Rowing Tricycles," and Velocipedes.
Year: 1887

page_text: Rowing Tricycles," and Velocipedes.
I DANIEL EDGAR KEMPSTER, a resident of Boston, County of Suffolk, and State of
Massachusetts, in the United States of America, Inventor 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 improvements in the Rowing Vehicles or Tricycles the
subject matter of Letters Patent of the United States of America granted Daniel
Edgar Kempster September 16th 1884 No. 305,198, and September 13th 1887
No. 369,860 and also of the class of velocipedes the subject of Letters Patent granted
to Jolin Ferguson Haskins dated August 4 1886 No. 9995.
The particular features in which my invention consists, are herein fully described
and specially pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate
corresponding parts wherever they occur, Figure 1 is a side elevation, with one
wheel removed Figure 2, a detailed plan of the sliding seat; Figure 3, a detailed
side elevation of the same; Figure 4, a front elevation of forward part of machine;
Figure 5, a rear elevation of back of machine; Figure 6, a detailed elevation of the
steering-head, seen from the rear of the machine; Figure 7, a longitudinal section of
the same; Figure 8, a cross section of the same on the line A-B in Figure 6;
Figure 9, a cross section of the same, on the line C-D in Figure 6.
Reference being had to the drawings, the frame or body of the machine is composed
of the U-shaped axle or portion a, the side bars or portions, a', a', the front cross-bar, a",
and the rearwardly extending and upwardly curved arms, a, a, as in the specifica-
tion of Letters Patent before referred to, excepting that I make the arms a, in the
form of a spring as shown in Figure 1; the object of this is to provide means for
[Price 817

page_text: automatically taking up the slack of the cord, as will be referred to again hereafter;
in order to permit the said arms to be made flexible so as to spring, I connect the
rods, to the U-shaped frame, and use them simply to brace and strengthen the
frame of the machine, as I find it expedient to dispense with the sliding pulling
handles formerly used thereon, and I simply connect the endless flexible connections
or cords n, n, to the stirrup-shaped pulling-handles t, t; said handles are so made as
to permit the cords to be quickly removed therefrom, when desirable to disconnect the
machine and remove the cords from their guide pulleys k, k, k', k', as for transporta-
tion; the front part of said handles are sloited at 0, 0, so as to admit of said cords
passing in to the centre of the handle; the inner side of the slots t¹, are countersunk
or tapered so as to form a cavity for the reception of an enlargement or knot on the
end of the cord, and which is designed to be drawn within said handle and thus
securely but detachably connect the cord and handle together, as seen in Figure 1.
I effectually prevent the cords n, n, from slipping on the clutch-wheels 0:0 by
winding said cords several times around said wheels, and then rigidly securing a
coil or part of said cord (which would not unwrap from its wheel in its oscilla-
tions, by a full stroke of the pulling-handles t,) to its wheel o thus making a
positive motion; I also form spiral grooves in the faces of the wheels for the
purpose of seats or grooves for the cords to wind and unwind in, said spiral
grooves keeping the coils of the cord separated and preventing any chafing or
abrasion of the same.
By having the pulling handles tt, free and independent from the parallel rods 11,
(instead of sliding thereon as formerly) I am able to greatly increase the speed
of the machine, as a large percentage of friction is entirely dispensed with, and the
power heretofore exerted to overcomo said friction, is now effectively used to propel
the tricycle.
Furthermore by having the pulling-handles free to move laterally at the centre
part of the stroke, (by reason of their not being connected to the parallel bars 1, 1,
and also by reason of the spring of the arms aa, thereby permitting the cords nn,
to slack so as to draw at an angle, instead of confined to a straight line,) the
operation of rowing is more closely imitated, and I am able to obtain a more
natural stroke, as the action and form is similar to that when handling the "sculls"
in the ordinary racing "shell" upon the water; and also, the above construction is
found to greatly lessen the cost of manufacture of the machines, decrease their
weight, and enhance their general appearance and value.
By referring to Figures 1, 4, and 5, it will be seen that the guide pulleys kkkk, are
all pivotally attached on their respective supports, at an angle, (say of about 45 degrees)
this I find to be a simple and inexpensive mode of preventing the cords nn, from
being thrown off their guide pulleys by the positions of the hands at any part of the
stroke, and in connection with the guide fingers or pieces, attached on the
frame of the machine near said pulleys, which hold said cords within the groove of
the same, and the spring arms a q, for taking up all slack of said cords, it is found
to be thoroughly effectual.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, it will be seen that the sliding seat u, and its parallel
bars, are hung and supported upon coiled springs a, two of which are under the
rear ends of each bar and one each under the forward ends of the same. Said
springs are suitably attached by screws to the bars vv, and suspended on hooks a¹ on
the frame of the machine, as seen in Figure 3, thereby forming an elastic or spring
sliding-seat and thus preventing any unpleasant feeling from the jar and vibration of
the same in riding over rough ground; the parallel bars, are connected by the
cross piece e', and thereby held in a position parallel to each other, so that the seat u,
will freely reciprocate thereon.
The foot-bar p, extending across the front of the machine is formed integral with
the side frames or portions a¹ a', thereby adding very much to the strength and
rigidity of the whole frame. On said foot-bar are the sandals qq, hung so as to
swivel thereon in the usual manner, and provided with the ordinary straps for securing
the feet. On the toes of said sandals are loosely attached solid connecting rods r r;

page_text: said rods are made with hooked ends, adapted to hook into eyes on the toes of the
sandals, and their opposite ends pivoted to the arms ff, on the fork f, and thus by a
slight pressure of the toe of either foot the fork f, is caused to swivel and turn the
wheel e, and steer the tricycle in the desired direction, in the usual manner.
::
As will be seen by referring to Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9 I have provided a neat and
efficient fly to centre," or device for throwing the steering wheel into a central
position; this is accomplished by providing a close wound spiral spring y, which
encircles the socket head g, on the cross-bar all; the steering-fork, has a stem or
spindle, which extends upward through the said socket head g, and has pinned or
made fast thereon, a collar, which prevents said fork-spindle from dropping out of
its bearing or socket g; said socked-head has an opening or slot g', therein, near the
cross-bar asee Figures 6 and 8,-a pin 2, firmly secured in the spindle, extends
through said slot and forms a stop to limit the extent of which the fork f, may be
swivelled, either to the right or left, by coming in contact with either end of the said
slot, and furthermore, the end of the pin 2, which extends out beyond the socket g,
forms a means of connecting the lower end of the spiral spring y, and the fork
spindle, together, so that when the fork, is swivelled or turned in one direction,
said pin 2, will engage the end or shoulder y, on the spring y, and, (the upper end of said
spring being held from swivelling around on the head g, by means hereafter described),
will spring or expand the coils of the same; upon releasing the fork, the contraction
of the expanded coils back into their normal position, will throw said fork into a
central position, with the extreme lower end of said spring engaging a stop pin 3, on
the cross-bar a; when the fork is swivelled or turned in the reverse direction, the
pin 2, being fast therein, moves likewise, until it engages the end of the slot gl, the
lower coil of the spring being cut away to form a cavity yl, to clear said pin in its
movement; a pin 4, firmly secured in the fork-spindle-collar f, engages the upper
end of the spiral spring y, and, (the lower end of said spring being held from
swivelling around on the head g, by being in contact with the stop pin 3, before
referred to.) will expand the coils of the spring, which, upon releasing the fork, will
throw the latter into its normal or central position, with the lower part of the extreme
upper end of the spring engaging a stop pin 5, on the head g.
It will be observed that when the fork is in its normal or central position, the
spring y, is also normal or released from strain, the ends thereof simply bearing
against the stop pins 3 and 5, and the pins 2 and 4, are in position against the opposite
ends of said spring, to move and compress or expand the latter, upon swivelling the
fork feither to the right or left.
The spring y, is made of flat wire, so as to give a smooth and even surface, although
any other kind may be used if preferred; and also, said spring may be so constructed,
and the pins arranged with relation thereto, that the coils of the spring will be con-
tracted, instead of expanded-by the movement of the fork to the right or left.
The wheels b, b, e, I prefer to construct of wood, as I find a much cheaper, lighter,
and stronger wheel can be produced, than when made of metal, as heretofore with
this class of invention; the clutches c, on said wheels are the same as shewn and
described in Letters Patent 9995, and their operation is identical, therefore I have not
shewn or described them in detail.
All the parts shewn in the drawings, which are not lettered thereon, and fully
described herein, form no part of my present invention, and may be found properly
set forth and described in one or other of the Patents referred to in the first part of
this specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
In a Road Sculler, rowing-tricycle, or vehicle of the velocipede class herein set
forth,
1. The rearwardly-extending and upwardly-curved arms a, a, constructed so as
o spring substantiall

page_text: 2. The pivoted guide pulleys k, k, k¹, k¹, and the cords n, n, thercon in combina-
tion with the guide fingers, 2, 2, 3, arranged substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. The endless cords n, n, the pulling handles t, t, and the guide pulleys k, k, k', k',
pivoted on the frame of the machine, so as to revolve at an angle, combined and
operating substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The stirrup-shaped handle t, having the countersunk or tapering slot t, in
combination with the flexible connection or cord n, having an enlargement or knot
thereon, constructed and arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a rowing tricycle or vehicle, in combination, the machine frame, its supporting
wheels, the flexible connections or cords, their guide-pulleys, the stirrup-shaped and
independent pulling-handles, and automatic clutches operated thereby, all substantially
as described.
6. The combination with the sliding or reciprocating seat and its parallel bars or
support, of elastic springs, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
7. In a rowing tricycle or vehicle, in combination, the frame of the machine, the
parallel bars v, v, the coiled springs a, connecting said bars and frame substantially
as described, and the seat u, adapted to reciprocate, and be elastically supported, as
and for the purpose set forth.
8. The frame composed of the parts a, a' a¹, a", a all, and having the foot-bar p,
made or formed integral therewith, substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. The steering-wheel fork, and its socket or bearing, in combination with a spiral
spring encircling said bearing, and stationary stops retaining said spring in a normal
position as described, and the stops connected with the fork and moving therewith,
adapted to engage the ends of said spring, and compress or expand it from one
end of the same, when said fork is swivelled in either direction from its normal position,
as set forth.
10. In combination, the frame cross-bar a", having the socket-head g, having the
slot, therein, and stationary stops 3 and 5, thereon, the movable fork f, having the
spindle, collar, and pins 2 and 4, thereon, and the close wound flat wire
spring y, having the shoulder y', and cavity y", all substantially as shown and described
and for the purpose set forth.
11. The arrangement of divided cords connected to clutch wheels to rotate the same
without stopping in combination with wheels and and spring arms a¹, operating
in manner as set forth.
12. The general construction, arrangement and combination of parts substantially
as herein set forth.
DREAM 01:1 ovce of Nu LSSS