IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry John Lawson of Coventry in the County of
Warwick Engineer for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF VELOCIPEDES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry John Lawson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th August 1883.
HENRY JOHN LAWSON of Coventry in the County of Warwick Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES."
:
My invention is specially designed for the casy transport of Luggage, parcels, &c
and gives increased firmness and safety in running with greater power by the
arrangement and combination of four wheels, two of which are steering, with direct
action and the most powerful form of Double Driving and back treadling. Several
other improvements are also made upon the forms of Tricycle now generally in
use, to effect a more suitable arrangement for the purpose, the frame especially
being of novel design. From the main cranked axle the two principal bearings are
prolonged so as to form two arms. The said arms are carried backwards throughout
the entire length of the body of machine and form the frame. Upon these sides or
framing ride four rubber springs upon and against which rests the Box or receptacle
for goods.
At the end of the two arms herein before mentioned are fixed the steering Forks,
heads &c in the usual way and manner.
A cross Bar is fixed near the said heads and acts as a stay. The two steering
wheels act together by means of a coupling rod or rods. The Box is so arranged
that the bottom part is smallor and can easily drop into framo without falling thro'
owing to top part being larger. The box has four handles two upon each side to
carry it by. One side of the box is constructed open and let downwards.
The back treadling is effected by means of a friction clutch the pressure upon
which is effected by means of a hand lever in such a manner that drawing it
towards the rider forces out the lower portion which rests on the cone.
The said
lever is attached to a small ring turning loose upon the crank shaft. The entire
lever and ring move together when pressed backwards or forwards upon the axis or
main cranked shaft and at the same time is so fitted to the said ring that a
movement at right angles is possible also, which applies the said pressure to friction
cone clutch. When moved in the other direction by means of a connecting rod the
brake is applied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry John Lawson in the Patent Office on the 4th February
1884.
HENRY JOHN LAWSON of Coventry in the County of Warwick Engineer
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
"
My invention is specially designed for the easy transport of Luggage parcels &
and gives increased firmness and safety in running with greater power by the
arrangement and combination of four wheels two of which are steering with direct
action and the most powerful form of double driving and back treadling. Several
other improvements are also made upon the forms of Tricycle now generally in use 1
to effect a more suitable arrangement for the purpose-the frame especially being
of novel design. From the main cranked axle the two principal bearings are
prolonged so as to form two arms The said arms are carried backwards through-
out the entire length of the body of machine and form the frame Upon these
sides or framing ride four rubber springs upon and against which rests the box 1
or receptacle for goods At the end of the two arms berein before-mentioned-is-
fixed the steering Forks heads & in the usual way and manner A cross Bar is
fixed near the said heads and acts as a stay The two steering wheels act together
by-means..of a..coupling rod. orrods The Box is so arranged that the bottom
part is smaller and can easily drop into frame without falling through owing to
top part being larger The box has four handles two upon each side to carry
it by One side of the Box is constructed open and let downwards The back
treadling is effected by means of a friction clutch the pressure upon which is
effected by means of a hand lever in such a manner that drawing it towards the
rider forces out the lower portion which rests on the cone The said lever is
attached to a small ring turning loose upon the crank shaft The entire lever and
ring move together when pressed backwards or forwards upon the axis or main
cranked shaft and at the same time is so fitted to the said ring that a movement at
right angles is possible also which applies the said pressure to friction cone
clutch When moved in the other direction by means of a connecting rod the
brake is applied.
-
-
And in order that my said invention may be clearly understood reference is
hereby made to the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is the main axle or crank B. B. the main driving wheels CCHH, the
Frame The main bearings are jointed in the usual manner at C. C.
E. E is a cross tube through which the main bar which carries the two Brakes is
inserted properly supported at each end by the usual form of Bearing and connected
to the handle in the manner usually adopted in Tricycles
At D the socket is situated which carries the upright for the saddle and seat
G is a strengthening stay
HH the socket at each end of Tube Frame in which the Forks turn These
Forks of course carry the steering wheels They are connected by a Cross Rod so
that the steering of each is simultaneous and combined
Figs. 2 and 3 show the action of Lever for Back treadling, the double driving
method being that commonly known as Rackets and pawls It is constructed of
steel or other suitable material The axis or bolt on which the handle swings
passes through a suitable aperture at A A A
The Bosses B. B. press against the Cone of an ordinary friction cone clutch
working in the side of one of the wheels at B. B.
The handle Fig. 3 when jointed to Fig. 2 by a bolt passing through A A A turns ¦

page_text: upon the main crank shaft which passed through at D Fig. 2 The Brake
connecting rod is attached below at C. Fig. 2.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The application to Tricycle of a Friction Cone Clutch worked by a handle
substantially as herein before described.
2. The combination with and application to Tricycles of such an aforesaid
arrangement together with the method of driving direct on the axis as heroin
before described
3. The application to and combination with Tricycles driven as herein before
described of a frame so constructed as to carry four wheels, two steering behind
to act together by means of a connecting rod substantially as herein before
described
In witness whereof I the said Henry John Lawson have hereunto set my hand
and seal this second-day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
H. J. LAWSON (L.S.)