IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR PROPELLING CARRIAGES AND VESSELS
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hodson, of Hull, in the County of York,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR PROPELLING
CARRIAGES AND VESSELS."
Sealed the 2nd February 1864, and dated the 5th August 1863.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hodson at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
August 1863.
I, WILLIAM HODSON, of Hull, in the County of York, do hereby declaro
the nature of the Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR
PROPELLING CARRIAGES AND VESSELS," to be as follow:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery used for pro-
pelling carriages and vessels. For propelling a carriage, a combination of
cranks and levers is employed. There is fixed in the centre of the carriago
frame an elevated cross bar which stands on two brackets, one on each
side of the carriage frame. On the cross bar are fixed two or more swing
bars which hang perpendicularly, and are caused to work backwards and
forwards by the feet of a person or persons, there being at the bottom of
each swing bar a bearing for the foot. The swing bars are about two
feet six inches in length, and about fifteen inches from the bearing of each
bar is attached a connecting rod linking it to a crank on the propelling
wheels. Hand levers are also connected to the swing bars, and all work
in one motion. The steering apparatus is worked from the two front
wheels and is acted on by the man's body, thus allowing him to use both

page_text: hands and feet in the propulsion, when this is required,
hills.
as in ascending.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Hodson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
2nd February 1864.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ПODSON, of Hull, in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, in the twenty-seventh year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Fer heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said William Hodson, Fler special licence that I, the said William
Hodson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said William Hodson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MACHINERY USED FOR PROPELLING CARRIAGES AND VESSELS,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Hodson, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their,
or one of their hands and scais, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office s
within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Hodson, do hereby declaro
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in machinery used for
propelling carriages and vessels. In the centre of the carriage frame is
fixed an elevated cross bar which stands on two brackets, onc
on cach
side of the carriage frame. On the cross bar are fixed two or more swing 3
bars which hang in a perpendicular direction, and work backwards and

page_text: forwards with the feet like the motion of a pendulum. At the bottom of
the swing bar are fixed pattens or bearings for the feet to rest upon.
From the pendulum are attached connecting rods, which connecting rods
are attached to the cranks fixed on the propelling wheels and also to the
hand lovers. The hand levers are connected to the swing bars, and all work
in one motion. The steering apparatus is worked from the front wheels
which goes to the man's hands and body, thus allowing him to use both hands
and feet in the propulsion when required. Boats and vessels are propelled on
the same principle, using as many brackets, cross bars, connecting rods, and
pendulums as may be required for the number of workers. The levers are
made to take off in two halves. The band levers may also be worked as com-
pound levers also with an elongated motion. The seats are made to take off
to allow the passengers to get in and out, and move either backwards or
forwards on the carriage frame.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, I will proceed to describe
the mechanical parts shown in the accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
'The Drawing A shows my improvements applied to the propulsion of a
carriage.
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, are levers; Figures 5, 6, are brackets; Figure 9, cross
bar; Figures 10, 11, pendulums; Figures 12, 13, pattens; Figure 15,
connecting rods; Figure 16, carriage frame; Figures 17, 18, moveable
seats.
The Drawing B shows my improvements applied to the propulsion of a
5 boat.
0
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, are levers;
bracket 8 is bid by the paddle box.
12, 13, pendulums; Figure 14
rods.
Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, are brackets. (The
Figures 9, 10, are cross bars; Figures 11,
shows pattens; Figure 15, connecting
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hodson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of January, in the of
year
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four.
WILLIAM HODSON
(LS)
WILLIAM HODSON (Ls.)