Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 22nd Apr., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 27th May, 1887.
I CHARLES ANDREW EDWARD TALBOT PALMER of " Gairlochy" Handsworth
Wood Birmingham in the County of Staffordshire Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows: →
My invention relates to bicycles driven by the rear wheel through a rotary pedal
crank mounted immediately in front of the said wheel, and steered by the front wheel
through a transverse handle bar mounted on the raked steering post, or head; the
object being to render the adjustment of the position of the pedal crank axle for the
purpose of adjusting the driving chain, more perfect.
I mount the driving wheel in the usual fork, which at its forward end is fixed to a
backbone carrying a neck, or socket, by which it is connected to the head, or raked
steering post, on the top of the fork carrying the steering wheel. From the backbone
immediately in front of the driving wheel rises a tube to receive the support for the
saddle. On the underside of the backbone, immediately under the tube for carrying
the seat support, that is, as close to the periphery of the driving wheel as is convenient,
is hinged a tubular arm carrying at its lower end a bearing bracket in which is
mounted the pedal crank axle, fitted with the usual crank, pedals, and chain wheel, the
latter of which is connected to a chain wheel on the driving wheel, or on the axle thereof,
by an endless chain in the well known manner. Connected to the pedal crank axlo
bracket, or to the tubular arm that carries it, is a light stay rod, which passes through
an eye fixed to the forward part of the backbone, and is adjusted, and fixed, by a lock-
nut or nuts. This rod serves the double purpose of adjusting the position of the
tubular arm carrying the pedal crank axlo, for the purpose of adjusting the chain, and
also of acting as a stay rod. I prefer to make the hinge, with the jaws on the
backbone, or on a bracket fixed thereto, and to make the male part of the hinge on
the end of the tubular arm.
I am aware that the brackets carrying the pedal crank axles, have been already
pivotted to the tubes carrying them, and therefore it is not my intention to claim such

page_text: an arrangement broadly, but to confine myself to the arrangement hereinbefore
described which has the following advantages; more perfect adjustment of the chain
inasmuch as the pedal crank axle describes a much larger radius than when the bracket
carrying it is hinged close to the periphery of the chain, wheel, and the joint being so
far away from the cranks, is not subject to the same lateral strain as if it were close to
the pedal crank axle, and the strain being more of a downward thrust the hinge is not
so liable to work loose.
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.
10

page_text: 1 CHARLES ANDREW EDWARD TALBOT PALMER of "Gairlochy" Handsworth
Wood, Birmingham in the County of Staffordshire, 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 that type of bicycle driven by the rear wheel through a
rotary pedal crank axle mounted immediately in front of the said wheel, and steered
by the front wheel through a transverse handle bar mounted on the raked steering post
or head; the object being to render the adjustment of the position of the pedal crank
axle for the purpose of adjusting the driving chain, more perfect.
I mount the driving wheel in a fork of the usual kind, which at its forward end is
fixed to a backbone carrying at its free end a neck or socket, by which it is connected
to the head or raked steering post on the top of the fork carrying the steering wheel.
From the backbone immediately in front of the driving wheel rises a tube to receive
the support for the saddle, and on the under side of the backbone immediately under
the tube for carrying the seat support that is, as close to the periphery of the driving
wheel as convenient is hinged a tubular arm carrying at its lower end a bearing in
which is mounted the pedal crank axle, fitted with the usual cranks, pedals, and chain
wheel, the latter of which is connected to a chain wheel on the driving wheel, or on
the axle thereof, by an endless chain in the well known manner. Connected to the
pedal crank axle bracket, or to the tubular arm that carries it, is a light stay rod the
free end of which passes through an eye fixed to the forward part of the backbone, and is
adjusted and fixed by a lock nut or nuts. This rod serves the double purpose
of bracing and staying the tubular arm carrying the pedal crank axle, and also of
varying the position of the pedal crank axle for adjusting the chain.
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.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle fitted with my invention and Figures 2
and 3 are a side, and front elevation, respectively of that part of the frame forming
the subject of my invention.
Referring to these figures, A designates the driving wheel mounted in the fork B.
C designates the steering wheel mounted in the fork D. B₁ designates the backbone
fixed to the fork B at one end, and terminating in a socket 6 at the other end.
B designates the tube for carrying the seat support E. D' designates the raked
steering post fixed to the top of the fork D, and after passing up through the socket b
on the backbone B¹, receives the support F for the transverse handle bar, and B
designates the tubular arm carrying the bearing & for the pedal crank axle Ġ, which
is fitted with cranks, pedals, and chain wheel of the usual kind. The tubular arm B³
is connected to the backbone B¹ by a hinge or joint 6, and is braced thereto by the
rod 63 fixed to the arm B at its lower end, and passing through an eye 6* fixed to the

page_text: forward end of the backbone B2, is adjusted therewith, and fixed thereto, by the
nuts b³, b³.
When it is required to adjust the tension of the driving chain, or to take up the
slack thereof after wear, the bolt of the binge or joint is first slackened, and then
the position of the pedal crank axle is varied by tightening up one or other of the
nuts, b. After the necessary adjustment is obtained, the other nut 65 is screwed up
to lock the rod, and the bolt of the hinge or joint 6 is also tightened up.
The parts to which no special reference is made, present no novel features and form
no part of my invention.
I am aware that the brackets carrying the pedal crank axles of this, and other types
of velocipedes have already been pivotted to the tubular frames carrying them, and
therefore I do not broadly claim such a device, but I confine myself to the arrangement
hereinbefore described which has the following advantages. First:-More perfect
adjustment of the chain, inasmuch as the pedal crank axle describes a much larger
radius than when the bracket carrying it is hinged close to the periphery of the chain
wheel. Secondly:-The hinge or joint being so far away from the cranks, is not
subject to the same lateral strain as if it were close to the pedal crank axle; and
therefore thirdly-As the strain becomes more of a downward thrust, the hinge is not
so liable to work loose or shaky.
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 a rear driving safety bicycle, the method of varying the position of the
pedal crank axle for adjusting the tension of the driving chain substantially as
set forth.
2. In a safety bicycle the rear wheel of which is driven from a pedal crank axle
mounted immediately in front of the driving wheel through a chain or band, and the
frame carrying the driving wheel of which consists essentially of a horizontal or
approximately horizontal fork and backbone, and a vertical, or approximately vertical,
tube extending upwards to support the seat and downwards to support the pedal crank
axle; hinging that part of the vertical or approximately vertical tube extending
downwards from the backbone to carry the pedal crank axle, to the backbone as near
thereto and to the root of the fork carrying the driving wheel as possible, and bracing
it to the backbone by a rod made adjustable with its connection to the backbone, as
and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
3. In the frame of a front steering rear driving bicycle having rotary chain driving
mechanism, the combination of the fork B to carry the driving wheel, the backbone B³,
the tube B to carry the saddle, the tubular arm B3 hinged direct to the backbone Bi
by the joint b and carrying the pedal crank axle, the tie rod 63, the bracket &,
and the locknuts 66, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose
set forth.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.