IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin John Lewis, of Reading, in the County of
Berks, Watchmaker, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND
OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin John Lewis at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 13th June 1881.
EDWIN JOHN LEWIS, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Watch Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
My Invention has for its object to secure a more efficient application of the
driving power than is obtained in velocipedes ns ordinarily, constructed, especially
with reference to the ascent of inclines.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a tricycle.
The shaft to which the travelling wheels are attached has at its middle two
cranks. The inner side of each of these the principal cranks is bent twice at right
angles, so as to form on the inner side of each of the principal cranks a secondary
crank, which I prefer to make of about half the radius of the principal cranks.
The tricycle is worked by treadles turning. on a fixed rod beneath and parallel
to the driving or crank shaft.
The cranks are connected to the treadles in the following manner:-Each of the
principal cranks has a collar or clip, which is connected by a chain to a bar (which
I will call a saddle bar), which said saddle bar jointed at a short distanco from
the end connecting it with the chain to the middle of the treadle. The secondary
crank on the side of the principal crank has a collar or clip, with a rigid crank bar
extending to the level of the rod on which the treadles turn. At that level the
said rigid bar is bent at a right angle into a nearly horizontal position, and passing
under an arch in the saddle bar is jointed to the rear end of the said saddle bar.
As the treadle is depressed by the foot the saddle bar is pressed downwards, and
(starting with a crank in a horizontal position) the chain of the saddle bar draws
downwards the principal crank, but as the radius of the principal crank is longer
than that of its secondary crank, the principal crank describes a larger circle than
its secondary crank, and as the principal crank approachos its lowest position the
ID 21

page_text: arch of the saddle bar is borne down upon the horizontal part of the crank bar of
the secondary crank, and the motion of the driving shaft is continued through the
secondary crank. As this crank is of shorter radius than the principal crank the
power applied to the trendle is applied at a shorter leverage, the chain of
the principal crank collapsing or becoming inoperative. As the motion continues
the principal crank rising from its lowest point its chain tightens, lifting the
saddle bar and the treadle. When the crank has passed its highest point the
power applied to the treadle is first transmitted through the chain to the principal
crank until it has descended so far that the arch of the saddle bar comes upon the
horizontal part of the secondary crank bar when the motion is continued through
the secondary crank.
Thus as tho driving shaft rotates it is during part of its rotation acted upon by
the principal cranks and during the remaining parts of its rotation by the secondary
cranks.
As these are of different radii the power is applied at different parts of the
rotation at a greater or less leverage, an arrangement especially advantageous in
ascending inclines and convenient for ordinary use.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin John Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th December 1881.
EDWIN JOHN LEWIS, of Reading, in the County of Berks, Watch Maker.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES.'
"
My Invention has for its object to secure a more efficient application of the
driving power than is obtained in velocipedes as ordinarily constructed, especially
with reference to the ascent of inclines.
I will describe my Invention as applied to a tricycle.
The shaft to which the travelling wheels are attached has at its middle two
cranks. The outer side of each of these the principal crank is bent twice at right
angles, so as to form on the outer side of each of the principal cranks a secondary
crank, which I prefer to make of about half the radius of the principal cranks.
The tricycle is worked by treadles turning on a fixed rod beneath and parallel
to the driving or crank shaft.
The cranks are connected to the treadles in the following manner :-Each of the
principal cranks has a collar or clip, which is connected by a chain or strap to a
bar (which I will call a saddle-bar), which said saddle-bar is jointed at a short
distance from the end connecting it with the chain or strap to the middle of the
treadle. The secondary crank on the side of the principal crank has a collar or
clip with a rigid crank bar extending to the level of the rod on which the treadless
turn. At that level the said rigid bar is bent at a right angle into a nearly
horizontal position, and passing under an arch in the saddle-bar is jointed to the
rear end of the said saddle bar.
As the treadle is depressed by the foot the saddle bar is pressed downwards, and
(starting with the crank in a horizontal position) the chain or strap of the saddle
bar draws downwards the principal crank, but as the radius of the principal cranks
is longer than that of its secondary crank the principal crank describes a larger
circle than its secondary crank, and as the principal crank approaches its lowest
position the arch of the saddle bar is borne down upon the horizontal part of the
crank bar of the secondary crank, and the motion of the driving shaft is continued
through the secondary crank. As this crank is of shorter radius than the principal
crank the power applied to the treadle is applied at a shorter leverage, the chain or
strap of the principal crank collapsing or becoming inoperative. As the motion
continues the principal crank rising from its lowest point, its chain or strap
tightens, lifting the saddle bar and the treadle. When the crank has passed its
highest point the power applied to the treadle is first transmitted through the chain
or strap to the principal crank until it has descended so far that the arch of the
saddle bar comes upon the horizontal part of the secondary crank bar, when the
motion is continued through the secondary crank.
Thus as the driving shaft rotates it is during part of its rotation acted upon
by the principal cranks, and during the remaining part of its rotation by the
secondary cranks.
As those are of different radii the power is applied at different parts of the
rotation at a greater or less leverage, an arrangement especially advantageous in
ascending inclines, and convenient for ordinary use.
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 front elevation, and Figures 2 and 3 in side elevation, the
driving mechanism of a tricycle or other velocipede constructed according to my

page_text: Invention. In Figures 2 and 3 the cranked shaft is represented in different
positions. The sectional part of the cranked shaft in Figure 2 is taken on the line x,
Figure 1, and the sectional part of the cranked shaft in Figure 3 is taken on the
line y, Figure 1.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of
the Drawings.
a, a, is the cranked driving shaft to which the travelling-wheels are attached in
the ordinary way; b, c, are the principal cranks of the said shaft; and b, c², are
the secondary cranks situated respectively on the outer sides of the principal
cranks b, c, as best scen in Figure 1. It will also be seen that each of the secondary
cranks b, c, is about half the radius of the principal cranks; d, e, are the treadles
by which tho tricycle is worked. These treadles turn on the fixed rod f, as usual.
g,, are the straps or flexible connections by which the principal cranks b, c, are con-
nected with the treadles d, e, respectively. These flexible connections are made by
preference of leather, having metallic hooks or clips at their upper ends, which are
hooked upon the collars or depressions of the said cranks, as represented. To the
bottom of each of the straps or flexible connections g and i a saddle bar / is jointed,
which saddle bars pass through their respective treadles. The shape of the saddle
bars 1, of the straps g, i, is best seen in Figure 1. It will also be seen by reference
to the said Figure 1 that the said saddle bar at a short distance from the treadle
is bent into an arch or saddle 12, and an arm projects backwards from the said
arch or saddle 2 (see Figures 2 and 3). h, k, arc the connecting rods of the
secondary cranks ³, c². These rods are rigid, each rod being made in two pieces.
They have hooks or clips at their upper ends for engaging them with the collars or
depressions of the secondary cranks b², c².
The lower ends of the said rigid rods h, k, are cranked nearly at a right angle,
and the cranked horizontal parts h, k, pass under the arches or saddles 1, 2, of the
straps or flexible connections g, i, and the extreme ends of the horizontal parts h², k²,
are jointed at h³, ³, to the rear ends of the arms ³, 1, of the saddle bars l, 1ª, (seo
Figures 2 and 3).
The action of the parts is as follows:-
I
Assuming that the several parts of the driving mechanism occupy the respective
positions represented in Figure 2, pressure of the foot upon the upper treadle d
depresses that treadle and with it the saddle-bar 1, 12, 13, and the strap or flexible
connection is tightened and draws downwards the principal crank b connected with
the said strap g, as illustrated in Figure 3, where the crank shaft is represented as
having moved through a quarter rotation from the position represented in Figure 2.
During the motion described of the principal crank b the arm of the rigid rod h
of the secondary crank turns upon its centre ³, moving downwards to the bottom
of the saddle or arch 7 (see Figure 3), and the strap g and rod are now indepen-
dent of one another. As the radius of the principal crank b is longer than that of
its secondary crank 62, the said principal crank describes a larger circle than the
secondary crank, and as the principal crank approaches its lowest position the top
of the arch or saddle of the flexible connection or strap g is borne down upon
the horizontal arm h³ of the rigid rod h of the secondary crank 62, and the motion
of the driving shaft is continued through the said secondary crank 62 by the action
of the saddle bar 1, 12, 13, upon the rigid crank rod h, the parts connected with the
treadle d now occupying the same relative positions which the parts connected
with the treadle e occupy in Figure 2, where it will be seen that the treadle e is at
the bottom of its stroke, and the arch or saddle 12 is pressing upon the arm of the
rigid connecting rod k. On the secondary crank 62 coming into action, as described,
the power applied to the treadle d is applied at a shorter leverage in consequence
of the shorter radius of the said secondary crank b³, and the strap or flexible con-
nection of the principal crank 6 collapses or becomes inoperative (see Figure 2).
As the motion of the driving shaft a is continued by pressing down the other
treadle c, the rising from its lowest position of the principal crank b of the treadle d
tightens its flexible connection (occupying the position of the flexible connection i

page_text: in Figure 2), thereby lifting the saddle bar and treadle d in the manner shown in
Figure 3 with respect to the rising treadle e and parts connected with it.
The action I have described with reference to one pair of cranks and their
connections takes place with respect to the other pair of cranks and their
connections.
Thus it will be understood that when either of the principal cranks 6 or b³ is at
its highest point the power applied to the treadle of that crank is first transmitted
through its flexible connection to the said crank, and when the flexible connection
has descended so far that the arch of its saddle bar bears upon the horizontal
arm or 2 of the secondary crank rod k or the motion is continued through the
said secondary crank. In this way the driving shaft is during part of its rotation
acted upon by the principal cranks, and during the remaining part of its rotation
by the secondary cranks, the power being applied at different parts of the shaft's
rotation at a greater or less leverage in consequence of the different radii of the
cranks.
By the arrangement described and represented the motion of the treadles is not
increased, their range of motion being the same as if only the secondary or short
cranks were employed.
Instead of making the flexible connections of the principal cranks of leather, they
may be made of other flexible material or of chains,
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, the improvements in the driving mechanism of tricycles and other
velocipedes herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings,
that is to say, making at the side of each of the principal cranks of the driving
shaft a secondary crank, preferably of about half the radius of the principal cranks,
and connecting the treadles to their respective pairs of cranks by means of flexiblo
connections and rigid rods and connecting gear constructed and operating as
described and illustrated, whereby the driving shaft during part of its rotation is
acted upon by the principal cranks, and during the remaining part of its rotation
by the secondary cranks, for the purpose and substantially as described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin John Lewis, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of December, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
HERBERT ANSTEE BARRS,
51, Southampton Street,
Reading.
EDWIN JOHN LEWIS. (L.S.)