A Method of Construction of Bicycles and Tricycles, Driving Wheels.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd July, 1886.
Complete Left, 23rd Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 24th May, 1887
A Method of Construction of Bicycles and Tricycles, by which both
the Wheels of a Bicycle, and the Third Wheel, being either in
Front or at Rear, of a Tricycle, are used as Driving Wheels.
I, THOMAS WILLIAM ROBINSON of Lansdown Terrace Stoney Stanton Road in the
City Coventry in the County of Warwick, Trimming Manufacturer do heroby
declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
1. In making the bicycle both the wheels are by preference of the same diameter (this
is not absolutely necessary as wheels differing in size may be used if desired) and each
wheel is fitted into a fork in any of the usual ways, the axle carrying a chain wheel as
well as the wheel itself.
The two forks are placed horizontally or nearly so, and come together in the centre
of the machine where one of them, the front one, firmly secured to the steering rod
which is vertical, and the other fork has joints or hinges attached to it, which work
upon the steering rod as a central pin, thus enabling the machine to bend laterally.
2. Each of the two forks has on one of its lower sides a bearing or bearings which
are carried low enough to receive the pedal shaft, and in fixing these bearings the
centres of both of them are brought directly into a horizontal right line exactly under
the centre of the steering rod.
3. The pedal shaft is in two parts, connected with each other by a universal joint in
the centro so that as the machine bends on the steering rod as a centre, the pedal
shaft will also bend on its universal joint which is exactly under the centre of the
steering rod.
4. Each half of the pedal shaft carries a chain wheel and a crank and pedal.
5. Thus each of the two horizontal forks carries a bearing or bearings and a chain
wheel fixed on half the pedal shaft, and each of these chain wheels has a chain which
drives the wheel contained in the fork to which it is itself attached.
In driving the third wheel of a tricycle (whether in front or at rear) the same
arrangement of a jointed pedal shaft and vertical steering rod is used, the second chain
passing to the third wheel.
DL: 00. 1 1
T1 1000

page_text: A Method of Construction of Bicycles and Tricycles, by which both
the Wheels of a Bicycle, and the Third Wheel, being either in
Front or at Rear, of a Tricycle, are used as Driving Wheels.
I THOMAS WILLIAM ROBINSON of 7 Jordan Well, Coventry, 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 a method of constructing Bicycles and Tricycles, by which
both wheels of a Bicycle, and the three wheels of a Tricyclo, aro converted into driving
whools.
The two wheels of a Bicycle I make preferably of the same diameter, and I mount
each wheel in a forked frame, joining these frames together at two points by a pivot
rod situate in or about the centre of the machine.
The pedal axle is composed of two parts connected together in such manner as to
ensure the simultaneous rotation of the two parts, and yet permitting of the parts
moving out of line the one with the other.
The two parts of this divided or compound axlo are carried by bearings attached
respectively to the front, and back frames of the Bicycle.
By means of chains and chain wheels, rotary motion is transmitted to both wheels of
the machine, which is capable of being steered without slackening the driving chain of
either wheel.
In applying the invention to a Tricycle, the travelling wheel axle, fitted with two
wheels, as usual, will carry an arrangement of balance gear, which will transmit an
independent motion to the two wheels, it being itself actuated from a chain wheel on the
pedal shaft as usual.
In this case, as in the Bicycle, the chain for driving the front wheel or wheels will
the gear with the chain wheel on, say, the right hand half.of the jointed pedal axle, while
back wheel or wheels will be driven from a chain wheel on the other half of the jointed
pedal axle.
In the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated my invention as applied to a
Bicycle only, but it will be readily understood how the invention may be adapted to a
Tricycle, whether the steering. wheel be a front or a rear wheel.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a Bicycle constructed according to my invention, the
travelling wheels being of equal diameter.
Fig. 2 is a diagram plan showing the travelling wheels in line; and
Fig. 3 is a similar plan showing the position which the wheels, and the parts in
connection therewith, will assume, when the machine being steered round a curve to
the right.
Fig. 4 shows, on an enlarged scale, the joint which connects the two frames of the
machine together; also the jointed. or compound pedal axle mounted in its bearings
carried by the coupled frames.

page_text: A and B are the front and back travelling wheels mounted loosely on axles fitted
respectively to the frames A' and B¹.
Cis a pivot rod which passes through lugs formed on the inner ends on the frames, and
serves to couple them together. D D is the compound pedal axle composed of two
parts connected together by a so called "universal joint," which lies immediately under,
or in the plane of the axis of, the pivot rod C. One portion of this pedal axle turns in
bracket bearings A' attached to the frame A¹, and the other in bracket bearings B³
attached to the frame B¹.
These bearings, it will be seen by reference to Fig. 4, are situate, the one pair, B³,
on the right hand side of the frame B₁, and the other pair, A2, on the left hand side
of the frame A', as viewed from that Figure. Each half of the pedal axlo is fitted with
a chain wheel E, and the hubs of the travelling wheels are similarly provided.
F F are two endless chains, the one leading from the chain wheel on the part D of
the pedal axle to the front travelling wheel A, and the other, F, from the chain wheel
on the part D of the pedal axle to the chain wheel on the hub of the travelling
wheel B. G is the steering handle attached to the frame A³, and H is the saddle fitted
to an adjustable stem carried by the frame B'.
It will now be understood that as the rider actuates the pedal axle, he will effect the
driving of both wheels-A and B, the advantage of which will be obvious to all
bicycle travellers. So long as he maintains a straight course, the steering handle will
stand at right angles to the coupled frames, and parallel to the pedal axle, as
indicated in the diagram Fig. 2. When, however, the rider desires to alter his course,
diverging, say, to the right, he will use the leverage of the handle G to turn the
coupled frames on their fulcrum, the pedal axle yielding to this lateral pressure. The
position of the parts will then be as indicated at diagram Fig. 3, the frame A¹ being,
in that case, out of line with the frame B', but the parts D and D' of the pedal axle
remaining parallel to the axles of the wheels A and B respectively. Thus, no irregular
strain or slackening of the driving chains will be induced by the turning of the frames
on their coupling pivot rod.
From the foregoing explanation, it will be understood that the parts affected by the
introduction of my invention will be substantially the same in construction and
arrangement, whether the invention be applied to a bicycle or a tricycle. Thus, the
detached view Fig. 4 equally illustrates the changes required in the tricycle as in the
bicycle, to adapt my invention thereto.
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 means above described for transmitting driving power from one pedal axle
to all the travelling wheels of a bicycle or a tricycle.
2. The use of a divided or compound pedal axle mounted in bearings as described,
whereby provision is made for the facile steering of velocipodes having front and back
driven travelling wheels.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.