Improvements relating to the Propulsion of Ambulances.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application. 1st Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
Improvements relating to the Propulsion of Ambulances.
We, WILLIAM ALLDAY and EDMUND ALLDAY, both of Great Western Works,
Small Heath, in the County of Warwick, Engineers, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with the propulsion of
ambulances, our object being to so construct and arrange an ambulance in connection
with propelling machines or appliances, that it may be more easily and rapidly
propelled than the ambulances at present in ordinary use.
In carrying our invention into effect in one convenient manner, we preferably
construct the underframe or body of the ambulance, and also the stretcher frame,
from tubes of weldless steel, such tubes being connected or attached together by
means of socket pieces or by brazed or screw joints or other methods of con-
nections. The stretcher frame is carried upon but is quite independent from the
underframe provision being made for locking or securing the two parts together
when required. The stretcher frame is provided with a woven wire or other
spring mattress and preferably with a canvas hammock, and other necessary
fittings.
Instead of mounting the underframe upon a two-wheeled or other axle or axles in
the usual manner, we attach or connect the underframe to two or more bicycles or
other cycles, but preferably to a pair of bicycles of the safety type which we
The connection between
arrange on either side or either end of the ambulance.
the ambulance and the bicycles is so arranged that the riders may readily pedal the
machines without inconvenience and without shaking or disturbing the occupant of
the ambulance.
We sometimes place and connect the cycles to the ambulance in a tandem
arrangement, providing side wheels when necessary to assist in the support of the
structure, but when employing four or more wheels we prefer to so arrange and
connect them to the ambulance that only three wheels shall touch the ground. By
thus carrying the total weight upon three points or three wheels only, we ensure
the easy motion of the ambulance with the minimum of jolting or disturbance of
the occupant.
We airange for the propulsion of an ambulance for carrying two or more persons,
by connecting a cycle for two or more riders in the centre of the ambulance frame
We
or between the stretchers, providing side supporting wheels where necessary.
also construct a double or other ambulance with a pair of safety or other bicycles,
arranged one on either side of the underframe or body of the ambulance, and we
otherwise arrange and connect the ambulance to a cycle or cycles adapted for any
required number of riders.
Instead of propelling the cycles with the attached or connected ambulance by
manual power, we sometimes employ a motor which is driven by a charge of
electricity compressed air, or other agent for storing energy, and which may be
conveniently carried in a receptacle attached to the machine.

page_text: We adapt any convenient type or pattern of cycle or cycles in connection with
the ambulance, and we employ ambulance bodies and stretchers of other than the
tubular construction hereinbefore described.
Dated this 31st day of July 1894.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.
We, WILLIAM ALLDAY and EDMUND ALLDAY, both of Great Western Works,
Small Heath, in the County of Warwick, Engineers, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with the propulsion of
ambulances, our object being to so construct and arrange an ambulance in connection
with propelling machines or appliances, that it may be more easily and rapidly
propelled than the ambulances at present in ordinary use.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to,
Figure 1 is a side elevation and Figure 2 a plan representing the application
of our invention in one convenient manner to the construction of a single
ambulance.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
We preferably construct the underframe or body A of the ambulance, and also
the stretcher frame B, from tubes of weldless steel, such tubes being connected or
attached together by means of socket pieces such as Cor by brazed or screw joints
or other methods of connections. The stretcher frame B is carried upon but is
quite independent from the underframe A provision being made for locking or
securing the two parts together when required. The stretcher frame is provided
with a woven wire or other spring mattress and preferably with a cauvas haminock
also a hood such as D and other necessary fitting.
Instead of mounting the underframe upon a two-wheeled or other axle or axles
in the usual manner, we attach or connect the underframe to two or more bicycles
or other cycles, but preferably to a pair of bicycles of the safety type such as EE'
which we arrange on either side or either end of the ambulance. The connection
between the ambulance and the bicycles is so arranged that the riders may readily
pedal the machines without inconvenience and without shaking or disturbing the
occupant of the ambulance.
We sometimes place and connect the cycles to the ambulance in a tandem
arrangement, providing side wheels when necessary to assist in the support of the
structure, but when employing four or more wheels we prefer to so arrange and
connect them to the ambulance that only three wheels shall touch the ground. By
thus carrying the total weight upon three points or three wheels only, we ensure
the easy motion of the ambulance with the minimum of jolting or disturbance of
the occupant.
We arrange for the propulsion of the ambulance for carrying two or more
persons, by connecting a cycle for two or more riders in the centre of the ambulance
frame or between the stretchers, providing side supporting wheels where necessary.
We also construct a double or other ambulance with a pair of safety or other
bicycles, arranged one on either side of the underframe or body of the ambulance,
and we otherwise arrange and connect the ambulance to a cycle or cycles adapted
for any required number of riders.

page_text: Instead of propelling the cycles with the attached or connected ambulance by
manual power, we sometimes employ a motor which is driven by a charge of
electricity, compressed air, or other agent for storing energy, and which may be
conveniently carried in a receptacle attached to the machine.
For convenience in transport we provide detachable connections between the
cycles and the ambulance, and we so construct the stretcher and underframes, as to
permit of the ready detachment of their parts.
We adapt any convenient type or pattern of cycle or cycles in connection with
the ambulance, and we employ ambulance bodies and stretchers of other than the
tubular construction herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination and arrangement of an ambulance with bicycles or other
cycles substantially as and for the purposes herein described.
2. The construction of an ambulance having an independent stretcher frame, and
an underframe connected with a pair of bicycles substantially as hereinbefore
described, and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1805
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.