IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: DEPORTIVATION,
We DAVID EDWARD DUTROW and CURTIS FRANKLIN DUTROW both of
Washington in the District of Columbia and United States of America, Gentlemen,
do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
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 improvements in tricycles. The object of the Invention
is to produce a tricycle which will be more easily propelled, more simple in its
parts and at the same tine provide a vehicle which will be specially adapted for.
the use of ladies and misses, and to this end the Invention consists in connecting
the crank axle of the machine to bent or bell crank levers by means of pivoted
links, said levers being extended to form the operating trendles, or the treadle bars
being connected to the bell crank levers so as to rock them back and forth by
a vertical movement of the treadles and thus propel the machine. The Invention
consists further in certain details of construction which will be fully described
hereinafter and pointed out in the claims..
Referring to the Drawings
Figure 1 is a side view of the devico with one wheel removed to show more
clearly the bell crank levers as connected to the axle of the machine.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing the operating levers as connected to sprocket
wheels which in turn are connected to sprocket wheels on the main axle of the
machine by means of a sprocket chain.
Figure 3 is a side view of a modification in which the seat is pivoted and
connected to the operating levers by means of pivoted links or bars.
Figure 4 is a side view of the machine which is provided with & top or cover.
Figure 5 is a top view of a portion of the operating mechanism connected to
crank wheels for operating a sprocket wheel.
Figure 6 is a top or plan view of the frame of the machine on a reduced scale.
Figure 7 is a side view of the bell-crank lever and treadle. Figure 8 is a top
view of bell crank lever and treadle secured thereto.
Figure 9 is a cross section and side view of the shield.
Figure 10 is a soctional view showing the bearings of the pivots of the bell
crank levers.
A are the main wheels of the machine mounted on an axle and connected to the
small pivoted or steering wheel B by means of the frame-work C, on which the
seat D is supported.

page_text: The frame of the machino is made of any suitable material, bar or tube metal
being preferred and is contracted or pointed at one end and connected in a pivotal
manner to the yoke E of the wheel B. The frame C is bent down or depressed at
a point between the large and small wheels so as to admit of the ready access of
the rider to or from the seat of the machine.
The frame C gradually widens as it approaches the axle of the wheels A to
which it is secured in any suitable or convenient manner so as to admit of the free
rotation of the axle within the bearings of the frame-the widened ends of the
frame C being bent down to form a bearing for the operating levers as will more
fully appear.
The rear ends of the frame C are connected to the depressed portion of the frame
at a by means of bars or reaches F; this forms a strong and substantial frame for
the operating parts and to support the rider and other load which may be put
upon the machine.
b
To the rear end of the frame C or at any convenient point are pivoted the
treadle levers G which are by preference of the form shown in Figs. 1 and 7 and
of practically a bell crank form having one of the arins elongated to form foot-
treadles which project forward so as to be within easy reach of the feet of the
operator. The bell-crank levers and treadle portions may be made in two parts
the rear ends of the trendle bearings being rigidly connected to an arm 6 projecting
from the bell-crank lever as shown in Figure 8, while the inner ends of the arms b
are supported in a bracket or bar B' as shown in Figure 10. The upper ends of
the bell-crank levers are connected to cranks c formed on the axle H by means of
the bars or pitmen & which are pivotally connected to the upwardly projecting
ends of the bell crank levers and to the cranks c of the axle.
It will be noticed that by working the treadles up and down in practically
a vertical line that the upwardly projecting end of the bell-crank levers is thrown
back and forth in practically a horizontal line thus imparting to the crank axle on
which the machine is suspended, the requisite rotary motion through the medium
of the pitmen d.
I are spiral springs secured to the underside of the frame C and to the treadle
levers which assist in returning the ends of the treadle levers to an elevated
position ready to be depressed again by the feet of the rider. These springs may
be of the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 or a coiled spring may be used which is
encased in a drum as shown at f in Figure 4; any suitable or desirable form of
spring may be used however and may be made of sufficient power or strength
to assist in raising the leg of the operator.
By this construction a very simple and efficient means of propelling the vehicle.
is provided and by having the treadle levers adapted to be worked in vertical lines
or directions, ladies can ride and operate the machine without exposing their
lower limbs to any great extent.
As shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 a seat may be placed on the rear end of the
machine so that two persons may ride in the vehicle and the treadle lovers may
have secured thereto adjustable and removable extensions so that the person
occupying the rear seat can by placing his or her feet on the extensions e assist in
propelling the vehicle.
This scat shown in dotted lines may be adapted to be turned so that both riders
will face in the same direction and the rear rider assist in propelling the vehicle by
placing his feet on the steps or foot rests m of the levers G.
This rear sent is adapted to be removed and a box inserted in ways formed
in the frame. By this means, mail matter can be gathered and deposited in
the post office in wet or inclement weather without injury to the same, while
for commercial purposes the machine can be used to advantage in delivering
.packages.
The seat or chair D shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a revolving one and adapted
to be raised or lowered by means of the screw g working in a screw plate secured
to elliptical or spring like bars i which are attached to the frame, and by which

page_text: means, the seat can be adjusted so that it can be adapted to persons of different
sizes. The chair is held in a rigid position and kept from turning by means of
a bolt k which passes through the seat of the chair and an extension of the
screw
ew-plate h.
In Figure 2 we have shown a modification and instead of connecting the bell.
crank levers or treadles direct to the axle of the machine by the rods or pitmen d
we connect the said pitmen to crank arms n on wheels K which are secured to the
shaft L mounted in bearings on the reach F.
To the shaft L and axle H is secured one or more sprocket wheels O over which
a sprocket chain or chains p pass, to impart rotary motion from the shaft L to the
axle H.
As before stated, the wheel B is pivoted to the frame C by means of the yoke E
the said yoke being connected to a vertical rod M by means of levers and bars so
that the rider by turning the rod M can turn the direction of the wheel B to the
right or left and thus guide the machine.
In Figure 3 we have shown the seat D pivoted in bearings on the frame C so
that it can be rocked back and forth and is connected to the levers G by means of
bars S S and pivoted levers t so that by rocking the chair back and forth motion
will be imparted to the machine. P P are hand levers (only one shown) pivoted to
the frame C and connected to the upper ends of the bell crank levers by means of
the rods n so that by moving the levers back and forth by hand, motion can be
imparted to the machine.
În Figure 9 we have shown in side elevation and in cross section a shield which
is secured to the frame in front of the treadle to cover and protect the feet and
lower extremities of the rider.
This shield is designed to be hinged to the frame so it can be folded back out of
the way to allow free access to and from the seat. A screen of woven fabric can
be placed around the sides and ends of the machine and extend downward as far
as the point of greatest depression of the levers so as to fully protect the feet and
lower extremities of the rider.
Various and numerous modifications may be resorted to, to connect the bell
crank levers with the axle and various modifications in devices for operating the
bell crank levers may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the
Invention.
The treadles may be connected to a bent lever 4 which is pivoted to the frame C
at 5 by a rod or bar 6 and in this way the machino can be propelled by the hands
of the operator or the hands made to assist the feet in working the treadles.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: -
"
1. A motor for tricycles consisting of one or more bell crank lovers pivoted to the
rear portion of the frame of the machine and back of the axle of the main driving
wheels, connected at one end to the axle or other driving mechanism substantially
such as described by means of pitmen and at the other end extending forward to
form treadles adapted to be moved in a vertical direction by the motion of the
feet of the operator as set forth.
2. As a means for propelling tricycles one or more bent or bell crank levers
pivoted to the rear portion of the frame of the machine and back of the shafts of
the main driving wheels and connected at one end to the axle of the machine by
means of pitmen and the other or free ends of the bell crank lever or levers
extended forward within reach of the rider to form treadles by which the machine
is operated.
3. A tricycle adapted to be moved or propelled by treadles or levers working in
a vertical direction in combination with a seat adapted to be adjusted toward or
from said treadles as set forth.
4. In a tricycle, the levers G provided with the extensions e or foot rests in
combination with a supplemental seat as and for the purpose set forth.

page_text: 5. In a tricycle the bell crank levers provided with the treadle extensions
connected at their upper ends to the axle or other driving mechanism by means of
pitmen in combination with springs I as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated the 15th day of March 1884.