IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTION, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN WHEELS EMPLOYED THEREIN, AND OF LEVELS USED THEREWITH, BUCH IMPROVED WHEEL AND LEVEL BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Michael Henry, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR LOCOMOTION, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN WHEELS EMPLOYED
THEREIN, AND OF LEVELS USED THEREWITH, BUCH IMPROVED WHEEL AND LEVEL
BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."-A communication from
abroad by José Gallegos, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Henry at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th January 1861.
I, MICHAEL HNRY, of 84, Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent
Agent. do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN APPARATUS FOR LOCOMOTION, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN WHEELS
EMPLOYED THEREIN, AND OF LEVELS USED THEREWITH, BUCH IMPROVED WHEEL AND
LEVEL BEING ALSO APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," (communicated to me from
abroad by José Gallegos, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France,)
to be as follows:-
By means of these arrangements power imparted or acquired for the
purpose of locomotion may be communicated from one point to another
in such manner as to increase speed to compensate for loss of power, or
vice versa, or to guide, impart, or vary the direction of motion, as required.
The means employed for obtaining and controlling or regulating the

page_text: locomotion of the carriage or vehicle in the desired manner include, first,
constructing apparatus in such manner as to apply the muscular power of
the limbs of a man acting as a motor for guiding or steering, backing, and
stopping the carriage or vehicle, and causing it to surmount obstructions
to its passage and to travel over inclines.
Secondly, employing the weight of a man acting as motor and conductor,
placing him in a vertical position sufficiently unsteady for his weight to oscil-
late from side to side, and produce propulsive power applicable to treadles,
pedals, or levers so contrived as to transmit motion to gearing or connections,
whereby power and speed may be increased or reduced.
Thirdly, the weight of a man on a seat placed on the top of a sort of
triangular piece, reversed pendulum, or rocking appliance, oscillating or
rocking on a centre or axis, such-weight being applied or falling on suitable
treadles or levers.
Fourthly, constructing arrangements, whereby a man acting as a motor may
bear vertically and alternately on two treadles or levers wherefrom the power
of the weight is transmitted to drums which cominunicate it to strong springs,
wherein the power is accumulated to be delivered therefrom.
Fifthly, obtaining power by the natural oscillation, action, and reaction
of mercury produced by throwing it out of level, such mercury being held
in and combined with receivers and apparatus for transmitting power to
which a man imparts the requisite impulsions.
Sixthly, the application of compressed air or a caloric engine, such as
Ericson's, or air expanded by electricity (as Lenoir's plan). The gearing
employed may be combined with endless or band chains to reduce space
occupied, weight, and bulk.
A carriage may be constructed, according to this Invention, mounted, for
example, on a pair of propelling wheels and a pair of guiding or steering
wheels. The propelling wheels may be actuated by an Ericson air engine, or
other motor acting thereon through suitable means of transmitting motion, for
which purpose it is preferred to use wheels of an improved construction, in
which the wheel consists of a number of pieces of wood fitted together in such
wise that all the teeth of the wheel may be cut in the direction of the grain
or in plankway of the grain instead of across it; an exemplification of which
is represented in Figures 1 and 2, in which the portions 1, 2, and 3 are first
put together, and the portions 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 dovetailed, morticed, or
suitably fitted or joined on to them; the teeth are cut of the curved or rounded
shape shewn in Figure 2, whereby friction is much reduced. The conductor
may act on the gearings or transmitting connections by means of treadles or

page_text: levers carrying a pair of curved levers or arms furnished with a click, ratchet,
catch, hook or tooth acting on a lantern wheel, or lantern or trundle, ora wheel
consisting of two discs connecting rounds, rails, struts, or bars; the motion so
obtained is communicated to the propelling wheels, only one lever being
thrown into gear with the wheel or lantern at a time, so that by shifting the
levers the direction of motion is reversed (the levers are connected by a
cross piece).
Various modes may be adopted for working the treadles or levers. One such
mode is exemplified in Figure 2, in which B is the conductor's moveable seat;
b, b, gyral drums containing mercury. A, pendulum or oscillating piece,
rocking on the centre O, and bearing by its arms t on the levers c. The con-
ductor may also steer the carriage by means of a wheel, on the under edge
whereof are a number of notches or orifices, in any one of which is inserted
the shank or stem of a stop piece; by removing which the conductor can turn
the wheel to the required extent, and fix it so by dropping the stop sbank in
the corresponding orifice, and as this wheel transmits its motion by an endless
chain and toothed wheel on an axis in the frame of the steering wheels (or by
other means of transmission), the inclination or direction of those wheels can
be varied, as required. The carriage can be driven up acclivities or inclines,
because the gearing being fitted in place with springs, some of the gearing
may be replaced by other gearing, as required, or a double set used for getting
more power with less speed.
For starting the carriage an arrangement, such as exemplified in Figure 4,
may be used, in which the drum A, carrying a ratchet a, trausmits motion to
the wheel G through the toothed wheels E, F, H, I, J, and K, and is actuated
by a band chain B and lever C, O, whereof O is the fulcrum, and C is the part
where the power is applied; D is a spring to restore the lever to place.
The level used for indicating inclines, in order that the gearing may be
accommodated or varied suitably and in sufficient time, consists of two bars or
pieces hinged or jointed together, one of which is to be placed on the ground
or surface travelled on (having preferably cross pieces for it to lic suitably
thereon), while the other is brought horizontal by means of a bubble or water
or fluid level fitted on it; this latter bar slides or moves in a graduated bar
or piece, which being placed vertical, and supposing the distance between it
and the hinge or joint be a certain known measure, say, a yard, for example,
the amount of gradient or incline per yard is readily indicated.
The improved construction of gear wheel and of level, herein described, are
applicable for purposes other than those of this Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Michael Henry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th July 1861.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MICHAEL
HENRY, of 84,Fleet Street, in the City of London, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred, and sixty-one, in the twenty-fourth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Michael Henry, Her special licence, that I, the said Michael Henry,my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Michael
Henry, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,use,exercise,and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS
FOR LOCOMOTION, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CERTAIN WHEELS EMPLOYED THEREIN
AND OF LEVELS USED THEREWITH, SUCH IMPROVED WHEEL AND LEVEL BEING ALSO
APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES," communicated to me from abroad by José
Gallegos, of 33, Boulevard Saint Martin, Paris, France, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Michael Henry, my executors or adminis
trators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands
and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Michael Heury, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, as communicated to me, reference being had to the accom-
panying Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
This Invention first relates to improvements in apparatus for locomotion.
By means of these arrangements power imparted or acquired for the purpose
of locomotion may be communicated from one point to another in such manner
as to increase speed to compensate for loss of power, or vice versâ, or to guide
or impart or vary the direction of motion, as required.
The means employed for obtaining and controlling or regulating the loco-

page_text: motion of the carriage or such like structure in the desired manner include.
first, constructing apparatus in such manner as to apply the muscular power
of the limbs of a man, acting as a motor, for guiding or steering, backing, and
stopping the carriage or vehicle, and causing it to surmount obstructions
presented to its passage, and to travel over inclines.
Secondly, employing the weight of a man acting both as motor and con-
ductor by placing him in a vertical position sufficiently unsteady for his weight
to oscillate from side to side, and produce propulsive power applicable to
treadles, pedals, or levers, so contrived as to transmit motion to gearing or
connections, whereby power and speed may be increased or reduced.
Thirdly, the weight of a man on a seat placed on the top of a sort of
triangular piece, reversed pendulum, or rocking appliance, oscillating or
rocking on a centre or axis, such weight being applied or falling on suitable
treadles or levers.
Fourthly, constructing arrangements whereby a man acting as a motor may
bear vertically and alternately on two treadles or levers, wherefrom the power
of the weight is transmitted to drums which communicate it to strong springs,
wherein the power is accumulated in order to be delivered therefrom.
Fifthly, obtaining power by the mutual oscillation, action, and reaction of
mercury produced by throwing it out of level, such mercury being held in and
combined with receivers and apparatus for transmitting power to which a man
imparts the requisite impulsions. 1 sometimes employ as my propulsive
agent to be applied with these improved arrangements, a compressed air or a
caloric engine, such as Ericson's, or air expanded by electricity (as Lenoir's
plan).
The gearing employed may be combined with endless or band chains to
reduce the space occupied, weight, and bulk.
A carriage may be constructed according to this Invention mounted, for
example, on a pair of propelling wheels, and a pair of guiding or steering
wheels. The propelling wheels may be actuated by an Ericson air engine, or
other like motor acting thereon through means of transmitting motion, for
which purpose I propose to use wheels of an improved construction, in which
the wheel consists of a number of pieces of wood fitted together in such wise
that all the teeth of the wheel may be cut in the direction of the grain, or in
plank way of the grain, instead of across it, an exemplification of which is
represented in Figures 4 and 5, and herein-after described in this construction,
the portions 1, 2, 3, are first put together, and other portions fitted or joined
on to them. The teeth are cut of the curved or rounded shape shewn in
Figure 5, whereby the friction is much reduced. The conductor acts on the

page_text: gearings or transmitting connections by means of treadles or levers carrying a
pair of curved levers or arms furnished with a click, ratchet, catch, hook, or
tooth acting on a lantern wheel, lantern or trundle (or a wheel consisting of
two discs connected by rounds, rails, struts, or bars); the motion so obtained is
communicated to the propelling wheels, only one arm is thrown into gear
with the wheel or lautern at one time, so that by shifting the levers the
direction of motion is reversed; the levers or arms are connected by a
cross piece.
Various modes may be adopted for working the treadles or levers, one such
mode is herein-after exemplified in Figure 7, in which there is a conductor's
moveable seat and gyral drums containing mercury placed on a pendulum or
oscillating piece rocking on a centre or axis, and bearing by its arms or limbs
on levers. The conductor may also steer the carriage by means of a wheel,
on the under edge of which are a number of notches or orifices, in any one
whereof is inserted the shank or stem of a stop piece, by removing which the
conductor can turn the wheel to the required extent, aud fix it so by dropping
the stop shank in the corresponding orifice; and as this wheel transmits its
motion by an endless chain and toothed wheel on an axis in the frame of the
steering wheels, or by other means of transmission, the inclination ordirection
of those wheels can be varied as required.
The carriage can be driven up acclivities or inclines, because the gearing
being fitted in place with springs, some of such gearing may be replaced by
other gearing as required; or a double set may be used in order to acquire
more power though with less speed.
For starting the carriage an arrangement such as exemplified in Figure 8,
and herein-after described, may be used, in which a drum carrying a ratchet
transmits motion to the propelling wheel through toothed wheels, and is
actuated by a band, chain, and lever; there is a spring to restore the lever
to place.
The level used for indicating inclines in order that the gearing may be
accommodated or varied in a suitable manner and in sufficient time, consists
of two bars or pieces hinged or jointed together, one of which is to be placed
on the ground or surface travelled on (such bar having preferably cross pieces
for it to lie suitably thereon), while the other bar is brought horizontal by
means of a "bubble" cr water or fluid level fitted on it; the latter bar slides
or moves in a graduated bar or piece, which being placed vertical, and
supposing the distance between it and the hinge or joint to be a certain known
measure, say, a yard, for example, the amount of gradient or incline per yard
will be readily indicated.

page_text: The improved construction of gear wheel and of level herein described are
applicable for purposes other than for those of this Invention.
Before proceeding particularly to explain with reference to the Drawings in
what manner the Invention may be carried into effect, I proceed to remark
that the Inventor states that he is aware that "neither the conducting appa-
"ratus of his improved carriage, nor indeed any other, produces any power of
"itself, but on the contrary that it absorbs or destroys a portion of the power
"supplied to it by reasou of the friction and inertia. But a properly con-
"structed machine is capable," he says, "by itself and by its powerful and
"regular action to render palpable certain of the truths and infallible laws of
"mechanics, such as the possibility of putting a weight in a state of equili-
"brium, or even in a state of motion, by supplying it with a fulcrum. But
"the Inventor does not suppose that when he applies an inconsiderable
"propulsive agency, such as that of a man unassisted by animal or steam
"power, that his mechanical arrangements will increase or produco power of
"themselves, but he believes that what he obtains is a powerful help to
"locomotion or auxiliary agency, resulting from the circumstance that a
"considerable portion of the resistance is destroyed by the fulcra. The solo
"objects therefore of the Inventor's improvements in locomotion are these:-
"That supposing power to have been imparted or acquired from any given
"source, he combines apparatus in such manner as to transmit such power
"from one point to another in such wise as to gain in speed what he loses in
"power, or vice versa, or to change the direction of motion from the original
"direction to the various directions that the purposes of locomotion may
"require. And knowing that there can be no motion without impulsion, and
"that the easiest motion and the simplest impulsion is preferable, he has
"called into play the combination of various powers applicable as so many
"auxiliary motors of his apparatus."
Figure 1, Sheet 1, is an elevation, and Figure 2 end view, of a carriage
with these improved arrangements applied; Figure 3, portion of the same in
plan. The carriage is supported on two propelling wheels A, A, and two
guiding or steering wheels B, B. The propelling wheels are driven by an
Ericson or air ergine, or by the weight of a man acting on treadles, motion
being communicated from the engine or the treadles to a train of wheels or
gearing, and thence to the propelling wheels A, whereby the carriage is put in
motion.
The arrangements shewn in red, Figure 1, are those used when an engine
is the motive power, and those shewn in blue when a man is the motor.
When an engine is used, the engine, which is not shewn in the Drawing,

page_text: transmits motion by straps and pullies, connecting arms, or equivalent means
to two axes c, and thence by the train of wheels d, e, f, g, h, k, shewn in red
lines, Figure 1, to the axis of the propelling wheels A. When treadles are
used they transmit motion by cranks or equivalents to the train of wheels
shewn in blue, and thence to the wheels A; but in either case, that is to say,
whether a man or engine be the motor, the number and arrangement of the
transmitting wheels or gearing may be varied to suit the speed desired (or the
power of the engine when one is used).
The gearing or toothed wheels used for thus transmitting motion are con-
structed of wood in the manner represented in Figures 4 and 5, that is to say,
three pieces 1, 2, 3, are put together as shewn, and then the pieces 4, 5, 0,
7,8, and 3 are fitted on them saddlewise, and joined to them, and the teeth are
cut of the peculiar rounded form shewn in Figure 5. The teeth are thus cut
in the grain or plankway of the wood, and are therefore much stronger than
ordinary wood tooth gearing, while their rounded configuration or outline
cause them when in gear to propel or drive one another on with more force
and less friction than usual in wood tooth gearing. mare treadles fixed at n,
intended for working the propelling wheels when an engine is not used. I
call these treadles m the "driving" treadles.
In Sheet 2, Figure 6 shews arrangements by which the driver, whether
acting as motor or steersman, can communicate either a forward or backward
motion to the carriage at pleasure; for this purpose, he actuates the lever m
in the required direction. This lever is connected by links n to the arms o, o';
those arms are connected to each other by a cross piece p, and oscillate on
axes 1,, in the "driving "treadle 3. The arms terminating in bent or hooked
ends, by which one or other of them is caused at pleasure to engage the teeth
or rounds of the lantern wheel or trundle q, so that they act as a sort of
drivers, only one of them o or o¹ so engaging it at a time, while the other is
free, and the arm so catching the wheel prevents it from turning in one
direction while forcing it, and therefore the propelling wheel to turn in the
other direction when the "driving" treadle is worked, so that the direction of
motion of the carriage depends on which of the two arms o or o¹ is caused to
take into the wheel q. The treadle 3 propels the carriage. Motion is com-
municated from the wheel q to the propelling wheels A by the train of wheels
7, s, shewn in dotted lines. The driver can act upon the treadles by any one
of the modes herein-before described.
Figure 7, Sheet 2, shews one of these arrangements, in which A is a
rocking piece, which I denominate a pendulum, and which has its fulcrum or
axis at o; it acts upon the treadles or levers c by its projecting limbs t, and is

page_text: hollowed at top, where a moveable seat B is placed mounted on gyral
cylinders b containing mercury. When the driver is placed directly on the
seat, or when he causes the "pendulum" A to rock in the manner indicated by
the red lines, the arms or limbs t will bear upon the levers or driving
treadles c, and motion will be thence communicated to the propelling wheels;
in this instance the mercury acts as a fly wheel, producing a continuous
motion of the propelling wheels.
In the examples shewn in Figures 1 and 2, the man is seated on the piece
W, and steers the carriage by means of a wheel Z furnished with a stop z
The wheel Z is mounted on a vertical shaft w, on which is an endless chain a
passing over a toothed wheel k, the axis U of which is in the centre of the
framework V of the two guiding wheels B, so that by turning the wheel Z,
these wheels B can be brought to the desired angle, and even turned com-
pletely round their axis if required. Round the wheel Z, on its under surface
are holes or notches, into which a long rod, having the stop or stud z at its
end is dropped, as required, so that when the wheel B is to be fixed at any
desired position the stud z is raised, and the rod dropped into the hole cor-
responding to such position, thus retaining the wheel Z, and hence the wheels B
at the same. The driver can thus guide or steer the carriage, whether it be
propelled by the action. of his feet or by an air or caloric engine. The
carriage may have trains of wheels and treadles specially arranging formiddling
or great speeds, or for the purpose of getting increased power when travelling
on very uneven surfaces or steep inclines.
Figure 8, Sheet 2, represents an arrangement for transmitting motion to
the propelling wheels, in which the driver acts on a lever or treadle o, c, to
which is attached a chain B passing over a grooved pulley or drum on the
axis of the ratchet wheel A, and fastened at the other end to a spring D. By
working the treadle o, c, the ratchet wheel, and hence the wheels e, f, h, j, k,
are set in motion, and motion is thus transmitted to the propelling wheel G.
Figure 8 is a plan of Fig. 8.
I do not restrict myself to the precise details herein described for actuating
the wheels or treadles. In Figure 1 the propelling wheels are shewn towards
the back of the carriage, but they may be placed towards the front, according
to the intended application of the same.
Figures 9, 10, and 11, Sheet 1, represent the improved level, which consists
of two wood bars E, F, hinged together at I. G is a bubble or water level fitted
on the bar F; H, H, are two cross pieces fixed on the under surface of the bar
E for it to lie steadily on the ground; J is a grooved graduated vertical bar
attached to the bar E. The way to use the level is as follows:-The bar E

page_text: is placed on the ground, and the bar I brought to a horizontal position, which
can be ascertained by means of its bubble or level; the bar moves in the
groove in the bar J; then supposing the distance between the hinge I and the
bar J to measure exactly, say, one yard, or other fixed measurement, the pre-
cise gradient can be readily calculated from the position taken by the bar Fin
the bar J.
Having now described the nature of this Invention, and in what manner the
same may be performed, I declare that though I have mentioned the use as
propelling agents of air and caloric engines, and of air expanded by electricity,
I lay
no claim herein to the Invention of such engines or propelling agents;
also I know that the limbs of men have before acted as sources of motive
power without the use of engines; and I declare that what I claim is,
First, arranging and combining apparatus for locomotion in the manner,
and to operate as herein-before described.
Second, the arrangement and combination of parts forming the means of
locomotion herein-before described for acting on the treadles, and this I
claim, whatever be the means adopted for transmitting motion from the
treadles to the lantern wheel.
Third, the improved wood-toothed or gear wheels with rounded teeth,
herein-before described, and the forming of the same in the grain or plankway
of the wood.
Fourth, the improved level herein-before-described, in so far as regards the
arrangement and combination of parts of which the same consists.
Fifth, the arrangement and combination of parts herein-before described,
forming the arrangements for directing, guiding, or controlling the direction
of carriages or vehicles.
In witness whereof, I, the said Michael Henry, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of July, in the year One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-one.
Witness,
S. E. A. NEWSOME,
Patent Office,
84, Fleet S., London.
M. HENRY. (L.S.)