IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND SIMILAR VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, WILLIAM BRITAIN Junior of Nugent House Lambton Rd Hornsey Rise
in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND SIMILAR
VEHICLES to be as follows:-
An improved method of constructing the frame and guiding wheel of a tricyclo
or similar vehicle so as to dispense with the usual fork and head, and so increase
the rigidity of the frame of the machine.
To accomplish this I make the usual head or centers inside the hub of the
guiding wheel in the following way :-
I make the hub of the guiding wheel rather larger than usual and cause it to
run upon a tube, which I make to oscillate horizontally (by means of centers or
other suitable arrangements) upon a rod which passes through it; and the rod
I secure to the frame of the machine.
I have an arm projecting from the tube and connected with the guiding handle
in the usual way, by which the wheel can be guided at will.
Ball or other friction reducing bearings may be advantageously introduced
between the tube and the hub.

page_text: I
I, WILLIAM BRITAIN Junior of Nugent House Lambton Road Hornsey Rise,
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE STEERING MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND SIMILAR VEHICLES and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
An improved method of constructing the guiding wheel and frame of a tricycle
or similar vehicle so as to dispense with the usual head and fork, and so increase
the rigidity of the machine.
s'
1
To accomplish this I make the guiding head or centres inside the hub of the
guiding wheel in the following way :-
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17
I make the hub of the guiding wheel rather larger than usual and cause it to
run upon a tube, which I make to oscilate horizontally by means of: centres or
other suitable arrangement; upon a rod which passes through it; and the rod I
secure to the frame of the machine.
"
"
I make an arm projecting from the tube and connect it, with the guiding handle
in the usual way, so that the wheel can be guided at will. Ball, or other easily
working bearings may be advantageously introduced between the tube and the
Hub, S.
"
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DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a sectional 'elevation,
Fig. 2 is an end elevation and
Fig. 3 is a plan.
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The letters refer to the same parts in each.-a a are two flanges forming the hub
of the wheel to receive the spokes, and are held togather by the rods blb (In this
case three rods are shown, but more, or less may be used at will, or their place
may be taken by a ring all round with holes in it to get at the scrows h h.) The
flanges (a a) bear upon the tube d through the balls c c. (Rollers, or friction
wheels may be used instead of balls when desirable.) e e are adjustable eaps to allow
for wear. f is the rod forming part of the frame, with the centres g g upon it.
hh are caps screwed into the tube d to hold the centres, and ii are lock-nuts.
(Any other kind of fulcrum that is sufficiently rigid may be used in place of centres
.if desired; and the rod f need not be continued right through if it can only join
the frame of the machine on one side.). k is the arm projecting from the tube d
to receive the guiding rod.

page_text: 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
The steering head or centres of a tricycle or similar vehicle inside the hub of the
steering wheel, substantially as described.