IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1885

page_text: HERBERT JAMES PAUSEY, Bicycle & Tricycle manufacturer, Pioneer Works Park
Road, Clapham Surrey & CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN, Engineer of 3 Wakehurst
Road Wandsworth Common Surrey do hereby declare the nature of our invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES to be as follows:-
This invention relates to Tricycles for carrying one or two riders, or for one rider
to carry luggage & so that the machine will steer more easily than the ordinary
Tricycles now in use, & carry two riders or luggage almost balanced on the axle of
driving wheels. According to the invention the machine is made with the steering
wheel in front, the two driving wheels behind, connected together by suitable
framing. The front or steering wheel is carried in a fork pivoted to a steering.
neck some six inches behind the verticl centre, so that when the wheel is turned
in steering, on its vertical centre or point of contact with the ground the neck is
thrown over carrying the weight of the rider, frame, axle, & driving wheels, thus
making the machine a triple steerer.
From the top of the steering fork is a telescopic tube extending upwards &
raking back towards the rider surmounted by a handle-bar which is adjustable for
steering the machine, this arrangement of steering has the following advantages.
It makes the machine steer more easy by steering the three wheels, more steadily
by moving the frame & weight of rider whilst steering.
We also fix two spiral, flat, or rubber springs, each side of the neck so that the
front wheel is kept straight when running without the handles.
The ordinary rack & pinion or lever tricycle steering can be used instead of the
handle-bar with this steering arrangement.
When a rear rider is carried driving the same axle as the front rider, by means
of chain or other suitable driving gear, we use an adjustable sliding tube, which is
clipped on the bearings, in which the axle works, so that the leverage can be
adjusted & the heaviest rider can be carried behind without lifting the steering
wheel from the ground, at the same time releiving the steering wheel of all strain,
balancing the riders almost on the axle.
When the machine is required to carry luggage or goods, we fix a basket or box
instead of the front rider, so that the propeller of the machine from behind can
balance the weight of the basket or box & goods carried, almost on the driving

page_text: axle, leaving just enough weight on the front wheel for steering by means of the
sliding-bar on which the weight of rider is adjusted.
We are aware that Tricycles are made where two riders sit, one behind the
other, but 'such machines carry the heaviest rider in front, & in no case is the
heaviest rider carried behind without an extra wheel.
We are also aware that tricycles are made with the front fork raking from the
centre of the steering wheel but in no arrangement is the neck set at a different
angle to the fork, so that the machine steers all three wheels as described in the
foregoing Specification.
HERBERT JAMES PAUSEY Bicycle & Tricycle maker Pioneer Works Park
Road Clapham Surrey & CHARLES THOMAS CROWDEN Engineer 3 Somerville
Terrace Ennersdale Road Lewisham Kent, do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES 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 tricycles for carrying one or two riders, or for one rider
to carry lugage, so that the machine will steer more easily than ordinary tricycles
in use hitherto, & carry two riders or one rider & lugage almost balanced on the
driving axle.
According to the invention the machine is made with the steering wheel in front,
the driving wheels behind connected together by suitable framing, is driven by a
pair of cranks, chain wheel, & central endless chain or bands, driving on a balance
geared axle, attached to which are the driving wheels, The front or steering wheel
is carried in a fork raked at an angle, working in a steering neck some six inches
behind the vertical centre, which is extended upwards at a less accute angle than
the front wheel fork to the handle-bar for steering the machine.
To the front fork is fixed two spiral or rubber springs, connected to the frame
tube by means of eyebolts & nuts, by this arrangement resistance is put on the
steering wheel & handle-bar; bringing the front wheel back to its normal position
when running without the riders hands upon the handle-bar. The strength of the
springs can be readily adjusted by means of the eyebolts & nuts.
The seat or saddle upon which the rider sits, is mounted upon a vertical tube
clamped to the frame tube & capable of horizontal & vertical adjustment.

page_text: When a rear rider is carried we attach to the frame by means of a cramp a fixed
handle-bar & angle tube, to which is clamped a bracket, chain wheel, & cranks,
driving by means of an endless chain or bands to an extra chain wheel on the
driving axle. The rear seat or saddle being carried on a vertical tube curving to
the angle tube, of such a form as to allow a lady to ride the machine behind.
The frame is strengthened when two riders are carried by means of a tube
clamped to the front & rear angle tubes. With this arrangement the riders can
adjust their weights on the driving axle, just allowing sufficient weight on the
front wheel for steering. This is done by the front rider sliding the front seat tube
along the frame, compensating the weight of the rear rider who may be the heaviest _
of the two. To the rear angle tube is fixed a small wheel to prevent the machine
from tilting backwards should the weight be suddenly taken from the front part of
the machine.
When the machine is required to carry lugage, we attach to the frame of the
machine a box or basket instead of the front rider. Behind the driving axle on a
horizontal tube is fixed a seat or saddle for the rider who may adjust the weight of
machine or goods carried on the driving axle; by adjusting the seat or saddle along
the horizontal tube, thereby relieving the small front wheel from all strain whilst
steering the machine.
Fig. I. Shews a side view of tricycle for carrying one rider.
Fig. 2. Shews additional framework for converting the machine to carry two
riders.
Fig. 4 Shows the machine adapted for carrying lugage, the steering of which is
operated by means of rack & pinion or geared steering.
Fig. 5. Shews a plan of the resistance spring arrangement, & mode of attachment
to the front fork & frame.
Fig. 6 Shews a diagram plan of the triple steering afterwards described.
Fig. I. Represents a side view of a direct steering tricycle, with the double angle
steering tube A & fork B, the two spiral resistance springs C attached to the front
steering fork B & frame tube D; are adjusted by means of eyebolts & nuts E so
arranged to bring the front wheel to its normal position when steering, & running
without the hands on the steering handle-bar. F shews the saddle capable of
horizontal adjustment by means of the cramp G¹. H the angle tube for carrying
the crankshaft bracket, chain wheel for driving the machine, & is connected to the
axle by means of an endless chain or band.
Fig. 2-The attachment for converting the machine to carry two riders, is
attached to fig. I by means of the cramp G2 which clasps the angle tube, also the
handle-bar J, the strengthening tube K by means of the hinged clamps L. The
curved seat support m extending upwards from the angle tube I carrying the tilt
wheel h, thus making the machine carry two riders as shewn on Fig. 3.
Fig. 4. Shews the machine adapted to carry lugage. A is a box or basket
attached to the frame tube. B is the tube for carrying the seat or saddle C, & is
capable of horizontal & vertical adjustment by means of the cramp D, E is the
steering handle connected to the front wheel double angle fork & tube F & G, by
means of the steering rod, actuated by rack & pinion or geared steering.
Fig. 6 Shews diagram plan of the wheels of the tricycle, the dotted lines shew
action of the tricycle whilst steering. A are the driving wheels, B the steering
wheel which is pivoted on the centre C, D is the point of contact of the steering
wheel B with the ground. E is the centre of driving wheel axle. When the
steering wheel B is turned to the position shewn in dotted lines on D, point
of contact with the ground, the centre of steering-neck C (which is about six
inches behind the vertical centre D) is thrown over carrying the frame of machine,
weight of rider or riders, placing the driving wheels in the position shewn in dotted
lines, thus making the machine steer with all three wheels, so the machine steers

page_text: more easily & steadier by moving the frame, driving wheels also the weight of
riders, or rider & lugage. This result is only accompliced by making the steering
neck at a different angle to the front steering fork as before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, & in what manner the same is to be preformed, we declare that what
we claim is
First. A tricycle to carry one or two riders, with the front scat or saddle capable
of horizontal adjustment, so that the leverage of the two riders, or one rider &
lugage can be carried almost balanced on the axle of driving wheels, so the heaviest
rider may ride behind without an extra trailing wheel.
Secondly. The application of two spiral or rubber resistance springs capable
of adjustment, to the steering wheel for the purpose described.
Thirdly. By constructing the front steering neck behind the vertical centre & at
a different angle to the steering fork, making the machine steer with all three
wheels, when the leading wheel is turned right or left.
Fourthly. Combination of the curved seat support, with the rear angle tube I, &
the strengthing tube K for the purpose set forth.