Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 14th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1888
1 JOHN ARTHUR ILIFFE of 2 Bedford Row London Solicitor do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
The Machine comprises a circular wheel with hollow centre constructed of metal
from 9 to 11 feet in diameter with tyre an inch more or less in width fitted with a
vulcanized band as now used for the purpose of breaking the concussion occasioned
by surface irregularities. Within the outside circle and tyre before described and at
a distance within it of about 3 feet or more from the outer rim is contained a double
circle of light steel rings or bands with cross bar connections about 4 to 6 inches
apart and about 3 feet in diameter with a central conical projection carried round
the double rings or bands on the inner sides. These inner double circular connected
steel rings or bands are fastened to and connected with the outer wheel or tyre by fine
spokes or supporting rods of light metal at equidistant spaces of the whole circum-
ference sufficient in number to fasten and securely connect the outer wheel ring or
tyre with the inner double steel rings or bands all round the central ends of which spokes
or rods are secured or fastened to the outer edges of the inner steel rings or connected
bands aforesaid on each side at a slight angle from the junction or fastening of the
outer ends of the spokes or rods in the outside wheel or tyre where they are screwed
or fastened to it.
Within the aforesaid circular double steel rings or connected bands and in immediate
contact with them is fitted another double metallic circle of rings or bands of brass or
gun metal connected by cross bars about 4 to 6 inches in width more or less the
circular rings or bands being constructed with grooves fitting into the conical or
convex projections of the double steel rings or connected bands before mentioned and
resting upon travellers or brass rollers fixed to the under rim in such connected bands
or double rings as after mentioned. The bearing or underpart of these metallic rings
or connected bands is fitted with 6 or more brass rollers fixed on each side under the
| Daim 27

page_text: bearings and also 5 or 6 others at equidistant spaces round the circle to ease the side
of the double rings or connected bands and to reduce the friction caused by the weight
of the rider. Upon these inmost connected double rings or metallic sliding bands
before described is fastened a small metallic seat or saddle padded and protected with
leather and resting on springs. Underneath this saddle and resting on each side of
the double inner connected rings or metallic bands are two small lubricating boxes
fitted to contain tow or cotton saturated with oil which percolates through small holes
drilled in the bottom of the lubricating boxes and also through the double connected
rings or metallic bands (which travel on the brass rollers) for the purpose of reducing
the friction and easing the slide and revolution of the steel rings or double connected
bands and brass rollers upon which the inmost rests. To this inmost circle a cross bar
rest or guide handle of light metal or wood is fixed in front of the rider to assist him
in steadying his seat and to afford greater facilities for guiding and turning the
machine. On each side of the inner double metallic connected rings or bands are
permanently fixed double metallic extensions similar to the supports and fixings used
for the axles of Railway carriages and with axle partly kept in position by spiral or
other extension springs and between these double supports on each side is fixed a light
metallic wheel about half the diameter of the inner rings or connected bands with a
grooved or concave tyre to carry a ratchet chain over tooth or a driving belt or cord
which is passed round and travels in the grooves of the double inner rings or connected
bands on each side which driving belt or cord causes the outer wheel to revolve and
such driving belt on each side is set in motion by the foot acting upon rotatory treadles
or crank projections from each axle of the smaller wheels fixed on each side and which
revolve between the duplicate fixed axle projection supports depending from each side
of the inner metallic rings or connected bands aforesaid which said treadles are worked
by the rider when seated on the saddle and cause the Tinicycle to revolve.
Instead of the driving belt or cord before described a single small driving wheel
worked with a treadle from the lower exterior extension before described may be
substituted 2 cog wheels the lower having the treadle axle and which 2 wheels are
brought in contact with the outer edge of the inner hollow band also cogged to receive
the teeth of the small centre wheel the lower setting the whole in motion with the foot
treadle. The weight of the rider on the saddle with the weight of the wheels and
duplicate bearing extensions on each side of the inmost double rings or connected
metallic bands before described keeps the inmost circular double metallic rings or
connected bands from participating in the revolution of the outer wheel and enables
the rider to maintain a perpendicular position.
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page_text: I JOHN ARTHUR ILIFFE of No. 2 Bedford Row London Solicitor 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 Machine comprises a circular wheel with hollow centre constructed of metal
3 from 9 to 11 feet in diameter with tyre (marked B on the drawings hereunto annexed)
an inch more or less in width fitted with a vulcanized band (marked A on the drawings
hereunto annexed) as now used for the purpose of breaking the concussion occasioned
by surface irregularities. Within the outside circle and tyre before described and at
a distance within it of about 3 feet or more from the outer rim is contained a double
circle of light steel rings or bands (marked D on the drawings hereunto annexed)
with cross bar connections about 4 to 6 inches apart and about 3 feet in diameter
with a central conical projection carried round the double rings or bands on the inner
sides.
These inner double circular connected steel rings or bands are fastened to and
connected with the outer wheel or tyre by fine spokes (marked C on the drawings
hereunto annexed) or supporting rods of light metal at equidistant spaces of the
whole circumference sufficient in number to fasten and securely connect the outer
wheel ring or tyro with the inner double steel rings or bands all round the central
ends of which spokes or rods are secured or fastened to the outer edges of the inner
steel rings or connected bands aforesaid on each side at a slight angle from the
junction or fastenings of the outer ends of the spokes or rods in the outside wheel
or tyre where they are screwed or fastened to it.
Within the aforesaid circular double steel rings or connected bands and in immo-
diate contact with them is fitted another double metallic circle of rings or bands
(marked E on the drawings hereunto annexed) of brass or gun metal connected by
cross bars about 4 to inches in width more or less the circular rings or bands being
constructed with grooves fitting into the conical or convex projections of the double
steel rings or connected bands before mentioned and resting upon travellers or brass
rollers (marked G on the drawings hereunto annexed) fixed to the under rim in such
connected bands or double rings as after mentioned.
The bearing or underpart of these metallic rings or connected bands is fitted with
6 or more brass rollers fixed on each side under the bearings and also 5 or 6 others at
equidistant spaces round the circle to ease the slide of the double rings or connected
bands and to reduce the friction caused by the weight of the rider.
Upon these inmost connected double rings or metallic sliding bands before described
is fastened a small metallic seat or saddle (marked F on the drawings hereunto
annexed) padded and protected with leather and resting on springs. Underneath this
saddle and resting on each side of the double inner connected rings or metallic bands
re two small lubricating boxes (marked H on the drawings hereunto annexed) fitted
to contain tow or cotton saturated with oil which percolates through small holes

page_text: drilled in the bottom of the lubricating boxes and also through the double connected
rings or metallic bands (which travel on the brass rollers) for the purpose of reducing
the friction and easing the slide and revolution of the steel rings or double connected
bands and brass rollers upon which the inmost rests. To this inmost circle a cross bar
rest or guide handle (marked I on tho drawings hereunto annexed) of light metal or
wood is fixed in front of the rider to assist him in steadying his seat and to afford
greater facilities for guiding and turning the Machine. On each side of the inner
double metallic connected rings or bands are permanently fixed double metallic
extensions (marked J on the drawings hereunto annexed) similar to the supports and
fixings used for the axles of Railway carriages and with axle partly kept in position
by spiral or other extensions springs and between these double supports on each side
is fixed a light metallic wheel (marked K on the drawings hereunto annexed) about
half the diameter of the inner rings or connected bands with a grooved or concave
tyre to carry a ratchet chain over tooth or a driving belt or cord which is passed
round and travels in the grooves of the double inner rings or connected bands on each
side which driving bolt or cord causes the outer wheel to revolve and such driving
belt on each side is set in motion by the foot acting upon rotatory treadles or crank
projections from each axle of the smaller wheels fixed on each side and which revolve
between the duplicate fixed axle projection supports depending from each side of the
inner metallic rings or connected bands aforesaid which said treadles are worked by
the rider when seated on the saddle and cause the Unicycle to revolve.
See drawings annexed number one with the sectional view number two.
Instead of the driving belt or cord before described a single small driving wheel
worked with a treadle from the lower exterior extension before described may be
substituted 2 cog wheels the lower having the treadle axle and which two wheels are
brought in contact with the outer edge of the inner hollow band also cogged to
receive the teeth of the small centre wheel the lower setting the whole in motion with
the foot treadle as seen by the drawings annexed figure number 3 with sectional view
number 4. The weight of the rider on the saddle with the weight of the wheels and
duplicate bearing extensions on each side of the inmost double rings or connected
metallic bands before described keeps the inmost circular double metallic rings or
connected bands from participating in the revolution of the outer wheel and enables
the rider to maintain a perpendicular position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
An entirely novel form of locomotion by means of a single wheel of large diameter
possessing advantages over the ordinary Bicycle or Tricycle a greater speed being
attainable with less exertion.
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