Improvements in Tricycles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 29th May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 26th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 5th Apr., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tricycles.
I, JULES MICHEL MARIE TRUFFAULT of 23 Boulevard de Strasbourg, Paris,
France, Constructor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows: :-
My invention relates to a construction of tricycle in such a manner as to provide
certain elasticity throughout its structure adapting it for riding without shock along
rough or paved roads. The hind axle carrying the two driving wheels revolves in
bearings at the ends of a cross tube which extends from side to side. From this
cross tube two longitudinal tubes extend forward to another cross tube which forms
an arch like an inverted U. To the middle of this arch is fixed a central longitudinal
tube which bends upwards in front to take the steering pivot, and bends first down
behind to carry the pedal shaft, and then upwards to receive a rod which is adjustable
in height and is bent in its upper part so as to form a spring carrying the saddle.
The top of the tube where the saddle rod enters it is connected by a helical spring
to the middle of the cross tube first mentioned.
The framing constructed as above described is capable of a certain amount of
lateral and longitudinal flexure, allowing the wheels to accommodate themselves to
inequalities of the road. The pedals which are almost directly below the saddle, work
a chain wheel whence a chain conveys motion to a chain pinion on the driving axle,
the brackets which carry the pedals being tied by a rod to the driving axle. The
front or steering wheel is mounted in a fork which is pivotted in a socket at the front
bent up end of the central longitudinal tube and is connected to the steering handle,
with a spring interposed to prevent shock to the hands of the rider. On the steering
handle is pivotted a lever from which a rod extends down at the side of the steering
socket. This rod carries a rounded wedge piece which bears against a spring lever
carrying the brake, which by the ascent of the rounded wedge piece is pressed against
the periphery of the steering wheel.
Dated this 29th day of May 1889.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tricycles.
I, JULES MICHEL MARIE TRUFFAULT of 23 Boulevard. de Strasbourg, Paris,
France, Constructor, 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:—
My invention relates to a construction of tricycle in such a manner as to provide a
certain elasticity throughout its structure, adapting it for riding it without shock
along rough or paved roads. The hind axle carrying the two driving wheels
revolves in bearings at the ends of a cross tube which extends from side to side.
From this cross tube two longitudinal tubes extend forward to another cross tube
which forms an arch like an inverted U. To the middle of this arch is fixed a
central longitudinal tube which bends upwards in front to take the steering pivot, and
bends first down behind to carry the pedal shaft, and then upwards to receive a rod
which is adjustable in height and is bent in its upper part so as to form a spring
carrying, the saddle.
The top of the tube where the saddle rod enters it is connected by a helical spring
to the middle of the cross tube first mentioned.

page_text: The framing constructed as above described is capable of a certain amount of
lateral and longitudinal flexure allowing the wheels to accommodate themselves to
inequalities of the road. The pedals which are almost directly below the saddle work
a chain wheel whence a chain conveys motion to a chain pinion on the driving axle,
the brackets which carry the pedals being tied by a rod to the driving axle. The front
or steering wheel is mounted in a fork which is pivotted in a socket at the front
bent-up end of the central longitudinal tube and is connected to the steering handle
with a spring interposed to prevent shock to the hands of the rider. On the steering
handle is pivotted a lever from which a rod extends down at the side of the steering
socket. This rod carries a rounded wedge piece which bears against a spring lever
carrying the brake, which by the ascent of the rounded wedge piece is pressed against
the periphery of the steering wheel.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing shews a side view, of a tricycle constructed
according to my above described invention. Fig. 2 shews an end view and Fig. 3 a
plan.
The framing of the tricycle is composed of iron or steel bars by preference
tubular, A, B B, C C and D. The tube A is connected by supports a a to the rear
axle E which carries the wheels F F, to the tube A are fixed the longitudinal
branches B B, which are connected to the middle branch D by curved tubes CC, the
connection of B with C being effected by means of bolts 616, which constitute
articulated joints. The framing formed by the parts A B C, though, strong, is not
perfectly rigid, but can alter its form slightly when one of the wheels is raised by
passing on to the pavement or on unevenness of the ground, owing to the joints
at b¹ b¹.
The outer end of the tube D carries the arm b on which is pivotted the front or
steering wheel.
The rear end of D, which is bent vertically upwards, receives the rod H which
carries the saddle Q. This vertical part of D is connected to the rod A by means of
the tube fixed at D, the rod m' fixed at A and of the intermediate spring kl.
To the tube D are also fixed the vertical supports c c which carry the shaft d of the
the pedals I.
The motion is transmitted in the usual way from the shaft d, to the rear axle E by
means of a pitch chain fand pitch wheels d, g.
The axle of the front wheel G is held between two supports i of circular section
which are connected to the upper part by a crosshead; to which they are bolted.
The elasticity of the tricycle is obtained at the rear by means of a spring k
interposed between the tube ¹ and the rod m¹ fixed to the lower part of the tricycle
frame; in front the elasticity is obtained in a similar way. The crosshead j carries
a rod m which passes into the tube fixed on the piece J; this has eyes n n which fit
on the pivots of b, so as to allow of the steering motion of the wheel G. Between
the rod m and the tube is interposed a spring k. By the above described combination
of the framing ABCD, capable of pivotting slightly at the points b and b², with
the rear intermediate support between the saddle and the rod A of this frame, which
support is made elastic and compressible to allow of this displacement of the framing,
as also with the elastic and compressible support which connects the front part of the
frame with the steering wheel, the tricycle can be subjected without inconvenience
and without danger to the rider, to the shocks resulting from irregularities of the
road or the raising of the one or the other wheel out of level with the others.
The bar J which carries the steering handles L L has at its lower end a piece o of
U shape, connecting the two tubes M M which fit over the rods ii; these tubes M
have for their object to allow of the elasticity of the tricycle without interfering with
the directing of the steering wheel G.
To prevent the chain from passing off the wheels e and g during the possible
displacement of the framing, it is necessary that the distance between the shaft d and
the axle E shall remain constant. For this purpose 1 connect the shaft d and the
axle E by means of a bar p; it may have an eye at each end embracing respectively
the shaft and the axle, leaving these free to turn.

page_text: In consequence of the elastic construction of the tricycle, and in particular of the
steering mechanism, it has been necessary to construct a brake that will allow of the
vertical displacements of the supporting parts relatively to the steering wheel.
This brake is shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 and also separately at Fig. 4.
It consists of a brake lever P pivotted at q, which works a rod connected to the
short arms of an elbow lever pivotted at s¹ to the bar J. This bar carries in addition
a stud t which serves as abutment for the long arms of the lever.
The brake block u is pivotted at v to the plate j and is formed in one with a lever x
which bears continuously against the arm s², the block u being kept away from the
wheel G by a spring y.
When the front wheel rises owing to the elasticity of the tricycle the brake can
always be made to act, because the arm in sliding upon the lever x, will actuate
the block u so as to hear upon the wheel G although the block in retaining its
relative position to the wheel will change its position relatively to lever s s².
The saddle Q is carried by the rod H that can be adjusted in D at will by means
of the setting screw Z. The spring Zcarrying the saddle is formed in one piece
with the rod H by forging down the end of the latter and suitably bending it as
shewn.
It will be evident that the before described improvements may be employed either
singly or one or more in combination to any known construction of tricycle for which
they may be adapted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improved construction of tricycle with articulated or elastic framing
combined and arranged substantially as herein described with reference to the
drawings.
2. The construction of the framing consisting of the parts A B C D, supported in
an elastic manner upon the front steering wheel, and having at the rear an elastic
connection with the saddle support, such construction enabling the parts of the
framing to pivot on the bolts & 6 which connect the two parts thereof, so as to allow
of a certain distortion, and render the three wheels independent of each other as
regards shocks and unevenness of the ground, substantially as herein described.
3. The various herein described details of construction of the improved tricycle.
4. Constructing the spring carrying the saddle in one piece with the supporting
bar H substantially as herein described.
4. The application of the various improvements referred to in the preceding
claims, or any one or more of them, to all descriptions of tricycles to which they are
capable of being adapted.
Dated this 26th day of February 1890.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.