Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing the Motive Power of the Human Body.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1891
Complete Specification Left, 21st Apr., 1892-Accepted, 21st May, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing the Motive Power of the
Human Body.
I, CHARLES MARTIN WESTMACOTT, of No. 1 May Street, Fulham, S.W.
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to every form of machine
or apparatus which is capable of being worked by means of a treading motion of
the human body, such machines comprising velocipedes for either land or water,
sewing machines, lathes, and other engineering tools, and, generally speaking, all
machinery of moderate size to which motion is capable of being imparted by crank
and axle. The object of my invention is to utilize more of the dead weight of the
human body than has hitherto been possible, and also to avoid any check or
retardation of the motion of the axle when the crank is passing the dead centre,
and these two objects I effect as follows:
Taking an ordinary tricycle as an example, I construct a floor or platform
beneath the treadles or crank shaft, leaving just sufficient space for the cranks to
clear. Instead of the ordinary fixed treadle I employ a shoe or clog of about the
same length as the foot of the rider, so that the latter may bear upon it both with
the fore part of the foot and the heel. Attached to the underside of this shoe,
are bearings having vertical slots, which fit onto the crank of the shaft and thus
secure the clog thereto.
The clog or shoe is provided with wheels, and as the crank descends and
approaches the dead centre, the wheels come in contact with the platform or
floor and thus relieve the crank from the weight of the rider, whose foot simply
follows the motion of the crank until the latter having passed the dead centre,
rises in the vertical guides of the shoe, until it reaches the top, when the crank
and shoe rise together as with an ordinary treadle.
In lever machines, holes or slots are cut in the platform for the lever treadles to
pass through, leaving the rider's foot stationary on the platform until the crank
has passed the dead centre. In this case the wheels on the shoe and even the shoe
itself, can be dispensed with, and a suitable cushion of india-rubber or other
material employed to avoid any jar through the sudden contact of the foot upon
the platform. By means of my invention the rider, with the assistance of the
usual handle-bar, may work the machine stood up in an erect position, thereby
utilizing the whole of his weight without incurring extra fatigue. In the case of
velocipedes, when going down hill I can store the power by means of a force-
pump or other suitable means.
Dated this
dox of TL 1901
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Utilizing the Motive Power of the
Human Body.
I, CHARLES MARTIN WESTMACOTT, of No. 1 May Street, Fulham, S.W.,
Engineer, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to every form of

page_text: machine or apparatus which is capable of being worked by means of a treading
motion of the human body, such machines comprising velocipedes for either land
or water, sewing machines, lathes and other engineering tools and, generally
speaking, all machinery of moderate size to which motion is capable of being
imparted by crank and axle. The object of my invention is to utilize more of
the dead weight of the human body than has hitherto been possible and also to
avoid any check or retardation of the motion of the axle when the crank is passing
the dead centre and these two objects 1 effect as follows-
Taking an ordinary tricycle as an example I construct a floor or platform
beneath the treadles or crankshaft leaving just sufficient space for the cranks to
clear. Instead of the ordinary fixed treadle I employ a shoe or clog of about the
same length as the foot of the rider so that the latter may bear upon it both with
the fore part of the foot and the heel. Attached to the underside of this shoe are
bearings having vertical slots which fit onto the crank of the shaft and thus secure
the clog thereto. The clog or shoe is provided with wheels and as the crank
descends and approaches the dead centre the wheels come in contact with the plat
form or floor and thus relieve the crank from the weight of the rider whose foot
simply follows the motion of the crank until the latter having passed the dead
centre rises in the vertical guides of the shoe until it reaches the top when the
crank and shoe rise together as with an ordinary treadle.
In lever machines holes or slots are cut in the platform for the lever treadles to
pass through leaving the rider's foot stationary on the platform until the crank
has passed the dead centre. In this case the wheels on the shoe and even the shoe
itself can be dispensed with and a suitable cushion of india-rubber or other
material employed to avoid any jar through the sudden contact of the feet upon
the platform.
By means of my invention the rider with the assistance of the usual handle bar
may work the machine (stood up) in an erect position thereby utilizing the whole
of his weight without incurring any extra fatigue.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a velocipede fitted with my
improvements.
Figs. 2 and 3 are detailed views of the pedal.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a modification in the construction of the said pedals.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 show another modification of my invention.
Figs. 10 and 11 show a further modification of the said invention.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3, a is a platform suspended to the
bicycle frame b, below the cranks c, by the rods d. Each crank carries a shoe or
clog e acting as a pedal and consisting of a frame e' of sufficient length to support
the whole of the rider's foot. This frame is provided with a vertical slote which
acts as a bearing for the crank pin e'. This frame carries moreover the two
wheels or rollers which bear upon the platform a when the cranks are in their
lowermost position (Fig. 1). A cushion of india-rubber or other suitable material
is fixed on the top of the said frame. In the modification shown in Figs. 4 and 5
the frame e is provided with one large wheel instead of two small wheels.
My improved mechanism operates as follows: the rider who assumes a standing
posture when propelling the machine and holds the cross bar or handle y, fixed at a
suitable height to the frame of the machine, in his hands; rests his feet on the
india-rubber parts of the frames or pedals e and as he exerts a pressure with his
right foot on one of these pedals, the corresponding crank c is depressed into the
position indicated in Fig. 1 and the wheels are caused to come into contact with
the platform a thus removing at this moment the pressure from the said crank
which is now able to continue its motion unimpeded, beyond the dead centre, the
crank pin sliding meanwhile downwards within the slot e until the crank assumes
its vertical or dead centre position as shown in Fig. 2. The continued motion of
the crank and pedal causes, under the pressure now exerted by the rider's left foot,
the crank pin c to rise within the slot until it strikes against the top thereof

page_text: and hence lifts the pedal impelling it, onto the next revolution. This operation is
repeated with the left foot in the same manner as it was with the right foot.
When descending hills the rider makes use of the seats provided for this
purpose.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 the rotary crank is replaced by
a lever or treadle mechanism more especially applicable for actuating lathes or
other machinery. The platforın « is provided in this case with two longitudinal
slots through which the levers i, j, move, being pivoted at beneath the said
platform and connected at their other ends by the rods 1, m to the cranks cc.
The said levers are each provided with a treadle tt¹ upon which the rider places
his feet.
Fig. 6 shows the position of the treadles when the treadle t' is released by the
rider's feet bearing at this moment upon the platform in order that the crank c
may pass the dead centre unimpeded, as in the example above described. Fig. 7
shows the vertical or dead centre position of the said crank. Fig. 8 is a cross
section on line of Fig. 7, further illustrating this position. nn are strips of
india-rubber fixed to the platform and upon which the rider's feet bear, when the
treadle sinks below the said platform.
The pressure of the foot on the treadle t causes the crank to revolve thus
raising the treadle t¹ and lowering the treadle t, each foot of the rider resting
alternately on the platform according as the treadle t or t¹ sinks below the
same.
Figs. 10 and 11 show the invention applied to a toy horse.
a is the saddle fixed to a frame band provided with stirrups a¹. c is the crank
operating the wheel (not shown in the drawings) which serves to propel the
vehicle. d is a rod pivoted at one end e and formed with a slot fat the other end
in which the crank-pin works. To this bar is connected an additional saddle or
seat by means of which the weight of the rider operates the crank. Fig. 10
illustrates the position in which the rider having raised his body with the aid of
the stirrups gives an impulse to the crank immediately it has passed the uppermost
dead centre. Fig. 11 shows the seat in its lowermost position resting on the
saddle a when the crank is in its undermost dead centre position. In this position
the weight of the rider's body is removed from the rod to allow the crank to
pass beyond its dead centre by means of a slot formed in the extension of the
seat y.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. The improved mechanism for propelling velocipedes and other vehicles or
machines by the weight of the rider or operator, arranged, constructed and
operating substantially as herein described and shown.
2. In mechanism such as above claimed, removing the weight from the cranks,
when passing their lowermost dead centre, substantially as described and shown
and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 21st day of April 1892.
60X
0
HUGHES, SON & Co.,
38, Chancery Lane, London, Agents.