Improvements in or relating to Devices for Converting a Tricycle with One Seat into a Quadricycle with Two Seats.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Devices for Converting a Tricycle
with One Seat into a Quadricycle with Two Seats.
I, ERNEST CHARLES MARIE CHENARD, Engineer, of Asnières (Seine), in the
Republic of France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a simple and cheap device enabling a tricycle say a
motor tricycle with one seat to be quickly converted into a quadricycle with two
seats.
The invention comprises a detachable frame provided with a fore-carriage pro-
vided with two wheels. The longitudinal members of the device are adapted to
be attached to the rear axle of the tricycle and the front seat of this frame
is supported by means of suspension springs on the front-axle of the detachable
frame.
The frame is further secured by a clip or connection to the head or the front tube
of the tricycle-frame.
The front wheel of the tricycle, mounted in the fork is removed, and this fork
controls the steering gear by means of a lever and rods.
In order to reconvert the quadricycle thus obtained into a tricycle the auxiliary
frame is detached and removed together with its fore-carriage and the steering wheel
is replaced in the fork.
Dated this 13th day of November 1897.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in or relating to Devices for Converting a Tricycle
with One Seat into a Quadricycle with Two Seats.
ERNEST CHARLES MARIE CHENARD, Engineer, of Asnieres (Seine), in the Republic
of France, 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:—
This invention relates to a simple and cheap device enabling a tricycle, say a

page_text: motor tricycle, with one seat to be quickly converted into a quadricycle with two
seats.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a quadricycle with two seats formed by the conversion of
a tricycle with one seat,
Fig. 2 is a plan of the above the seat being removed,
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the steering device the position of the steering fork being
slightly changed,
Fig. 4 is a plan of the same, and
Fig. 5 is an elevation of the detached fore-carriage.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the accompanying drawings.
The invention comprises two longitudinal members a b, ab connected by a trans-
verse member or stay 6¹, and attached at their rear ends, by means of bolts, to pro-
jections 62 on the tricycle frame near the hubs of the driving wheels r r. These
members support a seat c arranged above the front steering wheels 1 1. This
device, hereinafter called the fore-carriage, is further secured by means of a clamp
such as d to the socket or head of the original tricycle frame containing the steering
fork or rod; the clamp d thus prevents the dropping of the fork g from which the
original steering wheel of the tricycle has been removed.
The front of the vehicle is supported on a front axle e, lateral suspension
springs ff being interposed. The axle e does not rotate and may be fixed to the
members a ba b as shown in Figs. 1 and 2; or may be connected to the main frame
of the fore-carriage by the springs f f only, as in Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The steering
mechanism is of the well-known "Olympic" type, and is operated from the steering
fork g. For this purpose the steering fork g is connected by a lever h arranged
between its branches to the rod i hinged to one of the levers or bell cranks kk, which
are pivotted to the ends of the axle e, and carry the front steering wheels 11. The
two levers or bell cranks k k are connected by a link or rod l, so that when the steer-
ing handles are turned in either direction, the lever h turns in the same direction,
and exercising on the rod i a traction or pressure causes the corresponding lever k
to turn, the opposite lever k being also caused to participate in the movement by the
rod . The two front wheels r1 r thereupon take an oblique position in the direction
given to the steering handles or handle bar, and the vehicle turns in the same way
as ordinary quadricycles. To prevent the lever from turning in a vertical plane
under the influence of its own weight, it is supported by a wire link h¹.
The axle e may be modified or if preferred dispensed with and the steering
wheels supported from any convenient part of the fore-carriage, that is to
say, it may be cranked as in Figs. 3, 4 and 5, or if dispensed with the bell-cranks
or levers carrying the wheels 11 may be attached by vertical pivots to the
springs ff.
To reconvert the quadricycle into a tricycle it is sufficient to disconnect the rear
ends of the longitudinal members a, to detach the link d and lever h, and the fore-
carriage with its seat can then be removed without difficulty. Then a wheel is
placed in the fork g, and the tricycle is reconstituted.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. For converting a tricycle into a quadricycle, a device, replacing the front wheel
of the tricycle, comprising a fore-carriage with two wheels mounted on an axle e on
which is supported a front seat c and means for steering the front wheels substan-
tially as described.
2. In converting a tricycle into a quadricycle removing the front wheel from the
steering fork and utilising the same fork to operate two front steering wheels sub-
stantially as described.
3. In u convertible vehicle a
fore-carriage comprising two longitudinal
members a b, a b, carrying a seat c provided with a lug d, also two front

page_text: steering wheels 1 provided with steering mechanism h, i, l, k, substantially as
described.
4. A convertible vehicle substantially as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of Act 19OR
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.