Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of Tricycles.
Year: 1885

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Driving Mechanism of
Tricycles.
I, JAMES BEESTON, of Lymington, in the County of Hants, Gentleman do hereby
declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO THE
DRIVING MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES," to be as follows:-
My invention is an improvement upon a former invention of mine for which:
Letters Patent were granted to me dated the 8th February 1882.
The object of my present invention is the same as that of the former one above
referred to, that is to enable tricycles to be driven long distances at high speed
with great ease, and the invention consists, as did the former one in the application
of auxiliary spring power mechanism in combination with the ordinary foot power.
In carrying out my present invention I dispense with much of the wheelwork
used in my former invention and I provide a barrel containing a flat spiral spring
which is coiled round a central vertical arbor and wound up, through the inter-
vention of a pair of bevil wheels by a handle having a to and fro motion working,
a ratchet wheel by a pawl just as in an ordinary ratchet drill brace. A toothed'
wheel of proportionately large size is secured concentric with the spring so as to be
put into motion by the uncoiling of the same, this toothed wheel gears into a
tangent screw which is secured to the driving axle of the tricycle. When the
spring is wound up it exerts its force to rotate the toothed wheel which being in
gear with the tangent screw on the driving axle acts as an auxiliary driving power,
to rotate the same and to drive the tricycle.
The foregoing mechanism I place under the seat of the tricycle which is by
preference of the "Meteor" or open front pattern.
.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to the Driving mechanism of
Tricycles.
I, JAMES BEESTON, of Lymington, in the County of Hants, Gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of my said 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 is an improvement upon a former Invention of mine for which
Letters Patent were granted to me dated the 8th February 1882.
The object of my present Invention is the same as the former one above referred
to, that is to enable tricycles to be driven long distances at high speed with great
ease, and the Invention consists, as did the former one in the application of
auxiliary spring power mechanism in combinatior ith the ordinary foot power.
In carrying out my present In ion I dispense much of the wheelwork used
in my former Invention and I provide a barrel containing a flat spiral spring which
is coiled round a central vertical arbor and wound. up through the intervention of a
pair of bevil wheels by a handle having a to and fro motion working a ratchet
wheel by a pawl, just as in an ordinary ratchet drill brace, a toothed wheel of
proportionately large size is secured concentric with the spring so as to be put into
motion by the uncoiling of the same; this toothed wheel gears into a tangent screw
which is secured to the driving axle of the tricycle. When the spring is wound up
it exerts its force to rotate the toothed wheel which being in gear with the tangent
screw on the driving axle acts as an auxiliary driving power to rotate the same
and to drive the tricycle.
The foregoing mechanism I place under the seat of the tricycle which is by
preference of the "Meteor or open front pattern.
"
And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood I will now
proceed to describe it by the aid of the accompanying sheet of drawings. Similar
letters of reference indicate similar parts in each and every figure wherein they
occur.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a tricycle constructed according to my Invention.
Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.
:
L
Fig. 3, is a plan view of the same the seat and its support being supposed to be
removed so as to shew more clearly the parts beneath.
Fig. 4, is a front view of pedal-crank shaft.
Fig. 5, is a plan view of same.
Fig. 6, is a side view of same.
"
Fig. 7, is a partial side view of the ratchet wheel, handle and pawl for winding.
Fig. 8, is a front view of same shewing also the spring barrel and spur wheel
and bevil gearing.
Fig. 9, is a side view of another arrangement of ratchet winding apparatus.
Fig. 10 is a plan view of same.

page_text: It is to be understood that in the general views of the tricycle Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
the steering gear brake gear and lamps have been omitted for the sake of more
clearly shewing the parts constructed according to my present Invention.
In figures 1, 2, and 3, a, a, are the large wheels of an open fronted tricycle, and
b, is the small steering wheel at the back, c, is the framing of the machine con-
structed in the usual manner, a¹, a¹, are the usual chain wheels and a the driving
chain, d, is the seat and ee the support for the same, f, is the crank shaft which
carries the pedals. This crank shaft I make by preference of the shape shewn in
Figs. 4, 5, and 6. I do not limit myself however to this design of crank shaft-
9, 9, are the pedals, and h is the driving axle of the tricycle. The above described
parts are usual in a tricycle of this kind. I will now describe those parts which
are especially constructed according to my present Invention. I provide a barrel j,
with an internal flat spiral spring like the main spring of a watch but larger and
stronger secured to a central arbor ; by rotating the arbor 1, in the proper
direction the spring is wound up; for the sake of clearness the spring itself is not
shewn in the drawing as it is of a construction well known and understood. When
the spring is allowed to exert its force it rotates the barrel j, to which the toothed
wheel o, is secured, this gears into the worm or tangent screw p, which is fixed to
the axle h, and revolves with it, 'the wheel o, pressing against the tangent screw p,
imparts to it a tendency to rotate and to impel or assist the rider in impelling the
tricycle. The barrel j, is carried by the framing 2, in a convenient position below
the seat d.
Motion is communicated to the arbor ¹, by which the spring is wound up
through the bevil wheels k, k, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 8,) which are mounted respectively
on the arbor, and a spindle ; which is carried in suitable bearings (not shewn
in the drawing).
On the other end of the spindle k¹, is a ratchet wheel m, to which motion is
given by the pawl n, attached to a lever of the second order, l, having a handle ',.
within easy reach of the riders hand (see Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, 8,). The to and fro
movement of this handle causes an intermittent rotary motion of the spindle ¹,
the wheels h, k, and the arbor ¹, thus winding up the spring. When it is desired
that the spring shall give out the power stored in it the pawl n, is thrown out of
gear with the ratchet wheel m.
In Figs. 9 and 10 I shew a somewhat different means of attaining the same
object. Here I dispense with the bevil wheels and cause the end of the lever,
(which I here make a lever of the first order with its fulcrum at r.) to engage by
means of a ball and socket joint with the end of the ratchet lever of the second
order q. The to and fro movement of the lever l in a vertical plane causes a
similar movement of the lever q in a horizontal plane and this causes the inter-
mittent rotary motion of the ratchet wheel m, and of the arbor j' on which it is
mounted.
A tricycle made according to my Invention may be used like an ordinary one,
and propelled entirely by the feet of the Rider, or the Rider may by working the
handle, to and fro store up power in the spring in the barrel j, which power may
be given off through the toothed wheel o, and the tangent screw p to assist in
propelling the Machine.
"
By preference I apply my Invention to Tricycles of the "Meteor'
or open
fronted class, but I do not limit my self to doing this, nor do I limit my self to the
exact shape or arrangement of parts as here set forth and shewn on the accom-
panying drawings but I may vary them while not departing from my said
Invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1st The construction and combination of a Barrel containing a spiral spring with
a toothed wheel acting on a tangent screw to assist in the propulsion of a Tricycle

page_text: with lever handle, ratched wheel, and pawl, and bevil wheels, for the purpose of
winding up the spring as herein described and shewn on accompanying drawing
Figs 1. 2. 3. 7. 8.
2nd The arrangement and combination of parts for producing the before described
results without the use of bevil wheels as shewn in Figs. 9 and 10.
3rd The construction of a tricycle with auxiliary spring power mechanism as
herein described and set forth.