Improvements in Velocipedes or Manumotive Carriages.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1886.
Complete Left, 23rd May, 1887.
Complete Accepted, 24th June, 1887.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE DOLOR DAVIS, of 194, Washington Street,
Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, one of the United States of America,
Engineer.]
Improvements in Velocipedes or Manumotive Carriages.
I JOHN FERGUSON HASKINS of 114 Queen Victoria Street in the City of London
Consulting and Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in that class of Velocipede or manu-
motive carriage in which the work of propulsion is performed by means of mechanism
operated by reciprocating motion of the arms of the rider and the steering is performed
or mainly performed by the feet and in which in fact the exercise is assimulated to the
action of the sculler in rowing a boat.
For a single machine the rider sits on a sliding seat traversing on a substantially horizon-
tally arranged platform or guideway supported partly on the main axis which is more or
less cranked so as to bring the rider's weight to bear at a point substantially below the
centres of the driving wheels and to this main cranked axis is connected a frame work,
conveniently rectangular or approximating thereto, which carries on springs the fore
end of the seat supports, the brake axis the guiding pedal arrangements and the fore-
wheel supporting axis, dirt guards and such like as well as arms carrying pulleys over
which run the driving bands or cords, the adjustable distending and raceway bars at
their one ends, their other ends being carried by supports or arms from the main axis.
The raceway bars form the support or raceways for cord carriages carrying the
operating handles to be grasped and reciprocated by the rider and to reduce friction
to a minimum they are provided with antifriction runners, for steady motion the
bearing base is extended and shields prevent contact of the user's hands or arms. The
cord carriages have the driving cords or bands connected to them adjustably fore and
aft and these cords pass each away towards each end over the end pullies around a

page_text: pulley on the axis of the main wheel at each side and the motions imparted to these
pullies is transmitted to the driving wheels by the intervention of double action or
reversing clutch or equivalent arrangements whereby the direction of travel may be
instantaneously accomodated to the wish of the user.
The guiding motion to the guiding wheel is obtained by the user more or less
inclining rocking pedals on the rectangular frame centred under his instep and attached
at the toes by rods to the axial support of that wheel.
By these means opportunity is afforded for an exercise of the muscles as in rowing
preserving a healthy position throughout, finishing with head erect arms and shoulders
well back chest thrown forward and stability is preserved by the weight being kept
disposed beneath and the centre of gravity low.
Dated this ith dove of Ann 1000

page_text: I JOHN FERGUSON HASKINS of 114° Queen Victoria Street in the City of London
Consulting and Mechanical 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:-
This invention has reference to improvements in that class of velocipede or manu-
motive carriage in which the work of propulsion is performed by means of mechanism
operated by reciprocating motion of the arms of the rider and the steering is performed
or mainly performed by the feet and in which in fact the exercise is assimilated to the
nction of the sculler in rowing a boat.
For a single machine the rider sits on a sliding seat traversing on a substantially
horizontally arranged platform or guideway supported partly on the main axis which
is more or less cranked so as to bring the rider's weight to bear at a point sub-
stantially below the centres of the driving wheels and to this main cranked axis is
connected a frame-work, conveniently rectangular or approximating thereto, which
carries on springs the fore end of the seat supports, the brake axis the guiding pedal
arrangements and the fore wheel supporting axis, dirt guards and such like as well as
arms carrying pulleys over which run the driving bands or cords, the adjustable
distending and raceway bars at their one ends their other ends being carried by
supports or arms from the main axis. The raceway bars form the support or raceways
for cord carriages carrying the operating handles to be grasped and reciprocated by
the rider and to reduce friction to a minimum they are provided with anti-friction
runners, for steady motion the bearing base is extended and shields prevent contact
of the users hands or arms. The cord carriages have the driving cords or bands
connected to them adjustably fore and aft and these cords pass each away towards
each end over the end pullies around a pulley on the axis of the main wheel at each
side and the motions imparted to these pullies is transmitted to the driving wheels by
the intervention of double action or reversing clutch or equivalent arrangements
whereby the direction of travel may be instantaneously accomodated to the wish of
the user.

page_text: disposed beneath and the centre of gravity low.
Μαγιου νικά Δορυ
By this invention is attained a tricycle for athletic exercising and racing purposes,
which shall contain the essential features of shell-boat or sculling boat rowing, so that
the pleasure and benefits excellent exercise for developing the whole human system
may be realized with safety upon land.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a plan view of my manumotive carriage or rowing tricycle.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line x in Figure 1.
Figures 3 and 3 show two halves of a perspective view, showing an oarsman in the
act of rowing. Figure 4 is a side view of one of the frictional clutch-pulleys, broken
away to show the roller-clutch, and rubber-faced rim with its propelling cord,
Figure 5 is a cross section of one of the driving wheel hubs, its attached clutch,
clutch-pulley, axle, and portion of frame, Figure 6 is a detail view of U shaped
frame and axles with wheel hubs.
Figure 7 is a detail view of one of the clamps on the foot bar.
Figure 8 is a detail perspective view of one of the pulling handles, its anti-friction
roller-slide, and attached wheel-propelling cord.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts, wherever they occur on the
drawings.
a, indicates the frame or body of the tricycle, b, b, are the driving wheels, the hubs
of which have, on their inner side and attached or screwed thereto, the roller
clutches c, c, having rolls c³, the driving wheels with their clutches are loosely mounted
on axes d, d, extending out from the frame a, and are provided with ball bearings
as is usual.
9,
e is the steering wheel mounted in a forked spindle f, terminating in a cylindrical
centre steering head g, and is provided with a mud shield h. The steering head
has extending therefrom the cross bar or portion a¹, of the frame a, having pivotted
thereon the small guide pullies k, k. Parallel rods 1, b, are attached to the cross bar
or frame a¹, and extend, and are attached to, the rearwardly extending and upwardly
curved arms or portion a² of the frame a, these rods l, l, are held in place by cheek
nuts m m thereon.
n, n, are flexible connections or cords, which pass once completely around the
rubber-faced clutch pulleys o, o, running loosely on the clutches c, c, on the driving
wheels, and thence in opposite directions, one end to and up around the small guide
pulleys k, k, on the front of the cross bar or frame, and the other end of said cords
pass rearwardly to, and up around the small guide pulleys k¹, k¹, pivoted on the arms
or frame a², the ends of the cord n, are then brought together, or practically so, as
they are attached to the reciprocating pulling handles t, t. The clutch pulleys are
held on the clutches by the circular plates o', o, on the driving wheel hubs.
Said pulling bars or handles consist in suitable handles t, provided with the slide t¹,
having anti-friction balls or rolls t³, and are adapted to move freely back and forth on
the rods l, l.
One end of the cords n, n, are adjustably attached to said slide by the cord passing
through a hollow screw t³, knots on the ends of the cords prevent them from pulling
out of their attachment on the slide, and by screwing the screws t³, in or out, said
cords n n may be tightened or loosened as required.
bar
p, is the foot bar, made adjustable on the frame a, by the screw clamp p'. On the
p, are the sandals
9, 9, attached so as to swivel thereon and having the adjustable

page_text: connecting rods r, r, connected to their toes, by ball and socket connection ¹, r, the
other ends of said rods r, r, are pivotally attached to the short arms f¹, f¹, of the fork f.
The connecting rods r, r, are made in two parts so as to slide by, or telescope together,
and are made rigid, or as one piece, by the screw ³.
ss are parallel bars, supported by the frame a, and having in them grooves, in which
run the wheels on the reciprocating seat u. v, v, are the brakes on the cross bar v³,
and the brake lever.
As shown in the drawings Figures 2, 3, 5, and 6, I construct that part of the
frame a, having the axles d, d, U-shaped, so as to bring the sliding seat and the rower,
below the centre of the driving, wheels, and near the ground, thus ensuring the
stability of the machine by having its centre of gravity low down, this is very essential
in a machine or tricycle adapted to turn short curves at a high rate of speed, propelled
by such muscular exertion as rowing; and still another advantage of the Û shaped
frame is it admits of making the tricycle shorter and more compact, as the rower can
move back and forth below, and between the centres of the driving wheels, and by the
use of the rearwardly extending arms or frame a², the longest stroke required of the
pulling handle and its slide, may be given, even on a comparatively short machine or
tricycle.
It will be seen in the drawings that the flexible connections are each simply a single
band, wire-rope, or cord, which are made practically endless, as both ends of each cord
are made fast to its respective pulling handle and slide, and as the latter are recipro-
cated on the rods I, l, as in rowing, the clutch pulleys o, o, are oscillated and the roller
clutches lock the said pulleys and clutches together in one direction and release them
in the other.
By the use of the parallel rods and reciprocating pulling handles-thus discarding
all out-riggers and pivoted pulling levers-I am able to produce a small and narrow
machine or tricycle, having great length of stroke, which is of the utmost importance
when it is considered that these tricycles are most especially designed for racing
purposes several abreast in public halls and rinks.
The operation when using this tricycle is about as follows, the rower seats himself on
the reciprocating seat u, and having first adjusted the foot bar p, and the connections r, r,
so as to suit his particular length of legs, and inclination of feet in the sandals 7, 9, as
desired, his feet are secured on said sandals by suitable straps q', and facing the front
of the tricycle and the direction to be travelled, he grasps the pulling handles t, t,
extending his arms and reaching forward as far as possible by drawing the seat forward
and bending the knees, on commencing to draw the hands towards the body, the
roller-clutch fast on the driving wheel hubs, locks the clutch-pulleys fast thereto, and
as said pulleys are revolved by the cord passing around them, through the action of
the pulling handles to which said cords are attached, the driving wheels are caused to
revolve with said pulleys and thus propel the tricycle along.
The operator, continuing, draws the hands well up to the body, with the elbows
thrown out, at the same time straightening the knees by pushing the feet against the
foot-bar, and finishing the stroke with head erect, arms and shoulders well back, and
chest thrown forward. On recovering the stroke, the operator should always let the
hands pass the knees before drawing the body forward with the feet. It should be
understood that when recovering, the roller-clutch releases the clutch-pulley, so it
freely revolves back into its first position previous to the commencement of a stroke.
In turning sharp curves the wheels can revolve independently, and if preferred the
operator may pull stronger upon the outer handle and facilitate the turning of the
machine.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-—
1. In a rowing-tricycle, the frame or axle made U shaped to admit of the rower
moving back and forth between, and below the centres of the driving-wheels, for the
purpose set forth.

page_text: 2. In a rowing-tricyle, in combination, a U shaped framing, the endless cords or bands
for transmitting the power, suitable supporting pulleys for them, reciprocating handles
attached to said cords or bands working on rigid supporting rods, and frictional
clutches operated by said cords or bands, and adapted to engage and revolve the
driving wheels and propel the machine along as set forth.
3. The combination or arrangement and use in a velocipede, manumotive carriage
or rowing tricycle of parts constructed and operated substantially in manner and for
the purposes hereinbefore set forth.