Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 14th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 14th Oct., 1887
I, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON of No. 46 Wimpole Street in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in tricycles, bicycles and other
velocipedes.
Heretofore the axles of the driving wheels have been carried in bearings which are
fixed relatively to the frame; and where the driving wheels are actuated from a
pedal axis by means of a chain and chain wheels the bearings for the pedal axis have
also been fixed relatively to the frame.
Now according to my invention I make the bearings of the axle of the driving
wheels and also the bearings for the pedal axis moveable in relation to the frame.
I mount the bearings for the axle of the driving wheels on swinging arms jointed to
the frame and I provide a spring between these arms and the frame. The bearings of
the driving wheels are thus made moveable relatively to the frame in a vertical plane
but all lateral play is prevented. The wheels are thus free, in passing over inequalities
of the road, to move to some extent independently of the frame. When driving by a
chain and chain wheels I insure regular tension of the driving chain by as already
stated mounting the bearings of the pedal axis on swinging arms. I connect the swinging
arms carrying the bearings of the driving axle with the swinging arms carrying the
bearings of the pedal axis by means of a connecting rod so that they always move
together keeping the driving chain uniformly tight. This connecting rod is fitted
with nuts so that the distance between the axle of the driving wheels and the pedal
axis can be increased to allow for the stretching of the chain. Or in place of the
connecting rod I can apply a spring to maintain at all times a suitable tension of the
driving chain.
DL: 15th Jaw of December 1886
+

page_text: I, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON of No. 46 Wimpole Street, in the county of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
inanner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to the construction of the frames of bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes, and it has for its objects suppression of vibration, diminution of
power for propulsion, reduction of wear and tear of the machine, and consequently
increased life thereof.
1 attain these objects by making the bearings of the driving and pedal crank axles
moveable with respect to the frame of the machine-though not moveable with respect
to each other so that the driving wheels are free to move in a vertical plane, oi
approximately so, with respect to the frame, within certain limits defined by the action
of a spring or springs arranged to keep the parts in a given normal position.
My invention is applicable to all types of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes
whether driven by a rotary or a lever action, though is is specially suited for tricycles
and other velocipedes having three or more wheels, as greater vibration is set up in
these machines than in those having but two wheels. I will therefore for the purpose
of this application describe its application to a tricycle, making reference to the
accompanying drawing, which shows its application to such a machine, and throughout
the several views of which similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the application of
my invention to a front steering tricycle. Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, and
Figure 3 is a plan of one of the brackets showing the form of joint I prefer to use.
Referring to these figures it will be seen that I form or mount the bearings a, a,
and a, a, carrying the driving and pedal crank axles B and B¹ respectively, on
brackets A and A' which are pivotally connected to the frame C of the machine, by
joints or hinges D and D', preferably made like heads with adjustable coned centres.
To keep the two axles B and B at one uniform distance from each other in rotary
machines driven by a chain, the brackets A and A' are connected together by a bar
or link E, which is made adjustable in length by a right and left handed nut e or its
equivalent, to provide a means of adjusting the positions of the axles B and B¹ with
respect to each other to compensate for the wear of stretching of the chain.
To support the dead weight of the machine and the rider, an elastic tie rod F
preferably taking the shape of a coil spring connects the bracket A with the main
frame C of the machine. If desired two or more such elastic tie rods may be used
connecting either or both of the brackets A and A' with the frame (, and the elastic
tie rods may be made adjustable for strength to suit riders of different weights.
Instead of using a single rod or link E, a pair may be used, or a single one forked at

page_text: each end may be used to take the thrust centrally between the bearings. Instead of
a rod or link a spring may be used of sufficient strength to maintain a suitable tension
on the driving chain at all times.
Those parts to which no special reference has herein been made, or which are
omitted from the drawing for the sake of distinctness, have no bearing on my invention
and present no novel features, they may therefore be of the usual or any other
convenient construction compatible with my invention.
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. In a velocipede, mounting the bearings of the axle carrying the driving wheel or
wheels on a bracket hinged to the frame of the machine, and controlled by an elastic
tie rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a velocipede, mounting the bearings of the driving and pedal crank axles on
brackets hinged or jointed to the main frame of the machine, and controlled by one
or more elastic tie rods connecting the free ends of the said brackets with the main
frame of the machine, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a velocipede, mounting the bearings of the driving and pedal crank axles on
brackets hinged or jointed to the main frame of the machine, coupling the free ends
of the said brackets together by a rod or link so as to preserve one uniform distance
between the said axles, and controlling the action of the said brackets with respect to
the frame of the machine by one or more elastic tie rods, substantially as set forth.
4. In a velocipede the combination with the driving and pedal crank axles B, B¹, of
the brackets A, A', carrying the bearings a, a, and a', a', and hinged to the frame C
by the heads D, D¹, the elastic tie rod F, the rod or link E made adjustable in its
length by the right and left handed nut e, all arranged and operating as and for the
purpose herein before set forth.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1886
Complete Left, 14th Sept., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 14th Oct., 1887
1, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON of No. 46 Wimpole Street in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in tricycles, bicycles and other
velocipedes.
Heretofore the axles of the driving wheels have been carried in bearings which are
fixed relatively to the frame; and where the driving wheels are actuated from a
pedal axis by means of a chain and chain wheels the bearings for the pedal axis have
also been fixed relatively to the frame.
Now according to my invention I make the bearings of the axle of the driving
wheels and also the bearings for the pedal axis moveable in relation to the frame.
I mount the bearings for the axle of the driving wheels on swinging arms jointed to
the frame and I provide a spring between these arms and the frame. The bearings of
the driving wheels are thus made moveable relatively to the frame in a vertical plane
but all lateral play is prevented. The wheels are thus free, in passing over inequalities
of the road, to move to some extent independently of the frame. When driving by a
chain and chain wheels I insure regular tension of the driving chain by as already
stated mounting the bearings of the pedal axis on swinging arms. I connect the swinging
arms carrying the bearings of the driving axle with the swinging arms carrying the
bearings of the pedal axis by means of a connecting rod so that they always move
together keeping the driving chain uniformly tight. This connecting rod is fitted
with nuts so that the distance between the axle of the driving wheels and the pedal
axis can be increased to allow for the stretching of the chain. Or in place of the
connecting rod I can apply a spring to maintain at all times a suitable tension of the
driving chain.
1511
Desember 1886
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON of No. 46 Wimpole Street, in the county of
Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 the construction of the frames of bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes, and it has for its objects suppression of vibration, diminution of
power for propulsion, reduction of wear and tear of the machine, and consequently
increased life thereof.
I attain these objects by making the bearings of the driving and pedal crank axles
moveable with respect to the frame of the machine-though not moveable with respect.
to each other so that the driving wheels are free to move in a vertical plane, or
approximately so, with respect to the frame, within certain limits defined by the action
of a spring or springs arranged to keep the parts in a given normal position.
My invention is applicable to all types of bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes
whether driven by a rotary or a lever action, though is is specially suited for tricycles
and other velocipedes having three or more wheels, as greater vibration is set up in
these machines than in those having but two wheels. I will therefore for the purpose
of this application describe its application to a tricycle, making reference to the
accompanying drawing, which shows its application to such a machine, and throughout
the several views of which similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the application of
my invention to a front steering tricycle. Figure 2 is a front elevation thereof, and
Figure 3 is a plan of one of the brackets showing the form of joint I prefer to use.
Referring to these figures it will be seen that I form or mount the bearings a, a,
and a, a, carrying the driving and pedal crank axles B and B¹ respectively, on
brackets A and A¹ which are pivotally connected to the frame C of the machine, by
joints or hinges D and D¹, preferably made like heads with adjustable coned centres.
To keep the two axles B and B at one uniform distance from each other in rotary
machines driven by a chain, the brackets A and A₁ are connected together by a bar
or link E, which is made adjustable in length by a right and left handed nut e or its
equivalent, to provide a means of adjusting the positions of the axles B and B¹ with
respect to each other to compensate for the wear of stretching of the chain.
To support the dead weight of the machine and the rider, an elastic tie rod F
preferably taking the shape of a coil spring connects the bracket A with the main
frame C of the machine. If desired two or more such elastic tie rods may be used
connecting either or both of the brackets A and A' with the frame (, and the elastic
tie rods may be made adjustable for strength to suit riders of different weights.
Instead of using a single rod or link E, a pair may be used, or a single one forked at

page_text: each end may be used to take the thrust centrally between the bearings. Instead of
a rod or link a spring may be used of sufficient strength to maintain a suitable tension
on the driving chain at all times.
Those parts to which no special reference has herein been made, or which are
omitted from the drawing for the sake of distinctness, have no bearing on my invention
and present no novel features, they may therefore be of the usual or any other
convenient construction compatible with my invention.
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. In a velocipede, mounting the bearings of the axle carrying the driving wheel or
wheels on a bracket hinged to the frame of the machine, and controlled by an elastic
tie rod, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. In a velocipede, mounting the bearings of the driving and pedal crank axles on
brackets hinged or jointed to the main frame of the machine, and controlled by one
or more elastic tie rods connecting the free ends of the said brackets with the main
frame of the machine, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a velocipede, mounting the bearings of the driving and pedal crank axles on
brackets hinged or jointed to the main frame of the machine, coupling the free ends
of the said brackets together by a rod or link so as to preserve one uniform distance
between the said axles, and controlling the action of the said brackets with respect to
the frame of the machine by one or more elastic tie rods, substantially as set forth.
4. In a velocipede the combination with the driving and pedal crank axles B, B¹, of
the brackets A, A', carrying the bearings a, a, and a', a', and hinged to the frame C
by the heads D, D¹, the elastic tie rod F, the rod or link E made adjustable in its
length by the right and left handed nut e, all arranged and operating as and for the
purpose hereinbefore set forth.
001.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.