IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES, VELOCIPEDES, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE VEHICLES OR CARRIAGES."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis Beauchamp, of Edmonton, in the County of
Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES, VELOCIPEDES,
AND OTHER SUCH LIKE VEHICLES OR CARRIAGES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis Beauchamp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th November 1881.
FRANCIS BEAUCHAMP, of Edmonton, in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVE-
IN TRICYCLES, VELOCIPEDES, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE VEHICLES OR
MENTS
CARRIAGES."
The Invention consists,-
Firstly. In improvements, the object of which is to facilitate the propulsion of
tricycles, velocipedes, and other such like vehicles or carriages, up hills or over
obstacles, the surmounting of which by such vehicles or carriages as at present
constructed can only be effected by the person riding on them dismounting and
pushing or drawing them up or over the hill or obstacle it is desired to surmount.
This part of the Invention consists in arranging a spoke wheel or a wheel with
arms or pins projecting radially from the circumference thereof, such spokes, arms,
or pins being adapted to press as they revolve upon pins or teeth projecting
horizontally from the side of the driving wheel. The spoke wheel is arranged to
revolve on an appropriate carriage or bracket extending from the axle or frame of
the tricycle or other vehicle, and is caused to rotate when required by any of the
well known means, or by the special means hereinafter described as forming the
second part of the present Invention. The spoke wheel is so adapted that it can
be put in or out of gear at pleasure with the pins or teeth on the side of the
driving wheel. The practical effect of this arrangement is that when the said
spoke wheel is in gear with the pins on the tyre of the driving wheel a slow
motion or "purchase" is afforded to the person driving the tricycle or other
vehicle whereby he is enabled to propel the same up hill or over obstacles without
dismounting.

page_text: According to another arrangement for the same purpose a lever gripping or
clipping mechanism is adapted so as to seize or grasp the rim of the driving wheel
and to turn the latter round, when a propelling lever under the control of the
person riding is pushed or pulled in one direction, and to release the said rim of
the wheel and to move back over the same without turning it when the said lever
is pushed or pulled in the opposite direction.
By both these arrangements the slow motion or "purchase" is effected by the
direct application of the propelling power to the periphery or outer circumference
of the driving wheel. If required this mechanism may be arranged in such manner
that when the propelling lever is moved either backwards or forwards the gripping
apparatus operates to turn the driving wheel forward,
These arrangements may be applied to one or more driving wheels at pleasure,
and in the case of the lever gripping arrangement a brake may be so arranged in
connection with the aforesaid actuating or propelling lever, that so long as the
said lever is only drawn or pushed to a certain distance the brake is not applied,
but when the said lever is drawn or pushed beyond that distance the brake is
applied so as to stop the vehicle.
Secondly. In improvements whereby the hands and arms of the rider are more
efficiently employed to propel the vehicle than by the arrangements heretofore
employed for that purpose.
In order to effect this a lever gripping apparatus is employed similar to that
first above mentioned for propelling the vehicle up hill or over obstacles, such lever
gripping apparatus being adapted to the propelling lever so as to act on the
periphery of a grip wheel or pulley, and to turn the same, the rotary motion of the
said grip wheel being communicated to the driving wheel or wheels of the vehicle,
either direct by being secured thereto, or by being geared or otherwise connected
therewith. This grip wheel or pulley which receives motion from the lever
gripping apparatus may be geared to the driving wheel by suitable multiplying
gear, so that the speed of the driving wheel shall be in excess of that of the grip
wheel or pulley, whereby increased speed of the vehicle may be obtained.
The gripping lever employed is constructed somewhat like what is known as a
pinch bar, and consists of two parts, one centred on and turning round the axis or
centre of the grip wheel or pulley, the other part being pinned or hinged to the
outer end of the first; the short end of the second part forming the propelling
lever is so shaped, and the pin on which it is hinged is so placed, that when the
longer end of the lever is moved in one direction the shorter end is caused to grip
the periphery of the grip wheel or pulley, so as to turn the latter forward, and
when moved in the opposite direction to release the same so as not to turn it
backwards.
If desired this lever gripping apparatus may be made double in connection with
the same propelling lever and grip wheel or pulley, whereby the latter is moved
round by both the forward and backward motion of the propelling lover.
According to another arrangement a gripping lever or a pawl lever may be
made to operate alternately on the two straight parts of a driving chain by which
motion is communicated to the driving wheel of the vehicle.
Thirdly. In improvements whereby the axle of a tricycle or other vehicle can be
divided into two parts so as to facilitate the storing, carriage, or packing of such
tricycle or other vehicle, the frame being at same time divided into two parts for
the same purpose.
In order to effect this the axle is divided at or near the middle of its length, one
end of one half being provided with a tongue which passes into a recess or slot
across the end of the other half; a split socket or clip is then passed over the point
of junction of the two half axles, and is secured thereon firmly by means of a
tightening screw whereby the whole is held together when the tricycle is required
for use. The ends of the two half axles may be checked together by a half lap

page_text: joint instead of by a tongue, or by other suitable means if preferred. The frame is
also made in parts and connected to the corresponding halves of the axle, so that
when the latter are separated by slackening the tightening screw of the socket or
clip, each part of the axle supports its corresponding part of the frame, the outer
ends of the parts of which are secured together when in place by screws, clips,
cramps, or other suitable means.
Fourthly. In employing a notched sector in connection with the steering lever,
the latter being fitted with a spring catch taking into the notches in the said
sector, whereby the steering wheel can be held at any required angle as long as
necessary without any effort on the part of the rider.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis Beauchamp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th May 1882.
" IMPROVE-
FRANCIS BEAUCHAMP, of Edmonton, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN TRICYCLES, VELOCIPEDES, AND OTHER SUCH LIKE VEHICLES OR
CARRIAGES."
The Invention consists,―
Firstly. In improvements, the objects of which is to facilitate the propulsion of
tricycles, velocipedes, and other such like vehicles or carriages, up hills or over
obstacles, the surmounting of which by such vehicles or carriages as at present
constructed can only be effected by the person riding on them dismounting and
pushing or drawing them up or over the hill or obstacle it is desired to
surmount.
Secondly. In improvements whereby the hands and arms of the rider are more
efficiently employed to propel the vehicle than by the arrangements heretofore
employed for that purpose.
Thirdly. In improvements whereby the axle of a tricycle or other vehicle can be
divided into two parts, so as to facilitate the storing, carriage, or packing of such
tricycle or other vehicle, the frame being at same time divided into two parts for
the same purpose.
And in order that the said Invention may be fully understood I will now
proceed to describe the same by the aid of the accompanying Sheet of Drawings,
in which Figure 1 represents a plan of a tricycle with my improvements applied
thereto, and Figure 2 a longitudinal section and part elevation of same on line X, X,
of Figure 1.
The first part of the Invention consists in arranging a spoke wheel A, see
Figure 2, with arins or pins B projecting radially from the circumference thereof,
such spokes, arms, or pins B being adapted to press as they revolve upon pins or
teeth C' projecting horizontally from the side of the driving wheel C, whereby the
latter can be made to rotate. The spoke wheel A is arranged to revolve on a stud
fixed to an appropriate carriage or bracket extending from the axle or frame of the

page_text: tricycle or other vehicle. This carriage or bracket is not shown in the Drawing, as
it will be readily understood how the same can be arranged. The spoke wheel
may be rotated by the crank handle E, or by any of the well known means, or by
the special means hereinafter described as forming the second part of the present
Invention. It should be adapted to slide on its axis, so that it can be put in or
out of gear at pleasure with the pins or teeth C¹ on the side of the driving wheel.
The practical effect of this arrangement is that when the spoke wheel A is in gear
with the pins C' on the tyre of the driving wheel a slow motion or "purchase" is
afforded to the person driving the tricycle or other vehicle, whereby he is enabled
to propel the same up hill or over obstacles without dismounting..
According to another arrangement for the same purpose a lever gripping or
clipping mechanisin is adapted, so as to seize or grusp the rim of the driving wheel
and to turn the latter round when a propelling lever under the control of the
person riding is pushed or pulled in one direction, and to release the said rim of tho
wheel and to move back over the same without turning it when the said lever is
pushed or pulled in the opposite direction. This latter arrangement will be better
understood from the description of the improvements comprising the second part of
the Invention. By both these arrangements the slow motion or "purchase" is
effected by the direct application of the propelling power to the periphery or
outer circumference of the driving wheel or wheels.
The second part of the Invention consists in the employment of a lever gripping
apparatus adapted to act on the periphery of a grip wheel or pulley F, and to turn
the same, the rotary motion of the said grip wheel F being communicated to the
driving wheel or wheels C of the vehicle by the pinion G, with which the said
grip wheel gears, or if preferred the grip wheel F may be secured direct to the
boss of the wheel C, so as to drive it without the intervention of gearing. When
the grip wheel F is geared to the driving wheel by multiplying gear, as shown
in the Drawings, the speed of the driving wheel is in excess of that of the grip
wheel or pulley, whereby increased speed of the vehicle is obtained.
The lever gripping apparatus employed is constructed somewhat like what is
known as a pinch bar, and consists of two parts, one H centred on and turning
round the axis or centre I of the grip wheel or pulley F, the other part J being
pinned or hinged at K to the outer end of the first. The upper and longer end of
the second part J forms the propelling lever, and the shorter end J' is so shaped
and the pin K on which it is hinged is so placed that when the longer end of the 8
lever is moved in the direction of the arrow the shorter end J' is caused to grip
the periphery of the grip wheel or pulley F, so as to turn the latter backwards,
whereby the pinion G and consequently the driving wheel C are turned forwards,
and when the propelling lever is moved in the opposite direction the shorter or
gripping end J releases the grip wheel F so as not to turn it backwards.
It will now be understood that the gripping apparatus above described can be
easily applied directly to the periphery of the driving wheel as and for the purpose
described in reference to the first part of the Invention.
4
A brake may be so arranged in connection with the aforesaid actuating or
propelling lever J that so long as the said lever is only drawn or pushed to a certain 4
distance the brake is not applied, but when the said lever is drawn or pushed
beyond that distance the brake is applied so as to stop the vehicle. This is effected
by fixing or forming a projection L on the lever J in such a position that when the
Baid lever is drawn back in the direction of the arrow to a sufficient distance the
said projection L comes in contact with the boss M of the driving wheel, or with a 5
brake sheave fixed or formed thereon, and the vehicle is stopped by the friction so
produced. If it is desired to apply the brake without allowing the gripping
apparatus to act on the grip wheel, which would give an impulse to the vehicle at
a time when it was not required; the lifting up of the lever J at the same time
that it is drawn in the direction of the arrow will prevent the shorter end J¹ 5
from gripping the wheel F.
If desired the lever gripping apparatus may be made double in connection with

page_text: the same propelling lever and grip wheel or pulley, whereby the latter is moved
round by both the forward and backward motions of the propelling lever.
Figure 3 illustrates how this may be effected. F is the grip wheel, as before;
J, the propelling lever centred at N to any suitable point of attachment on the
frame of the vehicle; H and H' are two links or parts similar to that marked H
in Figure 1; 0, 0, are short levers centred to the links H and H' at P, P',
respectively. These levers 0, 0¹, are adapted to bear at one end against the
periphery of the wheel F so as to jam themselves between the falora P, P', and the
said periphery of the wheel F. The other ends of these levers O, O', are
respectively connected by links Q. Q¹, to the lever J. It will now be understood
that when the lever J is moved to the right hand, the gripping lever ○ will be
turned by its link Q so as to act on the wheel F to turn it in the direction of the
arrow, the gripping lever O¹ being held during that time by its link Q' so as to be
out of contact with the wheel F, but when the lever J is moved to the left, the
gripping lever O' is turned by its link Q¹ so as to nct on the wheel F to turn it in
the same direction as before, while the gripping lever O is held by its link Q out
of contact with the wheel F, which is thus turned in the same direction, whether
the lever J is moved to the right or to the left.
The third part of the Invention consists in dividing the axle R at or near the
middle of its length, one end of one half being provided with a tongue S which
passes into a recess or slot S' across the end of the other half; a split socket or
clip T is then passed over the point of junction of the two half axles and is secured
thereon firmly by means of a tightening screw U, whereby the two parts of the
axle are held together when the tricycle is required to be used. The ends of the
two half axles may be checked together by a half lap joint instead of by a tongue,
or by other suitable means if preferred. The tongue or the half lap, as the case
may be, should be shaped in the form of a dovetail or be notched together, so as
to prevent their being drawn endwise out of the split socket or clip T. The
frame V is also made in parts and connected to the corresponding halves of the
axle R, so that when the latter are separated by slacking the tightening screw U
and sliding back the socket or clip T wholly on to one or other of the halves, each
half or part of the axle supports its corresponding part of the frame, which parts
are secured together by a pin V' formed on one part taking into a socket V* formed
on the other part, being secured therein by a pin Vs, or the two parts may be
connected by screw bolts, clips, cramps, or other suitable means.
Instead of the tongue or half lap joint and split socket for connecting the two
halves of the axle together, other arrangements may be employed; for example,
each half may have a lug or arm formed at right angles thereto, as shown in
Figure 4, the said lugs or arms being connected together by a screw W, one lug or
arin W being by preference slotted, as shown at Z, so as to enable the parts to be
separated without wholly removing the said screw W. The two parts of the
frane V may also be connected together in a similar way.
A cranked treadle Y may be combined with the hand propelling arrangements
above described, such cranked treadle being provided with a toothed pinion Y¹
gearing into the grip wheel F, so as to enable the two modes of propulsion to be
upplied together if preferred, and in order to disconnect the said trendle, if desired,
the end of it which carries the pinion Y¹ turus in a boss at the lower end of a
lever Y contred at Y³, and taking at its upper end into notches in a fixing Y' of
the frame. By placing the upper end of the lever Y in one of the notches the
pinion Y is placed in gear with the wheel F, and by placing it in the other notch
the said pinion Y¹ is taken out of gear with the said wheel F. In order to provide
for the disposal of this cranked treadle Y when the tricycle is divided into two parts,
it is hinged at Y5, and its opposite end Y being adapted to slide easily out of its
bearing Y when the two parts of the tricycle are separated, it may be folded up on
the hinge Y so as to be contained wholly within the width of the half tricycle.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention and the manner in
which the same is to or may be carried into effect, I would have it understood that

page_text: what I claim as "the improvements in tricycles, velocipedes, and other such like
vehicles or carriages, to be secured by the within in part recited Letters
Patent is,-
First. The employment of the spoke wheel A arranged and adapted to cause the
rotation of the driving wheel C by the action of the arms or pins B upon pins or
teeth C' projecting from the side of the tyre of such driving wheel, as herein before
described and illustrated in Figure 2 of the Drawings hereto annexed and for the
purpose specified.
Second. The employment of the lever gripping apparatus consisting of the
parts H, J, J, arranged, combined, and adapted, so as to operate upon the wheel F,
or upon the tyre of the driving wheel of a tricyclo, velocipede, or other such like
vehicle, as hercinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
Drawings, and for the purposes specified.
Third. The double lever gripping apparatus arranged and combined so that tho
gripping lever O acts on the wheel to be driven when the actuating or propelling
lever J is moved in one direction, and the gripping lever O' acts on the said wheel
when the lever J is moved in the opposite direction, as bereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figuro 3 of the Drawings hereto annexed.
Fourth. The combination of the brake piece L with the actuating or propelling
lever J of the lever gripping apparatus, such brake pieco,being adapted to press upon
the boss of the wheel C or upon a brake sheave fixed to or formed thereon, when
the said lover J is moved to a certain distance beyond the normal working stroke,
as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
Fifth. The construction of the axle R and frame V in two parts capable of being 1
connected together or dis-connected from each other for the purpose of facilitating
the storage, carriage, or packing of the tricycle or other similar vehicle, as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, and 4, of the Drawings hereto
annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis Beauchamp, have hereunto set my 3
hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.