IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES, TRICYCLES, OR OTHER VEHICLES PROPELLED BY Treadle and MANUAL MOTION
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Louis Gustave Bodel, Jacques Masse, and
William Webster, of Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 23, Paris, for
the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES, TRICYCLES, OR OTHER
VEHICLES PROPELLED BY Treadle and MANUAL MOTION.
Scaled the 16th October 1875, and dated the 28th April 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Louis Gustave Bodel,
Jacques Masse, and William Webster at the Office of the Com-
missioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 28th April 1875.
We, Louis Gustave Bodel, JACQUES MASSE, and William WEBSTER,
of Boulevard de Strasbourg, No. 23, Paris, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES, TRICYCLES, OR OTHER
VEHICLES PROPELLED BY TREADLE AND MANUAL MOTION," to be as follows:-
The object of this Invention is the application of a system of jointed
mechanism actuated by pressure from the feet and hands to the pro-
pulsion of velocipedes and other similar vehicles, described in the
Specification of a Patent granted to us on the 21st September, 1874,
No. 3235. This mechanism consists in the peculiar arrangement of two

page_text: levers, one of the second and the other of the third class, which enables
the motions of the feet or hands to be very greatly reduced, while at the
same time communicating a large motion to the actuating shaft.
Our present Invention consists in the methods whereby this object is
effected, and in improvements in details, more especially with regard to
the government of the third wheel in tricycles, to the arrangement of a
break, and to enabling the action of the hands to be united with that of
the feet in propelling.
Carriage with two Pedals and a Bar of Support.-In this type of
carriage the chief feature is the bar of support, which is at the same
time a steerer and the break to the crank. The transverse bar, provided
with two handles, is arched inwards in order not to inconvenience the
rider, in front of whom it is placed. This bar is actuated so as to be
capable of effecting two movements, one of rocking around a horizontal
axis, the other of rotating upon a vertical axis. For this purpose it is
carried by a socket adjusted upon the support rod. This socket is pro-
longed by a ratchet wheel, which is embraced by a cap formed in the
middle of the support bar. The checks of this cap are mounted freely
upon the axis of the rack, between the teeth of which rides a catch
jointed to the bar of support.
It will be understood that it is sufficient to lift the catch in order to dis-
engage the bar and render it free to turn from rear to front by a rock
movement. This movement is executed by the rider at the moment
when it is necessary to open a passage in order to take his seat in the
vehicle, which he does by lifting the bar and pushing it forward. As
soon as he is seated he draws towards him by a reverse movement the
bar of support, which he fixes by allowing the catch to fall upon the
ratchet. While the feet are acting upon the pedals the rider seizing
the handles of the bar holds on them, and thus finds a solid support
which permits him to exert his legs to their full strength. The har of
support serves also to direct the third wheel by means of two chains
attached to the ends of the cross piece fixed to the top of the vertical rod
under which the third-wheel runs. When one ceases from turning the
bar it is necessary that the third wheel returns to its normal position,
and this is accomplished by means of two spiral springs surrounding a
circular slide, and against which there presses either to the right or to
the left the cord of a needle perpendicular to the cross piece, and drawn

page_text: with it. The one or the other of the springs compressed by the deviation
of the wheel recalls the latter to its place as soon as the traction exerted
by the chains upon the cross piece ceases. This automatic action faci-
litates the progress of the vehicle and augments safety, particularly in
roads with sloping sides.
The carriage is provided with a break intended to moderate its speed
upon inclines or to facilitate stopping, which can be instantaneous. It
consists of a movable half collar of iron or steel covered with caoutchouc
arranged concentrically with a wheel keyed to the centre of the crank
shaft, serving as axis to two motive wheels. This collar oscillates around
a point where it is jointed; its other end is a little curved to receive a
vertical rod, prolonging by a chain which passes over a little pulley to
be fastened to the tail of a nut. This nut works upon a screw having a
handle. By turning this in one direction or the other the rider approaches
or separates the nut, and consequently raises or lowers the rod, which
tightens or loosens the break.
Tricycle Velocipede with Break. This velocipode, constructed with
our jointed pedal system, has peculiar mechanism which guides the
tricycle or third wheel, and a particular arrangement of break. The
directing mechanism is exactly like that of the preceding carriage, and
includes the traction chains, the needle, and the recall springs, but the
action of the bar of support is simpler, since it is unnecessary to push it
forwards; consequently, the ratchet and catch are suppressed, and the
bar is adjusted directly upon the little support around which it moves in
order to turn the tricycle wheel to the right or left. The break is also
much simplified; it is composed of a metal band provided with
caoutchouc or wood, and partly encircling a metal pulley. One of the
ends of the band is fixed to a rigid support bolted below the main frame
of the velocipede; the other is attached to a rod jointed at its other end
to a lever pivotting upon the frame, and terminated by a handle, by
pulling which towards him the rider causes the brake to act. As this
action presents a certain resistance it is necessary to afford the rider a
point of support, which is done by providing the saddle with pummels
of sufficient height.
Manupede Carriages with Direct Action.-In certain cases it will be
useful, especially, when the carriage is intended for riding up inclines, to
aid the work of the fect by the hands. For this purpose one can adapt

page_text: to the carriage of the first described type an apparatus composed of rods
jointed to pedals, and rising vertically up in front of the seat. In order
to actuate these rods one can adapt the arrangement shown in the end
view. The auxiliary rods are attached at their upper part to the ends of
a common lever, which the rider works like a pump. These rods can be
kept free so as to be used only when desired.
Manupede Carriage.-This kind of carriage has the same arrange-
ments for the break and for guiding the third wheel as those first
described, but whilst they are solipede, or only worked by the feet, these
are manupede and actuated both by the feet and the hands. This double
action was described in the Specification of our Patent, 3235", but it
there required the presence of two persons. In the present instance
there is but one person, who works at once with his hands and his feet
in order to produce the locomotion. It is necessary therefore to arrange
differently the jointed mechanism intended for the transmission of these
two kinds of efforts. The axis of the driving wheels is bent in four
places; the four cranks are at right angles; the two outer ones correspond
to the hands, and the two inner ones to the feet. These two last cranks
receive their motion from the jointed mechanism which has already been
described.
The mechanism which transmits the movements of the hands
to the outor cranks is composed of a lever of the first class formed with
two square arms. One of the arms is vertical, and terminated by a
handle, which is held by the rider; the other is horizontal, and carries
at its jointed end a jointed rod connecting it to a lever. This lever is of
the third class, and receives its power through a rod, transmitting it to a
link jointed to the outer crank.
We proceed now to describe some arrangements which it will be
advantageous to employ in our carriages. Firstly, we may render the
directing wheel propelling also, with the object of using it as an assistance
when ascending steep inclines. The first object to be gained is adherence,
and this we obtain by either simply striating the felly of the wheel, or
by forming it with asperities and cramps, which form it into a grapnel
wheel. It may be actuated by a chain taking its motion upon the shaft
of the motive wheels by the aid of a gearing mechanism under the
control of the rider; but when our carriages or velocipedes are provided
with a front or seat the action of the front wheel will be commanded by
the person scated therein.

page_text: In order to maintain the tricycle wheel in its normal position when
the carriage is going straight forwards it will be useful in some cases to
provide its vertical axis with a gearing mechanism, which only permits
its deviation from a straight line after an ungearing effected by the
rider.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Louis Gustave Bodel, Jacques Masse, and William
Webster in the Great Scal Patent Office on the 21st October 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, LOUIS
GUSTAVE BODEL, JACQUES MASSE, and WILLIAM WEBSTER, of Boulevard
de Strasbourg, No. 23, Paris, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in tho
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Louis Gustave Bodel, Jacques
Masse, and William Webster, Her special license that we, the said
Louis Gustave Bodel, Jacques Masse, and William Webster, our exe-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Louis Gustave Bodel, Jacques Massc, and William Webster, our exc-
cutors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and
no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGES, TRICYCLES, OR OTHER VEHICLES PROPELLED BY TREADLE AND MANUAL
MOTION," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, tho said Louis
Gustave Bodel, Jacques Masse, and William Webster, one of us, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our, or
one of our, or their, or one of their hands and scals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Scal Patent Office within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patont.

page_text: at the same time a steerer and the break to the crank. The transverse
|bar a, provided with two handles b, b, is arched inwards, in order not to
inconvenience the rider in front of whom it is placed. This bar is
actuated so as to be capable of effecting two movements, one of rocking
around a horizontal axis, the other of rotating upon a vertical axis.
For this purpose it is carried by a socket c adjusted upon the support
rod d. This socket is prolonged by a ratchet wheel e carried by a
spindle held between two checks formed in the middle of the support
bar, and between the teeth of the rack rides a catch ƒjointed to the bar
of support.
It will be understood that it is sufficient to lift the catch in order to
disengage the bar and render it free to turn from rear to front by a
rock movement. This movement is executed by the rider at the moment
when it is necessary to open a passage in order to take his scat in the
vehicle, which he does by lifting the bar and pushing it forward. As
soon as he is seated he draws towards him by a reverse movement tho
bar of support which he fixes by allowing the catch to fall upon the
ratchet. While the feet are acting upon the pedals p, p, the rider
seizing the handles of the bar holds on them and thus finds a solid
support which permits him to exert his legs to their full strength. The
bar of support serves also to direct the third wheel by means of two
chains g, g, attached to the ends of the cross piece / fixed to the top of
the vertical rod i under which the third wheel runs. When one ceases
from turning the bar it is necessary that the third wheel returns to
its normal position, and this is accomplished by means of two spiral
springs j, j, surrounding a circular slide k, and against which there
presses, either to the right or to the left, the end of a needle z perpen-
dicular to the cross piece and drawn with it. The one or the other of
the springs compressed by the deviation of the wheel recalls the latter
to its place as soon as the traction exerted by the chains upon the
cross piece / ceases. This automatic action facilitates the progress
of the vehicle and augments safety, particularly in roads with sloping
sides.
The carriage is provided with a break intended to moderate its speed
upon inclines or to facilitate stopping which can be instantaneous. It
consists of a movable half collar q* of iron or steel covered with
caoutchouc arranged concentrically with a wheel keyed to the centre
of the crank shaft o serving as axis to two motive wheels m, m. This

page_text: collar oscillates around a point s where it is jointed; its other end is a
little curved to receive a vertical rod t prolonging by a chain u which
passes over a little pulley v, to be fastened to the tail of a nut w.
This nut works upon a screw y having a handle x. By turning this in
one direction or the other the rider approaches or separates the nut
and consequently raises or lowers the rod which tightens or loosens the
break.
Tricycle Velocipede with Break, Figure 3.-This velocipede con-
structed with our jointed pedal system has peculiar mechanism which
guides the tricycle or third wheel and a particular arrangement of break.
The directing mechanism is exactly like that of the preceding carriage,
and includes the traction chains, the needle, and the recall springs; but
the action of the bar of support is simpler since it is unnecessary to push
it forwards, consequently the ratchet and catch are suppressed, and the
bar is adjusted directly upon the little support around which it moves in
order to turn the tricycle wheel to the right or left. The break is also
much simplified; it is composed of a metal band q³ provided with
caoutchouc or wood, and partly encircling a metal pulley r. One of the
ends of the band is fixed to a rigid support bolted below the main frame
of the velocipede, the other is attached to a rod t jointed at its other end
to a lever u pivotting upon the frame and terminated by a handle, by
pulling which towards him the rider causes the brake to act. As this
action presents a certain resistance it is necessary to afford the rider a
point of support, which is done by providing the saddle a with pummels
of sufficient height.
Manupede Carriages with Direct Action, Figure 4.-In certain cases
it will be useful, especially when the carriage is intended for riding up
inclines, to aid the work of the feet by the hands. For this purpose one
can adapt to the carriage of the type shown in Figures 1 and 2 an
apparatus composed of rods jointed to pedals and rising vertically up in
front of the seat. In order to actuate these rods one can adapt the
arrangement shown in the end view Figure 4. The auxiliary rods y, y,
are attached at their upper part to the ends of a common lever < which
the rider works like a pump. These rods can be kept free so as to be
used only when desired.
Manupede Carriage, Figures 5, 6, and 7.-This kind of carriage
resembles those shown at Figures 1 and 2, and has the same arrange-

page_text: ments for the break and for guiding the third wheel, but whilst they
are solipede or only worked by the feet these are manupede and actuated
both by the feet and the hands. This double action was described in
the Specification of Bodel's Patent 3285%, but it there required tho
presence of two persons. In the present instance there is but one
person who works at once with his hands and his feet in order to produce
the locomotion. It is necessary therefore to arrange differently the two
jointed mechanisms intended for the transmission of these two kinds of
efforts. The axis o of the driving wheel m, m, is bent in four places,
the four cranks are at right angles, the two outer ones a, a, correspond
to the hands, and the two inner ones b, b, to the feet. These two last
cranks receive their motion from the jointed mechanism which has
already been described. The mechanism which transmits the move-
ments of the hands to the outer cranks a, a, is composed of a lever of
the first class pivotting at i and formed with two square arms.
the arms c is vertical and terminated by a handle which is held by the
hand of the rider, the other arm & which is horizontal and carries at its
jointed end a jointed rod f connecting it to a lever 7 oscillating at h.
This lever is of the third class, and receives its power through the rod f,
transmitting it by its end to a link & jointed to the outer crank a.
will be understood this transmission mechanism rests upon the same
principle as that of the pedals, they both comprise a lever of the third
class and differ only with regard to the hand lever and the pedal lever,
which in the one case is of the first and in the other of the third
class.
One of
As
We proceed now to describe some arrangements which it will be
advantageous to employ in our carriages. Firstly. We may render the
directing wheel propelling with the object of using it as an assistance
when ascending steep inclines. The first object to be gained is adherence,
and this we obtain by either simply striating the felloe of the wheel or
by forming it with asperities and cramps which form it into a grapnel
wheel. It may be actuated by a chain taking its motion upon the shaft
of the motive wheels by the aid of a gearing mechanism under the
control of the rider; but when our carriages or velocipedes are provided
with a front seat the action of the front wheel will be commanded by
the person seated there.
In order to maintain the tricycle wheel in its normal position when
the carriage is going straight forwards it will be useful in some cases to

page_text: provide its vertical axis with a gearing mechanism which only permits
its deviation from a straight line after an ungcaring effected by the
rider.
And having now described the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, wo declare that we claim,—
First. The arrangement of our jointed mechanism, with two con-
joined levers to transmit the action of the feet alone or the action of the
fect and hands of riders to the axles of tricycles and other vehicles
propelled by treadle and manual motion, as- hercin-before described and
shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The use in tricycles propelled by treadle and manual
motion of a pair of recall springs to automatically guide the third
wheel into its normal position when the impulse of the driver in another
direction has been removed or an obstruction on the road passed, as
herein-before described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
Thirdly. The employment in tricycles and other vehicles propelled by
trcadle and manual motion of the directing rod as a bar of support
arranged so as to be capable of being pushed back to allow the rider to
take his seat in the vehiclo, as herein-before described and as shown in
the annexed Drawings.
Fourthly. The construction and employment of a brake in tricycles
and other vehicles propelled by treadlo and manual motion, as herein-
before described and shown in the annexed Drawings.
Fifthly. The construction and employment in tricycles and other
vehicles propelled by treadlo and manual motion of a saddle, with a
raised pummel for the support of the rider, as hercin-before described
and shown in the annexed Drawings.
Sixthly. The utilization in tricycles and other vehicles propelled by
treadlo and manual motion of the action of the hands as accessory to
that of the feet by means of vertical or inclined rods jointed to the
pedals, and capable of acting together with or separately from them, as
herein-before described and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Seventhly. The simultaneous action of the fect and hands in the
manupedo carriage herein-before described and shown in the Drawings
through the combination of the two systems of jointed mechanism a

page_text: carrying the efforts of one person upon the axis bent in four places and
thence to the motion wheels.
Eighthly. The facility of making the third and directing wheel in
tricycles propelled by manual and treadle power a motion wheel by
causing it to be actuated by a chain drawn either by the axis of one
of the motion wheels or by a special arrangement of mechanism
impelled by the rider, as herein-before described and shown in the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, wc, the said Louis Gustave Bodel, Jacques
Masse, and William Webster, have hereunto set our hands and
seals, this Sixteenth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-five.
L. BODEL.
(L.S.)
J. MASSE.
(L.S.)
Vitness,
CHARLES FROSSARD,
23, Boulevard de Strasbourg,
a Paris.
W. WEBSTER. (L.S.)