Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
tocipedes.
I, JAMES READ RICKARD of 143, Kennington Road, London, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to bicycles of the tandem type whether adapted to carry
two, three or more riders, and it has for its object keeping the width of the tread
within the usual limits, which is attained by using but one driving chain so arranged
as to gear with the whole of the driving wheels.
In carrying out my invention I mount all the driving chain wheels on the pedal-
crank axles in a line and I use but one driving chain. To keep the chain in
contact with the intermediate driving chain wheels I use small guide wheels or
rollers mounted on ball bearings in suitable brackets or their equivalents formed
on or fixed to the frame of the machine between the said driving wheels. These
wheels or rollers are made of hard steel and have plain faces and their positions
with respect to the driving chain wheels is such as will ensure the driving chain
embracing a sufficient portion of the periphery of the driving wheels to enable a
sure and positive driving grip to be obtained and to prevent the chain-which
owing to its length would be slack-from jumping the teeth.
Dated this 21st day of May 1896.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, JAMES READ RICKARD of 143, Kennington Road, London, in the County of
Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to bicycles and other velocipedes of the tandem type
whether adapted to carry two, three or more riders, and it consists in so arranging
the driving and driven chain wheels that only one driving chain is used, the object
being to keep the width of the tread within the limits of single machines.
In the accompanying drawing :-
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a tandem bicycle-by way of example-
fitted with this invention, showing one method of carrying it into practical effect.
Figures 2 and 3 are similar views showing modifications thereof, and
Figures 4 and 5 are broken views in side elevation and cross section respectively-

page_text: on an enlarged scale-showing the construction of the arrangement illustrated by
Figure 1.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
According to my invention I mount driving chain wheels A and B on the pedal-
crank axles and the driven chain wheel C on the driving wheel or axle thereof in
a line, so that motion can be imparted from the pedal-crank axles to the driving
wheel or axle thereof by means of one chain D.
To keep the driving chain D in contact with the intermediate chain wheel B
small wheels or rollers such as E are mounted on stud axles F carried by suitable
brackets G formed on or fixed to the frame X of the machine, ball bearings being
preferably interposed between the wheels E and stud axles F to reduce friction.
The peripheries of the rollers E are preferably lined with fibre, hard rubber or
similar material, but this is not obligatory.
I find from practice that the most convenient place to mount the rollers E is
immediately over the centre of the axle carrying the intermediate chain wheel B,
as in this position they act to prevent the driving chain D from rising from the
intermediate wheel and therefore the only strain thrown upon them is the upward
thrust of the chain as it attempts to rise off the chain wheel. It is not, however,
compulsory to mount them in this position as they may be mounted in any other
position such as that shown by Figures 2 and 3 to attain the same end, although
obviously when placed in such position they are subject to more severe strain and
consequently increased friction would be set up.
By my invention the tread of each pedal-crank axle is kept within the width of
the tread of a single machine, thus overcoming the great defect of the tandem
velocipedes as at present constructed with two or more driving chains.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) The improvements in tandem velocipedes, substantially as herein before
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
(2) In a tandem velocipede, mounting the driving chain wheels on the pedal-
crank axles and the driven chain wheel on the driving wheel or axle thereof in a
line, and imparting motion from the said driving wheels to the driven wheel by
means of one chain, as set forth.
(3) In a tandem velocipede, mounting the driving chain wheels on the pedal-
crank axle and the driven chain wheel on the driving wheel or axle thereof in a
line, so that motion from the said driving wheels may be imparted to the driven
wheel by means of one chain, and keeping the chain in contact with the inter-
mediate driving chain wheel or wheels by means of small rollers, as hereinbefore
set forth.
Dated this 20th dow of D1005
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.