IMPROVE- MENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Richer and Frederick Valentine Richer, both or
Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRICYCLES."
Sealed the 26th July 1878, and dated the 31st January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Richer and Frederick
Valentine Richer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st
January 1878.
JOHN RICHER and FREDERICK VALENTINE RICHER, both of Twickenham, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLÈS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the arrangement and con-
struction of tricycles or velocipedes.
For this purpose, according to our improvements, we construct a tricycle with a
main driving wheel of large diameter as compared with the opposite side travelling
wheel and the front guide wheel. The driving wheel is fixed upon one end of
an axis, which has two cranks near its centre, by which it is actuated. The other
end of the crank axis is supported by and revolves freely in a bearing carried by
an upright or arm upon the axis of the small travelling wheel, which is arranged
in a parallel line with the crank axis, and revolves freely upon the outer end of an
axis or bar below the crank axis, the opposite end of this bar or axis being
supported or hung upon the crank axis near to the driving wheel. This lower bar
or axis carries an arm or arms for supporting the jointed ends of the treadles
which are connected to the cranks on the crank axis by suitable connecting rods.
A central bar or arm on the lower bar or axis projects forward and upward, its front
end being formed with a socket or bearing, through which the stem of the forked arm
which carries the front guide wheel passes, and upon which the guide lever is

page_text: mounted.
The lower axis or bar also supports the lower end of the saddle bar or
seat of the driver, the front end thereof being connected to the stem of the guide
wheel in a similar manner to that of a bicycle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Richer and Frederick Valentine Richer in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 31st July 1878.
JOHN RICHER and FREDERICK VALENTINE RICHER, both of Twickenham, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in the arrangement and con-
struction of tricycles or velocipedes.
And in order that our Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice, we will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 shows a side view; Figure 2, a back view; and Figure 3, a plan of a
tricycle arranged and constructed in accordance with our Invention.
In carrying out our improvements we construct a tricycle with a main driving
wheel A of large diameter as compared with the opposite side travelling wheel B
and the front guide wheel C. The driving wheel A is fixed upon one end of an
axis a', which has two cranks a², a³, near its centre, by which it is actuated. The
other end of the crank axis a' is supported by and revolves freely in a bearing a
carried by an upright or arm a³ upon the axis b¹ of the small travelling wheel B,
the axis 6' of which is arranged in a parallel line with the crank axis a¹, and the
wheel B revolves freely upon the outer end of the axis or bar b¹ below the crank
axis a¹, the opposite end of this bar or axis b¹ being supported or hung upon an
arm 62× connected with the crank axis a¹ near to the driving wheel A. This lower
bar or axis b¹ carries arms 62, 63, for supporting the jointed ends of the treadles c, c,
which are connected to the cranks a², a³, on the crank axis by suitable connecting
rods d, d. A bar or backbone e fixed or connected to the lower bar or axis b¹
projects forward and is curved upward, its front end being found with a socket or
bearing e¹, through which the stem of the forked arm c³, which carries the front
guide wheel (or wheels) C passes, and upon which the guide lever c² is mounted.
The lower axis or bar b' also supports the lower end of the saddle bar or seat f of
the driver, the front end thereof being connected by a stay rod f' to the bar or
backbone e; g is a guard to protect the arm of the driver from contact with the
driving wheel A; h is a steadying handle.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing
or carrying the same into practice, we make no claim separately to any of the parts
which are well known and in common use, but what we claim is,--
First. The improved arrangement and construction of a tricycle having a driving

page_text: wheel A of larger diameter than the side supporting wheel B, the axis of the
wheel B being arranged to revolve upon an axis 61 below and parallel with the
crank or driving axis a', substantially in the manner herein-before described and
represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
*Secondly. We claim the improved arrangement and means of supporting the
treadle levers c, c, upon the axis or bar b¹, to which the central arm or backbone e,
which supports the guide wheel C is also attached, and in the method of mounting
and supporting the seat of the driver, all substantially in the manner herein-before
described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Thirdly. We claim the improved general arrangement and combination of
mechanical parts forming a tricycle or three wheeled vehicle, substantially as herein-
before described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Richer, on behalf of myself and the said
Frederick Valentine Richer, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this
Thirty-first day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
J. G. TONGUE,
Patent Agent,
34 Southampton Buildings,
W.C.
JOHN RICHER. (L.S.)