IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES OR VELOCIPEDES WITH THREE WHEELS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Hughes, of 38, Green's End, Woolwich, in the
[t
County of Kent, Solicitor, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
OR VELOCIPEDES WITH THREE WHEELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Hughes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th November 1880.
EDWIN HUGHES, of 38, Green's End, Woolwich, in the County of Kent,
Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES OR VELOCIPEDES WITH THREE WHEELS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of a tricycle or velocipede with
three wheels, so that it may be ridden by two people, and operated by either or
both in a similar manner to the ordinary bicycle. For this purpose I place two
large wheels in front on the same axle, say, about thirty inches apart. A small
steering wheel is placed behind, so that its path is midway between the paths of
the two front wheels. Each of the leading wheels has a saddle, backbone, and
fork, as in a bicycle, but in place of the forks swivelling they are rigidly fixed to
the backbone, and to one another, the whole forming one frame. Behind the
saddles the backbones are curved and brought together immediately over the small
hind wheel, where they form a centre on which the fork of this wheel turns. The
axle of the front wheels has two outside cranks and treadles, and between the
wheels there are two inside cranks, the treadles of which are connected and work
together. Instead however of conuecting the treadles the axle itself may be
cranked, by which means the inner cranks may either work together, or at any
desirable angle with one another.
To facilitate the travelling round curves only one of the front wheels is fixed to
the axle, thus the whole power of the two riders is exerted on one wheel. To
prevent slipping I employ a sliding clutch on the axle, by means of which the rider
above the loose wheel can lock it to the axle at any time. In place of the ordinary
bicyclo handle to each of the leading wheels I use but one handle or cross bar,
which also serves to rigidly connect the tops of the two forks. There may be tio

page_text: rods to connect the bottom of the inner arm of each fork (under the treadles) and
also to connect the continuations of the back bones in front of the leading wheels.
Diagonal tie rods may also be used between the backbones and forks to still
further stiffen the framing. For steering purposes motion is communicated to the
swivelling fork of the back wheel by a small lever fixed on top of this fork, &
operated by a connecting rod and moveable handle. This handle is pivotted on a
stud on the cross bar or fixed handle between the riders in such manner that
either can operate the steering gear.
A side saddle may be fitted in place of one of the ordinary saddles, & the wheel
under same protected by wire work. This will, enable a lady to ride, who may or
may not assist in working the tricycle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION. in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Edwin Hughes in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th May
1881.
翠
EDWIN HUGHES, of 38, Green's End, Woolwich, in the County of Kent,
Solicitor. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES OR VELOCIPEDES WITH THREE WHEELS."
This Invention has for its object the construction of a tricyclo or three wheeled
velocipedo so that it may be ridden by two people, and operated by either or both
in a similar manner to the ordinary bicycle. For this purpose I place two large
wheels in front on the same axle, say thirty to thirty six inches apart. A small
steering wheel is placed behind, so that its path is midway between the paths of
the two leading wheels. Each of the front wheels has a saddle, backbone, and
fork as in an ordinary. bicycle, the only difference being that the forks do not
swivel (the front wheels being always parallel to one another) but, are rigidly
fixed to one another by the back bones and cross bar, which are by preference
made in one solid piece. Behind the saddles the backbones are curved and brought
together immediately above the small hind wheel, and there. form a socket, in
which the swivelling fork of the back wheel turns..
The axle of the front wheels has two outside cranks and treadles, and between
the wheels there are two inside cranks and treadles which are firmly connected
together and work together. Instead of connecting the treadles the axle itself may
be cranked, by which means the inner cranks may work together or: at; any
desirable angle with one another.
To facilitate the travelling round curves only one of the front.wheels is fixed.to.
the axle, the other is loose, thus the whole power of the riders is exerted on the
one fixed wheel. To prevent slipping in going up hill the loose wheel may be
made fast, to the axle temporarily by a sliding clutch, on the axle, or any
equivalent mechanical device operated at will by one of the riders. There may be
tie rods connecting the bottom of the inner arm of each fork (under the treadles),
and also connecting together the continuations of the back-bones in front of the
forks. Diagonal tie rods may also be used between the back-bones and forks to
still further stiffen the framing.
For steering purposes motion is communicated to the swivelling fork of the back
wheel by a small lever fixed on top of this fork, to which motion is given by
connecting rods and a moveable handle. This handle is pivotted on a stud on the
cross bar between the riders in such manner that either rider may operate the
steering gear. Instead of using the above levers and connecting rods motion may
be given to the fork of the steering wheel by a rack and pinion operated by either
of the riders.
A side saddle may be fitted in place of one of the ordinary saddles, and the
wheel under same protected by wirework. This would enable a lady to ride, who
may or may not assist in driving the tricycle.
And in order that my Invention may be fully understood I now proceed to more
particularly describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to the several
Figures on the explanatory Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the same letters
of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of my Drawings represents a side elevation of my improved tricycle;
Figure 2 is an end elevation looking from the back of the machine; Figure 3 is a
plan of same; and Figure 4 is a section to a larger scale shewing the means by
which one of the front wheels may be allowed either to run loose on the axle or
may be locked fast to it at pleasure. a, a', are the two front wheels, the latter
only being loose on its axlo; b, 61, the forks of same; c, the small hind steering
.

page_text: wheel; d, d, the frame shewing back-bones and crossbar in one solid piece
connecting all three wheels firmly together, but formed with a socket d', in which
the fork of the hind wheel swivels; c, e, are two outside cranks and treadles;
ff, two inside cranks and treadles; j is a rod connecting the inside cranks and
treadles together.
Two outside handles h, k, are securely fixed to their respective forks or to
the frame; L, l, are two inside handles, one for each rider, pivotted on a stud m
and operating the steering wheel c by means of the two connecting rods n, n, and
small lever o.
To make the front wheel a¹ fast to the axle when desired I attach to the handle k¹
a lever p, which works a bell crank q and connecting rods r, r, shewn to a larger
scale in Figuro 4. These connecting rods give motion in turn to the two bell
cranks 8, 8, which push the two conical clutches t, t, (sliding along the axle on a
key) into the boss w of the wheel. I prefer to make the conical clutches like a
bevel pinion except that the teeth are V shaped in cross section so that they may
more readily slip into gear with similar shaped recesses in the boss of the wheel.
An ordinary spoon brake may be applied to each of the front wheels if desired,
but they must be connected by a lever, so that both brakes are applied at the same
time, and that by either of the riders.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect, I
would observe in conclusion that I do not confine myself to the particular manner
shewn in the Drawings of operating the steering gear, nor of making one of the
front wheels fast or loose on its axle at pleasure, but what I claim is the
construction of a tricycle with two large wheels in front on one axle and a
small steering wheel behind, each of the front wheels having a rider above in
a similar manner to an ordinary bicycle leading wheel, but so arranged that
the whole power of the two riders may be applied either to one or both
wheels, substantially as bereinbefore described and as shewn in the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Edwin Hughes, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of May, A.D. One thousand eight hundred and
EDWIN HUGHES. (L.S.)