IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLE VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jolm Henry Walsh, of Putney, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLE VELOCIPEDES."
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Walsh at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th January 1876.
JOHN HENRY WALSH, of Putney, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman. " IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLE VELOCIPEDES."
The improvements constituting this Invention have reference to the combination
and arrangement of the various parts of tricycle velocipedes in such a manner as to
dispense with the axletree, which at present stretches completely across and connects
the two opposite wheels of such velocipedes, with the special object of being thus
enabled to bring the centre of gravity, when the rider is mounted, in position as low
as possible consistent with ease and freedom of motion and the full development and
expenditure of power, so that the riding of such vehicles will be attended with more
safety and comfort and with less danger of injury to the machine.
In constructing tricyle velocipedes according to this Invention I support the axles
of the two opposite wheels in boxes or journals projecting inwardly from the side arms
of a rectangularly formed tubular or angle iron framing. These, the fore and driving
wheels, are thus situated between the side arms of such framing. The forward ends
of these arms I continue as or provide with springs, the free extremities of which I
connect by means of a cross bar slightly in advance of the outer periphery of the
said fore wheels. From the front, where it is lowest, this framing slants upwards
(and as above mentioned is intersected at each side about half way by the inde-
pendent axles of the fore wheels), and passes behind the rider and the outer
periphery of the wheels at their rear, and upon these said axles it would thus turn;
centrally however, at the back part, I provide the said framing with an elongated
vertical socket, a stud passing through which is connected to the bifurcated framing
of the rear or steering wheel, which is thus allowed free trailing movement inde-
pendent of the motion of the fore wheels. This connection gives the desired rigidity
to the framing of the fore wheels, and thus the wheels and the framings are con-
nected and held in position.
Near the top, the arms of the fore framing are also connected by a spring, from
which depends a suitably formed back or rest, against which the rider can lean;

page_text: this back rest is connected at its lower extremity to a suitably formed seat for
sustaining the weight of the rider, which seat is considerably below the independent
axles of the said driving wheels, and is at its forward end attached to the cross bar
above mentioned; the seat and back rest are thus connected, and hung or suspended
between the two driving wheels in a position entirely free from danger and to throw
as much weight as possible upon them, and not in the way or reach of them or
any other part of the movement of the velocipede.
The fore part of the seat is raised and forined as a locker or box in which food,
clothing, tools, or other articles inay be carried, and from the upper part of which I
suspend two treadles, which are actuated by the feet and serve to give propelling
motion to the hind wheel, as well as a steering motion, by pulling it by cords to
the one side or the other (it being free to partake of such movements about its
vertical stud as a centre); these cords pass from the said treadles round and are
guided by pulleys placed at the extremity of a cross bar fitted at or about the inter-
section of the seat and back rest to the cranks of the hind wheel. At other times
this wheel is kept in line with the fore wheels by springs sufficiently strong to
neutralize any excess of the ordinary propelling movement given to the feet. The
hind wheel is also prevented being pulled too far sideways by the relative positions
of the said treadles and the fore cross bar, which are such as to prevent too forward
a thrust being given to the former.
.
Motion is given to the fore wheels direct by means of handles attached inside and
to the spokes thereof.
By these improvements therefore the body of the rider is supported between and
below the axles of the wheels, and in such a position as to enable him to guide and
propel the machine with great ease and the complete utilization of all attainable
power, the fore wheels with his hands and the hind wheel with his feet; and the
safety of the rider and of the machine are much less imperilled.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Walsh in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 12th
July 1876.
JOHN HENRY WALSH, of Putney, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman.
PROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLE VELOCIPEDES."
"IM-
The improvements constituting this Invention have reference to the combination
and arrangement of the various parts of tricycle velocipedes in such a manner as to
supersede the axletree, which at present stretches completely across and connects
the two opposite wheels of such velocipedes, by the substitution of independent axles
therefor with the special object of being thus enabled to bring the centre of gravity,
when the rider is mounted, in position as low as possible consistent with ease and
freedom of motion and the full development and utilization of power, so that the
riding of such vehicles will be attended with safety and more comfort and with less
danger of injury to the machine.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improvements in
Tricycle Velocipedes," I will now proceed to describe more in detail the manner in
which I carry the same into practice; and in order that the Invention may be dis-
tinctly understood I have hereunto annexed a Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with figures of reference corresponding with
those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say:
On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings Figures 1 and 2 represent side ele-
vations, Figure 2 being but a partial view, and Figure 3 a plan view of my improved
tricycle; and Figure + represents a detailed view, being a partial bind elevation.
In constructing tricycle velosipedes according to this Invention support the
independent axles 1 of the two opposite or fore wheels 2 in boxes or journals 3 pro-

page_text: jecting inwardly and between parallel side arms 4, forming part of a rectangular
framing, the formation of which is completed by rear and fore cross bars 5, 6, which
are connected to and retain the said arms 4 in position in the manner most clearly
shown in Figure 3. The forward ends of the arins 4 may be formed as or provided
with springs, with their free extremities connected to the cross bar 6, sec Figure 2;
but I prefer to form the arms rigid throughout (see Figures 1 and 3), and for this
purpose and the combined attainment of lightness with a sufficiency of strength I
form them of tubular or solid oval iron. The framing 4, 5, and 6 (of which the inner-
most arms are arranged at a convenient distance apart for the comfort of the
rider and the freedom of his movements, and of which the parts 6 and 5 are
respectively arranged, but slightly in advance and in rear of the outer peripheries
of the wheels 2) would thus turn about the intersecting independent axles 1 of the
said wheels; and it may have a slanting position, as shown in Figure 2, or a hori-
zontal position, as shown in Figure 1. As shown in Figure 2, it would slant from
the bar 6, where it would be lowest, upwards to the bar 5, where it would be
highest, and it would there pass behind the rider and the outer periphery of the
wheels at their rear at about the top of his back. As shown in Figure 1, the
arrangement of parts is similar, but the said framing assumes a horizontal position;
centrally of the bar 5 I provide and connect thereto a substantial elongated vertical
socket 7, a stud 8 passing through which is connected to and secures the fork or
bifurcated framing 9 of the rear or steering wheel 10, which is thus allowed free
trailing movement independent of the motion of the wheels 2. This connection
of the frames 4, 5, 6, and 9 gives the necessary rigidity to the framing (4, 5, 6) of
the wheels 2.
From the bar 5 also depends or rises (depending upon the position of the bar,
whether as in Figure 2 or as in Figure 1) a back rest 11, which at its lowest
extremity is connected to a seat 12 (provided with a crutch or support 27), which is
considerably below the said independent axles 1 of the wheels 2, and is at its
forward end attached to or suspended from the bar 6; the seat 12 and rest 11 are
thus connected, and hung or suspended between the wheels 2 in a position entirely
free from danger and to throw as much weight as possible upon them, and not in
the way or reach of them or any other part or movement of the velocipede.
The fore part of the seat 12 is raised, and formed as a locker or box 28, in which
food, clothing, tools, or other articles may be carried, and from the upper part of
which I suspend two treadles 13, which are actuated by the feet, and serve to give
propelling motion to the wheel 10, as well as a steering motion, by pulling it by
cords 14 to the one side or the other (it being free to partake of such movements
about the vertical stud 8 as a centre), and which cords pass from the said treadles
round and are guided by pairs of pulleys 15 carried at the extremities of a cross
bar 16 to the cranks 17 of the wheel 10; the treadles 13 thus work the wheel 10
in the same manner as in the "Edinburgh" tricycle, when it is kept straight by the
guiding handle 22 (hereinafter referred to) being dropped into its notch, but in
turning a corner the cords 14 are prevented from becoming entangled with any part
by the said pairs of pulleys 15; this arrangement also allows the rider to guide the
tricycle to a slight extent without touching the handle 22 by a slightly increased or
extra pressure of the corresponding hand and foot, but in turning a corner it is
necessary to lift the handle 22 from its notch, and move the wheel 10 by means of
a cord 19 passing to the said bar 16; this is done by the inside hand, which at that
time is not wanted to work the inside wheel 2. The bar 16 is socketted on the
depending part of the stud S, or an equivalent vertical part, which would allow of
its turning thereabout together with the wheel 10. Opposite sides of the bar 16 are
connected to corresponding sides of the fork 9 by rigid connections 18, and thus this
wheel is bound to partake of whatever motion is given to the bar 16, which, as
above referred to, is actuated by the cord 19, which passes round a sinall drum or
pulley 20 on a vertical shaft 21, and is actuated by a handle 22. The wheel 10 is
kept in line with the wheels 2 either by springs 20 connecting the fork 9 with the
bar 5, and sufficiently strong to neutralize any sudden excess of the ordinary pro-

page_text: pelling movement given by the feet, or by dropping the handle 22 into and securing
it in a notch or recess 23. The wheel 10, in the modification illustrated in Figure 2,
is also prevented being pulled too far sideways by the relative positions of the
treadles 13 and the bar 6, which, as it will be seen, are such as to prevent, too
forward a thrust being given to the former.
Motion is given to the wheels 2 by means of handles 24, connecting rods 25, and
cranks 26, which latter are attached to their axles. By this arrangement the
leverage can be greatly increased.
By these improvements therefore the body of the rider is supported between and
below the axles of the wheels, and in a position most favorable to the full exertion
of the muscles of the legs, arms, and back; he is therefore enabled to guide and
propel the machine with great ease and the complete utilization of all attainable
power, the fore wheels with his hands, and the hind wheel with his hands and feet;
and his safety and that of the machine are much less imperilled. The general pro-
pelling power is also materially increased by the combined use of the hands and feet,
and the "dead points" in the cranks 17 of the wheel 10 are effectually got over by.
the power of the hands being applied to the wheels 2, or one of them, when the
guiding handle 22 is in use.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for "Improve-
ments in Tricycle Velocipedes," together with the manner in which I carry the same
into practice, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. The application in the construction of tricycle velocipedes of fore or
leading wheels with independent axles in combination with a rectangular or sur-
rounding connecting and supporting framing.
Secondly. The further combination therewith of the fork or frame of the hinder
or steering wheel and the peculiar connection of these frames for allowing of the,
free and independent trailing movement of the said steering wheel.
And, Thirdly. The further combination therewith of the peculiar means described
for effecting the steering movements of the hinder wheel and the means described
for utilizing the combined power of the hands and feet in propelling and working
the fore and rear wheels, all substantially as described and as illustrated on the
accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
L
°
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Walsh, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventh day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
"
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Solicitor and Patent Agent,
5, Serle Street,
Lincoln's Inn.
J. H. WALSH. (L.S.)