereby avoiding any tendency of the machine to swerve to one side when the brake is applied forcibly.

It will be observed that in my machine I secure the advantages of a divided axle in propelling, and yet avoid its disadvantages when it becomes necessary to apply the brake, since the two wheels are impelled forward by the clutches independently of each other, but are retarded simultaneously and equally when the brake is used. Y

The seat or saddle G is mounted on a spring, 8', of any suitable or preferred kind. A-cradlespringanswers well. The spring is fixed to the top of a vertical bar or post, P, which is held in a socket in the frame F sdthat it may,

move vertically therein, being fastened by a set-screw, w. This is a common construction, being adopted in order t1) enable the seat to be adjusted in height. I fix the step S to this post P by asct-screw, w, or otherwise. This step should be set at a uniform distance from' the saddle, rather than at a uniform distance above the ground, in order that the rider in raising himself to his seat shall straighten out his leg comfortably and uniformly, irrespecttive of the height to which at any particular time he has the saddle set. Thus, by my construction, when the rider alters the heightof his saddle, the height of the step ,is correspondingly altered, keeping the saddle and e 'step at the same distance apart, until, for a rider with shorter or longer legs, it becomes desirable to readjust the distance of the step from the saddle. I

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- 1 1. In atricycle, the combination ofa divided axle, two-driving-wheels, each fixed upon one end of said axle, two driving-clutches, each fixed upon one section of said axle, two brakes applied to the respective sections of said axle, a brake-lever, and mechanism intervening between said lever and. brakes for transmitting the pressure applied to said lever to both said fbrakes, substantially as set forth, whereby the two driving-wheels are driven independently by said clutches, and, when retarded by the brakes, are retarded simultaneously.

2. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the combination, with the axle, driving-lever, and driving-wheel, of afriction-clutch consisting of a cup, a pulley carrying friction-pawls, and

springs forpressing said pawls outward within said cup, and a disengaging device for said clutch, consisting of fingers projecting behind said pawls, and a moving part bearing said fingers and, when moved in one direction, bringing said fingers into contact with said pawls and pushing the latter forward out of contact with the said cup, substantially as set forth.

In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the combination,with the axle, driving-lever,and driving-wheel, of a friction-clutch consisting'of a cup, a pulley with friction-pawls, and springs for pressing said "pawls outward within said cup, a spring for rotating the pulley and pawls backward, and adisengaging device consisting of a slide having fingers projecting behind the pawls, adapted to operate substantially as set forth. I

4. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the propelling-clutch consisting of a cup connected to the driving-wheel, a pulley carrying friction-pawls, and springs for pressing said pawls outward within said cup, in combinationwith a disengaging device consisting of a slide carried by said pulley and having fingers projecting behind the pawls, and a button for moving said slide, substantially as set forth.

5. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the propelling-clutch consisting of a cup, a pulley carrying friction-pawls, and springsfor pressing said pawls outward within said cup, in combination with a disengaging device borne by the pulley an'd in frictional engagement therewith, and having fingers projecting behind said pawls, substantially as set forth.

6-. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the fric tional propelling-clutch K, with its pulley formed with an annular groove, in combina- .tion with a disengaging device consisting of an annular slide arranged to move in said thepawls, substantially as set forth.

;7. In a tricycle, the combination, with the frame, axle, and driving-wheel, of a drivingclutch, K, a rope, (or equivalent,) e, for driv- IIO groove, and having fingers projecting behind ing the same, a driving-lever, D, fulcrumed at a point in front of the axle, the said lever having an armor portion, 1a, to which the said ropejs connected, which, when the lever is retracted, projects backwardly from said fulcrum toward the clutch, and a pedal, E, pivoted to said lever at a point below said arm or portion, with'an adjustable connection between said. rope and the portion 1) of said lever, whereby the rider may at pleasure connect the rope nearer to or farther from the fulcrum of the lever in substantially the manner and to the effect set forth.

8. In a tricycle, the combination, with the frame, axle, and driving-wheel, of a drivingclutch, K, awire rope, e, a ring, r, formed 5 frame and saddle, of a post, P, vertically ad- Witn':

; rope, and a driving-lever, D, having an arm In Witness whereof I' have hereunto signed or portion, 1), with notches qq for engagement, my name in the presence of two subscribing by said ring, substantially asset forth. witnesses.

9. In a tricycle, the combination, with the LOUIS P. VALIQUET.

ARTHUR 0. FRASER,

GEORGE How FRASER.

justable in said frame, and a step, S, fastened r to said post, substantially as set forth.

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