Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 16th June, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 16th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 27th Apr., 1889
We, ISAAC WATTS BOOTHROYD, of 47 Farringdon Road, Manager, MARTIN
DIEDERICH RUCKER of 32 Holborn Viaduct, Manager, and PHILIP LOUIS RENOUF
of 47 Farringdon Road, Engineer, all in the County of Middlesex declare the nature
of our said invention to be as follows:-
Our improvements refer principally to velocipedes which are capable of carrying
the weight of a second rider or other burden, and we construct these machines with the
driving wheel or wheels behind and the steering wheel or wheels in front, we place the
weight of the rider & the luggage or of the two riders between the steering and
the driving wheels. When we employ a pair of driving wheels mounted on a balance
geared axle, the saddle and pedalling gear of both riders are placed in front of this
axle, a machine so constructed being more easily propelled uphill than when the
weight of one rider is behind the axle, as is usually the case.
Similarly, on tricycles with one driving and two steering wheels, the weight of the
front rider is placed behind the centres of the latter, and not in front of the same, so
as to increase the hold of the driving wheel on the ground. Where a tricycle of this
type is used as a carrier, two tubular arms, which serve as the steering handles, carry
a cross tube, to which the steering head is attached, and two studs, round which the
loose wheels revolve. These two arms project forward beyond the cross tube and
form a support for the basket or other receptacle with which the carrier is fitted. In
the case of the machine being used as a tandem tricycle, the two side arms form the
handles of the front rider, the back rider preferably steering by means of connecting
rods passing under the seat of the front rider and attached to the steering head.
Where we use a two wheeled velocipede, or bicycle for carrying purposes, we place
the articles to be carried on suitable supports attached to the front forks of machine,
and situated behind the line of steering, so that the weight of the articles carried will
tend to keep the steering wheel in a straight direction. The most advantageous form

page_text: of rear driving bicycle for this purpose is one in which a great deal of space can be
gained between the two wheels, and the saddle and pedals of the rider kept more over
the rear or driving wheel by hinging pedalling levers to the joint in the frame which
usually carries the chain wheel bracket, and connecting the same with cranks attached
to the hub of the driving wheel either directly or through a geared axle. A machine
of this construction will be found to be very advantageous even when not used for
carrying purposes. The main joint of the framework, connecting the neck tube and the
back is split and furnished with a bolt, thus forming a split clamp for adjusting the
height of the saddle support.

page_text: We ISAAC WATTS BOOTHROYD of 47 Farringdon Road, Manager, MARTIN
DIEDERICH RUCKER of 32 Holborn Viaduct, Manager, and PHILIP LOUIS RENOUF
of 47 Farringdon Road, Engineer, all in the county of Middlesex, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to.
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our improvements refer principally to velocipedes which are capable of carrying
the weight of a second rider or other load; and we construct all such machines with
the driving wheel or wheels behind and the steering wheel or wheels in front. Where
we employ two steering wheels and a single driving wheel, we place both riders and
their pedalling mechanisnis within the wheel base; as where the pedal shaft of the
front rider is in front of the steering wheels, the machine is at times liable to tilt
forwards and lift the driving wheel to such an extent as to impair the effect of its
contact with the ground; this is most frequently the case when the front rider is
heavier than the rear rider. Where there are two driving wheels connected by means.
of a differential or balance gear, the greater weight of these two rear wheels and the
possibility of bringing the rear rider's pedal shaft closer to the driving axle than can
be done with the usual gear on a single rear driving wheel, obviate the necessity of
placing both riders behind the steering wheels, if it is desired to construct a short
and compact vehicle.
Machines of our construction are more easily propelled uphill than those in which
the load is distributed so as to be partly in front and partly behind the driving axle.
Where we use a velocipede with two front wheels pivoting about one head or hinge,
for carrying purposes, we mount the box, basket or other receptacle on the steering
handles themselves, so that the load sways with them; we thus dispense with
additional framework for this purpose. Where we use a velocipede with one front
wheel with an inclined head as a carrier, we mount the load on a frame attached
rigidly to the back of the forks, so that it is swayed with them; the load will then tend to
keep the machine in a straight course, and will not increase the difficulty in steering.
In the accompanying drawings the same letters are used throughout on all the
figures to designate identical or corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a side view of a tandem as above described in which A is the single driving
wheel; B, B¹ the steering wheels; these latter are mounted on studs fixed to lugs at
the extremities of a horizontal cross axle C, slightly in advance of the same.
Attached to the centre of this axle, and canting or "raking" backwards is the head D
to which the main framework is hinged by means of the steering neck E. F is the
front, G the rear pedal bracket (the cranks and pedals have been omitted in the
drawings); the front chain wheel is coupled with the rear one, which drives the wheel A
by means of the usual chain gear. The steering is operated preferably by the rear
rider either by means of a handlebar H fixed to the vertical rod I which passes through
the front part of the main frame, a link L connecting the horizontal studs or
tillers K, K which are rigidly fixed to rod I and head D respectively; or else by

page_text: means of a pair of tubular handles reaching directly from the extremities of the
axle C, similar to those shewn at M in Fig. 2. The front rider is provided with fixed
handles N, or else with a pair of handles springing directly from the ends of axle C,
similar to those shewn at M in Fig. 2.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a tandem velocipede in which the single driving wheel
of the machine previously described is replaced by a pair of driving wheels A, A¹
connected by a balance gear which is propelled by a chain running from pedal
bracket G; and in which the neck E is furnished with a horizontal socket or hinge
in a line with the direction of the machine, and such as has been used on machines in
which several pairs of driving wheels have been coupled by suitable framework so as
to allow all the wheels to remain in contact with the ground when it presents an
uneven surface.
Fig. 5 shews a side elevation of a tandem velocipede in which both riders being in
front of the driving wheels A, A¹, which are mounted on a balance geared axle, the
front rider is placed in front of the steering wheels as well. The horizontal axle C is
bent upwards and backwards in its central part so as to clear the main framework
and to prevent the front rider having to sit too far forwards; it is hinged to the
steering neck E by a horizontal joint which latter is hinged vertically to the main
frame; the handle bar H and rod I will thus move the axle C and the wheels B, B¹
attached to it.
In velocipedes with four wheels which are steered by means of a pair of wheels
which pivot about a single head or centre, as above described, we place this head in
advance of the axis of the steering wheels, so that when a curve is described, the
weight of the rider or riders is thrown on the inside wheels which are thus prevented
from lifting when travelling at a great speed.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a carrier tricycle having a single rear driving wheel A,
and two front wheels mounted on the horizontal arm C and pivoting about the head D
which is in front of the axis of the wheels B, B and is canted backwards, so as to
incline the main frame and seat of the rider when describing a curve.
Two strong
tubular arms M, one on each side of the machine extend from the axle C towards the
rider and form the handles, and at the same time the supports for the box or other
receptacle W with which they are connected by means of springs, thus dispensing with
all further framework; the load is thus steered with the handles.
"raked
"
Fig. 4 shews a velocipede with a single front wheel with an inclined or
steering head, behind the forks which are attached a suitable framing P, P1, P",
capable of supporting a box or other load; it will be readily understood that whereas
the load must move with the forks and handlebar, it will tend by its weight to keep the
machine in a straight course. The crutch piece Q, by means of which the vertical
tube R is joined with the backbone T and the back forks S is split vertically, and in a
longitudinal direction to the machine; a screw or bolt is inserted across this split ;
the saddle plunger T is capable of telescoping through the crutch and inside the tube R;
it can be locked in position by the tightening of the screw or bolt O which closes
the split.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. A tandem tricycle with one rear and driving wheel and with two front and
steering wheels, on which the seats of the riders and the pedalling mechanisms are
situated within the wheel base.
·
2. Placing the seats and pedals of more than one rider within the wheel base of a
tandem tricycle with one rear and driving wheel, and with a pair of front wheels
mounted on a horizontal cross axle which is placed behind a single canted head or
hinge to which it is rigidly attached, substantially as described.
.
3. A velocipede substantially as illustrated in figures 3 and 5 in which a rider or
more than one rider are placed in front of the pair of wheels connected by the balance
gear, and steered in the manner described or any modification thereof.

page_text: 4. A tandem velocipede substantially as illustrated in fig. 3 and as described, in
which the riders are situated between the driving wheels, which are connected by a
balance gear, and the steering wheels.
5. A carrier tricycle having a rear and driving wheel and a pair of steering wheels
pivoting about a single head or hinge placed in advance of the axis of these wheels,
and on which the load is supported by the steering arms or handles, substantially as
described.
6. On reardriving bicycles mounting a load behind the front wheel forks in such a
way as to sway with them in the manner and for the purpose described.
7. A carrier safety bicycle on which a frame is attached behind the front forks
substantially as and for the purpose described.
8. On velocipedes splitting a crutch joint and furnishing it with a nip-screw or bolt
for the purpose described.
9. On velocipedes with two hind driving wheels and two front steering wheels,
mounting the latter behind a vertical head or hinge for the purpose set forth.
Dated 19th ML 1000
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.