IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING, MOVING OR RAISING VEHICLES OR OBJECTS PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Jonathan Clarke of Bracebridge Hall, in the
county of Lincoln, Justice of the Peace, John William Graham and James
Kirby both of Lincoln in the county of Lincoln for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING, MOVING OR RAISING
VEHICLES OR OBJECTS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Jonathan Clarke,
John William Grabam, and James Kirby at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 3rd April 1883.
FRANCIS JONATHAN CLARKE, of Bracebridge Hall, in the County of Lincoln,
Justice of the Peace JOHN WILLIAM GRAHAM and JAMES KIRBY, both of Lincoln
in the County of Lincoln. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING,
MOVING OR RAISING VEHICLES OR OBJECTS,"
This Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for propelling, moving or
raising vehicles or objects, and it has for its object the construction of a combina-
tion of apparatus whereby the motive-power applied may be most advantageously
utilised.
In carrying out the Invention according to one modification the motive power
is applied at one end of a lever (or levers) centered on a suitable fulcrum and
connected at its shorter end by links to a crank on a first-motion shaft. This
shaft has keyed or fixed upon it a toothed wheel gearing with a smaller toothed
wheel on a second shaft having on it a flywheel. The second or flywheel shaft has
upon it a second toothed wheel which gears with teeth on an annular wheel on
the wheel (or wheels) of the vehicle to be propelled. Suitable arrangements are
provided for throwing the apparatus into and out of gear as desired.
The improved apparatus is especially suitable for propelling tricycles but it is
applicable to tramcars and other vehicles and by making some modifications the
apparatus may be applied to the propulsion of boats on the water or to the raising
of weights.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Francis Jonathan Clarke, John William Graham, and James Kirby
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd October 1883.
FRANCIS JONATHAN CLARKE, of Bracebridge Hall, in the County of Lincoln,
Justice of the Peace, JOHN WILLIAM GRAHAM and JAMES KIRBY, both of Lincoln,
in the County of Lincoln "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
MOVING OR RAISING VEHICLES OR OBJECTS."
Our said Invention relates to improvements in apparatus for propelling moving
or raising vehicles or objects, and it has for its object the construction of a
combination of apparatus whereby the motive power applied may be most
advantageously utilised.
In carrying out our said Invention according to one modification the motive
power is applied at one end of a lever (or levers) centered on a suitable fulcrum
and connected at its shorter end by rods to a crank on a first motion shaft. This
shaft has keyed or fixed upon it a toothed wheel gearing with a smaller toothed
wheel on a second shaft having on it when required a fly wheel. The second or
fly wheel shaft has upon it a second toothed wheel which gears with teeth on the
wheel (or wheels) of the vehicle to be propelled. Suitable arrangements are provided
for throwing the apparatus into and out of gear as desired.
Our improved apparatus is especially suitable for propelling tricycles but it is
applicable to tramcars and other vehicles and by making some modifications the
apparatus may be applied to the propulsion of boats on the water or the raising
of weights.
And in order that our said Invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood we hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings
to be hereinafter referred to. In these drawings the same reference numerals are
used to mark the same or like parts wherever they are repeated.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings our improved combination of apparatus
is shown as adapted for propelling a tricyclo, Figure 1 being a side elevation of a
tricycle (with one driving wheel removed to show the propelling apparatus)
arranged with a front steering wheel the steering arrangements however as well
as other details of well known construction not being shown in the drawings,
whilst Figure, 2, is an end back view of the machine. The power of the rider of
the machine is applied by the feet to two treadles 1, 1, which are fitted, one at
each end of two levers, 2, 2. These levers, 2, 2, are centered near one of their ends
on a transverse horizontal bar, 3, forming part of the framing, 4, of the machine,
so that the longer ends of the levers, 2, 2, project forward towards the front steering
wheel, 5, so as to be at a convenient height for the rider's feet, whilst the shorter
ends are connected by rods, 0, to studs on discs, 7. 8. Each of these discs, 7, 8,
is fixed on the outer end of a short horizontal shaft or journal and are carried in
bearings above the bar, 3, attached to the framing 4, of the machine. This shaft
or journal has keyed on it two toothed wheels, 9. 10. which gear with toothed
wheels, 11, 12, fixed each on a separate tubular piece, 13, 14. These tubular
pieces 13, 14, have the axle, 15, of the driving wheels 16, 17, passed through them
and have clutch arrangements on their outer ends, so that each tubular piece may
be put into or out of gear as desired by means of the levers, 18, centered on the
framing, 4, within reach of the rider of the machine. The toothed wheel, 9, is
larger than the toothed wheel, 11, with which it gears and these wheels, 9. 11, are
thrown into gear with the axle 15, when speed is desired, when however power is
desired more than speed the axle, 15, is thrown into gear with the tubular piece 14

page_text: carrying the wheel, 12, which is larger than the wheel, 10, with which it gears.
By the foregoing arrangements the power of the rider of the machine is applied
and utilised to the best advantage, and the tricycle is rendered capable of being
driven at a high rate of speed.
When applying our improved combination of apparatus to tramcars the manual
or other power is applied at the end of a long lever (or in some cases levers) which
is centered near one end on a bracket attached to the framing of the car at a
convenient height for the power to be applied. The shorter end of the lever is
connected by a rod to a stud on a disc attached to the end of a horizontal shaft on
which is keyed a toothed wheel carried in suitable bearings below the end of the
lever and gearing with a smaller toothed wheel on a shaft carrying a fly wheel
also carried in bearings at about the same level as the first wheel. This smaller
toothed wheel gears with a larger toothed wheel which is fixed on the same axle
as the flanged or other driving wheel of the car. The larger toothed wheel is
nearly of the same diameter as the driving wheel of the car.
Having now particularly described our said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same we have to state that we do not restrict ourselves to the precise
details herein described or delineated but that what we believe to be novel and
original and claim as the Invention secured to us by and in terms of the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is:-
Firstly The improved combination and arrangement of parts of apparatus for
propelling moving or raising vehicles or objects namely levers, 2, to which the
motive power is applied connected by short connecting rods (6) to toothed
wheels (7. 8.) gearing with toothed wheels (11. 12) connected either directly or by
intermediate wheels to the driving wheel of the vehicle or object to be propelled
moved or raised substantially as hereinbefore described.
Secondly The adaptation of the bereinbefore described improved combination
and arrangement of parts of apparatus to tricycles, tramcars or other vehicles, or
objects substantially as herein set forth with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
In Witness whereof I the said John William Graham on behalf of myself and
the said Francis Jonathan Clarke and the said James Kirby have hereunto set my
hand and seal this first day of October in the Year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
JOHN WILLIAM GRAHAM (us)