IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PROPELLING VELOCIPEDES, ROAD CARRIAGES, AND TRAMCARS,. APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DRIVING OF LIGHT MACHINERY
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Henry Brooks of Glenelg, South Australia,
temporarily of Chancery Lane in the County of Middlesex for an invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PROPELLING VELOCIPEDES, ROAD CARRIAGES,
AND TRAMCARS,. APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DRIVING OF LIGHT MACHINERY
"
The result partly of a communication to him from abroad by William Chew
of Norwood, South Australia, and partly of invention and discovery made
by him.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Henry Brooks at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th June 1882.
CHARLES HENRY BROOKS of Glenelg, South Australia, temporarily of Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex "IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PROPELLING
VELOCIPEDES, ROAD CARRIAGES AND TRAM CARS, APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DRIVING
OF LIGHT MACHINERY." [The result partly of a communication to him from abroad
by William Chew of Norwood, South Australia and partly of invention and
discovery made by him]
This invention consists in a novel arrangement of levers and gearing for driving
velocipedes, road carriages and tramcars whereby the use of driving cranks is
avoided. The invention is also applicable to working pumps, and other light
machinery for various purposes.
In carrying out this invention as applied to a tricycle it is preferred to drive the
steering wheel which is placed in front. In this case the steering wheel will have
nearly the same diameter as the running wheels and its axle is mounted in bearings
in a swinging frame pivotted to a saddle piece supporting the front end of a frame
which carries the seat.
On either side of the steering wheel and on the axle thereof is keyed a pinion.
into which gears a spur wheel These spur wheels are mounted loosely on axles
carried in bearings in the swinging frame above the pinions.
Motion is communicated to the spur wheels by means of pawls two of which are
placed on opposite sides of the spur wheels and are actuated as hereinafter
described.
Each spur wheel is driven separately but the means for driving being the same
in both cases it will be only necessary to describe these means in relation to one

page_text: spur wheel. One of the pawls which may be termed the front pawl is pivotted at
the outer end of a lever which is mounted loosely on the axle of the spur wheel
and projects beyond the periphery thereof. The rear end of this lever is turned
up and to it is attached a handle which projects upwards to within convenient
reach of the rider. To the front pawl is pivotted one end of a link rod the other
end of this link rod being pivotted to a rod or bar carrying at its lower end the
rear pawl.
To the upper end of this pawl bar is attached a long straight spring the upper
end of which rests at an angle against the top of the handle.
When it is desired to drive the apparatus the handle and spring are grasped
firmly by the hand so that the spring will lie along the handle. The effect of this
is to depress the rear pawl bar, and pull on the link rod which draws the front
pawl into gear. When this is in gear any further pressure on the spring will rock
the rear pawl bar on its fulcrum at the end of the link rod and throw this pawl
into gear.
Then by pulling over the handle the pawl lever will be rocked on its centre, in
doing which by means of the pawls it will drive the spur wheel in the same
direction, and motion will thereby be communicated through the pinion to the
driving wheel.
The steering is effected by the feet of the rider pressing against blocks connected
with the swinging frame in any convenient manner. In order to steady
the swinging frame it is attached by rods to a crosshead pivotted to the main axle,
and a chain or cord which passes round pulleys connected with the axle and
attached to opposite sides of the swinging frame, is also provided for the same
purpose.
In addition to the levers a spring may be adapted to the spur wheel to assist in
propelling the vehicle. This spring will be so arranged as to wind up when the
wheel is being driven by the pawls and give out its power in the same direction
during the return of the pawls preparatory to a fresh stroke.
A convenient arrangement of brake may be adapted to the running wheels.
For tramcars a similar arrangement of levers and pawls will be employed though
the arrangement will be somewhat modified to suit the altered circumstances.
The invention is also applicable to driving water velocipedes or paddle boats and
to the working of pumps and light machinery of many kinds.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Charles Henry Brooks in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th December 1882.
CHARLES HENRY BROOKS of Glenelg South Australia temporarily of Chancery
Lane in the County of Middlesex-" IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR PROPELLING
VELOCIPEDES ROAD CARRIAGES AND TRAMCARS APPLICABLE ALSO TO THE DRIVING
OF LIGHT MACHINERY The result partly of a communication to me from abroad.
by William Chew of Norwood South Australia and partly of Invention and
discovery made by myself)
"
This Invention consists in a novel arrangement of levers and gearing for
driving velocipedes, road carrriages and tramcars, whereby the use of driving cranks
is avoided
The Invention is also applicable to working pumps and other light machinery
for various purposes
By the use of the present Invention horse power for drawing road carriages and
tramcars may be dispensed with, as the manual power obtainable by the use of
the present combination of parts will be sufficient to drive ordinary vehicles with
the greatest ease.-In some cases, however, it may be desirable to supplement the
manual by steam or other suitable power which may be effected in any convenient
manner.
In the accompanying drawing the Invention is shewn as applied to a tricycle,
Fig 1 being a side elevation and Fig: 2 a front view.
A represents the running wheels, and B the steering wheel.-C is a frame which
is suitably mounted on the wheels and carries a seat D.
In the present case the steering wheel B is also the driving wheel and it will
have nearly the same diameter as the running wheels.-The axle a of this wheel B
works in bearings 6 carried by a swinging frame E which is pivotted at c to a saddle
piece F supporting the front end of the frame C.-On either side of the steering
wheel B and on the axle a thereof is mounted a pinion G which gears with a
spur wheel H placed above it and mounted loosely on an axle d turning in
bearings e carried by the swinging frame E.-The size of the pinion G in proportion
to the spur wheel H should not be less than as 1 is to 2. ff¹ are two pawls or
blocks which are intended to grip the spur wheel and drive it as will be hereafter
explained. The pawl f is pivotted to one end of a rock lever I which is mounted
loosely on the axle d of the spur wheel H.-The other end of this lever I is bent
upwards and is secured in any convenient manner to a handle I'; Or the lever I
may be prolonged so as to form the handle. J is a link rod which is pivotted at
one end to the pawl or block f. above the lever I, and at the other end to a
bar K. This bar K. carries at its lower end the pawl or block f', and at its upper
end is secured to a flat spring K' which rests at an angle more or less acute against
the handle I¹.
In order to drive the apparatus the rider grasps the handle I and the spring K¹
firmly so as to bring the spring back against the handle-The effect of this will
be to move the bar K and pull on the bar J which throws the pawl f into gear
with the wheel H, at the same time the bar K. will rock on its centre at the end
of the bar J, and throw the pawl f' likewise into gear with the wheel H.-The
driver then pulls, the lever and spring towards himself; by which he will
communicate motion to the wheel H
When the stroke has been made the driver will loosen his grip on the spring K₁
which will allow the pawls ff' to come out of gear, and he can then push forward
the lever preparatory to making another stroke.

page_text: The steering of the machine is effected by foot-The driver places each foot
against a block L which is connected by means of a rod or bar with the swinging
.frame E
The steering frame is steadied by means of stay rods M which are secured at
one end to the swinging frame E and at the other end to a bar N which is connected
to the axle of the driving wheels by a king bolt g on which it swings. In addition
to this a line of hide or catgut secured at either end to the swinging frame E and
passing round pulleys secured to the axle may be used to facilitate the movement
of the fore carriage.
Having now described the nature of this Invention for "Improvements in
means for propelling velocipedes, road carriages and tramcars-applicable also to the
driving of light machinery," and explained the manner of carrying the same into
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim :-The means substantially as herein
shewn and described for driving velocipedes and other vehicles, and for working
light machinery whereby the use of cranks is dispensed with as set forth.
In witness whereof I the said Charles Henry Brooks have hereunto set my
hand and seal the seventh day of October in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two