IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOHN INGLIS MITCHELL of Holloway in the County of Middlesex Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES" to be as follows:-
In the specification of my previous patent, dated 12th September 1876 N° 3577
I described a certain mechanical action for propelling carriages or vehicles whereby
the hands applied to levers; in the working or back stroke were made to pull
against the feet which latter like those of an oarsman in a boat were firmly set
against some fixed part of the machine, some of the force thus applied being stored
up for a time by means of a peculiar spring and, pawl appliance, the spring of
which during the forward stroke and interval of repose gave out to the axle the
force stored up.
Now according to this-present invention I extend or modify the aforesaid mode
of action by utilizing the force of the legs also, viz, pushing them against levers or
yielding parts which are connected to the hand or rowing levers in the opposite
sense so that during the working or back stroke the hands pull while the feet push.
The force may be stored up by a spring or springs in order to be given out during
the forward stroke and the interval of repose or from a drum or drums fixed on
the axle, all as hereinafter described. I am aware that such a mode of action has
already been proposed in connection with a sliding seat which has the disadvantage
of constantly shifting the centre of gravity and also in connection with cranks
which have dead centres.
I provide one or a pair of treadle levers with treadle or treadles, foot boards or
stirrups for the feet to work against and a pair of hand levers all arranged
conveniently for the rider to exert his power in the most commodious and efficient
manner. I connect the treadle levers and the hand levers in such a manner that
they move against each other, which may be done by connecting their fulcrum
spindles or bosses by means of tooth wheel or friction wheel quadrants or sectors,
or as I prefer it by steel bands and plain quadrants, one steel band being fixed at
one end to the upper end of the quadrant on the foot lever and at the other end to
the bottom of the hand lever quadrant the other band is similarly connected at
one end to the bottom of the hand lever quadrant and at the other end to the top
of the foot lever quadrant; such band connection involves no friction.

page_text: Motion is transmitted from the foot lever or levers by means of steel band or
bands, straps, chains, or rods in connection with any suitable give and take pawl
motion, but by preference by noiseless friction pawl.
In order to adapt the work to the rider and to the varying requirements I prefer
to make the point of attachment of the pulling bands adjustable. By this means
the operator with equal ease may work with longer and slower or shorter and
quicker strokes.
The steering is effected by the handle on one side, say the right, being made to
turn and being provided with a lever from which connection is made to a lever on
the fulcrum of the steering wheel. The braking is effected by the handle on the
left hand lever being similarly made to turn and being provided with a lever from
which connection is made to the brake or brakes applied to one or both the wheel
tyres or to a special rim or drum on the wheel or wheels or wheel axle.
The reversing is or may be effected from the same handle by connection to some
suitable clutch or reversing gear in connection with the pawl appliance in such
manner that when the clutch (by preference frictional) is moved one way it causes
the driving wheels to move forward and when the clutch is moved the other way
it causes the driving wheels to move back; in the intermediate position the rowing
action or gear is disconnected.
As applied to a water velocipede I prefer to arrange the paddle wheel axle or
driving axle in front of the operator so that he faces the direction of motion and
to connect the steel pulling bands to frictional or other give and take pawl appliance
on the paddle wheel axle. The wheels may be rotated independently of each other
and thus in the same or opposite directions. The steering is effected; from one of
the handles and the reversing from the other handle as before...
In all cases it will be observed that the result is to bring into healthful play the
whole muscular power of the body, and that in the most efficient manner, because
in addition to the mere rowing action (which as is well known is the most efficient
manner of applying hand power) the power of the legs and ankles is also brought
into play, while the means for effecting these results are simple and frictionless and
without sudden jerks, as in some mere manual rowing action and without dead
centres as with crank actions.
Dated this mouth day of th
1001

page_text: I, JOHN INGLIS MITCHELL of Holloway in the County of Middlesex Civi
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES" and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
In the Specification of my previous Patent dated 12th September 1876 N° 3577
I described a certain mechanical action for propelling carriages or vehicles whereby
the hands applied to levers in the working or back strokes were made to pull
against the feet which latter like those of an oarsman in a boat were firmly set
against some fixed part of the machine some of the force thus supplied being stored
up for a time by means of a peculiar spring pawl appliance the spring of which
during the forward stroke and interval of repose gave out to the axle the force
stored up.
Now according to this present invention I extend or modify the aforesaid mode
of action by utilizing the force of the legs also viz; pushing them against the levers
or yielding parts which are connected to the hand or rowing levers in the opposite
sense, so that during the working or back stroke the hands pull while the feet push.
The force may be stored up by a spring or springs in order to be given out during
the forward strokes and the interval of repose, or from a drum or drums fixed on
the axle all as hereinafter described. I am aware that such a mode of action has
already been proposed in connection with a sliding seat which has the disadvantage
of constantly shifting the centre of gravity and also in connection with cranks
which have dead centres.
And in order that my invention may be fully understood and readily carried into
effect I will describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings of which
Figure 1 is a part sectional side view. Figure 2 a part sectional plan view of a
tricycle constructed in accordance therewith. Figures 3 to 9 are details.
I provide a treadle lever A (or a pair of treadle levers) with treadles or treadle A¹
foot boards or stirrups for the feet to work against and hand lever B (or a pair of
hand levers) with crossbar or handle B¹ to take hold of, all arranged conveniently
for the rider or riders to exert his or their. power in the most commodious and
efficient manner. I connect the treadle lever A or levers and the hand lever B or
levers in such a manner that they move against each other which may be done by
connecting their fulcrum spindles or bosses by means of tooth wheel or friction
wheel quadrants or sectors, or as I prefer it and as here shown by steel bands and
plain quadrants, two steel bands A being fixed at one end to the upper end of the
quadrant A on the foot lever and at the other ends to the bottom of the hand lever
quadrant B a third band B centrally between the two aforesaid bands similarly
connected at one end to the top of the hand lever quadrant B³ and at the other
end to the bottom of the foot lever quadrant A³; such band connection involves no
friction. When the vehicle is to be adapted for ladies use I prefer to construct it
with two levers B wide enough apart as not to interfere with the dress.
Motion is transmitted from the hand lever or foot lever or levers by means of
steel band or bands, straps, chains, or rods in connection with any suitable give and
take pawl motion but by preference by noiseless roller pawl gear.
The give and take noiseless pawl gear shown here is as follows. On the hollow
axle C the two large wheels W are mounted loosely (but connected therewith by
clutches and so that they may be made to turn therewith, as will be described
further on). On the axle C is fixed 'thin sleeve C₁ on which are loosely mounted

page_text: a fusee spring box D, shown in section at Figure 4 which is a sectional front
elevation containing coils or fusee springs D¹ having one end fixed to the axle and
the other end to the inner circumference of the box D. One end cover of the box D
is at one end continued into a boss which in two places is formed suitably for
roller pawls E and P respectively to act against it as will be understood from the
cross sectional views, Figures 5 and 6, and against the incline parts of the recesses
formed in the enclosing outer rims or drums E' and P'. Figure 5 is a sectional end
view of the driving clutch E E' and Figure 6 is a sectional end view of the holding
clutch. The drum E¹ and F¹ are adapted to receive two steel driving bands H and I
or wire ropes or chains which at one end are fastened thereto and at the other end
fastened at or about a point G¹, on to the rod G which is jointed to the hand
lever B vizt the band H is passed partly round a loose pulley H¹ which has its
fulcrum on the rod G and then partly round the drum E¹ and the band I is passed
partly round the pulley I and round the rim F¹ the pulley I having its fulcrum
at the front end of the rod G. Or if I desire to work the lever B with shorter
strokes I may attach the ends of the bands H and I to a part of the framing such
as shown at the sectional part front view Figure 7 at the point X on a bracket X¹
provided on a tube or sleeve X2 through which the saddle rod S passes. The
reciprocating rod G'is guided by the roller G2 which are attached to the brackets X¹.
The force given out by the rider in pulling, the lever B towards him causing the
springs D' to be coiled up by means of the pulley E¹ and band H will thus
'during the opposite or out stroke by the uncoiling of the springs D¹ be given out
so as to turn the axle C. The band I will at the same time rewind the band H
bringing the drum E¹ back to its original position. The bar G might also be
arranged to work above the axle.
The dovetail shaped rim P₁ shown separately in elevation Fig 8 and in inverted
plan Fig 9 is normally held fast by a clamp P2 which is tightened by the screw
handle P but may when the vehicle has to be backed or reversed be loosened. Q
is a middle bearing for the axle. The arrow in Figure 5 shows the direction in
which the drum E is driven during the back or winding stroke. During the reverse
motion the rim P¹ holds the drum D from running back.
In order still further to adapt the work to the rider and to the varying require-
'ments I prefer to make the point of attachment of the pulling bands adjustable.
This is effected by providing several joint pin holes in the lever B as shown for
connecting the front end of the rod G to any one of them as desired. By this ineaus
the operator with equal ease may work with longer and slower or shorter and
quicker strokes.
The steering is effected by the handle or cross bar B¹ on the lever B being made
to turn and being provided with two wire ropes K wound round it in opposite
directions and then round small pulley L on the fulcrum pin of the lever B by
which connection is made to a double armed lever K' on the fulcrum of the steering
wheel.
The braking is effected by the bandle M Figures 1 and 2 on the left hand of the
rider; this handle M is on a spindle M¹ which at each end is provided with a lever
M² to which one of the two ends of an ordinary brake band is connected which
bands pass round rims or drums, N on the wheel axle. These drums are in their
interior provided with well known roller pawls like those described with reference
to Figures 4, 5 and 6. The framing of the vehicle may be constructed as shown in
Figures 1, 2 and 3 the latter being part horizontal section of part of the lower frame
showing also the band quadrant arrangement. The part immediately behind this
latter arrangement may if desired be made telescopic to allow for adjustment
according to the length of the legs of the rider. Y Y are foot-rests.
As applied to a water velocipede I prefer to arrange the paddle wheel axle or
driving axle in front of the operator so that he faces the direction of motion and to
connect the steel pulling bands to frictional or other give and take pawl appliance
on the paddle wheel axle. The wheels may be rotated independently of each other

page_text: and thus in the same or opposite directions. The steering is effected from one of
the handles and the reversing from the other handle.
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
:
First In velocipedes the application of the power of the arms and hands
simultaneously with that of the legs and feet by means of levers or parts connected
or geared with each other and with a give and take motion on to the driving axle
or wheels as set forth.
Second-In velocipedes the application of quadrants connected with each other
by flexible metallic bands and for driving purposes as set forth.
Third-In velocipedes the combination of hand lever or levers and treadle or
treadles connected or geared for simultaneous action, and metallic bands, spring
drums and clutches, as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fourth-The combination of parts forming the hand and foot velocipede as
shown on the accompanying drawings.
Deted this seventh day of November 1884