IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES PROPELLED BY THE RIDERS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Watson and George Whalley, both of Keighley in
the County of York, Machine Makers and Thomas Weatherill of Leeds in
the said County Traveller for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES
PROPELLED BY THE RIDERS
*
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Watson, George
Whalley, and Thomas Weatherill at the Office of the Commissioners of
Patents on the 24th January 1883.
JOHN WATSON and GEORGE WHALLEY both of Keighley in the County of York
Machine Makers, and THOMAS WEATHERILL of Leeds in the said County, Traveller,
'IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES PROPELLED BY THE RIDERS
"
Our Invention relates to means whereby vehicles can be propelled by the
combined muscular action and weight of the riders, such vehicles having a suitable
framework mounted upon driving wheels and one or more steering wheels. The
axle upon which the driving wheels are placed is formed with one or more cranks
through which the said wheels are actuated as described below.
When the vehicle is being propelled in a straight line, one only or both of the
said driving wheels may be fixed to the crank axle, means are provided for dis-
engaging either one or both of the driving wheels as may be required when the
vehicle is running in a curved direction. A fork or its equivalent is provided for
carrying one or more steering wheels with means provided for actuating the same
when the vehicle is required to deviate from a straight line or course.
In a suitable position upon the principal framework we mount a seat that may
be in the form of a chair or saddle with a back rest in such wise that when the
rider is seated thereon with his feet resting or bearing against either a fixed or
slightly movable part or floor of the vehicle there may, by the extending muscular
action of the rider, be imparted a backward movement to the seat or chair or
saddle, and by the weight of his body, a forward movement thereto, thus con-
stituting what we call a "rocking motion to said seat or chair or saddle, which is
considerably more powerful than the mere action of the feet of the rider upon a
treadle as is usual in vehicles propelled by the riders. In connection with the

page_text: abovementioned seat or chair or saddle, is a lever or arm which receives a recipro-
cating motion therefrom and to which we yoke a connecting rod for conveying
motion to and turning the crank axle of the driving wheels, and in order that the
said crank may be of considerable length for easy propulsion without an excessive
movement of the seat or chair or saddle, we use in some cases a connecting rod
between the said lever or arm and the crank, capable of being by suitable
mechanism, extended or contracted in its length, or we may limit the length of the
crank and use a connecting rod of fixed length so as to restrict the movement of
the said seat or chair or saddle to a convenient amount.
The abovenamed foot rest, floor or treadle may be so modified in position that
the rider may have what we call a "Jockey" motion as though he were riding on
horseback, and when preferred the vehicle may be made to resemble the figure of a
horse. When more than one rider is using the vehicle at the same time, part of
the above described mechanism will require to be duplicated.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Watson, George Whalley, and Thomas Weatherill in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st July 1883.
JOHN WATSON and GEORGE WHALLEY, both of Keighley in the County of York,
Machine Makers, and THOMAS WEATHERILL of Leeds in the said County, Traveller.
IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES PROPELLED BY THE RIDERS
66
"
Our Invention relates to means whereby vehicles can be propelled by the
combined muscular action and weight of the riders, such vehicles having a suitable
framework mounted upon driving wheels and one or more steering wheels.
The axle upon which the driving wheels are placed is formed with one or more
cranks through which the said wheels are actuated as described below.
When the vehicle is being propelled in a straight line, one only or both of the
said driving wheels may be fixed to the crank-axle; means are provided for dis-
engaging either one or both of the driving wheels as may be required when the
vehicle is running in a curved direction.
A fork or its equivalent is provided for carrying one or more steering wheels, in
connection with which we arrange suitable gear for actuating the same when the
vehicle is required to deviate from a straight line or course.
We find in practice that when two steering wheels ar used, one in front and one
behind we may without disadvantage, dispense with one driving wheel.
In a suitable position upon the principal framework we mount a seat that may
be in the form of a chair, or saddle with a back rest, in suchwise that when the
rider is seated thereon with his feet resting or bearing against either a fixed o
slightly movable part or floor of the vehicle, there may by the extending muscula
action of the rider, be imparted a backward movement to the seat or chair o

page_text: saddle, and by the weight of his body, a forward movement thereto, thus con-
stituting what we call a "rocking" motion of the said seat, chair or saddle, which
is considerably more effective than the mere action of the feet of the rider upon a
treadle usual in vehicles propelled by the riders.
In connection with the abovementioned seat, chair or saddle, is a lever or arm
that receives a reciprocating motion therefrom and to which we yoke a connecting
rod for conveying motion to and turning the crank-axle of the driving wheel or
wheels, and in order that the said crank may be of considerable length for easy
propulsion without an excessive movement of the seat, chair or saddle, we use in
some cases between the said lever or arm and the crank, a connecting rod capable
of being by suitable mechanism extended or contracted in its length, or we may
limit the length of the crank or otherwise, and use a connecting rod of fixed length
and so arrange the other mechanism in connection there with as to restrict the
movement of the seat, chair or saddle to a convenient amount.-The abovenamed
foot-rest, floor or treadle, may be so modified in position that the rider may have
what we call a "Jockey" motion as though he were riding on horseback, and
when preferred, the vehicle may be made to resemble the figure of a horse.-When
the vehicle is intended to be propelled by more than one rider at a time, or when
it is made in the form of a "Sociable," part of the abovenamed mechanism will
require to be duplicated.
In the accompanying two sheets of drawings, the same reference letters denote
like or similar parts wherever they occur.-
elevation, and Fig. 3, a front elevation of a vehicle according to our invention,
-Fig. 1, is a plan. Fig. 2. a side
arranged with a seat or chair suitably mounted on arms a 1, having their centre of
motion at c, of the principal framework a,-d, is a link connecting said, seat or chair
to the reciprocating lever or arm e, having its centre of motion at f-To the end e 1,
of the lever e, is jointed the connecting rod g,-the other end of which is yoked to
the pin of the crank h, of the crank shaft, i, on which are mounted the driving
wheels j, j 1, one or both of these is or are capable of being disengaged from the
crank-shaft i, when desired, the mechanism for this purpose being well known and
common to vehicles of this kind and not forming part of this invention, is not
shewn in the drawings. The end e 2, of the lever or arm e, forms a kind of treadle
upon which the feet of the rider rest and against which he exerts his extending
muscular action simultaneously causing the seat or chair k, to make the backward
portion of its rocking movement, during which the back part of his body bears and
has a thrusting action against the back of the seat or chair, In effecting the
forward part of the rocking movement of the seat the riders feet cease to press on
the treadle at e 2, and his weight then acts on the seat of the chair bringing it
forward.
The foregoing it will be understood completes the backward and forward rocking
motion of the seat or chair, as also the reciprocating motion of the lever or arm e,
and the revolving motion of the crank shaft i, and driving wheels j, j 1.-The
treadle e 2, as before mentioned may be so modified in position as to have little or
no motion, or the floor of the vehicle when such is provided, or other suitable part
may be used instead of the treadle. Fig. 4, is a plan shewing the arrangement of
parts for producing by the action of the rider an up and down or what we call a
Jockey" motion as previously referred to. In this case we provide upon that
part of the arm a 1, which in the previously described rocking motion arrangement
receives the bottom of the chair , a saddle k 1, or other convenient seat for the
ider, the treadle e 2, the floor of the vehicle or other fixed part being used at the
liscretion of the rider when performing the upward part of the jockey motion.
The downward part of such motion is effected by the weight of the rider. Fig. 5,
s a side elevation of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6, is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 7. is
side elevation shewing the mechanism above referred to for extending and
ontracting the length of the connecting rod g. This is effected by making the
id rod a compound and articulated one, so that by means of its connection with
he lever l, to which it is connected and the link m, it is caused to gradually

page_text: ngthen during its upward movement indicated by the arrow, and to shorten
orrespondingly in its downward movement; by this arrangement we are enabled
use a longer crank with a limited motion of the chair or saddle, than would
therwise be practicable, but usually we prefer to use the simple form of connecting
od such as shewn in Figs. 2, and 5, of the drawings.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of
arrying the same into practical effect, we would have it understood that what we
onsider to be novel and original and therefore claim as secured to us under the
etters Patent, first herein before in part recited is
1, In vehicles of the kind hereinabove referred to the use of mechanism arranged
and operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings for
propelling the vehicle by a rocking to and fro" effected by the combined
muscular action and weight of the rider or riders as above set forth.
2/ In vehicles of the kind hereinabove referred to the use of mechanism arranged
and operating substantially as described with reference to the drawings for
propelling the vehicle by an up and down or “jockey” inotion of the rider or
riders as above set forth.
3. In a vehicle constructed to be propelled by the rider or riders the combination
of mechanism hereinabove described whereby the length of the connecting rod
of the crank motion is varied during the rotation of the crank substantially
as hereinabove described and illustrated in the drawings for the purpose
specified.
In Witness whereof, we the said John Watson, George Whalley, and Thomas
Weatherill, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Nineteenth day of July in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty three
JOHN WATSON
(L.S.)
GEORGE WHALLEY
(L.S.)
Witness to the Signatures of the said
John Watson, George Whalley
and Thomas Weatherill.
THO
E CRAVEN. C.E.
THOMAS WEATHERILL (L.S.)
Fellow of the Inst. of Patent Agents
24 Victoria Chambers
South Parade
Leeds.