Improvements in Tricycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL DIUITIATION.
Improvements in Tricycles.
HENRY CURWEN 32 Sidney Grove Newcastle-on-Tyne Northumberland
Fentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My invention relates to improvements in tricycles whereby the special advantages
f a bicycle without any of its disadvantages are obtained principle
unge."
narrow
Up to the present no tricycle has been constructed before my invention, on the
arrow guage principle, that is to say with a less space between the two side
wheels than fourteen inches from tyre to tyre, measuring to touching point inside
im to rim, nor until my invention with either fixed or moveable adjustible wheels
that is, when the two side wheels will fix or slide on the axle bar or tube on either
side of centre gear wheel, nearer, or farther apart, & key or screw at any point on
the axle-say from two to fourteen inches as may be desired by the rider, or if
preferred, where the connecting axle is dispensed with altogether & the said two
side wheels made to run on their own separate bearings & between their own
separate forks, the gear wheel being attached to one of them as in the case of a
bicycle, this arrangement is so simple that an ordinary bicycle by adding an
additional wheel back or front can be converted into my invention with expedition
& at very little extra cost. This idea of two side wheels running abreast & but a
few inches apart immediately under the seat of the rider is novel & has many
advantages over anything else yet tried.
Points of advantage. In an ordinary tricycle the rider sits between the two
side wheels so that his weight comes upon the axle bar whereas in my invention he
sits immediately above the two side wheels & consequently his weight comes direct
upon the bearings, thus releiving the adverse pressure & imparting ease to the
motion of the machine, & as compared with a bicycle the back weight is evenly
balanced on the said two side wheels instead of all coming upon the one, thus
saving 50% wear & tear on the tyres.
Again in the case of ordinary tricycles the guage of the wheels being wide
makes them unsuited to the turnpike road, the motion being jerky, & the work
very hard; whereas by my invention you can propel easily, take a narrow path or
ordinary cart track & follow in the wake of a bicycle without difficulty & as to
portability, a tricycle constructed in accordance with my invention will occupy but
very little space & being narrow guage can be taken through any ordinary garden
gate, door or passage-way where a bicycle can go.
Another very important advantage my invention will have over a bicycle is this
that the rider can mount & dismount whilst the machine is stationery, & converse
and rest at will without getting off or the machine being in motion & without fear
of its toppling over, this will prove a great boon to all, but especially to lady riders
& lastly the triangular space between the two side wheels & immediately beneath
the seat of the rider will accommodate a case or receptacle for the storage of
electricity, oil springs or gas, or other motive power which may come into use
hereafter & will therefore meet a long felt want.
shi. Tmonto first day of September 1895.

page_text: Improvements in Tricycles.
I, HENRY CURWEN of 32 Sidney Grove, Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the County of
Northumberland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
This invention relates to improvements in tricycles by which the special
advantages of a bicycle are obtained together with those more particularly found
in a tricycle.
This invention consists broadly in constructing a tricycle so that the rear wheels
are brought together beneath the riders seat to such distance that in steering the
tricycle the action is similar to that of a bicycle, namely such distance as is herein-
after more particularly described, such tricycle being intended to run in this form
which I have termed " narrow gauge."
"
Amongst the advantages obtained by a construction of this nature are the
following:-
The gear wheels by which the rear wheels are driven by chain or the like from
the pedal crank shaft can be placed in the centre plane of the tricycle so that the
chain may act in the centre of propulsion.
The improved tricycle will pass through any ordinary doorway or the like and
can be ridden along narrow strips of roadway in the same manner and with the
same advantages as a bicycle.
Having improved grip of the road surface owing to the duplication of the driving
wheel, it is an excellent hill climber, not liable to side slipping, and speedy.
The weight of the rider mainly carried by the rear wheel of a bicycle, is here
when the tricycle is moving in a straight line or nearly so equally distributed on
the two rear wheels, thus halving the weight to be carried by each tire, reducing
liability to puncture, and wear of the tires, while avoiding the strain on the axle of
rear wheels of a cycle in which the wheels are widely separated.
The improved tricycle will stand of itself and can be mounted and dismounted
while at rest. While at rest the rider need not dismount.
The space between the rear wheels is suitable for storage of luggage, or of electric
spring, oil, gas, or other motive appliances that may be fitted to such vehicles, or
of rifles, ammunition, and the like for military or other purposes.
I have found by practice that the distance required to enable the tricycle to
steer like a bicycle is from 1 to 5 inches between the hubs of the wheels and such
wheels may be fixed or adjustable, but preferably they are adjustable in order that
between certain limits each rider may suit the distance to his fancy and also in case
of puncture of the pneumatic tire of one of the wheels the other may be brought
sufficiently near to the centre gear wheel to enable the machine to be ridden as a
bicycle until it is convenient to repair the punctured tire.
An axle with its bearing boxes, wheel hubs and centre gear wheel are shown in
the annexed drawing in plan, partly in section.
G is an axle carrying at the centre an enlarged part G' and to one side of the
latter a flange G. The axle is screw threaded throughout its length, the threads
on one side of the parts G' G' being contrary in direction to those on the other
side. On part G₁ is screwed the gear wheel D, and E is a nut for securing said
gear wheel thereon. B B are wheel hubs screwed respectively on the two ends of
shaft G, or keyed or otherwise fastened thereon, and CC are split nuts or screw
clips for securing the hubs B B in the position given to them. AA are ball or
other bearings for attachment to the cycle frame:
I do not confine myself to the specific construction of the parts or of the whole

page_text: here shown as it is obvious that the invention may be carried out in various ways
without departing from its spirit and without need of special instructions, but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
claim is :-
1. A tricycle having the rear wheels approached to within such distance of each
other not exceeding five inches, that it may be operated and steered with the
advantages and in the manner herein set forth.
2. A tricycle having a rear axle, a central gear wheel for driving same, and two
wheels on said rear axle adjustable severally and equally up to the said central gear
wheel or near the same for the purpose set forth.
3. The improved "narrow gauge" tricycle constructed as described.
CM 1806
Dated to
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18 Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for Applicant.