A NEW SYSTEM OF LOCOMOTION
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Thomas Hughes, of the Firm of Hughes
and Son, Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, for the In-
vention of "A NEW SYSTEM OF LOCOMOTION."-A communication from
L Toanh Cambout + Devia Urones
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Thomas
Hughes at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 18th April 1874.
66
LI, EDWARD THOMAS HUGHES, of the Firm of Hughes and Son,
Patent Agents, 123, Chancery Lane, London, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for A NEW SYSTEM OF LOCOMOTION," a
communication to me from abroad by Joseph Gombert, of Paris, France,
to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object a new arrangement of mechanism by
means of which a man can travel on the ground or on rails without any
other power than his own weight for turning wheels.

page_text: To the top of a rectangular rod is fixed a saddle, which under the
influence of the weight of the body of the man straddling on it is
lowered so as to afterwards rise in proportion to the speed acquired by
the descent. This rod slides at the top in a stationary guide, and is con-
nected at the bottom to one end of a beam or two-armed lever working on
a stud fixed to the framework, and the other end of the beam is jointed
to one end of a rod connected at its other end to a cranked axle or shaft
carrying the wheels, and one of the wheels on the axle is keyed fast,
but the other wheel is loose for enabling the vehicle to turn with facility.
The axle is provided with two fly wheels having on them counterweights
to balance the descending weight of the saddle and rider, and to the
frame are connected two stirrups or footsteps, which the rider uses as
resisting surfaces, the said stirrups or footsteps being adjustable to suit
the height of the rider, and by means of a guiding lever which the rider
holds in his hands he can give to a front wheel such an angle as to
enable him to turn and guide his movements as required. The same
result, that is the motion of the vehicle, is obtained from the effect or
action of the weight of the rider, by dispensing with the intermediate
beam or two-armed lever, and jointing one end of the connecting rod to
the saddle, and the other end to the crank on the cranked shaft, the axis
of which in this case would be immediately under the saddle, and by
means of this last arrangement the motive power can be still better
utilized, as the rider can travel in any kind of chamber or case behind
the vehicle.
When it is required to travel on rails the same system is to be
employed, but then four wheels must be used; but in all cases it is
evident that the larger are the driving wheels the greater will be the
speed that can be acquired, and that as the wheels are diminished in
diameter the speed will be less, but in this case weights can be carried
in proportion.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Thomas Hughes in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 17th October 1874.

page_text: frames D, D', united at their other ends to a brass or other metal socket,
having in its interior a shaft F, to the top of which is fixed the guiding
lever or handle G, and its lower end connected to the straps and bearings
of the guiding wheel H. Between the two frames D, D', there is a steel
or iron arm or lever J carrying a saddle K for the rider, one end of the
arm or lever being centered on a square pin f, and its other end con-
nected to one end of the connecting rod L, jointed at its other end to
the crank of the cranked axle A, and to the frames are connected
stirrups M, M, for the [feet of the rider, which stirrups can be raised or
lowered to suit the rider.
It will be easily understood that when the rider is straddling on the
saddle with his feet on the stirrups that the weight of the body will
depress the arm or lever J, and that the axle A will make half a
revolution, and also that if the rider rises that the arm or lever will rise
with him, and thereby raise the connecting rod to give a complete
revolution of the motor wheels B, B¹.
It will be seen that by fixing the arm or lever J to a square pin fa
spring is obtained to assist the upward movement of the rider, and it is
also evident that there can be two, three, or more riders on the same
vehicle or apparatus if there are two, three, or more cranks on the
cranked axle, and a corresponding number of springs, arms, and saddles,
but in all cases there should be only one guiding lever and guiding
wheel, the lever being always in the hand of the rider, so that he can
give to the front wheel H such an inclination as will enable him to turn
& guide apparatus or vehicle as required. The same result can be
obtained, that is, the motion of the vehicle from the action of the weight
of the rider, by jointing one end of the connecting rod to the saddle and
the other end to the crank, the axis of which in this case would bo
immediately under the saddle, and by means of this arrangement the
motive power can be still further utilized as the rider can ride in any
kind of chamber or carriage above the crank.
When it is required to travel on rails the same system is to be
employed, but then four wheels must be used, and it is evident that in
all cases the larger the driving wheels the greater will be the speed that
can be acquired, and also that as the wheels are diminished in diameter
the speed will be less, but in this case heavier weights can be carried,

page_text: аци го изу
dimensions and strength.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edward Thomas Hughes, have herc-
unto set my hand and scal, this Sixteenth day of October One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.