IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Louis Outram Davidson, of Hanover Square, in
the County of Middlesex, Esquire, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Louis Outram
Davidson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th July
1881.
George Louis OUTRAM DAVIDSON, of Hanover Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Esquire. IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.
25
My Invention relates to improvements in the form of velocipedes, whereby four
persons are enabled to travel as on a trycycle, one or two of whom only will be
required to work the machine, which consists of horizontal forks of hollow steel, the
rounded ends of which are connected to a wheel situated at the back of the machine;
the forked ends rest on the axle of two large wheels, and are carried forward
therefrom to bear a seat in the front of the machine. The two forks join in the
centre and the prong is carried forward resting on the axle of the large wheels, but
curving in such a manner that it supports guiding handles placed in the front and
rear, and also a stretcher to the seat before mentioned together with a wheel
attached to the front of the prong, and the use of which will be presently explained.
The guiding handles regulate the back wheel by means of a rod which can be
moved backward or forward by small cogged wheels fixed to the lower ends of the
guiding wheels.
The machine is worked by persons scated on small saddles or seats above and
slightly in the rear of the pedals. The seats are placed on the centre of the horizontal
forks.
The pedals work on an axis kept in position by rods connected with other rods
which are joined to the horizontal forks before mentioned at or near the axle of the
large wheels. The pedals work small wheels which by means of the endless chain
system drive the large wheels; the pedals are made to rest by means of the ratchet
system when the machine is on a decline.
The front seat having nothing to do with the working of the machine but being
merely for the accomodation of travellers by the machine, is attached by means of
springs.

page_text: The weight of the machine must be so balanced that when four persons are
seated two on the saddles and two on the front seat (allowing for weighty persons
in front) there is sufficient weight on the back wheel to keep it on the ground,
thus the principal weight will be on the axle of the driving wheels.
Ascending a steep hill the two workers will dismount and push the machine,
which will then tilt forward on the front wheel before mentioned, which would
otherwise be about two inches off the ground, the carriage will then be pushed and
guided exactly like a perambulator.
The construction of the machine should be as light as possible, but on account
of the extra weight carried the tyres of the driving wheels will require to be
larger than ordinary velocipede tyres.
The reason for having the workers behind is that the machine is intended for
India where labor is cheap, and it would be preferable for various reasons to have
the coolies behind rather than in front.
A hood of a light description can be added to the carriage to keep off the sun if
required.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Louis Outram Davidson in the Great Seal Patent Office'
on the 19th December 1881.
GEORGE LOUIS OUTRAM DAVIDSON, of Hanover Square, in the County of
Middlesex, Esquire. 'IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES.'
"
My Invention relates to improvements in the form of velocipedes, whereby persons
are enabled to travel on a machine, one or two of whom only will be required to
work it, the other person or persons being seated at rest.
The machine consists of horizontal forks of hollow steel, the rounded ends of
which are connected to a wheel situated at the back of the machine. Two forks
join in the centre and form a single or central prong which, together with the two.
outer prongs, rest on the axle of two large wheels, all three prongs being carried
forward to support a seat and stretcher. The front seat having nothing to do
with working of the machine, but being merely for the accomodation of travellers
by the machine, is attached by means of springs.
Underneath and in the centre of the stretcher is a small wheel, the use of which
will be presently explained.
The centre prong also supports guiding handles placed in the front and rear.
They regulate the back wheel by means of a rod, which can be moved backward
or forward by small cogged wheels fixed to the lever ends of the guiding
handles.
The machine is worked by persons seated on small saddles or seats placed on
the centres of the rounded ends of the horizontal forks before mentioned.
Persons seated thus work pedals (placed below and slightly in front of them)
turning on an axis supported by rods fixed to the horizontal forks.
The pedals work small wheels which by means of the endless chain system drive
the large wheels.
The Cheylesmore action may be adjusted so that the pedals may rest when the
machine is on a decline.
The weight of the machine must be so balanced that when four persons are
seated, two on the saddles and two on the front seat, allowing for weighty persons
in front, there is sufficient weight on the back wheel to keep it on the ground,
thus the principal weight will be on the axle of the driving wheels.
Ascending a steep hill the two workers will dismount and push the machine
which will then tilt forward on the front wheel before mentioned, which would
otherwise be about two inches off the ground. The carriage will then be pushed
and guided exactly like a perambulator.
A powerful brake, governed by either or both workers, is attached for down hill
work.
The construction of the machine should be as light as possible, but on account
of the extra weight carried the tyres of the wheels will require to be larger than
those used on ordinary velocipede wheels.
The reason for having the workers behind is that the machine is intended for
India where labour is cheap, and it would be preferable for various reasons to have
the coolies behind rather than in front. A hood of a light description can be
added to the carriage to keep off the sun if required.
Although the machine, as above described, is constructed to carry four persons
and is double in its action, it is obvious that it can be also constructed to carry
two persons or be single in its action.
I will now proceed to refer to the annexed Drawings, from which the nature
and construction of the Invention will be more clearly understood and made
manifest.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 presents a side view of the velocipede and attendant working gear,
and shews the machine as it would appear when stationary (brake gear is not
depicted for simplicities sake.
Figure 2 presents the plan of the machine without the front seat and stretcher,
as these important parts of the machine merely rest on the prongs of the horizontal
forks it is only necessary to shew the points on which they rest in this Figure.
Figure 3 presents the plan of a single machine (that is, a machine to carry two
persons, one worker and one traveller), the front seat not being depicted on this
Figure for the same reason as in Figure 2, but I have drawn an outline to represent
where the stretcher is placed.
A, A A, A, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, shews the seat or seats on which the workers
are placed.
B, BBB, and BB, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew the point on the horizontal
forks where the front seat is attached to and rest on the machine by means of
springs.
CC, CC, CC, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew the guiding handles.
D, D, D, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew the back wheel or guiding wheel.
E, E, E, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew the small front wheel or safety wheel for
uphill work as described. FF, FF FF, FF, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew the
pedals worked by the feet of the workers seated on A, A. The pedals turning the
small cogged wheels LL, LL L, Figures 1, 2, and 3, which by means of the endless
chain systein connected with the other cogged wheels marked M, M M, M M,
Figures 1, 2, and 3, drive the larger wheels.
G, Figure 1, shews the front seat, which is not depicted in Figures 2 and 3.
Hin Figure 1 shews the stretcher to the front seat, which is not depicted in
Fig. 2, and only outlined in Fig. 3.
I in Figure 2 shews the point at which the two horizontal forks join in the
double machine.
J, J J J, JJ, in Figures 1, 2, and 3, shew the extreme points of the prongs of
the horizontal forks on which the stretcher rests.
K, K, in Figures 2 and 3, shew the axle of the large wheels or driving wheels
L, L, L, LL, and M, M M, M M, in Figures 1, 2 and 3, are described with F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature and object of
my said Invention, and in what manner the same may be performed or carried
out in practice, I hereby declare that what I claim as constituting my said
Invention is the general arrangement of mechanism whereby one, two, three, four,
or more persons are enabled to travel by the machine, one or two of whom only
are required to work or propel the machine, as herein set forth and described, or
any mere modification thereof, the other persons travelling by the machine
being seated at rest.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Louis Outram Davidson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of December, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty one
GEORGE L. O. DAVIDSON. (L.S.)
Witness,
G. M. CANHAM,
Clerk to Messrs. Francis & Johnson,
22, Austin Friars, E.C.