IMPROVEMENTS IN CONVERTIBLE TANDEM VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, ISAAC THOMAS TOWNSEND of Coventry in the County of Warwick, Tricycle
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN CONVERTIBLE TANDEM VELOCIPEDES " to be as follows, that is to say :—
My invention has for its object the construction of velocipedes such as those
known as "Tandems" in such a manner that the frame work, shall be capable of
conversion into a machine for one rider and possess a maximmum amount of
strength with a given weight not only as a "Tandem" but also when so converted
for one rider. This is effected by the removal of certain parts which will leave the
single machine very neat, compact and moderately light.
My invention has more particular reference to the frame work or skeleton of the
machine while best adapted for the use of two riders as a "Tandem" has also the
necessary provision at the front for an invalids seat foot rest and balance wheel so
that when mounted in the fullest manner there are seats for two riders though
generally, where an invalid is carried the back rider only would accompany and
propel such. In place of the invalids seat a parcel basket may be substituted to
carry a considerable weight the primary view in the construction of the frame
being to supply such a skeleton as shall be stable under these greatly varying
conditions and yet light and elegant both before and after conversion.
The frame of my invention may be said-in the briefest language-to consist of
two open sides. A connecting bar and a trailing bar the wheels being fixed to the
sides and the two seats ordinarily used for a "Tandem" to the trailing bar the third
or trailing or steering wheel being pivoted in a suitable pivot frame at the end of the
said trailing bar. The invalids seat or parcel basket would be fixed to the front
portion of the peculiar sides before conversion for after conversion the very parts
which would carry the invalids seat are removed so as to leave the single machine
quite unincumbered with unnessary weight. The sides of my machine are in
appearance very much like inverted U's or even V's. The cross bar forming the
connection between the two sides is a little to the back-end of the centre of the
inverted U or V. sides. Immediately at the front of this connecting bar tapered
sockets and tapered spigots-set up with right and left handed nuts or other means-
are formed in the frame to make an easy division when it is desired to take off the
front part. The trailing bar is joined on to the cross, or connecting bar by a
suitable junction cross or other piece the long part going backwards to carry the
-

page_text: trailing bar and wheel with a short piece projecting forward to carry the L bar and
front driving seat. The downward projecting arms of the inverted U or V sides are
used to carry the bearings of the front crank or pedal shaft and the front arms of
the frame.carrying the bearings of.the back pedal shaft. At the extremities of the
front arms of the U frames projections may be provided with slots and thumb nuts
and screwa to carry the foot board and balance wheel under the invalids seats which
is fastened to the upper portion of the front leg of the U frame. The driving
shaft bearings are carried by two downward projecting pieces which issue from
the U frame at the part where the junction is made with the cross bar and the
side frames. Great stability is given to the U frame by diagonal rods running
from the ends of the downturned arms of the U frames to the main bearings these
rods are suitable for both tension and compression thus leaving the bearing
supported by the back rods when in its single condition. There may however
be one horizontal rod instead with a union junction piece near the back for
convenience of separation when being converted into a single machine.
desirable for heavy riders and very light frame work I run a light steel or other
tension rod across the frame under the cross connecting bar to carry any strain
and to lessen the lateral friction upon the main bearings which is one of the
disadvantages of the broad gauge convertibles.
When

page_text: I ISAAC THOMAS TOWNSEND of Coventry in the County of Warwick, Tricycle
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CONVERTIBLE TANDEM VELOCIPEDES" and in what manner the same
is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement and accompanying sheet of drawings as follows, that is to
say :-
My Invention has for its object the construction of Velocipedes such as those
known as "Tandems" in such a manner that the frame work shall be capable of
conversion into a machine for one rider and possess a maximum amount of strength
with a given weight not only as a "Tandem" but also when so converted for one
rider.
This is effected by the removal of certain parts which will leave the single
machine very neat compact and moderately light.
My invention has more particular reference. to the frame work or skeleton of the
machine. It is best adapted for the use of two riders as a "Tandem" but has also
the necessary provision at the front for an invalid's seat, foot rest and balance
wheel so that when mounted in the fullest manner there are really seats for two
riders though where an invalid is carried the back rider only would accompany and
propel such. In place of the invalid's seat a parcel basket may be substituted to
carry a considerable weight the primary view in the construction of the frame
being to supply such a skeleton as shall be stable under these greatly varying
conditions and yet light and elegant both before and after conversion.
The frame of my invention may be said in the briefest language to consist of
two open sides, a connecting bar and trailing bar the wheels being fixed to the
sides and the two seats ordinarily used for a "Tandem" to the trailing bar the
third or trailing or steering wheel being pivoted in a suitable pivot frame at the
end of the said trailing bar.. The invalid's seat or parcel basket would be fixed to
the front portion of the peculiar sides (of course) before conversion for after
conversion the very part's which would carry the invalid's seat are removed so as
to leave the single machine quite unincumbered with unnecessary weight.
.
The sides of my machine are in appearance very much like inverted U's or even V's.
The cross bar forming the connection between the two sides a little to the back
end of the centre of the inverted U or V sides. Immediately at the front of this
connecting bar tapered sockets and tapered spigots, set up with right and left
handed nuts or other means are formed in the frame to make an easy division
when it is desired to take off the front part. The trailing bar is joined on to the
cross or connecting bar by a suitable cross junction or other piece the long part
going backwards to carry the trailing bar and wheel with a short piece projecting
forward to carry the L bar and front driving seat. The downward projecting arms
of the inverted U or V sides are used to carry the bearings of the front crank or pedal
shaft and the front arms of the frame carrying the bearings of the back pedal shaft.
At the extremities of the front arms of the Ŭ frames projections may be provided
with slots and thumb nuts and screws to carry the foot board and balance-wheel
under the invalid's seat which is fastened to the upper portion of the front leg of
the U frame. The driving shaft bearings are carried by two downward projecting
pieces which issue from the U frame at the part where the junction is made with
the cross bar and the side frames. Great stability is given to the U frame by
diagonal or other rods running from the ends of the down-turned arms of the
U frames to the main bearings which are suitable for both tension and compression
thus leaving the bearing supported by the back rods when in its single condition.
There may however be one horizontal rod instead with a union junction piece
near the back for convenience of separation when converted into a single machine.

page_text: When desirable for heavy riders and very light frame work I run a light steel or
other tension rod across the frame under the cross connecting bar to carry any
strain and to lessen the lateral friction upon the main bearings which is one of the
disadvantages of the broad guage convertibles.
In order that my invention may be understood and carried into practice with
ease I have attached hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which :-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the machine as adopted to the requirements of
two riders.
Figure 2 is a plan of the machine in the same condition and
Figure 3 is a back elevation of the same machine shewn by Figures 1 and 2
The front rider sits on the seat or saddle A and pedals the treadles B the seat A
being attached to the main right hand portion of the centre bar C of the machine.
The back rider sits upon the saddle D and works the back pedal shaft E.' As most
of the weight comes upon the cross bar F it may be supported with the truss
rods f, but in many cases the bar can be made on account of the narrow gauge
sufficiently stiff without them. The down turned rod m carries the main bearings
and may be stiffened by the rod m¹ while the U or V frame is well connected by
the removable rods n at the joint n¹. The balance wheel P and arm project out
from the right hand side of the frame. Now by the removal of the treadle shaft B
and the substitution in its place of the foot board H and the exchange of the
saddle A for the seat K the machine is at once converted into an invalid's chair
leaving the saddle D in position for the attendant who sits behind to pedal the
machine along. The machine may however be fitted with a wicker chair as shewn
by Figure 7 instead of the seat shewn by Figure 4.
Figure 5 is a side elevation and Figure 6 is a plan of the "Tandem" converted
into a single machine. It will be readily noticed, that the machine has been
divided at the sockets R the position of which may be somewhat varied. The
division is accomplished by the withdrawal of the taper-screw pins and also the nuts
and spigots wat n¹ leaving the main portion of the frame like a V with the
stiffening rod m³ still supporting the downward bar m which carries the driving
shaft S to which is attached the wheel Y upon which provision is made for the
double driving chain. The loose caps t and u are namely for the purpose of filling
the sockets when the removable part is taken away.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First
the Convertible Tandem Tricycle with the inverted U frame 1, 2, 3 and
4 capable of dividing at or near the cross bar F substantially as herein set
forth and shewn by Figures 1, 2 and 3 on the drawings.
Second The Convertible Invalid's machine with the back seat K and foot rest H
and removable frame 1, 2 and substantially as herein set forth and shewn
by Figure 4 on the drawing.
Third: The single Velocipede as herein set forth and shewn in the drawings
having the sockets R and spigots w with the provision for double chain or
wheel Y substantially as herein set forth and shewn by Figures 5 and 6 on
the drawing.
07 L 1
1001