IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND BICYLES, AND WHEELS FOR THE SAME, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING PARTLY APPLICABLE TO PURPOSES
Year: 1880

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Samuel Davies at the Office of the
Commissioners of Patents on the 28th January 1880.
SAMUEL DAVIES, of 1, Devonshire Street, Portland Place, London, W., in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND BICYLES, AND WHEELS
FOR THE SAME, SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING PARTLY APPLICABLE TO
PURPOSES."
To carry out such improvements I proceed as follows:--
OTHER
The Tricycle.-The body of the frame consists of four sides, which I describe as
right and left, back and front, are cross bars. The right hand side of frame I
continue beyond the front cross bar, curved out so as to be in line or track with
the hind wheel, the end of which is fitted with centres into an adjustable head of
the front fork which carries the guiding or steering wheel. This
arm, which is
carried to the head of the fork of guiding wheel, can be continued beyond the back
cross bar instead of the front one, then the machine is guided from the back of the
rider; or, if preferred, it can be fitted to left hand side, either back or front.
When the guide is in front of the rider on the right hand side then the back cross
bar is continued beyond the body of the frame fitted to carry the loose wheel,
which wheel is of the same dimension as the driving wheel, but when the guide is
at the back of rider then the front cross bar is continued beyond the right hand
side of frame, so as to equalise the weight on the three wheels.
The Working Part.-The treadle levers and the connection with the crank axle
are made in one. The front ends are open to receive the pedals, the other end is *
fitted to and connected with the throw of the crank. The connection between the
pedals and the crank are called treadles; these treadles are curved edgeways from
half oval to half circle; near the centre of the treadle is a boss or slot, to which is
fitted the lower end of the hanger or swing rod; the top end of this hanger swings
in a jaw that is fixed to the front cross bar. The lower end of this swing rod, and
also the boss or slot where it fits into near the centre of treadles are made adjustable.
Thus the hanger swings with the treadles backwards and forwards when the
machine is in motion, and the pedals travel oval shape.
The treadles can be suspended from the side frames by having the frames
continued on both sides beyond the front cross bar and cranked inwards, and by
continuing the hangers above the frame to form hand levers, so that the machines
can be propelled by pedal and manual power. The crank axle extends beyond the

page_text: left side of frame, and is fixed into the driving wheel. On the right side it is
continued about an inch beyond the frame, to which end is fixed a pulley; there is
also fixed a similar pulley to the hub of the loose wheel; then by means of a band
the loose wheel is made to drive. The guide is worked by a small lever fixed in a
jaw to front cross bar, then continued to the fork of driving wheel. The springs
for the seat are fixed to uprights on the front bar, then curved over the crank to
the back bar, where they work in slots.
For the improvements in wheels I fix wood in place of rubber, bent or otherwise,
and cut to section of rim, cemented and screwed to the same; this wood is covered
with leather nailed and cemented thereto.
For improvements in the bicycle I proceed as follows:―
The front fork is continued below the centre of driving wheel, and cranked
towards the front and outwards at lower end; on this end the treadle works. The
treadle is fitted with a jaw that works on the end of the drop, and in the centre is
a slot that receives the connecting rod that is fitted to the crank of driving wheel.
The back end of the treadle is opened to receive the pedal. The treadle can be
lowered on the connecting rod when required; by this means the rider can sit
further back, and a tall person ride a small machine.