IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1886

page_text: This Specification was, upon the 2nd day of May 1888, amended under
Sections 18 to 21 of the Patents, Designs, and-Trade Marks Act, 1883. -
---
We MARTIN DIEDERICH RÜCKER of Letchford's Buildings Bethnal Green in the
county of Middlesex, Velocipede Manufacturer and PHILIPP LOUIS CHARLES FREDERICK
RENOUF of 46 Roland Gardens in the said county Student of the Inner Temple do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES to
be as follows:-
We construct our improved velocipede by attaching to the main frame suitable
supports for carrying seats for more than one rider such seats being preferably placed
one behind the other. Attached to the frame holding the chain wheel or other trans-
mitting gear are supports for three or more pairs of cranks to be propelled by two or
more riders, these cranks are connected with each other by a pair of rigid bars or rods
of such length and shape that all these cranks travel simultaneously and in the same
direction and are also constantly parallel to one another; it will be understood that
this will enable the velocipede to be ridden by one or two riders only, even when
constructed to carry a greater number.
For each of the rigid bars or rods we may substitute a pair of lighter bars or rods
hinged to bearing pieces or we may use a chain working round small pulleys
attached to each crank.
On velocipedes steered by means of a handle bar fixed to the forks of a single front
wheel which is not driven we sometimes attach an additional seat and pair of handles
near the steering-head this seat may be so mounted as to move together with the.
handle bars of the rider who steers or it may be a fixture to the main frame. This
additional front rider may be provided with a pair of treadles to convert the front
wheel into a driving wheel or he may propel a pair of cranks connected with those of
the rear-rider in the manner before described.
In the case of two wheeled and rear driving velocipedes we sometimes employ a
device which may be advantageously used in most cases where it is desirable to place
the weight of a rider over or near the centre of a wheel propelled by chain or other
equivalent gear without destroying the perfectly rigid connection between the driving
cranks.

page_text: We insert a crank-shaft through the hubs and bearings of this driving wheel in such
a manner as to be free to revolve at a different speed from the latter and connect it
by chain or other gear with an axle placed beyond the circumference of the wheel
which axle transmits the power back to the hub; it will be understood that each of
these axles may be propelled by a separate rider either alone or simultaneously with
others.
The steering is controlled preferably by the rear rider whose handle bars are
connected with the front wheel in any of the usual ways. If desirable the seat and
handles or either of them of the front rider instead of being rigidly fixed to the main
frame is mounted on a hinge so as to sway laterally in unison with the steering
handles.
Dated this 27th day of Annil 1986
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Velocipedes.
We, MARTIN DIEDRICH RÜCKER, of Letchford Buildings, Bethnal Green, in the
County of Middlesex, Velocipede Manufacturer and PHILIPP LOUIS CHARLES
FREDERICK RENOUF, of 46, Roland Gardens, in the said County, Student of the
Inner Temple do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to bo. performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
:
In constructing our improved velocipede for more than one rider as shewn in Fig. 1
in the accompanying drawings we provide suitable means for attaching to the main
frame an additional support for a seat rod D and pedal shaft brackets B and C, these
being held in such a manner as to be adjustable in the same direction as the cliain
wheel bracket A when the chain requires to be tightened the cranks mounted on B
and C are connected with the cranks on A by means of a pair of connecting rods S
and T, and also carry the pedals for the riders. On sufficient pressure being applied
to either pedal shaft the chain wheel A will be driven and the machine be propelled.
Sometimes we use the front steering wheel of a velocipede as a driving wheel by
furnishing it with a pedal bracket and driving gear attached to the forks and moving
with the same as shown in Fig. 2. The support of the front rider is attached in front
of the steering socket or head of the machine through which passes the steering rod F
which is rigidly connected with the front fork and which is controlled by the rear
rider. It will be understood that in a tricycle of this construction when a curve is
described the feet of the front rider will move laterally in the opposite direction to that
taken, exactly like ouțan ordinary bicycle, and an inclination of the body of the rider
produced, enabling great speed to be maintained when travelling in a path not
rectilinear. Where the front rider propells the rear wheels as in Fig. 1 it is generally
desirable to construct the steering apparatus out of two pairs of swivelling or hinging
parts, the head and neck G and H and the steering rod and socket F and E (the
latter of which forms part of the main frame of the machine) linked together either
by connecting rods or by an endless chain, or preferably by a steel band I passing
round a disk J fixed to the head G and a disk K fixed to the steering rod F. This
method of coupling the handle bars of the rear rider with the front wheel by means
of a central connection, under the support of the front rider, affords the latter a
comparatively open, unenclosed and safe position, which may also be occupied by a
female.
Fig. 3 illustrates a two wheeled tandem velocipede, in which as shewn separately in
Fig. 4, the pedal shaft of the front rider L carrying chain wheel M drives the chain
wheel N which is fixed to O, the hub of the back wheel. P, the crank shaft of the
rear rider is mounted on bearings Q1, Q¹¹, and carries the back wheel hub O, which
revolves round it.
Keyed on to the spindle P is chain wheel R connected by a chain with S, a chain
wheel of equal diameter fixed to the shaft L. Thus the rear rider by means of the

page_text: chain wheels R and S drives the shaft L, which transmits the pressure applied-to-it-by-
both riders to the driving wheel by means of the chain wheels M and N.
The steering is effected by the rear rider by means of the rod F connected with the
head G by a band passing round disks J and K.
If desired the handle bars of the front rider on any of these velocipedes may be
fixed to the steering rod F so as to move laterally with it, or else the right handle of
the front rider may be connected with the steering rod by means of a rack and pinion
or other mechanism so as to allow him to assist in controlling the machine.
When the velocipede illustrated in Fig. 1 is to be used by one rider only, support D,
pedal with pedal brackets C and B and connecting rods S and F may be removed;
the front seat pillar is then so adjusted as to bring the front seat further backwards,
and the pedals mounted on the cranks attached to the chain wheel shaft A; a direct
steering rod being inserted in a lug U provided on the head G, the machine will
assume the form of an ordinary "Cripper" type single tricycle.
We are aware that prior to the date of our application for patent Messrs. Singer and
Lea have a patent dated March 27th 1886 No. 4346 the specification of which patent
describes and the drawings accompanying the same shew the front end of the frame of a
velocipede carrying the fork in which the steering wheel is mounted whereby the rear rider
of a tandem velocipede is enabled to have the entire control of the machine both as regards
the steering and brakes we therefore lay no claim to any such steering mechanism or
arrangement of frame such as that claimed by Messrs. Singer & Lea under their patent
aforesaid, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :
1. The combination of cranks and connecting rods moving in a circnlar path with a
multiplying gear and capable of being actuated by more than one rider at the same
time.
2. A velocipede capable of being used either by a single rider or as a tandem
in which the distance of the pedal shaft from the axle may be varied according to its
requirements without altering the position of the main chain wheel or equivalent
driving gear.
3. A tandem velocipede with a front steering wheel gear so arranged as to pass centrally
underneath and behind the front rider and capable of being controlled by the rear
rider.
4. The combination of a pedal crank shaft passing through the hub of a wheel with
a multiplying gear placed beyond the circumference of the wheel.
5. A tandem bicycle in which the rear wheel is propelled by both riders and the
steering is controlled by the rear rider.
6. A rear driving tandem bicycle with the connection of the front wheel and the
main frame so arranged that the front seat can be occupied by a female.
Dated this 28th day of February 1887.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 28th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 17th May, 1887.
Improvements in velocipedes.
We MARTIN DIEDERICH RÜCKER of Letchford's Buildings Bethnal Green in the
county of Middlesex, Velocipede Manufacturer and PHILIPP LOUIS CHARLES FREDERICK
RENOUF of 46 Roland Gardens in the said county Student of the Inner Temple do
hereby declare the nature of the said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES to
be as follows :—
We consiruct our improved velocipede by attaching to the main frame suitable
supports for carrying seats for more than one rider such seats being preferably placed
one behind the other. Attached to the frame holding the chain wheel or other trans-
mitting gear are supports for three or more pairs of cranks to be propelled by two or
more riders, these cranks are connected with each other by a pair of rigid bars or rods
of such length and shape that all these cranks travel simultaneously and in the same
direction and are also constantly parallel to one another; it will be understood that
this will enable the velocipede to be ridden by one or two riders only, even when
constructed to carry a greater number.
For each of the rigid bars or rods we may substitute a pair of lighter bars or rods
hinged to bearing pieces or we may use a chain working round small pulleys
attached to each crank.
On velocipedes steered by means of a handle bar fixed to the forks of a single front
wheel which is not driven we sometimes attach an additional seat and pair of handles
hear the steering-head; this seat may be so mounted as to move together with the
handle bars of the rider who steers or it may be a fixture to the main frame. This
additional front rider may be provided with a pair of treadles to convert the front
wheel into a driving wheel or he may propel a pair of cranks connected with those of
the rear-rider in the manner before described.
In the case of two wheeled and rear driving velocipedes we sometimes employ a
device which may be advantageously used in most cases where it is desirable to place
the weight of a rider over or near the centre of a wheel propelled by chain or other
equivalent gear without destroying the perfectly rigid connection between the driving
cranks.

page_text: We insert a crank-shaft through the hubs and bearings of this driving wheel in such
a manner as to be free to revolve at a different speed from the latter and connect it
by chain or other gear with an axle placed beyond the circumference of the wheel
which axle transmits the power back to the hub; it will be understood that each of
these axles may be propelled by a separate rider either alone or simultaneously with
others.
The steering is controlled preferably by the rear rider whose handle bars are
connected with the front wheel in any of the usual ways. If desirable the seat and
handles or either of them of the front rider instead of being rigidly fixed to the main
frame is mounted on a hinge so as to sway laterally in unison with the steering
handles.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We; MARTIN DIEDRICH RÜCKER, of Letchford Buildings, Bethnal Green, in the
County of Middlesex, Velocipede Manufacturer and PHILIPP LOUIS CHARLES
FREDERICK RENOUF, of 46, Roland Gardens, in the said County, Student of the
Inner Temple 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 :-
In constructing our improved velocipede for more than one rider as shewn in Fig. 1
in the accompanying drawings we provide suitable means for attaching to the main
frame an additional support for a seat rod D and pedal shaft brackets B and C, these
being held in such a manner as to be adjustable in the same direction as the chain
wheel bracket A when the chain requires to be tightened the cranks mounted on B
and C are connected with the cranks on A by means of a pair of connecting rods S
and T, and also carry the pedals for the riders. On sufficient pressure being applied
to either pedal shaft the chain wheel A will be driven and the machine be propelled.
Sometimes we use the front steering wheel of a velocipede as a driving wheel by
furnishing it with a pedal bracket and driving gear attached to the forks and moving
with the same as shewn in Fig. 2. The support of the front rider is attached in front
of the steering socket or head of the machine through which passes the steering rod F
which is rigidly connected with the front fork and which is controlled by the rear
rider. It will be understood that in a tricycle of this construction when a curve is
described the feet of the front rider will move laterally in the opposite direction to that
taken, exactly like on an ordinary bicycle, and an inclination of the body of the rider
produced, enabling great speed to be maintained when travelling in a path not
rectilinear. Where the front rider propells the rear wheels as in Fig. 1 it is generally
desirable to construct the steering apparatus out of two pairs of swivelling or hinging
parts, the head and neck G and H and the steering rod and socket F and E (the
latter of which forms part of the main frame of the machine) linked together either
by connecting rods or by an endless chain, or preferably by a steel band I passing
round a disk J fixed to the head G and a disk K fixed to the steering rod F. This
method of coupling the handle bars of the rear rider with the front wheel by means
of a central connection, under the support of the front rider, affords the latter a
comparatively open, unenclosed and safe position, which may also be occupied by a
female.
Fig. 3 illustrates a two wheeled tandem velocipede, in which as shewn separately in
Fig. 4, the pedal shaft of the front rider L carrying chain wheel M drives the chain
wheel N which is fixed to O, the hub of the back wheel. P, the crank shaft of the
rear rider is mounted on bearings Q', Q", and carries the back wheel hub O, which
revolves round it.
Keyed on to the spindle P is chain wheel R connected by a chain with S, a chain
wheel of equal diameter fixed to the shaft L. Thus the rear rider by means of the

page_text: chain wheels R and S drives the shaft L, which transmits the pressure applied to it by
both riders to the driving wheel by means of the chain wheels M. and N.
The steering is effected by the rear rider by means of the rod F connected with the
head G by a band passing round disks J and K.
If desired the handle bars of the front rider on any of these velocipedes may be
fixed to the steering rod F so as to move laterally with it, or else the right handle of
the front rider may be connected with the steering rod by means of a rack and pinion
or other mechanism so as to allow him to assist in controlling the machine.
When the velocipede illustrated in Fig. 1 is to be used by one rider only, support D,
pedal with pedal brackets C and B and connecting rods S and F may be removed;
the front seat pillar is then so adjusted as to bring the front seat further backwards,
and the pedals mounted on the cranks attached to the chain wheel shaft A; a direct
steering rod being inserted in a lug U provided on the head G, the machine will
assume the form of an ordinary "Cripper" type single tricycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is :
1. The combination of cranks and connecting rods moving in à circular path with a
multiplying gear and capable of being actuated by more than one rider at the same
time.
2. A velocipede capable of being used either by a single rider or as a tandem
in which the distance of the pedal shaft from the axle may be varied according to its
requirements without altering the position of the main chain wheel or equivalent
driving gear.
3. A tandem velocipedo with a front steering wheel gear so arranged as to pass centrally
underneath and behind the front rider and capable of being controlled by the rear
rider.
4. The combination of a pedal crank shaft passing through the hub of a wheel with
a multiplying gear placed beyond the circumference of the wheel.
5. A tandem bicycle in which the rear wheel is propelled by both riders and the
steering is controlled by the rear rider.
6. A rear driving tandem bicycle with the connection of the front wheel and the
main frame so arranged that the front seat can be occupied by a female.
Dated this 28th day of February 1887.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.