Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 26th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK NEWMAN of Hospital Street, in the City of Birmingham
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved tricycle, or a velocipede, provided
with a single rear driving wheel, which may be convertible if necessary, to be
driven in front, instead of at rear.
The frame is mounted at front, upon two wheels, which may turn loosely upon
the axle end, or may be made to turn together.
By my invention, the main framing, or back-bone, admits of swivelling or turning
about the upper part of the pillar of the front wheels, as a centre, so that a rider
may make the single wheel, the front wheel, or the front of the machine, and the
double wheels, and its framing, the rear.
In carrying out my invention, I mount the two front wheels upon the ends of a
transversely directed axle or framing, in manner, that the said wheels, turn freely
of each other; and directed upwardly from the middle of the said axle, a pillar
proceeds, whose lower end is jointed to the axle, or a sleeve, or an equivalent of
the axle, in the form of a cross frame, in manner that the said pillar, admits of a
transverse movement about a centre, in order that a rider may always preserve an
erect position, by the framing following an horizontal plane.
The means thus employed in preserving the plane of the frame, is carried out, by
providing the two opposite sides of the pillar, with side forks, or depending exten-
sions, whose lower ends impinge, or are encircled by, coiled springs.
If the machine be travelling upon an uneven road, which creates an inclination in
the axle, then the pillar and frame are undisturbed, as the bearings of the forked
extensions, are only changed with respect to the axle.
The extreme lower ends of the said extensions, may work through sockets or
eyes, made transversely through the axle, or holes or eyes made therein, and with
the coiled springs disposed between collars of the fork parts, and the top sides of
the axle or frame as aforesaid, as the axle may revolve with the wheels.
Swivelly connected to the upper part of the pillar, comes the fore part of the
back-bone, or main horizontal framing, whose outer or rear end, is forked, and
between which, the rear and single wheel is mounted. This single wheel, is driven
by chain gear, passing over chain wheels upon the axle of the said driving wheel,
and pedal axle respectively. This last named axle, is carried within bearings of a
depending bracket, directed from the underside of the principal framing, and above
the said pedals, comes an ☐ bar, which carries the saddle or seat.
The handle bar is mounted at the summit of an extension or stalk, of the pillar of
the front wheels.
The swinging round of the main framing or back-bone, admits of the framing
taking a direction that the axis of the single wheel, is in the same plane as the axis
of the pair of wheels.
In case a person wishes to make the single wheel, the front one, and the pair of
wheels to follow, then I propose that the main framing should be extended, and a
bracket connected to it, for carrying the L bar, chain wheels, and other acces-
sories.
In ordinary driving, the single wheel trails the leading wheels, and vice-versa,
when the said single wheel and framing, are turned round.
Dated this 25th day of June 1890.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, GEORGE FREDERICK NEWMAN of Hospital Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, 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 the construction, mounting and arrangement of the parts
of tricycles, or velocipedes, and consists in a machine, mounted upon two front
wheels, and a single rear wheel, which former are the steering wheels, and the latter
the driving wheel.
The front and steering wheels, are so mounted and pivoted, that the axle of
them, admits of lying nearly in the longer direction of the primary framing of the
machine, hence the folding of it.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents in side elevation, a tricycle,
or a three-wheeled velocipede, constructed and arranged according to my invention.
The said tricycle, which is mounted at front upon two wheels, and at the back upon
one wheel, is steered at front, and driven at back. The important feature in the
said machine, relates to the steering part with two wheels, and the means herein-
after described, for stopping off vibration, and allowing the said two wheels, to be
disposed practically in the same plane as the primary framing of the machine; or
in other words, the axle of the two front wheels, is mounted and jointed to the front
end of the primary framing, and admits of the said axle taking a direction practically
the same as the framing, so that the machine can be passed through narrow openings
or doors, which is unattainable where the axis is rigidly connected.
Figure 2 represents a top side plan, of a diagramatic view of the said machine,
when the same is in use, and Figure 3 represents the same as Figure 2, when out of
use, and the front wheels in a position suitable for passing through an opening, or
for economising space.
Figure 4 represents a top side plan, partly in section, (upon an enlarged scale) of
the steering arrangement or mechanism of the front wheels, while the dotted lines
represent the positions which the said parts assume, when the axis or axle of the
two front wheels, is turned to the plane of the primary framing.
Figure 5 represents partly in section, and partly in side elevation, the said front
part Figure 4.
Figure 6 represents partly in elevation, and partly in section, the front end of a
machine, showing the anti-vibration framing, and the pillar.
e,
a is the main framing of the machine, terminated rearwardly by forks a², and
forwardly by a fixed head a³, surmounted at its upper end by a bracket clip b,
taking as hereinafter described upon the top of the steering centre or upright, and
with a pivot 62 at its front side, upon which the top middle part c² of a stay or
framing c is hung. d is a single back wheel, with the hub d², mounted upon an axis
or axle d³, and turning within bearings d, carried at the termination of the forks a
and the stay rod a', which is connected forwardly to the bottom e² of the depending
gear bracket
directed from the front of the underside of the framing a, and
opposite the seat pillar f, which is mounted by an L bar pin f2. 9 is the chain
wheel, the pedals, i the chain, driving around a chain wheel on the axle of the
wheel d. jare front wheels, mounted and turning loosely upon the ends of the
cross axle k, which is vertically pivoted at 2, to a pillar or upright l, whose upper
part 2, is formed into a vertical axle which turns within the hollow head or
framing a³, terminating the fore part of the primary framing a. m is the steering
rod, terminated at top by a handle bar m², and with the bottom part m³, passing
through a hollow pillar or bracket at, and with the extreme lower end m of the
said steering rod, terminated by rigid arms m³, to the ends of which, parallel links n,
are jointedly connected by their inner ends n², while the fore ends of the said links
or coupling rods, are also jointedly connected to outstanding arms 1³, made fast to,

page_text: and directed outwardly from the middle part of the said pillar 7; so that by the
turning of the handle bars, the whole framing of the front of the machine is bodily
turned, by the upper part 2 of the pillar l, swivelling within the hollow head a³.
The lower terminal ends c³, of the branches of the hung or suspended stay c,
work piston-wise within holes ³, within the axle k, and between the top side of the
said axle, and collars of the stays c, are coiled springs o, which through their
interposition, relieve the machine of a considerable amount of vibration or shock,
consequent upon the wheels of the same passing over stones, or other irregularities
met with on their path of traction; and further, by so mounting the front framing,
the rider is kept perfectly erect.
When the machine requires to be folded, and the space between the two front.
wheels economised, the wheels and their axle, with the middle upright 1, with
arms, and stay c, and other accessory parts, are moved within the hollow of the
fixed head as a joint centre, and take the position as represented in Figure 3.
When in use, the axle is turned at right angles to its framing, when the parallel
and connecting links n, are folded outwardly, as represented in the several figures.
The turning of the handle bars on steering, rotates the steering rod, which,
working within the upright pillar a', gives an angular movement to the arms m³,
and through the links n, to the arms 13, which being made fast on the steering axis,
causes the said axis to be turned, and through it, the axle and wheels, hence the
steering.
The means for preventing shock, consequent upon the wheels passing over stones
or other inequalities, causes the springs to be compressed, and the ends³, to work
through the axle, which being pivoted at its middle to the lower end of the upright,
allows the said axle to make an angle, without materially interfering with the
perpendicular of the said upright supported by it.
In the application of my invention, to a front-driving machine, the rear part of
the same, is mounted upon a frame, pillar, or upright, jointedly connected at its
lower end to the middle of the axle, alike unto that of a rear-driving machine, as
described.
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 :-
First In a three-wheeled tricycle, or velocipede, steering two wheels of the
same, by a system of parallel links or coupling bars, jointedly connected to the ends
of outstanding arms, carried by, and affixedly connected to, the steering rod, and
steering centre, or upright, respectively, of the machine, substantially as described
and set forth.
Secondly-In a folding three wheeled tricycle, or a folding velocipede, jointedly
connecting the middle of the axle, to the primary framing, or to the fore part of
the primary framing, of the machine, in conjunction with steering mechanism, con-
sisting of rigid arms, carried by the steering centre or pillar, and steering rod; and
which arms, are connected or coupled together, by parallel links, substantially as
described and set forth, whereby the fore part of a machine, admits of being folded
or turned with its axle, to the longitudinal direction of the machine.
Thirdly: In a three wheeled velocipede, mounting the fore part of the machine,
or the rear part, in the case of a fore-driving machine, upon a frame, pillar or
upright, jointedly connected at its lower end to the middle of the axle, and
supported on its side by a pivotedly hung stay or supplementary framing, whose
branches terminate in holes in the said axle, and work piston-like, with coiled
springs interposed between the axle and collars of the stays, as set forth particularly
in Figures 1 and 6.
Fourthly-In a three-wheeled tricycle, the construction arrangement, and com-
bination, of the steering and fore parts of the machine, as herein described, whereby
the machine is steered by the front wheels, which admit of being turned nearly
across the plane of the primary framing, thereby economising space, and getting

page_text: the machine through openings or passages narrower than the distances between the
said front wheels, substantially as set forth.
:-
Fifthly In a velocipede, the general construction, arrangement and mounting
of the parts, as herein described and set forth.
י
1 1001
GEORGE FREDERICK NEWMAN.
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.