AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Matthew Doubleday, of Old Radford, Nottingham, Slater,
and Thomas Humber, of Queen's Road, Nottingham, Bicycle Manufacturer, for
the Invention of "AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Matthew Doubleday and
Thomas Humber at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th
August 1878.
MATTHEW DOUBLEDAY, of Old Radford, Nottingham, Slater, and THOMAS
HUMBER, of Queen's Road, Nottingham, Bicycle Manufacturer. AN IMPROVED
TRICYCLE."
"
There are two large driving wheels in front with a saddle, backbone, and small
wheel behind. One of the large wheels can be unlocked from the axle, so as to
run loose in turning, thus avoiding the danger of an upset. The machine is
guided by an ordinary handle acting on the large wheels. The rider drives by
direct action on pedals placed on a crank shaft. On this crank shaft are two
toothed wheels with chains, which communicate the motion to two toothed wheels
placed on the axle of the large wheels. Either pair of these toothed wheels can
be thrown out of gear by a lever, and they are made of different sizes. The
difference of size enables one pair of these wheels to give the same number of
revolutions to the driving wheels as to the crank axle, and the other pair to give
one revolution to the driving wheels to two revolutions of the crank axle, thereby
gaining power when required.
It may be convenient when the driving wheels are not of very large size to use
only one pair of toothed wheels and chain.
The whole weight of the rider, as well as his muscular power, can be utilised in
driving without the risk of tilting the machine up.
By a modification of the saddle a seat can be made so that a lady can ride this
tricycle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Matthew Doubleday and Thomas Humber in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 8th February 1879.
MATTHEW DOUBLEDAY, of Old Radford, Nottingham, Slater, and THOMAS
HUMBER, of Queen's Road Road, Nottingham, Bicycle Manufacturer. "AN IMPROVED
TRICYCLE,"
Our Invention relates to certain improvements in the manufacture of tricycles.
We employ two large driving wheels with a saddle, backbone, and small wheel
behind. The machine is guided by an ordinary handle acting on the large wheels.
The rider drives by direct action on pedals placed on a crank shaft. On this
crank shaft are two toothed wheels connected by chains with two other toothed
wheels fixed to the main axle, one of the wheels on the crank axle communicating
the motion to its fellow on the driving axle. Either pair of these toothed wheels
may be thrown out of gear by a small lever, and they are made of different
sizes.
It may be convenient when the driving wheels are not of very large size to use
only one pair of toothed wheels and one chain.
In the accompanying Drawings, serving to illustrate the nature of our Invention
and the manner of performing it,―
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the tricycle shewing one of the driving wheels a and
the trailing or hind wheel b. c is the front fork, into which is centred (as in a
bicycle) the backbone e carrying the saddle e fixed on the spring f. g is a support
for the crank shaft and pedals permanently attached to the fork c; h is the crank
shaft, to which are attached the pedals i, i. On the crank shaft is a toothed wheel j
communicating the motion by a chain to another toothed wheel j¹ on the driving
axle, this pair of wheels being of the same size, so that one revolution of the crank
axle gives one revolution of the driving axle, and consequently of the large wheels.
k is another toothed wheel on the crank axle (shewn in Fig. 2) communicating the
motion by a chain to another toothed wheel k on the driving axle; this pair of
wheels are made of different sizes, k¹ being larger than k, so that when they are
used a less number of revolutions of the driving axle is made than of the crank
axle, thus gaining power proportionately to the difference in the respective sizes of
the pair of wheels, though at the same time losing speed. Either pair of wheels
can be used at option, and are thrown in and out of gear by an ordinary clutch /
(Fig. 5) worked by a handle m and connecting rod n (Fig. 4). o is the handle, by
which the machine is guided by the driving wheels in the same manner as in a
bicycle.
Fig. 2 is a back elevation of the machine with the backbone and trailing wheel
removed.
Fig. 3 is a plan shewing the three wheels and saddle.
Figs. 4 and 5 are a side and back elevation respectively of the driving apparatus
enlarged.
Fig. 6 shews a speedy method of taking the machine to pieces by removing the
driving wheels. p, p, p, p, is that part of the axle to which the wheel is attached;
q is the main axle, which is hollow, and into which p slips; p₁ is a part of p
thickened to tooth into q at 7; 8 is a thumbscrew to keep p in its position in q.
On turning the screw back the wheel is quickly and easily taken off by pulling p
out of q.
Fig. 7 is a section of the axle at r.
Fig. 8 is an elevation of the tricycle with one driving wheel removed with a seat
substituted for a saddle.
And Fig. 9 is a plan of the tricycle shewing the manner in which we adapt
the seat in lieu of a saddle. The backbone d is curved to one side by an elbow at
t coming round to one side, so as to allow the rider's legs to work the pedals freely

page_text: without having the backbone between his legs. It then further curves round
behind him, so as to support the springs u, u, on which rest the seat v.
By this arrangement the tricycle can be used by ladies and others who prefer a
seat to a saddle.
The backbone is again bent by an elbow at w in order to drop down to the
trailing wheel in the ordinary way, and the part of the backbone d¹ is brazed or
otherwise fastened to the main part of the backbone at w.
In witness whereof, I, the said Matthew Doubleday, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 8th of February 1870.
MATTHEW DOUBLEDAY.
(LS.)
On behalf of myself and the said Thomas Humber.