A NEW OR IMPROVED STEAM TRICYCLE
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Imray of No 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery
Lane in the county of Middlesex for an Invention of "A NEW OR IMPROVED
STEAM TRICYCLE communicated to him from abroad by La Société Homart et
Compagnie of Paris France
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Imray at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th June 1883.
2
"
JOHN IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex A NEW OB IMPROVED STEAM TRICYCLE [communicated to him
from abroad by La Société Hemart et Compagnie of Paris France]
This invention relates to the construction of a steam tricycle which may be used
by itself to convey. passengers or may draw one or more cars attached to it. A.
light iron framing rests by springs on a stationary axle near the hinder part of the
vehicle and on the fork of a steering wheel at the front. On the stationary axle
revolve two driving wheels, one on each side of the vehicle, these being driven by
steam in the following manner. A vertical high pressure steam boiler situated
between the driving wheels supplies a pair of vertical cylinders, the pistons of
which work an overhead crank shaft. On this shaft at each end of it, is a friction
clutch which can be made to engage or disengage a chain pinion connected by an
endless chain with a chain wheel on the driving wheel. Thus, either driving wheel,
or both, can be made to revolve, and the engine having suitable reversing gear, the
driving wheels can be turned in either direction. There is also a brake which can
be applied to a boss on each of the driving wheels. Behind the boiler and engine
there is space for the driver or engineer and a seat constituting a water tank and
receptacle for fuel and tools. In front of the boiler there is a seat or there may be
several seats for passengers. The whole is covered by a light roof or awning
Bupported on rods extending up from the framing.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Imray in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th December
1883.
"
JOHN IMRAY of N° 28 Southampton Buildings Chancery Lane in the County
of Middlesex "A NEW OR IMPROVED STEAM TRICYCLE A communication to me
from abroad by La Société Hemart et Compagnie of Paris, France
This invention relates to the construction of a steam tricycle which may be used
by itself to convey passengers, or may draw one or more cars attached to it. A
light iron framing rests by springs on a stationary axle near the hinder part of the
vehicle and on the fork of a steering wheel at the front. On the stationary axle
revolve two driving wheels, one on each side of the vehicle, these being driven by
steam in the following manner. A vertical high pressure steam boiler situated
between the driving wheels supplies a pair of vertical cylinders, the pistons of
which work an overhead crank shaft. On this shaft at each end of it, is a friction
clutch which can be made to engage or disengage a chain pinion connected by an
endless chain with a chain wheel on the driving wheel. Thus, either driving
wheel, or both, can be made to revolve, and the engine having suitable reversing
gear, the driving wheels can be turned in either direction. There is also a brake
which can be applied to a boss on each of the driving wheels. Behind the boiler
and engine there is a space for the driver or engineer and a seat constituting a
water tank and receptacle for fuel and tools. In front of the boiler there is a
seat or there may be several seats for passengers. The whole is covered by a light
roof or awning supported on rods extending up from the framing.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig 1 of the drawings shews a side elevation of the above described steam
tricycle, and Fig 2 shews a plan. A high pressure vertical steam boiler e, provided
with the usual safety valves, pressure guages, water level indicator, steam whistle,
injector &c, is mounted upon a framing b, being fixed thereto by two angle
brackets f. The framing is by preference constructed of H irons connected together
by cross beams also of H iron; it is supported upon very flexible springs g, for
preventing shocks on passing over uneven ground. The driving engine consists of
two vertical cylinders h, the steam supply pipes ii of which are united into one,
and controlled by a single valve j operated. by the conductor. The steam cylinders
drive a crank shaft with eccentrics for working the slide valves and feed pump,
and gear for reversing motion, all these parts being of ordinary construction and
requiring no further description. The feed water is contained in a tank k which
also serves as a seat for the conductor, and which is divided into several compart-
ments so as to form at the same time receptacles to contain the fuel and necessary
repairing tools. On the crank shaft are two friction clutches worked by levers m
and serving to increase or decrease the speed of the driving wheels a so as to regulate
the speed of travel. The wheels a being rendered at will fast or loose, indepen-
dently of each other the vehicle can be turned round upon one of the wheels as a
pivot by rendering such wheel fixed and rotating the other one. The driving wheels a
have attached to them toothed wheels d that are driven by endless pitch chains
from the toothed pinions e that are driven by the friction clutches of the engine
shaft. By means of friction brakes o upon the projecting bosses of the driving
wheels, and the friction clutches on the engine shaft, an almost instantaneous
stopping of the vehicle can be effected. The small steering wheel p is worked by

page_text: an arrangement of connecting rods q actuated by a hand wheel r, and is capable of
being turned to a position at right angles to the axis of the vehicle so as to enable
the latter to turn round in a circle of very small radius. Seats are arranged in
front for the passengers as shewn, and the whole vehicle is covered by an awning.
Fig 3 shews a modified arrangement, in which the steam cylinders are arranged in
an inverted position, the engine shaft with the driving pinion and other gear being
placed below the floor of the vehicle. The above described steam tricycle may
either serve as a conveyance for passengers, or it may be used on tramways as a
locomotive engine. In this case the steering wheel would be replaced by two fixed
wheels and the seat would be omitted. The invention is also applicable to all
kinds of road vehicles, private carriages, wagons, and the like. In this case the
tricycle apparatus would form the front part of the vehicle, a second part in the
rear running upon two wheels, serving to carry the load. The tricycle may also be
constructed on a small scale for carrying only one or two persons.
Having thus described the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondents, I
claim :-
First. The herein described improved construction of steam tricycle combined and
arranged as set forth and shewn on the drawings.
Second. In a steam tricycle, the described arrangement of driving mechanism,
consisting of two steam cylinders the crank shaft of which is connected to the
driving gear by means of friction clutches, whereby one road wheel can be rendered
fixed while the other is made to rotate, for the purpose of turning the vehicle in
one direction or the other.
In Witness whereof I the said John Imray have hereunto set my hand and seal
this twelfth day of December in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and eighty-three.
TATTY