Improvements in Velocipedes and Light Road Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1893-Accepted, 29th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes and Light Road Vehicles.
I SIDNEY JOHNSON of 4 Ley Strect, Ilford in the County of Essex, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to enable a velocipede or light road vehicle to be
mainly constructed of light wood (that is to say, the body and wheels shall be
principally of such material or its equivalent) and in such a manner that the
weight thereof shall be approximate to that of an ordinary tricycle or other light
vehicle.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct, say a velocipede, as follows.
I form a light body or frame of convenient shape say that known as a Bath chair
mounted on three wheels-the seat of the chair being over the axle of the rear
main driving wheels or wheel the third wheel of smaller diameter being placed in
front and employed to steer or direct the carriage. Instead of building the body
of the carriage in the ordinary way and solidly I construct it of narrow thin strips
or laths as follows. The centre series of strips are placed together edge to edge
and horizontally or nearly so, inside these I place diagonally other strips at
convenient intervals and secure them firmly by any well known means to the
horizontal strips. I then fasten over the joints of the centre horizontal strips other
horizontal strips of less width. The front, sides and back of the carriage being
thus formed. The seat I construct in similar manner but separately. To the two
front points of the sides of the seat I attach bands or bars of metal depending
downwardly and being pivotted at their extremities to the lower part of the body a
space being left between seat and body.
The rear of the seat rests loosely on an ordinary carriage spring secured across
the rear of the body and at right angles to the sides-thus the seat may be turned
or folded over the front so that the axle, cranks and driving mechanism may be
examined or repaired; within the body and extending from a point about level
with the front of the said body, I fix a board or frame having two openings cut or
formed therein longitudinally under the legs of the rider in which the treadles
work with the feet of the rider thereon. The space from the foot of this board or
frame to the front of the carriage is only sufficient for standing room for the feet
and may be of open work to allow water to pass through. On the inside edge of
the longitudinal openings I fix metallic plates standing out therefrom and rounded
on their upper edges to form running bearings or races on which may run wheels or
pullies pivotted on the treadle forks. The driving or rear wheels are mounted on a
cranked axle actuated by treadles secured and pivotted within the forked ends of
two connecting or treadle shafts which are each formed in three parts and
adjustable as to length at the joints so as to suit different riders. The power is
thus transmitted directly to the cranks the treadles with their forks, bearing by
means of the pullies pivotted thereon on the slides or races and running to and fro
on the same.
A. steering head, fork or equivalent is attached to the front of the carriage in
which the front or steering wheel is mounted and this may be directed and
controlled by yokes, reins, handle or the like.
The wheels are constructed mainly of wood in a peculiar manner having light
detachable and removable spokes of tough wood such as hickory. The felloes may
be of light wood surrounded by metal and rubber tyres (or of metal if found
desirable) and are mortised or sunk on their internal diameters. to receive the outer
extremities of the spokes which may be tenoned and shouldered or otherwise.
The opposite or inner ends of the spokes are tenoned and shouldered. The hub

page_text: .
which is of metal consists of a hollow shaft or casting, through which the ends of
the axle pass, each end of this shaft is threaded to receive an internally screwed
cap and in this part is of greater diameter than the central portion which may be
thus reduced in thickness and weight. On one end of the shaft I form a cast or
hollow collar or ring which may be undercut from the front where it is open and
from whence towards the rear indents are cut or formed in which the tenons of the
inner end of the spokes take. Thus in fixing the spokes into the wheel the outer
ends are first placed in the sockets formed in the felloe or rim and the tenons of the
inner ends of the spokes are then pushed from the front into their respective
indents or sockets. A metal cap is then screwed over the threaded end of the
short shaft or hub and the spokes secured in position. It will be seen that on
unscrewing the cap any spoke may be readily removed and a fresh one substituted.
The cap is formed in two parts the main cap being internally screwed to fit over
end of hub and having octagonal or like projections for spanner and is carried with
its internal thread sufficiently forward to clear the end of the axle and cover the
same with its nut-the outer end of the cap is open and into this is screwed an
outer or secondary cap covering the nut-this outer cap being removable without
interfering with the main cap. The inner cap or nut has a flat face open in. the
centre and is only required to keep the spokes in position-the face when screwed
up being flush or thereabouts with the inner end or face of the threaded or screwed
end of the stock, shaft or hub of the wheel in or on which are sunk or formed
holes, studs or the like to take into corresponding devices or a moveable disc or
plate hereafter described for the purpose of throwing one of the wheels out of gear
with the main driving wheel when turning a corner or curve and for this purpose
any well known mechanical device may be employed.
It will be seen that a velocipede such as a tricycle constructed according to my
invention would be a safe and convenient machine for ladies, invalides or children
and will admit of various forms of upholstering and decoration so as to ensure
comfort and elegant appearance.
Dated this 26th day of August 1892.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes and Light Road Vehicles.
I SIDNEY JOHNSON of 4 Ley Street, Ilford, in the County of Essex, Engineer,
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:―
The object of my invention is to enable a velocipede or light road vehicle to be
mainly constructed of light wood, that is to say that the body and wheels shall be
so constructed, and in such manner that the weight of the vehicle (say a tricycle)
shall be approximate to that of an ordinary tricycle or other light vehicle.
In describing my invention I shall refer to the drawings accompanying this
Specification wherein
Figure 1. is a view shewing the general construction and action of a tricycle
built in accordance with my Specification, certain parts being omitted for the
purpose of clearness.
Figure 2. is a plan of the body of such a machine.
Figure is a sectional elevation of the machine illustrating the action of the
treadles and the method of pivotting the seat.
Figure 4. is a section of the "lath" construction of sides of body on lines a―,
Figure 3.
Figure 5. is a section of the hub of one of the main wheels showing method of
throwing the loose wheel in and out of gear.

page_text: Figure 6. is a side view of handle for operating above.
Figure 7. is a side view of the brake device.
Figure 8. is a cross section through a portion of rim, and
Figures 9 and 10 are views shewing methods of inserting and releasing spokes
into and from the hubs.
In carrying my invention into effect, I construct say a velocipede as follows-
I form a light body or frame of convenient shape say similar to that known as a
"Bath chair" mounted on three wheels, the seat of the chair being over the axle
of the main driving wheels and at the rear of the machine the third wheel, of
smaller diameter being placed in front and employed as a steering wheel. Instead
of building the body of the carriage in the ordinary way and solidly I construct
it of narrow thin slips strips or laths of light wood as follows-The centre series
of strips A. A. Figures 1, 3 and 4 are placed together edge to edge and horizontally
or nearly so, inside these I place diagonally other strips B. B. at convenient
intervals and secure them firmly by any well known means to the horizontal strips.
I then fasten over the joints of the centre horizontal strips other horizontal strips
of less width C. C. the front, sides and back of the carriage being thus formed.
construct the seat in similar manner but separately.
I
To the two front points D. D, Figures 1 and 3, of the sides of the seat I attach
bands or bars of metal E. E. depending downwardly and pivotted at their
extremities F. F. to the lower part of the body, a space being left between seat
and body. The rear of the seat rests loosely on an ordinary carriage spring G.
Figure 1 secured across the rear of the body and at right angles to the sides, thus,
the seat may be turned or folded over the front so that the axle cranks and driving
mechanism may be examined or repaired.
Within the body and extending from a point about level with the front of the
said body I fix a board or frame H (Figures 1, 2 and 3) having two openings I. I.
cut or formed therein longitudinally (and under the legs of the rider) in which the
treadles J. J work with the feet of the rider thereon.
The space from the foot of this board or frame to the foot of the carriage is only
sufficient for standing room for the feet and may be of open work to allow water to
pass through..
On the inside edge of the longitudinal openings I fix metallic plates K. K.
standing out therefrom and rounded on their upper edges to form running
bearings or races on which may run wheels or pulleys L. L. pivotted on to the
treadle forks.
The driving or rear wheels are mounted on a cranked axle M, actuated by
treadles J. J secured and pivotted within the forked ends of two connecting or
treadle shafts which are each formed in three parts and adjustable as to length at
the joints so as to suit different riders; the power is thus transmitted directly to
the cranks the treadles with their forks bearing, by means of the pullies pivotted
thereon on the slides or races and running to and fro on the same.
A steering head fork or equivalent is attached to the front of the carriage in
which the front or steering wheel is mounted and this may be directed and
controlled by yokes reins handle or the like.
The wheels are constructed mainly of wood in a peculiar manner and have light,
detachable or removable spokes N. N. Figures 9 and 10-of tough wood such as
hickory. The felloes may be of light wood surrounded by metal tyres or having
in place of metal tyres a number of binding wires a-a-a as shewn in Figure 8
for the purpose of keeping the various sections of a channelled wooden felloe
together the whole being surmounted by the usual rubber tyre of any desirable
type. The felloes are mortised or sunk on their internal diameters to receive the
outer extremities of the spokes which may be tenoned and shouldered or otherwise
conveniently formed.
I.
The opposite or inner ends of the spokes are tenoned and shouldered as at O.
Figure 9. The hub P. Figure 5 which is of metal consists of a hollow shaft
or casting through which the ends of the axle Q Figures 5 and 9 pass, each

page_text: end of this shaft is threaded to receive an internally screwed cap R. Figures 5.
9 and 10, and in this part is of greater diameter than the central portion which
may be thus reduced in thickness and weight.
On each end of the hollow shaft or hub P. I form or cast a hollow collar or
ring S Figures 5 and 9 which may be undercut from the front where it is open and
from whence, towards the rear indents T. T. T. are cut or formed in which the
tenons O. of the inner ends of the spokes take.
Thus in fixing the spokes into the wheel the outer ends are first placed in the
sockets formed in the felloe or rim and the tenons of the inner ends of the spokes
are then pushed from the front inio their respective indents or sockets. A metal
cap R. is then screwed over the threaded end of the short shaft or hub and the
spokes are thus secured in position. It will be seen that on unscrewing the cap any
spoke may be readily removed and a fresh one substituted.
The outer cap is
formed in two parts the main cap R being internally screwed to fit over end of
hub and having octagonal or like projections for spanner and is carried with its
internal thread sufficiently forward to clear the end of the axle and cover the
same with its nut, the outer end of the cap is open and into this is screwed an outer
or secondary cap U. covering the nut this outer cap being removable without
interfering with the main cap.
The inner cap or nut R has a flat face open in the centre and is only required to
keep the spokes in position the face when screwed up being flush or thereabouts
with the inner end or face of the threaded or screwed end of the stock, shaft or hub
of the wheel. In or on the face of this inner cap are sunk or formed holes, studs or
the like to take into corresponding devices on a moveable disc or plate hereafter
described for the purpose of throwing one of the wheels out of gear with the main
driving wheel when turning a corner or curve and for this purpose I may use a
device shewn by Figures 2 and 5 and arranged as follows: The axle is square at
points VV and on VI mount a grooved disc or drum W free to slide to and fro
thereon and on the face of which are studs or the reverse X X engaging when
close up with corresponding holes or the reverse in or on the face of the nut or
cap R. This disc W is kept normally in gear with the cap R by spring Y acting
against forked arm Z resting in the groove of the disc and may be thrown out of
gear by the action of handle 1 Figure 6 and bent end or key 2 acting against
opposite end of forked arm or lever Z pivotted at 3 Figure 5.
Figure 7 shews a strap brake of peculiar construction. I fix rigidly on the
part of the axle a second grooved disc or drum 4 revolving with the axle and
embraced by metallic bands or straps 5 and 6 which are firmly secured at 7 and 8
above and below the disc 4 and when loose resting partly in the groove but without
coming in contact therewith; the opposite ends of the straps are flattened out and
the upper one 5 is bored and in the lower flattened end of 6 I cut or form a hole
sufficiently long to receive a threaded nut or block which is pivotted at 9. Passing
loosely through the hole in upper band 5 and engaging in the lower thread in
band 6 is the screwed end of a bar shouldered at 10, and terminating in the brake
handle which when turned (not shewn on drawings) draws the ends of the bands 5
and 6 together and tightens them round the disc which they now closely embrace.
By using a metal felloe made up of wires as shewn in Figure 8 I obtain a much
stronger device than a single thin band of metal which is always liable to break
at the joint. I generally prefer to wind a single length of strong wire several times
around the wooden portion of the wheel in grooves formed for the purpose and then
joining the two ends also brazing together the portions of wire throughout the
whole or part of their circumference. The rubber tyre can readily be cemented to
the wood portion of the felloe which remains exposed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed I declare that.what .I
claim is
1. In velocipedes and light road vehicles the special: construction of wooden

page_text: body such as illustrated by Figures 1, 3 and 4 in combination with the specially
constructed wheels having removable wooden spokes as shewn by Figures 8, 9
and 10 substantially as set forth.
2. In velocipedes and light road vehicles the specially constructed hub for the
purpose of enabling light wooden spokes to be taken out or inserted without
otherwise interfering with the rim or hub of the wheel substantially as set forth.
3. In velocipedes reciprocating treadles working up and down inclined races
or guides by means of pulley wheels or rollers attached thereto substantially as set
forth.
4. in velocipedes the combination of a light wooden body constructed as
Figures 1, 3 and 4 with wheels as shewn by Figures 8, 9, and 10, reciprocating
treadles running on inclined guides as shewn in Figures 1, 2 and 3, band brake as
Figure 7, and device for throwing loose wheel out of gear as shewn by Figures 5
and 6, the whole arranged and operating substantially as set forth.
Dated this 27th day of June 1893.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.