Patent GB-778364-A (GB)
Title: An anti-crash attachment for motor cycles, cycles or the like
IPC: B62H1/12
Filed: 1954-10-01
Abstract: 778,364. Safety wheels for motor cycles. MANSFIELD, J. A. Sept. 30, 1955 [Oct. 1, 1954], No. 28324/54. Class 136(1). In an anti-crash attachment for motor cycles, cycles or the like comprising a shaft 3 fitted at its ends with outrigger wheels 1, the shaft is partially supported horizontally across two fixed frame plates 4 spaced apart by tubes 5 which may be telescopic so that they may be altered in length to suit different types of cycles. The wheels 1 are fitted on each of two adjustable extension arms 2 fitted one at either end of the axle 3. Slotted slide plates 7 are pivoted at 8 to the rear ends of the plates 4 so that they can be inclined downwardly relative to the plates 4. The slots 9 guide the axle 3 when it slides along the inclinable plates 7. When both outrigger wheels are clear of the ground the axle 3 will be held in a horizontal position at the rear or pivotal end of the plates 7 by a series of tension springs 10 attached at one end by an anchor plate 11 to the centre of the axle 3 at 12 and at the other end to a rear spacing tube 5 carried by extension plates 19. The swinging movement of the plates 7 is limited by slotted link plates 13 pivoted at 13a on the forward ends of the slotted side plates 7 and on the front spacing bar 5 at 13b. When cornering to the left on the cycle the left outrigger wheel 1 will contact the ground and pressure will be applied to it in an upward and backward direction. This causes the left portion of the axle 3 to pivot on the adjacent frame plate 4 thus making the right portion of the axle 3 slide down the edge 6 of the right hand slotted plate 7 to the limit of the slot 9. The right hand plate 7 is swung downwardly and the axle 3 is positioned diagonally and inclined across the plates 4 so that the wheels 1 are facing the direction of travel. When the pressure on the left hand wheel 1 is relieved the tension springs 10 will return the axle 3 to the horizontal position. Instead of making the edge 6 of each frame plate straight, as shown in Fig. 1, this edge may be downwardly curved and the slot 9 so related that it permits additional downward displacement of the axle 3. In a further modification the slotted pivoted plates 7 may be replaced by a single platform which is inclined upwardly from front to rear of the cycle with the axle pivoted to the undersurface of the platform. The device may be fitted to a motor cycle by means of angle irons 14 which are provided with key hole slots 16 engageable by bolt heads 15. As shown in Fig. 1, the angle irons 14 are connected to the engine E of the motor cycle. Narrow co-acting angle wedges 17 are provided for holding the unit firmly in position. Two small hand wheels 18 keep the wedges in position. On slackening the hand wheels the unit may be pulled forward until the bolt heads 15 can drop through the larger ends of the key hole slots 16. The overall length of the unit may be reduced by dispensing with the extension plates 19 carrying the rear spacer bar 5 and replacing the tension springs 10 by torsion springs. The bar 5 is fitted between the rear ends of the plates 4 and two torsion springs are anchored at their outer ends to the plates 4 and at their inner ends to a pulley wheel mounted on the bar. The pulley wheel is connected by a chain to the axle 3 by means of a connection such as 12.