IMPROVEMENTS IN HAND POWER VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: t
"
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the firm of A. M. and Wm. Clark, of
53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Institute of Patent
Agents, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN HAND POWER VEHICLES," and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Reference is to be had to the accompanying Drawings forming a part of this
Specification in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in
all the Figures.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of the improvement, partly in section. Figure 2,
is a plan view of a part of the endless chain and its draw rods, showing their
connection. Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same. Figure 4 is a plan
view of the vehicle. Figure 5 is a rear elevation of a wheel hub, and its pawl and
ratchet wheel, parts being broken away. Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the
same taken through the line cx Figure 5.
The object of this Invention is to secure greater efficiency in the application of
power to the running mechanism of hand power vehicles.
The Invention consists in a hand power vehicle provided with hand levers
pivoted to the frame and connected with a chain wheel attached to the axle of
the drive wheels, the said axle and drive wheels being connected by ratchet
wheels and pawls, so that the vehicle will be forced forward by oscillating the
Baid levers.
To the side bars of the frame are attached stops to limit the movement of the
levers in either direction, and prevent the point of attachment of the lever
connecting-rods to the endless chain from coming in contact with either of the
chain wheels and clogging or breaking the vehicle.
The endless chain passes around a chain wheel pivoted to a clevis attached
to a rod which passes through a bar of the frame, and is provided with a hand nut
so that the tension of the said endless chain can be readily adjusted.
A represents the frame of the vehicle which is formed of a single bar bent into
suitable form to receive the operating appliances as shown in Figures 1 and 4.
In bearings attached to the rear part of the frame A, revolves the axle B of the

page_text: drive wheels C. To the axle B, at the inner ends of the hubs of the wheels C are
attached ratchet wheels D, with the teeth of which engage pawls E. The pawls E
pass along the hubs of the wheels C, and are secured at their outer ends to the
outer parts of the said hubs. The pawls E pass through keepers F attached to
the inner parts of the hubs of the wheels C, and are held down upon the teeth
of the ratchet wheels D, by springs G placed within and secured to the said
keepers F, (see Figure 5).
To the centre of the axle B, is attached a chain wheel H, around which passes
an endless chain I. The chain I also passes around a chain wheel J pivoted to
a clevis K, to the bend of which is attached the rear end of a rod L. The rod L
passes through the centre of the lower part of the frame A, and has a hand nut M,
screwed upon its forward end, so that the tension of the chain I can be regulated
by adjusting the said nut M.
To a link of the chain I, is secured by two clamping plates N, and a bolt O
(see Figure 3) or by other suitable means, the rear ends of two rods P, which
incline from each other, as shown in Figure 4, and are pivoted at their forward
ends to the lower ends of two levers Q. The lovers are pivoted to the opposite
sides of the forward part of the frame A, and their upper ends project into such
positions that they can be readily grasped and operated by the rider sitting upon
the seat R attached to the frame A, a little in front of the axle B. With this
construction when the upper ends of the levers Q are drawn to the rearward,
the upper part of the chain I is drawn forward turning the chain wheel H, and
axle B, and causing the ratchet wheel D and pawl E to turn the drive wheels C.
As the upper-ends of the levers-Q are pushed- forward-for-another stroke,-tho
upper part of the chain I is pushed to the rearward, turning the chain wheel H,
axle B, and ratchet wheel D backward, and causing the teeth of the said ratchet
wheel D to slide past the pawl E without affecting the forward revolution of the
drive wheels C, so that a forward impulse will be given to the drive wheels C
every time the upper ends of the levers Q are drawn to the rearward. If desired
the chain wheel H, can be connected with the axle B, by a pawl and ratchet wheel,
so that the rearward movement of the chain I, will turn back only the chain
wheel H, the axle B continuing its forward revolution with the drive wheels C.
To the side bars of the frame A, in the rear of the pivots of the levers Q, are
attached blocks Z having the upper and lower sides of their forward ends bevelled
for the said levers to strike against, as they are oscillated, so as to limit the
movements of the said levers and prevent the point of attachment of the rods P
to the endless chain I from being carried so far in either direction as to come in
contact with either of the chain wheels H, J, and thus clog the vehicle, or cause
a breakage of the chain or chain wheels.
To the centre of the forward end of the frame A is pivoted the standard T, the 4
lower part of which is forked and to and between the lower ends of the branches
thus formed, is pivoted the small steering wheel U. To the upper end of the
standard T is attached a crosshead V to the ends of which are attached, or upon
them are formed, plates or flattened parts W, as shown in Figures 1 and 4, for the
driver to rest the forward parts of his feet upon. To the end parts of the front 4
bar of the frame A, are attached angular plates S, for the driver to rest his heels
upon, while the forward parts of his feet rest against the plates or toe rests W.
In using the vehicle the driver rests his heels upon the plates or rests S and the
forward parts of his feet against the rests W, and when he wishes to turn to one
side he presses with the forward part of one of his feet against the plate W, upon 5
the side from which he wishes to turn which turns the wheel U, and with it the
vehicle in the desired direction.
To the front cross bar of the frame A, is attached the forward end of a spring X,
to the rear end of which is attached a brake shoe Y so that the rider can stop the
vehicle by placing a foot upon the brake shoe Y, and pressing the said shoe against 5
the wheel II.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1 In a hand power vehicle, the combination with the frame A, and the axle B,
of an endless chain passing around chain wheels on the frame and axle, and hand
levers pivoted to the frame and having their lower ends connected to the said
endless chain, substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd In a hand power vehicle the combination with the front cross-bar of the
frame A, of the spring X secured to said arm, and provided with the brake shoe Y,
at its free end, substantially as described.
3rd In a hand power vehicle, the combination with the frame A, and the hand
levers Q, of the stops Z, substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the
movements of the said hand levers are limited, as set forth.
4th In a hand power vehicle, the combination with the frame A, the axle B, and
the drive wheels C of the hand levers Q, the endless chain I, the chain wheels H, J,
and the ratchet wheels and pawls D, E, substantially as herein shown and described,
whereby the vehicle will be driven forward by the movements of the said levers,
as set forth.
5th In a hand power vehicle, the combination with the frame A, the chain
wheel J, and the endless chain I, of the clevis K, the rod L, and the band nut M,
substantially as herein shown and described, whereby the tension of the said
endless chain can be readily regulated, as set forth.
Dated this 15th day of April 1884.
A. M. CLARK.
By his Agents,
A. M. & W. Clark.