IMPROVEMENTS
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Frederick Warner Jones at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th May 1879.
FREDERICK WARNER JONES, of No. 15, Dix's Fields, Exeter.
TRICYCLES."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My improvements in tricycles are based upon the fact that I have discovered by
experiments that much more power may be exerted and greater speed attained
without fatigue when the treadles are worked from a standing position than when,
as hitherto, only from a sitting position. In the construction of my improved
tricycle I employ two crank axles, one placed low down, and which forms the
primary driving axle, and one placed above or over the former, and to which the
running wheels are attached. The driver of the vehicle stands on suitable treadles
attached to the lower cranks, and works the vehicle by throwing his weight alter-
nately on either crank, that is to say, the weight of the body is thrown alternately
on either leg so that it may always perpend upon that crank whose downward
motion would tend to propel the carriage in the required direction.
But as
occasionally the driver may find it necessary or desirable to remove his feet from
the treadles I also provide a seat, when sitting upon which the vehicle may be pro-
pelled by treading in the ordinary manner.
The primary driving axle is connected to the axle carrying the road wheels.
either by wheel gearing, chain gearing, but preferably by light connecting rods. To
enable one wheel to rotate faster than the other, as is required when passing round
curves, I introduce a contrivance known as a differential motion between the crank
and one of the wheels. I guide the vehicle from a third leading wheel, as is usual
in tricycles, but I mount this wheel on a trailing frame, or a frame the vertical axis
or swinging axis of which is in advance of the horizontal axis of the wheels. By
this means the normal tendency of my tricycle is to run in a straight line, unless
this course be purposely altered by the driver, instead of, as is the case with some
tricycles, great care being necessary to keep the vehicle from deviating from the
straight line. I also construct my tricycles to carry two or more persons in addition
to the driver; and in certain cases I also employ two drivers, each of whom by
preference works a separate wheel through the means of an independent pair of
cranks. By this latter arrangement the speed of rotation of the road wheels may
be varied at pleasure, and curves of any radius traversed without there being any
[Price 2d.1

page_text: necessity for employing a special mechanism or contrivance. In other cases also I
prolong the driving treadles to bring them within the reach of the person or persons
riding on the vehicles, so that they may be enabled to assist in the propulsion of
the carriage. In some cases I make my driving or treadle crank axle with four
throws, that is to say, with two sets of throws, one set having a throw of ordinary
length to be used on roads level or nearly so, and the other set of cranks having a
longer throw for use in ascending hills.
I propose that my improved tricycle shall be called and known as the Devon
tricycle.