A New or Improved Tricycle.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Nov., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1898
A New or Improved Tricycle.
I, MAX JOSEPH THOMA, of 4, Speicherstrasse, Frankfurt a/M., in the Empire
of Germany, Director, 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 :--
The present invention relates to a tricycle in which the driving power is exerted
with or without gear directly upon the axle of the single wheel, and in which the
construction of the frame of the tricycle such that the free angular movement
(which is not hindered by any chain driving gear) of the single wheel as also that
of the double wheel, can be employed for steering the tricycle.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the tricycle, and
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
In both views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The single wheel A¹ and the centre of the axle G of the pair of wheels A are
connected together by means of a frame B, the front portion of which that extends
towards the single wheel is made in the form of an arc-shaped fork b¹ which
may be stiffened by means of an intermediate strut or stay 6 if desired and which
carries the single wheel fork Q. The rear part of this frame is likewise formed by
a fork b which may be stiffened by means of a transverse stay or strut 63 if required,
and which carries the axle G of the pair of wheels. By reason of this construction
of the frame B in combination with the direct chainless driving of the axle of the
single wheel, the tricycle can be provided at will either with a steering device for
the single wheel, or with a steering device for the pair of wheels, or it may be,
with two steering devices as desired. In the latter case, there would then be
provided for instance a locking device O for the steering device E, and a locking
device P for the steering device M N. In cases where there is no closed
receptacle M provided on the tricycle, it would of course be necessary to carry the
steering bar N down in some manner and to such an extent as to be capable of
being firmly connected to the axle G of the pair of wheels, said axle G being
arranged to oscillate about the head F of the frame.
When using the rear steering device N, the proper position of the seat or saddle
relatively to the driving gear D, may be effected by shifting the saddle C round in
the reverse position shown in dotted lines, or by turning the wheel A¹ round into
the position shown in dotted lines, or by placing the saddle pin S in the steering
tube T, and omitting the steering or handle bar U, or it may be, by means of the
two operations combined.
The closed receptacle M is most advantageously bolted by means of the thumb
nuts L on to the cross struts K which are carried by the springs H. Au important
advantage is contained in the possibility of using two steering devices at will, in
the case of tradesmens' or carrier tricycles, in which for instance very heavy loads
have to be conveyed on the outward journey, whilst there is very little load or
even no load at all to be carried on the home journey, because it is clear that by
CD

page_text: arranging the saddle C and the wheel A in the positions indicated by the dotted
lines, the single wheel A' will be subjected to a greater pressure upon the
ground than when in the position shown in full lines, and therefore will have
more friction on the ground, that is to say, will have more power for propelling
loads.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
(1) A tricycle, characterised by the fact that the front portion b¹ of a
frame B is made in the form of an arc-shaped fork which carries the single
wheel A¹ and the driving gear D that is mounted on the axle of the said single
wheel, whilst the rear portion 6 of the frame is likewise made as a fork in which
the axle G of the pair of wheels A is mounted at its middle, so that the steering
device can be applied either to the single wheel A¹ or to the pair of wheels A, as
set forth.
(2) In a tricycle according to Claim 1, the pivotal arrangement of the steering
bar in the frame fork 61 with the locking device O, and the pivotal arrangement
of the axle G in the frame fork b, with a locking device P so that one or the other
steering device may be used at will, as set forth.
(3) In a tricycle according to Claim 1, the removable arrangement of the
receptacle M, consisting of the thumb nuts L and the cross stays or struts K on the
springs H, as set forth.
(4) A new or improved tricycle, constructed, arranged and adapted to operate
substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Dated this 2nd day of November 1898.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent.,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.