IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND PARTS OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN WRENCHES FOR THE SAME, WHICH ADE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bown, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Manufacturer, and John Derry, also of Birmingham aforesaid,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND PARTS OF
BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN WRENCHES FOR THE SAME, WHICH
ADE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES"
Sealed the 9th July 1880, in pursuance of an Order of the Lord Chancellor, and
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bown and John
Derry at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th December
1879.
WILLIAM BOWN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOHN DERRY, also of Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist.
TRICYCLES AND PARTS OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN WRENCHES
FOR THE SAME, WHICH ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Our improvements relate firstly to tricycles, and apply to that description where
the large driving wheel is in the front and the two small wheels behind, the rider
sitting over the large wheel and propelling the tricycle the same as an ordinary
bicycle, and these improvements consist in converging all the three wheels together,
forming the radii of a circle; this we effect by turning the head part in either
direction by the ordinary handle bar. To the bottom ends of the forks or bearings
we secure two joints, which are connected by tubular bars and levers to the inner
side of the forks of the hind or smaller wheels. The head parts of these hind wheel
forks are connected together by a tube or cross bar, brazed or otherwise fixed to
the back bone, so that by this arrangement the whole of the wheels turn at once
on moving the handle bar, which enables a rider to turn in a much shorter curve
than with tricyles of ordinary construction.
In some cases we extend the back bone and cross bar down to nearly the centre
of the hind wheels, and connect the ends by joints to the pins or axles of the
wheels, by which we are enabled to dispense with the forks usually applied to the
hind wheels.

page_text: Instead of securing the connecting bars and levers for converging the wheels to
the forks of the hind wheels as in the former case, we connect the end of the bar
to a joint formed on the ends of the hind axles.
As a further modification we may connect the pins and cross back axle together
by two bars attached to the lower end of the front wheel fork, and brought
together below the centre of the cross axle of the hind wheels, forming a loose
joint; a connecting bar works on this joint which is jointed to an arm fixed to
the axle, forming a link motion with the large or front wheel fork and hind
wheel axle, by which the converging motion is imparted to the whole of the
wheels simultaneously as in the former case.
To assist in propelling tricycles up hill we attach to the head part of the front
fork a bracket or brackets carrying a tube, inside which also a pin or bar is placed.
At each end we attach hand levers, one working or turning the pin and the other
the tube; the cranks and the ends of the pin and tube are connected together by
light steel rods; the hand lever working the pin or bar has a lever connected to
the crank at the opposite side of the wheel; the hand lever operating on the tube
works a lever connected to the crank on the other side of the wheel, so that when
the one crank is pushed down by the foot the crank on the opposite side is pulled
up by the hand lever, thus assisting in propelling up hill.
Secondly, our improvements refer to the heads of bicycles, tricycles, or velocipedes,
and consist in placing curved or conical recesses at the top and bottom parts of
the head inside the ordinary slot where the ends of the neck connected to the
back bone work; in these curved or conical recesses we place hardened steel balls
of any suitable size and number, and the ends of the neck in steering the bicycle
work against the surfaces of the balls. The advantages derived from this mode
of construction are less friction, and the head and neck require less lubrication.
As a further improvement in heads for bicycles, tricycles, or velocipedes, we
so construct them that we are enabled to dispense with the set pin and lock nut on
the top. and this we effect by forming the head and neck in one piece. The fork has
an upright stalk passing upwards, terminating with a conical centre point which
fits into a cup formed in the inside top part of the head, which is slotted out for
the purpose, and to this stalk the bracket for carrying the handle bar is secured,
but which bracket and handle can be raised or lowered at pleasure to suit the
rider. At the lower end of the slot in the head we form an internal cone in which
a corresponding adjustable cone on the stalk works; this cone is adjusted by a nut
screwed on the stalk which presses down the cone and draws up the stalk, so as to
force the upper conical point into the cup formed in the inside of the top part of
the head. By this construction we obtain increased lightness with improved
appearance.
Thirdly, our improvements refer to the cranks of bicycles, tricycles, and
velocipedes, and consist in making the crank tubular, by which increased lightness
with strength is obtained; this we effect by taking a piece of tubing, and to one
end we braze or otherwise secure the boss for passing onto the spindle, and in the
lower end we cut the slot for adjustment, which is effected by screwing the end of
the pedal pin which passes through a loose boss on the tube and screws into a
circular nut inside the tube, so that to shorten or lengthen the crank the pedal pin
has only to be slackened out, which permits the boss, pedal pin, and nut to slide
up or down the crank as required, and secured by tightening up the pedal pin.
Fourthly, our improvements refer to back bones and back forks of bicycles,
tricycles, and velocipedes, and consist in constructing them of two, three, or four
light steel tubes, of which number we prefer three. These tubes are bent into the
form required and then fixed to one or more stays in a triangular or suitable forun;
the two outside tubes are continued to be shaped and bent so as to form the back
fork. By this construction we obtain increased strength with lightness, and the
back bone and back fork are made in one.
Fifthly, our improvements refer to felloes or rims of wheels for bicycles, tricycles,
and velocipedes, which consist in forming them of drawn tubing, and by means of

page_text: suitable rolls or other means we impart to the tubing the necessary crescent shape
in one part to take in the india rubber tyre, and the remaining part of the tube
is so bent as to form in its section an elongated hollow stiffening piece through
which the spokes can be passed and secured, and also through the part forming
the crescent shape. By this construction we obtain increased strength with
lightness, and also obviate the liability of the wheels buckling, as the hollow
stiffening piece continued all round the rim forms the stay against the spokes.
Lastly, our improvements refer to wrenches for bicycles and other purposes, and
consist in forming the handle tubular, and screwing the stationary slotted jaw
loosely into the top end to permit the tubular handle to freely turn round. The
traversing jaw has an incline on each side and is passed through the slot of the
fixed jaw. Between the bottom edge of the fixed jaw and the top of the tubular
handle a sliding piece is placed, which has corresponding inclines to the inclines on
the traversing jaw, so that as the tubular handle is turned it forces up the sliding
piece, and by means of the inclines secures the jaw in its place, a spring being
placed in the traversing jaw pressing against the fixed jaw, so that when the
handle is unscrewed the spring forces the traversing jaw back to the size of any
nut required to be turned, permitting the handle to be screwed back to fix the jaw
in position.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, and of
an Order of the Lord Chancellor, filed by the said William Bown and John
Derry in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th July 1880.
WILLIAM BOWN, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Manufacturer, and
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
JOHN DERRY, also of Birmingham aforesaid, Machinist.
TRICYCLES AND PARTS OF BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN WRENCHES
FOR THE SAME, WHICH ARE APPLICABLE FOR OTHER PURPOSES."
Our improvements relate firstly to tricycles.
Secondly, to the heads of bicycles, tricycles, or other velocipedes.
Thirdly, to the cranks of bicycles, tricycles, and velocipedes in general.
Fourthly, to back bones and back forks of bicycles, tricycles, tricycles, and other
velocipedes
Referring to the felloes or rims mentioned under the fifth head of our Provisional
Specification, we have (since commencing this Patent) discovered that the principle
is old, and will not therefore describe them.
Lastly, to wrenches to be used for bicycles and other purposes.
But as these several improvements will be best understood by referring to the
Drawings hereunto annexed, we will proceed to describe the same, reference being
made to the figures and letters marked thereon.

page_text: Figure 1 represents an elevation, and Figure 2 a back end view of a tricycle
constructed according to our Invention. A is the large driving wheel, and B, B,
are the back or trailing wheels, the rider sitting over the large wheel A on the
saddle C as in the ordinary bicycle. At the bottom end of the fork D below the
spindle E we connect the joints, as shown at F, to two hollow bars or rods G, which
are united at the joints H, H, to a cross lever J working on the inside of the forks
of the back wheels B, B, as seen in Figure 2. The lever J is jointed at its centre,
as shewn at K, Figure 2, to the back bone L by the lug M, fixed to or formed with
the cross bar or tube N, N, forming the terminus of the back bone L, which cross-
bar connects the two hind wheel forks O, O, together. The cross lever P, P, is
connected to two small cranks Q. Q, working on the two sockets R, R, formed
with, brazed to, or otherwise attached to the cross bar N, N. On the top of the
vertical lug or joint K of the lever J, J, we form a projecting tongue piece S which
works through a socket formed in the middle of the lever P, P, best seen in the
skeleton top view, Figure 3.
By this arrangement of the parts we are enabled to converge all the three wheels
of the tricycle simultaneously, forming the radii of a circle, which permits the
tricycle to be turned in a shorter space than tricycles of ordinary construction, and
this is effected by the turning of the handle bar T, T, in either direction, operating
first on the bars G, G, which actuate the levers J, J, through the connection at
H, H, and then by the projecting tongue piece working the lever P, P, which
converges the forks of the back wheels in a like proportion to the converging of
the front wheel, and in the skeleton view, Figure 3, we have shown in dotted lines
the relative positions the wheels and levers would assume if the handle bar were
turned into the direction indicated by the dotted line U, U.
In order to counteract the effect of unevenness in roads, or coming in contact
with obstacles, we construct the socket R as shewn in an enlarged view at Figure 4,
the stalk V of the back wheel forks riding on the spring within the socket, as
shewn, having the effect of causing the wheel to ride over any obstacle, or in case
of an uneven road ensuring the rider an upright position, the spring action in all
cases adapting itself to such inequalities. Or we may effect this object by placing
a spring on each side of the back wheels, as shewn in reduced size in side and back
views at Figure 5, marked ✗, one end being connected to the spindle at a, and the
other end to the socket at b, the bow shape of the spring giving sufficiently in all
cases to ride over obstacles or uneven roads. In some cases we extend the back
bone and cross bar down to nearly the centre of the hind wheels, as shown at
Figure 6, and connect the ends Y, Y, to the pins or spindles of the wheels, by
which arrangement we are enabled to dispense with the forks usually applied to
hind wheels of tricycles. As a further modification we may connect the front and
cross back axle together, as seen at Figure 7, by two bars attached to the lower
end of the front wheel forks, one of which is seen marked Z, and brought together
below the centre of the cross axle of the hind wheels forming a loose joint B¹. A
connecting bar C¹ works on his joint, which is connected to an arm marked D¹
fixed to the spindle, forming a link motion which the large or front wheel fork and
hind wheel axle; and in this case also the simultaneous converging of the whole of
the wheels is effected as in the former case.
At Figures 1 and 2 we have also shown an improved arrangement for assisting
in propelling a tricycle up hill. To the front of the head at E we fix a bracket or
brackets, through which the tube F¹ is passed, and inside this tube the pin G is
placed. On each side of the tube we place the handles H¹, H", the handle H¹
operating on the tube while the handle H" operates on the pin. The cranks K¹, K',
are connected to the pin and tube before described by the lever I' and J¹, the
lever I being fixed to the pin and the lever J to the tube, so that when the rider

page_text: is ascending a hill, and the crank K' is pressed down by the foot into the position
shown, the crank K¹ on the opposite side will be pulled down, or assisted in so
doing by the hand lever H", and in like manner the hand lever H¹ can be operated
on when the crank on the opposite side is pressed down by the foot, thus materially
assisting in propelling up hill.
Figures 8 and 9 are elevation and section of a head for bicycles or velocipedes
constructed according to our Invention In the top part of the head we apply the
pin L' with the conical or curved surfaces at its bottom side, and similar surfaces
are arranged at the bottom part of the head at M', and the stalk of the neck N' Is
so formed top and bottom as to permit the insertion of a row of hardened steel balls
in each of the recesses, top and bottom, as shown, by which construction we obtain
less friction, and the head and neck requires less lubrication.
Figure 10 represents a head for bicycles constructed with the head and neck all
in one piece, whereby we dispense with the set pin and lock nut generally used.
The fork O¹ extends upwards through the head forming a centre pin, and terminates
with a conical point, shown in dotted lines marked P¹, fitting into a corresponding
recess in the head, and on this centre pin the bracket Q' for carrying the handle
bar is secured by pins or otherwise, which bracket can be raised or lowered with
the handle bar to suit the convenience of the rider. In the lower end of the slot
of the head we form an internal cone R¹ in which the cone on the stalk P¹ works,
which is adjusted by a nut on the stalk, pressing down the cone R and drawing
up the stalk so as to force the upper conical point into the cup at the top part of
the head.
Figure 11 represents a modification of Figure 9, in which we form the conical
recesses for carrying the balls in both ends of the socket S¹ which forms a portion
of the neck T¹.
up
Figure 12 represents side and sectional views of our improved hollow crank; the
body U, U is made tubular, by which lightness and strength is obtained, the
boss Z' is brazed or otherwise secured to the tubes, and at the lower end we cut a
slot for adjustment. The pedal pin W passes through a collar X which slides
and down the crank according to the position desired; the adjustment is effected
by securing the end of the pedal pin W¹ into a circular nut Y¹ inside the tube, so
that to lengthen or shorten the crank the pin W has to be slackened out, which
permits the collar, head pin, and nut to slide up or down and then secured by
screwing up the pedal pin
Figures 13 and 14 represent in side and front views our improvements as applied
to the backbones of bicycles and other velocipedes in which we use two, three, four
(or more if desired) light steel tubes. These tubes are bent into the form required
and then fixed in one or more stays, as shewn in an end view, Figure 15, but any
other suitable shaped stay may be used if desired. The two outside tubes A", A",
are continued down to be shaped and bent so as to form the back fork.
At Figures 16 and 17 we have shewn a side and front views a multiplication in
which we use two larger tubes B, B1, to form the back bone, placed one under
the other, and two smaller one C, O, to be continued to form the back fork, one
or more stays marked D¹¹ being used for support, as seen in end view at Figure 18.
It will be readily understood that any suitable number of tubes may be used if
desired.
Figure 20 represents in side and edge views our improved wrench for bicycles
and other purposes, the handle part F, F", broken away for convenience, is made
tubular and the fixed jaw G" is loosely screwed into same at the top part, as shewn
in dotted lines. The traversing jaw H has an incline on each side marked J",
and passes through a slot in the fixed jaw G. By turning the tubular handle it
forces up the sliding piece and secures the jaws in position; the spring, shewn in
dotted lines, placed in the traversing jaw H presses against the fixed jaw G", so
that when the hand is unscrewed the spring forces the traversing jaw back to
the size of any nut required to be turned, permitting the handle to be screwed up
to fix the jaw in position.

page_text: Figure 21 shews side and edge views of a modification of our improved wrench
in which the fixed jaw J" is recessed on both sides at I", and the traversing jaw
K slotted to fit the recesses in the fixed jaw J", by which we dispense with
slotting the body of the wrench as in the former case. The action of opening and
closing the wrench is the same as described at Figure 20, and the spring action
there referred to in this instance being dispensed with.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention and the manner in which
the same may be carried into effect, we wish it understood that we do not purpose
confining ourselves to the details herein described and exhibited, as the the same may
be considerably modified without departing from the spirit of our Invention,
but what we claim and wish protected by these our in part recited Letters
Patent are,-
Firstly. The construction of tricycles or velocipedes as herein described and
exhibited, or any modification thereof, whereby all the wheels are converged
simultaneously by the action of the handle bar, and enabling the rider to turn the
tricycle or velocipede in a much shorter space than usual, and making the sterring
or turning more sensitive or quicker in its action.
Secondly. We claim the improvements in heads for bicycles and other velocipedes
as herein described and exhibited, by which the friction is greatly reduced and
less lubrication required, and the handle bar can be raised or lowered to suit the
convenience of the rider.
Thirdly. We claim the construction of hollow cranks for bicycles and other
velocipedes, as herein described and exhibited.
Fourthly. We claim the manufacture of back bones for bicycles, tricycles, and
other velocipedes of two or more tubes, as herein described and exhibited, whereby
regidity with lightness is obtained.
And, lastly. We claim the improvements in adjustable wrenches, as herein
described and exhibited.
In witness whereof we, the said William Bown and John Derry, have
hereunto set our hands and seals, this Seventh day of July, One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
W. LOACH.
WILLIAM BOWN. (LS)
JOHN DERRY (L.S)