Improvements in Fittings for Cycle Ambulances and Carriers.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th July, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Fittings for Cycle Ambulances and Carriers.
I, JAMES LOGAN WATKINS, of 251, Clapham Road, London, S.W., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
These improvements are designed to produce simpler and more convenient means
of forming ambulances for army and other uses; they can also be used with great
advantage for carrying guns or other army impedimenta. The invention consists
of improved means of connecting two bicycles of the "safety" type, either single or
tandem, in such a way and by such means that they can be rapidly connected
together so as to practically form one machine, and disconnected equally quickly,
whilst the fittings from their shape and design are strong, light and with few loose
parts.
The fittings for a tandem safety bicycle consist of a front tube or rod made with
reduced or shouldered ends to fit into sockets built in or attached near the heads of
the two bicycles which are to be connected together. The reduced ends of these
rods being of sufficient length to allow a tubular washer or cap to be put on and
secured with a cotter pin inserted through each end of the tube or rod and the
washer or cap.
A back tube or rod is connected by means of its tapered or otherwise suitably
shaped ends fitting into sockets formed in the axle pins of the driving wheels, to
attach the said wheels together. The ends of this back tube or rod are each held in
sockets by means of a cotter-pin. This back tube or rod is provided near each of
its ends with a semi-cup and ball or other suitable joint to allow sufficient play when
travelling over rough ground.
To steer the bicycles when coupled by the two tubes or rods, a bracket or forked
rod is extended from the axles of the two front wheels. These brackets are connected
together by a light tube the ends of which terminate in a ring to drop over a pin
on the ends of the brackets so as to work free. This light tube is secured by means
of small cotter-pins, or if preferred a bracket may be extended from the steering
head of each bicycle instead of from the axles, such brackets can be connected
together by the same rod as that used for the brackets from the axles.
The brackets from the axles are preferably formed with a stay or guide of semi-
circular shape made to turn back under the mud-guards on the front wheels and
temporarily fixed at any position by means of a small screw or other simple device
in the mudguard or on the frame of the bicycle.
In the case of single bicycles, the back tube or rod must be extended backwards
from the axles of the driving wheels by suitably shaped brackets so as to lengthen
the distance between the two tubes or rods for the stretcher.
The stretcher is suspended from the front tube or rod by means of suitable
springs, preferably india-rubber, provided with spring hooks or other simple means
of attachment. The other end of the stretcher is supported by clips fitted into
sockets provided in the back tube or rod, such sockets having coiled springs in
them to lessen vibration. If desired, the two tubes or rods can be inade adjustable

page_text: desired.
To prevent losing the cotter-pins herein mentioned, they are attached to any con-
venient part of the fittings or the bicycles by leather straps, chains or other suitable
means.
I will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which :-
Fig. 1 is a plan view of the bicycle ambulance as applied to a pair of tandem
bicycles.
Fig. 2 is an end view showing the method of carrying the rear end of the
stretcher.
Fig. 3 shows an elevation of the support for the steering gear..
Fig. 4 shows an elevation of one method of suspending the front ends of the
poles of the stretcher.
Fig. 5 shows a sectional end elevation of Fig. 4 on line 1-2.
:
Fig. 6 shows an alternative form of bearing for the ends of the rod from which the
front end of the stretcher is suspended.
a a are two tanden bicycles arranged abreast of each other at a suitable distance
apart. To ensure their being steered identically, the front wheels are each provided
with a bracket or forked arm b, one end of which is connected to one end of the
hub spindle, passes round the front of the wheel, and is again attached to the hub
spindle at its other end. The brackets or forked arms are connected by a rod c by
means of a simple joint, the whole being supported by an adjustable support c¹ from
the ordinary mud-guard c² or the bicycle frame.
The position of the support c¹ is regulated by the pin c³ in the front end of the
mud-guard. (See Fig. 3.)
To carry the rear end of the stretcher d, the back or driving wheels of the
tandems are connected at their hubs by a tube or rod e, which is provided at each
end where it is attached to the hub, with a semi-cup and ball joint to allow a slight
play. To support the cup of the joint e¹, the axle pins of the back or driving
wheels are extended and provided with sockets to receive the ends e² of the cup,
and firmly secured by a cotter pin or other simple fastening.
The poles of the stretcher rest in spring clips f which have downwardly projecting
pins resting on helical springs f2 each enclosed in a box f³ attached to
the rod e.
The front of the stretcher is suspended, and in the following manner :-
Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, g is a rod with reduced ends which extends between,
and is attached to the front ends of the frames of the tandems, and is provided at
each end with two cross arms g¹ at right angles thereto. The ends of each arm g¹
are bent into the shape of a semicircle to partly embrace the frame tubes just
behind the head of the bicycle and are brought together and tightened by a bolt and
nut or other suitable device, in the usual way. The rod g is provided with clips h
attached thereto, from which india-rubber or other springs h¹, provided with spring or
other suitable hooks h², depend, to hold the poles of the stretcher. Any simple device
may be fixed on the poles, to engage the spring hooks h².
Referring to Fig. 6:-A modified device is herein shown to support the ends of the
rod g.
It consists of a tubular bearing g² attached near the head of the bicycle frame
to receive the end of the rod g. It will be seen, that by the above method an
ambulance may be fitted up and moved from place to place with great speed, with
the minimum of discomfort, arising from jolting and jarring, to the patient on the
stretcher.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In fittings for coupling bicycles to form ambulances and carriers the tube or
rod q, complementary fittings o¹ or bearings σ² for attachment near the head of

page_text: the bicycle frames, in combination with spring hooks h², indiarubber or other
springs h¹, and clips h, substantially as shewn and for the purposes specified.
2. In fittings for coupling bicycles to form ambulances and carriers, the tube or
rode, the clips f, mounted on spring bearings, in combination with the cup and ball
joints el substantially as shewn and for the purposes specified.
3. In fittings for coupling bicycles to form ambulances and carriers, the forked
arins 6 with the adjustable supports c¹ from the mud-guard or cycle frame, and rod c
connecting the forked arms, for identically steering the bicycles, substantially as
shewn and for the purposes specified.
4. In fittings for coupling bicycles to form ambulances and carriers, the combination
of rods c, e and g together with their complementary parts for suspending and
holding between two bicycles, a stretcher so as to form an ambulance or to form a
framework to carry other army impedimenta, substantially as herein described and
set forth.
Dated this 10th day of July 1890.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Agent for Applicant, 171, Queen Victoria Street, E.C.