IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Warwick, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Warwick at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th October 1881.
THOMAS WARWICK, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELO-
CIPEDES.
"
My Invention consists, first, in the following method of constructing the metallic
rims of the tyres of the wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedos, and in
connecting the metallic spokes to the said rims. The metallic rims of the said
wheels, as ordinarily constructed, have a trough or nearly semi-circular figure in
cross action, the said trough receiving the india rubber ring or tyre for forming a
noiseless wheel. The said metallic rim is connected to the hub of the wheel by
the metallic spokes being secured to the middle of the under or convex side of the
said rim. In making metallic rims according to my Invention I provide the trough
with side horizontal flanges, to which flanges the metallic spokes are secured instead
of to the trough itself. The said flanges are situated a little below the open mouth
of the trough. By this construction great rigidity and strength are given to the
rim, and as the spokes are connected to it on either side of the trough it is sup-
ported more efficiently, and is better fitted to resist the strain put upon it than
when the spokes are connected to the middle of the trough.
My Invention consists, secondly, of the following construction and combination
of parts for driving tricycles and other velocipedes, whereby the rider can at
pleasure drive the vehicle either at a high speed when he is travelling on level
roads, or at a slower speed with increased power when he is ascending inclines.
I will describe this part of my Invention in connection with a tricycle. Instead
of using one culy of the travelling wheels of the tricycle by which to drive it, I so
construct the parts that one or other of two of the travelling wheels may be used
for driving it, one wheel being used for a quick speed, and the other for a slower
speed with increased power.

page_text: On the prolonged inner part of the hub of each wheel is a sleeve carrying a
driving pulley, over which a steel band from a pulley on the crank shaft of the
tricycle works. The said pulley sleeve turns freely on the prolonged hub of the
wheel, and is connected with and disconnected from the hub of the wheel in
the manner hereinafter explained. On each pulley sleeve is a sliding clutch having
clutch pins on its face, and the hub of the wheel is furnished with holes, with
which the said clutch pins can be engaged or from which they can be withdrawn.
When the clutch pins are engaged in the holes in the hub the driving pulley
sleeve is fixed to the hub of the wheel, and the said sleeve and wheel nove
together. When the clutch pins are withdrawn from the holes in the hub the
pulley sleeve and hub are disconnected, and the wheel is ungeared for the driving
mechanism.
By means of levers and a connecting rod the sliding clutches described aro
so coupled together that when the clutch pins of one of them are engaged with the
hub of one wheel the clutch pins of the other clutch are withdrawn from the hub
of the other wheel; thus one wheel only at a time is geared to the crank shaft of
the tricycle.
The coupling mechanism of the two clutches is worked by the turning aside of a
handle on one of the levers. I make the driving pulley on the sleeve of one wheel
of a different diameter from that on the sleeve of the other wheel, the respective
driving pulleys on the crank shaft, making pairs with those on the pulley sleeves,
being also of different diameters, that is, the wheal, say, on the right hand has a large
sleeve pulley and a smaller crank shaft pulley for driving it, while the wheel on the
left hand has a large crank shaft pulley for driving a smaller pulley on the sleeve.
In the ordinary working of the tricycle that wheel whose sleeve has the large pulley
is geared to the crank shaft in the manner before described, and a quick speed is
thereby given to the tricycle.
When however it is desired to increase the driving power of the tricycle, as in
ascending inclines, that wheel carrying the small sleeve pulley is geared with the
crank shaft, the other wheel being ungeared from the crank shaft. The tricycle
now travels at a diminished speed, but with increased power. In this way two
different speeds may at the pleasure of the rider be given to the tricycle.
My Invention consists, further, of the following improvements in the steel bands
used for driving the tricycle before described, and for driving other velocipedes :-
I take a strip of steel and arrange and fix on .that face which bears upon the
pulleys a series of square or rectangular pieces of steel, the said pieces being slightly
curved in the direction of the length of the strip or band; these pieces of steel are
fixed at a short distance apart by rivetting them at their middles to the steel
strip forming the outer layer of the band. The heads of the rivets on the inner or
wearing face of this compound band work in holes in the pulleys over which the
band passes.
By this construction a strong band is produced and the liability to break is
much diminished, and as the wear is confined to the separate pieces on the inner
face of the band they can be removed and replaced by fresh ones; or instead of
rivetting a series of small pieces of steel on the inner face of the band, the band
may be constructed of two strips of steel rivetted together face to face.
My Invention consists, further, in arranging the parts of brakes for tricycles and
other velocipedes in the following manner:- -Crossing the tricycle is a straight tube,
forming part of the frame of the tricycle, in which tube the brake rod turns, the
projecting ends of the said rod carrying the brake arms and blocks for acting on
the two travelling wheels of the tricycle. The brake rod is turned through the
required anglo for putting the brake blocks into or taking them out of action by
means of a lever handle on one end of the said brake rod.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Warwick in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th March 1882.
THOMAS WARWICK, of Aston, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND OTHER VELO-
CIPEDES."
My Invention consists, first, in the following method of constructing the metallic
rims of the tyres of the wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes, and in
connecting the metallic spokes to the said rims.
The metallic rims of tho said wheels, as ordinarily constructed, have a trough or
nearly semi circular figure in cross section, the said trough receiving the india-
rubber ring or tyre for forming a noiseless wheel. The said metallic rim is con-
nected to the hub of the wheel by the metallic spokes being secured to the middle of
the under or convex side of the said rim. In making metallic rims according to
my Invention, I provide the trough with side horizontal flanges, to which flanges
the metallic spokes are secured instead of to the trough itself. The said flanges
are situated a little below the open mouth of the trough. By this construction
great rigidity and strength are given to the rim, and as the spokes are connected
to it on either side of the trough it is supported more efficiently and is better fitted
to resist the strain put upon it than when the spokes are connected to the middle
of the trough.
My Invention consists, secondly, of the following construction and combination
of parts for driving tricycles and other velocipedes, whereby the rider can at
pleasure drive the vehicle either at a high speed when he is travelling on level roads,
or at a slower speed with increased power when he is ascending inclines.
I will describe this part of my Invention in connection with a tricycle. Instead
of using one only of the travelling wheels of the tricycle by which to drive it, I so
construct the parts that one or other of two of the travelling wheels may be used
for driving it, one wheel being used for a quick speed and the other for a slower
speed with increased power.
On the prolonged inner part of the hub of each wheel is a sleeve carrying a
driving pulley over which a steel band or chain from a pulley on the crank shaft
of the tricycle works. The said pulley sleeve turna freely on the prolonged hub of
the wheel and is connected with and disconnected from the hub of the wheel in
the manner herein after explained. On each pulley sleeve is a sliding clutch
having clutch pins on its face, and the hub of the wheel is furnished with holes
with which the said clutch pins can be engaged or from which they can be with-
drawn.
When the clutch pins are engaged in the holes in the hub the driving pulley
sleeve is fixed to the hub of the wheel and the said sleeve and wheel move
together. When the clutch pins are withdrawn from the holes in the hub the
pulley sleeve and hub are disconnected and the wheel is ungeared from the driving
mechanism.
By means of lovers and a connecting rod the sliding clutches described are so
coupled together that when the clutch pins of one of them are engaged with the
hub of one wheel, the clutch pins of the other clutch are withdrawn from the hub
of the other wheel. Thus one wheel only at a time is geared to the crank shaft of
the tricycle. The coupling mechanism of the two clutches is worked by the turning
aside of a handle on one of the levers. I make the driving pulley on the sleeve
of one wheel of a different diameter from that on the sleeve of the other wheel,
the respective driving pulleys ou the crank shaft making pairs with those on the

page_text: pulley sleeves, being also of different diameters, that is, the wheel say on the right
hand has a large sleeve pulley and a smaller crank shaft pulley for driving it, while
the wheel on the left hand has a large crank shaft pulley for driving a smaller
pulley on the sleeve. In the ordinary working of the tricycle, that wheel whose
sleeve has the small pulley is geared to the crank shaft in the manner before
described and a quick speed is thereby given to the tricycle. When however it is
desired to increase the driving power of the tricycle, as in ascending inclines, that
wheel carrying the large sleeve pulley is geared with the crank shaft, the other
wheel being ungeared from the crank shaft. The tricycle now travols at a
diminished speed but with increased power. In this way two different speeds may
at the pleasure of the rider be given to the tricycle.
My Invention consists further of the following improvements in the steel bands
used for driving the tricycle before described and for driving other velocipedes:
:-
I take a strip of steel and arrange and fix on that face which bears upon the
pulleys a series of square or rectangular pieces of steel, the said pieces being
slightly curved in the direction of the length of the strip or band. These pieces of
steel are fixed at a short distance apart by rivetting them at their middles to the
steel strip forming the outer layer of the band. The heads of the rivets on the
inner or wearing face of this compound band work in holes in the pulleys over
which the band passes.
By this construction a strong band is produced and the liability to break is
much diminished, and as the wear is confined to the separate pieces on the inner
face of the band they can be removed and replaced by fresh ones.
Or instead of rivetting a series of small pieces of steel on the inner face of the
band, the band may be constructed of two strips of steel rivetted together face to
face.
My Invention consists further in arranging the parts of brakes for tricycles and
other velocipedes in the following manner:-Crossing the tricycle is a straight
tube forming part of the frame of the tricycle, in which tube the brake rod turns
the projecting ends of the said rod, carrying the brake arms and blocks for acting
on the two travelling wheels of the tricycle. The brake rod is turned through the
required angle for putting the brake blocks into or taking them out of action by
means of a lever handle on one end of the said brake rod.
I will now proceed to described, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which my Invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in elevation the wheel of a bicycle, tricycle, or other
velocipede, the metallic rim of which is constructed and the spokes attached to it
according to my Invention; Figure 2 represents a cross section, and Figure 3 a
front and side elevation of the metallic rim drawn to a larger scale.
a is the trough of the metallic rim, in which trough the india rubber ring or
tyre b fits. The said trough a is provided with side horizontal flanges c, c, to
which the metallic spokes d, d, are secured instead of to the trough itself. The
metallic spokes d, d, are secured to the flanges c, c, of the rim in either of the
usual ways.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 represent modifications of the metallic rim, Figures 1, 2,
and 3.
In Figure 4 the metallic rim is made of a cruciform figure in cross section, the
said metallic rim being made by drawing it from a strip of sheet steel, that is, the
rim consists of four hollow arms, each arm being situated at right angles to
the adjacent arm. To the flanges or horizontal arms c, c, of the cruciform shaped
rim the spokes d, d, are fixed, the upper faces of the said flanges acting as seats for
supporting the india rubber tyre b, the said tyre being secured in its place on the
rim by the said tyre taking upon the projecting upper arme of the rim. The lower
arm gives additional strength to the rim.
In Figure 5 the metallic rim consists of three hollow bulbous arms c, c, and e,
and in Figure 6 the metallic rim consists of four arms c, c, e, f, some what similar

page_text: to those of the rim, Figure 4, excepting that the three hollow arms have a bulbous
figure.
Figure 7 represents in front elevation (partly in vertical section), Figure 8 in
plan, and Figure 9 in side elevation, a portion of a tricycle containing my improve-
ments. The other Figures represent separate parts and details of the same, as
herein after explained.
I will first describe the driving mechanism of the tricycle. g, h, are the principal
travelling wheels of the tricycle, either of which may be worked for propelling the
tricycle at the pleasure of the driver, the wheel g being driven when a quick speed
is required, and the other wheel being driven when a slower speed with increased
power is required. The inner part of the hub of each of the wheels g, h, is pro-
longed, the said prolonged parts being marked respectively g³ and h³. One of the
said hubs with its prolonged part is shewn separately in sido elevation, partly in
section, and in front elevation in Figure 10. i, i, are the axes on which the
travelling wheels g, h, turn, the said axes passing through the hollow hubs and
being secured by screw nuts to the framing of the tricycle in the usual way. One
of the axes i and a portion of the framing are shown in Figure 12. On the pro-
longed part g³ of the wheel g a driving pulley k works, and on the prolonged
part of the other wheel a driving pulley works, each pulley being provided
with a sleeve marked respectively ³, 8. These pulley sleeves turn freely on the
prolonged parts g², h², of their respective hubs g, h, as seon in tho section, Figure 7.
The pulley is shewn separately in front elevation and section in Figure 11. On
the pulley sleeve g² is a sliding clutch m, and on the pulley sleeve h³ is a similar
sliding clutch n. One of the sliding clutches is shewn separately in Figure 13.
Each clutch has on its face clutch pins which can be made to engage with holes p, p,
in the hub of the wheel or be withdrawn from the said holes. When the clutch
pins of the clutch n are engaged with the holes p, p, in the hub of the wheel h, as
represented in the Drawing, the driving pulley sleeve is fixed to the wheel h,
and the sleeve and its pulley 1, 2, and the wheel h move together. When the
clutch pins of the said clutch n are withdrawn from the holes in the hub of the
wheel h, the pulley and sleeve 1, 2, are disconnected from the hub of the said
wheel, and the said wheel is ungeared from the driving mechanism. Similarly
when the pins of the clutch mare engaged with the holes p, p, in the hub of the
wheel g, the said wheel g and the pulley are geared together, and when the
clutch pins are withdrawn from the said holes in the hub, as seen in the Drawing,
the wheel g is ungcared from the driving mechanism. The two sliding clutches m, n,
are coupled together by the levers q, r, and connecting rod 8; 92, 73, are the axes
of the said levers turning in tubular sockets on the fixed framing of the tricycle.
On the axis r² of the lever r is a handlet for working the coupling (see Figure 9).
The lower arm of each lever q, r, is forked (see Figure 9, and the separate view,
Figure 14) and carries studs. These studs work in the collars m³, n³, of the sliding
clutches m, n.
By coupling together the two clutches m, n, in the manner described and
represented, the turning aside of the handle t in one or other direction causes the
clutch pins of one clutch to be engaged with the hub of one wheel and the clutch
pins of the other clutch to be withdrawn from the hub of the other wheel, so that
one wheel only at a time is geared to the crank shaft, or by putting the clutches m, n,
into an intermediate position both the travelling wheels g, h, may be disconnected
from the crank shaft. An arrangement for locking one or other clutch with its
travelling wheel or for locking both clutches out of gear with their travelling
wheels by the act of grasping the handle t, is herein after described.
The driving pulley k on the wheel g and the driving pulley on the wheel h are
of different diameters; u is the crank shaft provided at its ends with pulleys w, x,
of different diameters, the crank shaft pulley w making a pair with the sleeve
pulley k, and the crank shaft pulley x making a pair with the sleeve pulley L. The
pulleys of each pair are geared together by the studded metallic band y, the equi-
distant studs on the said band taking into equi-distant holes in the periphories of

page_text: the pulleys; but bands of other construction or chains may be used for gearing
together the pulleys of each pair; or toothed gearing may be used in place of the
pulleys and bands or chains. In this case the toothed wheels on the crank shaft
are geared to the toothed wheels on the travelling wheels by intermediate toothed
wheels.
l
By an examination of the Drawings it will be seen that the travelling wheel h
of the tricycle has a large sleeve pulley on its hub, and a smaller pulley x on
the crank shaft u works it, while the crank shaft u has a large pulley w upon it
for driving the smaller pulley on the hub of the travelling wheel g.
In the normal working of the tricycle the travelling wheel g provided with the
small sleeve pulley k is geared to the larger pulley won the crank shaft u, the
other travelling wheel being ungeared from the crank shaft u. When the
travelling wheel g is thus genred to tho crank shaft u a quick speed is given to the
tricyclc. When it is wished to increase the driving power of the tricycle, as in
ascending inclines, the handlot is moved in the direction proper to gear the
wheel / carrying the large sleeve pulley Z with the small pulley x on the crank
shaft u, the other travelling wheel g being ungeared from the crank shaft u. The
tricycle now travels at a diminished speed, but with increased power. Thus, two
different speeds may at the pleasure of the rider be given to the tricycle. When it
is wished to ungear both wheels g, h, from the crank shaft ut, as in descending
inclines, the handle t of the clutch mechanism is so moved as to disconnect both
clutches m, n, from the hubs of the wheels g, h.
For the purpose of locking the clutches m, n, in one of tho three positions
described, that is, for gearing the tricycle to the crank shaft for speed or for power,
or for ungearing both travelling wheels from the crank shaft, I use the spring bolt
arrangement represented in connection with the clutch handle t in side elevation
in Figure 15, section in Figure 16, plan in Figure 17, and end elevation in
Figure 18. The said spring bolt arrangement is also shown combined with the
tricycle in Figure 9.
On the top of the fixed tubular guide z in which the axis of the clutch lever 1ª
to which the handle is fixed works is a plate 1 having in its turned up end three
holes 2, 3, 4, and sliding on the fixed plate 1 is a second plate 5 fixed to and
turning with the handle t. This moveable or second plate 5 carries at its free end
a bolt case in which a spring bolt 6 works, the bolt being furnished with a thumb
plate 7 by which it can be withdrawn. The said spring bolt 6 can be made to
engage with one of the three holes 2, 3, 4, in the fixed plate 1. When the handle t
is turned aside in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 17, the hand
grasping the said handle at the same time withdrawing the spring bolt 6 by its
thumb plate 7, the power pulleys l, x, of the driving mechanism are geared together
as represented in the Drawing, and the spring bolt 6 snaps into the hole 4 and
locks the clutches in that position. By withdrawing the spring bolt 6 and turning
aside the handle t in the opposite direction to that indicated by the arrow the
speed pulleys k, w, of the driving mechanismu are geared together and the spring
bolt 6 snaps into the hole 2 and again locks the clutches; and by withdrawing the
spring bolt 6 and bringing the handle t into an intermediate position the spring
bolt 6 snaps into the middle hole 3 and thereby locks the clutches in such a
position that the two travelling wheels g, h, are disconnected from the crank
shaft u.
The holes 4, 2, and 3 may respectively be marked with the words
"power," "speed," and "ungeared."
The brake of the tricycle is constructed as follows:-Situated at the back of
the tricycle and forming part of the frame thereof is a straight cross tube 10 in
which a brake rod 11 turns. On each of the projecting ends of the brake rod 11
is an arm 12. These arms carry the brake blocks 13, 13, for acting on the
travelling wheels g, h, of the tricycle. The brake rod 11 is turned through the
required angle for putting the brake blocks 13, 13, into or taking them out of
action by means of the lever handle 14 on one end of the brake rod 11. The

page_text: construction of the brake and the manner in which it is operated will be best
understood by an examination of Figures 8 and 9.
I will now describe the driving bands constructed according to my Invention.
Driving bands constructed according to one of my improvements are represented
in connection with the tricycle shewn in Figures 7, 8, and 9, and are marked y.
A portion of one of the said bands is represented drawn to a larger scale in front
elevation and side elevation, partly in longitudinal section in Figure 19, and cross
section in Figure 20. One of the rivets is represented in Figure 21.
The said driving bands consist of a strip of steel y having fixed on its inner
face n series of square or rectangular pieces of sheet steel y., the said pieces of
sheet steel yy, being curved, as represented in Figure 19. The said pieces of
steel y, y, are fixed at a short distance apart on the inner face of the steel strip y
by rivetting them at their middles to the said strip y, tho rivet heads y³ constituting
studs on the inner faces of the pieces y², which studs y³ take into equi-distant holes
in the pulleys over which the band passes (sec the sectional parts of the pulleys of
Figure 7).
It will be seen by an examination of Figure 10 that the driving band thus
constructed consists of an outer strip of steel y having on its inner face a series of
separate pieces of steel y, to which pieces the wear is confined, the said separato
pieces being capable of being readily removed when worn and replaced by fresh
one, the heads y³ of the rivets constituting the engaging studs which take into the
holes in the pulleys over which the band works.
Figure 22 represents in front elevation and side elovation, partly in longitudinal
section, another driving band made according to my Invention. In this case the
band is composed of two strips of steel, c, rivetted together face to face, the
heads of the rivets on the inner face of the strip constituting the studs which
take into the holes in the pulleys.
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 do not limit myself
to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varied
without departing from the nature of my Invention,
But I claim as any Invention of "Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other
Velocipedes,"
First. The method, herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 3
of the accompanying Drawings, of constructing the metallic rims of the tyres of
the wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes, and in connecting the
metallic spokes to the said rims, that is to say, providing the trough of the
metallic rim with side horizontal flanges, to which flanges the metallic spokes are
secured instead of to the trough itself, substantially as described and illustrated,
also the modifications herein before described and illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6
of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The construction and combination of parts, herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 7 to 18, both inclusive, of the accompanying Drawings,
for driving tricycles and other similar velocipedes, that is to say, arranging on each
of the two travelling or driving wheels of the velocipede a loose pulley, to which
loose pulley a pulley on the crank shaft is geared by a driving band or chain, the
driving pulleys on the hubs of the wheels being of different diameters, and the
driving pulleys on the crank shaft making pairs with those on the hubs of the
wheels being also of different diameters, the driving pulleys on the hubs of the
wheels being coupled together and worked by the clutch mechanism described and
represented, whereby the rider can at pleasure drive the velocipede either at a
high speed or at a slower speed with increased power, or disconnect both travelling
wheels from the crank shaft, for the purposes and substantially as described and
illustrated.
Also, the employment of toothed gearing in place of the pulleys and driving
bands or chains described and illustrated.

page_text: Thirdly. The arrangement of the brakes of tricycles and other similar velocipedes,
heroin before described and illustrated in Figures 7, 8, and 9 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Fourthly. Constructing the steel bands used for driving tricycles and other
similar velocipedes, in the manner herein before described and illustrated in
Figures 7, 8, 9, 19, 20, and 21 of the accompanying Drawings, that is to say,
constructing the said bands of a strip of steel, to the inner face of which a series
of separate curved pieces of sheet steel is rivetted, the heads of the rivets situated
on the inner or wearing face of the compound driving band constituting
equi-distant studs which take into equi-distant holes in the pulleys over which the
band works, substantially as described and illustrated, also making the said
driving bands of two continuous strips of steel rivetted together face to face,
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 22 and 23 of the
accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Warwick, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty second day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand sight hundred and sighty two
Witness,
RICHARD SKERBETT,
37, Temple Street,
Birmingham,
THOMAS WARWICK. (Ls.)