AN IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1887
Complete Left, 14th Oct., 1887
Complete Accepted, 29th Nov., 1887
We MORRISS WOODHEAD and PAUL ANGOIS of Raleigh Works, Raleigh Street, in
the town and county of Nottingham engineers and machinists do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for AN IMPROVEMENT IN VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
This invention relates, more especially, though not exclusively, to Velocipedes
having more than two wheels, such as are known as, Tricycles and Sociables, and
the object of our invention is, to provide, an improved and simple method, for
reducing the width of the machine, when it is required to be passed, through a
space that is narrower than itself, as it is constructed and arranged for rideing. In
carrying out our invention we make the driving axle or shaft which carries the
wheels, short enough, to pass through the required space, and we construct the hubs
of the wheels in such manner, that a portion, of either one or both, with the wheels
attached may extend farther than the end of, (or overhang) the shaft, to the extent
required, to make the distance between the wheels, sufficient to ensure the stability
of the machine. When it is required to reduce the width, the hubs are, one or both,
moved along the shaft, towards the centre, untill the outside of the hub is brought
level with the end of the shaft, or so far in that direction as may be necessary. We
secure, or release the hubs, to, or from, the shaft, as required for the purpose of this
invention, by any of the following ways, by splitting the hub, and compressing it
upon the shaft by screw, clip, or wedge, or the hub may be screwed to, or upon, the
shaft, or it may be wedged or keyed to, or upon, the shaft, or the hub may be
fastened to a separate flange or disc, that may be fastened or moved in like manner
upon the shaft.

page_text: We MORRISS WOODHEAD and PAUL ANGOIS of Russell Street (late of Raleigh
Street) in the town and county of Nottingham Engineers and Machinists 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 more especially though not exclusively to velocepedes having
more than two wheels, such as are known as Tricyles or Sociables, and the object of
our invention is to provide an improved and simple method for reduceing the width of
the machine, when it is required to be passed through a space that is narrower than
itself, as it is constructed and arranged for riding. In carrying out our invention
we make the driving axle or shaft which carries the wheels, short enough to pass
through the required space, and we construct the hubs of the wheels in such a manner
that a portion of either one or both with the wheels attached may extend further than
the end of (or overhang) the shaft, to the extent required to make the distance
between the wheels sufficient to ensure the stability of the machine.
When it is required to reduce the width, the hubs are one or both moved along the
shaft towards the centre until the outside of the hub is brought level with the end
of the shaft, or as far in that direction as may be necessary. We secure or release
the hubs to or from the shaft for the purpose of this invention by any of the following
ways, by splitting the hub and compressing it upon the shaft by screw clip or wedge,
or the hub may be screwed to or upon the shaft, or it may be wedged or keyed to or
upon the shaft, or the hub may be fastened to a seperate flange or disc that may be
fastened or moved in like manner upon the shaft. Various expedients have previously
been used for effecting the purpose of this invention, being chiefly arrangements
whereby the axle carrying the wheels having been divided into sections, the width of
the velocepede is reduced by telescopeing such sections within each other, other devices
such as folding or detaching portions of the machine have also been employed. We
are also aware that an arrangement for reduceing the width of velocepedes for the
purpose of packing or transport has been devised, by which the wheel partly projecting
over the end of the shaft is held in its position by being forced upon a cone, fixed to
the shaft, by a nut traveling on the cone. Now by this invention our improved devices
for constructing the wheel hub, and quickly secureing or releasing the same, to or
from its normal position on the shaft, are especially designed for effecting the different
purpose of this invention, which requires a more frequent and rapid alteration of width
than is necessary merely for the purpose of packing or transport. And in order that
our invention may be understood reference is hereafter made to the accompanying

page_text: drawings in which simalar letters of referance indicate corresponding parts.
Figures 1 and 2 show the general arrangement of those parts of a velocepede which
are required to illustrate the working of this invention (a) is the wheel axle or shaft,
which is made sufficiently short to pass through the required space (6) are the
elongated hubs, carrying the wheels, extended as shown in fig. 1 to the usual distance
apart that is necessary to ensure the stability of the machine, in fig. 2 the width has
been reduced by moveing the hubs inwards level with the ends of the shaft, or as far
in that direction as may be required in any of which positions they may be secured.
To effectually secure the wheels to the shaft in a manner that will permit them to be
quickly released therefrom, we provide several improved devices illustrated by the
drawings herewith, preferably we employ the method illustrated by figures 4 and 5,
the interior of the hub is made to fit the shaft (which in relation to any of the devices
described herein may be made cylindrical or any other convenient shape), and the hub
having been split a portion of its length, is either formed into, or is embraced by a
clip (or clips) (d) this clip being tightened, by screw or other suitable means, the hub
is thereby compressed upon and held firmly in its position on the shaft, by slackening
the clip screw (e) the tension is removed and the wheel is then free to be moved as
required, we cause the wheels to revolve with the shaft by a key or stud (f) projecting
into a groove cut in the interior of the hub for a portion of its length, the stud also
serves as a stop to prevent the hub from projecting more than its proper distance over
the end of the shaft, this arrangement (or its equivalent) may be applied to any of our
devices for secureing the hub to the shaft. Another device whereby we secure or
release the wheel is illustrated by figures 1 and 2, the set screws (c) are threaded in
the hub at any suitable position, and are tightened directly upon the shaft or upon an
intermediate die let into the hub. A modification of this method of fastening is
illustrated by figure 3. Another device whereby we secure or release the wheel is
illustrated by figure 6, the hub being held by a suitable taper key or wedge (g). A
grooved nut or hand wheel (h) is threaded upon and embraces the hub, through which
the head of the wedge projects into the groove, by turning the wheel (or its equivalent)
the wedge is forced home or withdrawn, and the hub is thereby held to, or released
from the shaft, this arrangement may be varied by useing a loose cylindrical cone in
place of the wedge. A further modification of this device is illustrated by
figures 8 and 9, the hub is constructed so that a cotter (i) working in a slot may be
tightened upon the shaft, or intermediate die, and thereby grip the hub to the shaft,
the reverse action of the nut (j) or its equivalent serving in like manner to release
the hub.
The construction of the wheel hub may for the purpose of this invention be modified
in the manner illustrated by figure 7, the wheel hub proper being fastened to an
independant flange or boss (k) which may be secured to or released from the shaft
by any of the devices illustrated herein.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1st. The improvements in and relating to the devices whereby, the ordinary (or
normal) width of a velocepede may be reduced, by arrangeing one or both wheels
(when secured in their normal position) to project over the ends of the shaft, in
combination with the several improved devices, for firmly secureing the wheels to or
upon the shaft, or releasing them therefrom when required for the purpose specified,
substantially as described herein, and as illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. The improvements in and relating to the construction of the wheel hub of a
velocepede, whereby the same is split, and secured to or released from the shaft, by
means of a clip (or clips) substantially as illustrated by figures 4 and 5 of the accom-
panying drawings, as described in the references thereto, and for the purpose
specified.
3rd. The devices for secureing or releasing the wheel hub of a velocepede, to or
from the shaft, by means of one or more screws, substantially as illustrated by figures 1. 2.

page_text: and 3 of the accompanying drawings, as described in the references thereto, and for
the purpose specified.
4th. The devices for secureing or releasing the wheel hub of a velocepede, to or
from the shaft, by means of wedge or cotter, substantially as illustrated by
figures 6. 8. and 9 of the accompanying drawings, as described in the references
thereto, and for the purpose specified.
5th. The modification in the construction of the wheel hub, whereby the same is
fastened to a seperate flange or disc, for the purpose of carrying out this invention
substantially as described herein, and as illustrated by figure 7 of the drawings
herewith.