Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1887
Complete Left, 7th Mar., 1888
Comlepte Accepted, 20th Apr., 1888
We, WILLIAM THOMAS SHAW, WILLIAM SYDENHAM and ARTHUR SYDENHAM all of
73 Chiswell Street in the City of London Engineers do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates mainly to improved means of steering tricycles of that class
in which there is a central driving wheel at the back and two equal steering wheels
abreast, in front. The improvements consist in improved means for causing the
spindles or axles of the two front steering wheels to turn simultaneously when
steering, but not to turn through equal angles, but each to turn to the angle required
for the wheels to run in circles of any given radius-the spindle or axle of the
inside wheel being turned through a greater angle than the spindle or axle of the
outer wheel.
The spindles or axles of the two front wheels are as heretofore made to project out-
wards from vertical axes which turn in bearings carried by the fixed framing of the
machine.
Each vertical axis has an arm extending radially from it, which we call a tiller, and
by this tiller the vertical axis is turned as required to bring the wheel to the position
required.
According to our present invention we give motion to the tillers by links passing to
an arm or arms on a central vertical steering axis which has also other arms extending
from it by which it can be turned..
For a single tricycle we make the arms which extend from the axles of the
steering wheels to extend forwards from them and to incline outwards away from one
another.
The ends of the arms we couple by links to the end of an arm extending forwards
from the central steering axis. This allows of a spoon brake being applied to the
circumference of the hind driving wheel, by means of a lever carried by one of the
arms by which the steering axis is turned as is usual in other velocipedes.
The frame we make of a T shape with the end of the stem of the T frame
forked so as to pass on either side of the driving wheel and to carry its axle. The

page_text: pedal axis and rider's seat we carry by stems which project upwards and downwards
from the stem of the T and the axle of the driving wheel we drive by an endless
chain from the pedal axis preferably at an increased speed so that a driving wheel of
small diameter may be used. In other cases we drive by means of levers and cranks
with or without a speeding up gear within the hub of the hind wheel.
By a suitable provision of basket or other receptacle or a seat placed in front of the
rider and between the two front wheels we form a tricycle adopted for the carriage of
luggage or mails or of a non-working rider.
For a tandem tricycle to be steered by the rear rider we make the tillers to extend
backwards instead of forwards and connect their ends by links with an arm or arms
which extend backwards from a vertical central steering axis.
Freferably we make the tillers to incline outwards away from one another and
couple their ends by links to two pins carried by an arm extending backwards from.
the steering axis. The pins being at equal distances from the axis and at a distance
apart from one another. Or if these pins are set at a sufficient distance apart the
tillers might if preferred be set at right angles to the axles of the steering wheels.
The steering axis we place between the rear and front riders-and provide a brake
for the driving wheel as in the single machine. The frame of the machine is also
made somewhat in the same way as the frame of the single machine.
The tillers may be fixed to the upper ends of the vertical axes from which the axles
of the steering wheels project. In this case the front end of the T frame may he
arched somewhat upwards so that the arms on the steering axis may be in the same
horizontal plane as the tillers.
The front end of the T frame is formed with a central stem projecting forwards
from it to carry a pedal axis for the front rider.
Motion is communicated from the front to the rear pedal axis by an endless chain
and the pedal axis for the rear rider is carried in the same way as in the single
machine.
In both machines the two front steering wheels may when the machine is not in
use be brought closer to one another to allow of the machine being passed through
narrow door ways. The two arms of the T frame being for this purpose each made
capable of turning on a joint at the end of the stem of the frame. Means being
provided for locking the joints and keeping the arms extended when the machine is
to be used and for unlocking the joints when the wheels are to be brought closer
together.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: We, WILLIAM THOMAS SHAW, WILLIAM SYDENHAM and ARTHUR SYDENHAM all
of 73 Chiswell Street in the City of London Engineers do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention relates mainly to improved means of steering tricycles of that class
in which there is a central driving wheel at the back and two equal steering
wheels abreast in front. The improvements consist in improved means for causing
the spindles or axles of the two front steering wheels to turn simultaneously when
steering but not to turn through equal angles but each to turn to the angle
required for the wheels to run in circles of any given radius the spindle or axle
of the inside wheel being turned through a greater angle than the spindle or axle
of the outer wheel. Tricycles of this kind are described in the Specification of a
prior Patent granted to us No. 13923 in the year 1886.
The spindles or axles of the two front wheels are as described in the above
Specification made to project outwards from vertical axes which turn in bearings
carried by the fixed framing of the machine. Each vertical axis has also as
therein described an arm extending radially from it which we call a tiller and by
this tiller the vertical axis is turned as required to bring the wheel to the position
required.
According to our present invention we give motion to the tillers by links passing
to an arm or arms on a central vertical steering axis which has also other arms
extending from it by which it can be turned.
For a single tricycle we make the tillers which extend from the axles of the
steering wheels to extend forwards from them and to incline outwards away from
one another.
The ends of the arms we couple by links to the end of an arın extending forwards
from the central steering axis. We use a spoon brake applied to the circumference
of the hind driving wheel by means of a lever carried by one of the arms by
which the steering axis is turned as is usual in other velocipedes.
The frame we make as heretofore of a T shape with the end of the stem of the
T frame forked so as to pass on either side of the driving wheel and to carry its
axle. The pedal axis and riders seat we carry by stems which project upwards
and downwards from the stem of the T and the axle of the driving wheel we
drive by an endless chain from the pedal axis preferably at an increased speed so
that a driving wheel of small diameter may be used. In other cases we drive by
means of levers, and cranks with or without a speeding up gear within the hub of
the hind wheel.
By a suitable provision of basket or other receptacle or a seat placed in front of
the rider and between the two front wheels we form a tricycle adapted for the
carriage of luggage or mails or of a non-working rider.

page_text: For a tandem tricycle to be steered by the rear rider we make the tillers to
extend backwards instead of forwards and connect their ends by links with an arm
or arms which extend backwards from a vertical steering axis.
Preferably we make the tillers to incline outwards away from one another and
couple their ends by links to two pins carried by an arm extending backwards from
the steering axis, the pins being at equal distances from the axis and at a distance
apart from one another.
The steering axis we place between the rear and front riders, and provide a brake
for the driving wheel as in the single machine. The frame of the machine is also
made somewhat in the same way as the frame of the single machine.
The tillers may be fixed to the upper ends of the vertical axes from which the
axles of the steering wheels project. In this case the front end of the T frame may
be arched somewhat upwards so that the arms on the steering axis may be in the same
horizontal plane as the tillers.
The front end of the T frame is formed with a central stem projecting forwards
from it to carry a pedal axis for the front rider.
Motion is communicated from the front to the rear pedal axis by an endless
chain and the pedal axis for the rear rider is carried in the same way as in the
single machine.
In both machines the two front steering wheels may when the machine is not in
use be brought closer to one another to allow of the machine being passed through
narrow door ways. The two arms of the T frame being for this purpose cach made
capable of turning on a joint at the end of the stem of the frame. Means are
provided for locking the joints and keeping the arms extended when the machine
is to be used and for unlocking the joints when the wheels are to be brought closer
together.
Figure 1 is a side view and Figure 2 a plan of a single tricycle constructed as
above described to be steered by an arm or arms on a central vertical axis coupled
directly by links to the tillers and with the tillers at such an angle to one another
that the steering wheels when simultaneously turned for steering are turned each to
the angle required to set it tangentially to the circle it has to run in.
A. A are the horizontal axles of the steering wheels these project outwards from
vertical axes which turn in bearings B. B. C. is a horizontal arm called the tiller
extending from each vertical axis. DD are links passing from the tillers to an
arm E which projects forwards from a central vertical steering axis F. G. G are
lever arms extending in opposite directions from the steering axis and by which
the steering axis can be turned as in other velocipedes.
A
The tillers C. are inclined at equal angles to the axles of the wheels and this angle
is such that when the wheels are turned into position for the machine to run
round in the smallest circle it is required to 'turn in, the inner wheel will be at right
angles to a radial line drawn from the centre of this circle through the centre of the
vertical axis by which the wheel axle is carried and similarly the outer wheel will be
at right angles to a line drawn between its vertical axis and the centre of the circle.
The angle will vary with the length of the tillers relatively to the arm E and with
the position of the vertical steering axis F and the distance apart of the pins by which
the links D are coupled to the arm E-the proper angle can readily be ascertained by
trial.
H is the T shaped frame of the machine with vertical bearings at the extremities of
the two arms of the T and with the stem forked to pass on either side of the driving
wheel I and to carry its axle. Jis the pedal axis from which the driving wheel axle
is driven by an endless chain. K is a stem projecting downwards from the frame H
and carrying the axis J. L is a stem projecting upwards and carrying the riders
seat. Mis a hollow stem projecting upwards from the frame and forming a socket
for the vertical steering axis F. N is a lever handle for working the spoon brake O-
it is pivoted to one of the lever arms G which extend from the axis F. it is connected
by a link P with one arm of a bell crank lever Q, the other arm of which carries the
spoon brake O, the lever Q is pivoted to the frame at Q¹.

page_text: Figure 3 is a side elevation and Figure 4 a plan of a tandem tricycle with similar
steering mechanism except that the tillers and the arm E extend backwards in place
of forwards.
The parts are marked with the same letters of reference as in the preceding figures.
The tillers C in these figures are shewn to be fixed to the top of the vertical axes of
ihe axles A and the front end of the T frame is arched somewhat upwards and curved
backwards so that the arm E on the lower end of the vertical steering axis F is brought
into the same plane as the tillers.
This formation of the front end of the T frame also admits of the saddle-post for
the front rider being brought within the wheel-base. By this means there is no
tendency for the riders to see-saw or tip each other, but either of them can alight
leaving the other undisturbed on the machine which is a great advantage and one
not hitherto possessed in any tricycle formed with a central driving wheel at the back
and with the front steering wheels mounted on stud axles as herein described.
Figure 5 is a side elevation and Figure 6 a plan of a modification of the above
machine.
In this tandem the tillers are set at right angles to the stud axles, and the connections
of the links with the centres of the fork on arm E are set closer together and
nearer the pivot on the steering post in order to give to the steering wheels the
requisite convergence on a curve. There is also provided in both forms of Tandem a
band brake R to be worked by foot lever S for applying friction to a pulley fixed on
the pedal axis to assist the spoon brake.
In both forms of tandem provision is made for converting them into single tricycles.
The chain appertaining to the front rider is first removed, the set screw at K2 is
loosened and the bolt at K3 and the bolt at K are removed. The stem K with the
whole of its attachments can then be removed from the machine.
At Figure 7 we have shown a diagram view of the way in which the two front
steering wheels may be brought closer together to allow of the machine being passed
through narrow doorways.
In this case the two arms of the T frame in place of being fixed rigidly to the
central stem are jointed to it so that they may as shewn by dotted lines be turned
into a position to bring their outer ends closer to one another. To admit of their
being turned into this position the arm E to which the links D are jointed is
capable of being slidden endwise through a socket at the end of the steering axis F.
The construction of the compressing mechanism will be readily understood in
reference to the diagram in which the several parts are lettered to correspond with
the same parts shown on the complete machines in the other figures. When the arms
of the T frame have been brought forward the rod E can be slidden forward through
its socket so as to enable the wheels to be brought into parallel. To widen the
machine for riding, the arms, links D and rod E are pushed back into their normal
position a set screw in the socket is screwed home into a recess in the arm E
prepared for its reception. The arms are locked in position by means of two T headed
bolts and nuts. The heads of these bolts are drawn into recesses in the bracket of
the central stem of the T frame and the nuts are then tightened up. Turning the
bolt heads half way round (after slackening the nuts) they can then be drawn through
apertures formed in the bracket at right angles to the recesses, so as to admit of
the compression of the inachine.
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. The combination of steering gear for tricycles consisting of a central vertical
steering axis with an arm or arms upon it coupled by links directly to tiller arms
on two vertical axes which have stud axles for the steering wheels projecting hori-
zontally from them and with the vertical axes and the arms upon them in such
relative positions that when steering in either one direction or the other the wheels
will both be turned to the angles required for them to run in concentric circles sub-
stantially as described.

page_text: 2. The construction of a Tandem tricycle for two persons driven from the rear by a
single central wheel and steered differentially by the two front wheels and with
both saddle posts, placed within the wheel base substantially as described.
3. The construction of tandem convertible tricycles substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the drawings annexed.
4. The means substantially as described for enabling the steering wheels to be
brought closer together for passing through narrow doorways.
Dated this 6th day of March 1888.
WM. THOS. 'SHAW.
WILLIAM SYDENHAM.
ARTHUR SYDENHAM.