IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND LIKE VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Richard Settle, of Coventry in the county of
Warwick, Velocipede Manufacturer for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRICYCLES AND LIKE VELOCIPEDES
"
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Richard Settle at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1883.
EDWARD RICHARD SEPTLE, of Coventry in the county of Warwick, Velocipede
Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND LIKE VELOCIPEDES
This invention has for its object improvements in driving mechanism for tricycles
or like velocipedes and relates to that form of driving known as double driving in
which both wheels are driven together when travelling straight and at different
speeds when turning curves.
My invention is designed to arrange a driving gear for driving both wheels in a
more simple manner than heretofore and which may be fitted to various forms of
tricycles.
I arrange an axle extending across the machine to which one driving wheel is
firmly fixed: To this wheel or this axle (near the wheel or in other desired
position) is fixed the chain wheel or other transmitting mechanism. At the other
end of the axle I fix a worm wheel or wheels of suitable size and pitch: Adjacent
to this worm wheel I place the. other driving-wheel running loose on the before
named driving axle.
-
Brackets or carriers fixed to the hub carry a worm or worms gearing with the
before named worm wheel fast to the driving axle:
Suitable means for adjusting the pressure of the wormed surfaces may be
provided.
On transmitting motion from the crank axis (or if used a pedal lever) both
wheels are driven when the velocipede is travelling straight the worm or worms not
revolving on the worm wheel which pulls the loose wheel round with the driven
shaft. When unequal strain (as in turning curves) is thrown on either wheel the
worm or worms are permitted to revolve and drive the loose wheel at a variable
speed with that of the driven shaft carrying the fixed wheel:

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edward Richard Settle in the Patent Office on the 22nd May
1884.
EDWARD RICHARD SETTLE, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Velocipede
Manufacturer, "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND LIKE VELOCIPEDES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in driving mechanism for tricycles
or like velocipedes, and relates to that form of driving known as double-driving, in
which both wheels are driven together when travelling straight and revolve at
different speeds when turning curves.
Hitherto, gear for the above named purpose has been generally arranged with
separate chains and clutches to each driving wheel or in such a manner that a chain
wheel or box has carried a pinion or pinions carrying round toothed wheels (or
pinions working one on the other) attached to the axles of the loose driving wheels
and driving both wheels when the machine is going straight and allowing either
wheel to overrun the other when the machine is travelling in a curve.
L
The disadvantage of this arrangement is that the machine is liable to swerve
on striking a stone or other obstruction from the more or less absence of absolute
or nearly absolute rigidity in the locking of both wheels to the driving shaft when
going straight...
Now my invention is designed to obviate this and to arrange a gear for causing
both wheels to run at equal speeds when going straight in a more simple manner
than heretofore and which may be fitted to various forms of tricycles.
I arrange an axle extending across the machine to which a driving wheel is
firmly fixed. To this wheel or this axle (near the wheel or in any other desired
position) is fixed the chain wheel or other transmitting mechanism.
At the other end of the axle I fix a worm wheel or wheels of suitable size and
pitch.
Adjacent to this worm wheel I place the other driving wheel running loose on the
before named driving axle.
Brackets or carriers fixed to the hub carry a worm or worms (or as frequently
called "screws") gearing with the before named worm wheel which is fixed or
keyed to the driving axle. Suitable means for adjusting the pressure of the
wormed surfaces may be provided.
On transmitting motion from the crank axis (or, if used, a pedal lever) both
wheels are caused to run at equal speeds when the velocipede is travelling straight,
the worm or worms not revolving on the worm wheel which pulls the loose wheel
round with the driven shaft.
When unequal strain (as in turning curves) is thrown on either wheel, the worm
or worms is permitted to revolve, and the loose wheel runs at a variable speed to
that of the driven shaft carrying the fixed wheel.
And in order that my invention may be understood and carried into practical
effect, I have caused to be annexed to this specification the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
Fig. 1 is an elevation of an axle fitted with my gear, the box attached to the
hub enclosing the gear being shewn in section.
Fig. 2 is a section through the axle shewing the worm gear, its enclosing box or
cover being removed.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the worm wheel.
In adapting my invention to a tricycle or like velocipede I have in Fig. 1 shewn
an elevation of an axle so fitted, either applicable for use in a frame, say, as is

page_text: used in the so called "loop" or like frame for a front steerer tricycle or for use in
a frame of a rear steering or any other like type of tricycle, whether actuated by
continuous transmission, as by a chain travelling over pitch wheels or by its
equivalent a train of wheels on respectively the crank and driven axles; or by
intermittent transmission, as by a clutch put in action by the depression or
oscillation of lever treadles
A shews the worm working in bearings attached to or carried by the hub B.
These bearings can be formed by being half cast on the hub and the other half
being bolted or screwed over the spindle of the worm. The ends of the worm are
formed in the shape of a truncated cone to take up the lateral thrust as the worm
revolves in either direction.
The conical end is clearly shewn where the bearing is shewn broken away in
Fig. 2.
C is the worm wheel, the inclination of the teeth corresponding to the thread of
the worm, both of which can be varied according to the degree of pressure
necessary to render the worm inactive till the machine deviates from a straight
path.
The driven axle D as shewn carries a chain wheel E and the one main wheel F
is keyed or secured fast to this axle.
The axle runs through the hub of the opposite main wheel F, which is loose
upon it, and the worm wheel C is keyed to this axle and the worm is carried by
the hub of the wheel F¹; or these arrangements can be reversed by putting the
worm wheel C on the hub of the wheel F¹ and carrying the worm on centres
attached to the axle or shaft D.
The pressure of the worm wheel is distributed along the axis of the worm which
suffices to keep the loose wheel. locked whilst running straight. Resistance is
overcome when running in a curve or circle and the worm having been at rest now
becomes active and is accelerated or retarded according to the radius of the circle or
curve described.
I find in practice that a worm three quarters of an inch in diameter and three
quarters pitch and a worm wheel of ten teeth answers the purpose.
I may adopt two or more worms in place of one and may vary the sizes of the
worm wheels and the pitch of the worm and the number of threads as may be
found most desirable or advantageous and my invention can be applied to other
parallel wheeled velocipedes than tricycles.
Instead of using conical ends to the worm or screw to withstand end thrust
I may use a collar on the worm or screw working on the face of the bracket, the
other end of the worm or screw working in a bearing in the other bracket or I may
arrange the bearing of the worm or screw in other suitable manner.
Having now described the nature of my invention and particularized the manner
of performing the same I claim:
In tricycles or like velocipedes, applying worm gear as described, so that both
parallel or main wheels run at the same speed when the velocipede is travelling
straight, (the said gear forming a lock) and when travelling in a curve or circle the
worm gear allowing the loose wheel to run at a different speed to the fixed wheel.
In witness whereof I, the said Edward Richard Settle, have hereunto set my
hand and seal this Twenty first day of May, in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty four.
EDWARD RICHARD SETTLE (L.S.)