IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING WHEELED VEHICLES, AND PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OTHERWISE TRANSMITTING MOTION
Year: 1880

page_text: "
LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING WHEELED VEHICLES, AND
PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OTHERWISE TRANSMITTING MOTION." A communi-
cation from abroad by Charles Ludwig French, of Brooklyn, New York,
United States of America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd January 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
WHEELED VEHICLES, AND PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OTHERWISE TRANSMITTING
MOTION." [A communication from abroad by Charles Ludwig French, of Brooklyn,
New York, United States of America.].
This Invention relates to wheeled vehicles propelled by hand levers worked
like oars in rowing, the said Invention being also partly applicable for the trans-
mission of rotary motion for other purposes.
The propelling power is applied to two or more horizontal or nearly horizontal
hand propelling levers, which, being worked like oars by one or more persons setting
in or on the vehicle, are made to transmit motion to its wheels.
The said Invention comprises the combination in a rowing wagon or vehicle of
hand levers arranged in approximately horizontal positions, drums mounted on the
axle or axles of the wagon or vehicle, and connected with the wheels thereof by
self acting reversible clutches, and cords, bands, or chains wound upon the said
drums and connected with said levers, whereby the movements of the said levers
in one direction are caused to give motion through the said cords, bands, or chains,
and the said drums and clutches to the wheels; but during the return movements
of the levers the clutches release the drums from the wheels and allow them to
turn backward on the axles.
The said Invention also comprises the combination with the said cords, bands, or
chains, and said levers, of elastic connections so inserted between said levers and
said cords, bands, or chains, as to provide for loosely gathering up portions of the
said cords, bands, or chains to compensate for their deflection from a straight line

page_text: at their connections with the levers as the latter are worked, the so gathered up
portions being automatically let out as the cords are deflected, and taken up as the
cords are straightened.
The said Invention also comprises providing for the propelling levers outriggers
which are so pivotted or hinged to the body or frame of the wagon as to be capable
of folding inward against the sides of the said body or frame when the wagon is
not in use, and the combination with said outriggers of movable braces for the
purpose of keeping them in extended position for use.
The said Invention further comprises self-acting reversible clutches of novel
construction for forining the connection between the wheels of the wagon and
their respective drums, such clutches being applicable also to the conversion of
alternate or reciprocating rotary motion into direct rotary motion in various kinds
of machinery.
In the application of the said Invention to rowing wagons or vehicles one part
of the clutch will be in the form of a hub, upon or attached to, one of the wheels,
and another part will be formed within the drum, the part within the drum being
made with angular or curved internal recesses which present inclined surfaces;
and between the said hub and the said inclined surfaces balls or rollers are so
arranged that when the drum is turned in one direction by its respective lever and
its attached cord, band, or chain, the said balls or rollers will so bind within the
said angular or curved recesses against the inclined surfaces thereof, and upon the
hub, that when the drum is turned in one direction by the lever the wheel will
turn with the drum, but when the drum is turned in the opposite direction by
the return movement of the lever the balls or rollers will become loose in the
recesses and release the drum from the wheel. To provide for turning the wheels
in either direction that may be desired to run the wagon forward or backward by
the oscillating or reciprocating rotary motion of the drums there is arranged
around the hub of each wheel an oscillating disc or carrier provided with forks or
pairs of projecting fingers which embrace the balls or rollers for the purpose of
moving them toward one or the other of the inclined sides of the angular or curved
recesses, according to the direction in which the rotation of the wheels is desired,
or of bringing them to a central position, in which they will be inoporative, and
the clutch will be out of gear and leave the drums free from the wheels.
In adapting this kind of clutch to machinery the balls may be made to act
In any
directly upon a shaft instead of upon a wheel hub, as above described.
application of the clutch grooves may be provided in the hub or shaft for the balls
or rollers to work in.
A modification of this clutch consists in substituting for the forks or fingers used
to shift the balls or rollers for reversing the motion, or for throwing the clutch
out of gear a series of levers or links, to which the balls or rollers are pivotted,
and which connect them with the aforesaid oscillating disc or carrier, so that they
inay all be moved together in a manner similar to that in which they are moved by
the aforesaid forks or fingers.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd
July 1880.
66
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
WHEELED VEHICLES, AND PARTLY APPLICABLE FOR OTHERWISE TRANSMITTING
MOTION." A communication from abroad by Charles Ludwig French, of Brooklyn,
New York, United States of America.
This Invention relates to wheeled vehicles propelled by hand levers worked like
oars in rowing, the said Invention being also partly applicable for the transmission
of rotary motion for other purposes.
The class of vehicles to which this Invention particularly relates may be termed
rowing wagons, the propelling power being applied to two or more horizontal or
nearly horizontal band propelling levers, which, being worked like oars by one or
more persons sitting in or on the vehicle, are made to transmit motion to the
wheels.
This Invention comprises, firstly, the combination in a rowing wagon or vehicle
of hand levers arranged in approximately horizontal positions, drums mounted on
the axle or axles of the wagon, and connected with the wheels thereof by self-acting
reversible clutches and cords, bands, or chains wound upon the said drums and
connected with said levers, whereby the movements of the said levers in one
direction are caused to give motion, through the said cords, bands, or chains, and
the said drums and clutches, to the wheels, but during the return movements of the
levers the clutches release the drums from the wheels and allow them to turn
backward on the axles.
The said Invention also comprises the combination with the said cords, bands, or
chains, and the said levers of elastic connections so inserted between the said levers
and the said cords, bands, or chains, as to provide for loosely gathering up portions of
the said cords, bands, or chains to compensate for their deflection from a straight
line at their connections with the levers as the latter are worked, the so gathered
up portions being automatically let out as the cords are deflected, and taken up as
the cords are straightened.
The said Invention also comprises providing for the propelling levers outriggers
which are so pivotted or hinged to the body or frame of the wagon as to be capable
of folding inward against the sides of the said body or frame when the wagon is
not in use, and the combination with the said outriggers of movable braces for the
purpose of keeping them in an extended position for use.
The said Invention further comprises self-acting reversible clutches of novel
construction for forming the connection between the wheels of the wagon and their
respective drums, such clutches being applicable also to the conversion of alternate
or reciprocating rotary motion into direct rotary motion in various kinds of
machinery.
In the application of this Invention to rowing wagons or vehicles one part of the
clutch will be in the form of a hub upon or attached to one of the wheels, and
another part will be formed within the drum; this part within the drum being
made with angular or curved internal recesses which present inclined surfaces, and
between the said hub and the said inclined surfaces balls or rollers are so arranged
that when the drum is turned in one direction by its respective lever and its
attached cord, band, or chain, the said balls or rollers will so bind within the said
angular or curved recesses against the inclined surfaces thereof, and upon the hub
that when the drum is turned in one direction by the lever, the wheel will turn
with the drum, but when the drum is turned in the opposite direction by the
return movement of the lever the balls or rollers will become loose in the recesses

page_text: and release the drum from the wheel. To provide for turning the wheels in either
direction that may be desired to run the wagon forward or backward by the
oscillating or reciprocating rotary motion of the drums, there is arranged around
the hub of each wheel an oscillating disk or carrier provided with forks or pairs of
projecting fingers, which embrace the balls or rollers for the purpose of moving a
them toward one or the other of the inclined sides of the angular or curved recesses,
according to the direction in which the rotation of the wheels is desired, or of
bringing them to a central position in which they will be inoperative, and the
clutch will be out of gear and leave the drums free from the wheels.
In adapting this kind of clutch to machinery the balls may be made to act
directly upon a shaft instead of upon a wheel hub, as above described. In any
application of the clutch grooves may be provided in the hub or shaft for the balls
or rollers to work in.
A modification of this clutch consists in substituting for the forks or fingers
used to shift the balls or rollers for reversing the motion or for throwing the
clutch out of gear a series of levers or links, to which the balls or rollers are
pivotted, and which connect them with the aforesaid oscillating disc or carrier, so
that they may all be moved together in a manner similar to that in which they are
moved by the aforesaid forks or fingers.
In the accompanying Drawing,
Figure 1 represents a plan of a rowing wagon embodying this Invention.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section through the axis of one of the driving wheel, clutches, and
axle boxes.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of one of the said clutches on the line y, y, s
Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a transverse section through the hub of the driving wheel.
Figure 6 is a transverse section.
Figure 7, a vertical section through the axis, and
Figure 8 a face view of a modified form of clutch and a shaft, hereinafter ;
described.
A represents the frame-work of the wagon, and B, B, the axles, shown in the
Drawing as formed by two bolts screwed into the frame. A single axle only may
be employed if desired extending across the wagon; C, C, are the main wheels of
the wagon to which power is applied, and which are mounted loosely on the
axles B, B; D, D, represent two leading wheels, which are arranged near together
at the front of the wagon. These wheels D, D, are mounted in a frame D', which is
pivoted at D to the frame A of the wagon, so that it may be swivelled or turned
to steer the wagon. From this framework D¹ rods or arms D³ project at each side,
and upon these arms the feet of the operator are placed. By swivelling the
frame D¹ the wagon may be steered in any direction.
E represents the seat for the operator, which seat is preferably made to slide
along guides E to simulate the action of a rower's seat in a boat. Arranged in
convenient position to be readily reached from the seat are two oar-like levers F, F,
pivoted at or near one end to outriggers F1, F¹, and connected by cords F2, F2, or
bands or chains with drums G, G, arranged to rotate loosely upon the axles B, B,
but adapted to be connected to the wheels C, C, by means of the clutches herein-
after to be explained. One part of each of the cords, bands, or chains F², F², passes
from its respective lever F over guide pulleys a, and thence is wound around one
of the drums G, G, the latter being grooved for that purpose. The other parts of
the said cords, bands, or chains pass from the levers F, F, over the guide pulleys b, b,
and are thence wound around the drums G, G, in the opposite direction to the first
described part of the cords. When the cords F2, F, are thus arranged the
drums G, G, are rotated first forward and then backward as the levers F, F, are
operated. If desirable vertically arranged levers, or one or more handles may be
substituted for the levers F, F. To permit the drums to rotate loosely upon the
axles without actuating the wheels C, C, as the levers F, F, are moved forward for

page_text: a new stroke the said drums are connected with the said wheels by means of
clutches, which lock the drums to the wheels while moving in one direction, but
release them when returning or moving in the opposite direction. As shown in the
Drawing these clutches are formed by arranging a series of balls c, c, preferably of
semi-elastic material, between the interiors of the drums G, G, and the hubs d, d, of
the wheels C, C. The hubs d, d, are shown in Figures 3 and 4 as provided with
annular circumferential grooves d', d', in which the said balls rest, and the said
grooves may also have at their bottoms smaller grooves which enable the balls to
bite more firmly upon the hubs of the wheels. The drums G, G, are constructed
with an approximately rectangular opening at the centre, presenting a series of
rectangular recesses with reversed inclined surfaces 8, 8, as represented in Figure 4,
and as the said drums are turned in one direction the balls are caught between the
said surfaces 8, 8, of the said opening and the hub of the wheel, and serve to impart
to the latter the movement of the drum. The inclined surfaces 8, 8, of the said
opening may be straight, as shewn in Figure 4, or the said opening may be provided
with curved recesses, as shown in Figure 6, which is a view corresponding with
Figure 4 of a modification of the clutch. The inclined or curved recesses 8, 8, may
be grooved or notched. The said openings instead of being. of rectangular form or
having only four recesses, as shewn in Figures 4 and 6, may be of other polygonal
form or have more or less than four recesses.
To enable the wagon to be moved either backward or forward the balls c, c, aro
represented in Figures 3 and 4 as held in place by forks, or pairs of fingers, or
projections e, e, extending one upon each side of and embracing each ball. These
forks, or pairs of fingers, or projections, are all attached to a ring, disk, or carrier f,
which is adapted to be turned a short distance in either direction on its respective
axle box on the face of the corresponding drum G, and which is provided with a
handle by which it may be so turned. By thus turning the disk, ring, or carrier f,
and with it its attached forks, fingers, or projections e, e, the positions of the
balls c, c, may be so changed that they will act on either side of their respective
curved or angular recesses according to the direction in which the wheels are to be
turned, either for propelling the wagon forward or backward, or they may be
and may
moved into an intermediate position so that the drums will be out of gear
be rotated free of the wheels in either direction. The handle f' should preferably
be elastic, that it may by entering notches in the face of the drum lock the ring or
carrier fin either required position.
The axle box C¹ of each wheel C is provided with a deep annular recess g, as
shewn, and the drum G has extending from it a sleeve which enters the said
recess and affords a long bearing for the drum. When the balls c, c, are made of
material that possesses a certain amount of elasticity, such as vulcanized india
rubber, they bite more firmly upon the hubs of the wheels and are prevented from
slipping.
As the cords F, F, are rigidly connected to the levers F, F, thay are deficcted
from a straight line as the said lovers are oscillated, and in order to prevent any
injurious strain upon the cords they are represented as having inserted in them a
piece of elastic cord h to make an elastic connection, and the cord F is gathered up
so that it will be extended and take the strain before the limit of elasticity of the
elastic connection h is reached.
When
The outriggers F¹, as shewn in the Drawing, are pivotted to the frame of the
wagon at i, and when it is desired to house or shelter the wagon the said outriggers
may be swung or folded inward, as shewn in dotted lines in Figure 1.
extended for rowing the outriggers are held rigidly by means of hooked braces j,
which are disengaged therefrom when the outriggers are to be moved inwards.
H represents a brake shaft extending transversely across the wagon and provided
at each end with a break-shoe I, which by the oscillation of the said shaft may be
brought against the wheels C, C. J is the handle arranged in proximity to the
seat E. If desired, two or more pairs of rowing levers F, F, might be used
connected to the same cords or connections F', F¹.

page_text: The clutch constructed as above described may be used for converting reci-
procating rotary motion into continuous rotary motion in either direction in any
kind of machinery, or for transmitting from a drum to a wheel or a shaft, or from
a wheel or shaft to a drum a direct rotary motion.
Instead of the balls c, c, the clutch may be provided with rollers c, c, of cylindrical
form, as illustrated in Figures 6, 7, and 8. This modification is shown as applied
directly to a shaft S instead of to the hub of a wheel, but it may be applied in the
same manner as hereinbefore described to the hub of a wheel in a rowing wagon.
The rollers c, c, in this modification instead of being arranged between forks or
fingers are pivoted in swinging arms T, T, which are attached by pivots t, t, to the
ring, which is fitted upon a hub v provided on the drum G and turned by the
handle f¹ to bring the rollers into position to operate upon either of the reversed
inclined surfaces 8, 8, of the recesses in the drum according to the direction in
which it is desired to transmit rotary motion, or to bring them to a central position
opposite the deepest parts of the recesses to render them inoperative and put the
clutch out of gear. A projection w is provided on the drum, as shown in Figure 8,
for the purpose of locking the handle f and keeping the rollers on the proper sides
of their respective recesses in the drum. In the centre of this projection there is a
notch u into which the handle f' is placed to lock the ring f with the rollers in the
centre of the recesses or out of gear.
By pushing the handle over one or the other of the ends of the projection w the
rollers are shifted to one or the other side of the recesses according to the direction
in which the direct motion is to be given. The elasticity of the lever enables it to
hold itself in place.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. The combination in a wheeled vehicle of the band levers, the drums
mounted upon the axles of and connected with the wheels by self-acting reversible
clutches, and the cords, bands, or chains wound upon the said drums and connected
with the said levers, substantially as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Second. The combination with the levers and the cords, bands, or chains, of the
elastic connections h, h, applied and operating substantially as above set forth and
for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination with the hand levers of the hinged pivoted or folding
outriggers, and the booked braces j, substantially as above described and for the
purpose specified.
T
Fourth. The reversible clutch composed of the drum, adapted to rotate in
opposite directions upon a hub or shaft, the balls or rollers, and the disk or carrier
provided with fingers, forks, or projections for adjusting the position of the said
balls or rollers, substantially as herein described and for the purpose specified.
Fifth. The modification of the clutch as above described, and as represented in
Figures 6, 7, and 8 of the Drawing for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty third day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.