IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1870

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Adams at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th June
1870.
I, SAMUEL ADAMS, of Saltley, near Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Railway Carriage Builder, do hereby declare the nature of
my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES," to be as follows
(that is to say) :—
My improvements relate to three-wheeled velocipedes, and consist in
applying, by preference, a double crank axis above the main axis of the
two hind wheels, and to the crank axis I apply a cog or toothed wheel at
each end within the wheels, differing materially in their diameter, and
on the main axis I apply corresponding gear wheels, with the exception
that beneath the large wheel on the crank axis I apply a small wheel on
the main axis, giving to the crank axis a lateral motion, so as to bring
the large or small wheel on the crank axis in gear as desired. In

page_text: connection with the cranks on the crank axis I apply compound pedal
levers working on an axis crossing the frame of the carriage.
The guide or front directing wheel may be secured to an axis passing
through a forked vertical support, which support works through a strong
vertical eye secured to the fore part of the frame of the carriage; this
support has a lateral projection or its equivalent, which admits of a
connecting rod being attached and brought back and united conveniently
to a short lever by which the occupier may turn or direct the front
wheel.
A carriage thus constructed with one of its main wheels securely
keyed to the axis in connection with it, and a connecting and discon-
necting clutch applied for holding or freeing the other wheel that it may
revolve on or with its axis, and a seat conveniently placed above the
rider may take his seat, and by the rise and fall of his feet alternately
work the pedals; and I will suppose he is on a level road and speed an
object, in which case he will laterally move and secure the large cog
wheel on the crank axis, so as to bring it in gear with the smaller wheel
on the main axis, and just in proportion to their different sizes so will
he gain speed, that is to say, if the circumference of the larger cog wheel
is double that of the one in gear with it, its revolution will cause the
wheel on the main shaft to make two revolutions, and advance the
carriage to the extent of double the peripheries of the main wheels; but
supposing that a hill is to be ascended, he will reduce the speed and gain
power by shifting the crank axis so as to bring the smaller gear wheel
with the larger cog wheel on the main axis; and again, when turning?
a corner or short curve it will be necessary to disconnect the clutch
from the one wheel in connection with it, so as to permit the wheel
adapting itself to the ground to be covered in the off or inner curve it
may be required to make.
This simple combination permits a man to travel by the force of his 3
own exertion with comparative ease at the rate of ten miles per hour,
and carry a moderate weight with him

page_text: back seat may give their portion of force to the propulsion, and the
front wheel may be arranged with a double crank and a saddle, with
guiding apparatus similar to the ordinary bicycle, so that it can be
utilized for an additional rider not only to guide and direct the carriage
but to assist in propelling the same.