IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES-AND IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Alfred Griffiths of Liverpool in the county of
Lancaster for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO TRICYCLES
AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES-AND IN PART TO OTHER PURPOSES "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Alfred Griffiths at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th July 1883.
$5
JOHN ALFRED GRIFFITHS of Liverpool in the county of Lancaster IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES-AND IN PART
TO OTHER PURPOSES.
"
The improvements are applicable to a greater or less extent to all velocipedes,
but most particularly to the front steering Tricycle, and to the special new
machine, which I term the "Tetracycle" being a four wheeled machine for two or
more riders, in which all the wheels are both drivers and steerers.
The frame of the Tricycle is made in two parts connected by a hinge preferably
working about a horizontal axis, parallel to and concentric with the main axle, the
said hinge having a limited amount of motion, controlled by adjustable or fixed
stops or springs, or more than one of these means. The front part of the frame
carries the steering wheel and steering handle and gear, which may be of any
ordinary pattern. The main portion of the frame has single leg or bracket pro-
jecting upwards and carrying the seat or saddle of any ordinary pattern, and has
two lower prongs carrying the treadle or cranked axle. The main and crank axle
may be connected by any ordinary arrangement of gearing chains or links, which
will admit of both forward and backward pedalling.
The frame of the Tetracycle consists of two portions normally parallel to cach
other and similar to the main frame of the tricycle, which are connected by a
horizontal bar or frame, hinged as before at both ends and also provided with a
third hinge or joint with a universal motion, so that the two main frames can
adjust themselves to irregularities of the road and also be altered from their
parallel position when running straight to an inclined or converging position
when running round corners, the same being effected by the steering handle or
gear,
The connection of the cranked and main axles is preferably effected by an

page_text: inextensible and cushioned driving band, consisting of a round or flat rope of many
strands of fine steel wire, so woven or twisted as to be continuous and without
perceptible joint, which is imbedded in the centre of a band or cord of vulcanised
india-rubber, the steel being practically inextensible yet pliant, and the rubber
forming at once a cushion for grip and a protection to the steel from rusting.
These cords or bands run on pulleys of any convenient construction, but preferably
in plain or rubber covered pulleys constructed on the usual tension-spoke or
spider" principle, and to obtain greater adhesion the groove may be ribbed or
corrugated. To enable the bands to be properly tightened the bearings of the
crank axle are supported on a special universal joint adjusted by a right and left
handed screw, so that no spring or deflection of the machine can cause the bearings
to jam or near unequally.
tr
To enable the machine to be easily propelled at different speeds, according to the
various resistances of road, gradient, or wind, I provide duplex gearing whereby
the velocity ratio of the cranked and main axles may be varied to one or other of
two ratios, or the main axle may rotate independently of the crank axle when
going down hill and the pedals may be used as foot rests. For this purpose, I use
a train-arm gear combined with a compact double clutch box. The train-arm is
connected to the main axle, either directly, or by means of any ordinary balance
gear, preferably that first used by Messrs Fowler in steam traction engines, and on
either side of the train-arm are a pair of wheels, one of which is permanently
geared to the cranked axle and the other by means of the aforementioned special
clutch box may be locked either to the train-arm and the first. wheel, so that the
whole rotates as one piece; or. to the frame of the machine, in which case only a
portion of the motion of the first wheel is transmitted through the train-arm to
the main axle, which then revolves at a reduced velocity ratio; or may be allowed
to rotate independently. This improved combination of train-arm gear, balance
gear, and double clutch box or Duplex-Balance Gear, may be made in several forms,
either with external or internal spur wheels or with bevel gear.
The brake may be of any ordinary pattern but when the Duplex or balance gear
is used, I provide an improved spiral band brake, in which by making the band
give more than one, preferably one and a half, turns round the barrel or drum,
which turns are kept in their position by links, a greater grip is obtained with
less effort of the hand or fingers.
The seat or saddle is mounted upon an improved spring of a globular spiral forin.
Hand rests or handles are attached either to the main frame or to the seat, and
are provided with special means of adjustment so as to suit the different statures of
riders.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Alfred Griffiths in the Patent Office on the 19th January
1884.
JOHN ALFRED GRIFFITHS of Liverpool in the County of Lancaster "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN PART
TO OTHER PURPOSES
"
These improvements consist in new arrangements of the frame and other details
of tricycles and velocipedes, and are most particularly applicable to front-steering
tricycles, that is velocipedes in which the chief weight of the rider is carried by
two large driving wheels and the direction of motion of the vehicle is regulated by
a movable steering wheel in the front.
:
I. Frame. In order that the front wheel shall have sufficient grip on the ground
to turn the velocipede, it is necessary that it should carry some proportion of the
rider's weight in addition to the weight of its portion of the frame, yet at the same
time it is desirable that this proportion of the rider's weight should be kept at the
smallest amount consistent with proper steering Now when the inclination,
surface or resistance of the road varies, it is necessary to vary this proportion, and
in ordinary tricycles the movement of the rider necessary to make a sufficient
change in the position of the centre of gravity requires the body to be placed in
awkward and fatiguing positions, particularly when riding up-hill or against a
head wind.
To enable the rider to alter the position of his centre of gravity in respect to the
vehicle, without altering the relative position of bis body in relation to the seat
and treadles, I make the frame in two parts, namely a fixed frame and a movable
frame. The fixed frame carries the steering wheel with its rod, rack and pinion
and spade handle, and also the brake gear, foot rest and lamp holder.
movable frame rests on the main axles between the carrying wheels and can rotate
or swing around that axle. To this frame are attached the seat and the lower
cranked axle, pedals, driving gear, as well as a second hand rest in a convenient
place.
The
The fixed frame is attached to the movable frame by a hinge or pivot which
may be constructed in any convenient manner with its axis parallel to the main
axle and preferably concentric and co-axial with it. Thus the movable frame may
have a partial rotary action about the axle and hinge without lifting the steering
wheel off the ground. If this hinge or pivot was quite free then the only weight
normally on the steering wheel would be its own weight and a portion of the fixed
frame connecting it to the movable frame, and the rider would be in the same
peculiar difficult and dangerous position of balance and liability to fall forwards
and backwards as in the "Otto " Bicycle. To prevent this and at the same time
retain the foregoing advantages, the motion of the movable frame is limited by
springs and safety stops attached from it to the fixed frame so arranged that a
tendency to fall forwards is supported by the front wheel, and a backward tendency
by a prolongation backward of the fixed frame so as to form a back rest. By
varying the length and strength of the springs the balancing adjustment of the
frame may be varied to suit the skill of different individuals, whilst the safety stops
prevent an entire novice from falling off by an excessive rotation of the movable
frame.
An extension of this principle to four wheeled velocipedes (termed "Tetra-
cycles") consists of a compound frame with two sets of hinges or pivots. There
are two or more moving frames normally parallel to each other and similar to the
moving frame of the tricycle. These. are connected together. by a centre-bar.or

page_text: fixed frame which carries the stops and springs to control the swinging of the
rider. The hinge at one end must have a universal motion to enable the four
points of support to follow the irregularities of the road and to permit of the
convergence of the two frames when passing round curves. In this velocipede
(which may be constructed for two or for more riders) all the wheels are of large
dimensions and the weight of frame and riders may be uniformly distributed under
all circumstances, whilst the power of moving the centre of gravity and of inclining
the whole body yet retaining an uncramped position, enables great resistance of
gradient etcetera to be overcome with moderate exertion.
In both the Tricycle and Tetracycle the change of position of the body takes
place automatically with a change in the gradient or resistance, and after a very
moderate practice a rider is scarcely conscious of such a change.
In the tricycle, to enable a specially large portion of the weight to be temporarily
placed on the steering wheel to insure rapid turning in emergencies, one of the
hand-rests (which also forms the steering handle by the usual rack and pinion) is
attached to the fixed frame, and the rider can lean on the steering wheel as heavily
as he may desire. Also in running down hill the rider can place the weight of his
feet and legs on a foot-rest attached to the same part of the frame, thus ensuring
great safety down steep gradients. Conversely the power of reducing the load on
the steering wheel enables this tricycle to be ridden over very rough roads and
amongst grooved tramway rails, points and crossings without danger."
Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the tricycle when made in its simplest form
as a two-track and open-front vehicle.
The fixed-frame a a is reduced to a simple tube bent as shown, to which are
attached by brazing or otherwise: 6 the socket head carrying the steering wheel,
c the foot-rest and attachment for front control spring, d the bracket for the
steering bandle, etcetera, e the bracket for the brake and lever, f the hinge ring;
and also the attachments for the back, spring and the ground-roller at end of the
back-rest. The movable frame gg is a shaped tube resting on the main axle by
ball bearings or bearings of any other convenient pattern. The seat is attached by
an L pin and set screw, and the cranked axle is carried in bearings attached to the
lower ends. The details of the hinge are shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4. f is the hinge
ring attached to the fixed frame and is provided, with two screwed rings k k and
locking screw as shown in the manner used for ball-bearing; j is the corre
sponding grooved tube in which the balls run and it is formed on a forging m
attached to the movable frame.
The safety stops may consist of steel cords attached to the same points as the
controlling springs, or may be formed by additional forgings attached to the frames
in suitable manner.
Many other arrangements of frames and details may be used in carrying out this
invention.
II. Brake. If the brake mechanism were worked in the ordinary manner by a
lever from the main frame to a drum on the main axles, the effect of suddenly
putting the brake into action would be to throw the rider's body forward and he
might possibly fall off his seat. To obviate this inconvenience the pivot of the
frame must be co-axial with the main axle of the machine as shown in Fig. 1, and
the brake straps must be attached to a lever hinged on the fixed part of the frame.
The improvements accomplish this as shown in Fig. 3. .n is the brake drum attached
to the balance driving gear of any convenient pattern. 8 is the strap attached at
its fixed end to a bracket e on the fixed frame and at its loose end to a lever p
rocking on a pin on the same bracket. The other end of the lever p is attached by
a link o to a rod q sliding inside the steering handle so that the brake can be
tightened by the same hand that does the steering.
To enable the brake strap to have considerable power with a slight pressure of
the fingers, it may be arranged as shown with several turns (preferably one and a
half to two turns) round the drum. The several coils are connected and held in
place by the links shown at vv in Fig. 3, etcetera.
τ

page_text: III. Band connection. To prevent the noise and dirt resulting from the use of
a pitch chain which requires to be lubricated with oil or plumbago., I use for the
connection of the main and cranked axles a cord passing over two pulleys. The
pulleys have a grooved rim provided with slight internal corrugations and may be
circular or V-shaped in section. The pulleys may be made with spider frames or
of sheet metal. The cord is made of an endless ring of inextensible steel core of
many plies of fine steel wire twisted together. This core may be spun in a special
machine or may be made from three or more strands of previously twisted wire
cord, the ends being neatly joined by a "long splice so that the joint is
imperceptible. The steel wire may be protected from rusting by galvanizing or
otherwise. The whole cord is then covered with a coating one eighth to one fourth
of an inch thick of.india rubber vulcanized in place. This coating may be in one
or more layers and between the layers a spiral wrapping of thread or steel wire
may be used to strengthen the coating.
When this pulley and cord connection is used, the lower bearings must be
provided with the screw adjustment shown in Fig. 5 consisting of a left hand
screw working in a sleeve t with a. right hand thread outside. This sleeve
screws into the ends of the movable frame and by turning it the bearings, can be
separated and the cord tightened. A lock nut prevents the sleeve shaking slack.
To prevent jamming of the bearings from strains during work or from unequal
tightening of the two side screws, the whole of the bearings are mounted on
universal swivel joints as at u Fig. 5. These cords may also be used for driving
other machinery such as lathes, sewing machines, electric apparatus, etcetera.
IV. Duplex-balance gear may be provided in which any ordinary balance or
double driving gear may be combined with a two-speed gear of the same or similar
type. This may be done in great variety of arrangement and the combination
is effected by using one train-arm frame for both mechanisms instead of two
complete sets. The pulley or wheel receiving motion from the treadle axle by band
or chain will be part of the driving wheel of the two speed gear, and the brake
drum or similar case will form the train-arm frame and carry the train-arm wheels
for both objects. Clutches, must be arranged to change the connections of the
two-speed gear.
This arrangement will save weight and space in certain forms
of the improved velocipedes.
V. Seat spring. The improved seat spring is shown at y Fig. 1 and consists of
a globular spiral of steel wire about three eighths inch diameter and about four
inches wide and deep across the coils. To the two poles suitable brackets of metal
are screwed or riveted so as to be convenient for fastening to the saddle or seat
and to the L-pin of the tricycle.
VI. The hand-rest attached to the movable frame may be attached as shown
at w Fig. 1 so as to be adjustable to suit various riders, and the steering handle
may also be made telescopic for adjustment, but as this is not essential to the
invention it is not specially illustrated.
VII. The pedals may be of any convenient pattern, but foot straps of stiff
leather attached as at a Fig. 1 are an assistance in riding.
VIII. Mud guards, lamp holder and other convenient details may be added to
this machine when desired.
Having now described my invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I claim as my invention to be protected by Letters Patent, the
improved velocipedes with more than two wheels and with two frames pivotted
together arranged and constructed substantially as herein described and illustrated,
and also the following parts or points taken separately:-
1st. The manufacture of front-steering velocipedes with more than two wheels,
having pivoted or hinged frames provided with springs to assist the balancing of
the rider, and stops to insure safety from overturning consequent on the automatic
rotary motion of the one part of the frame about the other.
2nd. The manufacture of flexible and practically inextensible endless cords or
driving bands for tricycles and other machinery, formed of a core of endless wire

page_text: rope or twisted wire overlaid with vulcanized india rubber with or without' inlaid
wires or threads, substantially as described.
3rd. The improved spiral band-brake having more than one turn, preferably
kept in position by links and worked from the front frame and not from the
swinging frame, by which means more grip can be obtained than ordinarily and
the sudden strain of putting on the brake is brought on the front' frame, leaving
the main swinging frame free.
In witness whereof I the said John Alfred Griffiths have hereunto set my hand
and seal this seventeenth day of January in the year of our Lord one thousand.
eight hundred and eighty four.
J ALFD GRIFFITHS (LS.)