CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES FOR ONE OR MORE PERSONS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER USEFUL PURPOSES
Year: 1869

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Adams at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 17th
June 1869.
I, SAMUEL ADAMS, of Saltley, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Railway Carriage Builder, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES FOR ONE OR
MORE PERSONS, WHICH SAID IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER USEFUL
PURPOSES," to be as follows (that is to say)
My improvements mainly consist in arranging a box spring or springs
on an axis (for convenience) below the axis of the driving wheels, which
spring or springs may be flat, or of wire when economy is an object,
but in a mechanical point of view I prefer flat springs, which spring
or springs I connect to an annular eye working on the axis before
named by means of a small band at right angles with its width taking
into a corresponding recess formed on a concentric annular axis in
connection with the box that retains the spring, and to which the inner
end of the spring is secured, the outer end being fastened in like manner
to the inner side of the case or box, and in connection with this annular

page_text: eye a ratchet and paul is formed for retaining the spring in its coiled
or wound up condition, that by relieving the paul when desired the
spring may be exerted in giving progression to the carriage by its
connection with the main axis, but in order to afford facilities for
winding up the spring around the inner annular eye I place a small
ratchet and lever on the side of the box, which ratchet by its connection
with the annular eye winds up the spring. In any other suitable part
of the carriage another axis is placed with two deferential wheels,
the periphery of the smaller one being arranged in line with an
enlarged groove placed on the periphery of the spring box, around
which an endless chain or band is plaeed, and by the spring exerting
its force to the outer case so the endless chain or band gives motion
to the wheel connected with it, on the axis of which a larger wheel is.
placed, also arranged for an endless chain or band to work over or
around it, and a small pulley fixed on the main driving axis which
affords all the arrangements from which the motive power is derived..
In the construction of my carriage I extend arms frontwards with.
the necessary parts for receiving and directing the forward guide wheel
or wheels. A carriage thus constructed by the relative proportions of
the various wheels is capable after the spring or springs have been
wound up of covering a long distance before losing its effect, and by
the facility offered for the convenient working of the lever and ratchet
the occupant or occupants can renew from time to time the propelling
force of the spring or springs without stoppage or inconvenience, as
each throw of the lever compassing the teeth of the ratchet will cause
by the different diameters of the wheels to advance the carriage, say,
fifty yards more or less according to its relative size, notwithstanding,.
if found desirable or preferred as an auxiliary power in case of accident
or otherwise, a crank or cranks may be formed on the main shaft and
used by the occupant or occupants as they progress.
In some cases I
purpose so modifying this arrangement as to enable me to use two
wheels in a line one with the other, using the nave of the crank wheel
as a box for the spring or springs, the action of which I purpose bringing
under control of the user by throwing the inner annular eye on which
the inner end of the spring is attached in or out of gear, so that it
can be wound up by the side crank or cranks and start with its
expansive force, or reserve the same at the caprice of the user, as also

page_text: affording means for the user to be propelling himself by the action of
the cranks, or to be winding up the spring when needed. These
arrangements are capable of being adapted for other useful purposes
such as for the working of sewing machines where the operation of
treadling is inconvenient to the user, and to other such like purposes.