IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Chatwood, of 120, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Safe and Lock Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRICYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Chatwood at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th September 1880.
SAMUEL CHATWOOD, of 120, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Safe and Lock
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES."
1
This Invention has for its object improvements in tricycles and like vehicles.
I construct tricycles with two main or driving wheels and with a central steering
wheel behind. I form the treddle cranks upon the axle of the main wheels, and I
cause the rotary motion of the axle to be imparted to the wheels through gearing,
so that the main wheels may be rotated at a slower speed than the axle.
The bosses of the main wheels have necks projecting inwards, and these are
received into bearings at the ends of an arched or bow frame, which frame is in
this way supported by the main wheels. From the centre of the arched or bow
frame an arm projects to the rear, and it has at its end a socket which receives
the stem of a fork in which the hinder or steering wheel is carried. The bow
frame or its arm also carries the driver's seat. Upon the main axle on either side,
just within the projecting necks of the main wheel bosses, a pair of pinions are
arranged to slide along a feather upon the axle. These pinions are under the
control of the rider who can move them in or out along the axle.
For this purpose handles are provided in connection with forks entering eircular
grooves between the pinions.
The projecting neck of each of the main wheel bosses also has a pinion upon it
of the same size as the larger of the sliding pinions on the same side of the machine.
In one position these two pinions of a size are close along side the one of the other,
and they then both gear with the same pinion on a stud axis projecting from the
side of the bow frame. Consequently, when the sliding pinions are in this position
the driving wheels rotate at the same speed as the cranked or treddle axis, the
pinion upon the stud axis serving to couple the two. The stud axis in each case
carries a second pinion of larger size formed of a piece with the first, or mounted
Price 11

page_text: with it upon same tube or hollow axis. The smaller sliding pinion of each
pair can be brought to gear with the larger pinion upon the stud axis, and the
main wheel is then driven at a slower speed than the main axle upon which are
the treddles. In an intermediate position of the sliding pinions the main wheels
are free and can rotate independently of the axle. By a slight modification of the
gearing the wheels may be driven at a more rapid speed than the main axle, but
this is seldom needed.
I sometimes in place of cranking the main or driving shaft use a straight shaft,
and fix fast upon it two drums or pullies; outside these and oscillating freely upon
the shaft other drums or pullies, each carrying one or more pawls, knuckles, or silent
feeds, which, on motion being given to the outer drums in one direction, causes the
pawls or knuckles to fasten upon the inner or fixed drums, thus giving motion to
the shaft; on giving motion to the outer drums in the opposite direction, the pawls
or knuckles free themselves and allow the outer drums to oscillate back to their
original positions. The pawls are so arranged, that when desirable, the motion of
the shaft may be reversed.
On the peripheries of each outer drum is fastened a flexible connection having at
the free end a stirrup or suitable attachment for the foot. The two outer drums
are so arranged that they oscillate in opposite directions at the same time, so that
-the pawls or knuckles of one drum are giving rotation to the shaft while the other
is returning to its starting point.
The clutches may be arranged to operate upon silent pawls according to the
following method:-
-The-main-wheels are fixed each upon a tube, through which-a-solid-axle passes.
Upon each tube also a bevilled wheel is mounted-so-as to be able to revolve freely,
and also there is a disc keyed on each tube having studs fixed into it, which serve
as axes for silent pawls.
The pawls can be made to engage with the interior surfaces of cylindrical flanges
which are formed upon the backs of the bevilled wheels. There are four silent
pawls to work in connection with each of the bevilled wheels, two adapted for
propelling the machine forward and two for running backwards. The pawls are
provided with springs tending to hold them in contact with the flange so that they
may bite upon it, but the pawls are also controlled by inclines formed upon a pair
of pins fixed in a collar, which, by means of a hand lever can be slidden along the
tube upon which the parts are mounted. The inclines operate upon tail pieces
formed on the silent pawls, so that in one position of the hand lever the forward,
and in another position the backward, pawls are in operation. In an intermediate
position all the pawls are out of operation and the bevilled wheels are loose upon
the tube on which the main wheel is fixed. The two bevilled wheels already
mentioned gear with a third wheel on a horizontal stud or shaft at right angles
with the axle, and this has a drum fixed to it or keyed on same stud or shaft with
a strap carrying stirrups or other attachment for the feet passing over it. The
stirrups are worked by the feet, and the strap has projections formed upon it
which enter recesses in the periphery of the drum, so that the strap may not slip
upon its surface.
By setting the clutch levers opposite ways the machine can be made to turn
upon the ground on which it stands. Or if it be unnecessary that the two main
wheels should be thus independent they may be both fast on the same axle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Chatwood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
March 1881.
SAMUEL CHATWOOD, of 120, Cannon Street, in the City of London, Safe and Lock
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND LIKE VEHICLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in tricyclos and like vehicles.
I construct tricycles with two main or driving wheels and with a central steering
wheel behind. I form the treddle cranks upon the axle of the main wheels, and I
cause the rotary motion of the axle to be imparted to the wheels through gearing,
so that the main wheels may be rotated at a slower speed than the axle.
The bosses of the main wheels have necks projecting inwards, and these are
received into bearings at the ends of an arched or bow frame, which frame is in this
way supported by the main wheels. From the centre of the arched or bow frame
an arm projects to the rear, and it has at its end a socket which receives the stem
of a fork in which the hinder or steering wheel is carried. The bow frame or its
arm also carries the drivers seat. Upon the main axle on either side just within
the projecting necks of the main wheel bosses, a pair of pinions are arranged to
slide along a feather upon the axle. Those pinions are under the control of the
rider who can move them in or out along the axle.
For this purpose handles are provided in connection with forks entering circular
grooves between the pinions.
The projecting neck of each of the main wheel bosses also has a pinion upon it of
the same size as the larger of the sliding pinions on the same side of the machine.
In one position these two pinions of a size are close alongside the one of the other,
and they then both gear with the same pinion on a stud axis projecting from the
side of the bow frame. Consequently when the sliding pinions are in this position
the driving wheels rotate at the same speed as the cranked or treddle axis, the
pinion upon the stud axis serving to couple the two. The stud axis in each case
carries a second pinion of larger size formed of a piece with the first, or mounted
with it upon same tube or hollow axis. The smaller sliding pinion of each pair
can be brought to gear with the larger pinion upon the stud axis, and the main
wheel is then driven at a slower speed than the main axle upon which are the
treddles. In an intermediate position of the sliding pinions the main wheels are
free and can rotate independently of the axle. By a slight modification of the
gearing the wheels may be driven at a more rapid speed than the main axle, but
this is seldom needed.
I sometimes in place of cranking the main or driving shaft use a straight shaft,
and pin fast upon it two druins or pullies, outside these and oscillating freely upon
the shaft other drums or pullies each carrying one or more pawls, knuckles, or
silent feeds, which on motion being given to the outer drums in one direction causes
the pawls or knuckles to fasten upon the inner or fixed drums, thus giving motion
to the shaft, on giving motion to the outer drums in the opposite direction the
pawls or knuckles free themselves and allow the outer drums to oscillate back to
their original positions. The pawls are so arranged that when desirable the motion
of the shaft may be reversed.
On the periphories of each outer drum is fastened a flexible connection having at
the free end a stirrup or suitable attachment for the foot. The two outer drums
are so arranged that they oscillate in opposite directions at the same time, so that
the pawls or knuckles of one drum are giving rotation to the shaft while the other
is returning to its starting point.
Clutches may be arranged to operate upon silent pawls according to the following
method:--
The main wheels are fixed each upon a tube through which a solid axle passes.

page_text: Figure 3 is a plan of the driving gear, together with the main wheels; Figure 4
is a back elevation. The remaining Figures show various parts of the gear to a
larger scale, viz., full size or thereabout.
A, A, are the driving wheels; B is a solid shaft running from wheel to wheel
and loose in the bosses of the same, that is, it is capable of revolution without
imparting motion to the wheels. It is secured in place at the ends by a nut and
washer or other suitable contrivance; C, C, are two nitre wheels which run loose
upon the tubular shafts D, D, these tubular shafts being rigidly connected to the
bosses of the driving wheels; E, E, are ratchet plates or discs keyed fast upon
the tubular shafts, so that it is incapable of rotation without at the same time
turning round the driving wheels. One of the discs E is clearly seen in Figure 5,
which is a section in the plane of the shaft B of one of the wheels C and the
disc E.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the disc E and the parts which it carries, and
Figures 7 show this disc separately.
F, F, F, F', are four ratchets or pawls either toothed or otherwise; F¹, F', are for
the forward motion of the wheels, the other two for the backward motion.
Figures 8 show one of the pawls. These pawls work upon pins G, G, G¹, G¹,
secured in the ratchet disc E. The outer ends of the pins enter the cover plate H,
which supports them and keeps dust, &c., from the working parts; it is secured by
screws passing through the ends of the pins; Figure 9 shows the cover plate.
The ratchets or pawls are held against the ring on the back of the mitro wheels by
spiral or other springs I, I, each spring connecting one forward and one backward
pawl. The pawls, as before shown, are in couples, like pawls being at diametrically
opposite sides of the plate. The clutch or regulating cam is shown by Figures 10;
it is so arranged that no two pawls giving opposite motions can be upon the mitre
wheel rim at the same time. When the clutch is in, the backward pawls are upon
the ring; when half out, both sets of pawls are off the ring; and, when right out,
the forward pawls are upon the ring. The clutch pins J, J, of the clutches K, K,
pass through the slots L, L, in the cover plate H, and as the clutch K is capable of
sliding backwards and forwards only along the tubular shaft D, it revolves with
the ratchet plate E, and, as before mentioned, either places the pawls for backward,
out of gear, or forward motion, according to its position. The clutch is worked by
means of a forked lever from any convenient part of the machine.
Going back to Figures 3 and 4, M is a mitre wheel gearing into the two other
wheels C, C, and, running loose upon the spindle N; it carries upon its back the
flat grooved pulley or strap wheel Q, which is securely fastened to it. Over this
strap wheel passes a strap or other flexible connection P, P', which terminates at
the end in the stirrups or other suitable contrivance O, O'. The strap is kept from
slipping on the wheel Q by pins or other projections fastened to it, and passing
into corresponding recesses in the strap. A jockey pulley or riding pulley can be
used at the top of the wheel to keep the strap in place.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-Supposing the clutches in either pair
of mitre wheels be put to drive forward, the person sitting upon the saddle or seat
of the machine places his feet in the stirrups and presses down one, say, the
strap O'. This turns the strap wheel and its mitre wheel in the direction of the
arrow, and causes the two other mitre wheels to turn as indicated. The mitre
wheel on the right hand side now turns round that main wheel until the other
stirrup is at its higher point; this stirrup is now depressed, and in its turn drives
the mitre wheel on the left hand side, the other wheel running back ready for fresh
hold on the pawls when its turn arrives. If now both clutches be placed in mid
gear, the driving wheels revolve by themselves as in going down hill. But if on
the other hand one be placed in forward gear and the other in backward,
the machine turns round on its centre, that is, the centre between the driving
wheels.
If desired the solid shaft can be made to revolve solid with each driving wheel

page_text: and can be disconnected at the pleasure of the driver by the application of a feather
to the inner side of the clutch.
The spindle N can if necessary be continued on to allow of the use of several
strap wheels for different drivers, thus one or more persons can be acting upon the
driving wheels at the same time; the stroke of the strap can also be either long or
short to suit the convenience of the rider.
As already suggested, the arrangement may in some cases be varied or simplified
as follows: Both the main wheels may be fixed on a straight shaft which also
carries the drums, pullies, or parts C and E. A further variation may also be made
by rendering the parts C fast upon the shaft, and the part E the loose part to which
the alternating motion is imparted.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I claim,-
First. The construction of tricycles and like vehicles, substantially in the manner
described and illustrated by Sheet 1 of the Drawings annexed.
Second. The construction of tricycles and like vehicles, substantially as described
and illustrated by Sheet 2 of the annexed Drawings, and also the variations from
this method of construction, herein specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Samuel Chatwood, have hereunto set my
-hand and seal, this Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty-one.