IMPROVE- MENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Roberts, Mechanic in the employment of
Messieurs Joseph Devey and Son of Wolverhampton in the County of
Stafford Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturers for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Benjamin Roberts at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th February 1882.
BENJAMIN ROBERTS, Mechanic in the employment of Messieurs Joseph Devey
and Son of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, Bicycle and Tricycle
Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
The improvements relate, 1st to a special arrangement of parts and mechanism
by which a tricycle is made to fold up or collapse in order to be readily passed
through a narrow opening; 2nd to a method of mounting and actuating the
steering wheel of a tricycle; and 3rd to a novel construction of brake applied to
the wheel of a tricycle.
According to the first part of my Invention, the framing of a tricycle is made in
two separate sides which are coupled together in the middle of a cross-piece under
the scat by means of a kind of deep groove-and-tongue joint, which consists of a
flat part, on one half of the cross-piece, fitting between the two flat parts of a
double jaw on the other half of the cross-piece. The seat is supported by a pillar,
in the manner now usually employed, and the pillar passes down through a hole
drilled to receive it through the three flat parts forming the joint, aforesaid. The
joint is tightened up by means of a cotter or taper pin driven in between the outer
end of the tongue and the inner end of the jaw. The cotter or pin tightens the
pillar in the hole through the joint as it is driven up to tighten the joint. The
crank axle, from which the driving wheel is driven by means of a chain in the
usual manner, has a hinged joint near one end inside the bearing, and the other
end of the crank axlo lies in a bearing which has the upper half carried on the end
of a lever by which it can be raised when desired. The upper half of this bearing
is kept from rising up when at work by means of a spring connected to the lever

page_text: and to the framing. A small stud in the top half of the bearing projects into a
groove in the journal of the crank axle and thus steadies the framing and keeps the
crank axle in position.
In folding up or collapsing the tricycle the crank axle is lifted out of the
bearing, which has the upper half moveable, and is swung round on its hinge
lengthways of the tricycle and hung on a hook suspended from the side of the
framing to which the crank axle is hinged. The cotter or pin is then driven out,
and the pillar supporting the seat is lifted up out of the joint, aforesaid, and the
pillar and seat hung on a hook on the opposite side of the framing to that to which
the crank axle is hinged. The two side frames are then parted at the middle of
the cross-piece supporting the seat, and one half is raised sufficiently to bring the
cross-piece thereon over the cross-piece of the other half frame, and is then closed
up, the mounting of the steering wheel, next to be described, permitting the frame
to adjust itself as required to allow of the parting of the half frames and the
folding up of the tricycle.
According to the second part of my Invention, the steering wheel is mounted to
turn on an axle which is hinged to the end of one side of the framing, and is
carried in a slot at the corresponding end of the other side of the framing. The
wheel is steered by means of a rod which vibrates the axle in the slot, the rod
itself being actuated by means of a rack and pinion in the manner now usually
employed for steering a tricycle. The hinged end of the steering axle, and the
slotted end of the frame, allow the framing to give at the steering end of the
tricycle as the half frames are parted and the tricycle is folded up in the manner
before-described.
According to the third part of my Invention, the brake is formed of a steel band
passing around a bush on the hub of the opposite wheel to the driving wheel. One
end of the steel band terminates in a short arm, projecting radially therefrom and
held by means of a stud fixed to an arm projecting from a fast spindle carrying the
wheel, or from the framing of the tricycle. The other end-of-the-steel-band-
terminates in a lever, which is actuated, so as to tighten the steel band around the
bush, aforesaid, by means of a rod worked by the usual brake lever on the handle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Benjamin Roberts in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1882.
BENJAMIN ROBERTS, Mechanic, in the employment of Messieurs Joseph Devey
and Son, of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford Bicycle and Tricycle
Manufacturers. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
The improvements relate, firstly, to a special arrangement of parts and
mechanism by which a tricycle is made capable of being folded up or collapsed in
order to be readily passed through a doorway or other narrow opening; secondly,
to a method of mounting and actuating the steering wheel of a tricycle; and,
thirdly, to a novel construction of brake applied to ono of the wheels of a tricycle.
According to the first part of my Invention the framing of a tricycle is made in
two separate sides which are coupled together in the middle of a cross-piece under
the seat by means of a kind of deep groove-and-tongue joint, which consists of a
flat part on one half of the cross-piece fitting between the two flat parts of a
double jaw on the other half of the cross-piece. The seat is supported by a pillar
in the manner now usually employed, and the pillar passes down through a holo
drilled to receive it through the threo flat parts forming the joint aforesaid. The
joint is tightened up by means of a cotter or taper pin driven in between the outer
end of the tongue and the inner end of the jaw. The cotter or pin tightens also
the pillar in the hole through the joint as it is driven up to tighten the joint, but
as a precaution against the possible slipping down of the pillar it is preferred to
fix around it, by means of a set-pin, an adjustable collar which rests upon the top
of the joint. The crank-axle, from which the driving wheel is driven by means of
a chain in the usual manner, has a hinged or swivel joint near one end inside the
bearing, and the other end of the crank axle lies in a bearing which has the upper
half carried on the end of a lever by which it can be raised when desired. The
upper half of this bearing is prevented from rising up when at work by means of
a spring connected. to the lever and to the framing. A small stump, either in
the upper or lower half of the bearing, or one in each half, projects into a groove
in the journal of the crank axlo and thus keeps the axle in position endways and
steadies the framing. The upper half of the bearing may, if desired, be simply
hinged to the lower half and provided with suitable fastening when closed down,
and suitable projection or handle for opening and closing it by.
In folding up or collapsing the tricycle, constructed as before-described, the
crank axle is lifted out of the bearing which has the upper half movable and is
swung round backwards on its hinge or swivel, and hung on a hook suspended
from the side of the framing to which the crank axle is hinged or swivelled. The
cotter or taper pin is then driven out of the joint in the middle of the cross-piece,
and the pillar supporting the seat is lifted up out of the hole through the joint
aforesaid. The pillar and seat may be hung on to the framing of the tricycle or
removed separately. The two side frames are then parted at the joint in the
middle of the cross-piece supporting the seat and are then closed up with the half
of the cross-piece on one side frame passing under the other half cross-piece and
side-frame, the mounting of the steering wheel next to be described permitting
the framing to adjust itself as required to allow of the parting of the half frames
and the folding up or collapsing of the tricycle.
According to the second part of my Invention the steering wheel is mounted to
turn loose upon an axle which is hinged near its connection with the end of one
of the side fiames and is carried in a horizontal slot in the corresponding end of

page_text: the other side frame. The wheel is steered by means of a rod which vibrates
the axle in the slot, the rod itself being actuated by means of a rack and pinion
in the manner now usually employed for steering a tricycle. The hinge of the
steering axle and the slotted end of the framing allow the framing to give at the
steering end of the tricycle as the half frames constructed according to the first
part of my Invention are parted and the tricycle folded up or collapsed in the
manner before-described. This steering arrangement may of course be employed
whether the tricycle is made to fold up or not.
According to the third part of my Invention the brako is formed of a steel band
passing around a bush on the hub preferably of the opposite wheel to the driving
wheel. One end of the steel band terminates in a short arm projecting radially
therefrom and held by means of a stud fixed to an arm projecting rigidly from a
fixed axle carrying the wheel, or from the framing of the tricycle. The other end
of the steel band terminates in a lever which is actuated so as to tighten the stcel
band around the bush aforesaid, by means of a rod worked by the usual brake
lever on the handle. A pair of such brakes may if desired be used, one to each
wheel, and both worked by the same handle through the medium of a cross-rod.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention I will now proceed more
particularly to describe and ascertain the manner of performing the same with
reference to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters of referenco marked
thereon.
Figure 1 is a plan of a tricycle constructed according to this Invention, and
Figure 2 a longitudinal section on line of Figure 1 and shews therefor tho
back end in side elevation. A and A' are two side frames formed in separate
pieces from each other. B B is a cross-piece formed in halves, one half being
Boldered or otherwise rigidly fixed to the frame A and the other half corre-
The two halves of the cross-piece are joined
spondingly fixed to the frame A'.
-rigidly together by a joint C which is shewn to an enlarged scale in front elevation
by Figure 3. a is a tongue tapering slightly as shown from its root towards its
outer end and being the entire width of the joint on plan. bb are two flat parts
forming the jaw into which the tongue a is passed to form the joint. c is the
pillar which supports the seat in the usual manner. This pillar is passed down
through a hole drilled therefor through the joint as shewn. & is a taper pin driven
in between the outer end of the tongue and the inner end of the jaw to tighten up
the joint and pillar. e is an adjustable collar held to the pillar c by means of a
set-pin, and is employed as a precaution against the possible slipping down of the
pillar.
The crank axle D has a hinged or swivelled joint near the bearing E. The
hinge or swivel as shewn is forined similarly to the joint of an ordinary gas bracket,
that is to say, a taper plug f (shewn by dotted lines) is fitted to turn in a taper
hole or bearing formed through the ball g which is solid with the part of the shaft
passing to the bearing E. The plug f is held into its place by incans of a nut and
washer as in the case of a gas bracket joint. The bearing E which supports the
other end of the crank axle is shewn to an enlarged scale by Figures 4. 5 and 6
which are respectively a front elevation, a cross section on line y y of Figure 4
showing only the bearing and the lower part of the lifting lever, and a plan with
the upper half of the bearing removed. is the lower half of the bearing and is
formed solid with a cylindrical part j which is carried in a block or boss & bolted
to the lower end F of the framing A by pins passing through the snugs upon
the said boss. The cylindrical part j is adjustable endways in the boss h, and is
held therein by means of the set-pin m. n is the upper half of the bearing and
is carried on the lower end of the lever o fulcrumed to the framing A by the
stud p which is shouldered down and acts also as the pin for one of the snugs Z
The lever o is provided with a handle as shewn by Figures 1 and 2 by which it
may be raised so as to lift up the upper half n of the bearing when it is desired
to raise the crank axle out of the bearing E. The upper half n of the bearing is
kept down in place by means of the spiral spring 9 connected to the lever and

page_text: the framing as shewn (Figures 1 and 2). is a groove turned in the part of the
crank axle which lies within the bearing E', and s is a stump fixed in the lower
half of the bearing and projecting up into the groove, thus keeping the crank
axle in position endways and thereby also steadying the framing of the tricycle.
The steering wheel G turns loosely on the axle H which is hinged to a part I
held firmly to the back end of the framing A. The back end of the framing A is
preferably slotted to allow of adjustment in fixing the part I thereto. The back
end K of the framing A' is bent to a curve having the hinge I as its centre, and is
Blotted as shewn to allow the outer end of the axle H which is shouldered down
therefor to pass through. A split pin is passed through the projecting end of the
axle H, and the part K of the framing A¹ is guided between the shoulders of the
axle on the inner side, and the split pin on the outer side, and thus keeps steadily
in position as the axle is vibrated backwards and forwards along the slot in the
part K to steer the wheel G. The axle H is vibrated by means of the rod t
connected thereto at one end and actuated at the other by means of the ordinary
rack and pinion in the manner now usually employed for steering a tricycle, and
which is shewn in plan by Figure 1.
In folding up or collapsing the tricycle, the crank axle is first lifted out of the
bearing E¹ then turned back on its hinge or swivel into the position shewn by
dotted lines (Figure 2) and hung on a hook u suspended from the framing A¹ as
shewn. The hook u terminates at its lower end in a knob as shown, as a pointed
end would be liable to tear the dress of the rider. The steering wheel should also
bo turned somewhat into the position shewn by dotted lines Figure 1. The taper
pin d is then driven out of the joint in the cross-piece B B and allowed to hang
down by the chain attached to it and to the cross-piece and shewn by Figure 1.
The seat with the pillar c is then lifted out when the frames A and A¹ may be
parted, the frame A being then brought up against the frame A' as shewn by
dotted lines Figure 1, with its half cross-piece B passing under the frame A¹ and
entering somewhat between the spokes of the wheel. In order to collapse the
frames together conveniently after parting them the frame A' should be inclined
outwards and the frame A inwards, when the part B on the frame A will readily
pass under the frame A¹. The vertical position of the hook u should be regulated
so as to take the pressure of the axle as part of the weight of the tricycle is carried
by lifting at the front side of the driving wheel, and so as to prevent the wheel
from turning and a strain being thrown on any spoke of such wheel by the
part B which enters the wheel. The shouldered-down part of the steering axle
within the slot in the end K of the framing A' is sufficiently easy between the
shoulders and the split-pin, and also within the slot, to allow of the necessary play
in folding up the tricycle.
Lisa brake-lever handle of the usual type. M is a rod connecting the lower
end of the lever L with the vertical lever N. The lever L and handle standard to
which it is fulcrumed are shewn in section by Figure 1. The lower part of the
lever N and tho remaining portion of the brake are shewn to an enlarged scale by
Figures 7 and 8, which are respectively a back elevation and a section on line
of Figure 7. O is the inner end of the wheel hub to which the brake is applied.
P is a steel bush keyed and soldered into the hub. Q is a steel band around the
greater part of the bush P. The band Q is formed solid with the lever N on one
side and terminates on the other side in the arm R. S is the axle and is held to
the frame A (Figures 1 and 2) at the part S'. T is an arm soldered or otherwise
igidly connected to the axle. The end of the arm R is kept in position by the
tud U but so as to allow of a vitratory movement of the arm R as the lever N is
noved to tighten or slacken the band Q around the bush P. The friction of the
and Q around the bush P when the lever N is tightened produces the brake to
he motion of the tricycle. In the position in which the brake is illustrated the
and should be quite easy around the bush P, or slightly away from it, as the
osition shewn is the one due to the brake being off.
Having now stated the nature of my said Invention, and particularly described

page_text: and ascertained the manner of performing the same, I declare that I do not limit
myself to the precise details described and illustrated, as such may be varied
without departing from the nature of my said Invention, but what I claim as
my Invention and desire to secure by the herein before in-part-recited Letters
Patent is :-
First-In a folding up or collapsible tricycle the arrangement of separate side
frames A A¹ with the divided cross-piece B B provided with suitable joint or
fastening, in combination with suitable arrangements at the steering end of the
tricycle to allow the framing to give in folding up, substantially as and for the
purpose herein described and shewn by the Drawings.
Second-In a folding up or collapsible tricycle the deep groove and tongue
joint in the cross-piece carrying the seat and means for tightening up the
said joint, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shewn by the
Drawings.
Third-The method of actuating the steering wheel of a tricycle by hingeing
the axle near one end and carrying the other end in a horizontal slot in the fraining,
and attaching the steering rod to the said axle, substantially as herein described and
shewn by the Drawings.
Fourth-The special combination of parts and mechanism forming a brake for a
tricycle, substantially as herein described and shewn by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Benjamin Roberts, have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Fourth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.
Office-for-Patents,.
Wolverhampton.
BENJAMIN ROBERTS. (LS.)