IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Isaac Thomas Townsend, of Coventry, in the County
of Warwick, Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturer, for an Invention of
'IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Isaac Thomas Townsend at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 1st December 1881.
ISAAC THOMAS TOWNSEND, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Bicycle
and Tricycle Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
The object of my Invention is certain improvements in tricycles for the accom-
modation of four riders, by which I am enabled to so distribute the weight and
arrange the various parts as to produce a strong machine, which presents
maximum advantages in mounting with the perfect combination of the force
applied by each rider, and the absence of any dead centres for the cranks.
My new machines are constructed with three main tubular back bones. The
two side back bones meet in junction with the centre one, which rises over the
steering wheel at the front of the machine and continues sufficiently to the back to
carry a safety wheel. Near the centre of the machine these back bones are
sufficiently elevated to just pass over the main shaft, and they are united into
one frame by a partly tubular bar crossing above the main shaft with a second
similar bar crossing nearer the front of the machines. The three back bones
turn down immediately in front of the second mentioned front bar to a
suitable elevation to receive the front treadle shaft, and the three back bones turn
down behind the back uniting bar to carry the back treadle shaft at a suitable
elevation for the back riders. The back ends of the back bones are again
practically united to the front ends by bars, which act as both struts and tension
rods. Now from the said back uniting bar I bring out two tubular backward
projecting arms ending in sockets for receiving the vertical adjustable elevating
rods for carrying the back saddles or seats, which enables the back riders to sit
across the bars, just as is the case in riding a bicycle, only in the former case there
is no projecting part behind the saddle, and thus with the use of the saddle the

page_text: back riders may run behind the machine and mount most easily at any time, which
forms one of the principal features of my new machines. A light cross bar is
provided at a sufficient elevation just in front of the two back riders with suitable
steadying handles. This bar is a good line of separation between the front and
back riders.
The main shaft is in two lengths, being divided at a middle under the centre
back bone, which carries a journal with double ball bearings, one set of balls being
for one end of the shaft, and the other set of balls for the other end of the shaft.
On each shaft by the side of the driving wheel is fixed a chain wheel, and there
is also a chain wheel on each end of both the front and back treadle shafts. Now
the chain is passed over the wheels on the driving shaft, and over the chain wheels
on each treadle shaft, thus enclosing each shaft in its circuit. By this means the
power applied by the various riders is transmitted very steadily and evenly to the
driving wheels.
The brakes are of the friction strap kind fitted to each wheel, the handles
projecting backwards for the two back riders.
I make another modification of this form with a top and bottom uniting cross
bar instead of two top uniting bars, and I bring from the bottom uniting bar a
bracket, which is also fastened to the centre back bone to carry the back riders,
but the advantage in mounting is not so great as in the former case, though the
outlines of the machine are neat.
It will thus be seen that by my Invention all the four riders are facing forwards,
and they all treadle forwards, and thus the bend of each rider, and the action of
each worker is in the same direction, and is most united. Indeed, united and
concentrated action is the object and effect of my Invention.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Isaac Thomas Townsend in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
31st May 1882.
ISAAC THOMAS TOWNSEND, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Bicycle and
Tricycle Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
The object of my Invention is certain improvements in tricycles for the
accommodation of four riders by which I am enabled so to distribute the weight
and arrange the various parts as to produce a strong machine which presents
maximum advantages in mounting with the perfect combination of the force
applied by each rider and the absence of any dead centres for the cranks.
My new machines are constructed with three main tubular back bones. The
two side back bones meet in junction with the centre one which rises over the
steering wheel at the front of the machine and continues sufficiently to the back to
carry a safety wheel.
Near the centre of the machine these back bones are sufficiently elevated to just
pass over the main shaft and they are united into one frame by a partly tubular
bar crossing above the main shaft with a second similar bar crossing nearer the
front of the machine.
The three back bones turn down immediately in front of the second mentioned
front bar to a suitable elevation to receive the front treadle shaft, and the three
back bones turn down behind the back uniting bar to carry the back treadle shaft
at a suitable elevation for the back riders. The back ends at the back bones are
again practically united to the front ends. by bars which act as both struts and
tension rods. Now from the said back uniting bar I bring out two tubular back-
ward projecting arms ending in sockets for receiving the vertical adjustable
elevating rods for carrying the back saddles or seats which enables the back
riders to sit across the bars just as is the case in riding a bicycle, only in the former
case there is no projecting part behind the saddle, and thus with the use of the
saddle the back riders may run behind the machine and mount most easily at any
time, which forms one of the principle features of my new machines.
A light cross bar is provided at a sufficient elevation just in front of the two
back riders with suitable steadying handles.
This bar is a good line of separation between the front and back riders.
Now
The main shaft is in two lengths, being divided at a middle under the centre
back bone which carries a journal with double ball bearings, one set of balls being
for one end of the shaft and the other set of balls for the other end of the shaft.
On each shaft by the side of the driving wheel is fixed a chain wheel, and there is
also a chain wheel on each end of both the front and back treadle abafts.
the chain is passed over the wheels on the driving shaft and over the chain wheels
on each treadle shaft, thus enclosing each shaft in its circuit; by this means the
power applied by the various riders is transmitted very steadily and evenly to the
driving wheels.
The brakes are of the friction strap kind fitted to each wheel, the handles
projecting backwards for the two back riders.
I make another modification of this form with a top and bottom uniting cross
bar instead of two top uniting bars, and I bring from the bottom uniting bar a
bracket which is also fastened to the centre back bone to carry the back riders,
but the advantage in mounting is not so great as in the former case though the
outlines of the machine are neat.
I will now explain my Invention by reference to the accompanying Sheets of
Drawings.

page_text: "
Figure 1 is a sido elevation of my 'four in hand with the left hand wheel H
removed so that the various parts may be more clearly seen.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same machine.
Figure 3 is a back elevation of the same machine but with the back protection or
safety wheel not shown.
Figure 4 is a side elevation diagram of another modification of the driving gear.
Figure 5 is a plan of the driving arrangements shown by Figure 4.
The framing of my machines consists of three inain back bones A, B, and C.
The two side back bones turn round at A¹ and C¹ meeting in junction with B
at B. The centre back bone B continues forward to B rising over and carrying
the steering wheel D. This centre back bone B also continues backward to B³
sufficiently to carry the safety wheel E. The three back bones A, B, and C are
united together near the centre of the machine by the cross bar F, F, immediately
over the main shafts G and G¹ which carries the two driving wheels H and J.
The back bones are further united by a second cross bar K, K, which is placed in
a convenient position for holding suitable sockets to carry the front seats M and N.
These sockets of course allow the seats to be raised or lowered to any desired
elevation to suit the various riders, and the seats are provided with suitable
springs of any desired pattern and they are therefore not shown.
the back bones turn down sufficiently to receive and carry the front crank shafts
P and P¹. The three back bones also turn down at the back sufficiently to
carry the back crank shafts R and R'. The back and front ends of the back bones
are again practically united by the rods S which act as both struts and tension
rods. The back riders sit on the two saddles T and T' which are carried by
suitable sockets attached or formed to the projecting arms U and U₁ which are
brought out from the back cross bar F. These saddles are adjustable and are fitted
with springs in any desired design to suit the taste of customers, therefore the
springs and little details are not shown in the Drawings.
All three of
The light cross bar V with the handles V, V, V³, and V, form a suitable
support for the hands of the back riders. The right hand rider sitting on saddle T¹
has his right hand convenient for the right hand brake handle W, while the left
hand rider sitting upon saddle T has his left hand ready for the brake handle W',
or they may be placed for the front riders.
In the three Figures 1, 2, and 3, the chain is shown passing round the outside
of the chain wheels coupling each side together. Thus the main shaft G, the front
treadle shaft P, and the back treadle shaft R are all connected together by the
chain X. The main shaft G', the front treadle shaft P', and the back treadle
shaft R' are also connected together by the chain X¹. Therefore the left riders
sitting on seat M and saddle T have control over the left side of the machine
while the right riders sitting on seat N and saddle T¹ have control over the right
side of the machine only because all three shafts are in two lengths and carried in
double bearings at the centre backbone B. The steering handle O can be reached
by either of the front riders. The front riders are also provided with steadying
handles I which rise from each of the three back bones. The frame is also steadied
and strengthened by the truss rods Z, Z.
Of course the arrangement of parts may be varied considerably without
departing from the principle and object of my Invention, which the following
examples will serve to illustrate-In Figures 4 and 5 there are two chains to each
side of the machine, viz., chain X transferring the power from the front riders,
and chain X from the back riders on to the double chain wheel Y, the shafts all
being in two parts just the same as before set forth. It will however be quite
evident that by making the treadle shaft in one piece that there would only
require one X³ chain to wheel H, and one X³ chain to wheel J with the driving
shaft still in two parts. Then again, by making the two treadle shafts in one
piece, and the adoption of any double driving gear arrangement to the main shaft,
such as that set forth in my Specification No. 1774, A.D. 1881, or bevelled gear
arrangement known as "Starleys," I can drive from one side only either by a

page_text: continuous chain, as shown by Figures 1, 2, and 3, or by two chains on one
side, as shown by Figures 4 and 5, or the driving may be in each case by cog
wheels or bands instead of chains.
It will thus be seen that by my Invention all the four riders are facing forwards
and they all treadle forwards, and thus the bend of each rider and the action of
each worker is in the same direction and is most united. Indeed, united and
concentrated action is the object and effect of my Invention.
Having now explained my Invention of improvements in tricycles and the
manner of carrying the same into practical effect, I would have it understood that
I claim,-
First. The frame A, B, C, F, K, and the two arms U and U' with modifications of
the same.
Second. The driving arrangements shown by Figures 1, 2, and 3, and herein set
forth, with modifications of the same.
Third. The driving arrangement, shown by Figures 4 and 5, on each side with
three divided shafts and four chains, substantially as herein set forth.
Fourth. The driving arrangement, as shown by Figures 5 and 6, and one side
only with united crank shafts back and front in combination with the double
driving gear to the main shaft, substantially as herein set forth.
Fifth. The driving arrangement herein explained, with united crank shafts
front and back with X chain on the left side to the front crank shaft, and X³ chain
on the right side to the back crank shaft with a divided main axle, or chains X³
and X3 may be placed vice versa.
Sixth. The improvements herein set forth and illustrated on the accompanying
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Isaac Thomas Townsend, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this 29th day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty two.
ISAAC THOMAS TOWNSEND. (L.S.)