IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR MACHINES."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Carter, of Sneinton, in the County of Nottingham,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR
MACHINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Carter at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th January 1878.
WILLIAM CARTER, of Sneinton, in the County of Nottingham.
IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR MACHINES."
I employ several modifications of machines.
"IMPROVEMENTS
In one modification I connect three bicycle driving wheels together by means of a
triangular or other shaped frame jointed or otherwise attached to forks which clip
the wheels, each of which may be provided with a guiding lever or handle. By a
machine so constructed either one or all of the riders may assist in propelling it.
A second modification consists in connecting four driving wheels by means of a
suitable shaped frame, so that two of the wheels may be leading wheels, and two
rear wheel. In such case I connect the guiding levers of the leading wheels
together, or I may arrange one wheel to lead and three to follow.
A third modification consists in employing four driving wheels, connected by a
suitable frame, covered with netting of cordage, wire, cane, or other suitable
material to form a seat or seats for passengers, who may assist in driving the
machine by means of levers hinged to the framing, and attached to cranks on an
axle connecting the two or more rear wheels; similar provision may be made in
three-wheeled and four-wheeled machines before described to enable a passenger to
assist in driving the machine.
A fourth modification consists in employing either of the above-described
modifications, and attaching thereto one or more pairs of driving wheels
at the rear to form a train of any required length, and to either modification I
employ a suitable brake or brakes.
In either of the above modifications of machines one or more of the riders sit over
one or other of the driving wheels, each of which may be of the usual construction.

page_text: But the frame connecting the driving wheels I construct of wood, Tiron, L iron,
steel, malleable iron, or of tubular-shaped iron or steel, whether such frame is
covered with netting or not.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Carter in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th July
1878.
WILLIAM CARTER, of Sneinton, in the County of Nottingham.
IN BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR MACHINES."
I emlpoy several modifications of machines.
"IMPROVEMENTS
In one modification I connect three bicycle driving wheels together by means of
a triangular or other shaped frame jointed or otherwise attached to forks which
clip the wheels, each of which may be provided with a guiding lever or handle.
By a machine so constructed, either one or all of the riders may assist in pro-
pelling it.
A second modification consists in connecting four driving wheels by means of a
suitable shaped frame, so that two of the wheels may be leading wheels, and two
rear wheels. In such case I connect the guiding levers of the leading wheels
together, or I may arrange one wheel to lead and three to follow.
A third modification consists in employing four driving wheels, connected by a
suitable frame covered with netting of cordage, wire, cane, or other suitable
material to form a seat or seats for passengers, who may assist in driving the
machine by means of levers hinged to the framing and attached to cranks on. an
axle connecting the two or more rear wheels; similar provision may be made in three-
wheeled and four-wheeled machines before described to enable a passenger to assist
in driving the machine.
A fourth modification consists in employing either of the above-described modi-
fications, and attaching thereto one or more pairs of driving wheels at the rear, to
form a train of any required length, and to either modification I employ a suitable
brake or brakes.
In either of the above modifications of machines one or more of the riders sit over
one or other of the driving wheels, each of which may be of the usual construction.
But the frame connecting the driving wheels I construct of wood, Ţ iron, iron,
steel, malleable iron, or of tubular shaped iron or steel, whether such frame is covered
with netting or not.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a side view of a tricycle constructed according to my improvements;
Figure 2 is a plan of the frame for the same, shewing the saddles and springs in
their relative positions.
Figure 3 is a side view of a four-wheeled machine; Figure 4, a half plan of the
same; and Figure 5, a plan of a cranked axle, hereafter referred to.
*In Figures 1, 3, and 4, the wheels are only partly shewn, and in each Figure the
corresponding parts are lettered alike.
I employ several modifications of machines.

page_text: In one modification, shewn at Figures 1 and 2, I connect three bicycle driving
wheels together by means of a three-armed frame A, the front arm of which is
provided with a saddle spring B of the usual construction, and the two rear arms
are each provided with a spring C of the shape shewn in the side view at Figure 1,
the front end of the spring being hinged to the frame in the same way as the
spring B, the lower end, which forms a loop, slides upon the rounded end of
the arm in the rear of the socket D, which receives the stem of the fork E, which
may be provided with a guiding lever or handle F, like unto the one shewn in plan
at Figure 4. The stem of the front fork E, which is passed through the socket D, is
provided at its upper end with a spur wheel D', the teeth of which engage with a
three-threaded worm boss D2 secured on a guiding lever carried by a bearing
bracket projecting from the socket D; the lower ends of the forks form bearings for
the axles of wheels of suitable size. By a machine so constructed each rider may
assist in propelling it.
A second modification consists in connecting four driving wheels by means of a
frame constructed as follows:-There are two bosses A and A', each of which lie
intermediately, or nearly so, between a pair of wheels; from each boss two arms A
project, one to the front, and one to the rear; the front arm terminates in a bracket
socket D, and is provided with a saddle and spring B of the usual construction; the
rear arm terminates in a socket D carrying a saddle spring C, as described in the
first modification, the stem of the fork E being provided with a guiding lever F;
the brackets on the sockets D form bearings for one guiding rod F¹, which extends
beyond and between each front wheel, and is provided with a pair of handles to each
wheel, as usual; a three-armed boss D³ near each wheel is secured on the rod, which
is provided with a three-threaded worm boss D2, which engages with the teeth of a
spur wheel D¹ secured on the stems of the front forks E; the three-armed bosses
enable the riders to employ greater guiding power than can be applied by the hand
lever usually employed.
A third modification consists in reversing the position of the wheels of the machine
described in the first modification by placing two wheels to lead, and one to follow,
each leading wheel being guided by a separate guiding lever, or by an arrangement
of apparatus before described and shewn at Figures 3 and 4.
In some cases I may prefer to connect each pair of driving wheels by means of a
cranked axle, shewn in plan at Figure 5, where the throw of the cranks are capable
of adjustment, or the whole of the throws may be of one set length, and the crank
shaft in one piece between the wheels at Figures 4 and 5; one end of the shaft is
shewn swivelled to the next adjoining crank.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of per-
forming the same, I declare that I claim for constructing and connecting three or
more wheels together, so as to enable two or more riders to assist in propelling a
machine, substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Carter, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
Witness,
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Nottingham.
WILLIAM CARTER. (L.S.)