Improvements in Railroad Tricycles.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Railroad Tricycles.
I, REUBEN NEWTON MAYFIELD, of the city of Denver, county of Arapahoe, state of
Colorado, United States of America, Physician, 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 :-
My invention relates to an improved form and construction of railroad tricycle,
that is a tricycle especially adapted and intended to be propelled upon and along the
tracks of a railroad by the rider thereof.
Its object is to furnish a tricycle for such use of simple, light and compact con-
struction, yet durable and safe in use and requiring a minimum of power comparatively
for effective and speedy operation, easily used and operated even by those unskilled in
and unaccustomed to the use of ordinary bi- and tri-cycles, one adapted to be readily
changed and adjusted to permit its use by the riders of different heights or length of
limb and which may be readily folded into a comparatively small compass for
transportation on trains or otherwise and as readily extended and locked in condition
for use; to which ends it consists in the features and combinations more particularly
hereinafter described and claimed.
In the drawing is illustrated an embodiment of my invention, in which drawings,
Fig. 1 is a perspective view thereof;
Fig. 2 a section on line x-x Fig. 1 ;
Fig. 3 a plan view.
In these figures the reference numeral 1 indicates the main longitudinal member of
the framing, carrying the bearings of the main wheels 2 and 3, 2 being the front wheel,
somewhat smaller than the rear and main driving wheel 3. The end of the axle of this
driving wheel 3 is supported in a slot 4 in the main brace 1, the axle being clamped
at the proper point in the slot 4 to sufficiently tighten the sprocket chain 32 by a
clamping nut on the inner end of the axle.
•
These wheels 2 and 3 are secured upon the exterior or outer line of the main brace
rod relatively to the frame of the machine, so that the one main longitudinal rod
constitutes the entire framing upon that side of the tricycle, economy of material and
labor in construction and increased lightness being thus attained, and for lightness
with sufficient strength and rigidity the rod 1 may be tubular. These wheels thus
connected by the main brace I run upon the same rail and are each double flanged
as shown, that is, there are flanges on either sides of each wheel taking on either side
of the rail head so as to more securely guide and support the machine.
Upon the other rail travels the third wheel 5, considerably smaller than either of
the main wheels 2, 3 and whose periphery is plain and unflanged. It is connected
to the framework of the main wheels on the other side by a system of diagonal brace
rods, which for use with one uniform gauge of road, might be plain non-extensible
rods, but which to give adaptability of adjustment for various gauges, are made
extensible as follows.
Each rod is composed of two parts, a tubular portion and a sliding portion tele-
scoping therein, each being provided with a set screw by which the two parts may be
locked at any desired degree of extension and the outer ends of all the solid or rod
portions are secured to a collar 10 in which is seated the axle of the third wheel 5. Of
these diagonal brace rods the rear one is composed of the tubular portion 6, the solid
rod 8 and the set screw 9. This tubular portion 6 is forked at its inner end, as at 7,
the limbs of the fork being pivoted upon the end of the main brace 1, so that the
diagonal brace composed of parts 6 and 8 may be folded along the main brace 1 when
the end of part 8 is disengaged from the collar 10.

page_text: The outer or free end of such part 8 is arranged to take upon a pin projecting
from the collar 10, upon which pin is a thumb, wing or set nut 38, clamping 8
thereupon.
At the front end of main brace 1 is pivoted by a bolt passing therethrough, the
tubular portion 11 of the front brace rod, a nut 12 taking upon the head of the pivotal
bolt to keep the part 11 and the main brace 1 in position. Within the tubular portion 11
slides the rod 13 whose free end likewise takes upon the pin or bolt on collar 10 before
referred to a set screw 14 keeping the tubular part 11 and sliding part 13 in
proper position.
It should be stated that while a main brace rod 1 only long enough to carry
the bearings or axles of the main wheels 2 and 3 might be used, it is preferable to
extend them beyond the bearings of the wheels in order to give increased base area to
the machine as represented by the triangle bounded by the main brace rod 1 and the
diagonal brace rods 6, 8 and 11, 13, such increased base area giving greater
steadiness to the cycle, especially when used at high speed.
Rigidly secured to and projecting upwardly from the main brace 1 is a handle
standard composed of a tubular portion 21 and a rod portion 22 sliding therein,
a handle 23 being secured upon the top of the latter.
Such handle standard and handle are, as stated, rigid from the main brace 1
and are intended merely for the steadying of the rider, there being no necessity
of steering inasmuch as the cycle naturally follows the tracks and its curvings.
From near the rear wheel the tube 24 projects upwardly, the bent solid rod 25
sliding therein, the two forming the seat or saddle standard, a saddle 29 of usual
construction being secured in the ordinary way upon the horizontal portion of the
rod 25.
From the handle standard to the saddle standard extends a brace 26 whose ends
are formed into clamps grasping the tubular portions of such standards at their upper
ends, such ends being split for a little distance in order that they may be crowded
upon their interiorially sliding solid rods in a manner well known in the arts, 28 being
the clamp grasping the end of the tubular portion 21 of the handle standard, and 29
the clamp grasping the end of the tubular part of the saddle standard, 39 being the
handle of the nut for the latter clamp, that for the nut of clamp 28 not being shown.
Then as one or the other of these clamps is loosened, the saddle or the handle may
be raised or lowered and then secured in position by the re-tightening of the loosened
clamp.
While as thus far described, ample provision is made for the stability and rigidity
of the running gear and its frame, it is preferable, in order to give greater stability
and steadiness to the rider to add a third diagonal brace composed of a tubular
portion 15 pivoted at the top of the handle standard and a solid rod 16 sliding
therein and connected at its outer end to the collar 10 as in the case of the other
diagonal brace rods, a set screw 17 being used in the other cases to lock the tubular
and the solid parts together at any desired point.
As before stated these diagonal braces connect the third wheel 5 to the main wheels 2
and 3 through the medium of collar or tube 10 in which is secured the axle od of
the wheel 5. Such axle 18, upon which wheel rotates is bent as shown at 19, so
that its two rods are in different though parallel planes.
This arrangement permits, by turning the shaft 18 in its seat within the collar 10,
the angle or position of the wheel 5 relatively to the wheels 2 and 3 to be altered or
regulated, a set screw 20 being seated in the collar 10 to clamp the axle 18 in the
desired position.
To communicate motion to the main driving wheels a sprocket wheel 31 is
journalled in bearings supported in an inverted 40 clamped, upon and depending
from the main brace or framing rod 1 at about its center, the usual crank arms 30,
with treadles or pedals 30, being secured upon the ends of the axle of the sprocket
wheel 31, from which wheel an endless belt or sprocket chain 32 passes over a
sprocket wheel 33 secured upon the hub of wheel 3, the relation of the sprocket

page_text: wheels 31 and 33 to each other preferably being such that increased rate of rotation
is given the latter.
At about the same point a brake lever 34 is centrally pivoted to the main brace or
framing rod 1, which carries at both free ends brake blocks or shoes 35. From the
brake lever 34 a system of levers 36 extends to the handle 23 where they are connected
to a brake handle 37 pivoted to the handle 23 or handle standard so that the pulling
up of the brake handle 37 shall cause the impingement of the shoes 35 upon the
peripheries of both wheels 2 and 3.
To lessen friction it is preferable that all the bearings used be ball bearings of any
of the usual and reliable constructions; so far I have used in practice with good
results what is known as the "Smith Patent Bearing" found on many bicycles and
tricycles.
This construction, by the use of the telescopic diagonal or brace rods permits
adjustment to any width of gauge and it is evident that this part of my invention
might be carried into effect by other and known ways of increasing or diminishing
their length.
By removing the ends of 13 and 16 from the collar 10, the rear rods 6 and 8,
with wheel 5 may be folded over against the other side of the cycle, the other brace
rods likewise, being folded flat thereagainst so that the tricycle occupies but little
more space for transportation than any ordinary bicycle, thus enabling it to be carried
in comparatively small compass on trains where it may be made great use of and be
of large benefit in affording facility for the speedy despatch of messengers for relief
in case of accident, etc.
For use by section men two or more may be hitched together by a board or
platform extending from the lower diagonal or cross rods of one to another cycle so
that several extra passengers may be carried, while for linemen, etc., a box for
carrying tools and material may be secured upon the lower diagonal braces or cross
rods.
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 :-
First In a tricycle the combination of two main wheels upon one side, a
single longitudinal main framing rod connecting and supporting them and supporting
the seat, a pedal mechanism secured thereto and depending therefrom, a third wheel
on the other side and extensible cross brace rods connecting the third wheel to the
main framing rod and means for communicating motion to the driving wheels, sub-
stantially as set forth.
Second: In a tricycle the combination of two main wheels upon one side, a single
main longitudinal framing rod connecting and supporting them upon the outside of
the tricycle frame and supporting the seat and break mechanism, a pedal mechanism
depending from and secured to such main rod, a third wheel on the other side,
extensible cross rods connecting the third wheel to such main rod and each pivotally
connected at one end and detachably connected at the other end and means for com-
municating motion to the drive wheel, substantially as set forth.
Third: In a tricycle the combination of two main wheels on one side supported
and connected by a longitudinal main brace rod and each having flanges on either
side of its treads, a third wheel on the other side having a plain or unflanged tread,
cross brace rods uniting the two sides and means for communicating motion to the
driving wheel, substantially as set forth.
Fourth In a tricycle the combination of two main wheels on one side supported
and connected by a single longitudinal main brace rod extended in each direction
beyond the bearings of the wheels, a third wheel on the other side, cross rods uniting
the two sides and connected at one end to the extended ends of the longitudinal main
brace rod and means for communicating motion to the main driving wheel, substan-
tially as set forth.

page_text: Fifth In a tricycle the combination of two main wheels on one side supported
and connected by a longitudinal main brace rod, a third wheel on the other side
having an axle 18 bent as at 19, cross brace rods connecting the two sides and
means for communicating motion to the main driving wheel, substantially as set
forth.
Sixth-In a tricycle the combination of two main wheels on one side, a longi-
tudinal brace rod connecting and supporting them, a third wheel on the other side, a
sleeve 10 receiving and supporting the spindle or axle of the third wheel, cross brace
rods uniting the two sides and detachably connected to the sleeve and means for com-
municating motion to the driving wheel, substantially as set forth...
Dated this 14th day of January 1890
HERBERT J. ALLISON,
Agent for the Applicant.