IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, ARTHUR SANTER of Gipsy Road, Lower Norwood, in the Parish of Lambeth,
in the County of Surrey, Engineer &o do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, to be as follows:-
In my improved Tricycle two small guiding wheels are placed in front, and one
driving wheel of a larger size behind. The frame of the machine resembles in
plan a letter T the stem of the T forming the backbone of the Tricycle and
denoting also the position of the driving wheel in the rear, while the top of
the T indicates the cross bar in front of the Tricycle, to which the two steering
wheels are attached.
The points of contact between the wheels and the ground will therefore
correspond with the corners of an equilateral triangle the base of which is in front.
and the apex behind, when the machine is travelling in a straight line. The two
front wheels are held in two forks in the usual way, the heads of which forks
revolve in two sockets, one of which is placed at each end of a connecting bar or
tube, which may be either straight or curved as preferred. To the centre of this
bar or to soine portion thereof the tube forming the backbone of the machine is
attached, the other end of the said backbone holding the fork of the driving
wheel. The seat is placed immediately over the driving wheel but somewhat in
front of the centre thereof.
The Pedals run in suitable bearings attached to the backbone and communicate
by means of chains rods or bands with the axle of the driving wheel, and are
geared for speed as required. The lever for applying the brake is designed to be
worked by the feet and is also attached to the backbone.
The steering is effected by means of an ordinary handle-bar fixed on a telescopic
vertical tube which works in a socket or bearing and which tube carries a hori-
zontal cross bar, connected by a chain and chain-wheel with a rack placed on a rod
which rod connects the fore-ends of two levers, the other ends of which are attached
to the tops of the forks in which the steering wheels run, in such manner that
both wheels are simultaneously turned in the same direction by moving the
handle-bar.
D
1007

page_text: Improvements in Tricycles and other Velocipedes.
I, ARTHUR SANTER of Gipsy Road, Lower Norwood, in the Parish of Lambeth,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement: -
Tricycles may be divided broadly into two classes viz, Rear-Steerers, and Front-
steerers. My improved Tricycle is of the latter class, but is so constructed as to
be free from the danger of overturning when steering round a sharp corner which
is the chief difficulty with this description of Tricycle when going at a good rate
of speed. This increased safety due to its having two steering wheels in front
instead of one, and to their being fixed at a distance from each other. These front
steering wheels are small wheels, running in forks in the usual way, which forks
revolve in sockets and carry at their summits two short horizontal arms or levers.
The other ends of these levers are connected by a rod on which a rack is formed
or fixed. This rack engages a pinion wheel attached to a horizontal chain wheel,
which chain wheel is caused to rotate in either direction by means of a chain the
ends of which are connected to the vertical stem of an ordinary Handle-Bar, such
stem, as well as the support of the Riders seat, being formed as a telescopic tube,
so as to allow the said Handle-bar (and seat) to rise and fall to any height desired.
The shape of the frame in my Tricycle is also novel, and resembles in plan the
capital letter T, the stem of the T forming the backbone of the machine, and
denoting also the position of the driving wheel in the rear, while the top of the T
indicates the crossbar in front of the Tricycle, to which the two steering-wheels
are attached. In section the frame somewhat resembles a capital J reversed
thus, as will be seen in the accompanying drawings. The special feature of the
machine is that it has two small steering-wheels in front and one large driving-
wheel behind, the treadles and driving wheel being fitted with wheels geared for
speed and the treadles placed in front of the driving wheel with one or two chains,
straps, rods, cords, or bands or other suitable connection working between the said
treadles and the hub or axle of the said driving wheel and the Rider sitting partly
over and partly in front of the driving wheel.
The front crossbar is pivotted, or made with a swivel joint, at the point of
contact with the frame, so as to fold back when required, and thus permit the
machine to be stowed away in a narrow space, such swivel joint or pivot being
capable of being made rigid when required.
A lever brake is pivoted on the backbone and is designed to be worked by
the foot.
In the accompanying drawings Figure I represents the entire machine.
Figure II shews the Frame and steering apparatus.
The same letters refer to similar parts throughout.
A represents the backbone. B is the swivel joint connecting the backbone with
the front cross-bar. C is the cross-bar.
D. D. are the levers on the steering wheels.

page_text: E. is the rod or rack connecting the levers, D. D.-F is the pinion engaging the
rack E.
G is the chain wheel and H is the chain connecting the stem of the guiding
handle with the chain wheel G.
I. I. are the telescopic tube arrangements under the seat and the guiding handle.
K is the lever foot brake.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
(1.) The novel construction of the frame which ensures increased safety and
control, while it enables the rider to employ his strength to the best advantage.
(2.) The peculiar steering arrangement whereby two front steering wheels can
be turned simultaneously by one movement of the handle-bar.
(3.) The folding arrangement of the cross-bar in front, which economises space.
(4.) The foot lever-brake, and the telescopic adjustment of the seat and handle-
bar, or of either of them.
(5.) The combination of the several parts as described with a Tricycle of the
shape and construction herein described and set forth.
Dat the oth day of Ontahan 700K