IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph White at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th April 1882.
JOSEPH WHITE of Coventry in the County of Warwick, Manager of Bicycle
Works "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
The chief object of this invention is so to construct sociable tricycles in which
two persons ride abreast of each other, that the pedalling may be effected by one
or both of the riders without producing a jibbing action, the effect of which is
frequently to wrench off the elastic tyres.
In order to enable the riders to pedal independently the one of the other, and
yet to ensure a smooth running of the vehicle, I divide the pedal shaft into two parts
and connect one part by an endless chain or gearing with any suitable arrange-
ment of differential gear in connection with the axle of the travelling wheels. The
two parts of the pedal shaft I couple together by a Cheylesmore clutch, or its
equivalent, which will slip when the half of the pedal shaft that connects with the
differential gear is driven at a greater speed than the other half of the pedal shaft.
When however this unconnected half of the pedal shaft is driven at a speed
superior to that which has been acting as the driver, the pedalling of both riders
will be used for driving the vehicle.
Or in place of coupling up the two halves of the pedal shaft by a slip clutch, or
its equivalent, they may run independently and each drive chain wheels in
connection with the travelling wheels. In this case also differential gear will be
used, and the second chain wheel or pinion on the hub of one of the travelling
wheels will be provided with a slip clutch to allow for driving by one rider only.
The differential gear should be furnished with a friction surface for receiving a
brake band for arresting the progress of the vehicle. A front steering wheel may
be adapted to the vehicle if thought desirable. The above described arrangement
is equally applicable to tricycles for one rider, but in this case the crank shaft will
not be divided.

page_text: The invention relates also to a novel construction of pedal to be used in bicycles
and tricycles. Heretoforo pedals have been formed with roughened metallic
surfaces on one side, and india-rubber pads or cushions on the other, but difficulties
have been found in fitting the cushions so that they might be applied with facility,
and when worn removed and replaced by the rider of the velocipede. The treadlo
I now form with two hollow ribs which are secured at their ends to trausverse
plates that carry ball bearing sockets. Theso hollow ribs have dovetailed recesses
for the reception of the iudin-rubber pads or cushions, which pads take the form in
cross section of an arch with flanged feet. By compressing the pad laterally it
admits of being sprung into its seat when it will be held firmly by the elasticity
of the rubber but will admit of being readily torn out when it is required to
remove it for replacement by a new one. On the reverse side of the rib to that
which carries the pad, is a serrated edge which is forined in one piece with the rib.
The end plates fit against collars on the crank axle, which collars gauge tho
length of the pedal ribs, and the ball sockets in the end plates are closed by
divided bearing rings which are screwed into place when the pedal has been fitted
to the crank shaft. This arrangement provides for the placing of the pedals on the
crank shaft without necessitating the dividing of the end plates which has hitherto
been considered requisite to enable them to pass the angles of the cranks.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph White in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 14th October
1882.
JOSEPH WHITE of Coventry in the County of Warwick Manager of Bicycle
Works "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
נן
The chief object of this Invention is so to construct Sociable Tricycles in which
two persons ride abreast of each other that the pedalling may be effected by one or
both of the riders without producing a jerking action the effect of which is
frequently to wrench off the elastic tyres.
In order to enable the riders to pedal independently the one of the other and
yet to ensure a smooth running of the vehicle I divide the pedal shaft into two
parts and connect one part by an endless chain or gearing with any suitable
arrangement of differential gear in connection with the axle of the travelling
wheels.
The other part of the pedal shaft I connect, through a chain wheel (provided
with a slip clutch) with a chain wheel on the axle of the travelling wheels.-This
arrangement provides for both travelling wheels being driven from one portion of
the crank shaft and for one travelling wheel only being driven from the other
portion of the crank shaft.
In the accompanying drawings Fig: 1 Sheet I shows in sido elevation a tricycle
for two riders arranged according to this invention and Fig: 2 Sheet II is a plan
view of the same The machine in its general charactoristics is similar to those in
common use and will require no detailed description of its main parts. It will
suffice to state that A is a travelling wheel shaft carrying a wheel B which is loose
thereon, and a wheel B* which is keyed thereto C is the framing of the machine
and D D* the divided crank axle. E is the steering wheel situated in the front of
the machine, and it is actuated by the rider who is seated on the left side of the
machine and whose duty it is to work the differential gear. This gear may be of
any approved construction but that which the drawings illustrate at F is the well
known "Starley Balance gear" consisting of a pair of bevil wheels 1, 2 into which
gears a bevil pinion 3 carried by a radial arm of a chain pulley +, the bevil wheel 1
being keyed to the axle A and the bevil wheel 2 to the boss of the loose travelling
wheel. A chain wheel d on the crank axle D transmits motion through a chain d¹
to the chain wheel 4 of the differential gear, and this rotary motion is communi-
cated from the crank shaft D to both the travelling wheels.
"
d is a chain wheel on the crank shaft D and connected thereto by a
Cheylesmore" or slip clutch such as that illustrated in Sheet VI of the
drawings. A chain from this wheel passes over a chain wheel a keyed on the
axle A and serves to transmit motion thereto.-When however tho axle A receives
motion from the crank shaft D⚫ the travelling wheel B will not be driven unless
at the same time the crank axle D is being actuated. When however the two
crank axles D and D are both being driven at equal speeds they will contribute
equally to the progress of the vehicle-If however the driving of the axle D* is
less efficient or ceases altogether, the work of the rider who actuates the differential
gear will be applied through that gear indifferently to both travelling wheels.-
This result will continue so long as the vehicle is moving forward in a direct line
but so soon as tho steering gear is put in an action one of the travelling wheels
will become a pivot wheel and the other will remain the driven wheel until the
progress of the vehicle is resumed when both wheels will travel as before at equal
speeds. The advantage of this arrangement is that a lady riding in the vehicle

page_text: anny assist in driving it or cease to drive it from time to time at her pleasure
without interfering materially with the progress of the vehicle. Or two persons of
equal strength and practised skill may work the vehicle together either continuously
or at the more difficult portions of the road only, according to their pleasure; the
introduction of the slip clutch providing for the rider on the right hand or off side
of the machine working or not at his pleasure. The differential gear it will be
seen is furnished with a friction surface for receiving a brako band for arresting
the progress of the vehicle.
A modification of the arrangement is shown in the plan view at Fig. 3 Shoet III
where the differential gear is situate midway between the travelling wheels.-In
this example the chain wheel 4 is made broad enough to receive two endless chains
the one from the chain wheel d of the crank shaft D, and the other from the
chain wheel d* of the crank shaft D, which as before is fitted with a "Cheylesinore
or other slip clutch to permit of the differential gear being driven by the crank
shaft D only when desired.
"
Fig: 4 Sheet IV shows in plan view another modification of the double tricycle
in which the parts D D of the crank shaft are coupled together so as to provido
for the driving of both travelling wheels by means of one chain or it may be
train of gearing-G is a 'Cheyleamore" clutch which connects the parts of the
divided crank shaft together.
The clutch will slip when the part D of the pedal shaft that connects with the
differential gear F is driven at a greater speed than the other half D° of the pedal
shaft. When however the part D of the pedal shaft is driven at a speed slightly
superior to that which has been acting as the driver the pedalling of both riders
will be used for driving the vehicle.
In other respects this arrangement is similar to that first described, it has
however this advantage and that in common with the arrangement shewn in
Fig: 3 vist that the vehicle may be driven from either half of the pedal shaft.
In constructing single tricycles I propose in order to avoid danger consequent
on the driving of the pedal shaft by the over-running of the vehicle to fit the
crank shaft which in this case is undivided, with a Cheylesinore clutch chain wheel
or its equivalent for transmitting motion to the differential gear-This arrangement
is shewn in side elevation and plan view at Figures 5 and 6 Sheet IV where Fis
the differential gear and G is tho chain which is mounted on the crank shaft D.
Figures 7 and 8 Sheet VI shew this chain wheel and clutch on an enlarged scale in
connection with Starley's differential gear; Fig: 7 being a side elevation and Fig: 8
a transverse sectional elevation taken in two planes as indicated by the dotted lines
in Fig: 7. When the driving motion of the crank shaft is transmitted to the
axle A of the travelling wheels through this chain wheel clutch or its equivelent
it will be understood that on the dress of a rider being caught by the crank shaft
any impetus which the vehicle may possess will have no effect in carrying round
the crank shaft as the chain wheel on that shaft will slip on the riders ceasing to
work the pedal shaft and thus all risk of injury to the rider which would otherwise
be considerable will be avoided.
The Invention relates lastly to a novol construction of pedal to be used in
bicycles and tricycles. Heretofore pedals have been formed with roughened
metallic surfaces on one side and india rubber pads or cushions on the other but
difficulties have been found in fitting the cushions so that they might be applied
with facility, and when worn removed and replaced by the rider of the velocipede.
To remove these difficulties I now construct the pedal as shown in plan viow
and in cross section at Figures 9 and 10 Sheet VII-In these figures a a are two
hollow ribs secured at their ends by nuts to transverse plates bb that carry ball
bearing sockets. These hollow ribs have dovetailed recesses for the reception of
india rubber pads or cushions c, c which pads take the form in cross section of tin
arch with flanged feet. By compressing the pad laterally it admits of being sprung
into its seat or it may be more conveniently inserted endwise, on one of the end
plates b being removed for that purpose.-When the pads are thus inserted in

page_text: place they will be held firmly by the elasticity of the rubber but they will admit
of being readily removed for replacement by new pads.-On the reverse side of
the rib to that which carries the pad is a serrated edge a* which is formed in one
piece with the rib a.-The end plates b fit against collars on the crank axle, which
collars gauge the length of the pedal ribs and the ball sockets in the end plates are
closed by divided bearing rings which are screwed into place when the pedal has
been fitted to the crank shaft. This arrangement provides for the placing of the
pedals on the crank shaft without necessitating the dividing of the end plates a
contrivance formerly considered requisite to enable them to pass the angles of the
cranks.
Having now set forth. the nature of my invention of "Improvements in
Velocipedes" and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect I wish it
to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim :-
First: In sociable or double tricycles in which the two travelling wheels are
driven independently the combination of a divided crank shaft an arrangement of
differential gear and a driving wheel connected to its shaft by a slip clutch as and
for the purpose described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the drawings.
Secondly In a single tricycle in which differential gear is employed the use of
a slip clutch driver or its equivalent as described with reference to Figures 5 and 6
of the drawings for the purpose above set forth.
Thirdly The construction of pedal as described with reference to Figures 9 and
10 of the drawings whereby the facile replacement of the pads is effected.
In witness whereof I the said Joseph White have hereunto set my hand and
seal the Eleventh day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.