IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND IN THE Mode of STEERING OR Guiding the SAME."
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Adams, of Camberwell, in the County of Surroy,
Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND IN THE
Mode of STEERING OR Guiding the SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Adams at the Offico
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd September 1881.
JAMES ADAMS, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRICYCLES AND IN THE MODE OF STEERING OR GUIDING THE SAME."
According to my improvements, upon or under a frame-work of wood or metal
I place an axle working in plummer blocks at each side of the frame-work, this
axle having two, three, four, or more cranks to it, also one, two, three, or more com
or band wheels keyed on to it.
Over the centre of the axle or at the sides I arrange a frame-work which has
fitted inside one, two, or more cog or band wheels, which work into the wheels
keyed upon the axle.
The top or upper wheel placed in the centre frame-work (according to one
arrangement) is fitted with two handles, and the top or upper wheel placed in the
frame-work arranged at the sides is fitted with one handle for the rider to assist in
locomotion. In each frame-work containing these wheels different speeds are
arranged for travelling up hill or over rough roads; these speeds are altered by
means of a lever in front or by the side of the rider.
Near the centre of the axle I fix a small coupling or band wheel having a band
of steel or other material around it, which is tightened round the band wheel by
means of a lever placed in front of the rider, which thereby forms a powerful
brake.
The cranks on the axle are acted upon by treadles similar to a latho, or by any
other suitable arrangement of treadle. Each crank, when more than one person is

page_text: riding, is fitted with four, six, or more treadles, so that each rider has two treadles
and one or more handles to work for propelling.
These tricycles are made with the guide wheel or wheels either before or behind,
and are fitted with a worm and cog wheel connected with a circular rack and
pinion for guiding, or with other appliances for guiding, or without the rack and
pinion, but having a multiplying wheel on the steering or guiding rod, this multi-
plying wheel working into a small wheel on the worm shaft.
The guiding or steering rod has a hand wheel or handle direct in front of the
rider, so that either right or loft hand can be used for steering, or the rider can
steer by his legs or elbows.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Adams in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 22nd March
1882.
JAMES ADAMS, of Camberwell, in the County of Surrey, Engineer. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRICYCLES AND IN THE MODE OF STEERING OR GUIDING THE SAME."
According to my improvements, upon or under a frame-work of wood or metal I
place the main axle, working in plummor blocks at each side of the frame-work,
this axle having two, three, four, or more cranks to it, also one, two, three, or inore
cog or band wheels keyed on to it, and the travelling wheels at each end.
Over the centre of the main axle or at the sides
arrange a frame-work which
has fitted inside one, two, or more cog or band wheels, which work into the wheels
keyed upon the axle.
The axes of the top or upper wheel placed in the centre frame-work (according
to one arrangement) is fitted with two handles, and the axis of the top or upper
wheel placed in the frame-work arranged at the sides is fitted with one handle for
the rider to assist in locomotion. In each frame-work containing these wheels
different speeds are arranged for travelling up hill or over rough roads; these speeds
are altered by means of a lever in front or by the side of the rider.
Near the centre of the axle I fix a small coupling or band wheel having a band
of steel or other material around it, which is tightened round the band wheel.
by means of a lever placed in front of the rider, which thereby forms a powerful
brake.
The cranks on the axle are acted upon by treadles similar to a lathe, or by any
other suitable arrangement of treadle. Each crank, when more than one person is
riding, is fitted with four, six, or more treadles, so that each rider has two treadles
and one or more handles to work for propelling.
These tricycles are made with the wheel or wheels either before or behind, and
are fitted with a worm and cog wheel connected with a circular rack and pinion for
guiding, or with other appliances for guiding, or without the rack and pinion, but
having a multiplying wheel on the steering or guiding rod, this multiplying wheel
working into a small wheel on the worm shaft.
The guiding or steering rod has a hand wheel or handle direct in front of tho
rider, so that either right or left hand can be used for steering, or the rider can
steer by his legs or elbows if desired.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and carried into
practice, I will proceed to describe the Drawings hereto annexed, which show a
tricycle arranged and constructed in accordance with my Invention.
די

page_text: toothed wheel g¹ fixed on the axis g, the wheel g' taking into and driving the
wheel c³ fixed on the main crank axis c.
The driving gear mounted in the framework c is arranged for different speeds,
which can be reduced for travelling up hill or over rough roads, the speed being
altered by means of the lever g, the movement of which throws the wheel g' out
of gear with the wheel, and at the same time puts the larger toothed wheel g³
into gear with the small toothed wheel or pinion f³ fixed on the crank or driving
axis f.
"
h is a friction coupling or band drum fixed on the axis c; around this friction
drum or pulley a friction band passes, one end of which is fixed to the under side
of the central frame a, and the other end to a travelling screw nut h' on the screw
axis h², on each end of which a hand wheel h³ is mounted, so that either the back
or front rider can put on the friction break when required.
8 is the steering or guide wheel, the axis of which is carried by the fork s¹, on
the upper end of which the worm wheel or pinion & is mounted, and actuated by
the screw thread or worm i on the end of a rod or axis i, which is connected by
the universal joint to the axis i, on each end of which a hand wheel ** is
mounted, and by which the axis may be actuated, or by the crank handle i, to
steer or guide the tricycle as required. This arrangement of driving gear may be
varied to transmit motion from the axis f to the axis c.
It will be evident that the number of the cranks c³, f¹, and treadles may be
varied to suit the number of riders.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner in which
the same is carried into practice, I would remark that I do not claim any of the
mechanical parts separately which are well known and in common use, but what I
claim is,―
First. The improved general arrangement, combination, and construction of
tricycles, adapted for carrying and being propelled by one, two, or more persons, the
main axis c being propolled either by treadles or by mechanism actuated by hand
power alone, or by both combined, substantially in the manner herein before
described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. I claim the improved arrangement and combination of mechanism for
steering or guiding tricycles, arranged and constructed substantially in the inanner
herein beforo described and represented in the Drawings annexed.
Third. I claim the improved arrangement and application of break apparatus to
tricycles, arranged and constructed substantially in the manner herein before
described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Adams, havo hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty first day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
TAN