Convertible into Ordinary Single Tricycles.
Year: 1885

page_text: Convertible into Ordinary Single Tricycles.
I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS, of Saint John's Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, velocipede manufacturer, do hereby
declare-the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers, chiefly, to that class of convertible tandem and convertible
parcel-carrying tricycles in which the second rider or parcel occupies a position
either rearward of the driving axle, in the case of a tricycle having the single
wheel in front, or forward thereof, in the case of a tricycle having the single wheel
behind; and the chief object of the invention is to provide convenient means
whereby the framing, with the steering and treadle gear and single wheel, may be
fixed at a greater distance from the driving axle when the machine is to be used as
a tandem machine or parcel-carrier, so as to prevent the liability of the machine
being tilted over by the weight of the second rider or parcel, and be brought
nearer again to the driving axle when the machine is to be used as an ordinary
single machine.
This invention relates also to improved means of carrying or supporting the seat
and driving gear for the second rider..
According to this invention, the ordinary frame of the machine is connected with
a bracket carrying the driving axle bearings, by means of a slotted bar having a
pin therethrough by which it is fixed to the bracket, the adjustment of the distance
of the frame from such bracket being effected by slackening the pin and moving
the slotted bar endways the distance required and then tightening up such pin to
fix the bar.
In lieu of a slotted bar, a bar having a number of holes therethrough may be
employed, or a bar may be employed to slide through a block on the bracket and
be tightened by means of a set-pin, or any equivalent adjustment may be employed;
or a short length of bar may be taken out between the frame and bracket, to bring
the frame near to the bracket when the machine is to be used as an ordinary single
machine, and be replaced when the machine is to be used as tandem machine or
parcel-carrier.

page_text: The extra seat required in the tandem machine is supported by a V or U-shaped
frame constructed of two tubes passing downwards from the front, or back, of the
machine, and of a single tube carried up from the bottom end of the two tubes
aforesaid, the seat being supported on the top of the single tube and the treadle
mechanism carried in bearings at the bottom of the tubes.
By this invention, the machine when used as an ordinary single tricycle, has the
position and arrangement of its parts precisely the same as in a machine which is
for use only as a single tricycle, instead of having the position of the rider an
undesirable distance back ward or forward from the driving axle and thereby
putting too great a weight on the single wheel, as is usually the case with this
class of convertible tricycles.
shings of the "Rotary" twDA
Convertible into Ordinary Single Tricycles.
I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS, of Saint John's Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, velocipede manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters
of reference marked thereon (that is to say) :-
This invention refers to that class of convertible tandem and convertible parcel-
carrying tricycles in which the second rider or parcel occupies a position either
rearward of the driving axle, in the case of a tricycle having the single wheel in
front, or forward thereof, in the case of a tricycle having the single wheel behind;
and the object of the invention is to provide convenient means whereby the
ordinary frame of the machine, that is the frame employed whether the machine
is used single or tandem or as a parcel carrier, with the steering and treadle gear
carried therefrom and single wheel, may be fixed at a greater distance from the
driving axle when the machine is to be used as a tandem machine or parcel-carrier
than when used as an ordinary single machine, so as to prevent the liability of the
machine being tilted over by the weight of the second rider or parcel, and be
brought nearer again to the driving axle when the machine is to be used as an
ordinary single machine; and whereby, also, the relative distance of the two riders,
or of the rider and parcel, from the driving axle, may be readily adjusted.

page_text: According to this invention, the ordinary frame of the machine, that is the frame
which is used whether the machine is employed single or tandem or as a parcel
carrier, is connected with a bracket (corresponding in its main features with that
frequently employed in this class of machine) carrying the cross-bar to which the
bearings of the driving axle are fixed, by means of a sliding bar capable of sliding
through a block on the bracket, but held firmly therein to fix it by means of a
set-pin. When the machine is to be used as a tandem, the extra framing carrying
the hinder (or front) seat and extra treadle gear etc. is fixed to the outer end of the
sliding-bar by being bolted thereto, or in any convenient manner, and the bar is
slid the necessary distance through the block on the bracket to properly adjust the
positions of the seats relatively to the driving axle. When the machine is to be
used simply as a parcel carrier the parcel is carried on a grid or other fixture
supported, in part or entirely, from the part of the bar projecting on the opposite
side of the driving axle to that on which the ordinary framing occurs.
In lieu of the sliding-bar capable of sliding through a block on the bracket and
of being fixed therein by means of a set-pin, two of such bars may be employed
capable of sliding, respectively, through two mountings on the bar carrying the
driving-axle bearings and be fixed therein by means of set-pins, such mountings
being employed in lieu of the bracket, aforesaid; or a slotted bar may be employed
having a pin through its slot by which it is fixed to the bracket; or a bar may be
employed having a number of holes therethrough; or any equivalent means of
adjustment may be employed for the purpose; or a short length of bar (inter-
changeable, if desired, for adjustment, with bars of different lengths) may be taken
out between the frame and bracket to bring the frame near to the bracket when
the machine is to be used as an ordinary single machine, and be replaced when the
machine is to be used as a tandem machine or parcel carrier.
This invention will be clearly understood on reference to the accompanying
drawings, which illustrate my invention as applied in the case of a convertible
tricycle having the steering wheel in front. The illustration shews the modification
of my invention according to which two bars are employed capable of sliding
through mountings on the bar carrying the driving-axle bearings. Figure 1 is a
side elevation of the machine geared up as a tandem tricycle, but with the nearer
hind wheel removed, for convenience of illustration. Figure 2 is a plan of figure 1
but with the front seat omitted, for convenience of illustration; and figure
corresponding view to figure 1, but shewing the machine arranged for a single
rider only.
a
The same letters of reference occurring upon two or all of these views indicate
corresponding parts.
a a are a pair of mountings fitted to and projecting upwards from the transverse
bar b which carries the bearings c c for the driving-axle d. ee are a pair of
tubular bars fitted at their forward end to a cross-head f which is itself rigidly
connected with the front framing A of the machine. These bars e e pass each
through one of the mountings a a so as to be capable of sliding therethrough. g is
a cross-head rigidly connected with the hinder framing B, that is with the framing
employed when the machine is converted into a tandem. Figure 4 is a sectional
plan, to an enlarged scale, of the tubular bars e e, and cross-heads f and g, shewing
certain parts also in combination therewith; and figure 5 is a longitudinal section
through the hinder end of one of the bars e and the upper end of the corresponding
mounting a. Referring specially to figure 4, h h are pins (preferably tubular for
the sake of lightness) rigidly connected at one end with the cross-head g and
having their outer ends screwed and provided with nuts and washers. These
pins h h are capable of being passed through the bore of the tubular bars e e, as
shewn, with their screwed ends projecting beyond the face of the cross-head f.
The cross head 9, and consequently therefore the frame B, may be readily fixed to
the bars e e (and removed therefrom) by means of the pins h h and nuts thereon.
The bases of the pins are formed conical to fit within conically-bored parts in the
hinder ends of the tubes e e, as shewn, so as to form a good fit when the parts are

page_text: put together, j is a central pin, preferably tubular for the sake of lightness, rigidly
connected at one end to the cross-head g, and fitting at its other end around a stud k
rigidly connected with the cross-head f. This pin j carries the pillow 7 (figures 1
and 2) for the hinder handle bar, and is removed together with the pillar land
binder handle bar as the frame B is itself removed from its connection with the
tubular bars e e. Referring to figure 5, r is a set-pin screwed through the top of
the mountain a, and s is a loose key fitted into a key-way in the mounting, and
having a flange at each end (preferably let in flush with the faces of the mounting)
to keep it in position endways. The face of the key is hollow to fit the round of
the bar e, and the bar is held securely in position within the mounting by screwing
down the pin and thus pressing the key upon the bar. Both the bars e e are,
preferably, fixed in this manner. In figures 1 and 2 the tubular bars e e are
shewn to have been slid forward through the mountings a a so as to carry forward
the framing A, front wheel C, and front saddle and treadle gear, in relation to the
driving axle d, in order that the weight of the front rider and parts forward of the
driving axle may overbalance the weight of the hinder rider and parts rearward of
the driving axle. In the illustration, the tubular bars e e are shewn to have been
moved forward as far as possible, but they may, of course, be moved into any
intermediate position to suit the relative weights of the riders.
In figure 3 the machine is shewn with the hinder framing B, hinder saddle and
treadle mechanism, and with the pillar and handle-bar, removed, so as to change
the machine into a single tricycle, and the bars ee are shewn to have been slid
back through the mountings a a so as to bring the weight of the single rider well
on to the driving axle.
The grid m for carrying luggage is supported forwards of the driving axle (as
shewn by figures 1 and 2) if required when the machine is used tandem, by
swivelling it on to two pins n n screwed into the ends of the bar b, and carrying
it also by means of a clip o passing over the hollow bars e e and thence downwards
on each side through plates p p, formed with the grid, and having lock nuts on
screwed ends of the parts passing through the plates; but when the machine is used
for a single rider only the grid m is correspondingly carried backward of the driving
axle, as shewn by figure 3. In this case the position of the rider may be moved
forwards in relation to the driving axle, if desired, to adjust the weight on the
axle, and if necessary to suit the length of the bars ee the clip o may be moved
back also and connected with the grid at a point nearer to the axle. The grid is
shewn partly in section by figures 1 and 2 so as to illustrate clearly its connection
with the clip o. It may of course be dispensed with entirely either when the
machine is used single or tandem if no luggage is to be carried thereby. Any
suitable framing or fixture for supporting the luggage may be employed in lieu
of the grid m, and such framing or fixture may be conveniently connected with the
bars e e substantially in the manner in which the frame B is connected therewith.
The other modification of this invention indicated in the general description, and
also the application of this invention to a tricycle having the single wheel behind,
will now be sufficiently obvious without need for further illustration. The
illustrations shew the means which I prefer to employ, in the case of a tricycle
having the single wheel in front, for effecting the purpose of this invention.
When a removable in lieu of a sliding connection is formed between the
ordinary single frame and the bracket to which the bearings of the driving axle
are fixed, such removable connection consists of a bar having flanges or snugs, or
equivalent parts or part, at one end by which it may be rigidly fixed to the single
trame, and corresponding parts or part at the other end by which it may be
rigidly fixed to the bracket. This bar thus forms a rigid connection between the
single frame and the bracket and may be removed and the single frame be fixed
direct to the bracket when the machine is to be used as an ordinary single tricycle.
The removable bar may be replaced with a bar of different length if desired, so as
to give a greater or less length between the single frame and the bracket.

page_text: By this invention, the convertible machine when used as an ordinary single
tricycle, has the position and arrangement of its main parts precisely the same as
in a machine which is for use only as an ordinary single tricycle, instead of having
the position of the rider an undesirable distance forward or backward from the
driving axle and thereby putting too great a weight on the single wheel as is
usually the case with this class of convertible tricycles.
When, in the case of a tricycle which is to be used alternatively simply as a
parcel carrier or ordinary single tricycle, a removable instead of a sliding connection
is employed between the frame and the driving axle, the parcel may be carried on
a permanent or movable support projecting on the opposite side of the driving
axle to that on which the frame occurs.
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 in respect of tandem and parcel-carrying tricycles convertible into ordinary
single tricycles, is :-
1. Forming a sliding or removable connection between the ordinary frame and
the driving axle, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
2. The sliding connection between the ordinary frame and the driving axle, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated by the drawings herewith for the purposes
set forth.