US1420394A - Velocipede propelling mechanism - Google Patents

Description

M. WAGNER. V VELOCIPEDE PROPELLING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 25, 1921- PatentedJune 20,1922.

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MANGOLD WAGNER, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON,

VELOCIPEDE PROPELLING MECHANISM.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MANsoLn WAGNER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Velocipede Propelling Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in propelling mechanism for velocipedes, toys and the like, and the object of myinvention is to provide a velocipede propelling mechanism which is adapted to be actuated by the of the rider to thus propel the velocipede in a forward or backward direction.

Another object is to provide a velocipede propelling mechanism embodying novel oscillating means having eccentric driving means mounted for rotation thereonwhereby the rocking of the velocipede by the rider will actuate the said oscillating means and said driving means to thus propel the velocipede in a forward or backward direction. A further object is to provide a velocipede propelling mechanism embodying novel resilient means adapted to control the action of the oscillatingmeans and the driving means of said mechanism to thereby main tain the velocipede on a substantially straight course during the forward or back ward movement thereof and which is further adapted to regulate the laterally directed forces exertedby the rider on thevelocipede. v

A still further object is to provide a velocipede propelling mechanism embodying .novel ad usting means for the resilient control means of said propellinginechanism, to thus adapt the velocipede for any weight of rider.

A still "further object is to provide a propelling mechanism for a velocipede embodying simplicity, durability and economy in construction, thatis positive and efficient in operation and that will not readily get out of order.

With the above andother objects in view which will appear as the description proinvention resides in the novel concombination, adaptation and arstruction 7 hereinafter described rangement of parts and claimed.

1 accomplish these objects by devices illuslateral rocking or swaying movements wardly extending Specification of Letterslatent. Patented J 29 1922 Application filed March 25, 1921. Serial N6. 455,461

trated in the accompanying drawings Figure 1- 'is atop plan view of; a velocier ative position 1n full lines and in its right hand operative position in dot and dash lines.

Flg. 2 1s a view 1n locipede in an inoperatlve positlon partsbeing broken away to more. clearly illustrate;

the featuresof my propelling mechanism.

the velocipede in an inoperative position, parts being broken away to illustrate the method of mounting eccentric wheels of the,

propelling mechanism on their associated shaft, and

sideelevation of the ve- Fig. 3 1s a view in rear end elevation of.

Fig. i is a similar vie'w ofthe velocipede illustrating the same with its associated propelling mechanism in its right hand operative position, which position corresponds to that shown in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings throughout whichlike reference numerals designate like parts, the numeral 10 designates the running board or platform ofthe velocipede, which running board is adapted tobe normallydisposed in an angular plane with respect to the ground, the said board being normally inclined upwardly inv a forward direction, as shown moreclearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. 1

The running board 10 may be fabricated from any. suitable wood or other desired material substantially in the shape or form shown in Figs. 1 and 2 although I reserve the rightto fabricate said board in any desired shape or form'necessary or'found exwhich is adapted to be fixedly secured in an operative position aga nst circumferential movement in the board 10 as by bolts 12.

Medially and vertically disposed in the running board 10 .in spaced relation thereto is a support bar or frame member 15 c0mprising a horizontally disposed and rear- ,portion 16; a vertically disposed and upwardly extending portion 17 a horizontally and forwardly extending portion 16, which portion is adapted to normally abut the lower face of the sleeve member 11, as shown more clearly in Fig. 2,-

while the forward end or split portions 22 of said support bar 15 are adapted to be fixedly secured to the upper face of the running board 10 as by screws 23.

Fixedly secured in an operative position on the inclined and forwardly extending portion 20 of the suport bar 15 is a seat 24, which seat 24 is adapted to be fixedly secured in said operative position by screws 25.

Journalled for oscillation in the sleeve 11 and the horizontally and forwardly extending portion 18 of the'support bar 15 is an oscillatory member 26, which membermay be formed of wood or other material and fabricated substantially in the shape of a cross, as shown more clearly inFig. 3. Said member 26 comprising a normally transversely and horizontally disposed portion 27 and normally vertically disposed upwardly and downwardly extending bosses 28, which bosses 28 are formed upon the portion 27 substantially midway of the length thereof.

Fixedly secured as by dowel pins 29 to the ends of the bosses 28 are disk plates 30, which plates are provided on their outer faces with stub shafts or journals 31 which stub shafts are respectively journalled in the sleeve ll and the portion 18 of the bar 15', as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings.

concentrically disposed and rotatively mounted in the portion 27 of the oscillatory member 26 is a shaft 32, which shaft is adapted to be supported by bearings or bushings 33 operatively disposed in the ends of said portion 27, as shown in Fig. 3. If desired the bearings 33 may be of any well known anti-friction type to thereby minimize the friction between said bearings and the shaft 32 as is well known.

Eccentrically disposed upon the shaft 32 adjacent the outer ends thereof and fixedly secured thereto as by keys 34 are driving wheels 35 which wheels may be formed of wood or other suitable and desired material.

In the present instance I have illustrated the wheels 35 as being formed of wood in which case I provide metallic flanged hub members 36, which hub members are adapted to be eccentrically disposed in the wheels 35 and are further adapted to concentrically and fixedly receive the outer ends of the shaft 32 and the keys 34, as shown in Fig. 3 the said hub members 36 are adapted to be fixedly secured in their eccentric position on the inner faces of said wheels 35 as by screws 37, as moreclearly shown in the Fig. 4.

To positively retain the wheels 35' on their To prevent undue and excessive wear of the wheels 35 on the outer ends of the portion 27 of the oscillatory'member 26 I'pro- 1 vide spacing washers 40, which washers are adapted to'be interposed between said wheels 35 and the ends of said portion 27. I

To regulate and control the oscillating movement of the oscillatory member 26 and to maintain the velocipede on a normal and substantial course during the forward and backward movement thereof; I provide resilient control means comprising a flat spring 41, which spring is adapted to be disposed in a normally vertical plane and to be disposed in transverse relation to the velocipede. V

The spring 41 is adapted to be fixedly secured midway of the length thereof as by a U bolt 42 to the inner face of the ver tically disposed and upwardly extending portion 17 of the support bar 15, at a point on said portion 17 adjacent the upper end thereof, to thereby positively maintain and retain the longitudinal medial line of said spring 41 in the same normally horizontal axial plane of the portion 27 of the oscillatory member 26, as will be readily apparent by referring to Fig. 3.

As hereinbefore mentioned the flat spring 41is adapted to be disposed transversely of the velocipede, said spring extending outwardly from and being symmetrically disposed on each side of the portion 17 of the bar 15, the outer end portions of said spring being adapted to contact with or abut the rear side of the portion 27 of the oscillatory member 26 at points adjacent the outer ends of said portion 27 substantially as shown in Fig. 1, to thus retain said member 26 in perpendicular relation to the running board 10 when the velocipede is stationary.

To regulate and adjust the tension or resiliency of the flat spring 41, to thus provide a velocipede adapted to accommodate any weight of a rider, I have provided adjusting means comprising" a plate 43 and adjusting screws 44.

The plate 43 is adapted to be fixedly secured midway of the length thereof by the U bolt 42 to the outer face of the vertically disposed and upwardly extending portion 17 ofthe support bar 10 as shown more clearly in several views of the drawings.

:The adjusting screws 44 are adapted to be threadably engaged in the plate 43 adjacent the ends thereof, the inner ends of said screws 4 1 being adapted to contact with and'abut the outer or rear surface of the flat spring 11, as shown in Fig. 1, to thus increase or decrease the tension of said spring as desiredand found expedient.

While I have shownand described a resilient control meanscomprising the flat spring 11 with its associated tension adjusting means, I desire to have it understood-that I do not wish to confine myself to the use of this particular form of tension control means, as I havefound inpractice and after exhaustive experimentation that other forms of resilient control, means may be readily utilized and substituted for said spring 11. To steer the velocipede and maintain the latter in the desired direction while the same is;;in motion l gear or mechanism of the self centering type which mechanism comprises a steering wheel 50, a steering. rod or handle 51, a flanged bushing 52, an annular .disk 53, bolts 5 1 a centering pin 55, a spring56, and a set collar57. I 1

The steering wheel 50 is adapted to be rotatively mounted in the lower furcated end of the steering rod 51 which lower end of said rod is adapted to be rotatively mounted in the flanged bushing 52 adjacent said furcated end.

The bushing 52 is adapted to be medially and angularly disposed in the running board 10 at a point contiguous to the forward end thereof and to be retained therein against circumferential and axial movement through the medium of the annular disk 53 and the bolts 54.

The centering pin 55 is adapted to be fixedly secured in the rod 51 at a point contiguous to the furcated lower portion thereof, said pin 55 being disposed diametrically and perpendicularly with respect to the axis of said rod and is further adapted to normally seat in the bottom of V shaped diametrically disposed notch 58 formed in the lower face of the flanged bushing 52.

The spring 56 is adaptedto be mounted on the rod 51 and to be interposed between the bushing 52 and set collar 57 which collar 57 is adapted to be secured in any desired or suitable position on the rod 51 in a well known manner.

It will be apparent that the spring 56 will normally retain and maintain the centering pin 55 in the bottom of its associated notch 58 when the velocipede is stationary, and it will also be apparent that the spring 56 in conjunction with the angular walls of the V shaped notch 58 will expedite the return of the pin and grasps the steering have provided a steering speed and to maintain by referring to Fig. 2

55 to a central position after each operation of the steeringmechanism.

In the operation and assumes a sitting position astride the seat 2 1 velocipcde, or if he so elects hemay stand astride said seat in order utilize, the maximum power exerted by the rider.

Assuming the propelling mechanism to be in the horizontal dead center position,- as illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 with the rider. in position on the velocipede.; To ymove or travel in a forward direction the rider ap plies his weight and exerts-his forcerina actuation .of velocipede propelling mechanism the rider;

handle 51 of' said to obtain and v from the forces,

lateral direction to the right. to thus. rock the velocipede in that direction' and to oscillate the member 26 to the position shown -;in-

dot and dash lines in Fig. 1, and, injfull lines in Fig. to thereby carry the eccentricdriving'wheels 35 over their horiz'ontaldead,

center substantially saidffigures. .11.. 1

The rider then; applieshis: weight and exerts his force in a lateral direction tothe left to thus rock the velocipede in that direc% tion,

to the position shown in to thus oscillate the-member 26; to a reverse position from that shown;in dot and dash lines in Fig. 1 and in full lines in Fig. l, to thereby cause the initial forward movement of the velocipede.

The rider then continues to apply his weight and exert his force alternately to the right and left to thus attain the desired the continuous oscillation of the member 26 and the'continuous rotation of the driving wheels 35, thereby maintaining the continuous forward or rearward movement of the velocipede as will be readily apparent. It will also be obvious that the speed attained and maintained will be directly proportional to the energy exerted by the rider of the velocipede.

The wheels 35 being fixedly secured on the shaft 32 are simultaneously rotated when the member 26 is oscillated to thus propel the velocipede a predetermined distance in either a forward or rearward direction as desired for each oscillation of said member, said predetermined distance which the said velocipede will travel in either a forward or rearward direction being governed by the amount of eccentricity of the wheels 35 in conjunction with the amount of oscillatory movement of said member 26, which amount of oscillatory movement of said member being governed by the said amount of cocentricity of the wheels 35 and the controlling action of and the amount of tension on the spring 41 as will be readily understood.

The oscillations of the. member 26 are at all times during said oscillations causing each end of said spring to be alternately in compression thereby storing up power within the end of the spring that is in compression, which power is utilized to convert the oscillatory movement of the member 26 into a forward or rearward impelling force and to transmit said iinpelling force to the velocipede. r

The'spring 41 also functions to maintain the velocipede in a substantially straight course as well as to carry the eccentric driving wheels over their horizontal and vertical dead centers. 7

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings; the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation of my velocipede will be'readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which my invention pertains to thus enable those skilled to construct and operate the same, but, while I have shown and described the construction and operation of a velocipede propelling mechanism embodying the features and principles of my invention, which I now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that the velocipede propelling mechanism shown is merely illustrative and that such changes may be made when desired as are within the scope of the invention and embodied in the accompanying claims;

What I claim is: l. A velocipede propelling mechanism comprising oscillating means; eccentric driving means mounted for rotation on said oscillating means; resilient control means for said oscillating means; and adjusting means for said resilient control means.

2. A velocipede propelling mechanism comprising an oscillatory member; a plurality of eccentric driving wheels mounted for synchronous rotation on said oscillating member; resilient control means for said 0scillating means; and adjusting means for said resilient control means.

3. A velocipede propelling mechanism comprising an oscillatory member; a shaft rotatively mounted in said oscillatory member; a plurality of eccentric driving wheels secured to said shaft; resilient control means for said oscillatory member; and adjusting means for said resilient control means.

45. A propelling mechanism for a toy vehicle comprising oscillating means; at shaft mounted upon said oscillating means; wheels eccentrically and rotatably mounted upon said shaft; and resilient control means for said oscillating means. i

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th day of March, A. D. 1921 MANGOLD WAGNER.

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