Improvements in or relating to Perambulators, Tricycles, Go-carts, Bath Chairs, Velocipede Horses, and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Jan., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 9th Nov., 1888
Improvements in or relating to Perambulators, Tricycles, Go-carts,
Bath Chairs, Velocipede Horses, and other similar Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM WILSON, of The Yorkshire Perambulator Works, 14 Leeds Bridge,
Leeds, in the County of York, Perambulator Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in or relating to perambulators,
tricycles, bath chairs, go-carts, velocipede horses, and other similar vehicles, and its
object is to mount the body or seat portion of the vehicle upon the wheels that as the
latter revolve a portion of the axle (to which the body or seat is attached) is capable
of receiving a rotary motion, which imparts an up and down as well as a backward
and forward motion to the body or scat, that is, as the body or seat is drawn along it
is moved up and down as well as backwards and forwards by a portion of the
axle describing a circle so as to produce on the rider a somewhat similar effect or
sensation to that felt when riding in or on a car of what is termed a switchback
railway.
To accomplish this, the axle is bent at each end (at or about right angles) so as to
form a crank, and at a suitable distance from the extremity of each hent portion
thereof is fixed a square pin or projection on which the bosses or hubs of the wheels
are placed and held in position by any convenient means. The other parts of the
axle may be round. The body or seat portion is attached to the round portion of the
axle (between the cranks) by fixings in which are provided suitable bearings in which
the axle revolves when at work.
By this means it will be readily be understood that when the vehicle is drawn
along, as the wheels revolve motion is conveyed through the square axle pins and
cranks to the round part of the axle, and by journalling such round part in bearings
(fixed to the body or scat portion of the vehicle) it is enabled to revolve freely, and
when revolving describes a circle thereby giving in the course of each revolution an
up and down as well as a backward and forward motion to the body or seat portion of
tbe vehicle.

page_text: It will also be understood that the above described motion may be obtained by
other means than a crank, such as cams, eccentrics, sun and planet arrangement, and
the like, but I prefer using the cranks as they are the cheapest and simplest to
manufacture, also instead of bending the axle as described, the cranks may when
preferred be fixed thereto by any convenient means...
The above described apparatus may also be used in combination with the vehicles
described in the Provisional Specifications accompanying my applications for Letters
Patent numbered 14203 and 14203A both dated 19 October 1887.
Dated this Second day of January 1888.
Bath Chairs, Velocipede Horses, and other similar Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM WILSON, of The Yorkshire Perambalator Works, formerly 1ª Leeds
Bridge, but now at Silver Cross Street, Dewsbury Road, Leeds, in the County of
York, Perambulator Manufacturer, 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in or relating to perambulators,
tricycles, bath chairs, go-carts, velocipede horses, and other similar vehicles, and its
object is to mount the body or seat portion of the vehicle upon the wheels in such a
manner that as the latter revolve a portion of the axle forms a crank (to which the
body or seat is attached) capable of receiving a rotary motion, which imparts an up
and down as well as a backward and forward motion to the body or seat, that is, as
the body or seat is drawn along it is moved up and down as well as backwards and
forwards by a portion of the axle describing a circle so as to produce on the rider a
somewhat similar effect or sensation to that felt when riding in or on a car of what is
termed a switchback railway.
In the drawings I have shown the invention applied to a child's go-cart or miniature
car, but it may also be applied to the body or seat portion of a perambulator, tricycle,
bath chair, velocipede horse, or other similar vehicle.
Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively a sectional elevation and plan of arrangement of what
I term the "switchback" motion.
Fig. 3, shows the application of same to a child's
two wheel car.
In all the views like parts are marked with the same letters of reference.

page_text: A is the body of the car provided with moveable seats a and foot boards a¹, and
mounted upon the wheels B by means of the axle C which is say about five-eights of
an inch in diameter.
To the under portion of the body of the car is attached the bearings a² in which is
mounted so as to revolve freely the axle C provided with the bent or cranked
portions c, c, and pins c¹, c² úpon which the wheels B are mounted and retained
thercon by ordinary means. The simplest method of forming the cranked or bent
portions and pins is to bend a portion c of the axle C at a right augle to the main
portion that works in the bearings a² to form the cranks ec, and then to bend the
latter portion again at a right angle to the crank portion to form the pins c¹ c². When
the car or other vehicle is only required to have an up and down and backward and
forward motion given to it, I arrange the throw of the crank to be, say about, ono
inch and three quarter, and that one of the pins c¹ shall be made square whilst the
opposite one may be round so as to enable the car to conveniently turn a corner.
It will readily be understood that the holes in the hubs are made to correspond with
the axle pins, and that the wheel on the square pin will only be capable of revolving
with the axle, whilst the wheel that is mounted on the round pin is capable of revolv-
ing freely and independently of the axle.
But when it is desired to construct a car with a body or seat portion that may
either be stationary over its axle or capable of receiving what I term a "switchback
motion, that is, an up and down as well as a backwards and forwards motion at the
same time that it is being drawn or propelled along, then I employ the arrangement
shown at Figs. 1 and 2.
In this arrangement, the axle C is carried in bearings a² and bent to form crank
pins ce as herein described. These crank pins are made round, and the pin c¹ is
preferably made longer than the pin c.
On the inner end of hub B₁ of the wheel B which works on pan c¹ is formed a
number of small saw like teeth to form one portion of a clutch. Into these teeth are
made to engage a second set of saw-like teeth formed in the end of the sliding piece
or clutch D which is mounted so as to slide freely on the pin c¹ being kept in position
by a key as shown.
In the clutch is cut the groove d in which works the free end e of the curved and
pivoted finger E. The finger E is pivoted in a loose bearing F which is free to
revolve round pin c. Into the upper end of the finger E is screwed or otherwise
fixed a rod G which is made to pass up the right hand side of the car or other
vehicle, and is held in position by a suitable slotted guide.. On the upper end of the
rod is mounted a handle g. By slightly turning the rod G by means of the handle 'g
either to the right or left hand the clutch will be thrown either in or out of gear,
thus imparting a "switchback motion to the body A, or allowing it to remain
stationary over the axle as required, or visa versa.
The body being attached to the round axle C it will be readily understood that
when the vehicle is drawn or propelled along with the clutch in gear with the
hub the holes in the latter act as axial bearings for the pins c¹³, or when the
wheels are mounted on one or more square axle pins, that as the wheels revolve
motion is conveyed to the axle C which becomes a crank, and when it is in the
position shown at c Fig. 4. the body or seat portion will be raised to its highest point,
and will then be carried forwards and downwards until the crank reaches cª fig. 4;
then in its further descent to its lowest point c it will commence to recede; and
whilst the crank is passing from to the body or seat portion will not only be
carried backwards but also upwards until is again reached; thus giving in the
course of each revolution an up and down as well as a backward and forward motion
to the body or scat portion of the vehicle.
It will also be understood that the above described motion may be obtained by
other means than a crank, such as cams, eccentrics, sun and planet arrangement, and
the like, but I prefer using the cranks as they are the cheapest and simplest to manu-
facture, also instead of bending the axle as described, the cranks ce may when pre-
ferred be fixed thereto by any convenient means.

page_text: The above described mechanism may also be used in combination with the vehicles
described in the Specifications accompanying my application for Letters Patent dated
19th October 1887 No. 14203.
In conclusion I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not limit myself to
the particular form of body illustrated, nor do I claim such body broadly, as the
mechanism shown at Figs. 1 and 2 may be readily adapted to the body or scat portion
of any shape or configuration, as well as to perambulators, tricycles, bath chairs,
velocipede horses, and other similar vehicles, only where four wheels are employed it
will be necessary to employ a double set of cranked axles which may or may not be
coupled together by a connecting rod.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
The combination with the body or seat portion of a vehicle such as a perambulator,
tricycle, go-cart, bath chair, velocipede horse, of the means or mechanism substantially
as herein described and illustrated for imparting an up and down as well as a
backward and forward motion to the said body or seat portion at the same time
that it is being drawn or propelled forwards or backwards on its supporting
wheels.
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