IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES "
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Marshall of Birmingham in the County of
Warwick Mechanical Engineer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Marshall at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th December 1882.
EDWARD MARSHALL of Birmingham in the County of Warwick Mechanical
Engineer " IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
My invention consists first of the following improvements in transmitting the
motion of the crank or pedal shaft to the travelling wheels of tricycles and other
velocipedes whereby the travelling wheels have independent motions and are made
to travel at the same rate when the velocipede is travelling in a straight line and
at different rates when the velocipede is travelling in a curved path.
I attach to the hub of one of the travelling wheels a chain wheel the said
travelling wheel and chain wheel running freely on the principal shaft of the
tricycle. A chain wheel similar to the one last referred to is keyed or fixed on
the said principal shaft the said chain wheels being parallel and at a short distance
apart. These chain wheels, which I will call the small chain wheels are enclosed
in a case or drum which constitutes the main chain wheel to which the crank shaft
is geared in the usual way. Two other small chain wheels which I will call guide
wheels fixed on the opposite ends of a short axis situated at right angles to the
axis of the small chain wheels are supported within the main chain wheel by
means of a bracket through which their axis passes. A continuous chain or chain
band passes round the two small chain wheels and also round the two guide
wheels.
When by the rotation of the pedal or crank shaft the main chain wheel is
turned the guide wheels which are carried by it round the two small chain wheels
communicate through the endless chain motion to the said small chain wheels and
through them to the two travelling wheels of the tricycle. When the tricycle
travels in a straight line the two small chain wheels and the travelling wheels
...011

page_text: "+
.
rotate at the same rate but when by the steering of the tricycle it is made to travel
in a curve one of the travelling wheels rotating faster than the other the endless
chain travels over the guide wheels so as to compensate the different velocities of
the two small chain wheels at the same time communicating rotatory motion
thereto
When the tricycle resumes a straight path the endless chain remains stationary
upon the small chain wheels and the guide wheels.
My invention consists secondly of the following construction and combination
of parts for driving at two different speeds at the pleasure of the rider, the shaft
of the travelling wheels of tricycles and other velocipedes and for throwing the
shaft of the travelling wheels out of gear with the crank or pedal shaft.
On the shaft of the travelling wheels I fix a drum so that it rotates with the
said shaft and on opposite sides of the said fixed drum I arrange two loose chain
or driving wheels of different diameters, The said fixed drum carries a clutch
lever which can be operated by the rider through a hand lever and connecting gear
so as to connect one or other of the two chain wheels to the fixed drum the
toothed end of the clutch lever taking into a recess in the side of one or other
of the chain or driving wheels to couple it with the fixed drum. Fixed on the
pedal or crank shaft are two chain or driving wheels of different diameters the
larger chain wheel on the crank shaft being situated opposite the smaller
loose driving wheel on the shaft of the travelling wheels and the smaller chain
wheel on the crank shaft being situated opposite the large loose chain wheel
on the shaft of the travelling wheels. When, the small chain wheel on the
shaft of the travelling wheels is 'coupled with the fixed "drum 'on the said shaft
the tricycle is driven at a quick speed" through the said small chain" wlieel and
the larger chain wheel on the crank shaft, and when the larger chain wheel on the
shaft of the travelling wheels is coupled with the fixed drum the tricycle is driven
at a slower speed the motion of the crank shaft now being transmitted through its
smaller chain wheel to the larger chain wheel on the shaft of the travelling
wheels..
'
By moving the clutch lever so that it is in an intermediate position and is
situated wholly within the fixed drum both of the loose chain' wheels are
disconnected from the said fixed drum and the crank, shaft is thrown out of gear
with the shaft of the travelling wheels.
Tode ..
My invention consists Lastly of a new or improved endless wire rope or band
to be used for transmitting motion from the crank shafts to the travelling shafts
of tricycles and other velocipedes and for transmitting motion in other parts of
'velocipedes.
:
I make the said endless rope or band of a series of wires of iron or steel or
other hard and flexible metal or alloy which I lay around a central core of vegetable
fibre or metal. On this endless rope or band a series of spheres of steel or other
hard metal or alloy is threaded at distances apart corresponding with the distances
apart of a series of hemi-spherical dépressions in the edge of the pulley or wheel
with which the rope or band is to be used. These spheres are fixed in their places
on the wire rope or hand in the following manner. In each sphere is a hole
crossing that by which the sphere is threaded on the wire rope. One half of each
cross hole is of smaller diameter than the other half. The said small half is tapped
with a screw thread and a screw of somewhat greater length than the radius of
the sphere is driven therein. The end of the screw forces that part of the wire
rope or band on which it bears into the part of the hole of larger diameter. AU
shaped depression being thus made in the wire prevents the spheres sliding or
changing their position on the rope.
For still greater security the larger part of the cross hole in theisphere. may be
filled after the sphere has been fixed in its place by type metal or other metal or
alloy preferably one which expands on cooling.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Marshall in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 15th
June 1883.
EDWARD MARSHALL of Birmingham in the County of Warwick, Mechanical
Engineer "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
"
My invention consists first of the following improvements in transmitting the
motion of the crank or pedal shaft to the travelling wheels of tricycles and other
velocipedes whereby the travelling wheels have independent motions and are made
to travel at the same rate when the velocipede is travelling in a straight line and at
different rates when the velocipede is travelling in a curved path
I attach to the hub of one of the travelling wheels a chain wheel the said
travelling wheel and chain wheel running freely on the principal shaft of the
tricycle. A chain wheel similar to the one last referred to is keyed or fixed on the
said principal shaft, the said chain wheels being parallel and at a short distance
apart. These chain wheels which I will call the small chain wheels are enclosed in
a case or drum which constitutes the main chain wheel to which the crank shaft is
geared in the usual way. Two other small chain wheels which I will call guide
wheels, fixed on the opposite ends of a short axis situated at right angles to the
axis of the small chain wheels, are supported within the main chain wheel, by
means of a bracket through which their axis passes. A continuous chain or chain
band passes round the two small chain wheels and also round the two guide
wheels.
When by the rotation of the pedal or crank shaft the main chain wheel is turned,
the guide wheels which are carried by it round the two small chain wheels com-
municate through the endless chain motion to the said small chain wheels and through
them to the two travelling wheels of the tricycle. When the tricycle travels in a
straight line the two small chain wheels and the travelling wheels rotate at the same
rate but when by the steering of the tricycle it is made to travel in a curve one of
the travelling wheels rotating faster than the other the endless chain travels over
the guide wheels so as to compensate the different velocities of the two small chain
wheels at the same time communicating rotatory motion thereto.
When the tricycle resumes a straight path the endless chain remains stationary
upon the small chain wheels and the guide wheels.
My invention consists secondly of the following construction and combination
of parts for driving at two different speeds, at the pleasure of the rider, the shaft of
the travelling wheels of tricycles and other velocipedes and for throwing the shaft
of the travelling wheels out of gear with the crank or pedal shaft.
On the shaft of the travelling wheels I fix a drum so that it rotates with the
said shaft and on opposite sides of the said fixed drum I arrange two loose chain
or driving wheels of different diameters. The said fixed drum carries a clutch
lever which can be operated by the rider through a hand lever and connecting gear
so as to connect one or other of the two chain wheels to the fixed drum, the
toothed end of the clutch lever taking into a recess in the side of one or other of
the chain or driving wheels to couple it with the fixed drum. Fixed on the pedal
or crank shaft are two chain or driving wheels of different diameters the larger
chain wheel on the crank shaft being situated opposite the smaller loose driving
wheel on the shaft of the travelling wheels and the smaller chain wheel on the
crank shaft being situated opposite the large loose chain wheel on the shaft of the
travelling wheels.
When the small chain wheel on the shaft of the travelling wheels is coupled
with the fixed drum on the said shaft the tricycle is driven at a quick speed

page_text: through the small chain, wheel and the larger chain wheel on the crank shaft
and when the larger chain wheel on the shaft of the travelling wheels is coupled
with the fixed drum the tricycle is driven at a slower speed, the motion of the
crank shaft now being transmitted through its smaller chain wheel to the larger
chain wheel on the shaft of the travelling wheels.
By moving the clutch lever so that it is in an intermediate position and is
situated wholly within the fixed' drum both of the loose chain wheels are dis-
connected from the said fixed drum and the crank shaft is thrown out of gear with
the shaft of the travelling wheels.
T
My invention consists lastly of a new or improved endless wire rope or band to
be used for transmitting motion from the crank shafts to the travelling shafts of
tricycles and other velocipedes and for transmitting motion in other parts of
velocipedes.
+
In
..I make the said endless rope or band of a series of wires of iron or steel or
other hard and flexible metal or alloy which I lay around a central core of
vegetable fibre or metal. On this endless rope or band a series of spheres of
steel or other hard metal or alloy is threaded at distances apart corresponding
with the distances apart of a series of hemispherical depressions in the edge of
the pulley or wheel with which the rope or band is to be used. These spheres
are fixed in their places on the wire rope or band in the following manner.
each sphere is a hole crossing that by which the sphere is threaded on the wire
rope. One half of each cross hole is of smaller diameter than the other half. The
said small half is tapped with a screw thread and a screw of somewhat greater
length than the radius of the sphere is driven therein. The end of the screw forces
that part of the wire rope or band ön which it bears into the part of the hole of
larger diameter. AU shaped depression being thus made in the wire prevents the
spheres sliding or changing their position on the rope
For still greater security the larger part of the cross hole in the sphere may be
filled after the sphere has been fixed in its place by type metal or other metal or
alloy preferably one which expands on cooling.
1
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in end elevation (partly in cross section); Figure 2 in plan
(partly in horizontal section); Figure 3 partly in front elevation and partly in
longitudinal section and Figure 4 in longitudinal section, gearing mechanism
constructed according to my invention for permitting of the travelling wheels of
the tricycle or velocipede to have independent motions when the said tricycle or
velocipede is moving in a curve.
Figure 5 represents a part of the mechanism detached.
In connection with this mechanism an endless ball rope or band made according
to my invention is represented.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5.
a is the principal shaft of the tricycle on one end of which the fixed travelling
wheel is secured; b is a portion of the hub of the other and loose travelling wheel
turning freely on the said shaft a. On the tubular part of the said hub b a small
chain wheel is fixed and keyed to the shaft à is a similar and parallel chain
wheel d. The said wheels c and d are hereinafter called the small chain wheels.
These small chain wheels. are enclosed in the brake drum e which turns loosely on
the shaft a the said shaft a being driven by a chain wheel fixed upon it from the
pedal or crank shaft. But the drumi e may, be made into the chain wheel for
driving the shaft a; f, fare two guide chain wheels situated at right angles to the
small chain wheels c, d. These guide wheels f, färe fixed on the ends of the axis g
working in a tubular bearing or bracket h within and forming part of the brake
drum e. An endless wire rope or band passes round the two small chain
wheels c, d and also round the two guide wheels f, f as best seen in Figures 1 and 2.
The wire rope or band i'has fixed firmly upon it equi distant spheres or balls i²
made of steel or other hard metal or alloy which spheres take into hemi-

page_text: spherical depressions k (see Figure 5) in the edges of the wheels cd and ƒƒ for
gearing the said rope or band with the said' wheels. The method of fixing the
spheres to the wire rope or band is represented, drawn to a larger scale in
Figure 5 which represents an elevation of a portion of the rope; a cross section taken
through one of the spheres and a cross section of one of the spheres separately. In
the solid sphere 2 is a cross hole 3 by which it is threaded on the wire. At right
angles to the hole ³ is a second cross hole i, the two parts of which are of
different diameters. The small half is tapped with a screw thread. By means
of a screw pin screwed into the hole the wire opposite the end of the said
screw pin is forced into the larger hole 5 so as to form a U shaped depression in
the wire as shown in the cross section. The sphere is thereby prevented from
sliding or changing its position on the rope. The hole may be filled with type
metal or otherwise plugged. Or instead of the ball band or rope represented a
band rope or chain of other construction may be used for gearing together the
small wheels c d and guide wheels f, f. For example a band or rope made of
vulcanized india rubber with an axial core of catgut or hempen fibre or other
flexible material which practically will not stretch may be used. I make the said
band or rope circular in cross section but I prefer to make the groove in the pulley
or wheel, in which groove the said band or rope engages, of an angular figure that
is, of a trough having inclined sides instead of a semi circular figure. By this
arrangement the band firmly embeds itself in the groove in the pulley or wheel and
safely transmits motion.
When I use a chain I employ a chain the openings in the links of which are
alternately in planes at right angles to one another so that the said chain in
travelling.from one of the chain wheels in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 to another of the
said wheels at right angles to the former, presents those portions of the chain to the
wheels which respectively have their openings in the planes required for enabling
them to engage with the teeth of the said wheels.
When rotation is given to the shaft a from the pedal or crank shaft its motion is
transmitted through the small chain wheel d, endless rope or band i and guide
wheels f, f to the small chain wheel c on the hub 6 of the loose travelling wheel,
the guide wheel f, f and the brake drum e being carried round the said chain
wheels c, d.
When the tricycle is moving in a straight line the two small wheels c d and the
two travelling wheels of the tricycle rotate at the same rate, the endless band or
rope i remaining stationary, the several parts of the gearing having no motion with
respect to one another; but when by the steering of the tricycle it is made to travel
in a curve one of the travelling wheels rotates faster than the other and con-
sequently the two small wheels c, d connected respectively with the loose and
fixed travelling wheels rotate at different speeds. The endless rope or band i is
thereby made to travel over the guide wheels f, f so as to compensate the different
velocities of the two small chain wheels c, d. The said wheels c, d are thus capable
of rotating at the speeds respectively required by the curves in which the two
travelling wheels are moving without interfering with the action of the chain or
rope gearing together the said wheels cd. When the tricycle resumes a straight
path the two small wheels c, d again rotate at the same speed and the chain or
rope i remains stationary upon the wheels C₁ d and ff. Thus, the travelling wheels
can rotate at the same rate when the tricycle is moving in a straight path and at
different rates when the tricycle is moving in a curved path without interfering
with the efficiency of the gearing by which the motion of the crank shaft is
transmitted to the two travelling wheels.
The ball band or rope represented for gearing together the wheels c, d and f, f
may be used for transmitting motion from the crank shaft to the principal shaft of
tricycles and other velocipedes.
Figure 6 represents in plan a tricycle containing a modification of the gearing
mechanism already described and also mechanism constructed according to my
invention for driving the shaft of the travelling wheels at two different speeds and

page_text: for throwing the shaft of the travelling wheels out of gear with the crank or pedal
shaft; Figure 7 represents in side elevation and Figure 8 in end elevation the said
gearing mechanism and speed gearing drawn to a larger scale; Figures 9 and 10
represent the same in longitudinal section and Figure 11 represents a front elevation
of the same with a portion removed. The other Figures represent parts of the
mechanism and gearing as hereinafter explained.
I will first describe the modification of the mechanism already described for
permitting the two travelling wheels to rotate at different velocities when the
tricycle is travelling in a curve. Instead of fixing the two small chain wheels c
and d (Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5) upon the hub and shaft respectively of the loose
and fixed travelling wheels as described, I use in this modification bevil toothed
wheels of different diameters. That is to say, keyed to the hub b of the loose
travelling wheel b² is a bevil toothed wheel c² and fixed to the shaft a carrying the
fixed travelling wheel b³ is another and larger bevilled toothed wheel d². This
bevil toothed wheel d² is shown separately in Figure 12. The two bevil wheels
c², d fixed upon the hub of the loose travelling wheel and upon the shaft of
the fixed travelling wheel are geared together by means of the double bevil
pinion marked k, the two parts of the pinion being of different diameters. The
double pinion, is loose upon the axis m carried by the drum n fixed on the
shaft a or, connected to the shaft as hereinafter explained. The drum n is shown
separately in section in Figure 13 and in elevation in Figure 14. With the part
of the double pinion the smaller bevil toothed wheel c² gears and with the part k of
the double pinion the larger bevil toothed wheel d² gears.
The action of this arrangement is substantially the same as that of the arrange-
ment herein before described and represented in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5. That is
to say, when the tricycle is moving in a straight path the travelling wheel fixed on
the shaft a and the loose travelling wheel turning on the said shaft are rotating at
the same rate and the bevil wheels d² and c² and pinion are carried round the
shaft but do not change their relative positions. When however the tricycle is
moving in a curve the fixed and loose travelling wheels travel at different speeds
and with them the two bevil wheels d², c² the said bevil wheels now giving rotation
to the double pinion k,l which rotates at a speed equal to the difference between
the two speeds of the fixed and travelling wheels.
I will now describe the mechanism for driving the tricycle at two different
speeds at the pleasure of the rider. On one side of the drum n (which may either
be connected directly to the shaft a or as shown in Figures 9 and 10 to the said
shaft through the bevil wheel c² pinion k, l bevil wheel d² and collar or sleeve d³)
is a loose chain or driving wheel p having notches or depressions in its face (shown
separately in Figures 15 and 16) and on the other side of the said fixed drum n is
a second loose chain or driving wheel p² of smaller diameter than the wheel p
having notches or depressions in its face. The chain wheel p² is shown separately
in Figure 17. The fixed drum n.carries a clutch lever q turning through a small
angle on its centre the said lever being operated by hand by means of the connecting
gear herein after described. The said clutch lever 9 has a double toothed end the
two teeth being marked respectively q² and q³, the upper tooth q² engaging when, the
lever q is turned in one direction, with one of the notches in the chain wheel p and
the lower tooth q3 engaging, when the said lever is turned in the other direction,
with one of the notches in the smaller chain wheel p². Fixed on the pedal shaft a³
(see Figures 7 and 8) is a double chain or driving wheel p³, p' the larger part p³
of the said double chain wheel being situated opposite the smaller loose driving or
chain wheel p² and the smaller part p of the said double chain wheel being situated
opposite the large loose chain wheel p. The chain wheels p and p¹ are geared
together by the chain p³ and the chain wheels p² and p³ are geared together by the
chain p (see the plan Figure 6).
When the small chain wheel p² is coupled with the fixed drum n by moving the
clutch lever q into the position indicated in dotted lines in Figure 10, the tricycle
is driven at a quick speed through the said wheel p² and the large chain wheel p³

page_text: on the crank shaft a and by moving the clutch lever q into the position repre-
sented in continuous lines in the said Figure 10 so as to couple the large chain
wheel p with the fixed drum n, the tricycle is driven at a slower speed through the
small chain wheel p* on the crank shaft and the large chain wheel p on the
principal shaft a. When the clutch lever q is moved into the intermediate position
represented in Figure 9 so that it is situated wholly within the fixed drum n both
the chain wheels p and p² are disconnected from the said drum n and the crank
shaft a² is thrown out of gear with the shaft a of the travelling wheels.
The clutch lever q is made to take any one of the three positions described by
the following arrangement of parts constituting a sliding clutch. Sliding on the
shaft a is a ring the upper part of which engages with the tail end of the clutch
lever q. By means of the screwed rods s, s the ring is connected to the outer
sliding collar and a to and fro motion is given to the said outer collar ² by means
of the handle t. This handle is connected through the spring arm 2 (shown
separately in Figure 18) to the spring lever or jaws t³. The inner ends of the blades
of the spring arm t² are jointed at t to a middle block to which the spring jaws of
the lever tare pinned at one end. The jaws of the spring lever grip the 'sliding
collar in the manner best seen in Figure 7. The spring arm 2 works in the
slotted and notched bar to. When the handle t is in the middle position represented
in Figure 8 the blades of the spring arm t2 are compressed and the handle is held
firmly in that position. When the handle t is moved towards the drum n the
clutch lever q is geared with the chain wheel p² and the blades of the spring arm t
open and engage with the notch u of the bar t and fix the clutch lever in that
position. By moving the handle t in the opposite direction, after compressing the
blades of the arm t2, the said arm t2 can be made to engage with the other notch u²
of the bar to and the clutch lever q is geared with the large chain wheel p and
fixed in that position. By moving the handle t into the intermediate position
represented in Figure 8 the clutch lever q is thrown out of gear with both the chain
wheels p and p2.
"
The drum n besides serving for the purpose described also acts as a brake drum
as represented in Figure 8 where the brake strap around the said drum is marked n²,
the said strap being tightened upon the drum to arrest the motion of the vehicle
when required by operating upon the handle x connected by the lever y to the two
ends of the brake strap as represented.
I will now describe some of the details of construction. The drum n has a
conical bush n³ against which the hollow conical end of the loose sleeve b¹ of the
loose travelling wheel takes a bearing, the sleeve being secured on the shaft a in
the manner shown, in Figures 9 and 10. The small bevil wheel c² is keyed to the
said sleeve b'. The other and larger bevil wheel d' has a long bush or sleeve d³
which is fixed to the shaft a by a cross key. Upon the bush or sleeve d³ the loose
large chain wheel p turns and upon the sleeve 6 the loose small chain wheel p²
turns,
Having now described the nature of my invention and the manner in which the
same is to be performed I wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention of
Improvements in tricycles and other velocipedes" :—
First The construction and combination of parts hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the accompanying Drawings of gearing
mechanism for permitting the travelling wheels of the velocipede to have indepen-
dent motions when the velocipede is moving in a curved path; that is to say, the
combination of the chain wheels c and d fixed respectively on the hub of the loose
travelling wheel and shaft of the fixed travelling wheel, with the guide wheels f, f
at right angles thereto carried by a loose drum the said chain wheels c, d and guide
wheels ff being geared together by an endless chain, rope or band for the purpose
described and illustrated. Also the modification described and illustrated in
Figures 9, 10, 11, 12 and 15 for the same purpose in which said modification bevil
toothed wheels are substituted for the chain wheels and a double pinion for the
guide wheels and endless chain, rope or band.

page_text: Secondly-The construction and combination of the parts herein before described
'and illustrated in Figures 6 to 18 both inclusive of the accompanying Drawings of
speed gearing for driving. the velocipede at two speeds at the pleasure of the rider
and for throwing the shaft of the travelling wheels out of gear with the crank or
pedal shaft; that is to say, the combination of the drum'n fixed on the shaft of the
travelling wheels with the loose chain or driving wheels p,'p² of different diameters
situated on opposite sides of the said fixed drum, together with the chain wheels p³ p¹
of different diameters on the crank shaft, one or other of the loose chain wheels p
or p² being thrown into gear with the fixed drum n or both the said chain wheels
disconnected from the said drum by the operation of the clutch lever q, q², q³ worked
substantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly The new or improved endless rope or band for transmitting motion in
tricycles and other velocipedes hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures
1, 2, 3, 4 and 54 of the accompanying Drawings; that is to say, an endless rope or
band consisting of a flexible rope or band of metal or partly of metal and partly of
vegetable fibre upon which rope or band a series of equi-distant spheres of steel or
other hard metal or alloy is fixed substantially as described and illustrated.
In witness whereof I the said Edward Marshall have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Twelfth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT
37 Temple Street
Birmingham
EDWARD MARSHALL (L.S.)