IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER MANUMOTIVE VEHICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Dawes of Kingston Grove, Leeds, Engineer
and John Tankard, of Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, Engineer both in the County
of York, for an invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER
MANUMOTIVE VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Dawes and John
Tankard at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th May 1882.
WILLIAM DAWES, of Kingston Grove, Leeds, Engineer, and JOHN TANKARD,
of Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, Engineer, both in the County of York. " IMPROVE'
MENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER MANUMOTIVE VEHICLES."
The object of this Invention is the production of a Tricycle or other manumotive
Vehicle in which the muscular power of both the legs and arms of the Rider is, or
may be, employed for propelling; and a means is also embodied in the arrangement
and construction of the whole, whereby the guiding or "steering" can, at the
same time, be as easily and safely effected as heretofore; and it may be thus
described :-
We first construct our Carriage, which, so far as the general arrangement is,
concerned, may be an ordinary Tricycle, and, by preference, with the steering wheel
in front; and, the pedal or treadle, (foot) propelling may be either directly upon
the Cranks, or through the medium of levers and rods, as may be desired; but we
prefer to construct the said pedal cranks with a plain, straight, revolving portion in
the centre, between the two cranks, or otherwise in such a manner, that a toothed,
notched, or recessed, "chain wheel," about five inches diameter, can be firmly fixed
thereon.
We next construct an upright "rocking lever" or standard, and we fix this in
front of the seat, centrally, in such a manner that, when upright, or in its working
position, the top of it shall be about thirteen inches above the level of the seat,
and nine inches in front of it, or as nearly as possible perpendicularly over the
foot cranks and the said chain wheel; and also, so that, whilst being firm and
steady, and free from movement, forward or backward, when fixed for use, work, or

page_text: "
duty, it can be moved forward or turned down," when not in use, for facilitating
the ingress and egress of the rider.
"
-
We now fit, into the upper end of this "rocking lever,"-which is "forked" or
opened for the purpose, a second chain wheel, precisely similar to the one
before-named; and upon or over these two wheels, an endless transmitting chain
is fitted, to work tightly yet freely, in all positions of the said rocking lever. Then,
upon the short projecting ends of the shaft upon which the second or upper chain
wheel is fixed, we fit a pair of single cranks or handles, of about six inches
throw or radius, and furnished with wood or other revolving Knobs, so formed
that the Rider's grip upon them, shall be both firm and comfortable; and, as
with the foot or pedal cranks,-these are fixed upon their shaft, diametrically
opposite to each other; their working position,-as regards the pedal cranks,--
being such as will give the greatest propelling power, by, and as the result of, the
combined action and effect of the legs and arms of the rider, thus "timed" to work
to the greatest advantage and result.
In some cases and arrangements of Vehicle, the lower chain wheel, and the
centre of movement of the rocking lever, may be otherwise than upon or in
accordance with the pedal cranks or action; but, in all cases, and however modified
in construction, this revolving hand or arm attachment or auxiliary, must be so
constructed and connected with the propelling wheels of the vehicle, that any
necessary motion or movement of the rocking lever shall not interfere with the
transmission of the arm power of the rider,-through it,-to the "driving" or
propelling wheels.
Having described the propelling portions and construction of our Invention, we
now explain the manner in which the guiding or "steering" of the vehicle is
accomplished; this we effect by first connecting the seat of the rider with the
steering wheel in such a manner that the weight or pressure of his body when
leaning sideways," shall cause the seat to "tilt" or "cant" away from the true
level or horizontal position it will have or be in, when he is sitting upright upon
it, and to lean or slope in proportion to his deviation from that position; the low
side being for the inside, and the high side being for the outside of the curve thus
made by the Vehicle, whether to the right or to the left; the upright or
intermediate position of the rider, and the horizontal position of the seat being the
straight line position of the steering wheel; and, to render the foregoing inore
certain, obedient, and definite in its action, we prefer to pivot or otherwise hinge
the seat, "back and front," or the reverse way to the main axle; and also, in some
cases, we employ the before described rocking lever and handles in connection with
the "steering," as well as, or in addition to its propelling duty; this we do by
allowing the said lever to have a "sideway" movement or "travel," of about three
inches each way, from the perpendicular, and coupling it, by suitable rods, joints,
and connections, with the steering wheel, or with the seat connections, in such a
manner that whilst its central or upright position shall be the straight line position,
pressure to the right shall produce a curve to the right, and "vice versa ;" and
thus, in both cases, whether used conjointly or not, the side effort and leaning of
the rider will be necessary for deviating from a straight line and producing a curve,
and increased safety, whilst so doing, will result.
To prevent too free a movement of the "steering gear" and wheel, we employ a
spring action in connection therewith which shall cause them to seek and prefer
the central or straight line position, and thus, by requiring some effort from the
rider to overcome this, and to throw them into a position to form a curve, unsteady
running will be obviated.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Dawes and John Tankard in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th November 1882.
"
WILLIAM DAWES of Kingston Grove, Leeds, Engineer, and JOHN TANKARD,
of Woodhouse Lane, Leeds, Engineer, both in the County of York. IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER MANUMOTIVE VEHICLES,"
The object of this Invention is the production of a Tricycle or other manumotive
vehicle, in which the muscular power of both the legs and arms of the rider is, or
may be, employed for propelling, and a means is also embodied in the arrangement
and construction of the whole, whereby the guiding or "steering," can, at the same
time, be as easily and safely effected as heretofore, and it may be thus described :-
We first construct our Carriage, which, so far as the general arrangement is,
concerned, may be an ordinary Tricycle, and the pedal or treadle (foot) propelling
may be either directly upon the Cranks, or through the medium of levers and rods,
as may be desired, but we prefer to construct the said pedal cranks with a plain,
straight, revolving portion in the centre, between the two cranks, or otherwise in
such a manner that a toothed, notched, or recessed "chain wheel," about five inches
diameter, can be firmly fixed between them. We next construct an upright
'rocking lever" or standard, and we fix this in front of the seat, centrally, in such
a manner that, when upright or in its working position, the top of it shall be about
thirteen inches, at most, above the level of the seat, and ten inches in front of it,
or nearly over the foot cranks and the said " chain wheel" and also, so that
whilst being firm and steady, and free from forward or backward movement, when
fixed for use, work, or duty; it can be moved forward, when not in use, for
facilitating the ingress and egress of the Rider.
We now fit, into the upper end of this "rocking lever" or standard,-which is
"forked" or opened for the purpose, a second "chain wheel," precisely similar to
the one before-named; and upon or over these two wheels, an endless transmitting
chain is fitted, to work tightly yet freely, in all positions of the said "rocking
lever." Then, upon the short projecting ends of the shaft upon which the second
or upper chain wheel is fixed, we fit a pair of single cranks or handles, of about
six inches "throw" or radius, and furnished with wood or other revolving knobs
or handles, so formed that the Rider's grip upon them shall be both firm and
comfortable, and, as with the foot or pedal cranks,-these are fixed upon their
shaft, diametrically opposite to each other; their working position, as regards the
pedal cranks, being such as will give the greatest propelling power, by, and as the
result of the combined action and effect, of the legs and arms of the Rider, thus
"timed" to work to the greatest advantage and result.
In some cases and arrangements of vehicle, the lower chain-wheel, and the centre
of movement of the rocking lever, may be otherwise than upon or in accordance
with the pedal cranks or action, but in all cases, and however modified in
construction, this revolving hand, or arin attachment or auxiliery must be so
constructed and connected with the propelling wheels of the vehicle, that any
necessary motion or movement of the rocking lever shall not interfere with the
transmission of the arm power of the Rider, through it, to the driving or propelling
wheels.
Having described the propelling portions and construction of our Invention, we
now explain the manner in which the guiding or "steering" of the vehicle is
accomplished this we effect by first connecting the seat of the Rider with the
steering wheel, in such a manner that the weight or pressure of his body, when

page_text: leaning sideways," shall cause the seat to "tilt" or "cant" away from the true
level or horizontal position it will have or be in, when he is sitting upright upon
it, and to lean or slope in proportion to his deviation from that position; the low
side being for the inside, and the high side being for the outside of the curve thus
made by the vehicle, whether to the right or to the left; the upright or intermediate
position of the Rider, and the horizontal position of the seat, being the straight line
position of the steering wheel and the vehicle; and, to render the foregoing more
certain, obedient, and definite in its action, we prefer to pivot or otherwise enable
the seat to readily receive and transmit the necessary positions and movements;
and also, in some cases, we employ the before-described rocking lever and handles
in connection with the "steering," as well as, or in addition to propelling; this we
do by allowing the said lever to have a "side way" movement or "travel" of
three inches, at most, each way, from the perpendicular, and coupling it, by suitable
rods, joints, and connections, with either the steering wheel or gear, or the seat
connections with the steering, in such a manner that whilst in the central or
upright position, pressure to the right shall produce a curve to the right, and
"vice versa," and thus, in both cases, whether used conjointly as a check, or alone,
the side effort and leaning of the Rider will be necessary for deviating from a
straight line and producing a curve, and increased safety, whilst so doing, results.
To prevent too free a movement of the steering gear and wheel, we employ a
frictional spring action or attachment in connection therewith, which shall cause
them to seek and prefer the central or straight line position, and thus, by requiring
some effort from the Rider to overcome this, and to throw them into a position to
form a curve, unsteady running is obviated.
In the accompanying illustrations, Figures 1 & 2 are a side and, front elevation
of one arrangement of our Invention, and Figures 3 & 4 are a side and front
elevation of another arrangement of the same; Figure 5 is a horizontal plan of the
steering gear for Figures 1 & 2; Figure 6 is an enlarged view of the steadying or
controlling spring, applicable to both or any arrangement, and Figure 7 shows the
catch or notch arrangement, for the rocking lever or standard, when that is
employed to assist or to steady the steering. In Figures 1, 2, 3 & 4, certain
ordinary details are omitted, to prevent confusion; and, in all the Figures a is the
carriage, b the crank, c the lower chain wheel, d the rocking lever or standard,
e the "
stay" for ditto, f the upper chain wheel, g the hand power transmitting
chain, the revolving handles or hand cranks, i the steering connection, and j the
frictional steadying or controlling spring.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, we wish it to be understood that we do not confine or restrict ourselves to
the precise details or arrangements which we have described or referred to, as
many modifications and variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of the said Invention, but what we consider to be
novel and original and therefore claim as the Invention secured to us by the
hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent, is,-1st The combined application,
action, and use of a pair of diametrically opposite revolving handles or hand cranks,
with and in addition to the foot cranks or pedals, and so timed or adjusted with
respect to each other, that the pull of this revolving hand power shall agree with
the thrust of the foot power, to give, in combination with the latter, a circum-
ferential or "all round" hand pull or power, as an auxiliery propelling power,
directly or indirectly to, or in connection with, the driving wheel or wheels of the
vehicle; 2nd An upright or sloping "rocking lever" or standard, for carrying the
said revolving handles, and capable of moving forward or backward for convenience
and adjustment, and "sideways" as a means of assisting, checking, or controlling
the steering, through a connection with the scat or the steering wheel, or both, as
may be required; 3rd Connecting the steering wheel or wheels of the vehicle with
the seat, in such a manner as to enable the Rider to guide or steer the vehicle
by the leaning, canting, or movement of the body, upon and with the seat; and

page_text: 4th, The steadying or controlling frictional spring action or attachment, for
preventing unsteady running, by checking, to free a movement of the steering
wheel or wheels; virtually as, or after the manner hereinbefore explained and
set forth.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Dawes and John Tankard, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this third day of November, in the year
of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
0 Witness
GEORGE TANKARD,
5 Cross Elmwood St.
Leeds.
ILLIAM DAW
JOHN TANKARD.
(L.B.)
(L.S.)