Improvements in Cycles specially adapted for Military Purposes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1900
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles specially adapted for Military Purposes.
I, FREDERICK RICHARD SIMMS, of Amberley House, 12, Norfolk Street, Strand
in the County of London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to cycles specially adapted for military purposes.
According to the invention I make use of a quadricycle to the frame of which
is fitted a quick firing gun, such for example as a gun of the light Maxim type,
in such a manner that the driver of the cycle can without dismounting from his
seat fire the gun, handle the ammunition and drive the cycle.
In carrying out the invention I advantageously employ a cycle having four wheels
and the front of the frame of which is adapted to receive a bracket which can be
quickly bolted thereto and removed therefrom. This bracket is made of suitable
material, preferably light gun metal or steel casting, and is adapted to carry a
gun of ordinary construction which can be manipulated upon the said bracket
in the usual manner. The bracket also carries the shield in such a manner
that the action of the gun and the view of the rider are not interfered with.
Boxes for carrying ammunition are arranged within reach of the driver's hand.
As above mentioned the bracket for carrying the gun is fitted to the cycle
frame in such a manner that it can be easily dismounted therefrom and in its
place I can arrange a front seat for carrying a passenger or in lieu of the said
seat I can fit to the frame of the cycle an ambulance or a goods carrier.
1
177
of March 1899
G. F. REDFERN & CO.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Cycles specially adapted for Military Purposes.",
I, FREDERICK RICHARD SIMMS, of Amberley House, 12, Norfolk Street, Strand
in the County of London, 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 cycles specially adapted for military purposes.
According to the invention I make use of a quadricycle to the frame of which
is fitted a quick firing gun, such for example as a gun of the light Maxim type,
in such a manner that the driver of the cycle can without dismounting from his
seat drive the cycle, fire the gun and handle the ammunition while the machine
is at rest or in motion.

page_text: In carrying out the invention I advantageously employ a cycle having four wheels
and the front of the frame of which is adapted to receive a bracket which can be
quickly bolted thereto and removed therefrom. This bracket is made of suitable
material, preferably light gun metal or steel casting, and is adapted to carry a
gun of ordinary construction with can be manipulated upon the said bracket
in the usual manner. The bracket also carries the shield in such a manner
that the action of the gun and the view of the rider are not interfered with.
Boxes for carrying ammunition are arranged within reach of the driver's hand.
As above mentioned the bracket for carrying the gun is fitted to the cycle
frame in such a manner that it can be easily dismounted therefrom and in its
place I can arrange a front seat for carrying a passenger or in lieu of the said
seat I can fit to the frame of the cycle an ambulance or a goods carrier. Further-
more the gun sighting mechanism and shield may be dismounted in a few seconds
and placed bodily on the usual tripod, as would be necessary if the motor or cycle
were damaged. The said tripod stand can be fastened by means of straps or the
like to any convenient part of the machine.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn in side elevation a military cycle
constructed according to the invention.
a is the frame of the cycle and b, b are the wheels thereof, the said wheels being
as above mentioned four in number, namely, two front wheels and two rear wheels.
The cycle is adapted to be driven in the ordinary way either by means of the
motor A or by means of the pedals c, chain wheel d and chain e through the medium
of which chain the said chain wheel d drives a chain wheel mounted upon the
axle of the rear wheels, which can also assist the motor over rough roads or
up steep inclines.
The bracket which I secure to the front portion of the frame of the cycle and
which is made of suitable material such as light gun-metal or steel casting com-
prises the front portion or support f which is fixed to the frame g carrying the
front wheels of the cycle and the inclined arm h which extends from the top of the
part back to the tube of the frame of the cycle, being secured to the said frame
by means of a bracket and cap j and screw bolts ; the front part f of the said
bracket also being detachably secured to the frame so that the whole bracket can
be easily placed in position and detached as may be desired.
7 is the quick-firing gun which is here shewn as of the light Maxim type, the
said gun being detachably mounted upon the bracket f, h in such a manner that it
can be manipulated in the usual manner by the rider of the cycle without leaving
his seat. m is the shield which is carried, as shewn, in such a manner that
neither the view of the rider nor the action of the gun is interfered with; m¹ is
the usual form of bracket carrying the gun and pivotally mounted on the
bracket f, h in such a manner that when the screw m2 is slackened the whole can
be lifted bodily from the bracket f, h and mounted on a corresponding bracket
fitted on the usual form of tripod.
n, n are carriers which are secured to the front portion of the frame of the
cycle, the said carriers being adapted to receive luggage or boxes of ammuni-
tion such as o, o; when required a front seat for a passenger can be used in lieu
of the carriers which are detachably held in place or an ambulance can be fitted to
the front of the cycle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The combination with a cycle of a bracket detachably secured to the front
of the frame of the cycle and arranged to carry a light quick-firing gun, which
can be manipulated, when the cycle is at rest or in motion and quickly dismounted
and placed on the usual form of tripod stand, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated.

page_text: 2. The combined motor-cycle and field gun, consisting of the parts cons
arranged and operating, substantially as herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.