Improvements in the Driving Axles of Tricycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1893
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Complete Specification Left, 8th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan.,
1894
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Driving Axles of Tricycles.
1
I, EDWARD FRANK ELLIOT, of Gosfield Vicarage, Halstead, in the County of
Essex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to improve tricycles of the double driven type by
I achieve
reducing friction, by facilitating lubrication, and by rendering the machine more
lurable, all in respect to the driving axle, its bearings and attachments.
these results by causing the driving wheels to revolve on a hollow fixed axle in
which the balance gear is enclosed, the balance gear being connected to the driving
wheels in such a manner that no extra friction or wear is caused by slight temporary
or permanent deformations of the frame of the machine. The hollow fixed axle
encloses the tubes or shafts for connecting the balance gear to the driving wheels in
addition to the balance gear itself, and thereby offers special facilities for
lubrication.
I use a hollow fixed axle firmly attached in any desired manner to the remainder
of the framework of the machine, and a driving wheel revolves on suitable bearings
at either end thereof. The middle portion of the fixed hollow axle is enlarged
sufficiently to contain the balance gear, and the chain wheel, and bearings for
carrying the same. The said bearings are fixed to the interior of the hollow axle
or of the enlarged portion thereof, and the said enlarged portion is provided with
apertures through which the driving chain from the crank chain wheel passes.
These
To convey the driving power from the balance gear to the wheels at the ends of
the axle, I employ two tubes or shafts which work inside the hollow fixed axle,
and which are each provided with a projecting driving piece at either end.
projecting driving pieces may be attached as portions of caps screwed or otherwise
fixed on to the ends of the tubes or shafts. Each tube or shaft takes its rotary
motion from the balance gear by reason of the projecting driving piece at one end
of the tube or shaft fitting easily into a slot or recess at the back of one of the
driven wheels of the balance gear, the said driving piece being of such form that it
cannot turn in the slot or recess.
The outside end of the hub of each driving wheel of the tricycle is made to
form a cap over the open end of the fixed axle, and the tubes or shafts which
derive rotation from the balance gear in the manner above described, impart it to
the driving wheels by reason of the driving pieces on their outer ends engaging
into slots in those parts of the hubs which are made to form caps over the ends of
the hollow fixed axle.
The balance gear with the driven chain wheel, is supported independently on
suitable bearings firmly attached to the hollow fixed axle and no strain other than
that due to a simple turning movement can be conveyed to the internal driving tubes
through their easily fitting driving pieces. The driving wheels directly support
the ends of the fixed axle, and they can only receive from the driving gear or
convey thereto, a simple turning movement: hence no extra friction is caused by
bearings being temporarily or permanently out of line, or by bending moments
due to the forcible driving of the loaded machine over a more or less rough road :
much extra friction arises from these causes where the axle itself revolves in
several bearings.
In my improved axle the whole of the gear and the bearings are enclosed, and
they are all in more or less direct comniunication with the fixed hollow axle which
may contain a sufficient supply of lubrication to last over a considerable period.

page_text: Moreover, by reducing the friction and wear due to slight deformations of the frame,
I increase the durability of the machine generally.
Dated this Fourth day of February 1893.
E. FRANK ELLIOT,
Applicant.
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Improvements in the Driving Axles of Tricycles.
I, EDWARD FRANK ELLIOT, of Gosfield, Halstead, in the County of Essex,
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 :-
The object of this invention is to improve tricycles of the double driven type, by
reducing friction, by facilitating lubrication, and by rendering the machine more
durable, all in respect to the driving axle its bearings and attachments. I achieve
these results by causing the driving wheels to revolve on a hollow fixed axle in
which the balance gear is enclosed, the balance gear being connected to the
driving wheels in such a manner that no extra friction or wear is caused by slight
temporary or permanent deformations of the frame of the machine. The hollow
fixed axle encloses the tubes or shafts for connecting the balance gear to the
- driving wheels in addition to the balance gear itself, and thereby offers special
I facilities for lubrication.
The manner in which I carry this ipvention into practice is shown in the
accompanying drawings in which.
Figs. 1 and 2 are a longitudinal elevation and a plan respectively of my fixed
hollow axle b. with the wheel hubs a₁ and a, arranged to revolve on ball
bearings ww at each end thereof. c is an enlarged portion formed in the middle
of the fixed hollow axle to contain the balance gear. This fixed hollow axle may
form part of the frame of the machine, or it is at least firmly attached thereto.
The motion of the balance gear is conveyed to the wheel hubs by tubes or shafts
working inside the fixed hollow axle.
... The details will be better understood by reference to Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 6.
Fig. 3. is drawn to a larger scale and is a section through the enlarged portion c
: of the axle by showing the internal parts.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section through the same.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the end of the axle with ball bearings and
:wheel hub thereon..
Fig. 6 is a view on one end of the axle and wheel hub.
In Fig. 3, d is the balance gear carried on ball bearings e within the enlarged
portion of the axle b. There is nothing particular about the balance gear: it
consists of the usual arrangement of bevel wheels, but it is preferably carried on
hollow bearings in the manner shown, thereby leaving axial space for the shafts ffi
which convey the motion of the balance gear to the wheels at the ends of the axle.
The inner ends of the shafts f₁ are not rigidly attached to the balance gear but
are compelled to turn with it by virtue of the fact that their flattened ends 9 91
project into slots on the back of the bevel wheels as shown, and similarly, ou
reference to Figs. 1, 5, and 6, it will be seen that the outer ends of these, shafts are
not rigidly attached to the wheel hubs but compel said wheel hubs to turn with
them by virtue of the fact that the flattened ends i į of the shafts, penetrate into
slots in the ends..of the wheel hubs a₁ a. The ends of the wheel hubs are
brought over the ends of the axle at k k₁ to allow of this being done.
1. The driving chain passes through the holes ll, in the enlarged portion c of the
axle and engages the teeth'm, m, of the chain wheel, thereby, setting, the whole
gear in operation. and: propelling the tricycle...
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page_text: It will be observed that the hollow axle may be conveniently divided at r to
facilitate the manufacture of the machine and permit of the introduction or sub-
sequent examination of the internal parts. s is a securing or tightening device to
prevent the joint from becoming accidentally unscrewed. A bolt is passed
through the two lugs and they are drawn together, causing the female thread to
grip the male thread very tightly. This same device is seen at t to secure the
joint u.
The fixed hollow axle may be partially cut away in cases where great lightness
is required. I prefer to regard the fixed hollow axle as part of the frame of
the tricycle and to regard my invention as consisting mainly of a balance gear
revolving on bearings on one convenient part of the frame and the driving
wheels revolving on bearings upon another convenient portion of the frame-
work, the balance gear and the driving wheels being connected by shafts or
tubes substantially in the manner indicated.
My drawings illustrate a simple and effective method of carrying this general
arrangement into practical form. The method illustrated will facilitate lubrication,
since a supply of oil introduced into the hollow axle will serve to lubricate all the
working parts connected therewith.
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
In a tricycle or like machine, a balance gear revolving on a fixed portion of
the framework, driving wheels revolving on other fixed portions of the framework,
the balance gear and driving wheels being connected by flat ended shafts or
equivalent devices which will transmit no forces other than simple turning forces
to or from said driving wheels.
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1002
E. FRANK ELLIOT.