IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES SIMEON EDGE the younger of Coleshill Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Mechanical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES to be
as follows:-
"
My invention has reference to the double drivers of tricycles and other velocipedes
and consists of the construction and arrangements of parts hereinafter described for
driving the tricycle or other velocipede and for permitting the travelling wheels to
rotate at different speeds when the tricycle is moving in a curve and also of the brake
mechanism hereinafter described to be used in combination with double drivers for
checking the motion of the vehicle.
I will describe my invention in connection with a tricycle.
The chain wheel at each end of the shaft of the travelling wheels is driven from
the crank shaft by the mechanism I am about to describe but I will only describe
the said mechanism as applied to one end of the shaft Fixed to the said shaft by
keying or otherwise is a circular plate or disc through which the driving is effected
and which plate I will hereinafter call the driving plate. This plate carries three
or other number of loose radial arms or grips the inner wedge shaped end of each
of which takes into a notch in the bush of the driving plate a light coiled spring
fixed at one end to the driving plate and at its other end to the arm or grip pulling
the said grip in the direction contrary to that in which the shaft rotates in the
advancing motion of the vehicle. The driving plate and grips are situated within
the hollow chain wheel the said chain wheel turning freely on the shaft. On the
inner face of the chain wheel is a projecting ring concentric with the shaft and
each of the grips has a cross slot in it in which cross slots the said ring takes when
the driving plate is in position within the chain wheel.
When the driver operates the pedals the initial motion causes the grips on the
driving plate to take an oblique position the inner ends being carried forward by
the notches in the bush and the outer ends being drawn backward by the coiled
springs. This oblique position of the grips causes them to bind tightly on the ring
of the chain wheel which is situated in their slots and the said chain wheel is
immediately geared to and carried round by the driving plate. Immediately a
backward motion is given by the rider to the pedal shaft the gripping action of
the arms or grips is relaxed and the chain wheel and consequently the tricycle can
travel while the pedals are stationary.

page_text: Instead of making the grips act by means of the slots described taking upon the
ring on the chain wheel they may be made to produce the desired effect by means
of their outer ends or heads In this case the said outer ends or heads are made
of such a size and shape that they travel freely in the annular space between the
ring and the inner edge of the chain wheel when they are in their relaxed position
but when they are inclined by the forward motion of the pedal shaft they wedge in
the said annular space and carry round the chain wheel.
When the tricycle provided with the double driving mechanism described is
being driven in a straight path both the travelling wheels are operated upon by
the pedal shaft but when the tricycle is travelling in a curved path one of the
travelling wheels rotates faster than the other and the virtual backward motion of
the shaft in the gearing of the slowly moving travelling wheel ungears it from the
driving plate herein before described and permits of its independent motion. When
the crank shaft is wholly ungeared from the driving shaft the motion of the
tricycle may be checked by an ordinary brake but under some circumstances for
example in going down a steep hill it is highly desirable that the rider should have
the power of checking the motion of the tricycle by means of his feet. To enable
him to do this I use with the mechanism of the double driven tricycle a brake
constructed as follows:-At a short distance from the driving mechanism I fix to
the frame of the tricycle a plate through a central hole in which plate the crank
shaft passes and works freely therein. On the said plate a hollow disc turns the
said hollow disc carrying a ring and grips of the kind hereinbefore described.
Between the said hollow disc and the chain wheel is a disc which I will call the
brake plate. This brake plate is connected to the shaft by a sliding key so that it
rotates with the shaft but is capable of a limited sliding motion thereon. The
outer face of the hollow dise and the outer face of the brake plate are presented to
each other and each face is provided with three or other number of inclines.
When the tricycle is being driven or when it is advancing and the crank shaft is
stationary the brake mechanism is out of action. In order to bring the brake into
action it is only necessary for the rider to give a backward motion to the crank shaft
through a small angle when by the action of the inclines described on the brake
plate and hollow disc the said brake plate is made to slide on the shaft and is
pressed so tightly against the face of the chain wheel that the tricycle is speedily
brought to rest.
ST1001

page_text: CUBRE ELLE
DIECIFICATION.
I JAMES SIMEON EDGE the younger of Coleshill Street, Birmingham in the
County of Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES" and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention has reference to the double drivers of tricycles and other
velocipedes and consists of the construction and arrangements of parts herein after
described, for driving the tricycle or other velocipede and for permitting the
travelling wheels to rotate at different speeds when the tricycle is moving in a
curve and also of the brake mechanism herein after described to be used in
combination with double drivers for checking the motion of the vehicle.
I will describe my invention in connection with a tricycle.
The chain wheel at each end of the shaft of the travelling wheels is driven from
the crank shaft by the mechanism I am about to describe but I will only describe
the said mechanism as applied to one end of the shaft. Fixed to the said shaft by
keying or otherwise is a circular plate or disc through which the driving is effected
and which plate I will herein after call the driving plate. This plate carries three
or other number of loose radial arms or grips the inner wedge shaped end of each
of which takes into a notch in the bush of the driving plate, a light coiled spring
fixed at one end to the driving plate and at its other end to the arın or grip
pulling the said grip in the direction contrary to that in which the shaft rotates in
the advancing motion of the vehicle. The driving plate and grips are situated
within the hollow chain wheel, the said chain wheel turning freely on the shaft.
On the inner face of the chain wheel is a projecting ring concentric with the shaft
and each of the grips has a cross slot in it in which cross slots the said ring takes
when the driving plate is in position within the chain wheel.
When the driver operates the pedals the initial motion causes the grips on the
driving plate to take an oblique position the inner ends being carried forward by
the notches in the bush and the outer ends being drawn backward by the coiled
springs. This oblique position of the grips causes them to bind tightly on the ring
of the chain wheel which is situated in their slots and the said chain wheel is
immediately geared to and carried round by the driving plate. Immediately a
backward motion is given by the rider to the pedal shaft the gripping action of the
arms or grips is relaxed and the chain wheel and consequently the tricycle can
travel while the pedals are stationary.
When the crank shaft is wholly ungeared from the driving shaft the motion of
the tricycle may be checked by an ordinary brake but under some circumstances,
for example in going down a steep hill it is highly desirable that the rider should
have the power of checking the motion of the tricycle by means of his feet. To
enable him to do this I use with the mechanism of the double driven tricycle a
brake constructed as follows. At a short distance from the driving mechanism I
fix to the frame of the tricycle a plate through a central hole in which plate the
crank shaft passes and works freely therein. On the said plate a hollow disc turns
the said hollow disc carrying a ring and grips of the kind herein before described.
Between the said hollow disc and the chain wheel is a disc which I will call the
brake plate. This brake plate is connected to the shaft by a sliding key so that it
rotates with the shaft but is capable of a limited sliding motion thereon. The
outer face of the hollow disc and the outer face of the brake plate are presented to
each other and each face is provided with three or other number of inclines.
When the tricycle is being driven or when it is advancing and the crank shaft is
stationary, the brake mechanism is out of action. In order to bring the brake
into action it is only necessary for the rider to give a backward motion to the

page_text: crank shaft through a small angle when by the action of the inclines described on
the brake plate and hollow disc, the said brake plate is made to slide on the shaft
and is pressed so tightly against the face of the chain wheel that the tricycle is
speedily brought to rest.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents in plan and Figure 2 in end
elevation a tricycle containing driving and brake mechanisms constructed according
to my invention; Figure 3 represents an elevation of the inner side of the driving
and brake mechanisms situated at one end of the crank shaft; Figure 4 represents
an edge view of the same partly in longitudinal section and Figure 5 represents a
longitudinal section of the same. In Figure 4 the brake is shown out of action
and in Figure 5 in action; Figure 6 represents in section and Figure 7 in front
elevation the chain wheel and the driving mechanism; Figure 8 represents in side
elevation and Figure 9 in front elevation the driving plate together with the radial
arms or grips carried by it; Figure 10 represents one of the grips separately;
Figure 11 represents in longitudinal section and Figure 12 in side elevation and
Figure 13 in front elevation (partly in section) the parts by which the brake is
operated; Figure 14 represents in section and Figure 15 in front elevation the
brake plate detached.
Figures 3 to 15 both inclusive are drawn of the full size. The same letters of
reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the Drawings.
On
a, a are the two travelling wheels and bis the crank shaft of the tricycle.
each end of the crank shaft b and turning loosely thereon is the chain wheel c
which is geared to and ungeared from the crank shaft in the manner herein after
explained. The chain wheel c is geared by a chain with the chain wheel c² on the
axis of the travelling wheel a in the ordinary way. As the driving and brake
mechanisms applied to each end of the crank shaft b are alike in construction and
action I will describe those applied to one end only.
The
I will first describe the driving mechanism-Fixed to the crank shaft b by
being screwed onto the bush d fixed on the said shaft, is a circular plate or disc e
herein after called the driving plate (shown separately in Figures 8 and 9). The
driving plate e moves in the direction of the arrow Figure 9 when the crank
shaft rotates in the direction proper for advancing the tricycle. The driving
plate e carries three loose radial arms or grips ff (one of which is shown separately
in Figure 10) each arm or grip having a cross slot or depression f³ in it.
inner end of each grip f bears against a shoulder g on the bush a fixed on the
driving plate e and the outer end or head of each grip bears against the stop pin h.
Or the inner end of each grip may take into a notch in the bush d as shown with
respect to the brake grip. By means of a light coiled spring i fixed at one end to
the arm or grip f and at the other end to the driving plate e the said grip is pulled
in a direction contrary to that indicated by the arrow Figure 9, that is, in a
direction opposite to that in which the crank shaft b and plate e rotate in the
advancing motion of the tricycle. The driving plate e and grips f, fare situated
within the hollow chain wheel c (see Figures 6 and 7) the said chain wheel as
herein before stated turning freely on the bush & of the crank shaft b.
On the inner face of the chain wheel c is a projecting ring k concentric with the
shaft b and the cross slot or depression f* of each grip f takes upon the said ring k
as represented in the Drawing.
When the driver operates upon the pedals the initial motion causes the loose
grips on the driving plate e to take the oblique position indicated by the dotted
lines at Figure 7, the inner ends of the grips being carried forward by the
projections g on the bush and the outer ends being drawn backward by the coiled
springs i. The oblique position which the grips take as illustrated at Figure 7
causes them to bind tightly on the ring k of the chain wheel c and the said chain
wheel is immediately geared to and carried round by the driving plate e and
through the chain and chain wheel c on the shaft of the travelling wheel the 5
tricycle is driven. Immediately a backward motion is given by the rider to the
pedal shaft b the gripping action of the arms or grips f on the ring k of the chain

page_text: wheel c is relaxed and the said chain wheel and consequently the tricycle can travel
while the pedals are stationary.
When the tricycle having the double driving mechanism represented is being
driven in a straight path both the travelling wheels a a are operated upon by the
pedal shaft through the driving plates e, e and chain wheels but when the tricycle
is travelling in a curved path one of the travelling wheels rotates faster than the
other and the virtual backward motion of the shaft in the gearing of the quickly
moving travelling wheel causes the driving plate e of that wheel to be ungeared
from the chain wheel c and thereby permits of the independent motion of the said
quickly moving travelling wheel a.
Instead of making the grips act by means of the slots described taking upon the
ring k on the chain wheel, they may be made to produce the desired effect by
means of their outer ends or heads. In this case the said outer ends or heads are
made of such a size and shape that they travel freely in the annular space between
the ring and the inner edge of the chain wheel c when they are in their relaxed
position but when they are inclined by the forward motion of the pedal shaft they
wedge in the said annular space and carry round the chain wheel.
I will now describe the brake mechanism :-p is a plate fixed by the snugs n, n
to the ball bearing m in which ball bearing the crank shaft b works. Turning on
the said plate p is a hollow disc q (see Figures 11, 12 and 13) a tubular bush q² on
the hollow disc q turning on the crank shaft b. The disc q is furnished with a
ring q³ and also with a loose grip r similar to the grips of the driving mechanism
excepting that the inner end of the grip r takes into a depression in the tubular
projection p² on the plate pas represented. Between the hollow disc g and chain
wheel c is a cupped brake plates covered on its periphery with leather. This brake
plate 8 seats itself in the cupped part c³ of the chain wheel c. The brake plate 8
is connected to the crank shaft by a sliding key at t, t2 so that the said brake plate
rotates with the crank shaft b but is capable of a limited sliding motion on the
bush of the shaft (see Figures 4, 6 and 15). The disc q and brake plate s are
geared and rotate together by the engaging of the shoulders of the inclines q* on
the disc q with the shoulders of the inclines & on the brake plate 8 (see Figure 5).
By means of these inclines q* s2 the sliding motion of the brake plate 8 to put it
into action is effected as herein after explained.
When the tricycle is being driven or when it is advancing and the crank shaft b
is stationary the brake mechanism is out of action, that is, the brake plate s does
not bear closely against the hollow or cupped part c² of the chain wheel c (see
Figure 4) and the brake grip 7 (Figures 11 and 13) does not bear upon the ring q³
of the hollow disc q consequently the said hollow disc q and the brake plate 8 rotate
together. In order to bring the brake into action it is only necessary for the rider
to give a backward motion to the crank shaft b through a small angle. A like
motion is thereby given to the hollow disc q (in a direction contrary to that
indicated by the arrow in Figure 13) and the point or inner end of the brake
grip being thereby brought against the shoulder of the recess r³ in the tubular
projection on the fixed plate p an oblique position is given to the said grip which
thus becomes fixed between the ring q³ and the outer ring of the disc q which disc q
is thereby brought to rest or locked to the fixed plate p. The further rotation of
the brake plates causes its inclines at 8 to slightly advance upon the inclines q*
of the now fixed disc q whereby the said brake plate s is made to slide on the
bush d and is pressed so tightly against the cupped face c* of the chain wheel c that
the tricycle is speedily brought to rest. On again rotating the crank shaft b in
the direction for advancing the tricycle, the brake grip r is relaxed on the ring q³
of the disc q and the said disc q and the brake plate s again rotate together and
the brake is taken out of action.
When it is required to hold the brake plates 8 8 out of action for back pedalling
that is for driving the tricycle backwards I use the following hand worked
mechanism for that purpose. To the back of each of the fixed plates p an arm or
lever u is jointed at u². Each lever u. carries a stud on its inner side in such a

page_text: To the
position that it can operate upon and hold out of action the brake grip r.
outer ends of the levers u, connecting rods u³, u³ are jointed and the upper ends of
the latter are coupled together by being jointed to the ends of arms u³ on the ends
of the cross rod or axis u swivelling in the frame of the tricycle. By means of a
coiled spring w (see Figure 2) fixed at one end to the framing and at its other end
to one of the arms u³, the said arms u³ and rods u³ are pulled down and the
levers u, u are depressed so as to take their studs x out of action as represented in
Figures 3 and 13. One of the rods u³ is prolonged upwards and constitutes a
lifting handle u. By pulling upwards the said handle u the two levers uu are
simultaneously made to take the dotted position shown in Figure 3. When in this
position the studs x on the levers u bear against the heads of the brake grips ŕ and
the latter are prevented from taking their oblique position to lock the hollow
disc with the fixed plate p.
In order to back pedal that is to drive the tricycle backwards the rider presses
the crank in its backward direction The result of this action is that the brake
plates is forced into the recess c² of the chain wheel c and the brake now acting as
a friction clutch carries the chain wheel c with it in its backward motion. In order
to permit of this backward motion the brake grips are lifted out of gear by
raising the levers u u as already described.
The driving mechanism may be used alone that is not in conjunction with the
brake mechanism as illustrated in the drawings. In this case the chain wheel is
not cupped as is necessary when a brake plate is used in conjunction with it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First The construction and combination of parts herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings of double drivers for tricycles and other
velocipedes; that is to say, fixing on each end of the crank shaft a driving plate
carrying a series of loose radial arms or grips the said plates and grips being
situated within the hollow chain wheel turning loosely on the crank shaft, the
gearing of the said loose chain wheel with the fixed driving plate on the crank
shaft being effected by causing the said grips, on the driver operating the pedals in
a direction proper for advancing the tricycle, to take an oblique position, whether
the grips in taking their oblique position act upon a ring of the hollow chain wheel
or wedge between the said ring and the inner edge of the said chain wheel
substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly The construction and combination of the parts of the brake operated
from the crank shaft herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, a brake used in combination with a loose chain wheel on
the crank shaft, the said brake consisting of a fixed plate carrying a grip or grips
and a hollow disc geared to a cupped brake plate by teeth or inclines, the brake
being put into operation by the rider giving a backward motion to the crank shaft,
thereby gearing the hollow disc with the fixed plate and causing the advance or
sliding of the brake plate against the cupped chain wheel, the several parts being
constructed and acting substantially as described and illustrated.
Lastly The construction and combination of parts herein before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings for holding the brake out of action by
hand for back pedalling or back driving.
Dydaki Eighth day of Santomber 1884