IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Dorsett, Machinist, and Jacob Walker, Blacksmith,
both of Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
Sealed the 14th May 1880, and dated the 17th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Dorsett and Jacob
Walker at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 17th November
1879.
SAMUEL DORSETT, Machinist, and JACOB WALKER, Blacksmith, both of Wolver-
hampton, in the County of Stafford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES."
A tricycle constructed according to this Invention has a large driving wheel
behind and two smaller wheels for steering in front. The steering socket, eye, or
neck is connected to a horizontal frame passing therefrom to each end of the driving
wheel axle. The steering spindle or head is connected to the top of a fork, the lower
ends of which are connected to the axle of the front wheels. A frame similar to an
ordinary backbone extends round a part of the circumference of the driving wheel
at the front thereof, and from about a point towards the highest point thereof to a
point below the centre of the wheel, and terminates at its lower extremity in a long
bearing which carries a spindle. The backbone is carried by a cross-frame or fork
at its backend, each end of the said crossframe or fork passing down and being
connected with the horizontal frame firstmentioned, and is carried at its front end
by a piece of framing connected therewith and with the socket, eye, or neck. The
saddle is carried upon a spring mounted upon the backbone. The driving cranks
and treadles, similar to those of a bicycle, are fixed at opposite centres, one at each
end of the spindle in the long bearing aforesaid. At one end of the crankspindle,
and inside the crank, is fixed a chain pulley which drives a corresponding pulley
fixed to the hub of the driving wheel. The chain pullies are constructed preferably
as ordinary wire spoked wheels with U rims, pegs being screwed into the rims to
gear into the chain. The horizontal frame first mentioned is widened out on plan
to give room to work the treadles. The front wheels are steered by a steering bar
similar to that of a bicycle.
The tricycle, as described, may be constructed to be worked by two persons by
putting cranks and treadles similar to those of a bicycle to the driving wheel spindle,
and mounting a second saddle on the backbone extended backwardsf or the purpose.
The extended end of the backbone may be supported by a fork from the driving
wheel bearings or from the horizontal frame. A fixed pair of handles may be
mounted between the two saddles to steady the hinder rider, who thus works the
treadles on the cranks of the driving wheel spindle.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Dorsett and Jacob Walker in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 15th May 1880.
SAMUEL DORSETT, Machinist, and JACOB WALKER, Blacksmith, both of Wolver-
hampton, in the County of Stafford. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES." '
A tricycle constructed according to this Invention has a driving wheel behind and
two smaller wheels in front for steering. The steering socket, eye, or neck is con-
nected to a horizontal (or nearly so) frame passing therefrom to each end of the
driving wheel axle. The steering spindle is connected at the lower end to the axle
of the front wheels. A frame somewhat similar to an ordinary back-bone of a bicycle
extends round a part of the circuinference of the driving wheel at the front thereof,
and from about a point over the highest part thereof to a point somewhat above the
horizontal frame aforesaid, where it is formed into a fork, each side of which is con-
nected to the horizontal framing aforesaid, and passes down below the said framing,
terminating in an eye or bearing to support a fixed or movable spindle hereinafter
described. The back-bone is carried at its back end by a cross-frame or fork passing
down and being connected with the horizontal frame aforesaid, preferably at the
axle bearings. The saddle is carried upon a spring mounted upon the back-bone.
The front wheels are steered by a steering bar similar to that of a bicycle.
The tricycle, constructed as aforesaid, may be actunted in either of two ways,
namely: First, upon a fixed spindle carried in the eyes upon the bottom ends of
the fork aforesaid are carried a pair of bell-cranked levers, each having one lever
projecting forwards and one downwards, the former having a treadle carried in the
front end thereof, and the latter being connected at its lower end by a rod to one of
a pair of cranks fixed at opposite centres on the ends of the driving wheel axle ;
and, second, upon a spindle carried in bearings at the bottom ends of the fork afore-
said, and at the outer ends thereof, ordinary bicycle cranks and treadles set at oppo-
site centres are fixed. Immediately inside one of the said bearings a chain pulley
is fixed upon the spindle, by which motion is given to a corresponding chain pulley
forming the hub on one side of the driving wheel. In the former of these methods
of driving a tricycle the treadles are simply depressed alternately, to give the rotary
motion to the cranks on the driving wheel axle; but in the latter method the treadles
are worked as in working a bicycle.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention, we will now proceed more
particularly to describe the manner of carrying out the same, and in doing so will
refer to the accompanying Drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a plan, and Figure 3 a front elevation of a
tricycle constructed according to our Invention, and shewn to be actuated according
to the first method hereinbefore described. A is the driving wheel at the rear of
the tricycle; B, B, are the front steering wheels; C is the front axle cranked down,
as shewn, to miss the treadles, hereinafter described; D is the steering spindle; and
E a socket through which the spindle D passes. The spindle D is connected at its
lower end to the front axle C. The socket E is fixed to the front end of the hori-
zontal, or nearly horizontal, framing F, F, which passes therefrom to the bearing at
each end of the driving wheel axle, as shewn. G is a framing similar to the back-
bone of a bicycle. The said framing G is supported at its back end by a cross frame
or fork H, H, which passes therefrom to the bearings at each end of the driving
wheel axle. The front end of the framing G is supported by means of the fork J, J,
each side of which is connected to the framing F, F, and continued below, as marked
by the letters K, K, terminating in eyes, as shewn. In the said eyes is supported a
fixed axle or stud L, upon the projecting ends of which are carried the bell-cranks
M, N, and M', N¹. O, O, are treadles in the ends of the levers M and M², and P, P,

page_text: are rods connecting the levers N and N' to the cranks Q, Q, set at opposite centres
on the ends of the driving wheel axle. R is the steering bar, provided with handles,
and is similar to a bicycle steering bar, but preferably longer. S is a saddle mounted
on a spring, as shewn; the saddle is omitted in the plan for the sake of clearness.
The tricycle is actuated by alternately pressing down each of the levers M and M',
and is steered by means of the steering bar R, as in steering a bicycle.
Figure 4 is a vertical section through the socket of the steering spindle drawn to
an enlarged scale. A is the upper part of the steering spindle, and B the lower.
C is the socket (marked E on Figures 1, 2, and 3). D, D, are ears by which the
socket C is connected to the horizontal framing (marked F, F, on Figures 1, 2, and
3). E is a cone-shaped part of the lower part of the spindle B, turned to fit within
a corresponding part of the socket C. F is a cylindrical part above the coned part
E, also turned to fit within a corresponding part of the socket C.
G is a square
part above the cylindrical part F, and receives a socket H upon the bottom end of the
upper part A of the steering spindle. The steering spindle is bowed immediately
above the said socket H to receive the lock-nuts J, J, by which it is held down to
the square part G of the lower part B of the spindle. The outside of the said socket
His coned at its lower part to turn in a corresponding part at the upper part of the
socket C. Clearances are left, as shewn, so that the said coned socket H may be
tightened up by means of the lock-nuts J, J, as wear takes place. The arrangement
of steering socket described we find to work satisfactorily, but of course any suitable
arrangement, either of socket or " 'Stanley" head or other joint, may be used if
desired. By Figure 4a is illustrated a modification of the arrangement illustrated
by Figure 4, and we think it preferable to that shewn at Figure 4. The parts
marked C, D, D, E, B, are the same as the parts so marked in Figure 4.
Fi is a
cylindrical part, and G also a cylindrical part, but reduced as shewn, and carried
up through the ball K of the steering bar, lock nuts J', J', being screwed thereon at
the top. The socket H¹ has a coned part at the bottom similar to the socket H in
Figure 4, and has its upper end reduced, as shewn at L, to fit around the part G,
and also to fit within a tubular part M, to which it is brazed or otherwise fixed.
The part M is let into the part K, as shewn, and brazed or otherwise fixed thereto.
By means of the lock-nuts J¹, J¹, the cone at the bottom of the socket H is kept
down to a proper bearing, clearance being allowed at a for this purpose. bis a stud
projecting into a slot in the cylindrical part F1 to prevent the socket H¹ turning
upon the part F"; an inside view of this stud is shewn at b'. The circular part of
the said stud is screwed into the socket H. c is a set-pin to tighten the socket H
when screwed down by the lock nuts J', J', to a proper bearing.
Figures 5 and 6 illustrate respectively a side elevation and front elevation of the
second method of actuating the tricycle illustrated by Figures 1, 2, and 3. The
parts marked A, F, F, H, H, J, J, K, K, and L correspond respectively to the parts
marked with the same letters in Figures 1, 2, and 3. In place of the cranks Q, Q,
shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 a chain pulley M forms the hub on one side of the driving
wheel A, that is to say, the spokes of the wheel pass out from the inner periphery
of the pulley M, as shewn. In place of the bell-cranks M, N, M', N¹, shewn by
Figures 1, 2, and 3, the spindle Lis made capable of revolving in its bearings N, N,
(which are deeper than the eyes shewn by Figures 1, 2, and 3), and ordinary bicycle
cranks and treadles 0, 0, are fixed upon the projecting ends of the said spindle L,
and a chain pulley P is fixed upon the spindle L in the position shewn. According
to this modification the tricycle is actuated by working the treadles O, O, as in
working a bicycle, the rotary movement of the pulley P being conveyed to the
driving wheel A through the medium of the chain Q and the pulley M.
Having thus stated the nature of our said Invention, and particularly described
and ascertained the manner of performing the same, we declare that we do not limit
ourselves to the exact details as shewn, but what we claim as our Invention, and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The tricycle, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying Drawings.

page_text: 2nd. The method of steering a tricycle by means of a central steering spindle
rigidly connected to the axle of a pair of steering wheels at the front, substantially
as herein described and as illustrated by the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jacob Walker, on behalf of myself and the said
Samuel Dorsett, have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Tenth day of
May, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
HENRY CHILTON,
Clerk to Stephen Watkins,
Assoc. M. Inst. C.E.,
Office for Patents,
Wolverhampton.
JACOB WALKER.
(L.S.)