Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Tricycles and other Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Sept., 1893-Accepted, 7th Oct., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Tricycles and other
Wheeled Vehicles.
A communication by WILLIAM JARRETT MOORE, of 1807, North 15th Street,
Philadelphia, in the State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Dealer
in Wall Papers.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S. M.I.M.E. of the Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster and 323, High Holborn in the
County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to an improvement in mechanism for propelling tricycles
and other wheeled vehicles; the improvement comprising certain novel features of
construction and organization that will be hereinafter fully described, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tricycle embodying the invention.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is an end view of the front wheel and its connections.
The numeral 1 represents a shaft, and 2 a suitable frame in which it is supported.
This shaft may be the front axle of a wheel, as, for instance, the front wheel, 3, of
a tricycle. In that case the frame constitutes a yoke which is pivotally connected
at its upper end, by means of a pintle 4, with the forward extension of the reach or
"back bone," 5, of the vehicle. The ends of the shaft extend beyond the sides of
the frame 2, and have each secured thereto a pinion 6. In gear with each pinion is
a spur wheel 7, which is mounted on a lower stud 8 that projects from an arm on
the sides of the frame; and in gear with this spur wheel is a similar spur wheel 9
which is mounted on a corresponding stud 10. On the face of each of these spur
wheels is a ratchet wheel 11, the teeth of one ratchet wheel being inclined in one
direction and those of the other in an opposite direction, as shown. The ratchet
and gear wheels on both sides of the machine correspond in construction and
relative arrangement.
Fulcrumed on a stud, x, near the bottom of each member of the frame 2 is the
lower end of a vertical arm 12 on which are pivoted at proper points two pawls 13
that engage the teeth of the ratchet wheels respectively, whereby when the arm is
vibrated to and fro the opposed ratchet wheels are alternately moved. In the
drawings, the arm 12 is represented as thrown forward. When it is drawn back
the rear pawl thereon will act upon the teeth of the opposed ratchet wheel and
move the latter in the direction of the adjacent arrow (a); thereby correspondingly
impelling the proximate spur wheel, and perforce rotating the co-acting pinion in a
reverse direction, to wit, that indicated by the arrow b. When the arm is again
thrown forward, the front pawl will act against the teeth of the opposed ratchet
wheel and thus move the latter and its spur wheel in the direction of the arrow c,
thereby rotating the engaged spur wheel and the pinion in the direction indicated
by the arrows a and b respectively. Hence a continuous rotary movement will be
imparted to the shaft during both strokes of the arm.
When the mechanism is applied to the front wheel of a tricycle as illustrated,
the arms 12 are connected by a handle frame, whereby said arms may be not only
reciprocated but guided and controlled by an occupant of the vehicle.
This frame comprises two laterally bent bars 14 that are pivotally connected at
their forward ends with the arms 12, and are united at their opposite ends by a
cross-bar 15. It will be obvious that when the frame is reciprocated, the arms and

page_text: perforce the pawl and ratchet mechanism will be operated as above described; and
also that when the frame is turned toward either side the wheel and its connections
will be correspondingly moved to effect the steering of the vehicle.
Fixed to the respective sides of the supporting frame 2 are outwardly projecting
studs, 16, which constitute determinate stops for the arms in their reciprocative
movements.
By means of the duplex ratchet and pawl mechanism above described, the
reciprocating motion of the handle frame is converted into a continuous rotary
motion without the necessity of overcoming dead points or centers.
The advantage
of this feature in a road conveyance subject to jolts and jars is obvious, for whatever
be the conditions, so long as sufficient power is applied to the reciprocating handle
frame, the ratchet wheels and their connections will be revolved.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In a wheeled vehicle, the combination with the pivoted frame, of the pinion
on the shaft or axle of the wheel in said frame, the ratchet wheels, and the spur
wheels mounted on said frame, the vibrating arm, the pawls thereon engaging the
teeth of the ratchet wheels respectively, and the handle bar or frame connected
with said vibratory arm and adapted to be used for operating and steering the
vehicle, substantially as described.
2. In a wheeled vehicle, the combination with the pivoted frame, of the pinions
on the ends of the shaft or axle of the wheel in said frame, the ratchet wheels and
the spur wheels mounted on the respective sides of said frame, the vibratory arms,
the pivoted pawls thereon engaging the teeth of the ratchet wheels respectively,
and the handle frame pivotally connected with said vibratory arms and adapted to
be used for operating and steering the vehicle, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of September 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.