AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE
Year: 1884

page_text: We, ARTHUR CHARLES HENDERSON, of 38, Blenheim Crescent, Notting Hill, in
the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, and FREDERICK
NESFIELD COOKSON, of Eva Villa, Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton in the County
of Staffordshire, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE" and in what manner the same is to be performed
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"t
The object of our invention is to reduce the width of the ordinary tricycle, by
bringing the drivers closer together, and placing the rider directly over them, thus
giving him the position of a bicycle rider, with all the advantage of direct driving,
and. constituting what is known as a double driver. We likewise dispense with
the usual tricycle gear, such as wheels and chains, avoiding the accompanying
friction and wear and tear; at the same time, we retain the non-liability to
capsize, characteristic of this type of machine.
In carrying out our invention, we bring the two drivers close together, embracing
them by a fork, like that of the ordinary bicycle, but with its legs somewhat wider
apart. The top of the fork is joined to the usual head, from which springs the
back bone, carrying the saddle and terminating in the trailing wheel.
The bearings we use by preference in the construction of our tricycle, and the
method of attaching the same to the ends of the fork, are those already described
in the Specification and drawings filed in connection with Letters Patent N° 12449
of 1884.
The above approximation of the two drivers, and embracing them within an
expanded fork, has been done, but not without rendering the machine quite useless
for all practical riding. The rider could proceed straight ahead, with ease, but so
soon as he attempted to turn a corner, his machine would capsize.
We remedy this defect by cutting the axle through at its centre, and interposing
two conical springs, such as are used with the draw bars of railway rolling stock.
The larger ends of the springs are brought together and interspaced, the coil of
one within or over the corresponding coil of the other, and rivetted together, the
Or the two
smaller ends being firmly attached to the inner ends of the axle arms.
springs may be made in one, to avoid joining them.
In order that the nature of our invention, and the way in which it may be put
into successful operation, may be thoroughly understood, we will describe the same,

page_text: reference being made to the accompanying drawings, which are to be taken as part
of this specification and read therewith, and in which, corresponding parts are
marked throughout the figures in which they occur, with the same. reference letter.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, Figure 2 a side elevation, and Figure 8 a sectional
elevation, through the axle of the drivers of our improved tricycle.
A, A, are the drivers, embraced by the fork B. 0, 0, are the bearings, preferably
made as described in our specification referred to above, N° 12449 of 1884.
D, D, are the arms of the divided axle. E is the double conical spring. The
junction, F, is shewn as made by rivetting the largest coil of one spring to the
corresponding coil of the other. The smaller ends e, e, of the spring are connected
to the respective inner ends d d of the two arms, by collars ƒƒ. The compound
axle, produced in this way, is ns rigid as necessary, while it possesses at the saine
time degree of flexibility sufficient for the purposes of our invention. Any
tendency to capsize, when turning corners, is entirely overcome by our improved
flexible axle, as the compensating capacity of the double cone spring permits of
the differential rotation of the two drivers, without the stability of the machine
being jeopardised, and also tends to provent any jar being communicated to the
rider.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is-
In the double driver tricycle herein before before discribed, the use of a double
cone spring made in one or two parts, to connect the inner ends of a
divided axle substantially as described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.