A New or Improved Cycle Attachment for Ambulance and other purposes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Cycle Attachment for Ambulance and other
purposes.
We, EUSTACE CHARLES ALEXANDER, Inventor, ALFRED SPAIN, Architect, and
ALEXANDER OGDEN, Contractor, all of 12, Temple Court, King Street, Sydney,
in the Colony of New South Wales, 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 object of the present invention is to provide certain attachments, which
when applied to two bicycles the whole will become an ambulance carriage or
may be used as required for other portage. The special features in connection
with this invention are as follows: First, that the attachments are so arranged
that when taken to pieces they may be carried on two separate bicycles without
inconveniencing the riders;-second that any make of bicycle may be called
into service; third, that the various parts may be placed in position in a very
short space of time;-fourth that when used for ambulance work, one of the
riders will be free to attend to the wounded while the other can steer both
bicycles; fifth, that all the parts being detachable and light, little space is
taken in transport. Reference will now be made to the accompanying sheet of
drawings which forms a part of this specification and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of this invention applied to two bicycles for
ambulance work, ready to receive a stretcher.
Figure 2 is a detail shewing joints of bearing frame.
In both figures similar letters are used to denote similar parts.
A, A, are two bicycles which may be of any make, to the backbone B of each
is secured, by means of the band C, and thumb screws D, the tubes E, E, the latter
forming two sides of the bearing frame, the tubes F, F, completing the bearing
frame. In preparing the joints of the tubes E, and F, it is preferable to insert in
the ends of the tubes F, (see Figure 2) a solid piece G, (brazed in or otherwise
secured) having a threaded bolt end H-the tubes E also having a solid end piece I,
and so shaped that the end of same will lap, the tube F, permitting the bolt
end H to pass through and receive the nut J, thus the bearing frame will be com-
plete. On the tubes F, F, are secured strong spiral springs K-preferably
attached thereto by means of a bolt and nut, these spiral springs K support each
a carrier L-so shaped that they will receive stretcher poles, the thumb screws M,
in each one being provided to clamp the stretcher poles, when the stretcher is
vacant. The stretcher most suitable for use with this invention it that known by
the military as the regulation stretcher, but it may be so constructed that any other
make of stretcher could be used.
Sufficient space is left between the outer sides of the stretcher poles and the
saddles so that the riders will have no difficulty in propelling the machines.
The tube N is provided with solid ends, the latter having lugs O, in which an

page_text: opening is provided to permit of the axle of the rear or driving wheel of the
bicycle passing through to receive the nut P, thus joining the rear axles of both
bicycles. Diagonal stays Q, are laid between the tube N, and the inner back fork
tube R of each bicycle, these stays are provided with flattened ends, clips S are
placed on the tube N, and the inner back fork tubes R to receive the flattened
ends of the stays Q, the whole being held in position by the thumb screws T.
On the socket tube just above the fork crown of each bicycle is placed a clip U,
and between these clips is secured by means of the thumb screws V, the tube W,
the latter having flattened ends.
To connect the front forks of the two bicycles a short rod or tube X, having a
clip end Y, is secured to each outer side Z of the front fork by means of the thumb
screw a, the two short rods or tubes X have each a fork, end b, and are connected
by the tube c, each end of which is flattened to be received in the forks b, thumb
screws d are passed through the forks and tube ends forming a knuckle joint,
thus either of the riders may operate the pilot wheel of both bicycles.
If bicycles are set apart for ambulance, despatch or other work, the tubes E E
could be left attached to the back bone of the bicycles and the other tubes and
stays be divided and strapped (in equal lots or thereabouts) to the back bone of
the bicycles, leaving the two short rods or tubes X attached to the cycles, in this
way the ambulance attachments may be transported from place to place without
any inconvenience to the riders.
This invention is especially suitable for either civil or military purposes, for in
the case of civil ambulance work, all that would be necessary would be to provide
a set of attachments and in case of accident or disaster of any kind to press into
service the first two bicycles sighted and affix thereto the attachments, and an
ambulance carriage would be prepared in the space of a few minutes; for military
use it is very suitable on account of its portability, while it has great advantage
over an ambulance waggon, it being possible to use it in places where a waggon
could not go, and the reaching and removing of the wounded would be more
expeditiously performed than by a waggon. In military work this invention
could be put to other use than ambulance work, as for instance conveying ammu-
nition stores, packs, surgical haversacks or the like. Other features in connection
with this invention are:-That the riders need not be expert cyclists as the skill
required to ride a bicycle is not required to propel this cycle ambulance; also
when conveying a wounded man, one of the riders can give his attention to pilot
the ambulance while the other rider can attend to the comforts of the wounded.
It is proposed to construct this invention of the best and lightest steel tubing
obtainable, and when the various parts are secured in position the whole will be
light and quite rigid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1st. The combination and arrangement of the various parts herein described,
explained, and illustrated, all together forming the new or improved cycle attach-
ments for ambulance and other portage, substantially and for the purposes set
forth.
2nd. The combination and arrangement of the various parts herein described,
explained, and illustrated, capable of being attached to two bicycles, to form an
ambulance, or a carrier for other portage, substantially and for the purposes set
forth.
3rd. In cycle attachments for ambulance and other portage, the bearing frame
attached to the backbone of two bicycles, in the manner herein described, and
being provided with strong spiral springs, and a carrier to support a stretcher,
substantially as herein described, explained, and illustrated and for the purposes
set forth.

page_text: 4th. In cycle attachments for ambulance and other portage, the method of
connecting the steering gear of both bicycles substantially as herein described,
explained, and illustrated, and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 8th day of March 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.