IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES DESIGNED TO BE PROPElled BY THE RIDER THEREOF."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Jeans, of Christchurch, in the County of Hants,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN VEHICLES DESIGNED TO BE PROPElled
BY THE RIDER THEREOF."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Jeans at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th July 1881.
WILLIAM JEANS, of Christchurch, in the County of Hants.
IN VEHICLES DESIGNED TO BE PROPELLED BY THE RIDER THEREOF.'
"IMPROVEMENTS
JI
My Invention relates to improvements in vehicles of the class known as tricycles
which are propelled by the rider thereof, and it is chiefly designed to provide
simple and efficient means whereby the power exerted upon the driving wheel may
be increased or diminished at pleasure without altering the throw of the cranks
worked by the rider's feet; that is to say, the said vehicle is provided with means
whereby the driving wheel may be caused to rotate a greater or less distance at
cach rotation of the crank-shaft, the extent of movement of the latter remaining
unchanged. This enables the rider to vary the effect upon the wheels of a given
amount of power exerted upon the cranks so that this power may act to the best
advantage according to the requirements of the roads. For instance, when a hill
has to be ascended he may so adjust the gearing, hereinafter described, that greater
power will be exerted upon the driving wheel than is required upon a level road,
and although this advantage is obtained at the expense of speed, the rider will
experience much less fatigue than would otherwise be the case. On the other hand
the rider is enabled to adjust the gearing for speed when he has to travel upon a
level road.
The said Invention is also designed to provide a vehicle which may at the will
of the rider be propelled by his feet and hands at the same time, or by the feet
only, or hands only.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I provide a suitable frame to which
the wheels and other parts are attached. The rider sits between the two front-
wheels, and there is a steering wheel in the rear preferably of somewhat less

page_text: diameter than the said front wheels. Each of the two front or driving wheels has
upon its hub a toothed wheel, and one of these wheels is of a less diameter than
the other. The two front ends of the frame are bent outward and forward, and
the ends of the crank-shaft have their bearing in the ends of these projecting parts
of the said frame. The crank-shaft carries a toothed wheel at each end thereof,
and one of these wheels is of a different diameter to that of the other. The toothed
wheel on the crank-shaft on one side of the frame is of greater diameter than the
toothed wheel on the hub of the driving wheel on the same side, and the toothed
wheel upon the crank-shaft on the other side of the frame is of less diameter than
the toothed wheel upon the hub of the driving wheel on that side of the vehicle.
On each side of the vehicle the toothed wheel upon the crank-shaft and the one on
the hub of the driving wheel are in communication by means of an intermediate
toothed wheel pivotted upon a rocking arm connected by a pin or bolt to the lower
part of the frame in such a manner that it may by means of a handle be moved
backwards or forwards to remove the said intermediate wheel from .connection
with the other two wheels, or to put it into gear therewith as may be desired.
The upper end of this arm is provided with a handle placed in a convenient
position to be grasped by the rider when necessary, and below the handle a lever
is pivoted to the said arm, the upper end of which lever is connected to the handle
by a spiral spring, the lower end being arranged to press against a projection upon
the frame to keep the arm in its proper position for retaining the intermediate
wheel in gear with the two other wheels. It will thus be seen that provision is
made for driving either one or the other of the front wheels from the crank-shaft.
according to the nature of the roads, but when one of these wheels is in connection
with the said crank-shaft the other is not in connection therewith, the intermediate
wheel on one side always being out of gear with the other two wheels on the same
side when the intermediate wheel on the other side is in gear with the two wheels
on its side. If great power is required to be exerted for ascending hills or for
travelling upon rough roads the rider puts into gear the intermediate wheel on
that side of the vehicle where the toothed wheel upon the hub of the driving wheel
is of larger diameter than that of the corresponding toothed wheel on the crank-
shaft and throws out of gear the intermediate wheel on the other side, consequently
at each revolution of the crank-shaft the driving wheel does not make a complete
revolution, and the vehicle is propelled with less fatigue and at less speed than
would otherwise be the case. When the rider desires to set the gearing for
'speed," he throws the intermediate wheel out of gear on this side of the vehicle,
and puts the one-on-the-other-side-into-gear,-that-is_to_say, he drives on the side
where the toothed wheel on the hub is of less diameter than the corresponding one
on the crank-shaft, consequently at each revolution of the crank-shaft the driving
wheel makes more than a complete revolution. The relative diameters of the
wheels may be varied in building the vehicle, but the chief feature must always
be observed, viz., that on one side the wheel on the hub must be smaller than that
on the crank shaft on that side, and on the other side the wheel on the hub must
be larger than that on the crank-shaft on its own side. I find the following
diameters advantageous, viz., on one side the hub wheel 6 inches and the crank-
shaft-wheel 8 inches, and on the other side the hub wheel 8 inches and the
crank-shaft-wheel 6 inches, the intermediate wheel for both sides being 7 inches.
The intermediate wheels may be provided with rollers in place of ordinary teeth.
The frame is extended backward and upward beyond the driving wheels, and
supports a fork carrying the rear or steering wheel, which may be steered in any
well known manner, but I prefer, when the vehicle is to be driven by hands and
feet together, to provide a novel arrangement for steering, that is to say, a post or
standard is secured upon the rear part of the frame, and carries a horizontal
tubular rod or piece which extends forward so as to come near the back of the
rider and backward far enough for a toothed segment on this end to gear with a
corresponding toothed segment on a rod extending from the top of the rear wheel
fork. The tubular rod is pivotted to the post or standard so as to be capable of
<<

page_text: moving thereon, and at the front end of this rod there is a verticle sleeve through
which passes a rod carrying at its upper end a curved supporting piece within and
against which the back of the rider rests. At the rear of this supporting piece
and at each end thereof I attach a strong india rubber strap or band which extends
on each side to the toothed segment. By moving his body to one side or the other
the rider causes the tubular rod to oscillate, thus causing the toothed segment 'to
move and to operate the corresponding seginent on the end of the piece projecting
from the fork, and thus the steering wheel is moved to one side or the other. I
prefer to make the said tubular rod telescopic, so that it may be adjusted to suit
different persons. I prefer to bend the lower part of the fork rearward at the part
where the wheel bears therein. At the front of the frame I provide foot rests (one
on each side). Each of these rests is at the end of an arm, the lower part of
which is pivoted to the frame so that it may be extended outward when required
for use, or drawn up close to the frame when not required. Springs hold these
arms to the frame excepting when the feet press the arms outward.
The following parts are added to the said vehicle when it is desired to provide
means for driving the same by the hands, that is to say, I provide upon the hub of
each of the driving wheels a second toothed wheel of small diameter, and this
wheel is constantly in gear with a toothed wheel of considerably increased diameter
having its bearing upon the frame of the vehicle. A lever is secured upon the
same axis and extends upward, terminating in a handle conveniently situated to
be grasped by the hand of the rider. A pawl or dog is secured to this lever just
above the wheel, and drops by its own weight into the teeth of the latter. By
pushing the handle forward the pawl rides over the teeth without moving the
wheel, but when the handle is pulled backward the said pawl compels the wheel
to rotate, and thus the driving wheel has motion imparted to it. This arrange-
ment is provided on both sides of the vehicle, so that the rider is able to use both
hands for propelling,
It will be obvious that this improved vehicle may be made, if desired, to be
propelled by the hands only, in which case the arrangement for foot power will
be dispensed with, or it may be made to be propelled by the feet alone, but I prefer
to build it for hands and feet, as with this arrangement the rider may use either
feet or hands or both as he may desire.
I prefer to employ a band-brake which fits into a groove in one of the driving
wheels, and is operated by a handle placed in a convenient position.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Jeans in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th January
1882.
WILLIAM JEANS, of Christchurch, in the County of Hants.
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN VEHICLES DESIGNED TO BE PROPELLED BY THE RIDER THEREOF."
My Invention relates to improvements in vehicles of the class known as tricycles,
which vehicles are propelled by the rider thereof, and the said Invention is chiefly
designed to provide simple and efficient means whereby the power exerted upon
the front or driving wheels of such vehicles may be increased or diminished at
pleasure without altering the throw of the cranks or pedals worked by the rider's
feet, that is to say, the said vehicle is provided with means whereby the driving
wheel may be caused to travel a greater or less distance at each rotation of the
crank-shaft, by these means the rider is enabled to vary the effect upon the wheels
of a given amount of power exerted upon the cranks, so that this power may be
used to the best advantage according to the quality or condition of the road over
which the vehicle is travelling. For instance, in ascending a hill the rider may so
adjust the gearing hereinafter described that greater power will be exerted upon
the driving wheel than is required upon a level road, and although the production
of this extra power incurs a diminution of speed the rider will experience much
less fatigue than would otherwise be the case. On the other hand the rider is
enabled to adjust the gearing for speed when he has to travel upon a level road.
In the accompanying Drawing,―
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle constructed according to my Inven-
tion; and
Figure 2 is a perspective view of portions of the same looking from the opposite
side of the vehicle to that shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a plan of portions of the said tricycle hereinafter described.
Like letters indicate the same parts in each of the Figures.
a represents the frame of the vehicle; b, b, are the front or driving wheels; d is
the steering wheel; e, e, are the pedals attached to the cranks f', f', of the crank-
-shaft-f-g-is-the-steering-handle-connected_by_a_rod_or_bar_g_to_an_arm_on_the_
fork which supports the steering wheel d; his the seat for the rider arranged
between the front wheels b, b. The remaining parts are hereinafter described.
In carrying the said Invention into practice I fix upon the hub of one of the
front or driving wheels b a toothed wheel i, of say six inches in diameter, and
upon the hub of the other wheel I secure another wheel ; which is larger in
diameter than the said wheel i, say for instance eight inches in diameter. The
two front portions of the frame a are bent outward, or forward, and rearward, as
shewn at h, k, and the ends of the crank-shaft fare supported in suitable bearings
or bearing plates attached to or formed upon the projecting parts l, k, of the said
frames. Upon the end of the said crank-shaft at that side of the machine upon
which the toothed wheel i is arranged I attach a toothed wheel l, which is, say,
8 inches in diameter, and to the other end of the said crank-shaft, that is to say,
on the side of the machine upon which the toothed wheel j is arranged I attach
another toothed wheel m of smaller diameter than the said wheel j, say six inches
in diameter. From the above description it will be readily understood that the
toothed wheel upon one end of the crank-shaft f is greater in diameter than the
toothed wheel on the hub of the driving wheel on the same side, whilst the
toothed wheel m upon the other end of the said crank-shaft is of less diameter
than the toothed wheel j upon the hub of the driving wheel on that side of the
vehicle. I employ in combination with the wheels i, l, at one side of the vehicle

page_text: an intermediate toothed wheel n, and in combination with the wheels j, m, at the
other side of the said vehicle a similar intermediate toothed wheel n¹. These
wheels are supported with a capability of rotation upon rocking arms or levers o, o¹,
connected by a pin or bolt, or in any other suitable manner to the lower part or
rearward extension of the arms k, as shewn at k¹, in such a manner that either of
the said wheels may by means of a handle o attached to or formed upon the
upper ends of the levers o, o', be moved rearward or forward to disengage the
intermediate wheel from the other two wheels, or to cause it to engage therewith,
as may be desired. The handle o³ at the end of each of these arins or levers is
arranged in a convenient position to be grasped by the rider. In connection with
each of these levers o, o¹, I arrange a spring-catch p which is designed to enter
either of the notches q', 92, in a bar q attached to the frame of the machine; when
either of the said levers is so adjusted that its spring-catch engages with the
notch q', the intermediate wheel n or n¹ will be retained in gear with the toothed
wheels on the same side of the vehicle as the said wheel n or n¹, but when one of
the said spring-catches is in engagement with the notch qº the said wheels n and n¹
will be held out of engagement with their adjacent gear-wheels for a purpose
hereinafter described. It will thus be seen that provision is made for driving
either one or the other of the front wheels b from the crank-shaft fat the will of
the rider. It is very desirable however that means should be provided whereby
when the intermediate wheel upon one side of the vehicle is adjusted into engage-
ment with the adjacent toothed-wheels, the intermediate wheel on the opposite
side of the vehicle will be held out of gear with the toothed wheels on that side.
For this purpose I connect the aforesaid arms or levers o, o¹, by means of rods 21, 11³,
to a lever r pivotted at * to the frame of the machine, as shewn in Figure 3.- By
this means the adjustment of both of the wheels n and n¹ into engagement with
their toothed wheels i, l, and j, m, is rendered impossible, as when one lever is
moved in one direction (say forward) the other level will be caused by the con-
nections above described to move rearward, that is to say, supposing the wheel n
is brought into engagement with the wheels i, l, as shewn in Figure 1 of the
Drawings, by the forward adjustment of the lever o then the other lever o' and
its wheel n will be disengaged from the wheels j, m, on the other side of the
vehicle by means of the rods 7, 3, and the lever r, and will be held back in the
position shewn in Figure 1 by the engagement of the spring-catch p on the lever o,
with the recess q¹ on the adjacent bar q, and vice versa.
If great power is required to be exerted, as, for instance, when ascending hills, or
when travelling upon rough roads, the rider adjusts the lever o¹ so that the
intermediate wheel n¹ is brought into gear with the wheels j, m, the wheel n
being consequently thrown out of gear with the wheels i, l. In this case at every
revolution of the crank-shaft the driving wheel will not make a complete revolution
and the vehicle is propelled with less fatigue and at less speed than would
otherwise be the case. When however the rider desires to set the gearing for
'speed," he throws the intermediate wheel n into gear with the wheels i, l, so that
at each revolution of the crank-shaft the driving wheel will make more than a
complete revolution. The relative diameters of the wheels may be varied as.
desired, but the chief feature must always be observed, namely, that on one side of
the vehicle the wheel on the hub must be smaller than that on the crank-shaft on
that side, and on the other side the wheel on the hub must be larger than on the
crank-shaft on that side.
"
In some cases I provide means whereby the vehicle may be propelled by the
feet and hands of the rider at the same time, or by the hands or feet only. I
prefer when the vehicle is to be driven by the hands and feet together to provide
an arrangement for steering as follows, that is to say:-A post or standard is
secured upon the rear part of the frame of the machine, and carries a horizontal
tubular rod or piece which extends forward into close proximity to the back of the
rider, and backward far enough to enable a toothed segment upon its end to gear
with a corresponding toothed segment on a rod extending from the top of the fork

page_text: of the rear or steering wheel. The tubular rod is pivotted to the post or standard
to enable it to move thereon, and at the front end of this rod there is a vertical
sleeve through which passes a rod, carrying at its upper end a curved supporting
piece within and against which the back of the rider rests. At the rear of this
supporting piece and at each end thereof I attach a strong india-rubber strap or
band, which extends on each side to the toothed segment. The rider by moving
his or her body to one side or the other produces an oscillation of the tubular rod,
and thus causes the toothed segment to operate the corresponding segment on the
end of the piece projecting from the fork, the steering wheel is therefore moved to
one side or the other. I prefer to make the said tubular rod telescopic so that it
may be adjusted to suit different riders or persons.
I prefer to bend the lower part of the fork for the steering wheel rearward at
the part where the said wheel has its bearing therein as shewn.
At the front of the frame I in some cases provide foot-rests, one on each side.
Each of these rests is arranged at the end of an arm, the lower part of which is
pivoted to the frame so that it may be extended outward when required for use,
or drawn up close to the frame when not required. Suitable springs hold these
arms to the frame excepting when the feet press the said arms outward.
I prefer however to dispense with such foot-rests and to utilize the pedals for
this purpose, I therefore provide the aforesaid slot q² in the bar q.
When one of
the levers o, o', is so adjusted that its spring-catch engages with the said notch
both of the intermediate wheels n, n', will be drawn out of engagement with the
wheels i, l, and j, m, and consequently the crank shaft f may remain at rest and
thus permit the pedals to be used as foot-rests.
The following parts are added to the vehicle when it is desired to provide means
for driving the same by the hands, that is to say, I provide upon the hub of each
of the driving wheels a second toothed wheel of small diameter, and this wheel
is constantly in gear with a toothed wheel of considerably larger diameter, having
its bearing upon the frame of the vehicle. A lever is secured upon the axis and
extends upward terminating in a handle conveniently situated to be grasped by
the hand of the rider. A pawl or dog is secured to this lever just above the
wheel, and drops by its own weight into the teeth of the latter. By pushing the
handle forward the pawl rides over the teeth without moving the wheel, but when
the said handle is pulled backward the said pawl compels the wheel to rotate, and
thus the driving wheel has motion imparted to it. This arrangement is provided
on both sides of the vehicle so that the rider is able to use both hands for
propelling.
It will be obvious-that-this-improved-vehicle-may-be-arranged if desired_to_be_
propelled by the hands only, in which case the devices for driving it by foot power
will be dispensed with, or it may be arranged to be propelled by the feet alone,
but I prefer to adapt it to be propelled by both hands and feet, as with this
arrangement the rider may use either feet or hands, or both as he may desire.
I prefer to employ a hand-brake as shewn at 8, which brake fits into a groove in
one of the driving wheels and is operated by a handle t placed in a convenient
position, as shewn most clearly in Figure 2.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and the manner of performing
the same, I wish it understood that I claim,-
First. A tricycle whose front or driving wheel upon one side is provided with a
toothed wheel of smaller diameter than a toothed wheel upon the crank-shaft upon
the same side of the vehicle, and whose front or driving wheel on the other side is
provided with a toothed wheel of greater diameter than the toothed wheel on the
crank shaft upon the said side of the vehicle, in combination with the intermediate
gear wheels arranged upon arms or levers and adapted to operate and be operated
substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination with the wheels i, l, and j, m, of the intermediate
wheels n and n¹, supported by the levers o, o', pivotted to the arms k, k, and

page_text: adapted to be operated or adjusted and retained in the desired position, substantially
above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Third. A tricycle consisting of the parts constructed, combined, and operating,
substantially as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Jeans, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, the Twenty eighth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
FULL TILUL
TOYO
TUTT
LLIAM JEANS.
JEANS. (L.S.)
D