IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES OR TRICYCLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Morgan Brown Patent Agent of 38 Southampton
Buildings London for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES OR
TRICYCLES Communicated to him from abroad by Frederick White of
Westboro Worcester County of Massachusetts United States of America
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Morgan-Brown at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd June 1882.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN Patent Agent of 38 Southampton Buildings London.-
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES OR TRICYCLES [Communicated to him from
abroad by Frederick White of Westboro Worcester County of Massachusetts United
States of America]
This Invention relates to velocipedes and is embodied in a velocipede or tricycle
which is propelled by a lever operated by the body and arms of the occupant with
a movement somewhat similar to that of rowing.
As herein shown the tricycle has two large wheels of equal size placed side by
side upon one of which the propelling mechanism takes effect, and a smaller
steering wheel placed in the rear of the said large wheels, the said wheels being
connected by suitable frame work sustaining a seat for the occupant at the rear of
the axle of the large wheels, and a foot sustaining rest or platform at a proper
position in front of the said seat. The axle upon which the large wheels are
mounted is bent downward at its middle portion which is provided with bearings
for a rocking lever adapted to be oscillated forward and backward by the arms of
the operator, and the invention consists partly in the combination of the said
propelling lever with transmitting mechanism by which the force is transmitted to
the driving wheel, and with steering mechanism connected with the said propelling
lover as hereinafter shown by which the steering wheel is governed by a rotary
movement of the said propelling lover the said steering and propelling mechanism
being independent of one another, so that the same lever can be operated either to
propel or steer without the said operations interfering with one another.

page_text: The invention consists in the combination of the propelling lever, and with rock-
shaft connected therewith, the cranks mounted on the said rock shaft, the driving
wheel and shaft adapted to be operatively connected therewith, the cranks loose on
the said shaft, and having a ratchet and pawl connection therewith, and also being
connected with the cranks upon the said rock-shaft.
Also in the combination of the driving wheel a shaft operatively connected
therewith, and having a series or cone of gears of different diameters, a second
shaft means to actuate it and a series of gears loose thereon meshing with the first
mentioned series, and a series of independent clutches splined on said shaft, and
independent shippers therefor, whereby any of the said gears may be connected
with the said shaft to propel the wheel.
Also in a shaft having a series of gears loose thereon and a series of clutches
splined thereon, combined with a series of independent shippers for said clutches,
locking devices for retaining the said shippers with the clutches disengaged, and
means to automatically throw the said clutches into engagement when released by
their locking devices.
Also in the actuating lever and rock shaft connected to oscillate therewith, the
said lever being pivotted to have an axial rotary movement, combined with a
spindle connected with the said lever by a universal joint, and also connected with
the steering wheel whereby the said wheel is turned by the rotary movement of
the said lever when at any position in its oscillating movement.
Also in the propelling lever and rock-shaft connected therewith, combined with
the driving wheel of the tricycle, the shaft adapted to be operatively connected
therewith, and devices having a ratchet and pawl connection with the said shaft,
operated by the said propelling lever and rock shaft.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Morgan-Brown in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th December 1882.
"
WILLIAM MORGAN-BROWN Patent Agent of 38 Southampton Buildings London
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES OR TRICYCLES A communication to me from
abroad by Frederick White of Westboro Worcester County of Massachusetts,
United States of America
This Invention relates to velocipedes and is embodied in a velocipede or tricycle
which is propelled by a lever operated by the body and arms of the occupant with
a movement somewhat similar to that of rowing.
As herein shewn the tricycle has two large wheels of equal size placed side by
side upon one of which the propelling mechanism takes effect, and a smaller
steering wheel placed in the rear of the said large wheels, the said wheels being
connected by suitable frame work sustaining a seat for the occupant at the rear of
the axle of the large wheels, and a foot sustaining rest or platform at a proper
position in front of the said seat. The axle upon which the large wheels are
mounted is bent downward at its middle portion which is provided with bearings
for a rocking lever adapted to be oscillated forward and backward by the arms of
the operator, and the invention consists partly in the combination of the said
propelling lover with transmitting mechanism by which the force is transmitted
to the driving wheel, and with steering mochanism connected with the said
propelling lever as herein after shewn by which the steering wheel is governed
by a rotary movement of the said propelling lever, the said steering and
propelling mechanism being independent of one another, so that the same lever
can be operated either to propel or steer without the said operations interfering
with one another.
The invention consists in the combination of the propelling lever and with
rock shaft connected therewith, the cranks mounted on the said rock-shaft, the
driving wheel and shaft adapted to be operatively connected therewith, the cranks
loose on the said shaft and having a ratchet and pawl connection therewith, and
also being connected with the cranks upon the said rock shaft
Also in the combination of the driving wheel a shaft operatively connected
therewith, and having a series or cone of gears of different diameters, a second
shaft means to actuate it and a series of gears loose thereon meshing with the first
montioned series, and a series of independent clutches splined on said shaft, and
independent shippers therefore, whereby any of the said gears may be connected
with the said shaft to propel the wheel.
Also in a shaft having a series of gears loose thereon and a series of clutches
splined thereon, combined with a series of independent shippers for said clutches
locking devices for retaining the said shippers with the clutches disengaged and
means to automatically throw the said clutches into engagemont when released by
their locking devices.
Also in the actuating lover and rock shaft connected to oscillate therewith, the
said lever being pivoted to have an axial rotary movement, combined with a
spindle connected with the said lever by a universal joint, and also connected with
the steering wheel whereby the said wheel is turned by the rotary movement of
the said lever when at any position in its oscillating movement.
Also in the propelling lever and rock shaft connected therewith, combined
with the driving wheel of the tricycle, the shaft adapted to be operatively
connected therewith and devices having a ratchet and pawl connection with the
said shaft, operated by the said propelling lever and rock shaft.

page_text: Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section on the irregular line x, x, seo
Figure 2 of a tricycle constructed in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 a plan view thereof.
Figure 3 a partial rear elevation in section on line y. y. Figure 2.
Figures 4 and 5 details in plan and front elevation of the variable transmitting
mechanism,
Figure 6, a section thereof on line 2. s. Figures 4 and 5 and,
Figures 7. 8 and 9 details to be referred to hereafter.
The frame work consists essentially of a transverse axle a, having its middle
portion depressed or bent downward as shown in Figure 3, and the double
perch b. b, connected with the said axle and uniting at their rear end in a pivotal
socket c, for the upper end of the fork d, in which the rear wheel has its bearings.
The said perch b. b. supports upon suitable springs a seat c, as shewn in
Figures 1, and a foot rest or platform f is connected by light frame work g, with
the axle a.
The depressed portion of the axle a. see Figure 3 is provided with bearings h
for a rock shaft i, which is cranked or U shaped at its middle portion as shewn
nt j, the said portion being connected with the actuating lever, which is adapted
to rotate axially in a bearing at 2 in the said portion j. the said rotation taking
place independently of the oscillating movement of the said lever h, by which the
shaft i, is rocked in its bearings. That portion of the lever h, that passes through
the bearing 2 is connected by a universal or gimbal joint with T piece L. on a
spindle having a rotary movement in a vertical bearing upon the axle a. in such
manner that when the lever . is rotated upon its axis by means of the handles A¹.
see Figure 2, the said T piece t. will be rotated such movement being possible in
any position of the lever k. during its oscillating movement relative to the
bearings k.
The T piece t. is connected by cranks see Figure 2 with a similar T piece p
fixed to the end of the fork d, of the steering wheel of the tricycle so that the
rotary movement of the said piece t. will produce a corresponding rotation or
change of position of the steering wheel and will thus govern the direction of the
movement of the tricycle.
The rock shaft i. is provided with the two cranks q connected by connecting
rods r. with cranks S, loose upon a shaft T mounted in bearings supported upon the
axle a. so that as the lever is oscillated back and forth the cranks s, will be positively
oscillated upon the said shaft L.
The cranks s are provided with pawls n. see Figure 9 which acting upon a
ratchet v. keyed upon the said shaft t. cause the said shaft to rotate always in one
direction.
The said shaft t. has loose but restrained from longitudinal movement thereon, a
series of gears a². b. c. of different diameter meshing with a series of gears d². fast
upon a shaft e provided with a gear f. meshing with a gear g². sco Figure 2 fixed
to the hub of the driving wheel of the tricycle.
The said shaft has splined thereon so as to positively rotate therewith but to
have an independent longitudinal movement thereon a series of clutches h², operated
by shippers i, to bring their teeth j. into engagement with corresponding recesses
see Figure 8, in the adjacent side of the driving gears a². b. c. that either of the
said gears may be positively connected with the shaft . to transmit power through
the corresponding one of the gears d³. to the shaft e², goars f². g². and driving wheel
of the tricycle.
It will readily be understood that when the gear a². is thus in operation the driving
wheel of the tricycle will be actuated with greater speed but less power relative to
the force applied at the lever k. than when either of the gears d². or c². are thus
operating, and that the gear c². will give the greatest power but the least speed to
the driving wheel.
The shippers i. are provided with lugs 62. acted upon by springs tending to
throw the said clutches into engagement with their corresponding gears. The suid

page_text: shippers are held with the clutches. disengaged with the locking devices m³. seo
'Figures 4. 5. 6, the points p³. of which engage the side of the shippers . as shewn
in Figures 5 and 6 until the desired one of the said locking devices m². is depressed
by means of its operating knob o². when the spring . will throw the shipper so as
to place the clutch in engagement.
When the clutch is disengaged by the operator taking hold of the lug other
portions of the shippers and pressing it against the spring P. the spring p². will
throw the locking device m³, up so as to cause its end n² to again engage the
shipper. It will be seen that when the gear ², is engaged by the clutch h, the
gears b³. a³, will travel faster than their corresponding clutches h³, and in order to
prevent breakage in case two of the clutches should be engaged with their gears
at the same time the rear sides of the teeth j. and of their corresponding holes k³,
see Figures 7 and 8 are inclined as shewn so that in case the gear travels faster,
than the clutch it will merely in acting upon the rear side of the said teeth throw
the clutch laterally out of engagement with the gear over coming the pressure of the
spring on the shipper 3, thereof. The speed of the vehicle may be checked by
suitable brakes applied either to the small wheel or to the large wheels or as
herein shewn to both in the following manner.
The foot board is provided with a treadle a³. Figures 1 and 2 adapted to be
engaged by the heel or other portion of the foot of the occupant and having
attached thereto a cord b³. passing over a pulley c. at the end of a brake b, or d³,
and connected with the end of an arm d³, on a shaft d³, see Figure 2 provided
with brake shoes do. so that by the single operation of the treadle a. both brakes
are applied.
It is obvious that either of the brakes may be used alone the cord being
attached directly to the point c. of the brake d. or to an arm connected with the
shaft d', but in this instance placed above instead of below it.
In practice the driving gears shewn at the right hand of Figure 2 and, in
Figures 4 and 5 will be endorsed in a suitable protecting case.
Having now described and particularly set forth the nature of the said Invention
and the manner of carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that
what I claim is :—
1st The combination of the propelling lever and rock shaft connected therewith,
the cranks mounted on tho said rock shaft the driving wheel and shaft adapted to
be operatively connected therewith, the cranks loose on the said shaft and having
a ratchet and pawl connection therewith, and also being connected with the cranks
upon the rock shaft, substantially as described
2nd In a tricycle the combination of the driving wheel, a shaft operatively
connected therewith and having a series or cone of gears of different diameter, a
second shaft means to actuate it and a series of gears loose thereon meashing with
the first mentioned series, and a series of independent clutches splined on said
shaft and independent shippers therefor whereby any of the said gears may bo
connected with the said shaft to propel the wheel substantially as described.
3rd In a tricyclo a shaft having a series of gears loose thereon and a series of
clutches splined thereon, combined with a series of independent shippers for said
clutches, locking devices for retaining the said shippers with the clutches disengaged
and means to automatically throw the said clutches into engagement when released
by their locking devices, substantially as described.
.
4th The actuating lever and rock-shaft connected to oscillate therewith, the
said lever being pivoted to have an axial rotary movement combined with a
spindle connected with the said lever by a universal joint, and also connected with
the steering wheel whereby the said wheel is turned by the rotary movement of
the said lever when-at any position in its oscillating movement substantially as
described..
6th The propelling lever and rock shaft connected..therewith-combined with
the driving wheel of the tricycle, the shaft adapted to be operatively connected

page_text: therewith and devices having a ratchet and pawl connection with the said shaft
operated by the said propelling lever and rock-shaft substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said William Morgan Brown have hereunto set
my hand and seal this Nineteenth day of December in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TH