US645115A - Railway-velocipede. - Google Patents

Description

No. 645,||5. Patented Mar. l3, I900. J. a. MATTHEWS.

RAILWAY VELOGIPEDE.

(Application filed June 16, 1899) (No Model.)

JOHN G. MATTHEWS, OFTHREE RIVERS, MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TO THE SHEFFIELD OAR COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

FtAl LWAY-VELOCI PEDE.

SPECIFTOATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 645,115, dated March 13, 1900.

Application filed Jiuie 16, 1899. Serial No. 720,778. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, JOHN G. MATTHEWS, a

citizen of the United States, residing at the city of Three Rivers, in the county of St. Joseph and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway-Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in railway-velocipedes.

One object of myinvention is to provide a light, simple, and eflicienthand-car which can be veryeasily handled and manipulated by the rider and which is very compact when folded together. The arrangement of the parts is such that they can be made very light, and the efficiency of the structure is very great as a consequence.

A further object is to so construct ahandcar or velocipede that it shall be very compact and that the propelling mechanism and the load shall be so distributed as to be most completely effective under the circumstances.

Afurther object is the improvement in the brake for use in this connection.

Other objects will appear in the detailed description to follow.

, Iaccomplish the objects of my invention by the devices and means described in this specification.

The invention is clearly pointed out, and defined in the claims.

The structure is fullyil-lustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is aside elevation of my improved hand-carwith the brace-arms K and L broken away. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same with the brace-arms K and L broken in sections. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail of the brake for use in this connection.

In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the lettered parts of the drawings, A is the forward carrying or driving wheel.

A is the rear carrying-wheel.

B is the top bar or tube of the frame, which is connected by U-shaped pieces O O to parallel side ribs D at each side. The lower ends of the U-shaped piecesO Care provided with adjustable bearin gs for the axles of the wheels, so that they may be adjusted to keep the wheels in proper alinement with the rails of a railway-track.

To the rear U-shaped pieces C is pivoted the cross-arm K. This is connected to an upright piece C, suitably pivoted. A brace K extends from arm K up to the upright piece O. The arm K extends forwardly at an angle, and the outer end of the arm is turned at right angles to the mainframe and carries the guide-wheel J. A rod L is pivoted to the front of the frame and engages in a suitable perforation n on the brace K. This arrangement of the brace and rod permits very light ma terial to be used in this connection, as the main strain is a thrust strain on the arm K and a pull on the rod L.

On each side piece D is secured a simple bracket 1), in which rests a driving-shaft F. To the outer end of this shaft are secured cranks F F at each side, which are parallel to each other. On this shaft F is secured a sprocket-wheel E, and a sprocket-wheel E is on the axle of the forward or driving wheel A, and these are connected by a suitable sproeketchain P,which affords the propelling or driving means.

To the front end of the top rib B is pivoted a pair of lovers H, which have foot-rests ct a projecting outwardly at the bottom and handles a a at the top to be grasped by the rider. Pitmen G connect the levers H at each side of the cranks F F. A seat N is provided on top, with small box N to the rear to serve as a carrier, though an additional seat might be provided in that position.

From this arrangement of the parts it will be observed that the guide-Wheel J can be folded around in front of the levers and that the Wheels of the main portion are so close together that the lovers and guide-wheels can conveniently project beyond the same, thus securing great compactness, and by the particular arrangement the weight of the rider is so located when the vehicle is in use that the propulsion is easy and rapid.

I provide a lever I on the forward U shaped piece O, journaled thereon by suitable bearings, having a brake-shoe M, pivoted at e to press upon the Wheel, and a spring Z), secured to the upper part of the lever and connected to the frame to hold it normally out of engagement. The handle I of the lever projects up where it can conveniently be grasped by the user of the velocipede.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a railWay-velocipede, the combination of the main frame consisting of the top rib B, U-shape'd pieces 0, O, at each end with side pieces D, connected thereto; brackets on said side pieces D; a shaft F, resting in said brackets and having cranks F, F, at each end; a sprocket-wheel E, on said shaft; a sprocket- Wheel E, on the axle of the driving-Wheel;

levers H, pivoted to the front of said frame;

pitmen G, connecting said levers to the cranks; foot-rests a, at the bottoms of said levers; handles a, at the top and an arm supporting a guide-Wheel to rest on the opposite rail, coacting for the purpose specified.

2. In a rai'lway-velo'cipede, the combination of a frame having a top rib B, and U shaped cross-piece in front; a lever With a bearing to embrace said U-shaped section; a bracketshoe pivoted to the front end of said lever and a spring I), connected to the upper part of said lever to hold it normally out of engage: ment for the purpose specified.

3. In a railWay-velocipede, the combination of the main frame; Wheels beneath the same, the forward one of which is the driving-wheel; a lateral arm carrying a guide-Wheel; a driving-shaft supported in the main frame just back of the driving-Wheel; a sprocket-Wheel on the driving-shaft; and a sprocket-Wheel on the axle of the driving-Wheel; a sprocketchain connecting the same; a crank on the driving-shaft; a lever pivoted to the front of the frame having a foot-rest at the bottom and handle at the top; and a connecting-link from said lever to the crank on the drivingshaft, all coacting, for the purpose specified.

In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my ban (1 and seal in the presence of two witnesses.

JOHN G. MATTHEWS. [L. s]

Witnesses:

F. H. WHITESELL, I WM. A. MoWRER.

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