Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 19th Dec., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I CHARLES FELL of 48 Adelaide Street Southport in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to construct a velocipede capable of carrying
several persons each of whom drives one of the wheels but the steering is con-
trolled by one person only.
The machine is composed of a number of sections each of which has two
wheels which, are arranged side by side at a sufficient distance apart to give
the requisite amount of stability to the machine.
Each section is composed of two side frames or forks in which is mounted a
single wheel carried on an independent axle and fitted with cranks for pro-
pelling the same either direct or by toothed or chain gear. Each fork or
frame is also fitted with a support for carrying the saddle, and also with
dummy" handles excepting the front one which is fitted with steering handles
and the fork thereof is carried in a socket or sockets so that it (and the wheel)
can be turned in either direction as required for steering.
66
The two side frames or forks of each section are connected together by
means of transverse bars one above the wheels and the other below the axles.
These bars are hinged horizontally so as to allow of flexibility in steering or
turning corners but are not hinged vertically so as to maintain each side frame
always in a perpendicular position.
Thus it will be seen that each section consists of a frame carrying a wheel
at each side, and each wheel is driven independently by its own driver.
Each side frame is fitted at each end with two spring buffers somewhat like
those of a railway carriage and with suitable links or means for coupling the
sections together, each coupling link being placed between the buffers as in a
railway carriage, so that any convenient number of sections (each having two
independent side wheels, may be coupled together so as to form a kind of train
which will be quite flexible in a horizontal direction for all steering and turning
purposes, and although sufficiently rigid in a vertical sense to keep each section in
a perpendicular position, it will also nevertheless have such vertical pliability as
will be necessary to allow any of the wheels to pass over an obstruction without
affecting the rest.
It will be evident therefore that by connecting a suitable number of sections
together as above described, a kind of flexible velocipede train can be constructed
to carry a number of independent passengers each driving his own wheel, and
helping to propel the whole at the same time that the steering is entirely under the
control of the leading man who is provided with a proper steering fork and handles
for that purpose.
Af Ontah- 1901
"

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, CHARLES FELL of 48 Adelaide Street Southport in the County of Lancaster,
Gentleman, 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 that type or class of velocipedes which are driven 5
simultaneously by several riders and its objects are to construct the machine in
such a manner that it may be steered by one or two only of the riders, and that it
may be perfectly flexible in a horizontal plane but only slightly flexible in a
vertical plane.
The machine constructed according to these improvements consists of a number
of sections each of which sections includes two wheels arranged parallel with
each other at a sufficient distance apart to ensure the requisite amount of stability
to the machine.
Each of the wheels is mounted in a suitable frame or fork and is fitted upon an
axle provided with a crank or other means for propulsion, such as suitable chains 1
and chain wheels or other gearing. The riders sit above the wheels and for each
of them a saddle is provided. For each rider also, except the leader, or leaders,
rigid handle bars are also provided.
The sections are connected together by means of cross rods, each section having
two of these rods, one arranged above and the other below the level of the wheel 2
axles. Each of these rods is hinged horizontally, or is connected to the frames
or forks in such a manner as to be capable of motion in a horizontal direction, so
as to produce complete flexibility of the machine as a whole, and thus to facilitate
the steering and turning. There should be no hinge or joint permitting the cross
rods to move in a vertical direction beyond what is just sufficient to allow for 2
differences of level in the ground ridden over, or to enable one of the wheels to
surmount a local obstacle. If vertical motion is permitted to a greater extent than
necessary to allow for irregularities in and obstacles on the road, the machine will
be deficient in self supporting power, which is an important consideration.
The cross rods may have arrangements such as tightening screws to lock their 3
hinges and pivots in any desired position for the purpose of preserving the gauge
of the several sections, or the leading section may have rigid instead of hinged
cross rods for the same purpose, in which case the locking devices for the hinged
rods may or may not be used.
Each section, except the leading section, is provided at each of its ends with a 3
buffer and coupling and preferably also with a draw bar, so that all the sections
may be flexibly connected in much the same manner as the various coaches are
coupled to form a railway train. The first or leading section will generally require
the buffers and couplings at the trailing end only.
It will be evident from the foregoing description that by connecting a suitable 4
number of sections together a flexible velocipede train may be quickly constructed
of any length which can be dealt with by the riders, and that by suitable appliances,
the vehicle may be employed for pleasure, for transport purposes, for carrying
small arms, ammunition, and baggage, and for ambulance and other like purposes,
whilst its steering is entirely in the hands of one or two leaders only.
I will more particularly describe in what manner my said invention may be
carried into effect with reference to the accompanying drawings in each of the
figures of which similar parts are denoted by similar letters of reference.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation a velocipede train of three sections
constructed according to these improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan of Figure 1; and,
•

page_text: Figure 4 is a longitudinal section on an enlarged scale of the construction of the
coupling device and buffer which I prefer to employ.
A is the framing which is preferably constructed of light steel plate rods or tubes
and which may have any convenient and suitable shape and dimensions. This
frame carries the fork B, on the top of which is fixed the handle bar C. Except
in the case of the leading section, this handle bar is fixed. As represented in the
drawings, the steering is effected by the leaders who ride on the first section D.
The handle bars of this section are connected respectively with the two similar
links E and the two steering rods F which control the position of the steering
wheel G. It will be seen that the steering rods are connected together as well as
to the steering wheel fork and that consequently either or both of the leaders on
the section D may have command of the steering. Instead of the arrangement for
steering represented by the drawings, the control of the direction of the machine
may be in the hands of a single leader riding the central steering wheel G, which
in this case would be larger and be driven in the same manner as the other wheels
or not as may be preferred. The handle bars of the leading section would then be
fixed. Also, instead of arranging one rider for each wheel, there may be two riders,
in which case there would be also two forks and two saddles to each wheel and the
wheels would be driven by means of chain wheels and chains. In the drawings,
the leading and trailing section frames are represented as terminated. on one side at
the base of the fork, but this is not essential, and in some cases it may be found
more convenient to make all the frames precisely alike.
The two elements of each section are connected by means of the hinged cross
bars H H, one of which is arranged as high as convenient, and the other preferably
below the circuit of the pedals I. These hinged cross rods not only serve for
preserving the stability of the machine as already hereinbefore described, but they
also enable its width to be increased or diminished at will. For example, if the
rods are folded to a V-form, it is obvious that the distance between the wheels
must be much less than when the rods are straight, and that the wheels may be
brought as close together as the frames and cranks will permit, or be separated to
the full extent of the rods. The rods may be hinged at their centres as indicated
by the drawings, or they may be rigid and hinged to both of the frames. It will
be understood that when the hinged rods are employed they must also be hinged
to the frame or be connected thereto in such a manner as to permit the action of
folding in the rods. Precautions for preserving the gauge of the sections may be
employed if desired, as herein before described.
The successive sections may be coupled together by any convenient means but I
prefer to employ the arrangement illustrated in longitudinal section on an enlarged
scale by Figure 4. A cylindrical cavity K is formed in each end of each frame,
in which there is inserted a spiral spring L. The buffer M has a piston formed
upon it which fits freely within the cavity and is normally pressed against the
cover N by the spring. In an axial opening formed through the centre of the
buffer and of the cavity, there is a coupling O one end of which is screwed and
furnished with an adjusting nut P, the other end being furnished with a hook or
other suitable means for engagement. The rotation of the buffer may if desired be
prevented by making its stem non-circular and forming the opening through which
it passes to a similar shape. The adjusting nut P may lie upon the further side of
the bottom of the cavity as shewn in the drawing or it may have a spiral spring
interposed between it and the bottom of the cavity in which case the adjusting nut
would abut upon a plate or washer fitted around the rod at the outer end of the
spiral spring. The buffers are preferred to have the entrances to the holes through
which the couplings pass, enlarged so that the hooks may lie within the enlarge-
ments as indicated in Figure 4.
A machine constructed according to these improvements is perfectly articulated
in every useful direction whilst at the same time possessing great stability and the
advantage of being capable of being increased or diminished in width at will.

page_text: 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. A velocipede consisting of two or more sections, each section comprising two
wheels arranged parallel with each other, a frame and one or more saddles and
handle bars for each wheel, cross bars connecting the wheels, crank pedals and other
driving devices, and in the first or leading section only, a steering arrangement;
constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated
by the accompanying drawings.
2. In a velocipede for carrying more than two riders, a series of sections flexibly
connecteu by means of couplings and spring buffers, the first or leading section only
being provided with a steering arrangement; substantially as herein before described
and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
3. In an articulated or flexible velocipede, the combination and arrangement with
a spring buffer of a coupling passing axially through the buffer; substantially as
hereinbefore described and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of November A.D. 1891.
WILLIAM E. HEYS,
Agent for the Applicant.