IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Stassen the younger of Euston Road in the
county of Middlesex Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturer for an Invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Stassen the younger
at the Oflice of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st August 1882.
JOHN STASSEN the younger of Euston Road in the county of Middlesex, Bicycle
and Tricycle Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES,"
This invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes and relates
principally to what is known as double-driving and front steering tricycles.
It relates to the method of constructing the machine for the purpose of reducing
its width, and also to the arrangement of steering mechanism.
The main frame consists of two brackets carrying hollow tubes, the one set
telescoping with the other.
I prefer to drive by balance gear mounted centrally, and to this end, the main
driving shaft is made of tubing one part telescoping into the other as usual and
running centrally through the brackets.
The spindle of one of the wheels is hollow, and through this passes a screwed
rod taking into a nut on one of the sliding tubes which form the main driving
axle. The end of this rod passes through the hub of the wheel so that a handle,
key, or other device being rotated causes the one set of tubes to telescope into the
other, thus reducing the machine the desired width, dispensing entirely with the
taking-to-pieces, loosening of bolts etcetera., for this purpose. In machines of this
class the rack rod from the steering handle being at the side is a great annoyance
preventing the rider jumping out in case of emergency.
Now I pivot a lever carrying a toothed sector or quadrant to one of the before
mentioned tubes, having a rod connected to its free end, going to the steering wheel
and thus placed centrally, passing between the forks or tubes carrying the lower
chain wheel and the riders legs.
Thus the front of the machine on either side of the steering wheel is quite open,
and the rider can more easily jump out or mount the saddle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Stassen the younger in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
21st February 1883.
JOHN STASSEN the younger of Euston Road in the county of Middlesex Bicycle
and Tricycle Manufacturer IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
This invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes and relates
principally to what is known as double driving front steering tricycles
It relates to the method of constructing the machine for the purpose of reducing
its width and also to the arrangement of steering mechanism.
The main frame consists of two brackets carrying hollow tubes, the one set
telescoping with the other. I prefer to drive by "balance-gear" mounted centrally
and to this end the main driving shaft is made of tubing one part telescoping into
the other as usual and running centrally through the brackets.
The spindle of one of the wheels is hollow and through this passes a screwed
rod taking into a nut on one of the sliding tubes which form the main driving
axle. The end of this rod passes through the hub of the wheel so that a handle
key or other device being rotated causes the one set of tubes to telescope into the
other thus reducing the machine the desired width, dispensing entirely with the
taking to pieces loosening of bolts etcetera for this purpose In machines of this
class the rack rod from the steering handle being at the side is a great annoyance
preventing the rider jumping out in case of emergency.
Now I pivot a lever carrying a toothed sector or quadrant to one of the before
mentioned tubes having a rod connected to its free end going to the steering wheel
and thus placed centrally passing between the forks or tubes carrying the lower
chain wheel and the riders legs.
Thus the front of the machine on either side of the steering wheel is quite open
and the rider can more easily jump out or mount the saddle.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings and to the figures and
letters of reference marked thereon
On Sheet I Figure 1 shews a side elevation of a tricycle constructed in accordance
with my invention
Fig 2 a front elevation of same.
On Sheet II Fig 3 is an enlarged elevation (shewn partly in section) of the
telescoping arrangement contracted
Fig 4 is an enlarged plan of the steering arrangement.
In these figures A A³ are the brackets or carriers the tubes B B being brazed or
otherwise secured to bracket A and tubes B B' secured to bracket A' telescoping
therein. C is the enlarged main driving axle having a reduced end or portion C
forming a spindle for one of the driving wheels.
D is the other enlarged driving spindle telescoping into C and with a reduced
end D¹ for the other wheel to run on.
I prefer to place a brass or other bush E in tube C for D to run on.
The chain or band pulley F is loose on the end of shaft C. It carries a box or
drum G (carrying the brake strap) and enclosing balance-gear of well known con-
struction one of the wheels of such gear being fixed to the end of shaft C and the
other sliding on shaft D, pinions carried by the drum connecting both.
I do not bind myself to use any special balance-gear as various kinds may be
adopted to suit my purpose.
I find it advantageous to form the bearings of shafts CD in the brackets A A
by driving a grooved collar H. on the part C or D' of the shafts balls 1 being

page_text: placed in the grooves and conical washers J J' abutting on the balls adjusted by
nut K or instead of this other suitable bearings may be used.
Within tube D I secure a screwed nut L and to the end of shaft C' I fix a nut M
on a thread M', rod N having a screwed portion N¹ passing through the nut L, a
shoulder O on rod N abuts on the end of shaft C' and serves to hold the same to
the shaft by means of nut M having a reverse thread to N¹.
The end of rod N carries a boss P projecting through the wheel hub and fitting
a key or spanner Q as in Fig 1.
Now if this key be turned in either direction, the framework is expanded as in
Fig 2 or contracted, greatly reducing the width of the machine as in Fig 3
To obtain the central steering I cause the rod R jointed to the steering wheel to
pass between the tubes S S¹ (fixed to tube B by entering caps T T₁ thereon) and
thence to joint with sector U gearing with the pinion V on steering handle W.
The tubes S S¹ also carry the pedals X. Y is the safety leg and Z a dirt guard
over the chain or band.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that my invention with slight modification
may be adapted to "sociable tricycles" or velocipedes of a like pattern with more
than three running wheels.
It will be seen that by this method of construction I obtain a strong and elegant
tubular framework and having the combined advantages of central driving and
steering and ready reduction of width.
Having now described my invention and the best manner known to me of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim as my invention of
improvements in velocipedes
Firstly The combination of the brackets A A' carrying telescoping tubes BB¹
with the telescoping double-driving axle C D and the screw and nut for telescoping
the tubes and axle as described.
Secondly The combination with the pinion V of the sector U jointed to the
steering rod R for the purpose of permitting the said rod to pass between the
riders legs or to the centre of the machine substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said John Stassen the younger have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twentieth day of February in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty three.