IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Bindon Blood, of Dublin, in the County of
Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Bindon Blood at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd November 1876.
WILLIAM BINDON BLOOD, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
This Invention has for its object improvements in tricycles.
My improved tricycles is constructed with one driving wheel behind the seat and
two guiding wheels in front, the latter are carried in vertical forks.
The frame consists of. a cross bar in front, from which project backwards two
parallel bars forming a horizontal fork, in which the driving wheel is carried, the
entire machine being braced by a system of diagonal tension bars to obviate torsion.
The ends of the cross bar are bent forwards and carry sockets or centres in which
the forks of the guiding wheels turn. To the head of each fork is attached a side.
lever which forms a steering handle, and these levers are connected. by a light cross'
bar attached in such a manner as to cause the pair of guiding wheels to converge
when driving the machine round curvés.
From the cranks of the driving wheel connecting rods are carried under the cross
bar to the treadles, which latter are supported by a frame which projects downwards
and forwards from the aforesaid cross bar.
The seat, carried by two bars which are hinged upon the aforesaid cross bar,
rests upon a spiral spring attached to the parallel bars underneath, thereby imparting
considerable elasticity to the seat.
In adapting this improved tricycle to ladies' use a frame apron is added which
completely conceals the action.
In adapting it to the use of persons who may be disabled or have not the use of
their feet, land levers which rotate on the cross bar (or are hinged upon it) work the
connecting rods, and the steering is managed by a pulley at one of the handles
which works cords attached to the side levers.

page_text: c
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Bindon Blood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th April 1877.
WILLIAM BINDON BLOOD, of Dublin, in the County of Dublin, Ireland,
Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
My said Invention relates to improvements in tricycles consisting in a novel
method of mounting and operating the two front wheels so as to cause the tricycle
to run in a curved direction to the right or left, as may be desired; also in an
improved system of bracing in order to secure perfect rigidity in the frame; and,
thirdly, in a new arrangement for carrying the treadles of a tricycle or other similar
machine.
My improved tricycle may also be made available for use by ladies.
To carry out my Invention I construct a tricycle with one driving wheel which
runs behind the seat, and two guiding wheels in front, which are carried in vertical
forks.
The frame consists of a cross bar in front from which project backwards two
parallel shafts forming a horizontal fork in which the driving wheel is carried.
The entire machine is braced by a system of diagonal tension bars which give
stiffness against torsion.
The ends of the cross bar are bent forward and carry centres or sockets in which
the vertical forks of the guiding wheels turn. To the head of each fork is attached
a side lever which forms a steering handle, and these levers are connected by a light
cross piece attached in such a manner as to cause the pair of guiding wheels to
converge when driving the machine round curves.
From the cranks of the driving wheel connecting rods are carried under the cross
bar to the treadles, which latter are supported by a frame which projects downwards
and forwards from the aforesaid cross bar.
The seat is carried by two bars which are hinged upon the aforesaid cross bar,
and rests upon one or more spiral springs attached to the parallel shafts underneath.
In adjusting the tricycle to ladies' use a framed apron is added which completely
conceals the action. This frame is attached to the aforesaid cross bar, and is so
constructed that on an apron of any flexible material being thrown over it the
movements of the treadles will not be seen.
In order that my Invention may be more fully understood I will proceed to
describe the accompanying Sheet of Drawings..
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation; Fig. 2, a front view; and Fig. 3, a plan of a
tricycle constructed according to my improvements.
Figs. 4 and 5 represent a partial side elevation, and front view of same tricycle
showing the arrangement for propelling and steering which I propose for the use of
persons who may not have the use of their feet.
Fig. 6 is a frame, the purpose of which is herein-after more fully described.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A represents the cross bar, and B, B, the parallel shafts attached to the cross bar,
which together form the main body or frame of my improved tricycle. The curved
ends of the said cross bar carry sockets or centres D, D, in which the vertical forks
F, F, of the front or guiding wheels turn. To the heads of these vertical forks are
attached side levers L, L, (see Fig. 3) which form steering handles, the ends of
which are connected by the cross piece y, y, this cross piece is composed of three
parts, the object of which is to facilitate the turning of the machine round curves
by obtaining the proper angle of convergence in each of the guiding wheels. This
arrangement will be more easily understood by referring to the position the said
guiding wheels would assume, as indicated by the dotted lines, Fig. 3, when running
round a curve whose centre is O, the radial lines being perpendicular to the planes
of the wheels while the connecting cross piece y: y, assumes the zig-zag position
shewn. T, T, are the treadles which are supported from underneath by the

page_text: transverse bar G, which latter is held in position by the suspension rods f, f, and the
struts s, 8; the position of the said transverse bar may be adjusted when required by
altering the length of the said struts by means of the screw thread and nut n at the
hind end of same. The treadles are connected to the cranks of the driving wheel by
the connecting rods b, b, whose length is rendered adjustable by means of the
stirrup and cross piece employed for securing said connecting rods to the said
cranks.
The tricycle may be propelled entirely by this treadle arrangement, or in addition
thereto, or instead thereof, as in the case of a person using it who may be disabled,
or have lost the use of his feet, levers to be operated by the hands may be hinged to
the cross bar A and secured to the connecting rods b, b, and in such cases the
steering is managed by pulleys and cords, as in the " Rantoone" velocipede, and as
illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5, 1, 1, representing the hand levers; p, p³, handles
attached to the top of same; k, the steering pulley attached rigidly to the handle p¹;
and e, e, the smaller pulleys round which the cord plays. On the handle p₁ being
turned laterally to the right or left, the cross piece 3, 3, will be operated upon
by the free ends of the cord (which are attached to said cross piece) and the desired
curvilinear motion is thus acquired: I merely describe this arrangement to shew
its application to my improved tricycle for the purpose specified.
The rider's seat is carried by two bars c, c, which are hinged on the aforesaid
cross bar A and rests on one or more spiral springs S, which latter sits on a cross
piece fixed to the aforesaid parallel shafts.
The method of bracing which I adopt to impart to the machine stiffness against
torsion, consists in the employment of diagonal tie rods, as shown at t, t, and inclined
stays t¹, t. A frame H, Fig. 6, is attached to the parallel shafts which serves as a
bridge for the securing thereto of the aforesaid tie rods and stays. The tension of
these rods and stays may be adjusted at pleasure by means of screw threads and
nuts at the ends of same.
It is obvious that the construction of tricycles, according to my improvements,
may be varied in detail without departing from the peculiar character of my said
Invention.
Having thus described my said Invention, and the manner in which the same
may be used or carried into effect, I hereby declare that what I consider to be novel
and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
First. The mode, substantially as described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of the
accompanying Drawings, of steering tricycles, so as to cause the same to run in a
curved direction to the right or left as may be required.
Secondly. The system of diagonal bracing as applied to tricycles for the purpose
of securing perfect rigidity in the frame, substantially as herein-before described
with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3, and 6 of the appended Drawings.
Thirdly. The arrangement for supporting and adjusting the treadles from under-
neath on a bar suspended from the frame in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Bindon Blood, have unto this my
Specification set my hand and seal, this Twenty-first day of March, in the
voor of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven
Witness,
J. A. FAHIE,
2, Nassau Street,
Dublin.
WIILLAM BINDON BLOOD. (L.S.)