Improvements in or relating to Spring Arrangements for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 2nd May, 1898-Accepted, 9th July, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Spring Arrangements for Cycles.
I, JOHN ANDRE WRONSKI, of Bornd, in Warshau (Varsovic, Russia), but now
residing at 20, York Buildings, Adelphi, Strand, London, W.C., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to cycles and has for its object to mount the frame of the
cycle upon its wheels that practically no vibration shall be communicated from
the wheels to the frame in the passage of the machine over irregular or uneven
roads.
My invention consists in mounting the carrying forks to the frame of the
cycle in such a manner that the reaction due to the weight of the machine and
rider shall cause the elongation or compression of a spring or its equivalent and
further allow vertical movement of the wheel in passing over irregular or uneven
surfaces that shall not be communicated to the frame, but shall be absorbed by
the springs in their compression or elongation.
In carrying my invention into effect in its application to a safety bicycle, 1
provide a front or steering fork as pivotally mounted at the lower extremity of
the steering head in such a manner as to permit of a certain radial movement.
Upon the fixed part of the extremity of the steering head or tube, we provide a
projecting bracket or finger piece, and at the upper extremities of the respective
stems of the fork, we mount a spiral spring within a casing so disposed that the
projecting bracket or finger piece fixed at the extremity of the steering head or
tube may abut against the spiral spring contained within such casing and so restrain
movement in a radial upward direction. The spring is capable of compression and
for the purpose is mounted upon a collar which is screwed upon a screwed pin
projecting through the casing and within the spiral spring or such collar being
capable of rotation thereupon. The casing is provided with a slot for the recep-
tion of the projecting bracket or finger piece, and at the opposite end of the casing
a bed of india-rubber or other material may be provided so that the extremity of
the projecting bracket or finger piece may be firmly held. It will be understood
that in passing over irregular surfaces the vertical movement of the front or steer-
ing wheel may be permitted by reason of the spiral spring which is capable of
compression and therefore permits of such vertical movement without such being
communicated to the frame.
According to a modification we bifurcate the projecting bracket or finger piece
and pass the bifurcated stems alongside the stems of the fork, while providing
casings upon the stems of the fork in which are mounted spiral springs, slots
being provided within each of the casings in which project pins provided upon the
extremities of the bifurcated stems, so that movement of each of the stems of the
fork is permitted subject to the restraint of each of the springs which are com-
pressed.
We mount the hind wheel upon a fork which is capable of radial movement
about an intermediate spindle attached to the upper portion of the framework of
the machine, while rigidly attached and in one piece with the upper end of this

page_text: fork are brackets connected at their outer ends to links which in turn are pivotted
to a cross piece acting upon a spring contained within a cylinder swivelled to
the upper portion of the framework. The effect of this radial pivotting of the
back forks and the restraint of the radial movement by the herein before mentioned
spring cylinder is similar to that already described with regard to the front wheel,
that is to say when passing over irregular surfaces, the vertical movement and
vibration is largely taken up by the spring cylinder and not transmitted to the
frame of the machine and therefore to the rider. It is evident that as the hind
wheel makes a radial and vertical movement relative to the driving spindle the
ordinary method of chain drive would not be suitable. The drive is in this
instance taken from the chain wheel on the main spindle to a chain wheel carried
upon one outer end of the intermediate spindle upon which the hind forks pivot,
while upon the other end a second chain wheel is carried which communicates by
a chain with the sprocket upon the rear driving wheel. It will thus be seen that
any movement of the wheel is allowed for.
As an alternative device to carrying the spring cylinder in the upper portion
of the frame a cylinder may be carried immediately underneath the main spindle
bracket and links connect the spring within that cylinder to the lower end of
the rear wheel forks, so that the movement of the forks is restrained in 2. similar
manner to the herein before described device; the chain drive in this modification
is also similar to that herein before described.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the employment of springs
in the herein before described modifications but may employ any suitable
equivalents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
Improvements in or relating to Spring Arrangements for Cycles.
I, JOHN ANDRE WRONSKI, of Bornd, in Warsaw (Varsovic, Russia), but now
residing at 20, York Buildings, Adelphi, Strand, London, W.C., Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this 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 cycles, and has for its object to so mount the frame of
the cycle upon its wheels that practically no vibration shall be communicated from
the wheels to the frame in the passage of the machine over irregular or uneven
roads.
My invention consists in mounting the carrying forks to the frame of the cycle
in such a manner that the reaction due to the weight of the machine and rider
shall cause the elongation or compression of a spring or its equivalent, and further
allow vertical movement of the wheel in passing over irregular or uneven sur-
faces that shall not be communicated to the frame, but shall be absorbed by the
springs in their compression or elongation.
Different methods of carrying my. invention into effect are illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cycle showing the application of my improve-
ments to the same, and
Figure 2 is a similar elevation of a cycle illustrating another modification.

page_text: Figure 3 is a diagrammatic elevation of the improved device as applied to ladies'
cycles.
Figure 4 is a diagrammatic detail of a portion of the cycle shown in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a part sectional front view of the spring device attached to the rear
wheel of the cycle as shown in Figure 1.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively end and side elevation on an enlarged scale of
mechanism restraining the front forks of the cycle shown in Figure 1 and 2.
With reference to Figures 1, 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings, I provide
a front or steering fork such as A pivotally mounted upon the spindle 13 situated
at the lower extremity of the steering head D: and the whole arranged in such
a manner as to permit of a radial movement from a to b. Upon the fixed portion
of the extremity of the steering head or tube D, I provide a projecting bracket or
finger piece C rigid with the tube head and at the upper extremities of the
respective stems of the fork A, I mount a spiral spring 1) within a casing E so
disposed that the two fingers e f, which are extensions of the finger piece C, fixed
at the extremity of the steering head, may abut against the spiral spring con-
tained in such casing, and so restrain movement in a radial upward direction.
The finger facts within a slot upon a washer arranged upon the top of the spiral
spring D, while the finger e acts upon the outside of the casing E, this casing E
being as shown attached by the brackets F, F, to the flanges G, G, forming parts
of the fork A. The spring D is capable of compression or extension, and for that
purpose is mounted upon a collar G₁ which is fixed upon a screwed pin H project-
ing through the casing E, so that by screwing it in or out the tension of the spring
may be altered. The casing E is provided with a slot I for the reception of the
finger f, and at the same end of the casing and within it a bed of india rubber
or other material J is provided so that the finger f may be firmly held in position.
It will be understood that in passing over irregular surfaces the vertical move-
ment of the front or steering wheel K, Figure 1, is transmitted to the fork A,
which swings in a radial direction upon the pin B, and by reason of the casing
and spring D causes that spring to be compressed by the finger f, and the motion
to be taken up in compressing that spring instead of being transmitted to the
rider through the rigid frame L, M, N, O, P.
Instead of the spring casing E and finger piece C, I may sometimes bifurcate
the projecting bracket or finger piece in the manner shown by dotted lines on
Figures 6 and 7 and thus produce two long extended fingers Q, Q, which act upon
radially made casings R containing spiral springs S, slots T being provided within
each of the casings R in which project pins U fastened to the finger pieces Q and
gripping collars V within the casing, so that the radial movement of the fork A
is transmitted to the springs S within the cylinders R, and thus absorbs the
vibration in a similar manner to the modification previously described.
Referring to Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings, one method of providing a spring
adjustment for the rear or driving wheel W is there shown. The rear fork X is
capable of radial movement about an intermediate spindle Y attached to the rigid
portion N, O, P of the framework of the machine, while rigidly attached to and
in one piece with the upper end of this fork X are brackets. Z connected at their
outer ends to links which in turn are pivotted to a cross piece h acting upon a
spring contained within a cylinder case attached or pivotted at ml to the upper
Fortion of the framework. The effect of this radial pivotting of the back forks X
and the restraint of the radial movement by the spring i within the cylinder j
is similar to that herein before described with regard to the front wheel K that is.
to say that when passing over irregular surfaces the vertical movement and
vibration is largely taken up by the compression of the spring i, and not trans-
mitted to the frame L, M, N, O, P, and therefore to the rider. It is evident that
as the rear wheel W makes a radial and vertical movement relative to the driving
spindle the ordinary method of chain drive would not be suitable. The drive is
in this instance taken from the chain wheel on the main spindle to a chain
wheel m carried upon one outer end of the intermediate spindle Y upon which

page_text: a
the hind fork X pivots, while upon the other end of that intermediate spindle
chain wheel n is carried, (see Figure 5) which communicates by a chain with the
sprocket wheel p upon the rear driving wheel spindle q. It will thus be seen that
any movement of the rear wheel relatively to the main spindle is thus fully
provided for. The spindle B and Y are preferably mounted upon ball bearings
as clearly shown on Figures 5, 6 and 7.
With reference to Figures 2 and 4 of the drawings as an alternative device to
carrying the spring cylinder j in the upper portion of framework, as in the pre-
viously described modification, it may be carried immediately underneath the
main spindle and fixed on the spindle bracket. Then links acting upon a
spring within the cylinder by means of a pin s Figure 4, are connected up from
the spring to the lower end of the forks X, so that the radial movement of these
forks when passing over rough or irregular surfaces is communicated to the spring
within the cylinder j and the vibration thus absorbed and not transmitted to the
rider.
With reference to the diagrammatic modification shown at Figure 3 as applied
to a ladies' cycle, the forks A and X swivel upon the centres B and Y, and are
restrained in their movement through the distances a, b, by the springs tu, acting
upon arms or finger pieces in a similar manner to the hereinhefore described
modifications.
It is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the employment of springs
in the herein before described modifications, but may employ any suitable
equivalents, such as air cylinders, rubber resistances, or the like.
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. In cycles arranging the forks carrying the rear and front wheels upon ball
bearing pivots situated on the rigid framework of the machine so that the wheels
are capable of a radial movement about these pivots, and providing spring resis-
tances interposed between the rigid framework and the pivotted forks as a means
for absorbing vibration and preventing its transmission from the roadway to the
rider.
2. In cycles in which the rear or driving wheels are carried upon forks radially
pivotted to some rigid portion of the machine arranging the chain drive of the
cycle from the main spindle to the centre about which the forks pivot, and from
there to the centre of the wheel situated upon the lower end of the fork, so that
the radial movement of the fork does not affect the chain drive.
3. In cycles in which the forks carrying the wheels are pivotted at their outer
ends on the rigid framework, the provision of springs in cylinders attached to the
forks and finger pieces acting directly or by pins through slots in that cylinder
as a means for compressing or extending these springs and thus absorbing the
motion and vibration which takes place."
Dated this 30th day of April 1898.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton. Buildings, London.