Improvements in the Construction of Tricycles or other like and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Mar., 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Dec., 1886.
Complete Accepted, 11th Jan., 1887.
Improvements in the Construction of Tricycles or other like
and similar Vehicles.
Honble. and Revd. HENRY BLIGH The Vicarage, Hampton Hill in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of this Invention is the construction of the treaddle portion of a Tricycle
or other like vehicle in a manner which will enable the rider to diminish or increase
the power of his tread on the driving axle at will.
When carrying my Invention into practice, I construct the crank arms of the driving
axle with slots or their equivalent in or on which blocks or fingers supporting the
crank pin or treaddle slide. These blocks or fingers at their extremity furthest from
the treaddle are provided with transverse projecting pins which fit side grooves formed
in the sides of the crank arms, other similar projecting pins are formed which also slide
in the same groove but are capable by the action of the foot at certain parts in the
crank arms, of passing through side openings in the same at which time the said block
supporting the treaddle can be forced so as to slide in the grooves or slots of the crank.
arm, thus extending the leverage of the cranks, this sliding movement is limited by the
top sliding pin, and when completed is again forced back through the other side opening,
in which position it is again locked. By this arrangement of contracting or extending
the centres between the driving axle and the crank pin; the power exerted for driving
can be regulated at will whilst in motion according to the requirements of the road on
which the tricycle or other like vehicle is travelling.
THOMAS WRIGLEY,
36, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent to the Applicant.

page_text: Honble. and Revd. HENRY BLIGH The Vicarage, Hampton Hill in the County of
Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statenient :-
The object of this invention is so constructing the crank of a Bicycle, Tricycle or
other like vehicle in a manner which will 'enable the rider to increase or diminish the
power length of the Crank so as to obtain more or less power at will when the vehicle
is in motion.
In order that the invention may be well understood in detail I have, hereunto
annexed a Sheet of Drawings upon which letters of reference are marked on corre-.
sponding parts on all the Figs. alike..
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1, represents a side view of the Crank and crank axle, and
Fig. 2 represents a front view of the same with the treadle removed.
the same.
In these Figs. a is the crank axle & the crank arm, e the crank pin and d the treadle.
The crank pin c I secure (so as to form a part of) to the sliding block e fitting in the
recess or groove formed in the crank arm b. In front of the crank arm there is a
slot from top to bottom, and in the back perforations or holes gare forined. The
sliding block e through its top portion has a hole formed therein through which a
pin his free to slide, this pin is connected with the bent lever i having its fulcrum
at its opposite end being formed so as to loosely encircle the crank pin c. The spiral
spring e abutting against the plate k exerts a pressure against the lever i so that when.
in its normal position the pin when opposite one of the holes g will be forced through
Between the plate of the treadles and the lever i encircling the crank pin
I interpose the plate lever m having its fulcrum at m', this lever is also, made loosely to
encircle the crank pin c and is so arranged that when the foot of the rider is pressed
against the longer arm of the lever it will force the bent lever i in such a manner as to
withdraw the pin & out of one of the holes in the back of the crank arm, which pin
when so forced leaves the block e free to slide up or down according to the will of
the rider. For example when on the bottom centre a pressure of the foot downwards
will cause the block e to descend in its groove until the pin harrives opposite one
of the holes into which it is forced by the spring e¹ at which time the crank pin
is locked in the position so gained giving thereby an extent of crank power, but if
the reverse of this is required, the rider when the crank is on the top centre presses

page_text: the lever m outwards so as to withdraw the pin h in manner as previously described
and then slide the block e so as to lock the pin in one of the top holes and so
shorten the crank.
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 and adaptation to the cranks of Tricycles or similar
vehicles of a sliding locking bar or block e and actuating lever m to be employed
for increasing or diminishing the power length of the crank substantially as described
and set forth in the drawings annexed.
THOMAS WRIGLEY,
36, High Holborn, W.C.,
Agent to Petitioner.