Year: 1885

page_text: I, JOHN EVANS HUMPHRIS, of 8 Southern Road, Thame, in the County of Oxford,
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to so construct bicycles as to give similar security
from danger of the machine falling over sideways as is obtained in tricycles, while
at the same time the general appearance of the bicycle is not materially altered,
nor its speed materially diminished.
For this purpose the front driving wheel of the bicycle is made with two or more
rims within the steering fork, such rims being situated at any suitable distances
apart.
The driving wheel may either have a single boss to which the rims are connected
by spokes preferably crossing each other, or the wheel may have two or more
separate bosses mounted on the driving axle between the fork bearings, in which
latter case the different rims may either be connected to the bosses by the spokes
crossing each other in such a manner as to form in reality only one wheel, or they
may be each separately connected to one of the bosses so as to form two or more
wheels.
The rims themselves may also be connected together by cross ties or braces, so
as to give additional strength to the compound wheel.
When separate wheels are employed they may if desired be capable of a partial
independent rotation on the axle, for the purpose of facilitating the turning.of the
machine in a circle or arc of small radius.
By my improved construction the bicycle will have the same appearance as
usual when seen from the side, while the two or more rims with which the driving
wheel is provided will ensure additional stability, and so diminish the risk of the
machine falling over sideways.
:

page_text: .
I, JOHN EVANS HUMPHRIS, of 8 Southern Road, Thame, in the County of Oxford,
Builder, 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:-
The object of my invention is to so construct bicycles as to give similar security
from danger of the machine falling over sideways as is obtained in tricycles, while
at the same time the general appearance of the side elevation of the bicycle is not
materially altered, nor is the speed of the machine materially diminished.
For this purpose the front driving wheel of the bicycle is made with two or
more rims within the steering fork, such rims being situated at any suitable
distances apart.
The driving wheel may either have a single boss to which the rims are connected
by spokes preferably crossing each other, or the wheel may have two or more
separate bosses mounted on the driving axle between the fork bearings, in which
latter case the different rims may either be connected to the bosses by the spokes
crossing each other in such a manner as to form in reality only one wheel, or they
may be each separately connected to one of the bosses so as to form two or more
wheels.
The rims themselves may also be connected together by cross ties or braces, so
as to give additional strength to the compound wheel.
When separate wheels are employed they may if desired be capable of a partial
independent rotation in relation to each other, for the purpose of faciliating the
turning of the machine in a circle or arc of small radius.
By my improved construction the bicycle will have the same appearance as
usual when seen from the side, while the two or more rims with which the driving
wheel is provided will ensure additional stability, and so diminish the risk of the
machine falling over sideways.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing illustrates a suitable method of constructing
the front driving wheel with two rims attached to a single boss; Fig. 2 is a vertical
section, and Fig. 3 a plan view, taken from the under side, showing a suitable
method of connecting the two rims together.
In these Figures A is the boss of the driving wheel mounted on the driving axle
and operated in any suitable manner, treadles B being shown as secured to
said axle. The rims C and C₁ are secured to such boss A by the spokes D, D¹,
and the cross spokes E, E¹, while the rims themselves are connected together by
the cross ties or braces F, any suitable number of which may be provided and
secured in any convenient manner at suitable distances apart around the circum-
ference of such rims. The rims may be fitted with india rubber tyres Ġ as shown.
H is the steering fork of the bicycle.
Figs. 4, 5, and 6, illustrate a suitable method of constructing the front driving
wheel with two or more rims, each attached to a separate boss, one of which is
capable of a partial independent rotation on the axle, for the purpose of facilitating
the turning of the bicycle in a circle or arc of small radius.

page_text: In these Figures the rim C is connected by the spokes D to boss A, and the
rim C to boss A¹ by the spokes D¹. The boss A is fixed to the driving axle,
while boss A¹ is mounted loosely thereon. Boss A carries a pin I engaging a
groove J formed in boas A¹, so as to permit the latter to turn on the axle until
pin I comes in contact with a stop J'arranged in groove J, after which the two
bosses (forming the compound wheel) will revolve together.
By this arrangement when the compound wheel is turned by the steering fork
for the purpose of travelling in a circle or arc, the inner rim being obliged to
travel in a smaller circle than the outer one, will cause one wheel to move in
relation to the other, the pin and groove connection between the bosses of the two
rims permitting this. As soon as the machine is made to travel in a straight line
again, the pin I will again come in contact with stop J¹ and the two bosses be
caused to revolve together at the same speed.
The mode of connecting the parts of the compound wheel so as to allow a partial
rotation of one in relation to the other might be effected in any other suitable
manner, but I prefer to employ the arrangement above described,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. Forming the driving wheel of bicycles with two or more rims within the
steering fork substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. Making the driving wheel of bicycles with two or more rims arranged within
the steering fork and connected with separate bosses which are capable of a partial
rotation in relation to each other, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
DL
OL
T12000