Improvements in the Propulsion of Velocipedes or other Vehicles by Animal or Manual Power, and Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 5th May, 1894
CUM LEIE DI BUIFICATION.
Improvements in the Propulsion of Velocipedes or other Vehicles by
Animal or Manual Power, and Apparatus therefor.
A communication from FRANÇOIS THIRY, of Pecq, in the Kingdom of Belgium.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
The object of the present invention is a velocipede moved by the muscular
force of a horse, the animal being upon and carried by the vehicle exactly as in
the case of a velocipede moved by the muscular force of a man, whose weight
is similarly carried by the vehicle. Given, that the muscular force of a man
mounted on a velocipede causes the vehicle with its burden to advance and enables
him to attain, by a suitable transmission of movement to speeds to which he, by his
own unaided powers, could never attain, by walking or running on foot, and certainly
not to maintain for such a length of time, the inventor asked himself if it would not
be possible, by means of traction and a suitable transmission of movement, to obtain
the same result in a higher degree by the muscular force of a horse, if the animal
also were mounted on a velocipede.
Considering the difference that exists between a man and a horse from the mechanical
standpoint, in relation to muscular force and weight to be transported the inventor
found it incumbent on him at the outset to take account in his researches of these
two principal factors.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which ;-
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the vehicle, Figure 2 a transverse
section of the same on a line coinciding with the axis of the driving wheels, and
Figure 3 is a transverse section on a line coinciding with the axis of the front
wheels.
On account of the greater weight to be carried, choice is made, in the construction
of the velocipede, of a four-wheeled vehicle, as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, of the
accompanying drawings, the smaller pair of front wheels being mounted on an axle
attached to a fore-carriage rotating on a vertical pivot allowing the direction of
forward movement to be deviated quickly in any direction and to any extent desired.
within reasonable limits, exactly as in the case of velocipedes. The hind wheels,
the larger pair, serve as driving wheels.
The inventor now comes to the most difficult problem to be solved, namely that of
the transmission to the driving-wheels of the movement derived from the horse's
feet in such manner that the animal may exert at an ordinary walking pace, a
powerful effort of traction, so that by means of the intermediate devices and parts
the driving wheels may be rapidly rotated.
To this end the horse is supported on a movable platform to which there is given
such an upward inclination that the horse's weight alone causes the platform to
slide backwards whereby the animal is instinctively compelled to walk forwards. The
horse being harnessed to the back of the vehicle has a fixed position independent of
the moving parts, like the body or frame. The result is that by his forward pace
on the platform the horse exerts a considerable rearward traction upon the said
platform, which if it were composed of a plank supported on rollers would thus be
forcibly driven backwards.

page_text: For the utilization of this propelling power in a continuous manner, the platform
is formed of a suitable number of transverse wooden strips or slats G connected at
both ends at the sides of the vehicle to brackets a which form part of the links of
endless chains each of which passes round two chain-wheels at the two ends of the
vehicle. There are therefore two pairs of chain wheels P p as well as two endless
chains b. For the purpose of giving suitable support to the planks or strips GG
attached at their two extremities to the chains there are arranged beneath them a
series of rollers d d journalled in two longitudinal bearers f extending nearly the
whole length of the vehicle and resting on a frame of longitudinal and transverse
girders g and h. The movement of the endless chains & may be transmitted to the
driving or hind wheels in any convenient and suitable manner as e.g. by means of
chains, cords, cables or intermediate gearing.
Choice is made of the arrangement illustrated in Figure 1 as being the most
practical method wherein the lower portions of the two chains gear directly with
the chain-wheels Q Q¹ Figures 1 and 2, keyed on the axle R of the driving or hind-
wheels S.
By the chain wheels Q or Q₁ being suitably proportioned the driving axle R may
be rotated at any desired speed.
Provision is made for driving the horse by arranging at the back of the vehicle a
seat A for two persons which is preferably made of some light and tough wood, the
laths being suitably secured to the angle-iron or equivalent frames J. The driver's
seat is carried on two springs KL their ends resting on two conveniently angle-iron
bearers B C and so fixed as to allow of their elongation when loaded. One of the
seat supports is fitted at its ends to the frame of the vehicle by hinges so as to allow
of its pivotting or swinging in a horizontal plane at the points E F; the other
angle iron support is provided with holes at its extremities, corresponding to others
pierced in the standard D of the said frame. Pins passing through these holes
maintain the seat fixed in position when the horse is at work on the movable
platform G; while their removal allows the seat to be swung back when required
for the horse to be put in or taken out.
An inclined platform or ramp H is provided at the back of the vehicle to allow
ingress and egress of the horse; this ramp is formed in three parts hinged together
so as to be capable of being folded as shown in dotted lines at L Figure 1 to allow
of its being suspended and carried by the vehicle. For the same purpose the cross-
bar of angle-iron M is arranged to swing similarly; it carries also a support for
the steering gear. This latter may be of any suitable kind and arrangement
preferably such as that shown in Figures 1 and 3, which consists of a rod N carried
loosely in the upper bearing on the cross-bar M and terminating at its lower
extremity in a box-head or key O bored to fit a nipple or projection of a suitable
coupling supported by a cross girder and actuating a connecting rod with connec-
tions adapted for the transmission of the movement to the front wheels in the
ordinary manner. With this arrangement the rod N can readily be displaced when
required for the animal's ingress and egress.
From the foregoing it will be seen that all these arrangements and devices have
had specially in view to facilitate the ingress and egress of the horse, its being
harnessed or secured to the frame or body of the vehicle, within the same, the
accommodation of the driver and another person, starting the animal, the steering
gear being worked from the driver's seat etc.
There would be no difficulty in adding an arrangement for giving the movable
platform a variable inclination, according to the travelling conditions, virtually
increasing the power when these are adverse, upon the fundamental principle that
the useful effect varies in accordance with the manner in which the animal's centre
of gravity is displaced during the working of the velocipede.
Moreover, as is evident, a horse, while not exceeding his ordinary walking pace,
can thus impart to the vehicle which carries the animal a speed equal to or
exceeding that of its own trotting pace. It becomes possible therefore to make
long journeys at considerable speed in a vehicle driven by the horse which it

page_text: carries, without the animal becoming fatigued by the excessive work thrown on the
respiratory organs-which in fact is invariably the primary cause of the horse's
inability to maintain the trotting pace, i.e. becoming "blown."
It will also be observed that this system of traction is equally applicable to
railways and tramways with the adoption of wheels like those used in railway
rolling-stock and tramcars; and this applies also to the propulsion of ships.
The before described motor instead of being propelled by a horse may be
propelled by another animal capable of drawing a load such as a mule, camel or
elephant. This system may also be propelled by and employed for the transport
of men, provided that each man operates the platform, being harnessed after the
manner of canal-barge hauliers.
Another new application of the invention suggests itself also in case of war:
given, that mounted cavalry can be protected against hostile projectiles, within an
ironclad vehicle; such a carriage would represent a cuirassier having the power
to launch all kinds of projectiles against the enemy without personal exposure
or risk.
In countries not yet settled or civilized such as Africa such ironclad vehicles.
may offer important advantages in campaigns, attacks upon savage tribes in revolt
in explorations and the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is ;-
1. In a velocipede or other vehicle propelled by a horse or other draught-animal
or by manual power a platform which the animal in walking moves back said.
platform being composed of slats connected at both ends to endless chains extending
in the direction of the length of the vehicle, and passing round chain-wheels.
arranged at or near the ends of the vehicle or intermediately the movement of
these chains being transmitted to the driving wheels of the vehicle substantially as.
described.
2. In a velocipede or other vehicle propelled by a horse or other draught animal
or by manual power the employment of a series of rollers drums or cylinders.
rotating beneath the slats of the platform at the place where the horse-traction is
applied, thus reducing to a minimum the friction of the moving platform the shafts.
of the rollers being mounted in bearings carried in longitudinal bearers resting on
a suitable framework substantially as described.
3. In a velocipede or other vehicle propelled by a horse or other draught animal
or by manual power the employment of a seat supported on springs with their
extremities hinge-jointed to the carriage frame or body for the purpose of displacing
the seat to allow of the ingress or egress of the animal in combination with a.
folding ramp or inclined platforın enabling the horse to ascend to and descend from.
the movable or working platform substantially as described.
4. In a velocipede or other vehicle propelled by a horse or other draught animal
or by manual power the arrangement of the fore-carriage so that it rotates on a
vertical axis and the steering gear is under control of the driver the stem or
rod by which the steering is effected carrying at its lower end a box-head key
or socket fitting a nipple or projection of the steering gear in such manner that
the said stem or rod may be displaced to give passage to the horse or other
animal substantially as described.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete vehicle
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dahin 0th 1 of ML 1901
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.