IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES OR VEHICLES FOR USE ON LAND, ICE, AND WATER
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Lloyd Wise of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields, in the
County of Middlesex for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
OR VEHICLES FOR USE ON LAND, ICE, AND WATER a communication from
Franz Johann Anton Freiherr von Palstring a person resident at Kötitz near
Coswig, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Lloyd Wise at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1883.
William Lloyd WISE of 46 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES OR VEHICLES FOR USE ON LAND, ICE AND
WATER (a communication from Franz Johann Anton Freiherr von Palstring a
person resident at Kötitz, near Coswig, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire)
"
A velocipede or vehicle according to my invention is propelled by the rider by
an action of his limbs which resembles that of walking. This action may be
supplemented or replaced by one in which the effect due to the weight of the body
rising and falling is employed.
The construction or arrangement of the velocipede is varied according to the
particular use to which it is to be put; for instance, for travelling in the water it
is placed in a boat or vessel, and is fitted for the purpose of propulsion with two
or more pistons or propellers; while for travelling on the ground it is fitted with
wheels; and over ice or snow fields with runners.
When intended to travel on the ground the vehicle is mounted upon two main
wheels, while a third wheel serves as a steering wheel. The frame, which is by
preference tubular, is divided into two equal parts by a central tube and the
forepart may be provided with cross bars, either to carry a second person or
luggage. In each half of the outer frame there is hinged in slots a second frame
which is attached to the outer frame by springs which allow it to slide forward.
[Price 8d.]
-

page_text: Each of the second frames is provided with a carriage guided by wheels or rollers
and furnished with foot-rests or pedals hinged on obliquely placed joints and fitted
at the toe-ends with elastic attachments. These pedals are depressed by the rider
until spurs or spikes with which they are fitted come in contact with the ground.
In this position the toes point downwards and a pushing action against the ground 5
ensues. The vehicle is thus propelled in a forward direction the push being
transmitted to the axle by means of handles and shoulder-rest.
On the water this pushing motion of the feet is transmitted to the pistons
mentioned above, and the vessel by these means propelled.
To enable the operator to utilize the effect of his weight either by itself or in 1
combination with the above described step-like motion, springs are placed between
the main and inside frames. One end of each of these springs is wound round
and attached to a horizontal spindle; while the other free end is connected to
a frame.
The alternate up and down motion of the inner frames is transformed into
rotary motion by chains. One end of each chain is connected to a frame and the
other to a pulley attached by a ratchet arrangement to a countershaft. Each
countershaft is connected by gear to a second countershaft upon which are pulleys
coupled by straps with speed pulleys on the main axle When the step-like action
is not employed the frames are raised so that the spur or spike is clear of the
ground at all times. At such time a saddle bar connected to the steering wheel
frame can be brought into use.
The principal uprights of the framing are carried high up and are connected by
a transverse piece upon which is fixed a folding umbrella or sail, which can be
adjusted in any desired horizontal vertical or angular position according as it is to
be used as a sail, or an umbrella, or as a sunshade. To steer the machine cords
lead from a yoke on the steering wheel round guide pulleys, and are attached to
steering levers.
To give the body a firm and safe rest while working the machine, particularly
when leaning heavily forward, during the back stroke the steering levers are
extended upwards to above shoulder height of the rider, and shoulder rests are
adjustably attached to them.
A brake is provided consisting of a brake pulley surrounded by a brake-band,
and fitted with a lever, and a safety catch. The brake lever carries a pawl or
ratchet lever engaging in teeth in the brake pulley for the purpose of moving
the vehicle backwards when desired, and a second pawl for preventing backward
motion on inclines.
To enable the vehicle to move round very sharp curves, it is advantageous to
disconnect one wheel entirely from the axle. To this end two sets of keys
engaging with the spokes of the wheels are provided and are so coupled that they
can be shifted to either side of the machine, thus releasing one wheel at the time
from its connection with the axle.
When the vehicle is arranged for use upon water each of the above described
spurs or spikes is fitted with a roller running on a rail. To the spur or spike
there is also attached a link, the other end of which is coupled to a piston rod
passing by means of a suitable stuffing box through the stern end of the vessel or
boat. At the end of each piston rod is attached a piston consisting of two circular
discs, the outer of which is larger in diameter than the other so that, if the two
are in contact, the outer one shows a ring outside the inner. The circumference
of the larger disc is provided with blades similar to those of a turbine.
In order to offer the least possible resistance to the water when drawing the
piston forward, that is towards the stern of the boat, the two adjoining discs are
perforated in such a manner that during the forward stroke the holes correspond
to each other, while during the back or acting stroke, the holes in the one are
.covered by the solid surface of the other. The piston rod is extended beyond the
This enables the loose
fixed disc and has cut upon it a very quick threaded screw

page_text: disc to take a partially rotating motion at each stroke and alternately open and
close the holes. This opening of the holes is produced by the water pressure
acting upon the turbine shaped outer rim of the larger disc
The action which in the land apparatus is used to give rotary motion to the
axle may here be used to propel pistons, similarly constructed to those at the stern
of vessel. These pistons are fixed at the sides of the boat or vessel and are
worked from the shaft by an eccentric or other suitable arrangements. In other
respects this machine is constructed like the one designed for propulsion on land,
only that the steering wheel is replaced by a rudder, operated in the same way as
the one previously described for steering.

page_text: .
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Lloyd Wise in the Patent Office on the 3rd June 1884.
WILLIAM LLOYD WISE of 46 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
VEHICLES FOR USE ON LAND, ICE AND
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES OR
WATER. (a communication from Franz Johann Anton Freiherr von Palstring, a
person resident at Kötitz, near Coswig, Kingdom of Saxony, German Empire)
This Invention relates to a vehicle in which the walking motion of a person or
the combination of such walking motion with the weight of the body in motion is
taken advantage of to increase the effect and the speed whatever may be the
conditions of the road travelled upon this vehicle being capable of serving for the
propulsion of a person either on land ice or water.
The construction of this machine varies according as it is intended for use on
land, ice, or water. When the said machine is used for propulsion on water it is
placed in a vessel and provided with two or more pistons or propellers arranged at
the rear of the rudder of the said vessel. When used for travelling on land the 1
machine is provided with wheels and when used for travelling upon ice or snow
with sliding bars or runners.
Referring to the accompanying three sheets of drawings:—
Fig 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the said machine.
Fig 2 is a plan; and
Fig 3 is partly a front elevation and partly a cross section of the same, the
machine thus shown being arranged for travelling on land and mounted upon a
shaft and two wheels.
This machine which is steered by means of a steering wheel is composed of a
frame A made, together with the other parts of the machine, so far as is
'conveniently possible, of steel tubing, bamboo cane. T iron or any other suitable
material, the object thereof being to reduce the weight of the various parts to a
ninimum. This frame A is divided in two equal parts by means of a central
stiffener or bar A¹. The front part of the frame A may be provided when required
with a couple of cross-bars or any other suitable contrivance in order to carry a
second person or luggage.
By the side of each frame A is arranged an additional frame A' which is
moveable upon two studs a a placed in a longitudinal slot formed in the said
frame A and which receives, in order to maintain the front of the frame in a
straight line, a forward motion from a spiral spring a placed between the two
frames.
Upon each additional frame A' is arranged a carriage B provided with four
wheels b b which enable the latter to follow up the foot after each step. As a rest
for the feet there are provided the pedals b¹ which are hinged upon joints placed in
an oblique direction, and to the front part of the said pedals there is fixed a spur
or spike 62, or any other suitable contrivance having for its object to enable the
carriage B to move by simple leverage upon the wheels b which run over and under
the frame A² as shown in side elevation and cross section in Fig 9. When the
pedals b¹ are depressed by the rider this spur or spike comes in contact with the
ground and permits the pressure of the tread of the rider upon the latter as well as
the motion of bis body to be transmitted thereby the power resulting from such
motion which can be increased by that derived from a similar motion of the arms
being transmitted in a horizontal direction to the axle of the machine as shown in
detail in Fig 4 by means of two handles and shoulder pieces arranged upon the
In consequence
steering levers 12 12 in such a manner as to be easily removeable.

page_text: of this peculiar leverage, when the foot which is behind is raised in order to move
forward, the plate 6' is depressed by the foot which is in front and the spur or
spike comes in contact with the ground this contact being effected rapidly when the
lever arm, connected with the said spur or spike and moved by the pedal b' is
short. Thus, the rapidity of the motion of the machine is increased in proportion
to the time required for making steps.
When the machine is arranged for propulsion on water the power resulting from
the action of the feet is transmitted to pistons, as above mentioned, instead of to
the axle, these pistons being arranged in such a manner as to cause, when under
such action, the vehicle to move forward.
In order to utilise, in a suitable manner, for the propulsion of this machine, the
weight of the body of a person either alone or in combination (according to the
conditions of the road travelled upon) with a walking motion, two springs Care
provided and placed by the side of the additional frames A' maintained in a
horizontal position by means of the projections a². These springs are each wound
upon and attached at one extremity to a spindle c¹ arranged below the said frames,
while the other extremity is secured by means of a ring c³ between the two.
frames A and A².
ว
The alternate up and down motion of the additional frames A' is transmitted to
the shaft D by chains which are wound upon the pulleys d d and attached by
means of studs to the frame ends these chains operating in such a manner that when
the frames A* are raised the ratchet teeth of the couplings fitted upon the said
rollers are disengaged from the teeth of the other couplings firmly fixed with the
shafts D D'. When the additional frames 'A' are lowered, the couplings gear
together by reason of the action of the spiral springs e¹ e¹ placed between these and
the wheel e, whereby the shafts D are caused to rotate in such a manner that when
the right hand shaft is stationary the left hand shaft rotates and vice versa.. This
alternative rotary motion is transmitted to the shafts E and E¹ in the following
manner. Upon the shaft E¹ are fixed loose pulleys f¹, and upon the shaft E one
extremity of which is placed inside the former there are likewise fixed three loose
pulleys, one of these pulleys being fixed by means of screws and nuts to each
corresponding shaft in order that the grooved pulleys g and g¹, the main shaft F
and the two wheels of the machine should be able to rotate at a different speed.
When the road is level and in good condition the rider may use the weight of
his body alone for propelling the machine his limbs remaining at rest. For that
purpose the two collars h h which are moveable upon the arched frame are raised
as high as practicable and fixed thereupon, this permits the additional frames A* A*
to be raised into a suitable position.
If under favourable circumstances both as regards road and weather the rider
requires to be seated the stays or supports hinged upon the arched frame i are
drawn backward and a saddle is fixed thereupon by means of a bayonet joint as
shown in dotted lines in Fig 1.
In order to take advantage of the wind to increase the effect of the walking
action of the rider and consequently the speed of the machine the uprights K which
are connected to the main frame by means of several stays or supports, are raised
to a suitable height and formed into a frame by means of a cross-bar. In the
centre of the latter is fitted a circular contrivance K₁ (Fig 3) serving for the
erection of a shade or sail which is capable of being placed in any suitable position
according to the direction of the wind and of being used either as an umbrella or
as a sun shade
In order to be able to ride easily over sharp curves cords are provided which are
attached at one end to the steering wheel the other end passing over the guiding
rollers and being fastened to the steering levers inside the boxes which
are provided with India rubber sectors. The brakes are actuated by means of the
levers m and the pulleys m¹ the straps of which are attached to the pins fixed
upon the uprights K and at the lower part of the lever m.
forward, the said straps bring the brakes into action.
By moving the lever m
An additional lever m³

page_text: resting upon the lever m and capable of being fastened upon the sector m* by
means of a catch serves to maintain the brake in its place.
When it is required to move the machine only a small distance backward, the
lever m is drawn forward and a projection of the lever m, resting upon the former
is made to enter one of the concentric apertures formed in the brake.
By drawing again the lever m towards him the rider is enabled to move a small
distance further backward and the same operation can be repeated so long as the
said lever m is drawn forward each time and the projection of the lever m² is
made to enter one of the apertures formed in the brake.
When ascending inclines and in order to prevent the machine from moving ]
backward, a lever n provided with a pawl and fixed to the side of the lever m is
disengaged from its catch and the said pawl is caused to gear with the ratchet
wheel n which is placed upon the main shaft and between the latter and the
lever m.
In order to ensure the perfect stability of the machine the main shaft is carried
upon two lateral springs mounted upon the uprights K and regulated by means of
set screws.
In Figs 6, 7 and 8 is shewn the mechanism which enables the machine to be
fitted to a vessel when required for use on water. The spur or spike b' is provided
in this case with a wheel p which runs upon a rail p¹ laid in the said vessel, and is
connected with the link p² the extremity of which is coupled to a piston rod
passing through the stern of the vessel and fitted watertight therein. At the
extremity of the piston rod is fixed the piston q which is formed of two circular
superposed discs, the outer disc having a slightly larger diameter than the inner
disc so that the periphery of the former projects beyond that of the latter. It is
provided with blades having a similar shape to the paddles of a paddle or water
wheel. In order to reduce the resistance of the water, as the piston is moved
forward the two above mentioned discs are provided with perforations arranged in
such a manner than when the piston is withdrawn the perforations of the two
discs coincide whereas when the piston is forced out the partitions between the
perforations of the inner disc are brought opposite the perforations of the outer
disc the full face of the piston coming thus into action. The alternate closing and
opening of the perforations of the outer disc is effected automatically, the piston
rod extending beyond the outer disc of the piston and being provided with a sharp
thread so that the inner and loose disc may be caused to rotate in either direction
in order to effect an alternate closing or opening of the perforations of the outer
disc. The opening of the said perforations is effected by the pressure of the water
upon the blades of the outer disc of the piston..
Thus the machine is operated by the feet of the rider in the same manner as
when constructed for travelling on land. The wheel of the spur or spike b² moves
upon the rail p¹ and owing to the feeble amount of resistance met recoils at first
slightly in consequence of which the outer disc of the piston moves forward for a
moment until the inner disc put in rotation by the pressure of the water upon the
blades of the outer disc as above mentioned closes the perforations of the said
outer disc, whereby the piston immediately alters its stroke moves backwards and
propels the vessel. In this manner the pressure exerted by the feet of the rider is
transmitted to the vessel by the body, that is to say, by the hands and when his
feet cease to act the pedals under the influence of a spring return to their former
position, the inner and loose disc rotates and uncovering the perforations of the
outer disc causes the water to rush through both and the piston to be withdrawn.
The step or walking motion of the rider which when the machine is used on
land is utilized for rotating the main shaft may be utilised in this case for acting
upon a piston r arranged in a similar manner to the piston q but at the side of the
vessel, while by means of an eccentric r¹ or any suitable leverage the piston 7 may
be moved to and fro.
With regard to the other parts of this machine used for propulsion on water,
they are-arranged in a similar manner to those of the machine used for propulsion

page_text: on land, a rudder being substituted in the former for the steering wheel used in the
latter and being similarly actuated by means of steering levers.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the saine is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The use of a vehicle in which the rider stands in a vertical position to effect
the propulsion and imitates the action of walking, thus utilising the accustomed
motion of bis limbs, substantially as described and illustrated.
2. In a vehicle constructed for propulsion on land, the combination of the
carriages B mounted on wheels moving upon the additional frames A² with the
moveable pedals b', the spurs or spikes 62 and the additional frames A* raised by
means of the spiral springs C and moving forward under the action of the springs a¹
substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a vehicle constructed for propulsion on water the combination of the parts
mentioned in the previous claim with the piston q set in motion by the rods p p² p³
and provided with perforations automatically closed when the said piston moves
backwards and opened when the same moves forward and with the piston r moved
by the eccentric mounted on the main shaft substantially as described and shown
on Figs 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings.
4. In a vehicle the combination of a steering lever with a shoulder piece
fixed thereon for transmitting the power developed by the rider standing in a
walking attitude and forming a support for the hands or the upper part of the body
of the rider when the machine is in motion as shewn in Fig 4 and with a shade or
sail for utilising the force of the wind and as a protection against sun and rain this
shade having an overhead frame K to permit the said shade to be moved in any
direction required as shewn in Fig 5 substantially as described and illustrated.
5. The improved vehicle arranged for propulsion on land or ice, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as described with reference to Figs 1. 2. 3. 4.
5 and 9 of the drawings.
6. The improved vehicle arranged for propulsion on water constructed arranged
and operating substantially as described with reference to Figs 6, 7 and 8 of the
drawings.
In witness whereof I the said William Lloyd Wise have hereunto set my hand
and seal this third day of Juue in the year of Our Lord one thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.