US471770A - Tricycle - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet -1.- A, E. MILLER. TRIGYGLE. No. 471,770. atented Mar. 29,1892.

Wifgzsszg W155 M Airways,

(Nd Model.) 2 'Sheets--Sheet 2..

A. E. MILLER.

, TRIGYGLE. v No. 471,770. PatentedMar. 29, 189 2."

. and showing the driving axle A, on which anism, which is connect the machine.

UNITED STATES AUSTIN E. MILLER, OF

SPRAGUE, WASHINGTON.

TRlCYCLEr' SPECIFICATION'forming part of Letters Application filed September 2,

To all whom it may concern/.-

Triing'is a specification. This invention relates to yelocipedes, and more especially tothat class thereof known as tricycles;and the objectof the same is I ts on the device ters Patent No. 438,273 were October 14, 1890. i the invention in the improvements in general conin dottedlines as raised to permit-the application of a basket, also in dotted lines. Fig.

2 is a plan view, part of the frame above the front fork being broken away. Fig. 3. is a vertical transverse section taken on a line justin rear of the axle and-looking toward thefront. Fig. 4 is a perspective detail of the guiding mechanism. Fig.5 is a cross-section through the front seat, looking to the rear mechanism as tilted.

Fig. 6 is acentrallongitndinal sectiouthrough the driving mechanism.

Referring to the said drawings, F designates the frame-work of machine, which has journals are mounted th W W, and forthe front-fork,

eel w.

the letter thisimproved for the maine main wheels which supports Gis theguiding meched with said front fork r guiding or steering the steering-wh and which is useful to L are the levers by which the machine may 'be propelled by anoperator;

D is the driving mechanism, wherein power may be'stored by hand or by the running of the machine downhill, which mechanism is controlled by shifting devices S for throwing it out-of or intoconnectionwith the main axle, and His a basket or other receptacle,

j which is rem Be it known that I, AUsTIN E. lVIILLER,aciticonsists, essen- "as is u'sualri n th comprises a circular portion rear end an upright 2, to wh I v at opposite sid Patent No. 471,770,.dated March 29,1892.

1891. Serial No.404,523. (Nomotlel-l and which is useful for carrying packages e under the circumstances hereinafter named. These various featu improved tricycle combine to produce the complete machine and are preferably used in connection with each other, although I reserve the right tomake such changes therein and elaborations thereof as may come within the spirit of my invention, and the detailed constructions of said features are preferably as'follows:

The frame-work erably of metallic tubing for the sake of lightness and strength, and the various parts thereof are removably and adjustably connected, sclassof machines and as is e drawings. Said framework 1, bearing atits ich is pivotally connected ,the rear seat or saddle 3, bearing es uprights 4, whose lower ends have ball-bearings for the main axle A and illustrated in th purpose to appear hereinafter, and bearing at its front side a forward extension 7, having uprights 8, to which the levers L are pivoted and also to which the front seat or saddle 9 is connected, the front end of this extension 7 carrying the front fork. T provided with two cranks 10 near its center and oppositely disposed, and just inside the bearings 5 it is provided with two small gears 11 and 12,'which are keyed on the axle. driving-wheel Wis 0n the right side of the machine adjace'nt'to the gearll and is keyed to the axle, while'the other large wheel W is ,on the-opposite side of'the machine and is mounted loosely on the axle, so as to permit its independent turning while the tricycle is rounding curves. The front fork 13 carries the steering-wheel to and is journaled in bearings 14 at the 7.- Onthe' shaft of this fork is a gear 15, which intermeshes with a toothed segment 16, mounted at the lower end of a upper end of this with a rod 18, w through suitable b 'up at its rear end.

The guiding mechanism G (best shown in Fig; 4)consists of 'a metallic plate 20, which bar is rigidly connected hich passes rearwardly F of this machine is pref-- front end of the extension.

bar17, and the,

ovably connected with the frame V whose upper ends are socketed, as at 6, for a, ,w

he said axle A is ICO earings '19 and is turned forms the back for the front seat 9 and has atits center a 'rearwardly-turned ear 21, which is perforated,

so as to pass over the upturned end of the rod 18, and is adjustable thereon 13 and the steering-wheel w.

, bearing which embraces one of has by a set-screw 22.

23 is a belt adapted to encircle the waist of a rider sitting on the front seat, and this belt -'passes through eyes 24 in the ends of the seatback, between which eyes it passes behind 26, are straps The propelling mechanism by which the machine may be driven by the operator consists of the levers L, which are-constructed as follows: 30 is the body of the lever, which is bent slightly between its ends'where'it is pivoted, as at 31', to the upright 8, and its upper end 32 is formed into a handle.

33 is a pitman-rod whose rear end has a of the axle A, whose front end is pivoted at 34 ,to the lowerend of the lever 30, and whose front extremity 35, forward of said pivot, is turned, outwardly, so as to form a pedal, there being of course one of such levers and its connection at each side of the machine, and the levers operating oppositely by reason of the opposite disposition of the cranks 10 on the axle By this construction the operator has a chance to draw inwardly on one handle and simultaneously push on the pedal at that side of the machine and on the other handle,

thus giving him an'opportunity at two points during'each revolution of the axle of applying power thereto in three ways at once, and

this-is especially permitted by guiding 'inechanis'm above described, which does: not. occupy the riders hands, as is so common in machines of this'class.

The driving mechanism D is useful for the purpose of assisting in the propulsion of the machine, especially when ,it is heavily laden or when it is moving over rough ground or up a hill,-and this mechanism is constructedas follows: Pivoted in the lower ends of the rear upright 2 and of asim'ilar upright 2','beneath the. extension 7 of the frame, is a horizontal supporting-bar 40, which passes over the center of the axle A, and journaled in this bar is a vertical shaft 41, whereon is keyed a large gear 42, which is adapted 'to mesh with the small gear 11- or 12 orwith, neither, according as this shaft ismoved laterallyof the machine at its upper end. vMounted in theisocketsfG at.the upper ends of the side uprights 4 of the frame is'a cross-plate 43, having a longi-- tudinal slot 44 at its 44, and having at its ,termeshing with similar teeth at theupper body slightly to one side or the cranks lO the improved,

center, in which is loosely mounted a bearing 45 for the upper end ofthis shaft, the said bearing being prevented from. rotation by its engagementwith the slot lower end teeth46, in-

end of a tube 47, which surrounds-and issecured on the shaft 41.

48 is a spiral spring whose inner end 15 secured to the tube 47 and which stands just above thellarge gear 42, and the outer end of this spring is connected with a plate 49', that depends from the edge of a disk 50, which is journaled on the bearing 45.

51 is another spring standing above the first and just beneath the: disk, the outer end of this spring being connected with said plate 49 and its inner end with said hearing. The latter slides on the vertical shaft 41 and is borne normally downward by a spring. 52,

which is interposed between the upper end of the bearing anda bracket 62, described below,

and 55 is a crank-handle adapted to be connected with the upper end of the vertical shaft, as shown. By this means the handle may be rotated in the proper direction to turn the large gear 42 when it is out of mesh with both theslnall gears, and as it turns it winds the inner end of the spring 48 upon its tube,

while the outer end of this spring, being connected by the plate 49'with the other spring 51, winds the latter around the said bearing, and a retrograde movement of the gear is prevented by the intermeshing of the ratchet teeth between the adjacent endsof the tube and. the hearing, this intermeshing being caused by the spring'52 pressing the toothed end of the bearing against the toothed end of the tube, as best seen in Fig. 6.

vWVhen the machine is descending a hill, if the large gear be engagedwith theleft small gear 12 the rotation of the axle will cause the turning of the large gear and its'vertical shaft in the same direction, whereby power will be stored in the springs the same as if it had been done manually byturning the-crank.-

When it becomes necessary throw the driving mechanism D into use, the vertical shaft is canted in the opposite direction, whereby the large gear is caused to mesh with the left small gear 11, and at this time i the unwinding of the springs and the expenditure of, their stored power will assist the operator; but it will be obviously necessary to provide means for disengaging said adjacent or desirable to ends of the tube and bearipg,'and-this I preferably accomplish automatically in the manner described below.

The shifting mechanism S (best seen in-Fig. 5) comprises a shaft -60, extending longitudinally of the-machine and journaled in a bearing 61' the cross-plate 43.

shaft, a bearing in the upper end *of the upright 2' and in another bearing 61, depending'from'; A bracket 62, (above men tioned,) which rises from the rear end of this turns to. the rear and is provided with for the upper end of the vertical therefore theabearing-is From the. lower. en

, shaft 41.

from the said "shat-13:60 to one sideof the 1 front seat, 9} alongside a three-notches, an d' with its outervend pref.-

eiiablyj-turnedf forward, as seen in Fig. 2,

bracket-52'. whine thrown to .the ien, as will.

:the upper end, of the vertical shaft 41-,and

L1; the=largefgeanwill be engaged withthe left gear '12 on.tht=; a;.a1'rle A.- Whenthe handle is :movedfdown;thegear will be in mesh with the other gear-11, and when the handle stands ,ouer the center notch in the rack the large gear ,willbe smallggears. In thelatter p position the vertical shafflmay be rotatedby hand by it's crank .55; but'when'said shaft is inclined to'either side'itg'is'ph'viousthatitv .is desirable to have 2 5 theteethiatthe meeting ends of the tube and I bearing th rowng'out' of engagement, and this i I 'preferablyaccomplish automatically in the -followin g maniier:Onth'e upper side of the! ."cross-plate43 at backside of its slot 44 is an 3n enlargen ent 70, depressed at its center, as at". -.71, -and-thelupperend Oflthe; bearing 45 is provide --w,ith;gatransverse bar or with two darned-to rideIup-the inclined mea este pen -re ere 'an,i i ;.t he teeth' a bearingand gtube re St II automatically drawn 45 upwardly on) thefshaftagainst-the. expansive force of the spring 52, so'as -to;disengageits.

tee th46 fromfthose atthe upper end of the -tube'-4'7. "TherenpoIithe action of thecoiled.

I springs 48 and-51;.in- -automa-tical=lyuncoiling 5o.. is prevented by theengagement of the-large gear with lone elffthesmall gears'ontheaxle.

The basket-B maybe ofanyapproved pat- :tern and of .'ine.ta;l,Wood-, or:- other material.

. -wardl y, andits upper-end is prdvidedwithan eye 81, and the basket-is forated for thefreception of a fastening-pin,

6c the lower endof the basket beingpreferably 65 the basket is in place and filled or partially filled, it issilpported at the-point best suited for it and partiallycounterbalances the weight Al ij operatingehandle '63, extends rack 64, having.

theweight of the connected lay-screws, bolts,

and its-catch engaged 1 .ef-nppermost notch in :the rack, the

outof engagement with both this latitude and-[scope vices;

:enlargements 70. Hence; t-ands-trulyvertical these bins in producing a beautiful whole.- fl he-utility v t t L n 0 jment; butiwhensaidi shaftis tilted. "to either I side .th'e';.projection s 72 arefc'aused "to-travel,v np-thein'clined .facesf ,:the enlargements. 7O

provide thebearing45 and at the "side- 0f '-their ;,dep1 essed centers,- and anti-friction-rollers or balls, which travel easily in the slot 44 and over the enlargements 70,-

adapted for a gentleman and lady,

frame-work .ofthe-i'earupright 2 an arm extends rearwardl-y. and curves'up provided with two Years 82, adapted to embrace saideye and per-' of asingle rider; but when there are two riders thebasketis removed and the rear seat3 is turned down, as seen in full linesin Fig. 1, Y rider thereon then counter balancing the weight of the front operator,

86 are brackets, which may be detachably or pins 87 with the cross-plate 43, and theends of these brackets carry skeleton baskets 88, which may receive light or small parcels.

Other brackets andsnpports may be provided at various parts of the frame for carrying parcels or receptacles for containing the same;'but I prefer to use the basketB principally-for thispu'rpose on account of its location.

. There are certain details of construction whichare shown in the drawings, and it is to. be understood that there are elaborations and modifications which may be madeto a considerable extent without departing from'the spirit of my inv'entiom I may suggest that -which I have not-specifically described, but

9 for the ingenuity of the manufacturer in turning out a practical machine of the class described is perhaps wider in velocipedes than in many-other de- For instance, the specific construction and shapeof the fran1e,*thestyle of thebear: ings,--the materials and proportions of parts, the tires, rims, and spokes of the wheels,the form-of pedals,

except that they enhance the value of the-completed machine and comvarious elements nd'i ts uses and advantages are thought to be obvious.

e and the nature of the saddles employed haveno material effect a-updn the Ice present; invention, Y

and'practica-l and operation of the device'ha s been describedin connection with its 05- Although -I have hot shown it, I ipreferably projections 72 with pivotally secured to said upright, of an arm extending from said upright and a basket adapted to be deta'chably connected with and especially I supported on wheels, arear np-. right carriedby said frame-work, and a saddle supported by said arinwhe'n the saddlefis turned forward, as set forth.

2. In a velocipede, thecombinatio'n, with the right carried by said frame-work,and a saddle pivotally'conn'ectedto said upright, of an arm extending rearwardly from the lower end of saidnpright, turning upwardly, and having an eye at its upper end, a basket adapted to fit between said arm and upright when the i frame-work supported on wheels, a 'rear 'np saddle is thrown forward, said basket having a notch engagingthe body of said arimand a beltto firmly securesecured to said back and adapted to encirclethe riders waist, and shouldenstraps-rising perforated ears on the b'asket,.adapted to align with the hole-in said' eye for the reception of a fastening-devieg-as and for the purpose setforth.' j w 7 t 3; In a veloc-ip'ed'e, the.combination', with the frame-work supported on-w'heels, a fork-journaled insaid frarne-work and carrying the steering-wheel a gear on said fork, a rod journaled'in bearings of the frame-work, a bar depending fromsaid 'ro'd'and having a toothed of a seat-back havingia rearwardly-projectin g perforated ear loosely mounted on said .up-,'

turned end and vertically adj nstablethereo-n, the body ttos'aidlback from said belt, as and for the purpose set forth.- '4; In a velocipede,-t he combination, with the f rame-work supported on wheels; a fork jour-.

naled in said framework-and carrying the steering-wheeLa seat, a horizontal rod mount-- ed in bearin gs of the frame-work with itsjr'ear .end upturned behind said seat, and connections between said-rod and fork, of'a seat-back having a rearwardly-proj octin g perforated ear adjustably mounted on said upturned end,-

said back, and a belt whose eyes at the ends of center stands in rear of the back and passes forwardly through said eyes and whose body.

is adapted to embrace the, waist of'lhe rider, as and for thepurpose set forth.

5. ha velocipede, the combination, with the frame-work, an axle journ-aled in the rear end thereof and provided with oppositely-disposed cranks, a fork journaled at the f r'ont end therei of, wheels'on said axle jan'd'in said fork, a seat,'; and guiding-mechanism, vsubstantially as described, for turning said fork', 'of two-levers, each pivoted between its ends-to the framework adjacentthe seat,- a pitman connecting the lower end of each lever with'oneof said cranks, and ahandleat the upper end and pedalatthe lower-endof'each lever, as set forth.

6. In a tr cycle, the combination, with th frame-workcomprisinga circular portion having a forward. extension, a. steering-wheel uprightsatthe sides of said circulartherein,

j-portion ,-an' axle journal-ed therein and-carrying a longitudinal slot,

- in g the supporting-wheels,

r and small gears on said axle, of a cross-plate detachably secured tothe upper ends-of said 1 uprights and hava supporting bar pivj otallymounted in uprights ofthe frame and fandengaging the and forthe'purpose-hereinbefore set forth. 1 that I claim the foregoing'a's standing at right angles to,

and above said axle, a shaft stepped in said bar, a large gear thereon adapted to engage one of those'outhe axle when -the shaft is tipped, a bearing sliding in said slot and-em- [bracing the body of said shaft, acoiled spring connecting said bearing and shaft, a disk supported by said bearing abovethespringa ratchet'for preventing a retrograde movement ofthe shaft when it is vertical," but permitting it when it "is 'inclined, and shifting mechanism, substantially as described, for moving the bearing in said slot, asfa'ndtfor thepurpose set forth.-

wheels, small gears on said axleflan upright 'sh-aft 'stepped in anoscillating bar-and have ing alarge gear adapted those'on the axle, and a tube on said-shaft,

-7. In a tricycle, the combination, with the. f rame -work, the axle carrying the supportinghaving ratchetteeth at its upper; end, of -a cross-plate on the frame-work, having alon g' -gitudin'alslot, upward enlargements. ati-lthe "sides of said slot, provided withdepressed 'c'nters, a bearing in said slot, havinglateral projections riding on saidenlargementathe 'up-' .per end-of the shaft passing throngh-s'aidbear ing and the-lower'end of the'latter having ratchet-teeth, a coiled spring connecting the bearing and tube, an oscillating shaft, 1 a bracket rising therefrom and embracing the -u p'per end of said upright shafwan expansive spring between said bracket and bearing,

and shifting mechanism,

substantially as described, for operating said oscillating shaft, I

as and for the purpose setforth.

I 8.; In a device of the character dese ribed, the. combination, with; the frame -work, the

axle carrying thesupporting-wheels, a slotted cross-plate on the frame-work, a bearing thereimand a spring driving mechanism, 'sn'bst'antially as described, whose shaft extendsto a upwardly th rough said bearing, of anoscillat ing" shaft, a'bracket rising therefrom and embracing the upper endef said driving-shaft,

a notched rack, a h'andlefprojecting-fromsaid oscillating shaft alongsideythe rack, and a spring-actuated catch connected to-the. handle notches of the rack, all as .In-testim'ony 0.1L NEA 'l. J. BLEIMS.

Images