IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF OPERATING BICYCLES, TRICYCLES. AND OTHER LIKE VEHICLES OPERATED BY MAN POWER AND TO FACILITATE THE PROPULSION AND STEERING OR GUIDING OF SUCH VEHICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Edward Nunan at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 7th June 1883.
EDWARD NUNAN of 166 Fleet Street in the City of London.
IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE MODE OF OPERATING BICYCLES, TRICYCLES. AND OTHER LIKE VEHICLES
OPERATED BY MAN POWER AND TO FACILITATE THE PROPULSION AND STEERING
OR GUIDING OF SUCH VEHICLES
The object of my invention is to facilitate the propulsion and steering of
bicycles, tricycles and other like vehicles.
For the purpose of my invention I connect the lower end of the back-bone or
its. equivalent (near its connection with the small wheel) with the axle or journal
of the large wheel that is to say, from any point in or above or below said axle &c
of said large wheel
I carry a rod or rods or connection to the back bone thereby taking all spring
out of the same, and at the same time preventing the large or front wheel from
assuming or taking any direction except such as is given to it by the operation
of the back or small wheel and also preventing said large wheel wriggling when
being propelled.
To operate said back wheel for the purpose of steering such vehicle. I make
it swivel in its connection with said back bone I carry connections either from the
seat or handles of such machines, back to the said small wheel or to the fork
holding the same so that by the motion of one or of the other I turn said small
wheel and thereby give direction to such vehicles Or, I set the axle or journal of
said small wheel back from the plumb or perpendicular of its swivelling connection
with the backbone so that the motion of the body of the rider alone can be made
to steer the vehicle.
In order to propel or assist in propelling such vehicles. I find centres on either
sides for levers to connect with the driving crank of large wheel at one end, and,
either direct or by combination carry the other end up to a convenient position
to be operated by the hands of the rider, but the mode I prefer is to carry out
bearings in front of the rider for an axle or journal which when rotated by the
hands conveys the power or motion to the axle or journal of the large wheel by
means of crank rods or gearing or a chain fitted in wheels.
The chain I use for said purpose is formed or constructed of stamped links
fitted in such manner as to be put together and taken apart by being accurately

page_text: held in one position, and when not so held said chain cannot be taken apart but
when so held one or more links can be taken from or added to said chain without
any other operation than bringing them accurately in position for that purpose
said chain is made to fit wheels attached to the axle or journal of main wheel and
to the axle or journal in front of rider so that the motion given by the hands is
conveyed from one to the other and in such proportion by varying the size of
wheels in comparison to each other as the option of the rider may require.
In order to more thoroughly accomodate the riders of vehicles, constructed after
the herein described mode when the hand propelling power is not used or required
I detach the handles from the hand power and attach them to stubs prepared for
that purpose to form handles similar to ordinary handles and vice versa if
desired.
When the the hands alone are used to propel I rest the feet in stirrups indepen-
dent of the pedals. When the handles are used for steering I make them swivel