Improvements in and connected with Multi-cycles, specially applicable for Military Purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Jan., 1899-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
Improvements in and connected with Multi-cycles, specially
applicable for Military Purposes.
I, ROMEO GRILLI, of 117, Wolseley Street, Garrison Street, Birmingham,
Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of my present invention consists of a combined multi-cycle and
casing or box specially useful for military purposes and for fire brigades and
on which a number of persons can ride on the one machine, carrying luggage,
provisions, ammunition &c. if desired.
The machine will float, and for this reason it will be easy for say soldiers
to swim across a river dragging the machine, which at the same time will serve
as a support for inexperienced swimmers, the arms, ammunition, uniforms, or
other luggage contained in the casing being preserved from getting wet.
Another speciality of this machine is that at any moment it can be used as a
ladder for scaling walls, or life saving in case of fire.
These above results are obtained by coupling or connecting four tandem
frames as to form one combined machine composed by two distinct parts, front
and back. Each of these parts or halves are trapezoid in shape and supported
at three points.
The front half of the machine is carried by three wheels, one in front, and two
behind, the first one serves for guiding the whole machine and is connected with
two handle bars and forming the steering mechanism. This front half of the
machine in its turn is composed of three parts, viz.; a casing and two tandem
frames placed one on either side of the casing.
The casing is somewhat in the form of a pyramid with five faces, the apex
being in the front, and the base at the rear. From or along both sides of the
upper part of the case, project five short tubes, and the two lateral tandem
frames, each one on the interior side, close to the seat pillars, are also provided
with short tubes fitted with clips. In this manner, if the before mentioned
short tubes in the case be inserted into the respective short tubes in the lateral
tandem frames it is evident that by fixing the clips by screws, a multi-cycle
machine will be formed having trapezoidal shape with one wheel (steering) in
front, and two behind. Each one of these two back wheels will be connected as
usual by chains or otherwise with the pedals for the cyclists sitting saddle pillars
on the respective tandem frames.
This front half machine for four, six, eight, ten, or more persons can if
desired be used independent from the back part of the machine, a description of
which will follow later.
The before mentioned pyramidal case has one speciality, to each end of the
case and more precisely a few feet from the front wheel and a few feet from
back wheel is fixed inside two shutters or partitions made of wood, steel, aluminium,

page_text: or other material for the purpose in such a manner as to divide the interior
space of the case into three separate compartments, one in front, one in the
middle, and one at the back. The compartiments at the two extremities are her-
metically closed in every part forming two air chambers, and if these air
chambers be of sufficient size, the machine when, placed in the water will float
even though the central part of the casing is loaded with certain quantity of
luggage or ammunition, &c., for the reason that the empty space formed by the
two end compartments of the casing remove one quantity of water weight of
which is superior of the general weight of the machine and contents.
As an
additional aid to buoyancy, a sufficient quantity of air can be forced into a
special airtight or airproof tube which for this purpose is fixed in full length
on the outside of the bottom of the case.
The tube must be made of flexible and airtight material, for instance, canvas
covered with india rubber, a valve being fitted to introduce the necessary quantity
of air.
Bamboo or wooden rods are inserted into each tube of the frames of the
tandems, and for this purpose the frames are constructed in such a manner
that each tube has one end open for the introduction into it of the before men-
tioned bamboo or wood.
The second and back part of the machine is constructed like the front part
or half with the only difference that no front wheel exists. The front end of
this part is supported by the back part of the front half machine exactly in
the centre of the distance between the two back wheels, and it has two wheels
behind, so that this back portion or half machine is provided with three points
of support. The attachment of the two parts or half machines permits move-
ment in all directions to allow the whole of the machine to turn corners. The
general appearance of the machine represents two trapezoids containing two
luggage cases and the whole of the machine is carried by five wheels.
For use as a ladder against a wall or any other obstacle, the front part of each
trapezoid frame may be raised and placed in contact with the wall or other
obstacle in such manner that the transversal tubes of the lateral tandem frames
will represent the steps of the before mentioned ladder; the bamboo or wood
tightly introduced into each tube will give the necessary resistance for the
purpose.
The multi-cycle machine is thus composed of two trapezoid frames, each one
of which can be detached into three principal pieces, viz.: two lateral tandems
without front wheel, and one casing connected with one wheel. The machine
detached in this manner will engage the smallest possible space for transport
in railway vans, or otherwise. The back portion or half before described can
be constructed with a steering wheel in such a manner for it to be equally
used in connection with the front portion or half, or independently. For this
purpose the front half machine must be provided with two upright bars fixed
between its two back wheels on both sides of the back part of the case. The
back half must be constructed exactly like the front one with three wheels and
respective steering mechanism.
On both sides of the fork supporting the front wheel is attached the end of a
tube acting as a hinge in such a manner as to allow of free movements of the
tube up or down but not laterally. Into the other ends of these two lateral
tubes are attached movable rings which may be slipped onto the respective
upright bars before mentioned for connection of the two halves of the machine,
and the front wheel or steering mechanism of the back half of machine will
obey every movement of the front half machine and at the same time will steer
the movements of the whole back half of the machine.
The steering mechanism is combined by connection of the two front. handle
bars with the fork of front wheel by means of two small pulleys fixed to the
handle bars and one to the fork on which is placed two steel bands. In the
handle bars in question is a hole corresponding to the hole of the central tube,

page_text: and into this hole is introduced another piece of tube supporting two special
handles.
This conbination of the steering mechanism permits either of 'one of the two
front cyclists to steer the machine by merely shifting the hands from the special
handles to the usual handles of handle bar. This point is important for the
purpose of the machine because if it is in movement and by accident or dis-
ablement the steering cyclist cannot continue the control of the machine without
halting, this control will be immediately taken by the cyclist sitting with him
side by side. Also if one of the two cyclists keeps in hand the special handles
he cannot interfere with the steering of the machine. The connection between
the two front handle bars with front fork will be no obstacle for attaching and
detaching quickly and easily the before mentioned lateral tandem frames from
the case, for to detach the steering part of the two lateral tandem frames it is
only necessary to slip off the two steel bands from the central pulley.
It is clear that the detached two lateral tandem frames can be very easily
transformed into two usual tandems, as it is only necessary to provide the
frames with relative wheels and front forks in the usual manner.
Another feature of the construction of this machine consists in the arrange-
ment of the bottom brackets which allows the two back wheels to be placed
in parallel order and to connect one with the other by one general axle provided
with differential arrangement. The differential mechanism employed can be one
of the several arrangements already known consisting for instance in four gear
or toothed mitre wheels disposed in manner to form a square. Two opposite
lateral tooth wheels are connected with the spindles of the wheels of the machine
and the two horizontal tooth wheels are connected with the chain wheel. The
variation necessary for the differential combination employable in my machine
consists in the chain wheel. The two horizontal tooth wheels before mentioned
are fixed in my machine to a long tube or axle each end of which comes exactly
behind the chain wheel existing on the first bottom bracket close to the back
of the machine, each end extremity of the before mentioned tube being provided
with a chain wheel. The chainwheels of the two before mentioned bottom
brackets are connected by the usual chain with the chain wheels on the before
mentioned tube, a differential spindle is obtained on which acts two chains at
two different points.
The special arrangement of the bottom brackets employed in the construction
of this trapezoid machine in that every bottom bracket comes in parallel lines
with the spindle of the two back wheels.
The chain wheel which is on one side of one bottom bracket comes exactly
behind the chain wheel on the opposite side of the next bottom bracket, this
allowing the connection of all the chain wheels by their relative chains at the
same time retaining the trapezoid form of the whole of the machine. This
arrangement of the bottom brackets is an important feature in carrying out my
invention as it permits the two driving wheels to be arranged and driven in
parallel order.
The machine described in this specification for its form and different
specialities can be used for the transport of soldiers. in masses with arms,
ammunition, and provisions, and also other equipment or instruments necessary
for fighting purposes. On the top of the casings in convenient manner can be
fixed a quick firing gun or small revolving cannon.
Each half machine can be constructed to carry ten men, eight of these men
work on the pedals. and two sit on the back do not work because no pedals are
provided for them and it is evident this point gives the advantage that on
ascending a very steep hill, or in other similar circumstances the two back
men can jump off and assist to push the machine. Also that as two men in
every ten do not have to work the pedals the result is that in a detachment of
one thousand soldiers two hundred men will arrive at their destination fresh
and without. requiring to rest will be ready for attack, defence, or guard duties.
'

page_text: This detachment will thus arrive provided with ammunition and reserve pro-
visions, and will be in condition to support itself before the enemy for a con-
siderable time. One kilometer of road can be occupied by three or four times
the quantity of soldiers riding on my machines than by using ordinary single
cycles for the reason that less intervals are necessary. The flank of the march-
ing detachment will be shorter and the cycle corps and cavalry can march
together supporting each other and both can arrive at one time at their destina-
tion which is very important for military tactics.
These machines can be used for soldiers or other men employed for technical
works in general, for instance, for placing or destroying railways, bridges, tele-
graphs, and telephones. These men can carry with them the lightest or more
necessary instruments for their work. On the top of the casing or other con-
venient position accessories necessary for the fire brigade or other purposes may
be placed.
One other advantage consists in the stability of the machine, no balance being
necessary as in bicycles, it is therefore very easy to steer, and for halting it
is not necessary to dismount from machine, the open construction of the lateral
frames permitting very easy mounting or dismounting.
The stability of the machine can be further increased by the employment of
two steering wheels instead of only one.
In addition to the uses above referred to, the machine will be found very
advantageous for country excursions, picnics, and the like.
1
1
וי
1000
R. CORE GARDNER,
Patent Agent, 166, Fleet Street, London.
Agent for the said Romeo Grilli.
Improvements in and connected with Multi-cycles specially
applicable for Military Purposes.
I, ROMEO GRILLI, of 117, Wolseley Street, Garrison Street, Birmingham,
Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my present invention consists of a combined multi-cycle and
casing or box specially useful for military purposes and for fire brigades and
on which a number of persons can ride on the one machine, carrying luggage,
provisions, ammunition &c. if desired.
The machine will float and for this reason it will be easy for, say, soldiers
to swim across a river dragging the machine, which at the same time will serve
as a support for inexperienced swimmers, the arms, ammunition, uniforms, or
other luggage contained in the casing being preserved from getting wet.
Another speciality of this machine is that at any moment it can be used as a
ladder for scaling walls or life saving in case of fire.
The above results are obtained by coupling or connecting four tandem
frames as to form one combined machine composed by two distinct parts, front
and back. Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings. Each of these parts or
halves are trapezoid in shape and supported at three points.
The front half of the machine is carried by three wheels, A, B, C, one A in
front and two B, C behind, the first one A serves to guide the whole machine
and is connected with two handle bars D, E and forming the steering mechanism.

page_text: This front half of the machine in its turn is composed of three parts, viz.: a
casing and two tandem frames G H placed one on either side of the casing.
The casing F is somewhat in the form of a pyramid with five faces, the apex
being in the front and the base at the rear.
From or along both sides of the upper part of the case F project five short
tubes I and the two lateral tandem frames G H, each one on the interior side
close to the seat pillars J, are also provided with short tubes K fitted with clips L.
In this manner if the before mentioned short tubes K in the case be inserted
into the respective short tubes I in the lateral tandem frames G, H, it is evident
that by fixing the clips L by screws a multi-cycle machine will be formed having
a trapezoidal shape with one wheel A (steering) in front, and two B C behind.
Each one of these two back wheels B C will be connected as usual by chains M
or otherwise with the pedals N for the cyclists sitting saddle pillars on the
respective tandem frames.
This front half machine for four, six, eight, ten, or more persons
can if
desired be used independent from the back part of the machine, a description
of which will follow later.
The before mentioned pyramidal case F has one speciality, to each end of the
case, and more precisely a few feet from the front wheel and a few feet from
back wheel is fixed inside two shutters or partitions made of wood, steel
aluminium, or other material for the purpose, in such a manner as to divide the
interior space of the case into three separate compartments, one in front one in
the middle, and one at the back.
The compartments at the two extremities are hermetically closed in every part
forming two air chambers and if these air chambers be of sufficient size the
machine when placed in the water will float even though the central part of the
casing is loaded with certain quantity of luggage or ammunition &c. for the
reason that the empty space formed by the two end compartments of the casing
remove one quantity of water weight of which is superior of the general weight
of the machine and contents.
As an additional aid to buoyancy, a sufficient quantity of air can be forced
into a special air tight or air proof tube which for this purpose is fixed in full
length on the outside of the bottom of the case see dotted lines P Figures 1
and 2. The tube must be made of flexible and airtight material, for instance,
canvas covered with india rubber, a valve being fitted to introduce the necessary
quantity of air.
Bamboo or wooden rods are inserted into each tube of the frames of the
tandems, and for this purpose the frames are constructed in such a manner that
each tube has one end open for the introduction into it of the before mentioned
bamboo or wood.
The second and back part of the machine is constructed like the front part
or half with the only difference that no front wheel exists.
The front end of this part is supported by the back part of the front half
machine exactly in the centre of the distance between the two back wheels, and
it has two wheels behind, so that this back portion or half machine is provided
with three points of support.
The attachment of the two parts or half machines permits movement in all
directions to allow the whole of the machine to turn corners. The general
appearance of the machine represents two trapezoids containing two luggage
cases and the whole of the machine is carried by five wheels.
For use as a ladder against a wall or any other obstacle, the front part of
each trapezoid frame may be raised and placed in contact with the wall or other
obstacle in such manner that the transversal tubes J of the lateral tandem frames
will represent the steps of the before mentioned ladder, the bamboo or wood
tightly introduced into each tube will give the necessary resistance for the
purpose.
+
The multi-cycle machine is thus composed of two trapezoid frames, each one

page_text: of which can be detached into three principal pieces viz.: two lateral tandems
without front wheel, and one casing connected with one wheel. The machine
detached in this manner will engage the smallest possible space for transport
in railway vans or otherwise.
The back portion or half before described can be constructed with a steering
wheel A as shown on the drawing in such a manner for it to be equally used in
connection with the front portion or half, or independently. For this purpose,
the front half machine must be provided with two upright bars or lugs Q fixed
between its two back wheels B, C on both sides of the back part of the case.
The back half must be constructed exactly like the front one with three
wheels and respective steering mechanism.
..
On both sides of the fork R supporting the front wheel A is attached the end
of a rod $ acting as a hinge in such a manner as to allow of free movements of
the rod or tube S up or down but not laterally.
Into the other ends of these two lateral rods or tubes S are attached movable
rings which may be slipped on to the respective upright bars Q before men-
tioned for connection of the two halves of the machine and the front wheel or
steering mechanism of the back half of machine will obey every movement of
the front half machine and at the same time will steer the movements of the
whole back half of the machine.
The steering mechanism is combined by connection of the two. front handle-
bars D, E, with the fork R of front wheel A by means of two small pulleys, U, V,
fixed to the handle-bars D E and one W to the fork R on which is placed two
steel bands X. Special handles Y Z provided. with ring lugs are clamped by
such ring lugs to the head of each frame.
This combination of the steering mechanism permits either one of the two
front cyclists to steer the machine by merely shifting the hands from the special
handles Y Z to the usual handles of handle-bars D, E.
This point is important for the purpose of the machine because if it is in
movement and by accident or disablement, the steering cyclist cannot continue
the control of the machine without halting, this control will be immediately taken
by the cyclist sitting with him side by side, thus if one of the two cyclists keeps
hold of the special handles Y Z only he cannot interfere with the steering of
the machine.
The connection between the two front handle-bars with front fork will be no
obstacle for attaching and detaching quickly and easily the before mentioned
lateral tandem frames from the case, for to detach the steering part of the two
lateral tandem frames it is only necessary to slip off the two steel bands from
the central pulley.
It is clear that the detached two lateral tandem frames can be easily trans-
formed into two usual tandems as it is only necessary to provide the frames with
relative wheels and front forks in the usual manner.
Another feature of the construction of this machine consists in the arrange-
ment of the bottom brackets a which allows the two back wheels B, C to be
placed in parallel order, and to connect one with the other by one general axle b
provided with differential arrangement. The differential mechanism employed
can be one of the several arrangements already known consisting, for instance,
in four gear or toothed mitre wheels disposed in manner to form a square.
Two opposite lateral tooth wheels are connected with the spindles of the wheels
of the machine, and the two horizontal tooth wheels are connected with the
chain wheel. The variation necessary for the differential combination employ-
able in my machine consists in the chain wheel. The two horizontal tooth wheels
before mentioned are fixed in my machine to a long tube or axle, each end of
which comes exactly behind the chain wheel existing in the first bottom bracket
close to the back of the machine, each end of the before mentioned tube being
provided with a chain wheel. The chain wheels of the two before mentioned
bottom brackets are connected by the usual chain with the chain wheels on the

page_text: before mentioned tube a differential spindle is obtained on which acts two chains
at two different points.
The special arrangement of the bottom brackets a employed in the construction
of this trapezoid machine is that every bottom bracket a comes in parallel lines
with the spindle b of the two back wheels.
The chain wheel d which is on one side of one bottom bracket a comes exactly
behind the chain wheel d on the opposite side of the next bottom bracket, thus
allowing the connection of all the chain wheels d, by their relative chains Mat
the same time retaining the trapezoid form of the whole of the machine.
This arrangement of the bottom brackets a is an important feature in carrying
out my invention as it permits the two driving wheels B, C, to be arranged
and driven in parallel order.
The machine described in this Specification for its form and different
specialities can be used for the transport of soldiers in masses, with arms,
ammunition, and provisions, and also other equipment or instruments necessary
for fighting purposes. On the top of the casings in convenient manner can be
fixed a quick firing gun or small revolving cannon.
Each half machine can be constructed to carry ten men, eight of these men
work on the pedals, and two sit on the back do no work because no pedals are
provided for them and it is evident this point gives the advantage that on
ascending a very steep hill, or in other similar circumstances the two back
men can jump off and assist to push the machine; also that as two men in
every ten do not have to work the pedals the result is that in a detachment of
one thousand soldiers, two hundred men will arrive at their destination fresh
and without requiring to rest will be ready for attack, defence, or guard duties.
This detachment will thus arrive provided with ammunition and reserve pro-
visions and will be in condition to support itself before the enemy for a consider-
able time. One kilometer of road can be occupied by three or four times the
quantity of soldiers riding on my machines than by using ordinary single cycles
for the reason that less intervals are necessary. The flank of the marching
detachment will be shorter and the cycle corps and cavalry can march together
supporting each other and both can arrive at one time at their destination which
is very important for military tactics.
The machines can be used for soldiers or other men employed for technical
works in general, for instance, for placing or destroying railways, bridges, tele-
graphs, and telephones. These man can carry with them the lightest or more
necessary instruments for their work.
On the top of the casing or other convenient position, accessories necessary
for the fire brigade or other purposes may be placed.
One other advantage consists in the stability of the machine, no balance being
necessary as in bicycles, it is therefore very easy to steer, and in halting it is
not necessary to dismount from machine; the open construction of the lateral
frames permitting very easy mounting or dismounting.
The stability of the machine can be further increased by the employment of
two steering wheels instead of only one.
In addition to the uses above referred to, the machine will be found very
advantageous for country excursions, picnics, and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The improvements in and connected with multi-cycles, consisting in the
combination of two tandem bicycle frames and a case or container, the whole
being held together by clips, and arranged in trapezoidal form and having one
steering wheel, as and in the manner set forth.
2. In a multi-cycle of the kind described in Claim 1, fixing the pedal brackets

page_text: at an angle to the framework of the machine, so that the chain gearing moves
in eschellon order to allow the back wheels to run in parallel order, as specified.
3. In a multi-cycle of the kind described in Claim 1, the particular method
of steering, and the mode of connecting one machine to another, as described
and shown.