IMPROVED LEVER AND SPRING MECHANISM FOR THE PROPULSION OF CARRIAGES AND BOATS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES
Year: 1877

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by James Mounstephen Rogers at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1877.
JAMES MOUNSTEPHEN ROGERS, of Kingsland Road, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVED LEVER AND SPRING MECHANISM FOR THE PROPULSION OF CARRIAGES
AND BOATS, AND FOR OTHER LIKE PURPOSES."
My said Invention relates to improved lever and spring mechanism, which is
designed for moving carriages or vehicles, and propelling boats, and also for com-
municating motion to machinery of various kinds.
The said Invention may be employed in combination with a treadle or treadles,
or with levers or other apparatus for the first application of the driving power.
In adapting my Invention to a carriage or vehicle I arrange a treadle at the
front, or in any other convenient position on the same, and connect the said treadle
or treadles by means of suitable cranks with a shaft which carries a wheel pro-
vided with a cam or tappet. The latter is arranged to act on the long arm of a
lever whose short arm is arranged in combination with a ratchet wheel, and which
carries a pawl or tooth that engages with the said ratchet wheel. The said wheel
and pawl may be so constructed and arranged that the ratchet wheel will be
moved through a space equal to one, two, or more teeth by each movement of the
said lever.
In combination with the said ratchet wheel I provide a retaining or stopping
pawl which prevents the return or back movement of the said wheel. The said
ratchet wheel has a hollow sleeve or boss by which it is mounted on a shaft with a
capability of turning loosely or independently thereon; and this boss or sleeve is
also provided with radial springs, of greater or less strength, according to the
desired power of the apparatus. These springs are arranged to engage with studs,
pins, or projections on the face or side of another wheel which is fixed or made
fast on the said shaft. Aud in addition to the said radial springs I prefer to employ
a coiled or spiral spring at the side of the ratchet wheel. These springs form an
elastic connection between the said ratchet wheel and the wheel fixed on the shaft ;
and this elastic or spring connection between the said wheels in combination with
the aforesaid lever is the peculiar feature of my Invention, às by means of this
I Price 271

page_text: connection the power applied to the treadle or other first mover of the apparatus
may be communicated in a very advantageous manner to effect the rotation of
any shaft or axle connected therewith. The aforesaid fixed wheel may be geared
with a pinion on one of the shafts or axles of the carriage, or may be otherwise
connected with the said shaft or axle.
I provide the carriage or vehicle to which my said apparatus is applied with a
suitable brake, whereby the said carriage may be quickly stopped. And by means
of this brake I may, if desired, keep the carriage or vehicle stationary for a short
time while operating the treadle, and turn the ratchet wheel to accumulate power
before starting.
The said Invention may be applied to a boat or vessel to effect the propulsion of
the same by arranging the above-described mechanism in combination with paddle
wheels or a screw propellor. It may also be adapted for driving sewing machines
and other machinery by connecting the said ratchet wheel in a suitable manner
with driving shaft, or wheel, or other convenient part of such machinery.