AN IMPROVED TRICYCLE
Year: 1884

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I ARTHUR CHARLES PHILLPOTTS of Carshalton; in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVED
TRICYCLE" to be as follows:-
I take a balance geared axle fitted with two driving wheels; and mount centrally
thereon a chain wheel: I fit suitable bearings on the axle on eäcti side of the
chain wheel, and connect thereto a tube which runs both upwards and downwards;
upwards and curved backwards to carry the spring and saddle, and downwards to'
carry a bracket on which are mounted suitable bearings carrying a pedal axle
fitted with a chain wheel and cranks of the usual kind. An endless chain connects
the chain wheel on the driving axle with that on the pedal axle. The tube after
carrying the pedal axle bracket is extended backwards horizontally, and terminates
with a joint to which is attached a horizontal fork carrying the rear steering
wheel. Connected to this horizontal fork either directly or indirectly by a rack
and pinion; or other suitable device, is a steering handle which runs vertically
forward, and terminates with a transverse handle bar immediately in front of the
rider's seat, the handle bar running through suitable bearings on the tube forming.
the frame of the machine.
It will be seen that a machine constructed as hereinbefore described can be made
exceptionally light in weight, as the frame consists of but one piece of tube.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71, & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I ARTHUR CHARLES PHILLPOTTS of Carshalton in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention for "AN IMPROVED
TRICYCLE," and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
I take a balance-geared axle fitted with two driving wheels and mount centrally
thereon a chain wheel. I fit suitable bearings on the axle on each side of the
chain wheel and connect thereto a tube which runs both upwards and downwards,
upward and curved backwards to carry the spring and saddle and downwards to
carry a bracket on which are mounted suitable bearings carrying a pedal axle
fitted with a chain wheel and cranks of the usual kind. An endless chain connects
the chain wheel on the driving axle with that on the pedal axle. The tube after
carrying the pedal axle bracket is extended backwards horizontally and terminates
with a joint to which is attached a horizontal fork carrying the rear steering wheel.
Connected to this horizontal fork either directly or indirectly by a rack and pinion
or other suitable device is a steering bar which runs vertically forwards and
terminates with a transverse handle bar .immediately in front of the rider's seat,
the steering bar running through suitable bearings on the tube forming the frame
of the machine,
In order that the construction of my tricycle may be fully understood I will
more particularly describe it with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which
similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Fig. 1. Sheet No. 1, is a side elevation, and Fig. 2. Sheet No. is a plan, of my
tricycle. Fig. 3 is a view showing an alternative method of construction.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 A designates the balance-geared driving axle carrying
the driving wheels B. B. C the tube forming the frame of the machine carrying
bearings c. c. to support the axle A. D the bracket carrying the pedal axle E.
Fthe horizontal fork carrying the rear wheel G. The end of the tube C is con-
nected to the horizontal fork F by a vertical joint, or as it is more commonly
designated a "head" so that the fork carrying the rear wheel may be turned with
respect to the main frame carrying the driving wheels for the purpose of steering
the machine. H designates the transverse handle bar mounted on the top of the
vertical rod J, running up through the frame in suitable bearings. A small lever j
fixed on the bottom of the rod J is connected by a rod K to a similar lever f
fixed to the horizontal fork F, a universal joint x being conveniently placed so
that the steering and connecting rods may work at varying angles.
The other parts of the machine not specially referred to are of the usual con-
struction and present no novel features.
Referring to Fig. 3 Sheet No. 3 of the accompanying drawings which illustrates
an alternative construction it will be seen that the joint between the main frame C
and the horizontal fork F' is constructed as near to the vertical part of the frame C
as possible so that the steering bar J can be connected to the horizontal fork F
through the medium of a pair of spur wheels y. Y.
It will be seen that in machines constructed as herein before described all three
wheels are steering wheels as all three are moved by the action of the transverse

page_text: handle bar owing to the vertical joint or "head" being placed between the two
front wheels and the rear one; and furthermore that as the pedal axle is mounted
on the part of the frame that carries the rider, the pressure exerted on the pedals
will not effect the steering of the machine and that the machine cannot therefore
be steered by the feet.
Instead of mounting the rear wheel in an ordinary fork placed horizontally with
the head outside the fork, the wheel may be mounted so as to pivot on its own
centre, either by mounting the wheel on a foru of ball and socket joint with a
fixed axle or by mounting the axle of the wheel in quadrant bearings or by any
other suitable device.
It will be seen that machines constructed as hereinbefore described can be made
of exceptionally light weight without sacrificing strength.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. A tricycle constructed arranged and operating as hereinbefore described
and shown.
Secondly. In a tricycle constructed with two driving wheels mounted on a
balance-geared axle, and a small steering wheel, the frame constructed, arranged,
and operating as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and shown by Figs. 1..
2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. Mounting the rear wheel of a tricycle whether a steering or a trailing
wheel in a horizontal fork, as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Fourthly. The frame of a tricycle consisting essentially of a bent tube carrying
the seat support, brackets for carrying the bearings of the driving wheel axle, and
also the pedal crank axle, and a vertical joint or head to which is connected a
horizontal fork for the small wheel all combined arranged and operating as and for
the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
Dated this 18th day of July 1885.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71, & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.