Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 15th Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
ALLAN HENDERSON LESSELLS 18 Balmoral Road New Brighton, Cheshire Steward
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Fig. (1) side elevation of a front steering trycicle minus one of the steering wheels,
B backbon made of piping to join A underneath the crank axle C. B(1) backbone
at an angle of forty-five degrees, D same carried upwards to strengthen & support the
steering rod E, this rod is secured to D by clamps F to form sockets for E. At the
lower end of E is a cogwheel E(1) the teeth bevelled so that it can turn in conjunction
with another at a different angle. G spindle attached at the top end is a cogwheel
the same as & to turn in conjunction with E(1) down the side of G is grooved, to be
hereinafter fully described. H(1) & H 2 are collars forming bearings for the axle S
& stays J, if S was attached to H(1) & the stays J to H(2), the dotted circle would
illustrate the size of wheels that could be attached if desired. Q is a prong attached
to an ordinary lever, & fixes into a slot in D to steady the machine when mounting
or dismounting. A fork split joins backbone underneath the crank axle C. A(1)
and A 2 are the prongs. A(3) is a square rod or neck secured to A(1) & A(2), this
rod is so curved that it would form part of a circle if the crank axle C was the centre,
the double dotted line illustrates the curve of same. A4 is a collar forming the
bearings for the axle of driving wheel encircled around A 3, between A(1) & A 4 is
a spring, the object of this spring is to resist the jerk or vibration after the wheel has
passed over an obstacle, & the certain curve in A(3) keeps the same strain on the
chain of driving wheel no matter how high A 4 is pressed up.
Fig. (2) half front elevation of a front steering trycicle with my invention
applied.
the same.
Fig. (3) front elevation of a front steering trycicle illustrating the cant or angle
of machine when turning. G spindle. K to strengthen the backstay L. J stays,
secured to the axle & attached to the collar H(1), forming a triangle, by so doing it
equalizes the strain between the springs & keeps the axle horizontal & strengthens
The springs around G give the machine an elastic movement & still
retaining the rigidity of frame. M semicular rod attached to the sides of D and
encircled by a spring on each side. Pa crossbar secured in the centre to the
steering rod E, at either end of P is an aperture large enough to encircle M when
the steering rod is turned, the springs press the bar out to the end of M & in so
doing it keeps the machine upright (illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3).
20th Fahnuary 1990
ALLAN H. LESSELLS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
ALLAN HENDERSON LESSELLS 18 Balmoral Road New Brighton Cheshire Steward.
I 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 :-
And has for its object to provide a simple durable and effective device for steering
or guiding the macbine; and a further object of the invention is to provide a guard
for the rear of the driving wheel, which will maintain the same distance from the
periphery of the wheel, whether the said wheel be elevated by an obstruction, or,
whether the wheel be travelling upon smooth ground.
A further object of the invention is to provide a means whereby when two small

page_text: forward wheels are employed, both of the wheels may be made to constitute steering
wheels. The invention consist in the novel construction of the several parts, as will
be hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the drawings filed with my Provisional Specification in
which similar figures & letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all
the views.
Figure 1,.side elevation of a front steering tricycle having my improvements
applied.
Figure 2, half front elevation of the steering or guiding wheels.
Figure 3, front elevation of a front steering tricycle, illustrating the cant or angle
of machine when turning, with my improvements applied.
The backbone B, is preferably made tubular, and comprises a horizontal member,
& provided at its extremity with a fork A, & an upwardly and forwardly inclined
member B(1), integral with the horizontal member B, & an upwardly & rearwardly
extending member D, integral with the forwardly extending member B(1). Near
the junction of the member B, with the fork A, an upwardly curved member is
provided in the ordinary way for the rider. The pedal shaft is secured to the axle C,
each member of the fork A, at its rear extremity, are two spaced horns A(1) & A(2)
one being located directly over the other.
The driving wheel is mounted upon an axle to turn in the bearing blocks A(4).
The blocks being supported upon the lower horns A(2), of the fork A. Over the
driving wheel is a splash guard or fender, which is directly connected with the
bearing blocks A(4). The stays P P, between the horns A(1) and A(2) are curved,
the centre of the circle being the crank axle C, and around the curved portion of the
stays PP of the splash guard, are springs coiled. The bearing blocks A(4), as
heretofore stated rest upon the lower horn A(2), and are held in position by
bars A(3), are preferably rectangular in cross section and are secured in their
extremities to the horns A(1) and A(2). The rods or bars A(3), pass downwards
through suitable apertures or openings in the bearing blocks A(4), as is best shown
in Figure (1), the said bearing blocks being capable of movement on the said rods.
Springs are coiled around the rods A(3), one end of the springs resting upon the
bearing blocks, while the opposite end of the said springs bas a bearing against the
upper horns A(1). By means of this construction the splash guard is always held
at t'e same distance above the periphery of the driving wheel, no matter whether the
wheel be passing over an obstacle, or travelling upon level ground, as in the event
the wheel passes over an obstruction, the bearing blocks in which the axle of the
driving wheel is journaled rises upward guided by the bars A(3), and in rising
upwards, the bearing blocks compresses hoth the springs.
The bearing blocks A(4) in rising upwards carry with them the stays P P, supporting
the splash guard, and it is evident that the guard will be elevated the same distance
as the wheel over which it is placed. The springs serve to force the bearing blocks
downward to their normal position as soon as the obstruction is passed.
In the form of tricycle illustrated two small forward steering wheels are employed,
both of which are mounted loosely upon one axle, the centre of the axle is secured
to a block B(2), which is provided with a circular opening, the inner wall of which
opening has formed a rib or tongue.
A spindle, G is to pass through the opening of the axle block B(2), which spindle
is parallel with the member B(1) of the backbone, (as best illustrated in Figure (1))
the said spindle being held to turn in hangers or brackets, preferably three in
number, secured to, and projecting downward from the inclined member B(1) of the
backbone. The spindle & has a longitudinal groove produced therein, in which the
rib or tongue of the bearing block B(2) is adapted. Between the upper haugers &
the intermediate hanger, a second block H(1) of like construction to the lower
block B(2), is located through the apertures of said blocks the spindle G also extends.
This upper block is connected to the axle by means of brace rods J. Between each
block and banger are springs coiled around the spindle G. The axle is usually
braced by means of stays L, attached near the ends of the axle, which stays are

page_text: secured to the forward extending bar K secured to the lower block; but if desired
the stays L may consist of a single piece of metal passed through an eye in the
projecting bar K, as shown in Figures (2) and (3). The upper end of the spindle G,
has rigidly attached thereto a mitre gear. Parallel with and in front of the frame D,
steering shaft E is located, the said shaft being journaled in suitable brackets or
hangers F & F attached to the frame D. (illustrated in Figure (1)).
The steering shaft E is provided with a handle within convenient reach of the
seat, and at the lower end of the shaft E has rigidly secured thereto a bevel
gear E(1), which connects with the bevel gear of the spindle G, any improved kind
of brake can be connected with the shaft, & at the foot of the lever is a tongue
attached to Q for the purpose of locking the machine in a slot in the frame D, when
mounting or dismounting.
The steering shaft is provided with a regulator immediately above the hanger F(2),
which consist of a semicular rod secured to the sides of the frame D, and when
so secured, the ends of the semicular rod M extends forward. Upon the shaft E,
a horizontal, or slightly curved bar is centrally attached, which bar is provided at
its ends with eyes or openings adapted to receive the extremities of the semicular
rod, and encircled around M on either side, are springs, whereby when the forward
steering wheels are in position to carry the machine straight ahead, the bar at the
ends of the semicular rod M, that is bearing equally against each spring.
When however the shaft is manipulated to turn the steering wheels to the right
or left, one or the other of the springs will be compressed, (as is shown in Figure 3)
and the moment that the shaft E is released by the rider, the compressed spring
will act to restore the shaft to its normal position, and thereby bringing the steering
wheels into position to carry the machine straight ahead.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the combination, with a forward shaft and two
steering wheels, journaled upon said shaft of an apertured block provided with a
feather, attached to the axle, a shaft passing through the aperture of the block &
grooved to receive the feather, and a second shaft having a gear connection with the
axle shaft, substantially as shown and described.
2. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the combination, with two steering wheels
mounted to turn upon one axle, the said axle being provided with a block having an
aperture & feather, and a second block held above the axle block, also, provided
with an aperture and feather, of a shaft or spindle passing through the two blocks
provided with a longitudinal groove to receive the feather thereof, and having a
mitre gear secured to its forward end, a steering shaft provided with a handle at its
upper end & a mitre gear at its lower end, as for the purpose specified.
3. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the combination with two steering wheels
mounted to turn upon one axle, a block secured to the axle at its centre, provided
with an opening & a feather or tongue, upon the wall of the opening, a second or
upper block, connected with the axle block & constructed in like manner, a shaft
passing through the blocks having a groove produced therein to receive the feathers,
& springs encircled around the shaft, of a steering shaft provided with a handle at
its upper end and a gear at its lower end, connected with the gear upon the axle
shaft, & a spring actuated regulator connected with the steering shaft as for the
purpose specified.
4. In a tricycle or similar vehicle, the combination with the backbone thereof, a
fork attached to the backbone provided with vertical and rearwardly-extending horns
integral with each member, bearing blocks located upon the lower horns, & curved
bars or rods connected with the horns, one at each side, passed through apertures
in bearing blocks and surrounded by a spring, of a drive wheel held to revolve in
the said blocks, a guard or fender supported above the drive wheel, side arms
projecting inwardly from the guard and attached to the bearing blocks, central arms

page_text: projecting from the guard through the upper horns of the fork, to a connection
with the same blocks, the said central arms being curved between the fork & the
bearing block, concentric with the curved bars, and springs surrounding the curve.i
portion of the central arm, between the bearing blocks & horns of the fork, as for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 19th dov of October 1890