IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Gilbert Walker, of No. 26, Calcot Crescent, Regent's
Park Road, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN VELOCIPEDES.”
Sealed the 12th March 1878, and dated the 18th September 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Gilbert Walker at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1877.
GILBERT WALKER, of No. 26, Calcot Crescent, Regent's Park Road, in the
County of Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.
This Invention relates to improvements in velocipedes which may be made with
either three or four wheels.
The machine has two large driving wheels fixed to a double crank shaft. The
body consists of a frame supported on bearings, resting in front on the double
crank shaft, affixed at each extremity at the wave of a driving or large wheel,
and at the back over one (or two) small wheels. From the centre of the frame
is a vertical tube, upon which a saddle platform, either sliding up and down
on the vertical tube (a projecting spur preventing any lateral action) and sup-
ported by a spiral spring, or the saddle may be affixed to a suitable flat spring.
The saddle has a back rest, and can be made to slide on its platform backwards
or forwards. It is thus placed as much above the treadles as the rider's length
of legs will admit, giving him the advantage of direct downward action (as with
a bicycle) whilst the whole weight of his body is supported. A short rider can
therefore drive the largest wheels, and is at the same time raised sufficiently
high from the road to be enabled to see over edges, &c.
This velocipede may be made with one or two back wheels, and guided by the
front or back wheel (or wheels), if by the former a vertical rod having the front
wheel's frame attached to it, would pass through the vertical tube and be sur-
mounted with the two guiding arms coming round the rider from behind, and
having at their ends haudles, which may be at will be used either perpendicularly,
horizontally, or at any angle between, that may best suit the rider. From the
lower extremity of the vertical tube is affixed the back part of the frame carrying

page_text: the back wheel (or wheels). It therefore follows that as the saddle is fixed to
the back part of the body or frame (although in front of its movable centre or
vertical tube) the rider turns the front wheels by pulling the handles or resting
his arms or body on the guiding arms, or by his feet on the treadles (as with a
bicycle).
If the machine is to be guided by the back wheel (or wheels) the body would
not be jointed in the centre, as above described, but carried back to a point above
the back wheel (or wheels), where a fixed rod would descend perpendicularly; on
this rod a tube (having a fork attached for the small wheel (or wheels) to revolve
in) would turn a nut and washer on the extremity of the rod, and between the
fork would prevent the tube coming off. At the top of this tube and between it
and the body would be a spiral spring to prevent or lessen the jar from rough-
ness of road. The vertical tube carrying the saddle platform having a rod attached
to the guiding arms (before mentioned) passing through it, at the lower end of
which is fixed a short horizontal rod and having a direction traverse to the medial
line of the machine; to this is pivoted or hinged a horizontal rod, pivoted or hinged
at its other end to a still shorter horizontal rod affixed to the upright tube carry-
ing the back wheel (or wheels), but in the opposite direction to the other short
rod, the object of the opposite directions being that when the rider pulled the
guiding handle to the right the machine would run to the right, or vice versa
(us with the ordinary bicycle, and the fact that the first-mentioned short hori-
zontal rod being longer than the second, a slight movement of the guiding arms
would give considerable movement to the hind wheel (or wheels), making guid-
ing easier.
The brake is a flat surfaced drum affixed to the driving shaft of the front
wheels, having around it a flat metal band affixed at one end to the body of the
machine, and capable of being tightened or made to clasp the drum firmly either
by the action of a lever applied by the hand or foot, and so arranged that when
at its tightest the lever could be set fast by slipping over a catch, notch, or
otherwise, thus making the machinery stationary for mounting, dismounting, rest-
ing whilst ascending a hill, or for any other purpose; or the band might be
tightened by a screw worked by a hand lever handle giving the same results.
For assisting whilst mounting hills or driving over heavy ground is affixed to
the driving shaft either a wheel cut with diagonal teeth (about eight), into which
work the threads of an endless screw having a perpendicular shaft attached to
bearings fixed on the body of the machine, and surmounted by a crank handle, by
the turning of which (eight times, if eight teeth) with the hand the rider would
cause the driving wheels to revolve once. This screw would be drawn up auto-
matically by a spring when not in use, thus disconnecting it from the tooth
wheel to save friction, wear, and tear. Whilst ascending hills this screw acts
as an absolute brake at any moment the rider stops turning it, thus enabling rest
at any moment; or this effect could be produced by having affixed to the driving
shaft on either side of the body of the machine à large cog wheel, and on the
body in proper position a pinion or small cog wheel to be turned by supplimen-
tary treadles, thus requiring the feet to make several revolutions of the cog
pinions to cause one of the driving wheels, thereby gaining power at the expense
of speed. These supplimentary treadles and cranks would also be disconnected
when not in use.
The main treadles are slipped over their cranks, held in position by pins, and
weighted to ensure always being right side up.
Leg rests are arranged for use whilst descending hills, when the brake would
exert perfect control over the machine.
This machine will readily carry a basket, portmanteau, or any light receptacle
for baggage, and is capable of being constructed for more than one passenger,
and can be so put together as to admit of being readily taken to pieces for carry-
ing through small doorways, stowage or carriage by rail, and other similar useful
purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Gilbert Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th March
1878..
GILBERT WALKER, of No. 26, Calcot Crescent, Regent's Park Road, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.'
This Invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, which may be made
with three or four wheels, as also some parts are also applicable to the ordinary
bicycle.
The machine has two large front wheels attached to a double crank shaft in
front and one or two smaller hind wheels. The body consists of a frame sup-
ported in front on bearings on the double crank shaft, and at the back over the
hind wheel or wheels. From the centre of the frame is a vertical tube upon
which is the saddle platform, either sliding up and down on the vertical tube (a
projecting spur preventing lateral motion) supported by a spiral spring, or the
saddle may be fixed to a suitable flat spring attached to the platform, which latter
can be adjusted by set screws on the perpendicular tube at any height to suit
the length of the rider's legs.
The saddle has a back rest and can be made to slide on its platform backwards
or forwards. It is thus placed as much above the treadles as necessary, and gives
the rider the advantage of direct downward action (as with the bicycle), whilst
the whole weight of the body is supported. A short rider can thus drive the
largest machine, and is at the same time raised sufficiently out of the dust of the
road and enabled to see the country through which he passes.
The guiding may be effected by either the front or back wheel or wheels. If by
the former a vertical rod having the front wheel frame attached to it would pass
through the vertical tube and be surmounted by the two guiding arms coming
round the rider from behind, and having at their extremities handles pivotted,
which may at will be used either perpendicularly, horizontally, or at any angle
between that may best suit the rider. From the lower extremity of the vertical
tube is fixed the back part of the frame carrying the back wheel or wheels. It
therefore follows that as the saddle is fixed to the vertical tube, and consequently
to the best part of the frame (although in front of its moveable centre), the rider
turns the front wheels by pulling the handles or resting his arms or body on the
guiding arms, or by his feet on the treadles (as with the bicycle).
To guide by the back wheel or wheels the body or frame would not be jointed,
as above described, but carried back to a point above the back wheel or wheels,
where a fixed rod would descend perpendicularly. On this rod a tube (having
at its lower extremity a fork for the wheel or wheels to revolve in) would turn;
a nut and washer on the extremity of the rod and between the fork would pre-
vent the tube coming off. At the top of this tube and between it and the body or
frame would be a spiral spring to lessen the jar caused by the roughness of the
road. The vertical tube carrying the saddle platform being fixed to the frame
should have a rod attached to the guiding arms (before mentioned passing
through it, at the lower end of which is fixed a short horizontal rod having a
direction transverse to the medial line of the machine. To this is hinged a hori-
zontal rod pivotted or hinged at its other end to a still shorter horizontal rod
fixed to the upright tube carrying the back wheel or wheels, but in the opposition
direction to the other short rod; the object of the opposite directions being that
when the rider pulls the guiding arms to the right the machine would run to the
right, or vice versa (as with an ordinary bicycle), and the fact of the first-mentioned
short horizontal arm being longer than the second would cause, with very slight
movement of the guiding arms, a considerable movement of the hind wheel or
wheels, making guiding easier.
The two front wheels are fitted to revolve independently on the double-crank

page_text: shaft, which also revolves in the two ends of the front of the body or frame.
Near one end of the shaft is fixed a drum or flat-edged wheel, the nave of the
adjoining wheel having also a drum of equal diameter fixed to it, these two drums
working side by side. Around these drums is a flat metal band (or with wooden
blocks) affixed at one end to the body of the machine, and at the other to a
lever, which lever is also pivoted or hinged to the body in such a manner that
the flat band surrounds the drums, and is capable of being tightened on them by
pulling the lever, or by the action of a screw with crank handle.
The lever may be arranged to be worked by the foot. When the lever is at
its tightest it can be slipped behind a projecting spur on the body and set fast,
thus rendering the machine stationary for mounting, dismounting, or resting
whilst ascending a hill, or for any other purpose.
Blocks of wood, or other suitable material, may be used on the lever without
the metal band, so that by the pressure of the lever or screw they impinge on
the surface of the drums. This friction break is so powerful that the steepest
(practical) hills may be descended at any pace at the will of the rider.
The driving wheel, which revolves on the opposite end of the double-crank
shaft, has a circular box on the inner side of its nave, surrounded on its inner
surface with cogs presenting themselves from the circumference to the centre,
and around the centre of the nave in the bottom of this box a circular series of
holes at equal distances from each other, and in a circle round the centre of the
nave. The driving or double-crank shaft between its fitting in the driving wheel
and its bearing in the body or frame is square, oval, or made with a spur, so that
a correspondently shaped tube can slip readily along it, but cannot turn round
on it.
On the outer end of this tube is a cog wheel half the diameter of the one
on the nave of the driving wheel; on the outer flat surface of this small cog
wheel are several pins or projections to correspond with the holes around the
nave of the driving wheel into which they fit, and are kept in situation by a
strong spiral spring around the driving shaft. When in this position the driving
wheel and shaft are practically, and, to all intents and purposes, fixed together;
and for every revolution of the shaft the wheel must turn once also (giving a
speed motion as with the ordinary bicycle). Projecting from the frame of the
machine, and exactly midway between the cogs of the two wheels, already
described (which cogs present themselves towards each other), is a fixed pin or
rod on which revolves another cog wheel, the same size as the centre one, already
mentioned. A spiral spring keeps this middle cog wheel half way within the
cog box on the driving wheel, so that during speed motion the three cog wheels
are out of gear: but at will, for passing heavy ground or mounting hills, the
rider can press forward a lever centering on the same stationary pin that carries
the connecting cog wheel, when a spur on the lever enters a screw thread on the
outside of the square (or other shaped) tube, already mentioned, which causes
it to move along the square or shaped part of the driving shaft, bringing with it
the little cog wheel, which, having a flange on its outer side, picks up the con-
necting cog wheel, and brings it into gear with the large cog wheel, and at the
same time withdraws the pins or projections from the nave of the driving wheel.
A spring catch, holding all wheels in this new position, it follows that for every
three revolutions of the driving shaft there is but one revolution of the driving
wheel, thus creating a practically irrisistibly power motion. By reversing the lever
the catch is released, and the spiral springs immediately reproduce the speed
motion as before.
These cog wheels can be arranged so that, on moving the lever, it plays on a
transverse triangular crank joint, forcing the connecting cog outwards, whilst
at the same time it pulls the centre cog inwards, thus putting the three in and
out of gear by pressure instead of springs, the lever locking to keep them in
situation until released by the rider.
The treadles are slipped over the cranks, held in position by linch pins, and

page_text: ..) Leg rests are, arranged for use whilst descending hills, the break exerting
perfect control over the machine:
This machine will readily carry a basket, portmanteau, or any light receptacle
for luggage, and is capable of being constructed for more than one passenger, and
can be so put together as to admit of being easily taken to pieces for carrying
through narrow doorways, stowage, carriage by rail, and other similar useful
purposes.
.. Ti
It has the advantage of the bicycle for position of the rider, whereby he brings
into. play, mainly, the ordinary muscles used in walking, giving him great
power of endurance, and, direct action on the crank, instead of intermediate
ireadles or connecting bars or chains, raises him out of the dust of the road, and
onables him to see over the hedges, as he rides along. Has a back to the saddle
which rests the loins, and gives greater force to the foot thrust. Ready adjust-
ment of the saddle platform to suit the height of any man, whereby the short
legged: can ride with ease the largest machine, and it can be used by ladies as
well as gentlemen.
The two large wheels in front, supporting equally the right and left alternate
thrusts of the feet, render an upset almost impossible, whilst the power of the
break ensures safety, and the power motion renders walking up hills (instead of
iding) quite unnecessary. It can be turned in its own length.
The saddle may be covered with a suitably shaped bag of,suple but non-
expansive material, such as india-rubber in strong canvas, and filled with water
or other fluid for easy riding.
"
The saddle for ladies, whilst having the anatomical form found so comfortable
by men, may have a curtain of elastic material reaching from the apex to the
bipadest parts of the seat, thus giving it, when out of use, the appearance of a
broad seat without altering its utility.
My improvements further consist of making the tyres of india-rubber, having
segments of metal, metal wire, metal wire rope, or any strong cord or core im-
bedded in its substance near the inner surface of its circumference, and at given
intervals wires or staples embracing the core, and having shier shanks projecting
from the india-rubber tyre towards the centre of its circle. These shanks are to
be tapped with a screw thread, and have screw nuts fitted. Corresponding holes
are, to be made in the metal rim of the wheel, and the shanks passed through
and fastened by screwing on the nuts (with washers), rivetting, bending, or
otherwise, thus. rendering the coming off the tyres simply impossible.
My improvements also consist in making the lamp to swing easily with the
motion of the machine, and in so swinging to act upon an elastic bag or other
form of bellows (metallic or otherwise) having a valve opening inwards for ad-
mission of air, and a valve opening outwards for its expulsion, this last in com-'
munication with the interior of the lamp, so that the more the lamp is shaken or
jerked, the greater will be the amount of fresh air pumped into it, making it
Lurn the brighter, instead of going out as heretofore.
The handles. (annlicable also for the ordinary bicycle) are made to hinge up-
wards to the perpendicular, or beyond the perpendicular, with an incline towards
each other, or downwards to the horizontal, being fixed at each position by a flat
spring acting on a flat surface similar to the blade and back spring of an ordinary
penknife. The object and advantage being to rest the muscles of the rider's
fore arms by casy change of position, instead of being as at present kept at the
most fatiguing. and constrained tension of the horizontal.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 represents a general view, shewing all my improvements, also the
lamp: A. A, screw. connecting guiding arms: B, moveable handles; C, saddle
back D, D, vertical tube: E, saddle; F, saddle spring; G, saddle stage; I, lamp
attached to: J. J. J. lever and power motion; K, K, K, K, lever friction brake;

page_text: L, L, L, body or frame; M, double-crank shaft; M, M, treadles; 0,1 short
horizontal guiding rod; P, long ditto; Q, shortest ditto; R, back wheel spring;
S, steering wheel; T, T, T, T, nut and washer for screwing on tyre; U, driving
wheel; V, wheel, free on double crank, except when brake is applied.
Fig. II., power motion in gear; the same letters of reference in Figs. II., III.,
and IV. indicate similar parts in each of those Figures; J, lever for power
motion; L, part of body; M, double crank shaft; a, section of nave of driving
wheel, showing cog box: b, spindle of double-crank shaft for power motion of
wheel; c, square portion of crank shaft; d, bearing of crank shaft in the body:
e, e, spiral springs to shift cog wheels; f, f, cog wheel sliding on square part of
crank shaft, with deep screw thread cut in its shank for key of lever to work-in
when putting wheels into gear; g, g, lever stock and key to put cog wheel into
gear; h, h, h, h, pins and corresponding holes to attach cog wheels g to nave of
driving wheel a for speed motion; i, flange on cog wheel to bring connecting
cog wheel into gear with itself: j, connecting cog wheel; k, spindle for con-
necting cog wheel, its spring and power lever J.
Fig. III. represents speed motion in gear.
Fig. IV., plan of cog box in nave of driving wheel, with cogs set for power
motion a, cog box in nave of driving wheel; f, f, cog wheel sliding on square
part of crank shaft; c, square centre for crank shaft; j, connecting cog wheel:
k, centre for spindle; i, Hange of cog wheel f to bring connecting cog wheel j
into gear.
Fig. V., plan of brake friction; K, lever for friction brake; L, part of body
or frame M, M, crank shaft; «, nave of wheel; b, spindle of crank shaft on
which the wheel (Fig. I., V.) works free; c, c, friction drum on nave of break.
wheel; d, d, friction drum on double crank shaft, and therefore in connection
with driving wheel, so that when the brake is applied, both large wheels are
simultaneously affected: c, e, e, e, broad metal band to grip the drums when the
lever is applied; f, the lever with the friction band attached; g, the lever
spindle.
Fig. VI., side elevation of friction brake; K, lever for brake; L, part of body
or frame; a, nave of break wheel; b, pivot of brake lever to body of machine;
e, attachment of friction band to body of machine; f, attachment of friction
band to lever; d, projecting spur to slip lever over to lock the brake; e, e, e, e, the
friction band.
Fig. VII., morable handles, side view, a guiding arm; B, the handle per-
pendicular, and dotted lines showing it at an angle, inclining to the centre and
horizontal; a, base of handle, having three flat sides for the spring to work
on b, strong flat spring to keep the handle in situation.
Fig. VIII, end elevation of Fig. VII., and lettered the same.
Fig. IX. & X., transverse and longitudinal sections of tyre and its attachment
to the felloe; T, screw nut and washer, shaped to fit the felloe of the wheels;
a, the india-rubber; b, the strong core; c, the screw-shanked staple with the
core through its eye; d, d, the felloe with the tyre screwed in situation.
It will thus be seen from the foregoing description and from the Drawings
that the machine is formed of a triangular frame or body, having two large
wheels in front and one or two small ones behind, touching the ground almost at
the angles of an equalateral triangle, the two front wheels being connectel
by a double-crank shaft for the rider's feet to work direct upon, and that from
the centre of the triangle an upright tube rises, on which is fixed a saddle plat-
torm, on which is the saddle, which has a back rest supporting the loin³, and
giving thereby greater force to the foot thrust when necessary. From behind
the rider on each side come semicircular guiding arms, giving him something
the appearance of riding in an arm chair with the upright position of the
ordinary bicyclist,

page_text: Having thus described the nature and object of my said Invention, I declare
that what I claim and desire to be secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters l'atent is,―
Firstly. The general arrangement and combination of parts together forming
my improvements in velocipedes, substantially as herein-before described, and
shewn on the Drawings, Fig. I
Secondly. The construction of the guiding arms for working from behind the
rider, herein-before described, and shewn on the Drawings, Fig. I., letter A.
Thirdly. The moveable handles, herein-before described, and shewn on Draw-
ings Fig. VII. & VIII.
Fourthly. The peculiar arrangement of cog wheels and their working gear
for the purpose of imparting power and motion, substantially as herein-before
described, and as particularly shewn on Figs. II., III, and IV.
And, Fifthly. The friction brake, as herein-before described, and shewn on
Drawings, Figs. V. and VI.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gilbert Walker, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
GILBERT WALKER. (L.S.)