IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES PARTLY ALSO APPLICABLE TO SEATS FOR OTHER VEHICLES, AND FOR ORDINARY PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Wright of Droylsden in the County of Lancaster
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES
PARTLY ALSO APPLICABLE TO SEATS FOR OTHER VEHICLES, AND FOR ORDINARY
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Wright at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th June 1883.
WILLIAM WRIGHT of Droylsdon in the County of Lancaster
"IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES, PARTLY ALSO APPLICABLE TO SEATS FOR
OTHER VEHICLES AND FOR ORDINARY USE"
This invention relates chiefly to the construction of tricycles but it is also
equally applicable to other forms of velocipedes, the object being to improve the
construction of such machines both as to lightness and speed.
The improved tricycle is of that class in which the seat is mounted between two
large wheels, a small wheel being in a central position behind. The two front
wheels are fast on the axle which is divided into two parts at or near the middle,
the adjacent ends are provided with face clutches, which when the tricycle is going
straight forwards gear together. One of the face clutches is mounted so as to slide
on a feather on the axle or shaft so that when it is desired to turn a corner the
two driving wheels may be thrown independent of each other by sliding this
clutch out of gear by means of a convenient handle within easy reach of the rider.
A spring sends the clutch into gear again on releasing the said handle.
Upon each part of the axle is fixed a ratchet wheel close to which is mounted
loosely a lever carrying two spring pawls or catches, one of which drives the
ratchet wheel when the lever is depressed the other being ready in case of a slip.
The lever is drawn back by a spring and when in its highest position two
projections lift the spring catch out of gear so that they do not hinder the machine
from being wheeled backwards. The levers cannot revolve with the shaft as a
stop on the frame prevents them from having more than a certain traverse, in
practice the whole of this traverso will seldom be needed.
The levers may either be worked by handles or by stirrups hanging therefrom.

page_text: The frame is formed of flat metal so as to form a springing or yielding bearing
for the seat.
The frame carrying the hind wheel is made in a separate piece pivotted to
the tail end of the main frame so that it can readily follow the front wheels.
The seat is of wood covered with a cushion of peculiar construction; this cushion
is made of india rubber in the form of a box, in the central or hollowed part of
which are a number of vertical pillars (preferably conical) either solid or tubular as
desired, an india rubber cover or lid rests on the sides of the box and on the tops
of these pillars and being cemented or otherwise connected thereto completes the
cushion. It will be evident that this improved cushion is applicable to the seats of
other vehicles as well as to seats for ordinary use.
The break of the machine is constructed as follows.
An arm on either side of the frame stretches down in front of the wheel near to
the ground and on each arm is pivotted a break surface or spoon connected to a.
wire cord or chain within easy reach of the driver who can pull the breaks up
against the wheels and stop the revolution thereof or if not the breaks are drawn
down and touch the ground forming a sort of skid on both the wheel and the
ground thus obtaining a most powerful break.
In some cases the ratchet mechanism above described may be used in conjunction
with two very large parallel wheels without a hind wheel, the driver's seat being
hung below the axle, and in this case the levers may be worked by handles hanging
therefrom,

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said William Wright in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
24th December 1883.
WILLIAM WRIGHT of Droylsden in the County of Lancaster IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES PARTLY ALSO APPLICABLE TO SEATS FOR
OTHER VEHICLES AND FOR ORDINARY USE
This invention relates chiefly to the construction of tricycles but it is also
equally applicable to other forms of velocipedes, the object being to improve the
construction of such machines both as to lightness and speed.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the saine is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a sheet of drawings illustrative thereof and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in
the following explanation thereof-
Fig 1 in the annexed drawing is a vertical section representing the application
of my invention to the construction of a tricycle having a seat a, a mounted
between two side driving wheels b, b' and a trailing wheel c, c behind in a vertical
position, but it will be evident that the invention may also be adapted to front
steering tricycles or othor velocipedes.
Fig. 2. is a plan view of the wheels b, b' with their axle d, d' and driving gear.
The axle is divided into two parts d, and d' at or near the middle, the adjacent
ends being provided with face clutches e, e¹ which when the tricycle is going
forwards gear together as shown.
One of the face clutches c is mounted so as to slide on a feather on the axle or
shaft d, so that when it is desired to turn a corner the two driving wheels b
and b may be thrown independent of each other by sliding the clutch e out of
gear by means of a convenient handle within easy reach of the rider.
A strong spring fif sends the clutch e into gear again on releasing the said
handle and holds it in gear.
Upon each part of the axle is fixed a ratchet wheel g, g close to which is mounted
loosely a lever h, h carrying two spring pawls or catches i, i one of which drives
the ratchet wheel g, g when the lever h, his depressed, the other being ready in
caso of a slip or failure. The lever h, h when depressed may be drawn back by a
spring, or the two levers may be so connected together by a strap or otherwise that
as one is depressed it raises the other and vice versa.
When the lever h, h reaches its highest or most vertical position, two projections
or stops k, k raise the spring catches i, i out of gear with the teeth of the ratchet
wheels g,g so that they will not hinder the machine from being wheeled backwards
when required.
The levers h, h cannot revolve with the shaft as the stops k, k on the frame L,
prevent them from having more than a certain traverse and in practise the whole
of this traverse will seldom be needed.
The levers h, h may be worked either by treadles and links m, m (see Fig. 1.) or
by stirrups hanging therefrom or by handles or levers worked to and fro by the
hand:
The frame 1, is formed of flat metal so as to form a springing or yielding
bearing or support for the seat a, a. The portion of the frame carrying the hind
wheel may be made in a separate piece pivotted to the tail end of the main frame
(see Fig 1.) so that it can readily follow the front wheels,

page_text: The scat a, a is of wood covered with a cushion of peculiar construction; this
cushion is made of india rubber in the form of a box, in the central or hollowed
part of which are a number of vertical pillars a' a' also of india rubber (preferably
conical) either solid or tubular as desired; an india rubber cover or lid al, all rests
on the box, and on the tops of the pillars a¹, a' and being cemented or otherwise
fixed thereto completes the cushion. The machine must be fitted with a break and
steering gear which may be of any suitable construction. In some cases instead of
making the axle in two parts connected together by a face-clutch, and fixing one
wheel fast onto each part I modify the same as shown at Fig. 3. In this case
the axle d, d is made in one piece and each wheel b, b is mounted loosely thereon
and has fixed to the hub thereof a second ratchet wheel g', g' actuated by
catches carried by a plate keyed on the axle.
The axle is driven by the lever h, h and ratchet wheel q in the same way as in
the preceding case.
Having now described the nature and object of my said invention together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be formed or carried into
practical effect I wish it to be understood that I claim as my invention the
construction of velocipedes as herein before described and illustrated by the
drawings annexed, and Secondly I claim the construction of the elastic seats (as
described) for other vehicles and for ordinary use.
In witness whereof I the said William Wright have bereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty first day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
WWET TEAM WRIGHT