IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE DRIVING MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES S MANUMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING TWO DRIVING WHEELS UPON ONE AXLE
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT. to William Stanley Lewis of Wolverhampton in the
County of Stafford Velocipede Manufacturer, for an Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE DRIVING MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Stanley Lewis
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th August 1882.
WILLIAM STANLEY LEWIS, of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
velocipede manufacturer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DRIVING MECHANISM OF
TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES AND MANUMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING TWO
DRIVING WHEELS UPON ONE AXLE "
This invention relates to tricycles and other velocipedes, and manumotive
vehicles having more than two wheels in which an endless chain or band is
employed to convey motion from the crank axle to two driving wheels mounted
upon one axle, and has for its object the construction of mechanism forming a
double driver, that is to say, mechanism which conveys motion from the crank
axle to both the driving wheels and also permits of the differential motion of the
wheels necessary in passing round a curve.
According to this invention one of the driving wheels is keyed fast upon the
axle and the other is mounted loosely thereon. The inner face of the hub of the
loose driving wheel is formed as a bevel toothed wheel and a smaller bevel toothed
wheel is.keyed upon the axle with its bevelled face continuing in the direction of
the bevelled face of the larger wheel, just as if it formed part of the larger wheel.
A space however is left between the inner ends of the teeth of the larger wheel
and the outer ends of the teeth of the smaller wheel for a purpose hereinafter
explained. The pitched wheel upon the driving axle which receives motion
through the medium of a chain or band from the pitched wheel upon the crank
axle is mounted to turn loosely upon the driving axle and has an annular rim
around the side towards the loose driving wheel. The outer edge of the annular
rim bears against the hub of the loose driving wheel around the bevel teeth formed
Price Gal

page_text: thereon, and thus boxes in the bevel wheels aforesaid. Two bevel pinions are
mounted on fixed spindles passing from the annular rim aforesaid to a boss at the
centre of the pitched wheel on the driving axle. One of the bevel pinions gears
into the larger bevel wheel and the other bevel pinion gears into the smaller bevel
wheel, and the two bevel pinions are constructed and mounted so that they also
gear together at the space left between the inner ends of the teeth of the larger
bevel wheel and the outer ends of the teeth of the smaller bevel wheel. The smaller
bevel wheel forms a collar upon the driving axle between the inner side of the
loose driving wheel hub and the face of the boss at the centre of the pitched wheel.
The bevel pinions being mounted as described travel round with the pitched wheel
on the driving axle.
By employing the mechanism described it will be obvious that if the loose
driving wheel be held from turning, the fast driving wheel will be driven as the
crank axle is turned, the larger bevel wheel in this case acting as the abutment
against which one of the bevel pinions revolves and so imparts motion through the
second bevel pinion to the bevel wheel keyed on to the driving axle. If the fast
driving wheel is held from turning the bevel wheel keyed to the driving axle acts
as the abutment and the loose driving wheel is driven through the medium of the
bevel gearing. It is evident therefor that if both the driving wheels are free to
turn as in ordinary running they will both be driven, their relative motion varying
according to the curve and direction of curve in which they may be running.
When the velocipede or manumotive vehicle is steered to run in a straight line the
pressures exerted by the bevel pinions upon each other balance and neither pinion
turning on its axis each drives its corresponding bevel wheel at the same velocity.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Stanley Lewis in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th February 1883.
WILLIAM STANLEY LEWIS of Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford,
velocipede manufacturer, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE DRIVING MECHANISM OF
"
TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES AND MANUMOTIVE VEHICLES HAVING TWO
DRIVING WHEELS UPON ONE AXLE
"
This invention relates to tricycles and other velocipedes and manumotive
vehicles having more than two wheels, in which an endless chain or band (or
equivalent mechanism, such as spur gearing) is employed to convey motion from
the crank axle to the two driving wheels mounted upon one axle; and has for its
object the construction of mechanism forming a double driver, that is to say,
mechanism which conveys motion derived from the crank axle to both the driving
wheels, and also permits of the differential motion of the wheels necessary in
passing round a curve.
According to this invention one of the driving wheels is keyed or otherwise held
fast upon the axle and the other is mounted loosely thereon. The inner face of the
hub of the loose driving wheel is formed as a bevel toothed wheel, and a smaller
bevel toothed wheel is keyed upon the axle with its bevelled face continuing in the
direction of the bevelled face of the larger wheel, just as if it formed part of the
larger wheel, except that it is not necessary that each tooth of one should be in
exact central line with the corresponding tooth of the other. A space however is
left between the inner ends of the teeth of the larger wheel and the outer ends of
the teeth of the smaller wheel, for a purpose hereinafter shewn. The pitched
wheel (or spur wheel) upon the driving axle, which receives motion from the crank
axle, is mounted to turn loosely upon the driving axle and has an annular rim
around the side towards the loose driving wheel. The outer edge of the annular
rim bears against the hub of the loose driving wheel around the bevel teeth formed
thereon, and thus boxes in the bevel wheels, aforesaid. Two bevel pinions are
mounted on fixed spindles passing from the annular rim, aforesaid, to a boss at the
centre of the pitched wheel (or spur wheel) on the driving axle. One of the bevel
pinions gears into the larger bevel wheel, and the other bevel pinion gears into the
smaller bevel wheel, and the two bevel pinions are constructed and mounted so
that they also gear together at the space left between the inner ends of the teeth
of the larger bevel wheel and the outer ends of the teeth of the smaller bevel
wheel. The nave of the smaller bevel wheel forms a collar upon the driving axle
between the inner side of the loose driving wheel hub and the face of the boss at
the centre of the pitched wheel (or spur wheel). The bevel pinions being mounted
as described travel round with the pitched wheel (or spur wheel) on the driving
axle.
By employing the mechanism described, it will be obvious that if the loose
driving wheel be held from turning, the fast driving wheel will be driven as the
crank axle is turned, the larger bevel wheel in this case acting as the abutment
against which one of the bevel pinions revolves and so imparts motion through the
second bevel pinion to the bevel wheel keyed on to the driving axle. If the fast
driving wheel is held from turning the bevel wheel keyed to the driving axle
acts as the abutment and the loose driving wheel is driven through the medium of
the bevel gearing. Under either of the conditions supposed the direction in which
the loose or fast wheel is driven will bear the same relation to the direction in
which the crank axle is revolved. It is evident therefor that if both the driving

page_text: wheels are free to turn as in ordinary running, they will both be driven, their
relative motion varying according to the curve and direction of curve in which
they may be running. When the velocipede or manumotive vehicle is steered to
run in a straight line the pressures exerted by the bevel pinions upon each other
balance, and neither pinion turning on its axis, each drives its corresponding bevel
wheel at the same velocity:
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, in which figure 1 is a longitudinal
section through the hub of the driving wheel which is loose on the axle and also
through the mechanism forming the double driver before described. Figure 2 is
an elevation (looking in the direction of the arrow a, figure 1) of the mechanisın"
forming the double driver. In the illustration a pitched wheel is shewn to receive
motion from a similar wheel on the crank-axle. If spur gearing is employed to
convey motion from the crank-axle to the driving axle, then of course a spur wheel
takes the place of the pitched wheel illustrated. In figure 2 the disc of the pitched
wheel on the driving axle is supposed to be removed so that the interior of the
box formed by such disc and the annular rim, aforesaid, may be seen, but the teeth
on which the pitch chain works are indicated by broken lines. The same letters
of reference occurring upon both views indicate corresponding parts. A. A is the
hub of the driving wheel turning loosely upon the axle, and B is an enlarged part
of the axle upon which it turns. CC is a ring of bevelled teeth formed on or
fixed to one face of the hub as shewn. D is a bevel wheel fixed to the reduced
part E of the axle. The teeth of the wheel D correspond exactly in shape and
number to what would be the inward extension of the teeth in the ring C C
supposing that the latter were carried inwards to the diameter of those on the
wheel D; and the teeth in the ring C C and on the wheel D are in the same
bevel plane with one another. An annular space is left between the two sets of
teeth as shewn. FF is the pitched wheel which receives motion from a pitched
wheel on the crank axle. G is a disc or plate forming the connection between the
teeth of the pitched wheel F F, and the boss thereof H which is capable of turning
loosely on the axle E. I is an annular rim on the side of the pitched wheel F F,
and when the wheel F F is placed in position the rim I faces up against the inner
face of the hub A A thus forming a box or casing for the double-driver mechanism.
K and L (the latter shewn by figure 2 only) are bevel pinions capable of turning
loosely on spindles fixed through the rim I into the boss H. b is one of such
spindles screwed into the boss H and having a countersunk head, formed to receive
a screw-driver, in the rim I. cc are distance ferrules. Each of the bevel
pinions K and L have the same number of teeth. The pinion K gears into the
teeth in the ring C C, and the pinion L gears into the teeth on the wheel D, and
both the pinions gear together opposite to the annular space, aforesaid, between
the two sets of teeth. The driving wheel at the other end of the axle is fixed
rigidly thereto. The axle-bearing on one side of the vehicle may be close up to
the boss H and thus form a collar or abutment to keep the pitched wheel with its
rim I against the inner face of the hub as shewn, and the bevel teeth properly in
gear.
The operation of the mechanism described will now be readily understood. When
the vehicle is steered for straight running, and motion is given to the pitched
wheel F F from the pitched wheel on the crank axle, the bevel pinions K and L
are carried round in the box formed by the wheel F F and its rim I, and, the
resistance of the driving wheels being equal, the bevel pinions are prevented from
turning on their axes and consequently drive the two driving wheels equally, the
pinion K carrying round with it the ring CC on the one driving wheel hub, and
the pinion L carrying round with it the bevel wheel D aud consequently the axle E
and the other driving wheel which is fixed to the axle. When the resistance of
one of the driving wheels is increased, on account of the vehicle being steered to
run in a curve, the bevel pinions K and L revolve, on account of the difference in

page_text: the speed of the two driving wheels, but both the driving wheels are still driven by
means of the mechanism shewn, the mean rate of their speed, proportional to that
of the crank axle, being as when running in a straight line.
Having now stated the nature of my said invention for "Improvements in
the driving mechanism of tricycles and other velocipedes and manumotive vehicles
having two driving wheels upon one axle," and particularly described and ascer-
tained the manner of performing the same, I declare that I claim as my
invention and desire to secure by the herein-before in-part-recited letters
patent-
In a tricycle or other velocipede or manumotive vehicle having more than two
wheels, in which an endless chain or band (or equivalent mechanism such as spur
gearing) is employed to convey motion from the crank axle to two driving wheels
mounted upon one axle, the application of mechanism consisting essentially of the
ring of bevel teeth C C on the hub of one driving wheel, or otherwise rigidly
connected to such wheel, the bevel wheel D fixed upon the axle E, and the bevel
pinions K and L, all constructed and operating together and in conjunction with
the other mechanism described, substantially as and for the purpose herein described
and shewn by the drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Stanley Lewis, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 16th day of February in the year of our Lord one
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
WILLIAM STANLEY LEWIS (L.S.)
Witness :-
JOHN THOM,
Clerk to Stephen Watkins, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.