THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELED CARRIAGES, OR OTHER VEHICLES OR MACHINES, IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE OCCUPANT OR OCCUPANTS THEREOF MAY PROPEL THE SAME BY ALTERNATING THE WEIGHT OF THE PERSON OR PERSONS RIDING
Year: 1859

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Francis Pichler and Henry John
Wigley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 5th November 1859.
We, FRANCIS PICHLER, of 162, Great Portland Street, Oxford Street, and
HENRY JOHN WIGLEY, of 5, Gloucester Place, Gloucester Gate, Regent's
Park, both in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "THE ARRANGEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELED
CARRIAGES, OR OTHER VEHICLES OR MACHINES, IN SUCH MANNER THAT THE
OCCUPANT OR OCCUPANTS THEREOF MAY PROPEL THE SAME BY ALTERNATING THE
WEIGHT OF THE PERSON OR PERSONS RIDING," to be as follows:-
The framework of such vehicles may be variously arranged with more or
less wheels, the front wheel or wheels being directed by the hands or feet, so
as to guide the course of the carriage, within or outside the body of which a
frame or stool is placed, about the width of the carriage, with rockers attached
to the lower extremity, resting on the bottom of the vehicle, and moving
(secured by reverse bands of thin metal) to and fro, similar to an ordinary
rocking chair. Or, the rockers (comprising convex pieces of wood or metal)
may be fixed inverted in the bottom of the carriage, on which a flat surface
connected with the bottom of the frame supporting the seat vibrates in the
same manner, vice versa.
Another form of seat intended is as follows:-The carriage being of a
suitable shape on the part known as the seat, a corresponding flat piece is
placed with rockers immediately underneath, resting on the under surface,

page_text: and secured by reverse bands, as before mentioned. To the part described
with rockers is fixed a continuation or frame for the support of the feet, to
counterbalance which are two upright pieces moving with and fixed by the
lower ends to each side of the rockers. Between these elevated vertical pieces,
and suspended from each (as with a swing) a flat piece is placed to form the
seat, which, by vibrating to and fro, carries the weight of the body alternately
to each end of the rockers, which consequently move in the same direction.
Attached to the back or sides of the seats described (which can be separately
enclosed and sheltered as with open front carriages), a rod or rods are con-
nected with a crank or cranks in the axle fixed to the hind wheels, which,
consequently, revolve by the crank being acted upon as the person seated leans
backwards and forwards. Instead of inside cranks, the rod or rods can be
connected from the sides of the seat to a stud projecting from the outside of
one or each wheel (acting the same as a crank), under which arrangement
the Invention is claimed, that (with the motion described) by the addition of
a contrivance, hereafter mentioned, the dead point of each crank can be
avoided. This is effected by giving the stud outside the wheel (that forms
the crank) a separate excentric motion, which may be produced variously,
but especially by placing the stud mentioned in a slot or grove (about an
inch or more in length), moving by a slight curve towards the centre of the
wheel, the stud being pressed outwards (from the nave of the wheel) by a
spiral spring underneath, which yielding at the dead point, allows the stud to
be pulled or pushed sideways over the centre of the wheel's motion. The
same result is obtained by attaching to the stud of the wheel a separate piece,
which, by moving in an angle a given distance to and from the nave, produces
the same result. And it is further intended that, by attaching the rods
described to the separate part forming the seat, each or one crank (or a
double crank) may be acted on in all directions, the horizontal or rocking
movement driving it to and fro, while the vibrating action of the part forming
the seat (which may be connected with a moveable footboard) will propel
the crank up and down (vertically); or, the same result may be obtained by
constructing a carriage to hold two or more, with double or separate seats,
one of which to act on each wheel, when the cranks or studs should be
fixed at right angles, which might be also acted upon (each separately), the
one by the horizontal motion of the rockers, and the other by the distinct
action of the seat or footboard (together or separately); and if necessary to
obtain additional power, it is intended to attach to the bottom of the vibrating
frame supporting the seat two levers, one to the front, and the other to the
back, which (each being pivoted only at one) end) may be lowered, pro-

page_text: jecting backwards, so as to come in contact with the road, when by the same
motion of the body they would alternately act as propellers, and produce
locomotion.
A carriage in other respects similar in action may be constructed without
rockers, as described, the lower extremity of the frame containing the seat
being pivoted to fixed points. Or, a carriage may be constructed in either
way described without cranks, the rods connected with the seat, acting by
chain or rack work on a cylinder attached to the axle of the hind wheels.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner in
which the same is or may be carried into effect, we desire it to be distinctly
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details herein
described, as such may be varied or modified without departing from the
principle of action thereof; likewise we do not confine ourselves to the strict
forms or shapes of the apparatus herein described; but what we claim as
novel is the peculiar and successful application of the alternate weight of the
person applied mechanically to produce locomotion, in lieu of muscular
force.