IMProvements in TRICYCLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Singer of Coventry Bicycle & Tri
Manufacturer for an Invention of IMProvements in TRICYCLES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Singer at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th August 1883.
GEORGE SINGER of Coventry, Bicycle & Tricycle Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRICYCLES
My invention relates to improvements in tricycles with two driving wheels.
For a tricycle intended to carry luggage or some weight besides that of the person
driving it, I construct it with two driving wheels which are in front of the rider
and with a steering wheel behind him. These driving wheels may be driven either
singly or by means of balance gear. The axle carrying them passes through a tube
which carries the bearings and which is attached to the main framework of the
tricycle.
The main frame which is tubular and may be about 18 inches wide, commences
about 2 feet behind the axle and a few inches from the ground. It is carried forward
horizontally for about 12 inches and is then bent upwards towards the axle passing
through connections which are attached to each end of the cross tube which carries
the axle and continued either forward or upward for about 2 feet in any distance
that may be required. To the frame which is in front of the axle, luggage of any
kind may be attached, a weight of 100 lbs being easily driven by the rider of the
tricycle. If another person is required to be carried as passenger I prefer to fix a
seat to a bracket upon the cross tube itself and attach handles and a foot rest to
the side tubes arranging the whole so that the weight is brought as nearly as
possible directly over the axle.
The steering wheel is behind the rider and is connected to the main frame in the
usual way. It is guided by means of a rack and pinion but in order to facilitate
mounting and dismounting I carry the steering rod under the main frame instead
of above it and conuect it to the steering wheel some inches below the centre of
the wheel and about four inches from the ground. The rider can thus mount or
dismount from either side of the tricycle. The rider is seated sufficiently behind

page_text: the axle to allow his legs to clear it and the driving crank is attached to the main
frame and connected to the driving wheels by an endless chain.
With a weight
of 80lbs the tricycle thus arranged is perfectly balanced and has no tendency to
tip forward when the rider is dismounted. When I require to carry a larger
weight I prefer to connect the main frame from the axle at a point below the axle
carrying the main frame horizontally throughout
Another part of my invention relates to a tricycle having upon one axle two
driving wheels which are also guiding wheels and having a third wheel in front of
the rider (or it may be behind the rider). In my improvements I make the third
wheel also to assist in guiding by pivotting it upon the framework or backbone
and connecting it to the axle by a rod or by other means in such a manner that
when the axle carrying the driving wheels is moved, the third wheel will turn in
the opposite direction so that all three wheels will be travelling in the same curve
without "skidding" and the power exerted in guiding the tricycle will be
diminished.
The method I prefer to use for forming the connection of the wheels is as
follows: To the frame which carries the axle I attach a toothed quadrant and to
the fork which carries the small wheel I also attach a toothed quadrant. The
backbone which carries the rider has its front end pivotted to the axle frame at
one end and is pivotted to the fork which carries the small wheel at its other end.
Upon this backbone I fix two brackets through which a small rod passes and to
ench end of the rod a pinion is fixed which gears into the toothed quadrants
described above. Thus when the one quadrant is moved the pinion turns the rod,
and the other quadrant moves in an opposite direction a very effective steering
being thus obtained.
I sometimes use a plain rod curved in such a manner as to give the required
movement to the third wheel, the end which is attached to the axle frame. being
pivotted, about four inches from the centre line and the rod passing through the
centre line is pivotted to the fork of the back wheel upon a short lever attached to
the fork.
By the former arrangement the backbone is strengthened, the rod acting as a
stay. I sometimes fix a tube to the brackets which carry the rod which then
revolves inside the tube, and this arrangement rendera the backbone perfectly
rigid.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Singer in the Patent Office on the 28th February
1884.
"
GEORGE SINGER of Coventry Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturer. IMPROVE
MENTS IN TRICYCLES."
The first part of my invention relates to improvements in tricycles with two
driving wheels and for a tricycle intended to carry baggage or some weight besides
that of the person driving it. I construct it with two driving wheels which are in
front of the rider and with a steering wheel behind him. The driving wheels may
be driven either singly or by means of balance gear. The axle carrying them
passes through a tube which carries the bearings and which is attached to the main
framework of the tricycle.
In order to fully describe the manner in which I carry my invention into effect
I will proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle for carrying weights constructed
according to one modification of my invention and wherein I show this framė
without any struts or strengthening pieces whatever Figure 2 is a view in
sectional side elevation with one wheel removed of a second modification Figure 3
is a plan of same and wherein I show the frame with a horizontal bar and front
rest. Figure 4 is a side elevation of another modification where the lower horizontal
bar is dispensed with and the carrier bar is strengthened by a strut connecting
same with the main frame of the machine behind the axle. Figure 4 shows
another modification of the arrangement of the frame. The only difference in the
above modifications is in the arrangement of the luggage or weight carrying frame
and the bar al in Figures 2 and 3 is extended to the steering handle bars. Similar
letters of reference refer to like parts in all the above Figures.
The main frame a which is tubular and may be about 18 inches wide, commences
about 2 feet behind the axle and a few inches from the ground. It is carried
forward horizontally for about 12 inches and is then bent upwards towards the
axle passing through connection 6' b¹ Figures 1 and 4 which are attached to each
end of the cross tube b which carries the axle and continued forward or upward
any distance that may be required. To that portion of the frame a¹ which is in
front of the axle or cross tube b luggage of any kind may be attached, a weight of
100 lbs being easily driven by the rider of the tricycle.
The steering wheel c is behind the rider and is connected to the main frame a in
the usual way, It is guided by means of a rack d and pinion e preferably under
the main frame in order to facilitate mounting and dismounting but I may carry
the steering rod d¹ above the main frame instead of under it as shown and when
under connect it to the steering wheel some inches below the centre of the wheel as
shown. The rider can thus mount or dismount from either side of the tricycle.
The rider is seated sufficiently behind the axle to allow his legs to clear it; and
the driving crank fis attached to the main frame and connected to the driving
wheels g, g, by an endless chain. With a weight of 80 lbs the tricycle thus arranged
is perfectly balanced and has no tendency to tip forward when the rider is dis-
mounting. When I require to carry a larger weight I prefer to connect the main
frame a at a point below the axle to the upper frame a³. carrying the main frame
horizontally throughout the main frame may be as shown at Figures 2 and 3
provided at its end with a roller a², the upper portion of the projecting frame a¹
being connected to the lower frame by struts or ties a³, a, and as shown at Figures 2
and 3 the frame a carrying and supporting the steering handle.
Another part of my invention relates to a tricycle having upon one axle two
driving wheels which are also guiding wheels and having a third wheel behind,

page_text: In my improvement I make the third wheel also to assist in guiding by pivotting
it upon the framework or backbone and connecting it to the axle by a rod or by
other means in such a manner that when the axle carrying the driving wheels is
moved, the third wheel will turn in the opposite direction so that all three wheels
will be travelling in a curve described from one central point without "skidding"
and the power exerted in guiding the tricycle will be diminished.
"
Figure 5 shews in sectional side elevation one wheel being removed and Figure G
in part horizontal section on the line A B of Figure ŏ, one arrangement by which
this part of my invention may be carried into effect.
According to this arrangement to the frame which carries the axle b I attached a
toothed quadrant h and to the fork m which carries the small wheel c I also attach
a toothed quadrant . The backbone i which carries the rider has its front end
pivotted to the axle frame at one end 2 and is pivoted to the fork m which curries
the small wheel c at its other end. Upon this backbone I fix two bracket+ 8 8²
through which a small rod passes and to each end of the rod d'a pinion g is fixed
which gears into the toothed quadrants' described above. Thus when the one
quadrant is moved the pinion turns the rod, and the other quadrant moves in an
opposite direction, a very effective steering being thus obtained.
Also by this arrangement described with reference to Figures 5 and 6 the backbone
is strengthened, the rod d' acting as a stay. I sometimes as shown fix a tube d to
the brackets 8, &', which carry the rod d' which rod then revolves inside the tube d
and this arrangement renders the backbone perfectly rigid.
Figure 7 shows in sectional side elevation and Figure S in plan another arrange-
ment of steering gear constructed and arranged according to this part of my
invention and Figure 9 also shows in part plan another modified arrangement of this
steering gear.
According to this arrangement I use a plain straight rod r or I may use a curved
rod as shown at Figure 9 to give the required movement to the third wheel c the
end of the rod r which is attached to the axle frame being pivotted at about four
inches from the centre line and the rod passing through the centre line is pivoted
upon a short lever attached to the fork m of the third wheel c.
Having now described the nature of my said.Invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that I am aware it is not new to carry on a
tricycle a weiglit besides the weight of the rider neither is it new to steer from a
point below the frame. I therefore lay no claim generally to either of such
arrangements but I claim as my "Improvements in Tricycles."
First In luggage or weight carrying tricycles, the construction and arrange-
ment of the frame provided with or without struts or strengthening pieces from
which frame the basket or 'box to contain the luggage or weight is suspended or
upon which it is supported all substantially as shown and described with reference
to Figures 1, 2, 3, 4 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Second In Tricycles having two driving wheels upon one axle which wheels
also act as guiding wheels and a third wheel behind, the application to such
machines of cranks quadrants connecting rod and gearing whereby the third wheel
'is made to assist in guiding the machine all substantially as shown and described
with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings together
with any mere modifications thereuf.
In witness whereof I the said George Singer have bereunto ect my hand and
seal this Twentysixth day of February in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty four.
STALLED