Improvements in and relating to Tricycles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Feb., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by HIPPOLYTE TRON, of Marseilles, France, Cook.]
Improvements in and relating to Tricycles.
I, JAMES STEVENSON, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, 20, High Holborn,
London, W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
A tricycle constructed in accordance with my improvements consists of two main
parts which may, when occasion arises, be readily disconnected and packed so as
to occupy but a very small space.
The framing which I employ is tubular and consists of a transverse member
parallel with the axle connected by a male and female screw arrangement to a
longitudinal tubular member at right angles thereto; the whole, when connected
together, assuming the form of a T, said longitudinal tubular member being
enclosed for the whole of its length with a surrounding outer tube capable of
turning to a certain extent around the inner tube.
Motion is imparted by the hands of the rider or riders to two levers of a length
greater than that which is usually adopted and which are caused to oscillate the
one forward and the other rearward alternately and so actuating the axle of the
driving wheels through the intervention of connecting rods, cranks, chain wheels
and chains.
The steering of the tricycle is effected by means of the surrounding or enclosing
longitudinal tube aforesaid, a toothed wheel or segment on the end of the tube
engaging with a similar one on the crown of the steering wheel fork, motion being
imparted to the enclosing tube by means of the knees of the rider. A powerful
and efficient brake device actuated by a lever, connecting rod and wedge block is
preferably adapted to the steering wheel; whilst, a horizontal rod is attached to,
and forms a continuation of, the longitudinal portion of the frame and is curved
downwards, being provided near the ground with a trailing wheel, this horizontal
extension carrying a supplementary scat for a second rider and serving, in the case
of a rear steerer, to prevent the tricycle overturning should an accident occur.
Dated this 17th day of Dreencher 1800
JAMES STEVENSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
Improvements in and relating to Tricycles.
I, JAMES STEVENSON, Civil Engineer and Patent Agent, 20, High Holborn,
W.C., do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
A tricycle constructed in accordance with my improvements consists of two
main parts which may, when occasion arises, be readily disconnected and packed so
as to occupy but a very small space.
The framing which I employ is tubular and consists of a transverse member
parallel with the axle connected by an ordinary male and female screw arrange-
ment to a longitudinal tubular member at right angles thereto; the whole, when
connected together, assuming the form of a T, said longitudinal tubular member
being enclosed for the whole of its length with a surrounding outer tube capable of
turning to a certain extent around the inner tube.
Motion is imparted by the hands of the rider or riders to two levers M, M, of a
length greater than that which is usually adopted and which are caused to oscillate

page_text: the one forward and the other rearward alternately and so actuating the axle of
the driving wheels through the interventions of connecting, rods, cranks, chain
wheels and chains as shewn in Figures 1 and 2.
In the accompanying drawing illustrative of the device according to my inven-
tion, Figure 1 is a side elevational view and Figure 2 a front view thereof.
The special features of novelty distinctive of my invention, relating to the
working and steering, of the vehicle are illustrated to an enlarged scale at Figure 3,
referring to which it will be seen that a tube B surrounds the longitudinal member
above referred to T. Upon the tube B is brazed or otherwise secured a vertical
lever X, on which latter is fixed a transverse bar or rod Z the height of which is
adjusted to suit that of the knees of the rider by means of the set screw H. The
seat (saddle) is carried by the rod S (the height of which is adjustable) situated at
right angles to the part G G (shewn in dotted lines) of the tube T'.
A toothed wheel or segment I on the end of the tube B3 engages with a similar
wheel or segment I' on the crown of the steering wheel fork; motion being imparted
to said enclosing tube B by the knees of the rider or riders acting against the
lever X or bar Z, as aforesaid.
I provide a powerful and efficient brake device (Figure 3) C, V, (in combination
with a guide screw J) actuated and controlled by means of the lever L and articu-
lated connections shewn (Figure 3) to C, V being the brake carried by a sleeve or
boss on the vertical spindle A of the fork F, the brake V being depressed by
wedge C (when actuated by lever L) against the pressure of the spiral spring
encircling the spindle A.
A horizontal rod M is attached to the front end of the longitudinal frame and is
curved downwards (as shewn at Figure 4) in front where it is provided at the end
with a small trailing friction wheel pulley or runner G and a cross piece M₁ for
the foot of a supplementary rider and with a view to obviate the contingency of the
vehicle basculing
or overturning provision being made as shewn in Figure 4
whereby the horizontal extension piece M is utilised to carry the seat N. for the
supplementary rider.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In tricycles the T form of the framing in two main parts as and for the
purposes herein set forth.
2. In tricycles the employment of levers of increased length relatively to that
usually adopted and driving parts and connections as shewn Figures 1 and 2.
3. In tricycles the brake device as herein described and shewn in reference to
Figure 3 of the accompanying sheet of drawings.
4. In tricycles the provision made as and for the purposes herein referred to of
the device shown at Figuro 4