IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLYING POWER IN PROPELLING OR MOVING CARRIAGES, AND IN GIVING MOTION TO MACHINERY
Year: 1847

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JAMES
MORISON, of Paisley, in the Kingdom of Scotland, Shawl Manufacturer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Royal
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-ninth day of July, in
the eleventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said James Morison, Her especial licence, full power, sole
privilege and authority, that I, the said James Morison, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, and such others as I, the said James Morison, my execu-
tors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within that part of
Her Majesty's United Kingdom called England, Her Dominion of Wales, and
the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey,
Alderney, Sark, and Man, and also within all Her Majesty's Colonies and
Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPLYING POWER IN
PROPELLING OR MOVING CARRIAGES, AND IN GIVING MOTION TO MACHINERY;" in
which said Letters Patent there is contained a proviso, obliging me, the said
James Morison, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, particu-
larly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be inrolled in
Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in

page_text: and by the same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large
appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
James Morison, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and
the manner in which the same is to be performed, are particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being
had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures therein contained,
in which the same letters refer to similar parts, that is to say:-
My Invention relates, firstly, to certain arrangements of machinery or appa-
ratus for the propulsion of wheeled carriages or conveyances on common roads
or railways, which said arrangements of machinery are also applicable to the
propulsion of boats, and as a working apparatus for general machinery.
Secondly, to certain modifications in the wheels of carriages or other con-
veyances for common roads, whereby the said wheels are enabled to carry
their own rails, thus facilitating the passage of the said wheels over uneven
surfaces.
Thirdly, to an improved propeller or feathering float board for paddle wheels
of steam or other mechanically-propelled vessels, which said propeller is also
applicable as a wind vane for horizontal and vertical windmills.
Fourthly, to certain apparatus for the propulsion of certain modifications of
carriages in water.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Sheet 1 Figure 1, of this Sheet, is a side elevation of a carriage adapted
for travelling upon common roads, capable of being worked or propelled by one
person riding or being carried therein; Figure 2 is a complete ground plan of
the same; and Figure 3 is an end elevation of the carriage seen from behind;
Figure 4 is a detached view, representing a side elevation of the driving
gearing alone; and Figure 5 is an enlarged view of the ratchet, pulley, strap,
and catch which I employ for giving motion to the driving axle of the carriage.
The main framing of the carriage is composed of two horizontal beams a, a,
which are curved, as shewn in the ground plan, Figure 2; these beams a, a, are
connected by means of the back pieces b, b, seen in Figure 3, with the lower
beams c, c, of which one is seen in Figure 1, which latter are also bound
together by the front bars d, Figure 1. In the whole of the above Figures the
framing is represented as deprived of its covering (which covering may either
be made of wood, cloth, or other suitable material), for the purpose of repre-
senting clearly the internal propelling mechanism. The shaft or axle e, e, (seen
in Figures 2 and 3) of the driving wheels f, f, Figure 3, is carried by the two

page_text: bearings g, g, Figure 3, fixed on the tops of the two pillars h, h, Figure 3, bolted
on the inside of the main framing of the carriage. The driving axle e, e, is of
a square section. Between the bearings g, g, immediately on the outside of the
latter, keys or feathers are fixed on the axle. On these keys the sliding halves
of the ratchet clutches k, k, Figure 3, are fitted; these clutches are adjustable
in and out of gear with the ratchet ends of the bosses of the driving wheels
by means of the spring levers 1, 1, Figure 3. The lower ends or spring portions
of these levers are attached to the outside of the framing at m, Figure 3,
their upper ends beneath the handles being formed into rings, surrounding the
clutches k, k, and projecting pins being formed on these rings, for the purpose
of moving the said clutches by means of grooves cut on their peripheries.
The driving wheels f, f, are arranged to run loose on the ends of the driving
axle, the inner ends of the wheel bosses being serrated, and fitted to the
serrated or ratchet ends of the sliding clutches k, k. By this arrangement it
will be seen that the driving wheels may be at any time disconnected, so as to
move independent of each other and of the driving shaft, simply by drawing
back the clutches k, k. n, Figure 1, is the seat of the rider, one or more of
which seats may be fitted to one carriage; it is moveable in a vertical direction,
being guided by the two metal or other spindles o, o, Figure 3, bolted on its
under side, which spindles work in guides attached to the framing of the carriage.
This seat is adapted for communicating motion to the carriage by the bar p,
Figure 1, which is bolted beneath the seat at the front of the driving shaft.
This bar has attached to its lower extremity a stout strap of gutta percha,
leather, or other suitable material r, Figure 1, which is passed over the pulleys,
Figure 2, in the centre of the three pulleys, which are fast on the driving shaft.
These pulleys are made of wood or metal, or are covered on their peripheries
with a layer of gutta percha, or a composition thereof, which layer is serrated,
or formed like a ratchet. The under side of the strap r is also serrated for a
portion of its length, to fit the serrations or ratchet teeth of the pulleys. The
seat n of the rider (which seat is here shewn at about half its stroke) is thus
rendered available for acting by the weight of the rider upon the driving
wheels, so as to cause them to revolve by the action of the serrated or toothed
strap r, upon the pulley s during the descent of the seat n; when the scat is
permitted to descend by the weight of the rider, the teeth of the strap hold in
those of the pulley, which is thus turned round a distance equal to the length
of the stroke of the seat, and when the seat is again raised, as will be herein-
after shewn, the angle of the teeth on the pulley and strap permits of the
slipping back of the latter over the teeth of the pulley, in order to take a
fresh hold upon the pulley when the seat again descends. A short elastic

page_text: band t, Figure 1, is attached to the back end of the strap r and to the
fixed cross bar u of the frame, for the purpose of acting by its elasti-
city in bringing back the strap r at each rise of the seat.
The pulley v,
Figure 3, on the driving shaft is also acted upon by a serrated band, which is
attached to the end of the treadle w of the same Figure, which treadle is
hinged at its contrary extremity to the bar d of the frame of the carriage.
The third pulley x, on the opposite side of the pulleys, is similarly fitted
with a serrated band, which is acted upon by a bent lever y, Figure 1. This
lever works on a centre piece, carried by the bottom framing of the carriage,
the bent portion extending back towards the driving shaft. This end of the
lever is linked by a short connecting piece to one end of a transverse lever 1,
Figure 3, passing across the framing of the carriage, its contrary end being
arranged to oscillate upon a fixed stud at 2. To this lever the extremity of
the band of the pulley x is attached at the point 3; thus, when the lever y
is pulled by hand in the direction of the arrow, the depression of the trans-
verse shaft 1 will draw down the strap of the pulley. x, causing the latter
to revolve, as herein-before described with reference to the pulleys s. and v.
In this manner the whole of the pulleys s, v, and x are employed in causing
the driving wheels f, f, to revolve. In order to elevate the seat n of the
rider and the treadle w after each depression, an additional apparatus is em-
ployed in connection therewith. A light shaft 4, Figure 3, is carried loosely in
bearings attached to a cross bar, passing across the framing immediately below
the driving shaft. This shaft carries a small cylindrical box 5 of the same
Figure, containing a coiled spring, one extremity of which is fastened to the
shaft 4, the other being connected to the interior of the box, which is thus
arranged to act like the main spring barrel of a watch. To the exterior of
this box is attached a short lever 6, Figure 3, the end of which is formed into
a segment of a circle, as seen in the elevation, Figure 1. To this segmental
lever a strap or band is fastened, passing downwards to the end of the treadle
w, to which it is fastened, at 7 of the same Figure 3.
the treadle, the spring contained in the box 5 is coiled
so that, upon the release of the treadle from the weight of the foot, it is brought
up by the tension of the spring winding up the band on the lever 6. The
same shaft and spring are also employed for the raising of the seat n of the
rider. 8, 8, Figure 3, are two conical pulleys, formed like the fusee of a watch,
and fast upon the shaft 4. Straps are fastened to the larger ends of these
pulleys, which straps, after being passed round the pulleys, are attached at the
points 9, 9, also of Figure 3, to a cross bar upon the lower extremities of the
guide spindles o, o, of the seat.
The pulleys 8, 8, being fast on the shaft 4,
At each depression of
up to a certain extent,

page_text: the spring in the box 5 acts upon them, so as to wind up their straps, and thus
raise the seat n after each depression, as herein-before explained with reference
to the treadle. The action of the propelling apparatus is then as follows:-
The rider or passenger having placed himself in the seat n, the weight of his
body then presses it down, and by means of the apparatus herein-before described
the seat n acts upon the central pully s on the driving shaft, and causes the
driving wheels to revolve in the direction indicated by the arrow, Figure 1.
When the seat is the end of its downward stroke, the operator or rider
removes his weight from the seat n by pulling towards him the lever y, by
which he raises himself up at the same time nearly to a standing position, and
throws his weight upon the treadle w, which acts as herein-before described
upon the pulley v, while the motion of the lever y, depressing the transverse
lever 1, acts similarly upon the pulley x, so that the three pulleys act in
concert in urging round the driving wheels. When the weight of the rider is
removed from the seat n to be applied to the treadle w, the seat immediately
rises to the top of its stroke, being lifted by the coiled spring m, the box 5,
which turns the shaft 4, and winds up the straps of the pulleys 8, 8, the
relative diameters of the opposite ends of these pulleys being proportioned to the
varying tension of the spring at different periods of its action. As the rider's
seat n, the treadle w, and the lever y are all independant of each other, they
may be worked together separately, or in different sequence, as desired. Thus,
if a slow motion only is required, or where much power is not applied, the
the lever y alone may be employed, the rider remaining seated, as the seat n
will then have no motion, or the treadle w may be used alone. Figure 5 i a
detached elevation of a ratchet pulley, similar to those herein-before described
as fitted to the driving axle. In this modification the driving strap 10 is not
serrated, but has attached to it a separate catch or detent of wood, metal, or
other suitable material 11, which catches, or a series of them, may be employed
instead of the serrations on the strap. In order to assist the carriage in passing
curves, the clutch boxes K, K, of the driving axle permit of the disconnection
of either of the wheels. The sliding halves of the clutches K, K, being formed
with ratchet teeth on their outer ends, and acting so as to hold in gear with
the bosses of the driving wheels when going forward, it is evident that when the
carriage passes a curve the outer wheel will revolve independently of its axle,
as the ratchet teeth upon its boss will slip over those on its sliding clutch. The
hand lever for guiding the carriage is seen at 12, Figure 1; it is carried upon
a fixed stud on the lower part of the carriage framing; a connecting rod passes
from it to a short lever 13, set fast on the upper end of the forked guide 14,
Figure 1, of the guiding wheel 15, Figure 1, which guide is steadied and

page_text: supported at its upper extremity by the metal socket 16, Figure 1, sits fast on
the top frame a. The lower portion of the lever 12 is thin and elastic, and is
The lever carries a small
kept pressed up against the inside of the framing a.
adjusting pin, fitting to the holes in the curved plate, adjusted on the frame, so
that the guiding wheel may thus be set at any angle to suit the direction of
motion required. Although I have herein described the carriage as worked
by one person only, it is evident that two or more persons may be employed
in giving motion to it by fitting up additional seats in it. As a means of
economising power in the working of carriages on this principle, I propose to
employ compressed air as a subsidiary propelling power. To accomplish this,
I propose to adapt an air pump, to be worked by a crank on the axle of the
driving wheels, or other suitable means, such pump to be employed in forcing.
air into a reservoir fitted on the carriage. In descending inclines, such a pump
being put in action will absorb the superfluous power occasioned by the gravity
of the machine by its action in forcing atmospheric air into the reservoir at a
high pressure; the air thus compressed will be available for assisting in the
propulsion of the carriage when required, by acting upon the cranked axles or
other suitable part of the machinery, or again by means of the piston employed
to compress it.
The arrangement of serrated pulleys and straps, or a modification thereof,
may be employed for transmitting power to machinery in general, such as
the driving of lathes, saws, or the propulsion of boats. The pulley, herein-
before described as formed with ratchet teeth, may also be formed simply
with recesses for the reception of the projecting teeth of the driving bands.
In cases where the motion of the driving band is not required to be recipro-
catory, the ratchet form of tooth of the strap and pulley may be dispensed with,
and plain teeth substituted.
Figure 1, Sheet 2, represents a side elevation of a portion of a carriage
wheel carrying its own rail, for the purpose of enabling it to overcome the
difficulties caused by the unevenness of surface of common roads; Figure 2 is
an edge view of a portion of the rim of the wheel. A shallow groove is formed
round the periphery of the wheel, as represented by the dotted circle at A, A,
Figure 1. A series of straight and flat bars of metal or other suitable material
b, b, are placed in this groove, being retained in their positions by the conical
or triangular projections c, c, which are fast to the centre of each bar or rail,
and are passed loosely through suitable holes cut in the periphery of the
A spiral spring d, Figure 1, is attached to each of these projections
c, c, connecting them with the nave or other fixed portion of the wheel. The
rails b, b, are all dovetailed into each other at their extremities, so that no one
wheel.

page_text: of them can be released from acting in support of the wheel until the succeeding
one has come into action. As the wheel rolls over any obstacles or hollows in
the road the rails b, b, successively form inclined planes, upon which the wheel
rolls, thus assisting its passage over any obstructions. Each rail as the wheel
rolls turns slightly upon its central projection c, in accommodating itself to the
varying point of pressure of the wheel, the springs d, d, being for the purpose
of allowing this motion, and for retaining the rails close up to the periphery of
the wheel. Although I have herein represented series of spiral springs
applied for the retaining of the rails, yet it is obvious that elliptical or other
springs may be used.
My improvements in float boards or propellers for steam or other mechanically
propelled boats are represented in the detached views, Figures 3, 4, and 5.
Figure 3 is a side elevation of a portion of a paddle wheel with three float
boards attached; Figure 4 is a front view of a single float board with its
vanes or floats closed; Figure 5 is a side view of the same; and Figure 6
represents the float board with its vanes open. The float board consists of
two rectangular frames e, f, to the inside edges of which are hinged a set of
vanes or adjustable boards g, g. Each of these vanes is fitted with four
studs or joint pins, two at each end, placed on alternate sides of the vane, as
represented at h, h. These pins are fitted alternately to the two frames e and f,
and being placed on the sides, or excentric to the plane of the vanes, the latter
are permitted to attain nearly a level surface when closed, as represented in
Figure 5. k, k, are two short levers. jointed to the outside of the two frames
e and f, in a manner similar to the attachment of the vanes to the same parts.
These levers are connected transversely by a pin or bar 1, which is prolonged
on one side as seen at m, which piece is intended for the working of the vanes
when in action. The mode of action of this improved float board is repre-
sented in the view, Figure 3. This diagram exhibits portions of three arms of
an ordinary paddle wheel, each with one of the improved float boards fitted to
it. The arrow, Figure 3, shews the direction in which the paddle is supposed
to be revolving, the horizontal dotted line representing the height of the water
line. The float board which has just entered the water is shewn with it vanes
full open, so as to permit of its free passage through the water until it arrives at
the point where its action in propelling is required to commence. n, n, Figure 3,
is a guide rod, passing round the greater portion of the wheel, but fixed to the
boat. Against this guide rod the pin m of the vane presses as the float
comes round, the pressure thus occasioned operating to retain the vanes open,
or with their edges opposed to the line of motion of the wheel. The guide
rod n, n, ends on this side of the wheel at the point o, at which place, as its

page_text: action upon the pin m ceases, the vanes of the float board close, and its pro-
pelling action then commences. The end of the guide rod at o is slightly
curved or sloped away, so that the pin m may be gradually released in order to
prevent a shock from the sudden closing of the vanes. After each float board
has passed the end of the guide rod at o, the action of the water closes the vanes,
as represented by the centre float shewn at its greatest depth in the water.
The float then remains closed until the pin m approaches the guide at p, where
it again commences to act. The guide rod is here also slightly curved, so as
to bring the pin gradually upon the stationary pulley r, Figure 3, which acts
upon the pin and re-opens the vanes to permit the free lift of the float board
from the water. The guide rod being continued onwards round the wheel to
the point o, keeps the vanes open until they severally arrive at the point where
their propelling action is required to commence, as herein-before detailed.
Figure 7 represents the same float board applied to a carriage wheel for the
propulsion of carriages in water. In the herein-before mentioned description
of a carriage propelled by my improved apparatus, I have represented the
framework as unprovided with any covering, in order to explain more fully
the details of the machinery. In order to fit such a carriage for propulsion
on water, the frame may be covered with wood, or other material suitable for
the formation of a water-tight shell, capable of floating and answering the
general purposes of a boat. The driving wheels of the carriage, when intended
for water conveyance in addition to travelling on land, are fitted with float
boards, similar to those herein-before described as applied to a paddle wheel.
In Figure 7, the back frames f of the float boards are attached to the spokes
of the wheels by loose joints, which permit the motion of the whole float, in
order to set it in the plane of motion of the driving wheels when the carriage
is intended for running upon land, the floats not being in action. Three float
boards only are represented in Figure 7, of which the one marked s is shewn as
they are placed when arranged for travelling on land. A circular rod t, t, is
fitted to guides attached to the side of the rim of the wheel, and is provided
with adjusting handles, one of which is seen at u. This ring is connected at
intervals to each of the back frames f of the float boards by links v, v. When
it is desired to move the frames of the float boards from the position repre-
sented at s to that shewn in the remaining Figures u, a, the rod t is moved
by hand for a short distance in a circular direction, its links v, v, setting the float
boards to the desired position. Each float board is provided with pins for
working the vanes in a manner precisely similar to that herein-before detailed
with reference to the paddle wheel. In order to provide an efficient means of
guiding the carriage in water, a loose covering of cloth or other flexible mate-

page_text: rial is attached to the front of the carriage framing, passing over and on each
side of the steering wheel. The steering wheel thus prepared then acts as an
efficient rudder, the open spaces between the spokes being filled up by the
covering, so that the wheel opposes a flat surface to the water. Carriages fitted
up in this manner may thus cross rivers, or be used for purposes of conveyance
upon land or water indiscriminately. Float boards of this improved construc-
tion may also be fitted to water wheels in place of the ordinary floats, so as to
diminish the back-water and improve the working of such wheels. The said
float boards are also applicable as wind vanes for windmills, either horizontal
or vertical, the vanes being acted on as herein-before described, so as to open
and present their edges when coming against the wind, and close when going
before it.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in
which the same is to be carried into effect, I would have it understood that I
do not confine myself to the precise details thereof, so long as the peculiar
character of my Invention be retained; but what I claim as my Invention, and
intended to be protected by Letters Patent, is,--
Firstly, the arrangement of machinery or apparatus employed for the pro-
pulsion of wheeled carriages or other conveyances on roads or railways, and of
boats and other machinery, as herein-before described in reference to the Sheets
of Drawings.
Secondly, the peculiar modification of carriages or other wheeled convey-
ances, whereby the wheels of such carriages or wheeled conveyances are enabled
to carry their own supporting rails, as herein-before described in reference to
the second Sheet of Drawings.
Thirdly, the propeller or float board with jointed vanes for paddle wheels,
which float board is also applicable as a float for water wheels, and as a wind
vane for windmills, as herein-before described in reference to the second Sheet
of Drawings.
Fourthly, the peculiar machinery or apparatus for the propulsion of carriages
floating on water, as herein-before described in reference to the second Sheet
of Drawings.
Fifthly, the application of ratchet pulleys and serrated straps, made of gutta
percha or of any composition thereof, for the propulsion of machinery, as
herein-before described in reference to the first Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Morison, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, One thousand eight
hundred and forty-eight.
JAMES
(L.S.) MORISON.

page_text: AND BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twenty-ninth day of Jauuary,
in the eleventh year of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Victoria, the said
James Morison came before our said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and
acknowledged the Instrument aforesaid, and all and every thing therein con-
tained and specified, in form above written. And also the Instrument aforesaid
was stamped, according to the tenor of the Statute made in the fifty-fifth year
of the reign of His late Majesty King George the Third.