IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Abraham Archer, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Brassfounder, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Abraham Archer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November 1881.
ABRAHAM ARCHER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Brassfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
My Invention has for its object to effect in a simple and inexpensive manner
the collapsing or reducing of the width of the tricycle or other velocipede for the
purpose of passing it through narrow doorways, for transit, for packing, and the
like; and this object I effect by constructing and arranging the parts of the
cranked axle and the framing of the tricycle or other velocipede in the manner
bereinafter described.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a tricycle.
I construct the cranked axle so that the cranked parts of it can be collapsed or
be made to approach each other, and I combine with the collapsible cranked axle
appliances preferably of the kind hereinafter described for firmly binding the parts
together when in use and for releasing them when required. The inner parts of
the cranks of the axle which are connected respectively to the two large travelling
wheels of the tricycle are jointed to a middle connecting bar, which when the axle
is in use forms a rigid continuation of the two cranks of the axle. One of the
cranks is jointed to the top and the other crank to the bottom of the said
connecting bar. The jointed end of each crank extends to nearly the middle of
the connecting bar. I will call these extended parts the heels of the jointed
cranks. When the several parts of the cranked axle are in their normal positions
the heels of the jointed cranks fold upon or lie against the middle connecting bar,
the extreme ends of the heels engaging with curved shoulders near the middle
of the connecting bar. The heels of the cranks and the middle connecting bar
upon which they fold are semi-circular in cross section, the flat faces of the parts
when closed abutting against one another, the abutting parts forming together a

page_text: cylindrical rod or continuation of the cranked parts of the axle. The heels of the
jointed cranks and the connecting bar are locked together by means of sliding
collars at the middle of the connecting bar. These collars are moved simul-
taneously in opposite directions so as to cause them to pass over or retire from the
extreme ends of the heels of the cranks by means of side levers, pins on the said
collars working in cam or eccentric slots in each lever.
When the levers are moved so as to place them in a line with the connecting
bar the jointed cranks are locked firmly to the connecting bar and a rigid cranked
axle resembling the ordinary cranked axle is produced. When the levers are
moved so as to place them at right angles to the connecting-bar the locking collars
are withdrawn from the heels of the jointed cranks, and the latter may turn on
their joints and be moved in opposite directions so as to bring the said cranks
opposite one another, thereby collapsing the cranked axle to about one half its
normal width.
The framing of the tricycle is constructed as follows:-
The front ends of the side beams of the framing support the forks between which
the principal travelling wheels work and the rear ends of the side beams are
jointed to a fork in which the small rear wheel works.
Jointed to the beams described are two cross bars carrying the seat of the rider.
The inner ends of these seat bars overlap and are furnished with coincident slots,
through which a strong screw pin is passed on the summit of which the seat is
fixed. By sliding the overlapping ends of the seat bars from or towards one
another they move upon the screw pin and the beams of the framing to which the
said seat bars are respectively jointed are brought nearer to or separated from one
another. By means of a locking screw nut on the screw described moved by a
hand lever the overlapping ends of the seat bars can be bound firmly together so
as to fix the framing in its open position for use and also fix the position of the
seat. When it is desired to collapse or reduce the width of the tricycle the ends
of the cross seat bars are unfastened so as to permit them to slide upon one
another, and the parts of the cranked axle are also unfastened by the appliances
before described when the two beams of the framing may be made to approach
each other and the cranked axle at the same time made to take its folded or
collapsed position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Abraham Archer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th April 1882.
ABRAHAM ARCHER, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Brassfounder.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
My Invention has for its object to effect in a simple and inexpensive manner
the collapsing or reducing of the width of the tricycle or other velocipede for the
purpose of passing it through narrow door-ways for transit, for packing and the
like; and this object I effect by constructing and arranging the parts of the cranked
axle and the framing of the tricycle or other velocipede in the manner herein
after described.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a tricycle.
I construct the cranked axle so that the cranked parts of it can be collapsed or
be made to approach each other, and I combine with the collapsible cranked axle
appliances preferably of the kind herein after described for firmly binding the
parts together when in use and for releasing them when required.
The inner parts of the cranks of the axle which are connected respectively to
the two large travelling wheels of the tricycle, are jointed to a middle connecting
bar, which when the axle is in use forms a rigid continuation of the two cranks
of the axle. One of the cranks is jointed to the top and the other crank to the
bottom of the said connecting bar. The jointed end of each crank extends to
nearly the middle of the connecting bar. I will call these extended parts the heels
of the jointed cranks. When the several parts of the cranked axle are in their
normal positions the heels of the jointed cranks fold open or lie against the
middle connecting bar, the extreme ends of the heels engaging with curved
shoulders near the middle of the connecting bar. The heels of the cranks and the
middle connecting bar upon which they fold are semi-circular in cross section, the
flat faces of the parts when closed abutting against one another, the abutting parts
forming together a cylindrical rod or continuation of the cranked parts of the
axle. The heels of the jointed cranks and the connecting bar are locked together
by means of sliding collars at the middle of the connecting bar.
These collars are moved simultaneously in opposite directions so as to cause
them to pass over or retire from the extreme ends of the heels of the cranks by
means of side levers, pins on the said collars working in cam or excentric slots in
cach lever.
When the levers are moved so as to place them in a line with the connecting
bar the jointed cranks are locked firmly to the connecting bar and a rigid cranked
axle resembling the ordinary cranked axle is produced. When the levers are moved
so as to place them at right angles to the connecting bar the locking collars are
withdrawn from the heels of the jointed cranks, and the latter may turn on their
joints and be moved in opposite directions so as to bring the said cranks opposite
one another, thereby collapsing the cranked axle to about one half its normal
width.
The framing of the tricycle is constructed as follows:-
The front ends of the side beams of the framing support the forks between which
the principal travelling wheels work, and the rear ends of the side beams are
jointed to a fork in which the small rear wheel works.

page_text: Jointed to the beams described are two cross bars carrying the seat for the
rider. The inner ends of these seat bars overlap and are furnished with coincident
slots through which a strong screw pin is passed on the summit of which the seat
is fixed.
By sliding the overlapping ends of the seat bars from or towards one another,
they move upon the screw pin, and the beams of the framing to which the said
seat bars are respectively jointed are brought nearer to or separated from one
another. By means of a locking screw nut on the screw described moved by a
hand lever the overlapping ends of the seat bars can be bound firmly together so
as to fix the framing in its open position for use and also fix the position of the
seat.
When it is desired to collapse or reduce the width of the tricycle the ends of the
cross seat bars are unfastened so as to permit them to slide upon one another,
and the parts of the cranked axle are also unfastened by the appliances before
described, when the two beams of the framing may be made to approach each
other and the cranked axle at the same time made to take its folded or collapsed
position.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figures 1 and 2 represent plans of a tricycle constructed according to my
Invention, Figure 1 exhibiting the tricycle in its expanded or normal state ready
for use; and Figure 2 exhibiting the tricycle in its folded or collapsed state for
-passing-it-through-narrow-door-ways-for-transit,-for-packing,-and-the-like;
Figure 3 represents a side elevation of the tricycle. The other Figures represent
parts and details of my Invention, as herein after explained.
The same letters indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
Drawings.
I will first describe the construction of the cranked axle. a, a, b, b, are the
inner parts of the cranked axle carrying the pedals c, c, the said inner parts a, a,
b, b, being connected in the manner herein after described to the framing of the
tricycle. The said inner parts of the cranks are jointed at e, e, to the middle
connecting one of the cranks being jointed to the top and the other crank to the
bottom of the connecting bar, as best seen in the separate views of the said cranks
in Figures 4 and 5.
The jointed ends of the cranks a, a, b, b, are furnished with heel parts marked
respectively a and b², the said heels a³, 62, extending to nearly the middle of the
connecting bar f. When the several parts of the cranked axle are in the positions
represented in Figures 1, 4, and 5, the heels a², 63, of the jointed crauks a, b, fold
upon or lie against the middle connecting bar f, the extreme ends of the heels
engaging with curved shoulders near the middle of the connecting bar j. The
heels a, b, and the connecting bar fare semi-circular in cross section, the flat faces
of the parts when closed abutting against one another, the abutting parts forming
together a cylindrical rod or continuation of the cranked parts a, b, of the axle ;
g, g, are the sliding collars at the middle of the connecting bar f by which the
heels a, b, of the cranks and the connecting bar fare locked together. The collars
are moved simultaneously in opposite directions so as to cause them to pass over or
retire from the extreme ends of the heels a, b, of the cranks by the side levers h, h,
turning on the pius or centres i, i. These side levers are situated on opposite
sides of the jointed parts of the cranks (see Figures 4 and 5). The enlarged
jointed end of each side lever is furnished with excentric or cam slots k, k. On
the upper and lower face of each sliding collar g is a pin l. The two pins of each
collar engage with the two opposite cam slots k, k, in the side levers h, h. The
result of this arrangement is that when the side levers l, l, are simultaneously
turned from off the heels a², 6, into the positions represented in Figure 2 the
locking collars g, g, are moved in opposite directions, and are withdrawn from the
said heels, which are thus released. The jointed cranks way now be turned on

page_text: their joints at e, e, so as to make the parts a, b, of the cranks approach each other,
as seen in Figure 2. The cranked axle is in this way collapsed to nearly half its
normal width.
When the tricycle has been expanded for use the heels a, b, lie upon and bear
against the middle connecting bar f, and by moving the side or fastening levers h, h,
so as to place them in a line with the connecting bar f, as seen in Figure 1, the
sliding collars g, g, pass over the extreme ends of the said heels a, b, and thereby
lock the jointed cranks firmly to the connecting bar, thus forming a rigid cranked
axle, as seen in Figure 1; m, n, are the side beams of the framing, the rear ends
of the beams being jointed to the fork p, in which the small rear wheel p² works.
The construction of the rear joint of the side beans m, n, will be best understood
by an examination of the elevation, Figure 7, and the section, Figure 8. The end
of the beam m is furnished with a conical socket m², and the end of the beam n
is furnished with a hollow conical stem or smaller socket n which works in the
conical socket m³ of the other beam m, as seen in the section, Figure 8. By this
construction the two beams m, n, are capable of a limited rotatory motion upon
one another, the joint formed being very strong and steady. Through the inner
socket or plug n the rod p³ passes, which rod is connected with the fork p of the
rear wheel p. To the top of the rod p³ the arm p₁ connected with the steering
apparatus is secured by the screw nut represented. Jointed at q, q², to the
beams m, n, are two cross bars q, q, (shown separately in cross section in Figure 6)
carrying the seat q³ for the rider. The bars q, q. have coincident slots, and their
inner ends overlap a block on the inner end of each bar working in the slot in
the other bar. The seat q³ is supported upon the strong screw pin q which passes
through the coincident slots in the sliding bars q, q. On the screw pin q* and on
the upper face of the bars q, q, is a screw nut q, and working on the said screw
pin g, and below the bars q, q, is a locking screw nut moved by the hand lever q;
by sliding the overlapping ends of the seat bars q, q, from or towards one another
they move upon the screw pin qt, and the beams m, n, of the framing, to which the
said bars are respectively jointed, are brought nearer to one another, as represented
in Figure 2, or separated from one another, as represented in Figure 1. When it
is wished to fix the framing in its expanded position, Figure 1, for use, the lock
nut on the hand lever 2 is driven home. The seat bars q, q, are thereby bound
firmly between the said lock nut and the screw nut q, as seen in Figure 6. The
height of the seat q³ may be adjusted by means of the screw pin q* and the lock
nut of the hand lever 96 and screw nut q.
The collapsible or folding cranks are jointed to the folding beams m, n, and the
travelling wheels d, d, made capable of being brought parallel to one another after
the tricycle has been folded or collapsed by the arrangements of parts best seen in
Figures 3, 9, 10, and 11. On the end of the axle of each of the wheels d, d, is a
collar d having on its upper side a conical peg or joint ³, which is capable of
turning in the conical socket d made on the end of the beam of the framing. This
collar d' carries a connecting rod d³, which descends and is secured to the rod or
joint piece do, which is capable of turning in the lower end of the hollow beam of
the framing. In the top of the rod or joint piece do is an annular groove, into
which the end of the inclined screw pin di takes, the said screw pin passing
through a screwed boss in the lower part of the beam m. By adjusting the screw
pin d the rod or joint piece may be raised or lowered in the hollow beam m.
By this means the position of the rod or joint piece de may be accurately adjusted
and wear compensated for. The said rod or joint piece de supports the jointed half
of the cranked axle. By this arrangement the jointed halves of the cranked axle
are capable of turning upon the beams of the framing when the cranks are
collapsed or restored to their normal positions, and the wheels d, d, are capable of
motion independently of the framing for the purpose of placing them parallel to
one another after the tricycle has been collapsed. In Figure 3 and in the separate
vertical section, Figure 9, and the horizontal section, Figure 10, the axle of the

page_text: wheel d and parts connected with it are represented in their normal positions. In
the horizontal section, Figure 11, the axle of the wheel is represented inclined to
the other parts, the said wheel taking this position during the collapsing of the
tricycle. By turning the wheel upon its plug or long joint pin d it may be placed
in the position Figures 9 and 10 without acting upon the framing. In this way
the two wheels d, d, may be brought parallel from their inclined or divergent
position after the tricycle has been collapsed for the travelling of the tricycle. The
parts are locked and unlocked by the locking handle r. This handle works in
bearings at carried by the beam.
The locking handle has at its end a short arm or catch, which takes into a
recess in the socket d' and peg or joint pin d³ (see Figures 9 and 10). When this
short arm or catch is in its locking position, Figures 9 and 10, the axle of the
wheel d and the cranks are rigidly connected to the framing, but when the
locking handle is turned through a quadrant, so as to withdraw the arm or catch r³
out of the slot in the socket d and peg or joint pin ³ the parts are released and
may turn upon their joints.
The locking handles r at each side of the tricycle are also used for collapsing
and expanding the tricycle.
The parts of the tricycle being in the positions represented in Figure 1 the said
tricycle is ready for use.
}
In order to collapse the t.... it is necessary to unfasten the overlapping
bars q, q, by turning the binding lever handle q into the position represented in
Figure 2. The locking handles r,, are also turned, so as to withdraw their arms
or catches from the slots in the parts d³, d, and the sliding collars g, g, of the
jointed cranks are withdrawn by turning the levers h, h, from off the heels of the
said cranks. By now gripping the handles r, r, and pressing them towards one
another the tricycle takes the collapsed position represented in Figure 2, that is to
say, the jointed cranks turn on their joints and move in opposite directions, so as
to approach one another, the said cranks turning on their joints at dº. The
beams m, n, approach one another, turning on their rear joint, and the overlapping
parts of the bars q, q, slide on one another, so as virtually to shorten them. When
the tricycle has been collapsed as described the travelling wheels d, d, are inclined
to one another, but by means of the joint pins and sockets d' the said wheels
may be brought parallel to one another, as represented in Figure 2, and fixed in
that position by the binding handle 96, so that the tricycle in its collapsed state
may travel upon its wheels d, d, with the same facility as when the parts are in
their normal positions.
The improvements described are applicable to velocipedes having more than
three wheels.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention
of "Improvements in Tricycles and other Velocipedes,"
First. Constructing the cranked axles of tricycles and other velocipedes in the
manner herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
whereby the cranks can be collapsed or be made to approach each other, for the
purpose and substantially as described and illustrated; also the construction and
combination of parts described and illustrated for locking and unlocking the
jointed parts of the cranked axle.
Secondly. The arrangements or combinations of parts, herein before described
and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for jointing the parts of the
cranked axle to the beams of the framing, and for jointing the axles of the
travelling or driving wheels to the beams of the framing, for the purposes and
substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The arrangement or combination of parts, herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, for bracing together the beams of the
framing.

page_text: Lastly. The arrangement or combination of the parts, described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawings, of the rear joint of the beams of the framing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Abraham Archer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
37, Temple St.,
Birmingham.
ABRAHAM ARCHER. (L.S.)