Improvements in Motor Road Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Motor Road Vehicles.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion to me by La Société Anonyme des Voiturettes Automobiles, of Paris,
France), to be as follows:-
The present invention has for its object improvements in automotive tricycles
of the type intermediate in size between a velocipede and a full-sized road carriage,
such as the auto-tricycle which forms the subject of Letters Patent of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, granted to Léon Bollée, No. 8306 of 1896.
These improvements relate more particularly to the arrangement of the two
seats placed one in front of the other in the Bollée tricycle.
The improvements in the front seat consist in rendering the seat capable of
being quickly dismounted in a simple manner and also in enabling the seat to be
quickly converted if necessary into a comfortable carriage body for two passengers.
In carrying out this part of the improvements the carriage is provided with a
single fixed seat for the driver from which to steer, regulate the speed, and apply.
the brake, etc. The carriage terminates in front in an inclined sheet iron plate
which is curved at the ends SO as to partially enclose the footboard.
At the front of the inclined plate, near the bottom, are two strong.
ears which are firmly rivetted to the frame upon which is fixed the seat as usual.
In front of the seat is a sheet iron platform which rests upon the side bars of
the frame and is also provided with a lamp socket. Thus constructed, the carriage
is relieved of all unnecessary weight and can therefore develop a maximum speed
for quick runs, and the view is not obstructed in any way.
In order to transform a carriage. thus constructed into a two-seat vehicle, a
removable front seat of sheet iron is provided which is formed in one with its foot-
board. The seat forms a box for containing various articles, and rests upon the
platform preferably around its edges so that the weight of the passenger will be
borne directly by the side bars of the frame, the side. cheeks being provided with
hooked lugs which drop on to the front cross bar uniting the two side bars, the
axles of the steering wheels being mounted on the ends of the cross bar.
means of this simple hook connection the seat and its footboard will be self-
supporting upon the carriage framing with the inclined back of said footboard
resting at bottom against the inclined front. The hooks fit close against the longi-
tudinal bars and the side cheeks of the footboard fit between the ears so as to
retain the seat in position laterally.
By
In order to fix the seat in place, a fastening similar to a casement fastener is

page_text: mounted upon the inner side of the back of the footboard the bolts of which.
fastener traverse the side checks of the footboard and when shot out engage in
the ears so as to secure the seat to the carriage. This mode of connection presents
all the security desired, as the bolt mechanism is entirely uninfluenced by the
vibration of the carriage in travelling and remains in the locked position in which
it has been placed.
This double fitting arrangement and locking of the seat on the carriage possesses
the advantage of enabling the operation of placing or removing the seat to be
instantly performed so that the additional time occupied in preparing for a journey
is quite insignificant and a traveller would not hesitate to avail himself of this
opportunity of converting the vehicle into a single or double seat form, according
as he desires to travel alone or in company.
A removable front seat for two persons may be provided, instead of a single one.
This seat may be variously upholstered and arranged for comfort, and constitutes
in effect a carriage body placed in front of the carriage instead of a single seat.
This body consists of a sheet metal casing bent to form the back and sides which
are rivetted to a bottom that rests on the platform of the vehicle, the sides being
extended forwards and downwards to support the floor or footboard of the carriage
body which is connected by a sloping back plate with the bottom. The entrance
is at the front and it is flanked by two long sheet iron receptacles closed at bottom
and provided at top with hinged covers. At the sides are placed mud-guards
or wings the horizontal part of which is at the level of the top edge of the sides
and the inclined surface is just behind the receptacles. The sides of the body are
so curved as to allow the steering wheels to be swivelled as may be required and
the mud guards are made broad enough to catch the mud in all positions of the
wheel. The upper edge of the back and the ends of the mud guards are rivetted
to a sheet iron tube extending transversely across the back of the seat and closed at
the ends by means of hinged caps. The seat is formed of a plank and a half
round sheet iron plate forming the front of the seat and having its lower edge
bent to form a tube to receive an iron rod whose ends are supported in, and traverse,
the sides of the body and are secured by cotter pins. The seat bottom rests upon
helical springs placed between it and the bottom so as to afford an elastic support
for the seat under the jolting of the vehicle. At the middle of the tubular rail
of the seat back, upon its upper surface, is provided a socket in which may be
fitted the handle of an umbrella or awning for sheltering the riders and which
may extend sufficiently far to protect the driver on the back seat.
The fixing and dismounting of the seat is effected in a similar manner to that
described for the first arrangement of seat. For this purpose, to the underside of
the bottom plate are secured two hooks similar to those before described, which
engage the cross bar close alongside the platform. Similarly the back bears
against the front while the ears on the latter pass through apertures in the back
and are engaged by the bolts of a casement fastener mounted on the back so as
to firmly fix the body to the vehicle. In order to stiffen the plate transversely, a
sheet metal trough is rivetted to its front face which serves as a receptacle for
small articles. The receptacles before referred to also serve to protect the front
passengers in the event of collision with another vehicle or obstacle and from
their position they are the first to receive the shock and being made of sheet iron
and hollow the shock will not be transmitted rearwards, the receptacles alone
receiving the injury. The tubular back rail also contributes to the strengthening
of the back and mud guards and moreover by its connection with the back and
mud guards it imparts great rigidity to the entire body by preventing bulging
of the sides which are only .connected at the front by the bottom of the body, the
mud guards acting as ribs or stiffeners for preventing the spreading of the sides
of the body. The removable body may be upholstered on the seat, back, and top
of the mud guards which serve as arm rests. Stick-holders may be provided at
the inside corners of the seat frame in rear of the receptacles at the front of which
handles may be provided to which may be hooked a strap on which may be hung

page_text: jingling bells. The covers are cupped and when in the closed position form trays.
The seat, back, and elbow rest cushions, and the seat, as well as the other acces-
sories, are readily removable leaving only a sheet iron casing which may be readily
washed outside and in, as is also the case in respect of the single seat.
A Bollée auto-car may also be provided with a single fixed seat (in lieu of the
back seat of the Bollée car of which the front seat is dispensed with altogether)
the seat being so arranged as to afford all requisite comfort and shelter whilst
retaining within reach the driving and steering mechanism. In this case the
improved seat is intended for the driver of the vehicle and must therefore be in the
proper position to bring the steering wheel and the handing lever of the motor
within reach. In order to afford the degree of comfort required the configuration
of the tubular frame of the vehicle is modified by splaying outwards the side
bars at the front ends where they are connected to the cross tube. Upon the frame
thus modified in form is mounted a carriage body of sheet iron which rests upon
the casing enclosing the driving mechanism, the casing being extended forwards
within the laterally splayed ends of the side bars to form a foot box surmounted
by an entrance door.
The seat body considerably overhangs the side bars and is upholstered, the.
bottom forming the driver's seat being provided with a slot through which the
handing lever placed at the left hand of the driver passes. The foot box which is
placed between the splayed ends of the side bars is carried upwards approximately
as high as the tubular columns in which the steering wheel spindles are pivoted,
the connecting rod by which the levers of the steering spindles are coupled being
contained within a transverse flattened tubular casing fixed to the sides of the
foot box. The foot box is enclosed at front between the floor and cross tube, by
a sheet metal plate and is provided with a forwardly projecting step upon which
to mount in order to stride over the tubes in entering the vehicle. The forward
and top edges of the sides of the casing are bent outwards at right angles to form
vertical and horizontal panels respectively, the latter panels being extended to
form mud guards above and towards the rear of the wheels to intercept mud thrown
up, the mud guards being supported by means of sheet iron brackets.
carriage body may be surmounted by a folding hood capable of being raised or
lowered in the ordinary way. The entrance to the seat body may be closed by a
door provided, if desired, with jointed uprights which may be erected for the
purpose of being attached to the hood and which serve to carry a front window
of glass for protecting the rider from the wind or driving rain. The entrance to
the foot box may be closed by a pivoted panel, which panel when raised to a
vertical position (and there held by any suitable means) forms a door and when
lowered inwards so as to rest upon the cross tube for example, forms a small seat
for seating a second passenger in the entrance, with his feet upon the front step.
Instead of a glass panel, a blind of transparent fabric may be used, suspended on
a spring or other roller from the hood and secured by hooking at bottom to the.
front panels and thus form another kind of shelter for a single passenger.
The
The above arrangement of seat, with its accessories in detail, constitutes an
important improvement in auto-motive tricycles of the type hereinbefore specified,
by affording the passenger, even if of stout build, a comfortable seat such as has
never hitherto been obtainable in consequence of the difficulty of reconciling the
difference between the restricted dimensions of a light auto-motor tricycle of the
Bollée type with the roomy proportions of a comfortable carriage in which the
passenger finds ease, comfort, and shelter, and even room for luggage, as by the
improved construction of carriage body described, a single passenger is provided
with even more than the necessary accommodation, besides which he can carry
with him several parcels without being incommoded.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents,
53, Chancery Lane, London.

page_text: :
Improvements in Motor Road venicies.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of the Firm of A. M. & Wm. Clark, of 53,
Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Fellow of the Chartered Institute
of Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (a communica-
tion to me by La Société Anonyme des Voiturettes Automobiles, of Paris,
France), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly 5
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The present invention has for its object improvements in automotive vehicles
of the type intermediate in size between a velocipede and a full-sized road carriage
such as the auto-tricycle which forms the subject of Letters Patent of the United
Kingdom of Great Britain & Ireland granted to Leon Bollee No. 8306 of 1896,
which is usually provided with two seats placed one in front of the other.
Sheets 1, 2 & 3 of the accompanying drawings illustrate improvements having
for object to render the front seat capable of being quickly dismounted in a simple
manner and to enable it to be quickly replaced if desired by a carriage body afford-
ing comfortable accommodation for two passengers or suitable for the carriage of
parcels.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevation of the fore part of an auto-tricycle of the
Bollee type provided with two seats. Figure is a top plan of the same as
arranged for a single seat. Figures 3 & 4 represent in sectional elevation and
plan the same part of the carriage as shown in Figures 1
& 2 pro-
vided with a carriage body for two persons in addition to the driver's
seat. Figure 5 is a front view showing the means of instantly fixing the removable
seat or body. Figures 6 & 7 are elevations of a carriage body suitable for carrying.
parcels. Figure 8 being a plan of Figure 7.
In carrying out this part of the improvements the carriage is provided with a
single fixed seat A for the driver from which to steer, regulate the speed, and
apply the brake etc.. The carriage terminates in front in an inclined sheet iron
plate B which is curved at the ends B₁ so as to partially enclose the footboard C.
At the front of the inclined plate B, near the bottom, are two strong ears D) which
are firmly rivetted to the frame E upon which is fixed the driver's seat A as usual,
In front of the seat A is a sheet iron platform G which rests upon
the side bars H of the frame and is also provided with a lamp
socket I. Thus constructed, the carriage is relieved of all unnecessary weight and
can therefore develop a maximum speed for quick runs, and the driver's view is
not obstructed in any way.
In order to transform a carriage thus constructed into a two-seat vehicle a remov-
able front seat g of sheet iron is provided which is formed in one with its foot-
board J. The seat I forms a box for containing various articles, and rests upon
the platform G preferably around its edges so that the weight of the passenger
will be borne directly by the side bars H of the frame, the side cheeks being
provided with hooked lugs K which drop on to the front cross bar h uniting the
two side bars H, the axles of the steering wheels L being jointed to the ends of the
cross-bar. By means of this simple hook connection K the seat and its foot-board
will be self-supporting upon the carriage framing with the inclined back of said
footboard resting at bottom against the inclined front B. The hooks or lugs K fit
close against the longitudinal bars I and the side cheeks of the footboard J fit
between the ears D so as to retain the seat in position laterally.
In order to fix the seat in place a fastening M similar to a casement fastener
is mounted upon the inner side of the sloping back of the footboard J, the
bolts m, m of which fastener traverse the side cheeks of the footboard and when

page_text: shot out engage in the ears I so as to secure the seat I, J, to the carriage. This
mode of connection presents all the security desired, as the bolt mechanism is
entirely uninfluenced by the vibration of the carriage in travelling, and remains
in the locked position in which it has been placed.
This double fitting and locking of the seat on the carriage possesses the advantage
enabling the operation of mounting or removing the seat to be instantly performed
so that the additional time occupied in preparing for a journey by converting the
vehicle into a single or double seat form, for one or more travellers is quite
insignificant.
A removable carriage body affording accommodation for two persons may be pro-
vided instead of a mere seat for one person. It may be variously upholstered and
arranged for comfort, and constitutes in effect a carriage body placed in front of
the carriage. This body consists as shown in Figures 3 & 4 of a sheet metal casing.
bent to form the back N and sides 0 which are rivetted to a bottom l' that rests
on the platform G of the vehicle, the sides O being extended forwards and down-
wards to support the floor or footboard Q of the carriage body which is connected
by a sloping back plate Q with the bottom P. The entrance is at the front and it
is flanked by two long sheet iron receptacles R closed at bottom and provided at
top with covers r hinged at . At the sides are placed mud-guards or wings,
the horizontal part S of which is at the level of the top edge of the sides 0 and
the inclined surface S is just behind the receptacles R. The sides of the body
are so curved as to allow the steering wheels L to be swivelled as may be required
(as shown in Figure 4) and the mud-guards SS¹ are made broad enough to catch
the mud in all positions of the wheel. The upper edge of the back N and the
ends of the mud-guards S are rivetted to a sheet iron tube T extending trans-
versely across the back of the body and closed at the ends by means of hinged caps.
The seat is formed of a plank V and a half-round sheet iron plate U forming the
front of the seat and having its lower edge bent to form a scroll to receive an iron
rod u whose ends are supported in, and traverse the sides of the body and are
secured by cotter pins. The seat bottom. V rests upon helical springs placed
between it and the bottom P so as to afford an elastic support for the seat under
the jolting of the vehicle. At the middle of the tubular rail of the seat back
upon its upper surface is provided a socket X in which may be fitted the handle
of an umbrella or awning for sheltering the riders and which may extend suf-.
ficiently far to protect the driver on the back seat.
The fixing and dismounting of the carriage-body is effected in a
similar manner
to that described for the removable seat first described. For this purpose to
the underside of the bottom plate l' are secured two hooks or lugs K similar to
those K before described which engage the cross-bar close alongside the plat-
form G. Similarly the back Q bears against the front B while the ears D on the
latter pass through apertures in the back. Q and are engaged by the bolts of a
casement fastener M mounted on the back so as to firmly fix the body to the
vehicle. In order to stiffen the plate Q transversely, a sheet metal trough Y
is rivetted to its front face which serves as a receptacle for. small articles. The
receptacles R before referred to also serve to protect the front passengers in the
event of collision with another vehicle or obstacle and from their position they
would be the first to receive the shock and being made of sheet iron and hollow
the shock will not be transmitted rearwards, the receptacles. alone receiving the
injury. The tubular back rail T also contributes to the strengthening of the
back N and mud guards S and moreover by its connection with S & N it imparts
great rigidity to the entire body by preventing bulging of the sides which are
only connected at the front by the bottom of the body, the mud guards acting as
ribs or stiffeners for preventing the spreading of the sides of the body.
removable body may be upholstered on the seat, back, and top of the mud guards
which serve as arm rests. Stick-holders Z may be provided at the inside corners
of the seat-frame in rear of the receptacles R at the front of which handles Z
may be provided to which may be hooked a strap on which may be hung jingling
The

page_text: .
Eells. The covers are dished and when in the closed position form
trays. The seat, back, and elbow rest cushions and the seat, as well
as the other accessories are readily removable, leaving only a sheet iron
casing which may be readily washed outside and in, as is also the case in respect
of the removable single seat described with reference to Figure 1.
I11
It will be evident that if the casing of the body be closed at the front it will
be adapted for the carriage of light parcels instead of passengers. Such parcel-
carrying bodies are shewn in Figures 6, 7, and S, as suited for tradesmen's use, the
easy detachability of the body enabling the carriage to be used without it or
with a seat or body for the conveyance of passengers as may be required.
Figures 6,7, and 8, J represents the parcels carrying body fitting on the front of
the vehicle in precisely the same way as the passenger body and attached thereto
by lugs K hooking on to the cross bar h and by ears D engaged by bolts m operated
by handle M. as before. A similar fastener M¹ may also be provided, as shewn in
Figure 6, of which the bolts m engage with ears D rising from the platform G.
Or ears may be provided at the back of the body, as shewn in Figures 7 and 8,
to receive the stems of hook bolts 61 whose hooks engage the bars H and are
tightened up by nuts 62 so as to make an absolutely rigid connection of the
removable body with the carriage, the same form of connection being applicable
to the various forms of removable carriage body herein before described.
Figures 7 and 8 the body is provided with hinged panels J¹ at the sides and front
which may be raised or lowered as required.
In
In Sheet 4 I have represented a Bollée auto-car provided with a single fixed seat
(in lieu of the back seat of the Bollée .car of which the front seat is dispensed
with altogether) the seat being so arranged as to afford all requisite comfort and
shelter whilst retaining within reach the driving and steering mechanism.
Figure 9 is a part side elevation of the vehicle shewing the improved seat.
Figures 10 and 11 are a front elevation and plan. Figure 12 is a front elevation of a
modification.
In this case the improved seat is intended for the driver of the vehicle and must
therefore be in such position that the steering wheel X and the handing lever Y
of the motor will be within reach of the occupant. In order to afford the degree of
comfort required, the configuration of the tubular frame of the vehicle is modified
by splaying outwards the side bars H at the front ends where they are connected
to the cross tube h. Upon the frame thus modified in form is mounted a carriage
body of sheet iron 0 of the form shewn, which rests upon the casing E enclosing
the driving mechanism, the casing being extended forwards within the laterally
splayed ends of the side bars H to form a foot box El surmounted by an entrance
door. The seat body considerably overhangs the side bars H and is upholstered,
the bottom A forming the driver's seat being provided with a slot a through which
the handing lever Y placed at the left hand of the driver passes. The foot
box E which is placed between the splayed ends of the side bars H is carried
upwards approximately as high as the tubular columns æ in which the steering
wheel spindles L are pivoted, the connecting rod al by which the levers of the
steering spindles are coupled being contained within a transverse flattened tubular
casing fixed to the sides of the foot box E: The foot box E' is enclosed at
front between the floor C and cross tube h by a sheet metal plate B and is provided
with a forwardly projecting step C upon which to mount in order to stride over
the tubes h and F in entering the vehicle. The forward and top edges of the
sides of the casing E are bent outwards at right angles to form vertical and
horizontal panels E2, E3, respectively, the latter panels being extended at E to
form mud guards above and towards the rear of the wheels L to intercept mud
thrown up, the mud guards E being supported by means of sheet iron brackets e¹.
The carriage body O may be surmounted by a folding hood O¹ capable of being
raised or lowered in the ordinary way. The entrance to the seat body may be
closed (as shewn in Figures 9 to 11) by a door W provided, if
desired, with jointed uprights W₁ which may be erected for the purpose of

page_text: being attached to the hood O¹ and which serve to carry a front window W2 of
glass for protecting the rider from the wind or driving rain. The entrance to the
foot box may be closed (as shewn in Figure 12) by a panel B¹ pivoted at 61 which
panel when raised to a vertical position (and there held by any suitable means)
forms a door and when lowered inwards so as to rest upon the cross-tube F, for
example, forms a small seat for seating a second passenger in the entrance with
his feet upon the front step C'. Instead of a glass panel W, W2, a blind of trans-
parent fabric 12 (Figure 12) may be used, suspended on a spring or other roller 62
from the hood 01 and secured by hooking at bottom 63 to the front panels E2 and
thus form another kind of shelter for a single passenger.
The above arrangement of seat, with its accessories in detail, constitutes an
important improvement in automotive tricycles of the type hereinbefore specified,
by affording the passenger, even if of stout build, a comfortable seat such as has
never hitherto been obtainable in consequence of the difficulty of reconciling the
difference between the restricted dimensions of a light auto-motor tricycle of the
Bollée type with the roomy proportions of a comfortable carriage in which the
passenger finds ease, comfort, and shelter, and even room for luggage, as by the
improved construction of carriage body described, a single passenger is provided
with even more, than the necessary accommodation besides which he can carry
with him several parcels without being incommoded.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The combination with a rear-driving auto-motor tricycle of the type specified,
of a removable seat and foot-board in one, adapted to be mounted on the front
of the vehicle and to be detachably connected thereto by hooks K and bolt
fasteners M m substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a rear-driving auto-motor tricycle of the type specified,
of a removable carriage body adapted to be mounted on the front of the vehicle
in place of the front seat and to be detachably connected to the vehicle by hooked
lugs and bolt fasteners substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a rear-driving auto-motor tricycle of the kind specified the particular con-
struction of removable carriage body adapted to be mounted on the front of the
vehicle and provided with a seat, parcels receptacles R, a tubular back rail T also
serving to contain parcels as well as to stiffen the upper part of the carriage body
and mud guards S forming ribs for stiffening the sides of the body laterally,
all substantially as shewn and described.
4. In a rear-driving auto-motor tricycle of the type specified the combination
with the framing of the machine having splayed side bars H, of a carriage body
permanently fixed thereto having its foot-box between the splayed ends of said
bars, the foot-box being traversed by a cross tube F through which the connecting
rod passes, and provided with a front step for enabling the vehicle to be
entered by stepping over the cross tubes h and F, the entrance to the body being
closed by a door W connected to the hood O for protecting the passengers and
closing the entrance to the seat, or with a fall down flap B₁ adapted to form a
seat the upper part of the door being provided with a window or a transparent
blind B2 and attachments 63 substantially as described and illustrated in Sheet 4
of the drawings.
101
1
1
1000