Untitled record

Application filed January 24,1890. Serial No. 338,003. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, Albert F. Chace, of s Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and 5 useful Improvements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to velocipedes generally, and particularly to that class commonly known as “ tricycles.”

It is the object of the invention to economize power and gain speed in the operation of the tricycle.

It is also the object of the invention to provide an improved spring-seat .which shall be 15 more comfortable and commodious than those now employed.

My invention comprises a driving-wheel, which is adapted to be operated by means of; levers through the medium of clutch mech20 anism, the said driving-wheel engaging a wheel arranged on the main axle and connected with the same by means of a clutch mechanism, so that by the movement of the levers the wheels will be operated to drive the 25 machine ahead, while the manner in which the wheel on the main axle is connected with the latter permits of the ready movement of the machine backward.

My invention also comprises a seat supported upon springs operating at various points near its edge or circumference, so that it may yield from a horizontal position when borne upon at any point touching an imaginary line radiating from its center or yield bodily in a vertical direction.

My invention will first be described in connection with the annexed drawings and letters of reference marked thereon, forming a part of this specification, and then be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tricycle embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a top plan yiew.of the same, the seat being removed. Fig. 3 is a side view of the portion of the clutch mechanism which is attached to the axle to be driven, and the clutching-dog and its immediate, adjuncts attached to the part of the clutch that is operated by the lever. Fig. 4 is a front view of. a 50 clutch mechanism that may be employed m to

4° the invention. Fig. 5 is a detail, partially in section, showing the manner of supporting the seat in my improved tricycle.

In the drawings, a designates the main axle provided with the usual wheels b. Upon the 55 main axle a is arranged a gear.c, provided upon one, or it may be both, sides with a clutch mechanism d, secured to the shaft. This clutch is so devised as that when the o-ear c is driven forward, as indicated by the 60 arrow 1 in Fig. 2, the clutch will be engaged or locked with the said gear and be impelled in the same direction; but when the gear is left free the wheels b and axle a may be run backward with entire freedom. ' e designates an axle journaled in suitable bearings connected with the hounds/, and g designates a gear-wheel fixed upon axle e and constructed and arranged to engage and drive¹gear-wheel c. A clutch mechanism h, similar 70 to clutch mechanism d, is arranged 011 .each end of axle e, the part of each of which clutch mechanism movably arranged on axle e being connected, with a lever i. T.he construction and arrangement of the clutch mech- 7 5 anism are such that as the levers are moved backward and forward the gear-wheel g will be impelled in the direction indicated by the arrow 2.

In Figs. 3 and 41 have shown a clutch mech- 80 anism that is well suited for the purposes hereinbefore mentioned, though any similar contrivance calculated to perform the same function may be employed. In the said figures, j designates the-part of the clutch which is fixed 85 to the axle e and gear c, and k the part that is attached to axle a and levers i. The part j is recessed in its side, so as to admit of the part k partially entering and operating therein, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 4. 90 The part k is provided on its inner face with a pivoted dog Z, adapted to rest on a pin m, and barely out of contact with the face n of rim 0 on part j when the part k is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3; but when 95 the said part k is moved in a direction opposite to that indicated by the arrow the dragspring /, connected with the dog Z, will move the latter, so as to bring its free end into engagement with the face n of rim 0 and so 100

433,720 lock the two parts together, as will be readily understood. The moment the part k is moved in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 3 the free end of the. dog I will be disengaged from 5 the face n of rim o, and the spring n, dragging on the face of part ;, will move the dog back upon pin m.

q designates, the seat, which is provided with three, or it may be more, legs r, which io rest upon springs s, arranged in socketed standards t, extending up from a frame u, supported upon the hounds / and axle a. Any suitable means may be provided for preventing the legs r from bounding out of the sock15 ets of standards t.

v designates the forward guide-wheel suitably arranged in a frame which is pivotally connected by a bolt w to the forward end of the hounds/, which may be provided with a 20 rack a?, which engages with a pinion y on the rear end of the frame of the guide-wheel, said frame being also provided with a cross· bar z upon which the feet of the operator may rest when the machine is being impelled. With 25 this construction great power can be easily exerted by the occupant of the seat q to drive the machine ahead, and with his feet restin °· upon the cross-bar z it can be readily guided in any desired course.

By varying the respective sizes of the gears c and g the speed at which the machine may be run with respect to the time in which the levers z are operated may be regulated to suit t varying purposes.

By providing a clutch mechanism to connect.gear c with axle a, I am enabled, when required by necessity, to run the machine backward.

It is obvious that changes may be made in the form and arrangement of parts compris- 40 ing my invention without departing from its • nature or spirit. For example, the gears c and g might be constructed as sprocket-wheels and connected by means of a chain arranged on the said wheels.