IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES PROPELLED BY THE PERSONS TRAVELLING 5 IN THEM
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Abraham Follett Osler, at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd August 1876.
ABRAHAM FOLLETT OSLER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manu-
facturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES PROPELLED BY THE PERSONS TRAVELLING
5 IN THEM"
My Invention relates to such vehicles as are propelled by the persons travelling in
them, and principally to such of the said vehicles as have three wheels. My improve-
ments may however be applied to vehicles travelling on two or four wheels.
I will describe my Invention in connection with a vehicle having three wheels.
The two principal wheels are situated respectively at the extremities of the principal
shaft or axle of the vehicle respectively, both of the wheels being capable of turning
upon the said shaft or axle. The third or guide wheel of smaller diameter than the
principal wheels is situated in advance of the principal wheels, and in a vertical
plane midway between the planes in which the principal wheels are respectively
situated. A light vertical triangular frame fixed to the middle of the principal
shaft connects the bearings of the guide wheel to the shaft in the manner herein-
after explained, the seat of the vehicle is supported on the said triangular frame at
a short distance in front of the shaft or axle. Motion is communicated to the
vehicle by means of a bar having at top a cross handle, its lower end being jointed
to the lowest part of the triangular frame. Between the handle and fulcrum of
this lever is a long slot, with which the end of a light bar engages by means of a
sliding joint.
One of the principal wheels is fixed on one end of a tube working freely on the
principal shaft or axle; this tube is of half the length of the axle, and extends to
the middle of the axle where it terminates in a pulley or drum. A band or strap
passing round the said pulley or drum is connected at its ends with the light bar
described, so that when the said bar is moved backwards and forwards by the
action of the propelling lever the pulley is made to perform a reciprocating rotatory
motion.
The action of the said bar, band, and pulley somewhat resembles that of the
ordinary drill and drill bow; the pulley or drum is not rigidly fixed on the tube
which carries it, but is connected therewith by means of a ratchet wheel and pawl,
or other equivalent contrivance, so that when turning in one direction it gives
motion to the tube and the principal wheel fixed thereto, but when turning in the
[Price 2d.1

page_text: other direction it communicates no motion to the said tube and wheel. Thus
when the propelling lever is drawn inwards as in the act of rowing the vehicle is
propelled forwards, but the return motion of the said lever has no effect on the
vehicle. By raising or lowering in the slot of the propelling lever the joint on
which the light bar turns a greater or loss propelling foverage may be obtained, and
the propulsion of the vehicle up hill facilitated; this raising and lowering of the joint
in the slot may be effected by giving a rotatory motion to the propelling handle.
An endless band or chain passing over a small fixed pulley on the handle, and also
over a loose pulley at the bottom of the slot is connected with the said joint, and
on the rotating of the handle raises or lowers the said sliding joint.
The guiding of the vehicle may either be effected by the action of the foot or a
foot board, or by the.inclination sideways of the body of the person propelling the
vehicle. In the former case the foot board is in part fixed and in part moveable,
the moveable part consisting of two parts. By the action of one or other foot on one
or other of the moveable parts of the foot board the axle of the guide wheel may be
inclined in one or other direction to the principal shaft or axle of the vehicle.
When the guiding is to be effected by the side inclination of the body I mount the
seat on a centre on which it can work. A cross bar fixed under the seat is
connected at either end by means of vertical connecting rods with cranked levers,
and the latter act by means of connecting rods on a cross arm on the top of the
fork, by which the guide wheel is carried, and in which it works. By inclining
the body laterally in one or other direction the seat and tho cross bar under it are
inclined to the horizon, one end of the bar being raised, and the other depressed,
and the change of position effected in the bar is transmitted through the cranks
and connecting rods described to the guiding wheel, and the inclination of the plane
in which the guiding wheel rotates on one or other side of the plane in which it is
normally situated produces the required deflection to the right or left in the path
travelled by the vehicle; or the guiding may be effected by giving to the seat a
twisting or rotatory motion
. My Invention is applicable to vehicles propelled by one or more persons.