IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1884

page_text: We WILLIAM SPENCE of Pemba Cottage, Adelaide Road, Surbiton (Ware
houseman), and RICHARD COMINGS THOMPSON of 26 Hayter Road, Brixton Rise
(Gentleman) both in the County of Surrey do hereby declare the nature of the
said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES" to be as follows:-
Our Invention relates to improvements in tricycles of that type in which the
bicycle form is aimed at, that is to say, in which the driving axle is in front of the
rider whose saddle is carried upon a backbone pivoted to the steering. frame as in
the "Humber," "Traveller," and other tricycles and the object of the Invention is
to render such a type of tricycle open fronted so as to permit the rider a free
descent forwards if he choose so to alight or be thrown out of the machine from
any cause.
According to the Invention the front or driving wheels instead of being on a
straight transverse axle, run on separate axles carried by the main frame which is
constituted by a centre stem branching outwards and upwards at the lower end in
the form of two figures of U shape placed side by side and united by their
adjacent limbs. The lateral uprights are bent outwards to form the driving wheel
axles whilst the backbone is pivoted to the central stem or upright.
The crank shaft is mounted in bearings carried by the three uprights and drives
the main wheels by a pair of endless chains. Steering is effected by means of
handles which may either be upward continuations of the side uprights or by arms
fixed to the central stem and passing under the riders' saddle and upwards around
his loins at either side. In either case the construction of the main and steering
frame is such that an open front is preserved, or an ordinary cross bar might be
fixed on the centre stem.
Another advantage of this Invention is that the rider can sit more directly over
his work than in any other open fronted tricycle at present in use and the riders'
weight is distributed to better advantage between the wheels of the machine.
A suitable brake can be applied to act either on drums on the driving wheels or
the crank shaft.

page_text: We, WILLIAM SPENCE of Pemba Cottage, Adelaide Road Surbiton, (Ware-
houseman) and RICHARD COMINGS THOMPSON of 26 Hayter Road Brixton Rise
(Gentleman) both in the County of Surrey do hereby declare the nature of our
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
"
Our invention relates to improvements in that form of Tricycle known as the
'Humber type "being a machine in which the Driving wheels (which are also
used for steering) are joined by a through-axle which supports upon suitable
bearings a frame carrying the. steering centre or "head' to which "head" is
pivoted a backbone carrying the rear wheel & saddle.
"
Our object is to construct such a type of machine with an open front; dispensing
with the through axle ;-and thus to allow the rider a free descent forward, should
he desire.so to alight or be thrown forward by the sudden stoppage or tipping up
of the machine; the latter being an accident to which this form of machine is
particularly liable.
"
In carrying out our invention we run the driving wheels on seperate stud axles,
connected & supported by a frame in the form of a semicircle or figure U placed
at any suitable angle to clear the riders legs and maintain an open front; from the
centre of this U or semicircle projects a central stem which supports the steering
centre or
"head
upon which the backbone is pivoted; the crank bearings or
driving pedals are supported directly or indirectly upon opposite sides of the U
frame or upon arms branching out from same;-We propose to use an ordinary
bent crank with a chain-wheel and chain on either side to transmit power to
the driving wheels, but it will be evident that our invention is independent of
any particular form of driving-mechanism and we do not bind ourselves to this
method.
In order that we may be particularly understood we will describe our invention
with reference to the accompanying 2 sheets of drawings.
Sheet 1 shews in perspective (with driving wheels and gear removed) a machine
constructed according to our invention, with the U frame and central stem in a
nearly vertical position and with a driving crank supported in bearings fixed
directly upon opposite sides of the U frame.
Sheet 2 shews in perspective (with driving wheels and gear removed) a machine
constructed according to our invention with the U frame and central stem in
a horizontal position and with a driving crank supported in bearings carried
by arms branching out from opposite sides of the U frame.
The same reference letters apply to each sheet as follows:-
Viz A. & A 1. the stud axles,
D
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0
:

page_text: It will be obvious that should extra strength be required, additional tie rods or
tays may be added without departing from the principle of our invention; or the
vertical & horizontal U frames may be combined in one machine with one or both
entral stems supporting the steering centre.
The steering handles may (in addition to the ordinary Bicycle movement)
be made to turn in their sockets if so required to control or manipulate the
Iriving gear.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
nvention and the manner in which same is to be performed:→
What we claim is :-
'
(1) In the construction of Tricycles of the "Humber' type, a suitable
arrangement of stud axles and framework for rendering the machine
open-fronted; consisting substantially of a pair of stud axles, connected
& supported by a frame of U shape, placed in a more or less vertical
position and carrying a central stem which projects upwards & supports
the steering centre or head."
"
(2) In the construction of Tricycles of the "Humber" type, a suitable
arrangement of stud axles and framework for rendering the machine
open fronted; consisting substantially of a pair of stud axles connected
& supported by a frame of U shape, placed in a horizontal position and
carrying a central stem which projects forwards & supports the steering
centre or "head."
"
Dated this Twenty-first day of October 1884.