IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Albert Phillips of Excelsior Works, Rea Street South,
Birmingham, in the county of Warwick, Manufacturer for an invention of
" IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES "
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert Phillips at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th May 1882.
ALBERT PHILLIPS of Excelsior Works, Rea Street South, Birmingham, in the
county of Warwick, Manufacturer " IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
"
This invention relates to the construction of a double driving velocipede or
tricycle which will drive back wards or forwards and with automatic disconnecting
gear for steering purposes. This is effected by means of an arrangement of cams
and levers connected with the steering handle by small bevelled cog wheels which
turn in either direction a steel rod passing through a tube across the body of the
machine and which rod carries the cams which act on perpendicular rods attached
by levers to interlocking grips, which transmit the driving power from the cranks
to the chain wheels. The turning of the steering handle acts on the perpendicular
rods on either side according to the direction of steering (whether right or left) and
frees the grip of the inner wheel which then runs freely on the axle and allows the
other wheel which then becomes the sole driving wheel to take the longer sweep
of the curve.
There is also a lever attached to the cross-rod which disconnects
both of the grips, freeing the crank from both driving wheels and allowing it to
remain stationary so as to form a foot rest when descending hills.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Albert Phillips in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th November 1882.
ALBERT PHILLIPS of Excelsior Works, Rea Street South, Birmingham in the
county of Warwick, Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
"
This invention relates to the construction of a double driving velocipede or
tricycle which will drive backwards or forwards and with automatic disconnecting
gear for steering purposes and for affording a foot rest when descending hills.
In carrying out my invention I employ an arrangement of cams and levers
connected with the steering handle by small bevelled cog wheels which turn in
either direction a steel rod passing through a tube across the body of the machine
and which rod carries the cams which act on perpendicular rods attached to
interlocking grips or clutches which transmit the driving power from the cranks
to the chain wheels. Instead of the grips or clutches being on the cranks they
may be on the axles of the driving wheels and in place of the cams and bevel
wheels I may employ a rack and pinion. The turning of the steering handle acts
on the perpendicular rods (or on levers connected directly with grips or clutches
when such grips or clutches are on the axles of the driving wheels) on either side
according to the direction of steering (whether right or left) and frees the grip or
clutch of the inner wheel which wheel then runs freely on the axle and allows the
other wheel which then becomes the sole driving wheel to take the longer sweep
of the curve.
There is also a lever attached to the cross rod which disconnects both of the grips
or clutches freeing the crank from both driving wheels and allowing the crank
to remain stationary so as to form a foot rest when descending hills or otherwise.
In order to enable my invention to be better understood I will proceed to
describe the same by reference to the accompanying drawings in which figures 1
and 2, sheet 1, are side elevations of a tricycle constructed according to my
improvements one of the side wheels being removed in order more clearly to
illustrate my invention; figure 3, sheet 1, represents a plan of the tricycle;
figure 4, sheet 2, is a similar view to figure, 2, sheet 1, shewing a modification of
my improvements in which a rack and pinion are employed in place of the cams
and bevel wheels. Figures 5, and 6, sheet 2 are a front view and a plan
respectively of the same; figures 7, 8 and 9 sheet 1 and figure 10 sheet 2 are
details. Figures 1, to 6, are drawn to a scale of about one eighth full size and
Figures 7 to 10, are drawn full size. Similar letters in all the figures represent
similar or corresponding parts.
I will first describe my invention by reference to figures 1, 2 and 3, sheet 1.
A, is the body or frame of the machine; B, B', the driving wheels; C, the hind
or steering wheel and a, the steering handle, all of the ordinary construction; b, is
a bevelled cog wheel on the axis of the steering handle a, which bevel wheel gears
with the bevelled cog wheel c, on the steel rod d, which passes through a tube (not
shewn in the drawing) across the body of the machine, the said tube being
employed to protect the rod from dust; e, el, are cams fixed on the said rod d,
which cams, when the handle a, is turned in either direction, act on the levers f,
or f, as the case may be as hereinafter described; g, g', are the perpendicular rods
fixed to the levers f, f', the lower ends of the rods g, g', being attached to the
interlocking grips or clutches h, h', which transmit the driving power from the
crank, to the chain wheels j the clutches being chambered to admit a number of
arms so arranged as to allow of the machine being driven backwards or forwards;
, are springs for automatically re-engaging the grips or clutches when released
from the action of the levers; k, k¹, are levers or cams attached to the cross rod d,
which levers or cams when actuated by the handle l, simultaneously act upon the

page_text: levers f, and f¹, and thus disconnect both of the grips or clutches h, and h¹, and
free the crank i, from both the driving wheels B, B₁,; m, is the usual connecting
rod for steering the tricycle by means of the rack n, on the connecting rod, and
the pinion o, on the axis of the steering handle a.
From the preceding description it will be readily understood that by the employ-
ment of the herein before described grips or clutches the tricycle can be driven
either backwards or forwards, also, that the act of steering by means of the
ordinary handle a, will automatically disconnect the driving wheel on one side or
the other according to the direction of steering by acting on the levers and perpen-
dicular rods and freeing the grip or clutch of the inner wheel; for example, if it
be desired to steer the tricycle to the right hand side the handle a, is turned to
the right hand side in the usual manner and will operate the cogged bevel
wheels b, and c, and cams e, e¹, and the cam e, will thereby force the lever f, out-
wards and disengage the grip or clutch h, and the driving wheel B will then run
freely on its axle and will allow the other driving wheel B₁, which has now become
the sole driving wheel to take the longer sweep of the curve. To disengage the
crank i, from both driving wheels it is simply necessary to raise the handle 1,
when the cams or levers k, k', will force outwards the levers f, and f¹, and simul-
taneously disconnect the clutches from the driving wheels and allow the crank to
remain stationary and which may then be used as a foot rest when descending
hills or otherwise. For the sake of clearness the seat of the tricycle is omitted in
the drawings.
In the arrangement shewn in figures 4, to 9, of the drawings the disconnection,
of the driving wheels is effected in a somewhat similar manner to that herein before
described by reference to figures 1, 2 and 3.
In this modified arrangement I
dispense with the bevelled cog wheels b, and c; and with the cams e, and e¹, and
in place thereof I employ a pinion b, on the end of the axis of the steering
handle a, and gearing with the teeth of a rack c, formed on the rod d, which slides
in the bearings q, on the body or frame of the tricycle and actuates the levers f
or f1, according as the steering handle a, is turned to the right or to the left
hand; the grips or clutches h, and h¹, are formed on the hubs of the driving
wheels B, B¹, as clearly shewn in the enlarged view at Figure 7, sheet 1, and the
perpendicular rods g, g', of the former arrangement are therefore dispensed with.
Further, instead of the levers or cams k, k¹, for freeing the crank i, from both the
driving wheels B, B', I may employ the arrangement shewn more clearly in the full
size front and side elevations at figures 8, and 9, sheet 1; this arrangement consists
of the case r, in which work the two slides k, and k'; to the inner ends of the slides k,
and k¹, are fixed the studs 8, sliding in the slot t, in the case r; on the said studs 8,
slide the radial slots u, formed in the triangular shaped plate v; w, is a pin or stud
over which slides the slot x, for guiding the plate v, when raised or lowered by the
handle l.
The action of this modified arrangement is substantially the same as that
hereinbefore described, for, if the steering handle a, be turned either to the right or
to the left hand side the pinion b, will move the rack c, and rod d, in a corre-
sponding direction and thereby disconnect one or the other of the driving wheels B
or B¹, as the case may be.
If the handle, be raised the studs 8, sliding in the slots u, will simultaneously
force outwards the two slides k, and k¹, which will act on the levers f, and f¹,
respectively and thus free the crank i, from both the driving wheels. Instead of
the slotted plate v, I may employ two arms or levers pivotted to the rod of the
handle, as shewn in figure 10, sheet 2 the action of which will be understood
without further description.
Having thus described my invention and the best means I am acquainted with
for carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that What I
claim is
Firstly. Automatically disengaging the driving wheels of a tricycle by the act of
steering as and for the purposes hereinbefore described.

page_text: Secondly. The combination and arrangement of bevel wheels, cams, and levers
herein described whereby the act of steering the tricycle will automatically
disengage the grip or clutch of the near or the off driving wheel of the machine
according to the direction in which the tricycle is steered substantially as herein-
before described and represented in figures 1, 2 and 3 sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of parts forming the modified arrangement for
automatically disengaging the grips or clutches by the act of steering as herein-
before described and represented in figures 4, 5, and 6 sheet 2 and figures 7 and 8
sheet 1 of the accompanying drawings
Fourthly. The combination with the grips or clutches h, h', and levers f, f¹,
and g, gl, of the levers or cams k, k, operated by the lever handle 1, for the purpose
of simultaneously disengaging the cranks from the driving wheels as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and represented in figures 1, 2 and 3 sheet 1, of
the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. The combination with the grips or clutches 'h, h', and levers f, f³, of the
slides k, k¹, operated by the handle l, as herein before described and represented in
figures 4, 5, 6 and 10 sheet 2 and figures 8, and 9 sheet 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
Sixthly. The use in tricycles of the grips or clutches shewn in figures 3, and 7
sheet attached either to the hub or to the crank and chambered to admit a
number of arms arranged so as to allow of the machine being driven backwards or
forwards as herein before described.
Seventhly. The improved tricycles hereinbefore described and represented in the
accompanying drawings.
'
In Witness whereof I the said Albert Phillips have hereto set my hand and
seal this eighteenth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty two
ALBERT PHILLIPS (LS)