IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1885

page_text: I ALFRED ASHBY of number 184 Kings Road Chelsea, London S.W. in the
County of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES" to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to provide a simple and efficient means of steadying
and regulating the strain on the steering wheel of a tricycle or such like three
wheeled vehicle whether steered from behind, or in front.
It is well known that with such vehicles as above referred to and as ordinarily
constructed, fitted and arranged, when traversing curves the steering wheel does
not "right" itself so quickly as the rider would wish; and, not only so, but the
great strain on the "backbone" and "fork piece" of the vehicle tends to continually
twist same; thus causing the steering wheel to hang over at an angle and resulting
in the vehicle working "hard" and consequently presenting considerable difficulty
to the rider in steering the vehicle in a straight direction; as, owing to the dis-
tortion above referred to, the vehicle will always have a tendency to travel in the
direction or at the angle which the steering wheel "hange," or may "hang."
"
Now, with a view to avoid the disadvantages and inconveniences pointed out
above, I adopt the following means; that is to say, I introduce a tension or
regulating spring, or tension or regulating springs as under. According to one
modification, I employ a spiral spring one end of which is fixed to the "backbone
of the tricycle or like vehicle and the other end to the treadle stay or support.
Said spring may also, if desired, be fitted with a tension bolt to allow of the
adjustment of the tension of the spring, and which tension bolt may be fixed at
either end; that is to say it may be fixed on the "backbone," or to the treadle
stay or support. I may either use one spring, or I may use two spiral springs
either with or without the tension bolt or bolts aforesaid. When I use two springs
propose to fix on the "backbone" of the tricycle or like vehicle and just by the
bend of the "fork" a cross bar say from 8 to 12 inches long and with holes formed
in the ends of said cross bar, to receive the corresponding ends of each spring, or
tension bolt connected with said springs. The other two ends of the springs would
be fixed to the treadle stay or support. The springs aforesaid whether one or two
are used, would preferably be of metal but they might be of India rubber or other
suitable resilient material or compound of materials.

page_text: Instead of employing the description of spring or springs described above I may
adopt a curved, horse shoe shaped plate spring and fix same on the upright stay or
handle shaft above the wheel axle and in such a position that each end of said
curved plate spring should come into contact with the "backbone" at a point about
4 to 8 inches from the joint. Said spring may also be in the form of either one or
more plates or laminations according to the power required.
"
Amongst other advantages arising from the adoption of my Invention I may
mention, by way of illustration, the following, namely. That for instance in
turning a curve, the "backbone " of a tricycle with the provision or provisions
herein before mentioned the spring or springs aforesaid will yield or give" to the
required extent and so prevent the steering wheel going further than is requisite,
and also serves or serve to hold it rigid.-As soon as the rider has released the
steering handle, the spring or springs being also released will then allow of the
steering wheel assuming its normal position and then to travel in a perfectly
straight direction,
100K

page_text: I, ALFRED ASHBY of 184 Kings Road, Chelsea S.W. in the County of Middlesex,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRICYCLES " and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of my Invention is to provide a simple and efficient means for
steadying and regulating the strain on the steering wheel of a tricycle or other such
like three wheeled vehicle. It is well known that with such vehicles, ás ordinarily
constructed, fitted and arranged,-when traversing curves the steering wheel does
not "right" itself as quickly as the rider would wish. Not only so, but the great
strain on the "backbone" and "fork piece" tends to continually twist same, thus
causing the steering wheel to hang over at an angle and resulting in the vehicle
working "hard," as also presenting great difficulty to the rider in steering his
machine in a straight direction.
Now, with a view to remedy the disadvantages above pointed out I adopt the
following device, reference at the same time being had to the accompanying sheet
of drawings illustrative of my Invention as applied to two distinct types of
tricyles that is to say:-I introduce a tension regulating spring c fitted as shewn
in Figures 1 and 2 respectively In each of these cases a spiral spring is shown as
being employed and attached at one end to a denticulated or serrated bar or rack d
(or in lieu thereof as hereinbefore stated, a tension bolt may be employed as an
equivalent for said rack d).-As being illustrative of the functions of the spring c
and rack d respectively, it will be noticed on reference to Figure 1 that the former
here surrounds the latter within its convolutions for a portion of the length thereof;
the spring being hooked on to or attached to such part of the length of the rack
as will allow of the command of a considerable amount of tension; whilst, on the
other hand in cases where this latter would not be deemed necessary, the spring
would be hooked on at the extremity of the rack (Figure 2) Or, otherwise on to
any of the intervening points in the length of the rack, according to the
requirements.
The mode of attaching the spring and rack aforesaid to the two portions of a
tricycle herein before mentioned, is shewn ate and f respectively in Figures 1
and 2.
Referring to Figure 1, the dotted lines g and h represent alternative positions in
which the spring may be fixed to meet cases wherein objection might be taken to
the spring being placed as shewn by the full lines, such for instance as might arise
when a "luggage carrier" is attached to the tricycle.
I may, as hereinbefore stated, instead of using only one spiral spring, use two of
such springs and either with or without an intervening rack or equivalent in a
tension bolt. Also, I may, as herein before stated, instead of employing a spiral
spring or spiral springs, adopt a curved or horse shoe shaped "plate" spring either
plain or laminated. When using either simple or compound " plate" springs
I would propose to fix same on the upright stay or handle shaft above the wheel

page_text: axle and in such position that each end of said curved "plate" spring should
come into contact with the "backbone" of the tricycle at a point about say 4 to
8 inches from the joint.
The spring or springs aforesaid would preferably be of metal but they might be
of india rubber or other suitable resilient material or combination of materials.
Amongst other advantages arising from the adoption of my Invention I may
mention the following by way of illustration; namely, for instance, that in turning
a curve, the spring or springs aforesaid will yield or give to the required extent,
and so prevent the steering wheel going further than is required and also serve
to hold it rigid; and, as soon as the rider has released the steering handle, the
spring or springs aforesaid will then allow of the steering wheel assuming its
normal position and to travel in a perfectly straight direction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
For regulating and steadying the strain on the steering wheel of a tricycle or
other like vehicle the use of a spring or of springs and connections introduced in
the manner substantially as herein described and set forth.