IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hopwood, of Heaton Norris, in the County of
Lancaster, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
VELOCIPEDES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hopwood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th March 1881.
JOHN HOPWOOD, of Heaton Norris, in the County of Lancaster. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES."
This Invention relates to the construction of a velocipede or pedomotive machine
to carry three persons, and to be driven by one, two, or all three, as occasion may
require.
The machine is mounted upon four wheels. The two front wheels are mounted
direct upon the front cranked axle which supports a vertical "fork," the latter
having steering handles attached to its upper end.
The body of the machine is carried upon two bind wheels, and the frame which
carries the body is provided with or attached to a curved perch or "backbone," the
front part of which is divided into two branches, the lower one of which is
connected to the lower end of the "fork" so as to work on a pivot, and the upper
part of the perch or backbone is similarly connected with a pivot or spindle at the
upper end of the fork (as in the ordinary bicycle), and thus by having a bearing at
both top and bottom great stability is obtained, and at the same time it will be seen
that in steering the front axle can turn to any angle on its vertical axis, the top
curve of the backbone being sufficiently high for the wheels to lock under it.
On this part is mounted (on a spring) the saddle for the driver, who works the
cranks by means of pedals or stirrups which are adjustable on connecting rods, the
lower ends of the said connecting rods being attached to the cranks, and their
upper ends working on pins fitted in blocks sliding in vertical slots or upon rods
on each side of the fork, or forming part thereof.
The body of the carriage is provided with seats for two passengers who face each

page_text: other, one sitting with his back to the driver. This part is also provided with a
cranked axle fitted with connecting rods and pedals like the front ones, so arranged
and fitted that either one or both passengers can assist in driving the machine.
In order to allow every facility for steering and turning only one wheel is fast
on each axle and drives, it being preferable to make the right hand wheel the
driver on one axle and the left hand wheel on the other.
The carriage is fitted with brakes, lamps, mud-guards, and other conveniences,
and is so arranged that a portmanteau can be carried beneath one seat and a
hamper beneath the other.
The hinder crank shaft is connected to the driving wheel by means of two stud 1
pulleys and an endless chain.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Hopwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd September
1881.
JOHN HOPWOOD, of Heaton Norris, in the County of Lancaster.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES.”
« IMPROVE
This Invention relates to the construction of a velocipede or pedomotive machine
to carry three persons, and to be driven or propelled by one, two, or all three, as
occasion may require.
The construction of the machine will be readily understood on reference to the
two Sheets of Drawings hereunto annexed, and the following description thereof.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through about the centre of the machine.
Fig. 2 is a front view, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the same; Fig. 4 is a perspective
view with the driver and passengers in their places.
The machine is carried upon four wheels, the two front wheels a, a, are mounted
direct upon the front cranked axle b, b, which supports a vertical fork c, c, provided
with suitable bearings and having steering handles d, d, either straight or cranked
attached to its upper end in the ordinary manner, so that the fore-carriage is
steered like an ordinary bicycle.
The body e, e, of the machine is carried upon the two hind wheels f, f, and the
frame g, g, which supports the body is provided with or attached to a curved perch
or backbone h, h, the front part of which is connected to the lower end of the
fork c, c, so as to work on a pivot or turn plate, and the upper end of the perch or
backbone h, h, is similarly connected with a pivot or spindle working in the upper
end of the fork c, c, as in a bicycle, and thus by having a bearing both at the top
and bottom of the fork great stability is obtained, and at the same time it will be
seen that in steering the front axle b, b, can turn on its vertical axis to any
necessary angle, the top curve of the backbone h, h, being sufficiently high for the
front wheels a, a, to "lock" under it.
On this part of the backbone h, h, is mounted (on a spring i, i,) the saddle k, k,
for the driver, who in order to gain room for mounting turns the fore-carriage
slightly round.
The tail end of the back-bone is not rigidly connected to the frame g, g, but is so
mounted in a socket g* as to be capable of a small fixed amount of movement on
its horizontal axis so as to give a slight flexibility thereto, or the tail end of the
back bone may be rigidly attached to the frame of the carriage if found preferable.
The driver works the cranks by means of pedals or stirrups m, m, which are
adjustable on connecting rods n, n, to suit the length of leg of the driver, the said
connecting rods being cranked and having their lower ends fitted with suitable
bearings working on the cranks of the axle b, b.
The upper ends of the connecting rods n, n, work on pins fitted in blocks o, o,
or grooved pulleys may be employed instead of the blocks, sliding in vertical
slots p, p, or upon rods fixed on each side of the fork c, c, or forming part thereof,
or the connecting rods and stirrups may be dispensed with and ordinary pedals
fitted on the cranks.
The body of the carriage is provided with seats q, q', for two passengers who sit
facing each other, one being back to the driver, the curved parts e¹, e¹, acting as
springs and the upright rods e, e, working through holes or sockets made in or
attached to the frame g, g, the back seat q¹ being so mounted, as to be capable of
being turned to one side, so as to allow the passengers to mount and dismount, and
fitted with a catch or bolt to hold it in position when adjusted.
This part of the machine is carried on the two hind wheels f, f, and is provided
with a cranked axle 8, 8, fitted with connecting rods, slides, and pedals similar to

page_text: the front axle, the pedals t, t, being sufficiently broad and so arranged and fitted
that either one or both passengers can assist in driving the machine.
The cranked axle 8, 8, is shown in the Drawing as connected to the driving wheel
by means of two stud pulleys and an endless chain as in an ordinary tricycle, but
if preferred the axle on which the wheels are mounted may be carried across from
one side to the other, and the cranks be made sufficiently wide for two distinct
pedals to be fitted on each crank, in which case the lower axle with the stud
pulleys, chain, connecting rods, and slides may be dispensed with.
In order to allow every facility for steering and turning the machine only one
wheel is fast on each axle and is the driving wheel, it being preferable to make the
right hand wheel the driving wheel on one axle and the left hand wheel on the
other; or if preferred all the wheels may be drivers, an arrangement being applied
whereby either the right or left hand pair or both can be thrown loose on the axle
when required for turning corners or when otherwise required.
The carriage is fitted with brakes, lamps, mudguards, and other conveniences,
and is so arranged that a portmanteau, box, hamper, or other luggage can be
carried beneath each seat.
"
Or the front part (all inclusive to the tail end of back bone) may be attached
by the tail of back bone to any ordinary single or double tricycle of the "Salvo
or front steering class forming a "gig" by taking away the small steering wheel,
easy access being obtained to the seats by turning the front wheels slightly
round.
It may also be attached to the ordinary back steering tricycle by taking away
the small back wheel and shortening the tricycle back bone to about twelve inches,
forming a "drag," the passenger in this case riding with his back to the driver and
back pedalling.
Having now described the nature and object of my. said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention,―
The general construction and arrangement of the velocipede or pedomotive
machine to carry two or three persons, as herein before described and illustrated by
the Drawings annexed, and more especially I claim the peculiar construction and
arrangement of the curved perch or backbone, whereby a bearing is obtained both
at the top and bottom of the front fork and thus great stability is insured and a
good lock of the front wheel for steering obtained.
Secondly. The application of the cranked connecting rods, stirrups, and slides to
such a machine; and
Thirdly. The arrangement as hereinbefore described whereby one or more
passenger or passengers is or are enabled to assist the driver in propelling the
machine when required.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hopwood, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirty first day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.