Improvements in or relating to Self Propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 19th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 23rd Jan., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Self Propelled Vehicles.
I, HENRY JOHN LAWSON of 40 Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to self-propelled vehicles having a frame of the tricycle
type, preferably arranged with two steering wheels in front and one driving wheel
behind, the seat, or one of the seats being arranged conveniently, more or less
directly over the normal axial line of the steering wheels, and that of the back
rider preferably a little in front of the back wheel. The carriage may be either
arranged as an open or closed carriage and if desired the body which would enclose
the rider may be inade like the top of an ordinary vehicle with windows, and open
or closed in front and may be removable, or the front may be entirely open. With
the removable body the vehicle would be not unlike an ordinary Hansom cab, but
the wheels would be smaller and the frame would extend backwards, the driver
sitting upon a raised seat preferably at the back of the vehicle so as to see over the
top as in the case of a Hansom cab, with the steering handle or equivalent cou-
veniently placed in front of him and the other controlling apparatus ready to his
hands or feet.
The wheels are preferably made of somewhat small diameter, though I do not
bind myself to that, the front steering wheels being carried upon short pivotted
axles and controlled by steering arms and links which may be operated by an
ordinary form of bicycle handle. The frame may be in a T-shape in plan, or with
parallel main frames extending from front to back, the latter being preferred as
providing more rigidity; if desired the frames may be duplicated, one frame lying
below the other, a forked triangular disposition of the framework very similar to
that of the back portion of a tandem bicycle being preferably employed. The
motive power may be of any desired description, steam, electricity, but preferably
I employ an explosion engine of the now well known Daimler or Pennington type,
the various parts of which would be suitably carried upon the framework already
described. The driving may be effected by a chain working from a small driving
pinion on to a larger driven wheel situated upon the axle or hub of the road-driving
wheel, any of the well known devices for varying the gearing being employed if
required. The supplies of oil or spirit, water, etc., may be carried in various parts
of the frame-work, and receptacles may also be provided for. luggage or other
purposes where required. The apparatus will be generally suitable for carrying
two riders one at the back sitting upon an elevated seat or saddle and the front one
in a more luxurious chair or seat with his feet comparatively near the ground, but
a sufficient distance above that for safety. A rug, tarpaulin or doors may be
employed to enclose the lower extremities of the rider or fare, and suitable speaking-
tube or other connections may where required be provided for communicating with
the driver. The wheels I prefer to provide with very large rubber tyres, perhaps
as much as five to seven inches in cross section though I do not bind myself in this
respect.
The whole of the working parts may be suitably cased in.
HENRY JOHN LAWSON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Self Propelled Vehicles.
I, HENRY JOHN LAWSON, of 40 Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention 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 self-propelled vehicles having a frame of the tricycle
type, preferably arranged with two steering wheels in front and one driving wheel
behind, the seat, or one of the seats being arranged conveniently, more or less
directly over the normal axial line of the steering wheels, and that of the back
rider preferably a little in front of the back wheel. The carriage may be either
arranged as an open or closed carriage and if desired the body which would enclose
the rider may be made like the top of an ordinary vehicle with windows, and open
or closed in front and may be removable, or the front may be entirely open. With
the removable body the vehicle would be not unlike an ordinary Hansom cab, but
the wheels would be smaller and the frame would extend backwards, the driver
sitting upon a raised seat preferably at the back of the vehicle so as to see over
the top as in the case of a Hansom cab, with the steering handle or equivalent
conveniently placed in front of him and the other controlling apparatus ready to
his hands or feet.
The wheels are preferably made of somewhat small diameter, though I do not
bind myself to this, the front steering wheels being carried upon short pivotted
axles and controlled by steering arms and links which may be operated by an
ordinary form of bicycle handle. The frame may be in a T-shape in plan, or with
parallel main frames extending from front to back, the latter heing preferred as
providing
more rigidity; if desired the frames may be duplicated, one frame lying
below the other, a forked triangular disposition of the framework very similar to
that of the back portion of a tandem bicycle being preferably employed. The
motive power may be of any desired description, say steam, electricity, but
preferably I employ an explosion engine of the now well known Daimler or
Pennington type, the various parts of which would be suitably carried upon the
framework already described. The driving may be effected by a chain working
from a small driving pinion on to a larger driven wheel situated upon the axle or
hub of the road-driving wheel, any of the well known devices for varying the
gearing being employed if required. The supplies of oil or spirit, water, etc. may
be carried in various parts of the frame-work, and receptacles may also be provided
for luggage or other purposes where required. The apparatus will be generally
suitable for carrying two riders one at the back sitting upon an elevated seat or
saddle and the front one in a more luxurious chair or seat with his feet com-
paratively near the ground, but a sufficient distance above that for safety. A rug,
tarpaulin or doors may be employed to enclose the lower extremities of the rider
or fare, and suitable speaking-tube or other connections may where required be
provided for communicating with the driver. The wheels I prefer to provide with
very large rubber tyres, perhaps as much as five to seven inches in cross section,
though I do not bind myself to this respect.
The whole of the working parts may be suitably cased in.
The accompanying drawing illustrates a perspective view of my improved self-
propelled vehicle.
A framework, rectangular as to the front part and having a triangular back
extension, carries at the apex of the triangular portion the driving-wheel A. At
the leading angles of the rectangular portion are arranged two steering wheels B.
Each of these steering wheels is carried in a fork D D¹ provided with a steering
head C C. The steering heads are provided with arms E E', connected by a

page_text: link E' pivotted to their free ends. A short horizontal laterally projecting arm Dr
upon one limb of the fork D' has a tubular rod F pivotted to its free end, this rod
forming the connection with an arm F attached to the lower end of a steering rod
provided at its upper end with handle bars G.
The body of the vehicle H is substantially similar to that of a Hansom cab, and
is suspended by springs or otherwise from the framing K, preferably in such a
manuer that the body of the vehicle may readily be removed. In the accompanying
drawing the body H is shown as connected by brackets H¹ with the side portions.
of the framing K. A motor is arranged in the rear of the body of the vehicle,.
and a seat M is provided for the driver, and all the necessary starting, reversing
and braking levers etc. are conveniently disposed; also cycle cranks and connections.
for starting the motor if required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The motor vehicle substantially as described.
2. The combination with a tricycle framing of a removable Hansom cab body
substantially as described.
3. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete Hansom
cab motor tricycle substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
Dated this 18th day of November 1896.
Valcu QUIS
POCOT TAQWA ADIT TO ARD
BOT
H. J. LAWSON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.
H. J. LAWSON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.