relating to the Steering thereof.
Year: 1885

page_text: relating to the Steering thereof.
We, RICHARD JOHN POWELL Inland Revenue Officer, Bath, and SAMUEL WATTS,
Cycle Manufacturer, Newark Street, Bath, do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
PRINCIPALLY RELATING TO THE STEERING THEREOF to be as follows:-
•
(1) To improve that class of Tricycle known as the "Humber" type Tricycle;
We connect that part of the Tricycle known as the backbone, or a projection of the
same, to the main axle with rack & pinion or other means and so obtain steering
thereby; thus giving increased ease, safety, and steadiness of steering particularly
at high speeds.
(2) In the front steering type of Tricycle, we pivot the rod or portion of the
frame which carries the front wheel to the main axle, at or near the centre of the
axle, and by means of the connection described above we obtain the steering by
the side wheels, By connecting the main axle with the front wheel we then
obtain triple steering.

page_text: relating to the Steering thereof.
We, RICHARD JOHN POWELL, Inland Revenue Officer, Bath, and SAMUEL WAITS,
Cycle Manufacturer, Newark Street, Bath, Somerset, do hereby declare the nature
of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
PRINCIPALLY RELATING TO THE STEERING THEREOF, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
In all kinds of Velocipedes or Cycles the steering is obtained by turning one or
more of the wheels in the direction desired to be taken by the rider, such wheel or
wheels being pivoted or jointed to that end.
In what is generally known as the Humber type of Tricycle, the steering is
effected by means of the two larger wheels, such wheels being provided with a
handle-bar rising direct from and parallel to the main axle, and being rigidly
attached thereto, so that the motion imparted by the riders hands to the handle
bar in steering, is conveyed direct to the axle and wheels. There being no
mechanical means of steadying or securing the steering, the holding of the wheels
to the desired direction is difficult to acquire, and at high speeds the rider is apt to
lose control of the steering, thus endangering his safety.
To remedy this defect and to improve the steering, we connect to the backbone,
(or framework carrying the seat and back wheel) or a projection from the same,
a rack; and to the main axle, (indirectly by that portion of the frame which
carries the bearings of the main axle) we connect a pinion, such rack and pinion
being arranged to gear into each other, the upper end of the spindle carrying the
pinion terminating in a handle.
Now the rack being fixed to the backbone and the pinion to the axle, if the
pinion be turned by means of the handle the axle and steering wheels are made to
alter the angle formed by the axle and backbone, thus enabling the rider to steer
in any desired direction.
The front steering type of Tricycle may also be improved by this invention in
the following manner :-We make the axle and framework carrying the same, in a
similar manner to that described above in the "Humber" type, but the backbone
or part of the frame which carries the smaller wheel and seat, being pivoted on the
axle, or framework carrying the same, projects in front of the axle instead of the
rear, and also carries a joint or pivot by which the front wheel is attached. The
main axle is then connected to the axle of the smaller wheel, or to the framework
carrying the smaller wheel, so that by turning the steering handle attached to
the pinion on the main axle, both the main axle and the front axle are made to
turn in such a manner that triple steering, or a proper movement for steering with
all three wheels is obtained.
This improvement in steering may also be applied to other kinds of Velocipedes
Cuales

page_text: We may make one or more projections from the backbone, to carry one or more
racks, so as to steer by either one or both hands, preferably the latter, thus gaining
increased convenience and steadiness in steering.
In Tandems, and other kinds of Velocipedes or Cycles carrying more than one
rider, the projections carrying the racks, and the pinions gearing into the same,
may be so placed that each rider may be enabled to steer the machine.
If desired the pinions may be attached to the backbone, or projections there-
from; and the racks to the axle, or frame work carrying the same, instead of as
described in the foregoing; or, we might use in place of the racks and pinions ;-
friction rollers and a bar or rod; chains and pulleys; straps; or other means to
attain the same end.
By providing racks and pinions, or other like means, on each side of the rider,
as shown in drawing, the rider is enabled to steer with ease and certainty with
either or both hands.
In the accompanying drawing, A, is the main axle ; B, is the framework which
carries the bearings in which the main axle runs; C, the bearings of the axle,
attached to B; D, is the backbone pivotted on the framework B, at K; E is the
projection from the backbone; F the rack fixed to the backbone at I; G, the
pinions fixed to framework B; H, the handles to turn the pinions which give
the steering.
The drawing in the right hand corner gives another form of projection from the
backbone, also another form of rack attached thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
(1.) To have invented the means of applying a mechanical check for securing
and steadying the steering of the "Humber" type of Tricycle, so as to enable the
rider to easily hold the steering wheels to any desired direction, thus rendering the
said machine safer and more under the control of the rider.
(2.) To have invented a means of steering the front-steering type of Tricycle by
means of the two larger wheels, or all three wheels combined, thus obtaining triple
steering.
(3.) To have invented a means of providing a better steering power by either
or both hands, for each rider of Tandems, or other velocipedes carrying more than
one rider.