Year: 1886

page_text: I, FREDERICK WHITE, inventor, of Westborough, County of Worcester, State of
Massachusetts, United States 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:-
My invention relating to tricycles has for one of its objects to provide convenient
and effectual mechanism for varying and adjusting the relation between the power
and resistance while the vehicle is in motion so that the power may be applied
advantageously for propelling up grades or over soft or rough roads, or for producing
a great speed when the road is favorable.
The invention consists in various details of construction hereinafter described.
Fig. 1 is a vertical section in line x-x, Fig. 2 of a tricycle embodying this
invention.
Fig. 2 a plan view thereof.
Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive, details of the mechanism for transmitting the power from -
the actuating levers or treadles to the driving wheels.
Fig. 7 a side elevation of one of the actuating levers or treadles.
Fig. 8 a plan view partly in section of a portion of the frame work and
actuating levers. showing the pivots of the latter.
Figs. 9, 10, 11 details of the devices for varying the relative lengths of the arms
of the actuating levers or the point of application of the load or resistance on the
said levers.
Figs. 12, 13 details of the brake or retarding apparatus and
Figs. 14 and 15 details of a portion of the frame work on a larger scale.
The main frame A, supported on the shaft a, see Figs. 3 to 6, of the main or.
driving wheels B, is provided with a forward extension or branch A¹, resting on a
fork for the steering wheel D, and a rearward extension A² connected by
braces A³ with the main frame work, the said rearward extension A² also having a
cross-piece A* forming a support for the actuating levers E provided with suitable
foot pieces or pedals, E¹.
The rearward part A2 of the frame-work has a roller A³ to prevent the tricycle
from tipping over backward.
.
The main frame work A has secured to it the saddle support F vertically
adjustable in order to place the saddle F' at the proper distance above the foot,
pieces or pedals E¹ to suit the rider.
"
i

page_text: The fork C of the steering wheel D is provided with an arm C', connected by a
rod C², with a rack C³, engaged by a pinion C, fixed on a shaft C provided with
a handle C6 by which it may be rotated to turn the steering-wheel D in either
direction these parts constituting the steering apparatus, and not differing materially
from that found in Tricycles now in use.
The upper bearing for the shaft C³ is on an arm or bracket H, which also serves
as a support for a lantern H¹.
The actuating pedal levers E have pivotal bearing portions e working on bearing
pins or arms as shown in dotted lines Fig. 8 extending from the portion A* of the
frame work, and constituting the fulcra of the said levers. The bearing portions e
of the pedals are made conical at their ends as shown, and enter correspondingly
tapered sockets in hubs or bosses e10, e12 on the arms x, the said bosses e10 €¹ being
adjustable and held in proper engagement with the bearing portions e by nuts c¹³, e¹4
between which the brace pieces As of the frame work are also secured.
By the proper adjustment of the bosses the pedals will have a suitable bearing
without looseness, the bosses being moved up from time to time as the bearing
surfaces wear away.
The portion E of the treadle lever near the fulcrum e, which portion may be
called the weight or resistance arm of the levers is curved at its under side as
shown in Figs. 1 and 7, to form a seat or support of an attaching device c³,
connected with a flexible band, strap or chain e* by which the power is transmitted
to the axle a and driving wheels B as hereinafter described.
The attaching device 3 shown in plan view in Fig. 9, in side elevation in
Fig. 10, and in vertical section on line ¹, al of Fig. 10 in Fig. 11, consists of two
plates which receive the pedal lever E between them, the said plates being connected
above the lever by bolts or screws e preferably provided with rollers or sheaves e**
which rest on the upper surface of the lever E.
The plates of the attaching device extend below the under surface of the lever E
as best shown in Figs. 10 & 11, the lower portion of the nearer plate being broken
away in Fig. 10, and the said plates have fastened between them at their lower
ends a piece e³, having its upper surface inclined in opposite directions towards
the middle thereof as shown in Fig. 10 & 11, thus forming two wedged shaped
spaces between the under surface of the lever E and the upper surface of the
inclined or wedge piece e³.
The said wedged shaped spaces contain rollers or balls the diameter of which
are greater than the narrowest end of the wedged shaped spaces but less than the
wider portion of the said spaces. A spring e tends to force both the rollers into
the narrower portion of the spaces as best shown in Fig. 10 thus locking the
attaching device e³ and preventing it from sliding on the lever E, as any tendency
to move in either direction will wedge the locking device or cylinder e more
tightly into the space on the side from which the movements or pressure takes
place.
The place at which the attaching device e³ is left on the lever E constitutes the
point of application of the resistance, and its distance from the pivoted end of the
lever determines the ratio of the lever arms, so that by moving or placing said
attaching device nearer the fulcrum e the mechanical advantage of the power
applied at the pedals E' is increased, and by moving the said attaching device away
from the said fulcrum, the mechanical advantage of the power applied at the
pedals is diminished but the amount of movement imparted to the chain e* relative
to the movement of the pedal E¹ is increased so that a greater speed is imparted to
the vehicle for the same movement of the pedals E' than when the attaching device
is nearer the fulcrum.
In order to enable the ratio of the lever arms at the point of application of the
resistance or load to be readily changed by the operater without stopping or
dismounting from the vehicle, so that the power may be employed advantageously
to produce higher speed, if the road be smooth and level, or greater propelling force

page_text: in case the road is difficult or up hill, means are provided for sliding the attaching
device along the levers E to any desired point.
It is necessary in order to thus slide the attaching devices on the levers that the
locking cylinder e on the side from which the movement takes place should be
pushed out from between the inclined surfaces or towards the middle of the
attaching device e³. The cylinder e is thus disengaged and the attaching device
subsequently moved on the lever in one or the other direction, by a shifting device
consisting of a slide piece d, working between guides d³, see Fig. 11 on one side of
the attaching device.
The said shifting device or slide d is provided with pins d' which pass through
openings in the flanges es at the ends of the wedge piece e in position to strike one
or the other of the cylinders e according as the said slide piece d is moved in one
or the other direction with relation to the attaching device.
pivoted an
The said slide piece d is provided with a stud d³ upon which
arm d provided with a projection d³, resting on the upper side of the lever E and
having a projection d extending toward the opposite lever E.
The projection d' on both levers E extend near enough to one another to enable
both to be engaged simultaneously by one foot of the operator, who, when it is
desired that the position of the point of attachement of the chain e* with the
actuating lever E should be varied, merely pushes the projections d³ in whichever
direction the point of attachment is to be moved.
For example, if an increase in speed is desired, the projection de will be moved
away from the fulcrum end e, of the lever or toward the pedals and in this
movement the slide & will first move a short distance on the attaching device e³ in
which movement the pin d² near the fulcrum end of the lever engages the adjacent
cylinder e moving it towards the middle of the attaching device, and thereby
releasing or unlocking the latter which will then move freely with the shifting
device d as far as the operator may desire, the cylinder e at the other end readily
relieving itself in this movement.
When the attaching device has been placed in a proper position and the foot
removed from the projection de, the spring e' will throw the locking cylinder e
into the tapering spaces, locking the attaching device and preventing any move-
ment thereof except when the shifting device is again operated, the said shifting
device in operating first unlocking and then moving the attaching device.
The levers E are curved as best shown in Fig. 7 for the greater portion of their
length so that the distance between the lever and the point of application of the
power at the other end of the chain e' is maintained substantially constant for all
positions of the attaching device e3 so that the relation of the levers E to the
saddle is not varied when the attaching device is shifted to vary the ratio of the
lever arms.
The shaft a upon which the driving wheels B are fixed, is divided at the middle,
as shown in Fig. 4, the two parts each having fixed thereon a pinion a¹ and a³, the
former meshing with a pinion as connected with a gear a, meshing with a gear a³,
provided with a pinion as that meshes with the pinion a² on the portion of the
shaft connected with the other driving wheel.
The gears at a and connected pinions a³, as have bearings in a box a rigidly
connected with the sleeve b, b¹ loose on the shaft a, and it will be seen that the
train of gearing described will transmit from the sleeve b, b¹ and box a7 an equal
movement in the same direction to both parts of the shaft a provided that both
parts offer an equal resistance to such movement as when the vehicle is progressing
in a straight line.
When however one of the driving wheels B moves more slowly than the other,.
as when the vehicle is turning around a curve the pinion a¹ or a connected with
the said driving wheel is also retarded and operates through the train of gearing to
drive the other pinion at a speed as much greater than that of the sleeve b, b' and
box a7 as the speed of the retarded pinion is less than that of the said box thus
し

page_text: enabling the two driving wheels B to turn independently or at different speeds
although the propelling power is applied to both of them.
The box a is made in two parts for convenience in putting together and forms a
rigid connection between the two parts of the sleeve b, b¹ which turns in the
bearings A of the frame A.
The sleeve b, b¹ has fixed upon it two hubs 62 each having around its periphery a
series of recesses 63 containing cylinders or rollers 6, the under faces of the said
recesses being slightly eccentric to the hub and the deepest portion of the recesses
being curved at the sides as shown to fit the cylinders when in the said deepest
portion.
The said hubs b have loose upon them rings or collars 6 secured between the
plates 6º which also turn freely on the hubs 62. The inner surface of the ring b³ is
adapted to turn smoothly on the outer portion of the periphery of the hubs and
when the motion of said rings with relation to the hub is towards the deepest
portion of the recesses b³ it will tend to carry the rollers b* into the said deepest
portion of the said recesses and the rings will turn freely on the hubs without
affecting the movement of the latter.
When however the movement of the rings is toward the shallow portion of the
recesses one or more of the rollers 6* will drop into the narrow portion of the
recesses and will become wedged between the inner surface of the rings and
the bottom of the recess thus locking the ring and hub together so that the hub
will be caused to accompany the ring in the movement of the latter derived from
the actuating lever E through the chain e. This device constitutes what may be
called a friction ratchet clutch, similar in its nature to what has been previously
employed to produce rotary movement in one direction from an oscillating or to
and fro rotary movement.
It has been found in practice that when the hub 62 is solid between their
recesses 63, the cylinders 6 are likely to be retained in the deeper portion of the
recesses by the suction or adhesion derived from the oil and consequently fail to
operate to lock the hub and ring together.
This defect has been obviated in the present invention by grooving the entire
periphery of the hub 6 as shown at 67, Fig. 4, said grooves together with the
recesses b³, thus forming a channel which permits free circulation of oil around the
rotating hub thereby preventing the oil from accumulating in the deeper portion
of the recesses.
The ring 65 is provided with sprocket projections 6' which receive the links of
the drive chain. One of the ratchet friction clutches is shown in longitudinal
section in Fig. 4, and the other in elevation.
Each pedal lever is raised or retracted alternately and the corresponding ring b
moved backward into position to make a new propelling stroke, by means of the
chain e of the opposite lever. Each of the said chains e' after passing over the
ring 6 winds around an intermediate pulley c¹ fixed on a shaft c³, there being two
of the intermediate pulleys c¹ one corresponding to each pedal, and the chain e
from one of the said levers passes over the upper side of the corresponding pulley,
while the other chain passes over the underside of its pulley thus rotating the other
pulley in the direction to wind up the chain and raise the other pedal lever, so
that the two pedal levers are caused to move alternately in opposite directions.
The brake mechanism best shown in Figs. 12 & 13 consists essentially of a
friction wheel h fixed upon the sleeve b¹, and having wound about its periphery
a strap the ends of which are connected with a straining device h³ pivoted at 4
and provided with an arm h* forked to embrace a shaft he provided with a notched
shank, and a handle h³, the said arm h* being engaged by a shoulder h³ and a
collar or projection ho on the said shaft.
The shank his cylindrical and when in the position shown in Figs. 12 & 13 the
notches are parallel with and receive a locking device h³ which prevents a long-
tudinal movement of the said shaft, but by a quarter rotation of the said shaft the
notched portion will be disengaged' from the said locking device to permit the

page_text: longitudinal movement of the shaft and by depressing the same the straining
device h³ will be caused to draw on both ends of the strap h³ increasing its pressure
against the periphery of the brake-wheel h and thus retarding the vehicle.
By turning the handle h³ back, the shaft may be engaged at any desired point
retaining the brake applied with any desired pressure withont further attention on
the part of the rider.
The bearings A are hinged upon swivel pieces A' see Figs. 14 & 15 which turn
or swivel in sockets A³ connected with the main frame-work A, thus accommodating
the slight movement or twist in the frame work without causing the bearings to
bind. The bearings A consist of two half rings hinged together at one side as
shown in Figure 14, and provided. with internal grooves to receive antifriction
balls.
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The half rings opposite the hinge are provided with lugs A, one of which has a
threaded opening which receives a bushing A10 which may be screwed into the said
opening a greater or less distance so as to engage the opposito lug and thus
determine the distance that the said lugs approach one another for the purpose of
adjusting the fit of the ring upon the axle or sleeve turning within it.
When properly adjusted the two parts of the ring are fastened together by a
bolt A passing through the bushing and the lugs, and it will be seen that the
bolt may be applied or removed for the purpose of closing or opening the bearing
without changing the adjustment of the bushing and consequent adjustment of the
bearing.
Some of the parts and devices hereinbefore referred to are applicable to bicycles
and other wheeled carriages adapted to be operated by power.
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. The driving wheels and divided shaft having one portion connected with
each wheel, and the pinions a¹ a² connected with two portions of the shaft, com-
bined with the intermediate gearing as, a, a, as between the said pinions, the box
enclosing the said pinions and gearing, having bearings for the said gears a³, a³,
and their connected pinions and actuating mechanism for the said box, substantially
as described.
Second. The main shaft, and hubs 62 carried thereby, each hub provided with an
annular groove around its periphery, the said groove being intersected by transverse
recesses and rollers placed in the said recesses, combined with rings surrounding the
said hubs and rollers, drive-chains or bands to engage and operate the said rings
and connected with the actuating levers E, the annular groove of each hub
affording space for the circulation of oil from one to the other of the said recesses
as the hub rotates, substantially as described.
Third. The main shaft and hubs 62 carried thereby each hub provided with an
annular groove around its periphery, the said groove being intersected by transverse
recesses the under faces of which are made eccentric to the axis of the hub, and
rollers placed in the said recesses, combined with rings surrounding the said hubs
and rollers, drive-chains or bands to engage and operate the said rings and con-
nected with the actuating levers E4, the annular groove of each hub affording space
for the circulation of oil from one to the other of the said recesses, as the hub
rotates, substantially as described.
Fourth. The levers and drive-chains actuated thereby, and the attaching device
and frictional locking device for holding it from movement on the said levers,
combined with a shifting device substantially as described coöperating with the
locking and attaching devices whereby the latter may be first released from engage-
inent and then shifted along the lever and be again locked in any position thereon
where it may be left, substantially as described."
Fifth. The brake or retarding mechanism consisting of a friction-wheel and
band, and straining device therefor, combined with the longitudinally movable

page_text: notched shaft engaging the said straining device, and the locking device for
engaging the notches of the said shaft, operated by the rotary movement thereof,
substantially as described.
Sixth. The actuating lever, and attaching device movable thereon, provided with
inclined surfaces, combined with the locking rollers and spring coöperating there-
with and the shifting device movable with relation to the said attaching device
and provided with projections to engage the said rollers, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Seventh. The levers and drive-chains actuated thereby, combined with the
independent rings engaged by the said chains and enclosing the hubs, and the
intermediate pulleys rigidly connected together, one of the said drive-chains being
wound upon the corresponding intermediate pulley in one direction, and the other
drive-chain wound on the other intermediate pulley in the opposite direction, each
chain acting through the intermediate pulleys as a retractor for the other chain
substantially as described.