Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1886.
Complete Left, 10th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 11th Mar., 1887.
I ADAM BURDESS of Holyhead Road Coventry in the county of Warwickshire,
Watch Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to the steering gear of bicycles, tricycles, and other veloci-
pedes, steered by a small non-driven front wheel, mounted in a fork pivotted in a
vertical axis.
I construct and arrange my steering gear as follows:-I mount the steering wheel
in a fork pivotted in a vertical axis by any convenient form of head, or socket to the
forward end of the main frame of the machine. In a convenient position in the rear
of the head of the fork carrying the steering wheel, I mount in suitable supports a
vertical steering bar provided at its uitermost end with a transverse handle bar. On
the vertical steering bar are fixed two short arms, set at right angles to the centre
line of the machine. On the head of the fork carrying the steering wheel are two
similar arms, which are connected to those on the vertical steering bar by suitable
coupling or connecting rods. On the bottom of the vertical steering bar is fixed a
circular dise having a semi-circular groove formed in its periphery. On the frame of
the machine between the vertical steering bar and the head of the fork of the steering
wheel is fixed, in any convenient manner, a hollow cylinder in which is fitted a
plunger carrying at its free end a fork with round prongs which engage with the
groove in the periphery of the disc fixed to the steering bar. A spring made of coiled
steel wire, or other suitable elastic material is placed within the hollow cylinder, which
bears against the end of the plunger, and keeps the root of the fork on the end of it
up to a flat" cut on the edge of the disc fixed to the steering bar. The fork carrying
the steering wheel and the vertical steering bar may be set vertical, or may be raked
backwards as desired. It will be seen that when the transverse handle bar is turned
for the purpose of steering the machine, the motion of it will be communicated to the
fork carrying the steering wheel through the arms, and coupling rods, and that as the
bar is turned the disc fixed on the vertical bar will force the plunger into the cylinder

page_text: and so compress the spring, which by its reaction will tend to restore the steering
wheel, through the vertical steering bar and coupling rods, to its normal position for
running in a straight line.
By constructing and arranging the steering gear according to my invention, the
steering wheel may be carried well forward and so reduce the weight carried by it,
the steering may also be geared up or down to suit the tastes of individual riders,
while the steering wheel will always run in a straight line unless controlled by the
handle bar and will always return to its central position automatically.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.L.M.E.,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70 & 72. (hancery Lane, London, W.C..
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I ADAM BURDESS of Holyhead Road, Coventry in the County of Warwickshire,
Watch Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
--
My invention relates to the steering gear of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocí-
pedes steered by a small non-driven front wheel, mounted in a fork turning on a
vertical axis.
I construct and arrange my steering gear as follows:-I mount the steering wheel
in a fork turning on a vertical axis, by any convenient form of head, or socket, carried
by the forward end of the main frame of the machine. In a convenient position in
the rear of the head of the fork carrying the steering wheel I mount in suitable
supports, a vertical steering bar provided at its uppermost end with a transverse
handle bar, and on its lower end with a cross bar forming two short arms, at right
angles to the centre line of the machine. On the head of the fork carrying the
steering wheel are fixed two arms which are connected to the cross bar, fixed to the
vertical steering bar, by suitable coupling or connecting rods. On the vertical
steering bar is fixed a circular disc having a semi-circular groove formed in its
periphery, and a segmental pari cut off its circumference thus forming a
"flat" on
it. On the frame of the machine between the vertical steering bar, and the head of
the fork of the steering wheel, is pivotally fixed a hollow cylinder, in which is fitted a
plunger carrying at its free end a fork with round prongs, which engage with the
groove in the periphery of the disc fixed to the steering bar. A spring made of
coiled steel wire, or other suitable elastic material, is placed within the hollow evlinder
and bears against the end of the plunger, and keeps the root of the fork on the end of
it, up to the flat" cut on the disc fixed to the steering bar. The fork carrying the
steering wheel, and the vertical steering bar, may he set vertical, or they may be raked
backwards at any desired angle. It will be seen that when the transverse handle bar
is turned for the purpose of steering the machine, the motion of it will be commu-
nicated to the fork carrying the steering wheel through the arms and coupling rods,
and that as the bar is turned the disc fixed on the vertical bar will force the plunger
into the cylinder and so compress the spring which by its reaction will tend to
restore the steering wheel, through the vertical steering bar, and coupling rods, to its
normal position for running in a straight line.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it, making reference to the accompanying drawing, throughout the several
views of which similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a velocipede
showing my improved steering gear, Fig. 2 is a plan thereof, and Figs. 4 and 5 are
views on an enlarged scale, showing the forked plunger and the circular disc,

page_text: Referring to the drawing, A designates the steering wheel mounted in the fork B,
connected to the frame of the machine C, by a vertical head or socket D. E designates
the transverse handle bar carried by the vertical steering bar El mounted in a
socket C carried by an upward extension C² of the frame C. F designates the cross
bar fixed to the steering bar E, and b, b, the arms fixed to the fork B, the coupling
rods connecting them being designated by G, G. H designates the circular dise
having a "flat" formed on, and a semi-circular groove h¹ formed in its periphery.
J designates the hollow cylinder pivotted to the frame C by the stud j. K designates
the plunger fitting in the cylinder J, and having a forked end, the prongs k, k, of
which fit in the semi-circular groove in the disc H, and L designates the helical
spring which keeps the plunger K up to the disc H.
By constructing and arranging the steering gear according as hercinbefore
described, the steering wheel may be carried well forward and so reduce the weight
carried by it; the steering may also be geared up or down to suit the tastes of indi-
vidual riders, and the steering wheel will always run in a straight line unless controlled
by the handle bar, and it will always return to its central position automatically.
I am aware that it is not new to operate the steering wheel of a tricycle from an
independently mounted steering bar, connected to the fork carrying the steering wheel
by coupling rods and arms; and also that devices for controlling the free action of
steering wheels have already been used, and therefore I do not claim these devices
broadly, but having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. I a velocipede the combination of parts for operating, and controlling the
steering wheel, as hereinbefore described and shown.
2. In a velocipede steered by a non-driven front wheel, controlled by a transverse
handle bar carried by a vertical bar mounted in suitable bearings carried by the frame
of the machine, and connected to the fork carrying the steering wheel by suitable
coupling rods and arms, the combination of parts consisting essentially of the circular
disc fixed to the vertical bar and having a flatcut, or formed, on one side, the
hollow cylinder pivotally fixed to the frame of the machine, the forked plunger, and
the helical spring, all arranged specifically as hereinbefore set forth.
3. In a velocipede steered by a non-driven front wheel, the combination with the
fork B carrying the steering wheel A, of the transverse handle bar E, the vertical
steering bar E the cross bar F, the arms b, b, fixed to the fork B, the coupling or
connecting rods G, G, the hollow cylinder J pivotally fixed to the frame of the
machine, the helical spring L within the cylinder, the forked plunger K fitting
therein, and the circular disc H having a "flat" cut on its periphery, all arranged
and operating as, and for the purpose, hereinbefore set forth.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.