Improvements in Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
I, JOHN THOMAS MILSON HIRCOCK, of 34, Priestly Road, Sparkbrook, Birming-
ham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in tricycles and other velocipedes
by which I am enabled to dispense with the use of driving chains thereby
reducing the friction and also to easily and quickly decrease the width of the
frame so as to enable a three wheeled machine or the like to readily enter any
narrow place or passage.
In carrying my invention into practice I mount on the hub of the driving
wheel of the velocipede a wheel or disc provided on the periphery with a number
holes or cupped recesses at equal distances apart. I also mount a similar wheel
but preferably larger in diameter on the bottom bracket or driving crank axle.
I then mount an intermediate wheel or disc on any convenient part of the frame
between the wheel on the driving wheel hub and the wheel on the crank axle.
This intermediate wheel may be formed of two discs or with a double flange
around the periphery between which are mounted a number of balls to form the
teeth of the wheel which gear with or take into the holes or recesses in the
wheels on the hub and on the crank axle. These balls may be mounted between
the discs or flanges on separate spindle or spindles or projections may be formed
on the centre of each ball and revolve in holes in the dises or flanges. Or I may
form a number of cupped recesses or holes around the inner face of each dise
or flange for the balls to fit into so that when the discs or flanges are fixed
together the balls are free to revolve in any direction. Or I may form the wheel
on the hub and on the bottom bracket or crank axle with balls around their
periphery in a similar manner as previously described working in holes or
recesses formed on the periphery of the intermediate wheel. Fixed to one of the
wheel hubs is a ring or flange or dise around which a metal band fits pro-
vided with two three or more rubber balls or blocks on its inner surface. This
metal band is operated by cords and levers or their equivalents by the rider and
forms a brake to check the speed of the machine.
In order to decrease the width or close the wheels of a tricycle or the like
together I mount the two wheels which are parallel with one another and which
preferably form the steering wheel axle that is to say the axle is divided unto
two parts the one part being hollow into which the other part telescopes. I
then fix onto the hollow portion of the axle two brackets in which one end of a
screwed shaft works one bracket being tapped the other plain. The other end
of this screwed shaft works in another bracket fixed to the telescoping portion
of the axle and on this end of the screwed shaft I fix a wheel or the like. Jt
will thus be seen that when this screwed shaft is turned in one direction it will
draw or telescope the one portion of the axle into the other thus closing the
wheels together and when the handle is turned in the reverse direction the wheels
will be drawn apart. Instead of using an independant screwed shaft I may

page_text: screw that portion of the axle which fits into the hollow portion and tap the
hollow portion so that by turning a handle fixed to the end of the screwed axle
the wheels may be closed together or moved apart. It will be evident that the
application of a screw motion in conjunction with a telescopic axle may be varied
in many ways. In some cases I may mount the two wheels of the tricycle or the
like which are parallel with one another on separate axles each fixed to separate
arms or portions of the frame. The opposite ends of these arms or projecting
portions are pivoted to the rear portions of the frame. Also fixed to these arms
at or about their centres are two short grooved projecting pieces and in the
grooves of these projecting pieces two short stays or stouts are pivoted their
opposite ends being pivoted in a grooved cross piece mounted on a screwed
spindle supported in brackets fixed to or forming part of the central portion of
the frame. A wheel or handle or its equivalent is mounted preferably on the
front end of this screwed spindle so that when the spindle is revolved it causes
the grooved cross piece to travel up or down the spindle by which means the arms
or portions of the frame which carry or support the two wheels are caused to
either close together or move apart. If desired I may provide an additional
strut or stay for keeping the two wheels rigid when extended.
Batal this 50th day of Al 1900
JOHN THOMAS MILSON HIRCOCK.
By George Barker,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.
I, JOHN THOMAS MILSON HIRCOCK, of 34, Priestley Road, Sparkbrook, Birming-
ham, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
My invention has for its object improvements in tricycles and other velocipedes
by which I am enabled to easily and quickly decrease the width of the frame so
as to enable a three wheeled machine or the like to readily enter any narrow
place or passage.
In order to decrease the width or close the wheels of a tricycle or the like
together I mount the two wheels which are parallel with one another and which
preferably form the steering wheel on independant axles-that is to say the
axle is divided into two parts the one part being hollow into which the other
part telescopes. I then fix onto the hollow portion of the axle two brackets
in which one end of a screwed shaft works one bracket being tapped the other
plain. The other end of this screwed shaft works in another bracket fixed
to the telescoping portion of the axle and on this end of the screwed shaft I
fix a wheel or the like. It will thus be seen that when this screwed shaft is
tuned in one direction it will diaw or telescope one portion of the axle into the
other thus closing the wheels together and when the handle is turned in the
reverse direction the wheels will be drawn apart. Instead of using an inde-
pendant screwed shaft I may screw that portion of the axle which fits into the
hollow portion and tap the hollow portion so that by turning a handle fixed to the
end of the screwed axle the wheels may be closed together or moved apart. It
will be evident that the application of a screw motion in conjunction with a

page_text: telescopic axle may be varied in several ways. In some cases I may mount
the two wheels of the tricycle or the like which are parallel with one another on
separate axles each fixed to separate arms or portions of the frame.
The opposite
ends of these arms or projecting portions are pivoted to toggle arms or stays, and
pivoted to the opposite ends of these toggle arms or stays are cross pieces or
brackets mounted on a screwed spindle supported in the ball head or other con-
venient part of the frame. A wheel or handle or its equivalent is mounted prefer-
ably on the from end of this screwed spindle so that when the spindle is revolved it
causes the grooved cross piece to travel up or down the spindle by which means the
arms or portions of the frames which carry or support the two wheels are caused
to either close together or move apart. If desired I may provide an additional
strut or stay for keeping the two wheels rigid when extended.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto 3 sheets of drawings upon which
I have illustrated examples of my method of decreasing and increasing the width
of the tread of the wheels or frame of a tricycle or the like.
Figure 1 is a front elevation shewing the axle upon which the two front wheels
of a tricycle are mounted extended.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 shewing the axle contracted or closed.
Figure 3 is an enlarged part sectional view of the axle as shewn at Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of Figure taken on the line ab.
Figure 5 is a detached view of the centre lug.
Figure 6 is an enlarged view of a modified form of my method of decreasing or
increasing the width of the tread of the wheels.
Figure 7 is a side elevation shewing a portion of the frame of a tricycle with
further modifications of my improvements applied thereto.
Figure 8 is a front view of Figure 7.
Figure 9 is an enlarged front view of Figure 7 shewing the frame for carrying
the front wheels partially closed or contracted.
In carrying my invention into practice I form the axle upon the ends of which
the wheels aa are mounted hollow and in two parts be the inner ends being
tapped to receive the right and left hand screwed ends of the axle d. Mounted
on or about the centre of this axle is the gear wheel e which gears with the gear
wheel mounted on the bracket or lug g through which the axle d passes.
Fitting over the hollow axles b c are the sleeves or guides hi one of their ends
being fixed to the ends of the lug g and the other ends being provided with the
adjusting screwed collar j. These sleeves are provided with the pegs or pins k
which work in the slots formed in the hollow axles bc. The handle mis
attached to the gear wheel f. It will thus be seen that when this handle is turned
in one direction it will impart a revolving motion to the screwed axle & thereby
causing the hollow axles be to move outwards or expand and consequently
moving the wheels aa further apart into position ready for riding the machine
as shewn at Figure 1 but if the handle m is turned in the reverse direction it will
cause the hollow axles be to close or travel nearer together thereby bringing the
wheels a a closer together or contracting the length of the axle as shewn at
Figures 2 and 3 so as to enable the machine to readily enter any narrow place or
passage. The studs or pegs k which work in the slots prevent the axles be
from revolving when either expanding or contracting the axle. It will be
evident that the portions of the axles be upon which the wheels aa are mounted
may be made in one with these axles instead of being fixed thereto as shown.
0
At Figure 6 I have shewn a slight modification of my method of closing or
bringing the wheels of a tricycle together. In this case I also form the axle in
two parts no but the part is made to telescope into the part by means of the
screwed spindle pone end of which is mounted in the brackets fixed to the
part n the other end being mounted in the bracket r fixed to the part o. It will
thus be seen that when the wheel or handle s is turned in one direction
that the screw p will slide the part o into the part n thus bringing the wheels a a

page_text: closer together and reducing the length of the axle but when this wheel is turned
in the reverse direction the part o slides out of the part n into the position ready
for riding the machine as shewn at Figure 6. It will be evident that I may
dispense with the screwed spindle and brackets q and r and form a screw
thread on the part o and tap the part n with a corresponding thread to receive it
so that by turning the part o the wheels a a may be either brought together or
moved further apart as required.
In the method as shewn at Figures 7, 8, and 9, I connect the spindles of the
wheels a a to the brackets s¹s and pivoted to these brackets are the rods or
Fixed in a
stays tttt the other ends of which are pivoted to the brackets uv.
hole formed in the bracket u is the steering socket tube w which works in the
steering socket .r. The lower end of this steering socket tube w which passes
through the hole in the bracket is tapped to receive the screwed spindle y
which spindle passes through a hole formed in the bracket up into the steering
socket tube. The handle z is fixed to the lower end of this spindle and it will be
seen that by turning the spindle it will cause the bracket and steering socket
and steering socket tube to raise or lower thereby moving apart or bringing
together the wheels aa as clearly shewn at Figures 8 and 9.
It will be evident that the application of a screw motion for reducing the
width of the tread of the wheels of a velocipede may be varied in many ways.
my
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
CLAIMS.
First: The improvements in tricycles and other velocipedes of screw
mechanism for reducing the width of the tread of the wheels whether the screw
or screws be applied vertically horizontally or otherwise and substantially as
herein set forth and shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
Second Reducing the width of the tread of the wheels of a tricycle and other
velocipede by forming the axle hollow and in two parts be tapped to receive the
screwed spindle d working in a lug such as fixed in the outer sleeves or
guides hi and operated by gearing such as of in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein set forth and as shewn by Figures 1 to 5 inclusive.
Third: Reducing the width of the tread of the wheels of a tricycle and other
velocipede by forming the axle in two parts telescoping the one into the other
and operated by a screw such as p mounted in brackets such as q and r fixed to
the axle in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth
and as shewn by Figure 6.
:
Fourth Reducing the width of the tread of the wheels of a tricycle or other
velocipede by mounting the wheels upon brackets such as s¹¹ supported by
stays or rods such as fit the other ends of which are pivoted to brackets such
as in which are a screw such as y is mounted working in the steering socket
tube in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein set forth and as
shewn upon the drawings by Figures 7 8 and 9.
Dated this 14th day of September 1899.
JOHN THOMAS MILSON HIRCOCK.
By George Barker,
Fellow of Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
Agent for Applicant,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.