Year: 1885

page_text: The following clerical errors in the Original Specification having been
amended by the Patentee with the consent of Comptroller, the
printed Specification on page 6, line 12, will now read as under :-―

page_text: I ARTHUR PAGET of Loughborough in the. County of Leicester Engineer and
Machine Maker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS
"
IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER WHEELED VEHICLES PROPELLED BY THE RIDER
as follows:-
-
" to be
This invention has for its object improvements in tricycles and other wheeled
vehicles.
I adapt to tricycles and bicyc'es a two armed coiled spring acting on arms on the
two sides of the steering wheel in such manner as to make an automatic straight
steering apparatus to enable the hands of the rider to be removed from the steering
handle with safety and to facilitate steering both when riding the tricycle and
also when moving it about and also when pushing or pulling it uphill.
Also in rear-steering tricycles I arrange in connection with the steering wheel
thus controlled by a spring a handle to facilitate moving the tricycle about and
steering it when pushing it along a road. The handle then serves as a rest or
walking stick for support and the tricycle can thus be propelled without straining
the back of the user or dirtying his clothes against the wheels.
Rear-steering tricycles are exposed to the difficulty that when the brake is
applied too quickly they are apt to throw the rider by tipping forward. This can
be obviated either by placing the rider in a position with too much weight always
on the rear wheel and so making the tricycle heavy to drive or by using a sliding
seat to put the weight of the rider more upon the rear wheel when the brake is
used or when running down hill.
Arrangements hitherto in use for this require a separate handle or handles in
addition to the brake handle and a special movement of the hand requiring too
much time when the brake is wanted in a hurry and when therefore the speedy
sliding of the weight of the rider backwards is especially required.
I employ an arrangement whereby the first portion of the movement of the
brake liandle sets the seat at liberty to slide back wards with the weight of the
rider before the brake is put on. Then the pressure of the thighs on the seat or
saddle naturally and easily sends the seat and the weight of the rider backwards.
When the brake is no longer required and the brake handle is replaced as soon as
the body of the rider is moved forward to its former position the seat also is moved
1177

page_text: forward by a spring and is then locked there until the brake handle is again
moved. This arrangement gives great safety when using the brake, combined
with ease in working, from the weight when treadling being well upon the large
wheels.
I also employ in some cases a silent ratchet wheel interposed between the crank
and the wheels so as to allow the feet of the rider to rest while the tricycle runs
forward. I also sometimes arrange this with an additional second ratchet giving
to the rider the power of fixing either ratchet so as to enable the rider to treadle
the tricycle backwards as well as forwards at pleasure.
I employ a ratchet wheel with ratchet teeth on the inner periphery and with a
pawl or ratchet with a spring or a pair of springs lightly clipping the sides of the
ratchet wheel. These springs have a rapid action in throwing the ratchet out of
gear with the teeth while the ratchet passes backwards over the teeth or the teeth
pass forwards under the ratchet; similarly they throw the ratchet rapidly into gear
when the directions of rotation of the wheel and the pawl is reversed. An
additional second ratchet can where desired be added, to be put into gear with the
teeth in the ratchet wheel in a direction contrary to the direction of the first
ratchet. When the additional or second ratchet is put into gear the ratchet and
ratchet-wheel are locked together in both directions of their rotation and the rider
can treadle the machine backwards.

page_text: I, ARTHUR PAGET of Loughborough in the County of Leicester, Engineer and
Machine Maker 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 :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in tricycles and other wheeled
vehicles.
"
The first part which I will describe relates to the use of a two armed coiled
spring acting on arms on the two sides of the steering wheel in such manner as to
Inake an automatic straight steering apparatus to enable the hands of the rider to
be removed from the steering handle with safety and to facilitate steering, both
when riding the tricycle and also when moving it about, and also when pushing or
pulling it up hill-Figures 1, 2 and 3 on sheet 1, show an arrangement for
carrying out this part of my invention. Figure 1 is a side elevation of part of a
rear-steering tricycle "backbone," steering-wheel socket, and steering apparatus ;
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same looking from the back; and Figure 3 is a
plan of the same looking downwards.-The two armed coiled spring A is attached
to the backbone" A of the machine, by means of the clip A', the backbone A'
being hinged to the steering-head As by means of a "Stanley head" as shown by
the drawing or in any of the usual well known methods. The arms A³ and A'
attached to the steering-head As, have grooves in which the two arms A¹ and A² of
the coiled spring A work having a tendency to hold the steering-head so that the
machine has a tendency to run in a straight line-In steering the tricycle in the
ordinary manner, by the arm A, the arms A³ and A will be diverted from
the position they are in when the machine runs in a straight line and will move
with the steering-head to either side according as the tricycle is steered. When the
tricycle is steered to the left the arm A³ moves in the direction of the arrow A5,
carrying the arm A¹ of the spring with it, the other arm A² resting against
its stop A10 On releasing the steering-handle the spring will fly back, and carry
the arms A3 and A into the position they are in when the machine runs in
a straight line, so that the rider can with safety remove his hands from the handle,
which is a great essential towards safety and convenience. When the tricycle is
steered to the right the opposite of these motions takes place. It will be obvious
that a grooved wheel revolving on a pivot carried by the bracket B³ may be
substituted for the fixed arms A³ and A, in order to reduce the friction..
The second part which I will describe relates to the use of a handle to facilitate
moving a rear-steering tricycle about and steering it when pushing it along a road.
The handle then serves as a rest or walking stick for support, and the tricycle can
thus be propelled without straining the back of the user, or dirtying his clothes
against the wheels-Figures 1, 2 and 3 on sheet 1 show an arrangement for carry-
ing out this part of my invention-Figure 1 is a side elevation of the steering
handle and adjacent parts of a rear-steering tricycle; Figure 2 is an end elevation

page_text: of the same looking from the back; and Figure 3 is a plan of the same looking
downwards. B is a handle attached to a square rod B' which is fastened in a slot
in the bracket B3 by means of the set screw B2, and can thus be adjusted to any
required height-It will easily be seen that the handle B may be made to thus act
as a lever by which the steering apparatus can be moved in any desired direction
while the tricycle is at the same time pushed or pulled in any direction.
The third part which I will describe is an arrangement whereby the first portion
of the movement of the brake handle sets the seat at liberty to slide backwards
with the weight of the rider before the brake is put on, Then the pressure of the
thighs on the seat or saddle naturally and easily sends the seat and the weight of
the rider backwards. When the brake is no longer required and the brake handle
is replaced, as soon as the body of the rider is moved forward to its former position
the seat also is moved forward by a spring and is then locked there until the brake
handle is again moved. This arrangement gives great safety when using the brake,
combined with ease in working, from the weight of the rider when treadling being
well upon the large wheels-Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 on sheet 2, show an
arrangement for carrying out this part of my invention-Figure 4 is a side
elevation show a sliding seat and adjacent parts; Figure 5 is a plan of the same
looking downwards; Figure 6 is a front elevation of the same; Figure 7 is a
section through CD; Figure 8 is an end view showing the shape of the acting
portion of the disengaging lever; Figure 9 is a section through the cradle spring
carrier at A B; Figure 10 is an enlarged sectional plan through the centre of the
latching-rod, latch, latching-pallet, and bracket attached to the "backbone," show-
ing the latching-rod in latched position, and Figure 11 is another enlarged sectional
plan of the same, but showing the latching-rod in unlatched position. To enable
the saddle to slide back in the manner before described, I attach the spring C,
carrying the saddle, to a carrier C¹, which slides on the slide C2 which is part of
the peg C18 for adjusting the height of the saddle which is fastened at the right
height by a nut or screw or any of the usual methods. To latch the carrier O¹.
when it is desired to be locked, or to unlatch it when it is desired to slide,
I arrange a latching-rod C³ which is binged to the carrier C¹, this latching-rod
carries an adjustable latch C which is fastened in place by the screw C³. The
position of the saddle, when forwards for the rider to treadle the tricycle, is
adjusted to suit the rider by sliding the latching-rod Cs in the latch C until the
saddle is in the required position, and then securing it there by the screw C³. The
latch Clatches against the pallet C6, as shown in Figure 10, and thus prevents the
saddle from moving backwards. The latching-rod and latch are kept home against
the latching-pallet C, by a spring C8 attached to the carrier C7. When the rider
is about to apply the break and takes hold of the handle C¹, before the break can
be brought into action, the first movement of the handle C19 in the direction of the
arrow Co will as hereinafter explained unlatch the latch C, and so set at liberty
the carrier C¹ with its attached saddle which will slide backwards in the direction
of the arrow C20. The break-lever C is fixed to a rocking shaft C, working
in the bearings C¹³ and C¹³ attached to the framing of the machine. On this
rocking-shaft C¹¹, is fixed the disengaging lever C, the point of which fits between
the latch C and the carrier C', as shown in Figures 4, 5, 7, 10 and 11, and the
surface next the latch C is part wedge-shaped as shown in Figure 8. When the
break-lever C is moved in the said manner, the disengaging lever C moves
upwards to the position shown in dotted lines in Figure 4, and the wedge-surface
acting on the latch C, moves it into the position shown in Figure 11, and the
saddle is then free to move backwards, the rider then presses with his thighs on
the saddle, and it slides backwards in the direction of the arrow C20 as far as the
rider wishes or until it is stopped by a stop C15, on the carrier C₁ coming into
contact with the stop C¹ on the slide Č², The back position of the spring C is
shown in dotted lines in Figure 4. The saddle can now slide to its forward
position, either with the break on, or off at the pleasure of the rider by relieving
the saddle of the pressure backwards; the saddle being pulled forward by means

page_text: of a spring C (which may either be a rubber or an ordinary coil spring in tension)
which is attached to the latching-rod C by means of the latch-set screw C³, at one
end, and to the framing of the machine at the other-The saddle will be latched
forward when brought forward after the break lever has been returned to its
original position in the following manner-The lever C moves the disengaging
lever C with it, then the disengaging lever C" arriving at its first position, lets
the latch C, which is acted upon by the spring C8, impinge against the latching-
pallet C, and thus the saddle is securely locked-The pallet C has four lugs
standing from it which clip the latching-rod and so keep it in right position when
the saddle is adjusted for height, the latching-rod being enabled to take a fresh
angle, according as the saddle is adjusted by the swivelling arrangement of the
pallet which is pivotted on the carrier 07 which is attached to the "backbone" of
the machine The acting surface of the disengaging lever C is formed in such a
manner that the saddle is unlatched and enabled to slile back before the break can
be "put on." It will be readily understood that this method of using the break is
equally suitable either in the case as shown on the drawing where it is attached to
a "band-break," or when the break is applied direct to the rubbers on the wheels.
The fourth part which I will describe relates to the construction of a ratchet-
wheel with ratchet teeth on the inner periphery, and with a pawl or ratchet with a
spring or a pair of springs lightly clipping the sides of the ratchet-wheel―These
springs have a rapid action in throwing the ratchet out of gear with the teeth,
while the ratchet passes backwards over the teeth, or the teeth pass forwards under
the ratchet. Similarly they throw the ratchet rapidly into gear when the direction
of rotation of the wheel and pawl is reversed. An additional second ratchet can
where desired be added to put into gear with the teeth in the ratchet-wheel in a
direction contrary to the direction of the first ratchet. When the additional or
second ratchet put into gear the ratchet and ratchet-wheel are locked together in
both directions of their rotation and the rider can treadle the machine backwards-
Figures 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18 and 19 on sheet 3 shew an arrangement for
carrying out this part of my invention. Figure 12 is a side elevation of a chain
wheel of a tricycle showing the arrangement of ratchets (or pawls) and adjacent
parts Figure 13 is a part sectional front elevation of the same; Figure 14 is a
sectional plan of the same. Figure 15 is also a sectional plan of the same;
Figure 16 is a section through G. H; Figure 17 is a side elevation of a friction
spring; Figure 18 is a front elevation of the same; and Figure 19 is a plan of the
same. D is a driving ratchet pivotted in the carrier D', the part which carries the
ratchet being formed into a socket in which the cylindrical end D' of the ratchet D
can make part of a revolution and this carrier D2 is fastened to the crank-shaft D³.
The ratchet D acts on the teeth on the inner periphery of the wheel D₁-To the
driving ratchet D is fastened a spring 1 which clips with a very light pressure
the rim of the wheel D¹ as shown in Figures 12. 13. and 15 (this spring is shown
in detail in Figures 17. 18 and 19). When the crank-shaft D3 and the ratchet D
are stationary, and the chain wheel D¹ is rotating in the direction of the arrows,
the friction of the surface of the wheel D¹ acting against those parts of the surface
of the spring D, which it will be seen are in contact with D¹ causes the ratchet to
be placed promptly into the position shown by dotted lines, and consequently it is
held clear of the ratchet-teeth when the tricycle is running and the crank-shaft at
rest thereby making it an absolutely silent ratchet. To bring the ratchet into gear
the crank is rotated in the same direction as the wheel is running, and overtaking
it, the friction acts on the spring in the other direction and so pulls the ratchet into
gear again.
This arrangement enables the feet of the rider to rest while the tricycle runs
forward. It will be obvious that this arrangement of friction-springs for throwing
the ratchet in or out of gear has great advantages, as the distance from the centre
of the ratchet-pivot to the extreme end of the ratchet, being greater than the
distance from the centre of the pivot to the acting portion of the spring causes the
end of the ratchet to move away from the teeth of D' at a greater speed, than

page_text: the teeth of D' are moving, and this causes the ratchet to be thrown out of gear
from the teeth with great rapidity and without grinding or rubbing at all against
the faces of the teeth, thus making it an absolutely silent ratchet, while the
pressure of the spring D upon the sides of the ratchet-wheel D¹ is only required to
be very light causing the loss of power by friction to be very small, while the
moving of the ratchet D in and out of action is effected by a power which is almost
perfectly constant and the action of the ratchet is therefore very certain. On the
other hand when the ratchet has to be put into gear, it will go into gear in a
similarly prompt manner and without any danger of "half-catching" and con-
sequently jumping a tooth" which is a serious and well known defect in silent
ratchets as previously constructed and this arrangement is free from the disagreeable
noise which some so called "silent ratchet driver" nakes. D5 is an additional
second ratchet, which when put into gear, as shown in full lines on drawing, locks
the crank shaft D³ to the chain-wheel D¹, and thus the rider can treadle backwards
or forwards D6 is a spring which keeps the ratchet D either in its locked position,
or out of gear, as shown by dotted lines. The secondary ratchet D³ can either be
put into gear, by the rider getting off the machine and moving the ratchet by the
peg D at the side, or where desired by an inclined surface acting on the reg.
There may be a handle attached to the incline, and within reach of the rider by
which the ratchet I can be put into or out of gear while the machine is running.
It will be evident that where desired this arrangement of ratchets can be adapted
to the chain-wheel on the axle of the driving-wheel, and in this case when the
crank is at rest, the chain and both chain-wheels will be also at rest, and much
useless friction and useless wear will be avoided thereby.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire it to be
understood that I do not confine myself to the exact details herein set forth, as
such may be varied or modified, without departing from the principle thereof, but
I claim as my "Improvements in tricycles and other wheeled vehicles propelled by
the rider"
(1st) The use of a two armed coiled steering spring substantially as herein
described with reference to Figures 1. 2 and 3.
(2nd) The use of a handle for moving and pushing the tricycle, substantially as
herein described, with reference to Figures 12 and 3.
(3rd) The arrangement of a sliding seat released by the brake-lever, substantially
as herein described, with reference to Figures 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10 and 11.
(4th) The arrangement of a silent ratchet with side springs, and an additional
ratchet for moving backwards, substantially as herein described, with reference to
Figures 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18 and 19.
Dated this 15th day of December 1885