IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JESSE LINLEY of Ashford Street Birmingham in the County of Warwick
Machinist do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES " to be as follows:-
My invention has reference principally to the kind of Velocipedes commonly
called convertible Sociables, or Tricycles that are capable of being converted or
changed from a single to a double machine or vice-versa. And my said invention
consists of the construction and arrangement of parts whereby the machine is
made more simple in its construction and more efficient in its action than machines
of the ordinary construction.
I will describe my invention as applied to a convertible sociable. .
The main driving wheel forms the centre of the machine which is enclosed or
surrounded by a rectangular frame. The front part of the said frame is prolonged
and is supported by the steering wheel working within a forked support connected
to an ordinary "Stanley head," attached to the end of the said framing.
The other framing passes in a rectangular direction, from the middle of the
framing described enclosing the driving wheel; that is, the framing is continued
laterally on either side of the frame enclosing the driving wheel, and at the
terminal ends thereof, supporting wheels are arranged, which support the principal
framing of the machine. The framing of the machine therefore consists essentially
of rectangular framing carried by a central driving wheel, with smallor wheels
disposed at the outer ends of the said framing, while the steering wheel which
forms the fore steerer, comes in front of the driving wheel and supports the front
of the framing,
The whole of the machine is driven from a central axis attached to the driving
wheel, which forms the centre. The said axis is situated below and runs parallel
with the lateral main framing, and is supported by hanging tubular brackets from
the said main framing, and above these brackets last described the seats for the
riders are situated. The treadles are disposed on each side of the forked ends of
the brackets supporting the driving axis, motion being communicated by ordinary
chain and wheel gearing so that motion imparted to the pedals on both sides of the
driving wheel, is equally distributed to the central driver, to which the central axis
is connected, the driving wheel forming the centre of the machine,

page_text: The central driving axis is not a perfectly rigid axis, but is jointed on the side of
the duplex half of the machine, for the purpose of allowing the machine to pass
over any inequalities in the road or ground over which it is travelling, that is to
Bay, the two halfs of the machine are capable of making a slight angle with respect
to each other, without at all interfereing with the full driving power of the
machine. This is effected by interposing between the driving axis and the driving
wheel, a universal or a "Hooks," joint, which allows motion to be cominunicated
to the driving wheel, when the jointed axis on the movable side of the machine is
at an angle; and therefore allows the machine to be effectually driven without
impairing the efficiency of the driving power, on the machine travelling over
inequalities on its road of traction. The main driving axle on the half frame side
of the machine has also a plain flat peg, which takes into a rectangular hole in the
hub of the driving-wheel, for the purpose hereinafter described. The steering is
effected from the right hand side of the machine by the usual stirrup handle,
having at the lower end of its bar, a toothed pinion which engages with a second
pinion attached to a short arm, the end of which communicates motion through a
connecting rod to the end of one arm of a jointed bell crank lever. The other arm
has a second connecting rod passing to the fore steering wheel, which is connected
and works in the usual way. There is thus produced in a front steering machine,
a left hand steerer, with a right band guide.
The machine and parts connected therewith as described constitute a sociable or
double Velocipede.
The machine is perfectly open on its sides which allow the riders to mount and
'dismount with the greatest ease, without obstruction, by the position of the parts
of the machine; and being a front steerer, becomes a three track machine, although
supported on four wheels.
The Sociable is converted into a single machine, by removing a screwed pin or
other connection, on the front part of the framing enclosing the driving wheel,
which is provided with flap joints, which are separated by first removing the pin
described and then removing the other end from its socket and withdrawing the
flat or tongue like end of the driving axle (on that part of the machine) from the
hole in the hub.
The half frame being thus removed with its end supporting wheel, half driving
axle, and its other accessories, the sociable is thereby changed from a double to a
single machine. The driving wheel being now situated on the left hand side and
is converted into a double track machine.
To change the single to a double machine or sociable, it is only necessary to
attach the left hand framing previously described; by first inserting the tongue
like peg on the driving axle, into a rectangular hole in the hub of the wheel and
then connecting the respective sockets as previously described. The machine then
becomes again a sociable or double machine, the motion created on the respective
peddles by both drivers is transmitted to the central driving wheel as previously
described.

page_text: 65
I, JESSE LINLEY of Ashford Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:
3
My invention has reference principally to the kind of velocipedes commonly
called convertible sociable, or tricycles that are capable of being converted or
changed from a single to a double machine or vice-versa and my said invention
consists of the construction and arrangement of parts, whereby the machine is
made more simple in its construction and more efficient in its action than machines
of the ordinary construction.
I will describe my invention as applied to a convertible sociable.
The main driving wheel forms the centre of the machine, which is enclosed or
surrounded by a rectangular frame. The front part of the said frames is prolonged
and is supported by the steering wheel working within a forked support, connected
to an ordinary "Stanley head," attached to the end of the said framing. The
other framing passes in a rectangular direction, from the middle of the framing
described enclosing the driving wheel; that is, the framing is continued laterally
on either side of the frame enclosing the driving wheel, and at the terminal ends
thereof, supporting wheels are arranged, which support the principal framing of
the machine. The framing of the machine therefore consists essentially of
rectangular framing carried by a central driving wheel, with smaller wheels
disposed at the outer ends of the said framing; while the steering wheel which
forms the fore steerer, comes in front of the driving wheel and supports the front
of the framing.
The whole of the machine is driven from a central axis attached to the driving
wheel, which forms the centre. The said axis is situated below and runs parallel
with the lateral main framing, and is supported by hanging tubular brackets from
the said main framing, and above these brackets last described, the seats for the
riders are situated. The treadles are disposed on each side of the forked ends of
the brackets supporting the driving axis; motion being communicated by ordinary
chain and wheel gearing. So that motion imparted to the pedals on both sides of
the driving wheel, is equally distributed to the central driver, to which the central
axis is connected. The driving wheel forming the centre of the machine.
The central driving axis is not a perfectly rigid axis, but is jointed on the side
of the duplex half of the machine, for the purpose of allowing the machine to pass
over any inequalities in the road or ground over which it is travelling; that is to
say, the two halves of the machine are capable of making a slight angle with
respect to each other, without at all interfering with the full driving power of the
machine. This is effected by interposing between the driving wheel, a universal or
B "Hooks" joint; which allows motion to be communicated to the driving wheel,
when the jointed axis on the movable side of the machine is at an angle; and
therefore allows the machine to be effectually driven without impairing the
efficiency of the driving power, on the machine travelling over inequalities on ita

page_text: road of traction. The muin driving axle on the half frame side of the machine has
also a plain flat peg, which takes into a rectangular hole in the hub of the driving
wheel, for the purpose hereinafter described. The steering is effected from the
right hand side of the machine by the usual stirrup handle, having at the lower
end of its bar, a toothed pinion which engages with a second pinion attached to a
short arm; the end of which communicates motion through a connecting rod to the
end of one arm of a jointed bell crank lever. The other arm has a second con-
necting rod passing to the fore steering wheel, which is connected and works in
the usual way. There is thus produced in a front steering machine, a left hand
steerer, with a right hand guide.
The machine and parts connected therewith as described constitute a sociable or
double velocipede.
The machine is perfectly open on its sides which allow the riders to mount and
dismount with the greatest ease, without obstruction, by the position of the parts of
the machine; and being a front steerer, becomes a three track machine, although
supported on four wheels.
The sociable is converted into a single machine, by removing a screwed pin or
other connection, on the front part of the framing enclosing the driving wheel,
which is provided with flap joints, which are separated by first removing the pin
described, and then removing the other end from its socket, and withdrawing the
flat, or tongue like end of the driving axle (on that part of the machine) from the
hole in the hub. The half frame being thus removed, with its end supporting
wheel, half driving axle, and its other accessories, the sociable is thereby changed
from a double to a single machine. The driving wheel being now situated on the
left hand side and is converted into a double track machine.
To change the single to a, double machine or sociable, it is only necessary to
attach the left hand framing previously described, by first inserting the tongue like
peg on the driving axle, into a rectangular hole in the hub of the wheel, and then
The machine then
connecting the respective sockets as previously described.
becomes again a sociable or double machine, the motion created on the respective
pedals by both drivers, is transmitted to the central driving wheel as previously
described.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a convertible velocipede (commonly
called sociables) constructed according to my invention; that is to say, the machine
as represented is capable of carrying two persons. Figure 2 is an end elevation of
the same showing the various arrangements of the parts. Figure 3 is a plan, which
shows clearly how the framing of the machine is arranged, in order to change its
form from a single to that of a double machine, or vice-versa; it also better
exhibits the position of the steering gear. Figure 4 represents how a double or
sociable is converted into a single machine by simply removing the connections on
the ends of the framing enclosing the driving wheel; the framing as represented is
curved, but I wish it to be understood that the said framing may be of any shape
that may be desired, such as in figure 5, where one side is straight and the other
curved, or they may both be straight instead of as represented. The other figures
represent the principal parts of the machine separately.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the
Drawings.
a is the main driving wheel situated in the centre of the framing b-c of the
machine; that is, the frame b constitutes the framing of the single machine A;
while the framing c constitutes the detachable part B used for converting a single,
into a double or sociable machine. The part 6 is prolonged and is supported by
the steering wheel d, within the forked support d, which is attached to the end of
the said framing. The other part of the framing c when combined with the
framing bencloses the driving wheel, and running laterally from the middle of the
said framingą b and c, cross supporting framings b c are arranged which are

page_text: supported by the principal framing and the side wheels ef. The framing of a
sociable or double machine therefore consists essentially of rectangular framing
supported upon the wheels as represented. The steering wheel & which is a fore-
steerer comes in front of and in the same track, as the driving wheel. Tho
machine is driven from a central axis or axes g h which are below and run parallel
with the main framing b c², which said axes are supported by hanging brackets 6³ ³
terminated by forked ends carrying the pedal axis to which the pedals i j and chain
wheels are attached. Motion being communicated from the pedal to the main
axes by chain gearing of the ordinary kind; so that motion generated at the pedal
axes, is equally distributed to the central driver.
The central driving axis g on the detachable part B of the machine, is not a
rigid axis, but is jointed at best seen at figure 4 and the several views on sheet 5,
as hereinafter particularly described. This joint is for the purpose of allowing the
machine to pass over inequalities in the road over which it is travelling; so that
the two halves of the machine are capable of making a slight angle without inter-
fering with the full driving power of the machine; that is to say, the two halves
of the machine are capable of making a slight angle, while still retaining the full
driving power from both sides of the machine, which is transferred to the central
driving wheel without losing any effect. This is effected by interposing between
the driving axis and driving wheel on the detachable part of the machine, a
universal joint or coupling which unites the driving wheel to the driving shaft, so
that the inclination of the said shaft and machine carrying it, does not impare the
efficiency of the driving power of the machine on passing over inequalities on its
road of traction. The joint or coupling consists of two forked arms, disposed at
right angles to each other, one of the said forked arms, is attached to the spindle g
and the other to the hub a² of the driving wheel a, or rather in the spindle h
passing through the hub, as best seen in figure 7. m is the fork on the spindle g
and n is the fork on the tongue o, which passes into the end of the spindle / in
the hub a². The tongue o is the means whereby the connection is made between
the axes or hub; so that a simple connection is effected by inserting the tongue o
into the socket a³ of the buba. The forks m and n are united in order to form
the joint by screw pins m³ m³ and n² n³ which pass through the respective ends
of the forks, and take into sets or countersunks on the periphery of a wheel or disc
narked p. The countersinks on the edge of the disc are marked 22. Figure 6 is a
side elevation of the joint connection, figure 7 is the same at right angles with the
tongue fixed within the hub, and figure 8 is a transverse section through one of
the forks, showing better how the connection is established. Figure 10 is a
separate view of the centre connection, and figure 9 shows the forks separately,
when turned in the same plane. Figure 11 shows upon a larger scale the principal
parts of the framing of the machine, the pipes or tubes being broken off.
framing of the detachable part of the machine, and b is the framing of the fixed
part of the machine, so that in order to disconnect the movable part of the machine
to change it from a sociable to a single machine, it is only necessary to remove the
socket 6 of the frame c from off the peg c* (by first removing the peg c³) and by
removing the cotter c6 connecting the scarf or overlapping joints 66, c², when the
detachable part of the machine comes away, as represented in figures 12 and 13
and also in the full view as represented in figure 4 sheet 4-Figure 14 is an end
view of the bracket connection, on the right hand side of the machine, and
figure 15 is the connection on the left hand side of the machine, the joints on both
sides of the detachable parts of the machine swivel or turu upon trunnion like
ends so as to allow that part of the machine to rise and fall with the inequalities
of the ground and c are the respective joints-The frame of the machine
figure 4 and the parts on a larger scale, figures 11, 12 and 13 are turned round or
reversed in direction to those represented in the other figures.
c is the
The steering is effected from the right hand side of the machine by the usual
stirrup bandles from the right hand or A side of the machine- is the stirrup
handle, having at its lower end a bar q²; and at the termination of the said bar a

page_text: toothed pinion q³ which engages with a second pinion q' attached to a short arm,
the end of which, communicates motion through a connecting rod to the end of
one arm of a jointed bell crank lever, the other arm of the said bell crank lever
is connected by a rod to the head of the fore-steering wheel-There is thus pro-
duced in a front steering machine, a left hand steerer with a right hand guide-
The stirrup handle & may either be a fixed handle, or it may be inade movable, by
the end of its rod taking into the bell crank lever By so arranging the handle
the machine can be steered either by the right or left hand-The brake mechanism
is marked t consisting of a drum fixed upon the main axle of the machine.
The machine and parts as described constitute a sociable or double velocipede
The machine is perfectly open at its sides, which allow the riders to mount and
dismount without obstruction; and in consequence of the parts being so arranged,
is simplo in its construction, and efficient in travelling.
The sociable is converted into a single machine, by removing a screwed pin or
other connection, on the front part of the framing enclosing the driving wheel,
which is provided with flap joints, which are separated by first removing the pin
described, and then removing the other end from its socket and withdrawing the
tongue like end of the driving axle (on that part of the machine) from the hole in
the bub-The half frame being thus removed, with its end supporting wheel, half
driving axle, and its other accessories, the sociable is thereby changed from a double
to a single machine-The driving wheel being now situated on the left hand side
and is converted into a double track machine.
To change the single to a double machine or sociable, it is only necessary to
attach the left hand framing previously described; by first inserting the tongue like
peg on the driving axle, into a rectangular hole in the hub of the wheel and then
connecting the respective sockets as previously described-The machine then
becomes again a sociable or double machine, the motion created on the respective
pedals by both drivers, is transmitted to the central driving wheel as previously
described.
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
•
Firstly. Making the central driving axis on the duplex half of a sociable
machine a yielding axis, for the purpose of allowing the machine to pass over any
inequalities of the ground over which it is travelling without impairing the
efficiency of the driving power as described and set forth; also the universal joint
and connecting tongue as described and set forth in figures 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 of the
accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement of the framing marked b and c, also the joints on
the two ends of the said framing; and further, the swivelling or turning joints
marked and for allowing the duplex 'half of the machine to take any
inequalities of road over which it passes.
Thirdly. The steering arrangements as described and set forth; that is to say, a
front steering machine, having a left hand steerer and a right hand guide, or a
left hand steerer with a right and left hand guide, as described and illustrated.
Dated this twentyseventh day of January 1885.