MENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1878

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Robert James Rae at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th September 1878.
ROBERT JAMES RAE, of Hampstead, in the County of Middlesex.
MENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
"IMPROVE-
These improvements consist, firstly, in a novel form of bearings and axles for
velocipedes. Upon the axles are formed conical projections; the bearings made in
halves are recessed and fit thereon, and screws or bolts are used to adjust them, as
usual.
The axle may be formed in one piece as customary, with the cranks keyed or
otherwise fastened thereon; or may be made in halves, in which case the cranks
can be forged or formed in one piece with the axles. These cranked axles fit into
recesses in the sides of the hub, and are held therein by flanges and screws, or by
keys or other suitable means. The top and bottom halves of the bearings may be
exactly alike, and have sockets tapped so that they may be screwed on to the fork
ends; this allows the bearings to be reversed and so wear more uniformly.
The hind wheel bearings are made as follows:-Upon the ends of the hind fork
bosses are formed, through which holes are drilled and countersunk from each
side. Small axles project from each side of the wheel hub, and cones formed thereon
fit the inside of the fork ends; loose cones fit on to the axles from the outside, and
serve to complete the bearings, which are adjustable by screws fitting into the ends
of the axles.
Another improvement relates to the construction of roller bearings for velocipedes;
the rollers, instead of being solid as at present, consist of metal tubes; the friction
on the ends is thereby diminished and lightness in weight attained. Oil holes may
be made in the rollers, and cotton or other suitable substance placed inside the
rollers soaks up the lubricant and causes it to expend itself more gradually than at
present.
The inside surfaces of the bearings may have faces formed thereon for the rollers
to revolve upon or against; this form of bearing is alike applicable to the ordinary
kind of axles or to cranked axles fixed into the sides of the hub, as already
described.
Another improvement relates to a novel form of constructing tricycles and
bicycles. In constructing a tricycle the driving wheel is placed in front after the

page_text: manner of an ordinary bicycle, excepting that the fork is fixed to the backbone, a
horizontal fork connecting the axle bearing to the hind part of the backbone, which
continues down in rear of the wheel to within about a foot of the ground.
The two hind wheels are placed parallel to each other, and run independently in
bearings upon a light iron frame or hind carriage hinged or jointed to the backbone,
and free to turn to right or left and so guide the tricycle, the rider steering by
means of cords or rods connected to the handles or to levers within easy reach of
the hands. The hinge or joint of the hind carriage is fitted with a spring, upon
which the backbone rests, and upon the bolt of the hinge is formed a screw turning
in a nut fixed to the backbone in such a manner that the rider can alter the rake
of the front fork at will. Sometimes, instead of using a tubular backbone, it may
be made of a U or other like section so that the wheel may partly run within.
The forks are sometimes made of metal tubes, and proper steps, luggage carriers,
and break are fitted to the tricycle.
In like manner a bicycle may be constructed in so far as regards the forks, back-
bone, and driving wheel, the hind wheel being fitted to a fork which turns in a
socket formed on a projecting horizontal arm or bracket in rear of the backbone;
or the fork may be fixed to the said arm or bracket, and this be hinged to the
backbone, as in the case of the tricycle hind carriage. The rider steers by means
of cords or rods operated by the handles or levers, and connected to the hind wheel
fork or to the projecting arm or bracket when this is hinged to the backbone.
Another improvement has reference to the saddles of velocipedes, and enables the
rider more easily to mount and dismount, and also lessens the danger when descending
a hill. Upon the backbone spring is bolted a metal frame, and to this the saddle is
hinged in such a manner that it may rock and tilt back until the hind part comes
down close to the backbone spring, and it is there held by means of suitable springs.
In mounting the rider in the act of getting into or upon the saddle causes it to tilt
forward into the proper position for driving the velocipede. A spring is fixed to
the front part of the saddle, and this the rider when mounted can attach to a hook
placed conveniently for the purpose, the saddle being thereby prevented from tilting
back too freely, but nevertheless the rider when descending a hill may recline back-
wards sufficiently to avoid the danger of pitching over the handles.
Another improvement relates to the wheels of velocipedes, which are constructed
in the following manner:-The wire spokes are headed at one end and screwed at
the other, and pass through holes in the rim as usual. Small metal coupling flanges,
in which two holes are suitably tapped, connect the hub ends of the spokes together
in pairs, the length of the spokes allowing the coupling flanges to reach nearly to
the hub, and they are connected thereto by screws passing through them and
screwing into the hub flanges. Set nuts may be used to secure the coupling flanges
firmly when properly tightened up.
Sometimes another method is adopted for attaching the coupled spokes to the
hub. Metal studs having screwed ends project radially from the hub flanges, and
over these the coupling flanges pass, and are tightened up by nuts on the stud ends.
Nuts may also be placed below the couplings to secure them when in the required
position.
The wheel may be increased in strength, if instead of coupling alternate spokes
each spoke be coupled with the sixth one distant therefrom in the rim.
The advantages of this wheel are that it contains two spokes for every screw or
stud in the hub flanges; next that the spokes may be screwed into the coupling
flanges and attached to the hub without any wrenching strain or injury to the wire;
and, lastly, the wheel is light, strong, and readily made or repaired.