IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Martin Diederich Rucker of Letchfords Buildings Bethnal
Green in the county of Middlesex and Julius Winterschladen of 138 London
Wall in the City of London for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Martin Diederich Rucker
and Julius Winterschladen at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 24th July 1883.
MARTIN DIEDERICH RUCKER of Letchford's Buildings Bethnal Green in the
County of Middlesex and JULIUS WINTERSCHLADEN of No 138 London Wall in
the City of London IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
The object of our Invention is the construction of a velocipede with two wheels,
for two riders in which each rider drives and steers a wheel.
In carrying out our invention we take two wheels, preferably of the same size,
each similar to the front wheel of an ordinary bicycle, fitted with cranks, pedals,
fork, head, handle bar, and brake; we join these two wheels together by a back-
bane, provided somewhere in its length with a joint which will allow one part of
it to turn round axially with respect to the other. This joint together with the
joints formed by the heads and bearings of the two wheels make a perfect
universal joint between the two wheels, so that each rider can steer independently
of the other to balance himself.
Springs and saddles of the usual kind are provided for the riders.
We do not bind ourselves to any particular form of joint in the backbone, but
the one we find most satisfactory in practice is constructed as follows; -on the
end of each part of the backbone where the joint is to be made, we make male
cones with their apices towards the length of the backbone, so that the bases
of the cones will butt together when the joint is made. Round this double
cone a split sleeve is placed, the interior of which is a double female cone, to take
the double male cone of the joint; this sleeve is provided with lugs and screws to
tighten it, and take up the wear of the joint as it occurs..

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Martin Diederich Rucker and Julius Winterschladen in the Patent
Office on the 23rd January 1884.
MARTIN DIEDERICH RUCKER of Letchford's Buildings Bethnal Green in the
County of Middlesex and JULIUS WINTERSCHLADEN of N° 138 London Wall in
the City of London "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES "
The object of our invention is the construction of a Velocipede with two wheels
for two riders, in which each rider drives and steers a wheel.
In order that the nature of our invention may be clearly understood we will
proceed to more particularly describe it, reference being made to the accompanying
Drawing, on which the same letters of reference refer to corresponding parts
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of our improved Velocipede, showing the axial joint in
the centre of the backbone
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section and Fig. 3 a cross section of the joint which is
constructed as follows:-On the end of each part of the backbone A and A¹ we
braze solid pieces forming male cones B and B¹ with their apices towards the
lengths of the parts of the backbone A. and A¹ so that when they come together
their bases will butt against each other. We sometimes make a male and female
connection between the bases of the cone pieces B and B₁ as shewn in Fig. 2 of
the accompanying Drawing to take some of the strain off the joint. Round this
double cone a sleeve C is placed the interior of which is a double female cone to
fit the double male cone formed by B and B'—this sleeve C is made in two pieces
to allow of its being placed in position Encircling the sleeve C is another sleeve D
the function of which is to keep the two parts of the sleeve C in position and to
take up any wear that may occur in the joint To effect this the sleeve D is split
longitudinally and is provided with lugs d d and screws e e
It will be seen that this invention can be applied to Bicycles already constructed.
by removing the back bones and back. wheels and by placing a straight backbone,
fitted with our joint, between the two driving wheels to connect them up as one
machine. With machines fitted with Stanley heads; this necessitates. turning one
wheel hind foremost so as to bring the openings in the heads opposite to one
another to receive the necks attached to the straight backbone, this also has, the
effect of placing the brake and mud guard of the hind wheel in the wrong positions
In fitting our invention therefore to existing machines we make a modification as
shewn by Figs 4 and 5 of the accompanying drawing which are an elevation and
a plan showing the joint and the method of connecting the backbone to the neck
of the head belonging to the hindermost wheel. E is the head. F the neck with
a short piece of backbone G.attached to it to carry the spring and saddle for the
rider of the hind wheel. A is the backbone on to which is brazed a solid piece
forming a male cone B provided at its apex with a screw thread. . C is a stirrup
which encircles the head E and is fixed to the neck F by bolts and nuts ff; the
other end of the stirrup C terminates in a long bush recessed out to receive the
male coned end B of the backbone A which fitting into it forms the axial joint
Lock nuts b b are screwed on to the end of the coned end B and bearing against
the inner end of the stirrup C serve to tighten up and adjust the joint.. It will be
seen that with this arrangement the hinder wheel need not be reversed and the
brake and mudguard remain in the right positions for their respective uses.
In fitting this connection to existing machines we sometimes take a tricycle of
the "Humber" pattern instead of one Bicycle and having removed their backbones
and backwheels connect them with our connection as hereinbefore described, this
provides for one rider who may not be a bicyclist.
i

page_text: Having thus stated the nature of our invention we wish it to be understood.
that we are fully aware that tandem Bicycles have been made before and that they
have not been successful owing to the connection between the two wheels being
a rigid one, our invention therefore is confined entirely to the axial joint as herein
before described, though we do not bind ourselves to the exact form of joint we
have described as it will be obvious that it may be modified in many ways and in
actual practice must be so modified to suit the various requirements of the different
machines to which it may be fitted, but what we claim as our invention. and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is :-
First The axial joint as described and shewn by Figs 2. 3. 4 and 5
Secondly The application of the axial joint as and for the purpose described
In witness whereof I the said Martin Diederick Rucker have hereunto set my
hand and seal the twenty third day of January in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty four.
Witness,
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS
MARTIN DIEDERICH RUCKER JR (L.S.)
46 Southampton Buildings
Holborn
W.C
Patent Agent.