Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 21st Feb., 1391-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1. ANDERSON FRANKISH, of 266, Moss Lane East, Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
With the object of preventing the vibrations produced when a velocipede is
ridden over rough or uneven ground from being transmitted to the rider it is usual
to support some portion of the machine by means of springs.
According to my invention the main frame of the machine and with it the saddle,
steering handles, and crank-shaft are supported by means of springs in the
following manner.
The axle on which the front wheel revolves is connected at each end to one of
the legs of a fork which embraces the wheel. This fork is continued upwards
above the rim of the wheel and connected at its upper part to the steering head or
pillar by means of swing links placed one above the other and centered on the
fork and steering head respectively. The fork is thus able to rise and fall relatively
to the steering head but is constrained by the swing links to assume positions
parallel or nearly so to each other. When the swing links are of equal length and
parallel to each other the different positions assumed by the fork will be
perfectly parallel. The steering head is supported by means of a spring or springs
connected to it and the front fork respectively and it is provided with a handle-bar
and handles and is centered on and supports the main frame of the machine in the
nsual manner so as to allow of the steering of the machine by turning it and with
it the front wheel in one direction or the other.
In bicycles of the kind known as rear-driving safety bicycles-the axle on which
the hind wheel revolves is connected at each end to one of the legs of a fork
which embraces the wheel. This fork is centered at the end farthest from the axle
to the main frame of the machine close to the crank-shaft and it turns on this
centre when the axle rises & falls relatively to the main frame such motion
being thereby provided for. The main frame is continued backwards and below
the hind axle on each side of the wheel and is suspended at these parts from
each end of the axle or each leg of the fork close to the axle by means of
springs.
In front-steering tricycles the construction of the hind portion of the machine is
a modification of the above, the hind axle being connected to a vibrating frame
centered on the main frame close to the crank-shaft, and the main frame continued
backwards and below the axle and suspended from it or some part of the vibrating
frame close to it by means of a spring or springs. In rear-driving velocipedes
where the hind wheel is driven from the crank-shaft by means of chain gearing, the
crank-shaft bearings may be attached to the main-frame or to the fork or vibrating
frame connected to the hind axle. If the former plan is adopted the centre on
which the fork or vibrating frame can turn must be on some part of the main frame
close to the crank-shaft, and in such a position that the distance between the crank-
shaft and hind axle is not materially altered by the rising and falling of the hind
axle relatively to the main-frame. Otherwise the chain would be alternately
tightened and slackened when the hind axle rises or falls.
The saddle on which the rider sits is attached to and supported by the main
frame of the machine.
In this way the main-frame and with it the saddle, steering handles, and crank-
shaft is supported by springs in such a manner that the wheels can rise and fall
relatively to it, any vertical motions or vibrations of the wheels being more or less

page_text: absorbed and their transmission to the rider in a great measure prevented by the
clasticity of the springs, the lateral rigidity of the machine being at the same time
secured.
The 50.
M1000
ANDERSON FRANKISH.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, ANDERSON FRANKISH, of 266, Moss Lane East, Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, 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:-
With the object of preventing the vibrations produced when a velocipede is
ridden over rough or uneven ground from being transmitted to the rider, it is usual
to support some portion of the machine by means of springs. According to my
invention the main frame of the machine and with it the saddle, steering handles
and crank shaft is supported by means of springs in the following manner :-
The axle on which the front wheel revolves is connected at each end to one of the
legs of a fork which embraces the wheel. This fork is continued upwards above
the rim of the wheel and connected at its upper part to the steering head or pillar
by means of swing links placed one above the other and centered on the fork and
steering head respectively. The fork is thus able to rise and fall relatively to the
steering head but is constrained by the swing links to assume positions parallel or
nearly so to each other. When the swing links are of equal length and parallel to
each other the different positions assumed by the fork will be perfectly parallel.
The steering head is supported by means of a spring or springs connected to it and
the front fork respectively and it is provided with a handle bar and handle and is
centered on and supports the main frame of the machine in the usual manner so as
to allow of the steering of the machine by turning it and with it the front wheel in
one direction or the other.
In bicycles of the kind known as rear driving safety bicycles, the axle on which
the hind wheel revolves is connected at each end to one of the legs of a fork
which embraces the wheel. This fork is centered at the end farthest from the
axle to the main frame of the machine close to the crank shaft, and it turns on this
centre when the axle rises and falls relatively to the main frame, such motion being
thereby provided for. The main frame is continued backwards and below the hind
axle on each side of the wheel and is suspended at these parts from each end of
the axle or each leg of the fork close to the axle by means of springs.
In front steering tricycles the construction of the hind portion of the machine is
a modification of the above, the hind axle being connected to a vibrating frame
centered on the main frame close to the crank shaft, and the main frame continued
backwards and below the axle and suspended from it or some part of the vibrating
frame close to it by means of a spring or springs. In rear driving velocipedes
where the hind wheel is driven from the crank shaft by means of chain gearing, the
crank shaft bearings may be attached to the main frame or to the fork or vibrating
frame connected to the hind axle. If the former plan is adopted the centre on
which the fork or vibrating frame can turn must be on some part of the main
frame close to the crank shaft, and in such a position that the distance between the
crank shaft and hind axle is not materially altered by the rising and falling of the
hind axle relatively to the main frame, otherwise the chain will be alternately
tightened and slackened when the hind axle rises or falls. The saddle on
which the rider sits is attached to and supported by the main frame of the
machine.
In this way the main frame and with it the saddle, steering handle and crank
shaft is supported by springs in such a manner that the wheels can rise and fall

page_text: relatively to it, any vertical motion or vibration of the wheel being more or less.
absorbed and their transmission to the rider in a great measure prevented by the
elasticity of the springs, the lateral rigidity of the machine being at the same time
secured.
And in order that my said invention may be properly understood and readily
carried into effect I append the accompanying illustrative sheet on which is shown
a rear driving safety bicycle to which my invention has been applied. Referring
to the drawing the front wheel A. supports the fork B and the upper part of the
fork is connected to the steering head or pillar C by swing links D, D¹ placed
one above the other and centered on the fork and steering head respectively. The
spring E connects one of the links or a part of the fork with the steering head
or frame or to a projection F forming part of or attached to the steering head or
frame. The front wheel and fork can thus ride vertically or nearly so when the
wheel comes into contact with an obstacle on the road and yet the front part of the
frame will remain relatively stationary and so avoid communicating shock or jar to
the rider. The steering handles G with links D, D' and therefore fork B can be
moved about the axis of the pillar C. This motion will be quite free and not
interfered with when the spring is connected to the steering head or a projection
from it and will be but slightly interfered with when the spring is connected to
the frame or a projection from it. The links D, D³ may or may not be of equal
length or parallel to each other. They may be proportioned so as to cause the
centre of the wheel to move in a path vertical or inclined as may be desired.
The steering pillar as shown on the drawing passes through a hollow socket formed
in the main frame H but it may be pivoted on the frame by means of conical
pointed studs or other usual devices.
The rear wheel Q is also able to rise and fall relatively to the main frame and it
is so arranged that this does not materially alter the distance between the treadle
axis J and the hind wheel axis K. This is accomplished by placing the axis K in
a fork M embracing the wheel and centered on the main frame at N. The fact
that the axis N is close to the treadle axis determines that the path described by
the axis K shall be nearly the same as if the fork M was pivoted at the treadle
axis and so the driving chain P remains approximately in the same state of
tension whatever the movement of the wheel Q when surmounting obstructions or
irregularities in the road. The fork M may be pivoted at the treadle axis. The
saddle R is rigidly fixed to the frame and in order to allow the rear wheel to
rise the back portion of the frame projects at S and T as a rigid fork which
embraces the wheel. The springs V placed one on each side of the wheel and
below the hind axle connect the extreme part of the frame with the fork Mor
axle K. The saddle, treadle shaft, and handles are all connected to the frame
which maintains invariable their relative positions, and this frame being spring
supported the vibrations produced by riding over an uneven roadway are not
transmitted to the rider; at the same time the actions of driving and steering
may proceed without interference and the lateral rigidity of the machine is
secured.
A greater number of springs may be used without departing from the essential
features of my invention, and other than spiral springs may be adopted.
Front steering tricycles may have the front end arranged similar to that of a
rear-driving bicycle, but the hind arrangement will require to be somewhat
modified. Only one spring is necessary at the hind end and it together with the
frame will come between the rear wheels.
Velocipedes of other types can be constructed so as to embody the essential
features of this 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.) Supporting the front of the frame on the front wheel of a bicycle by means.

page_text: of a fork as B connected to a steering head or pillar as C by swing links
as D, D, a spring or springs as E attached to the fork and a part of the steering
head or a part of the frame or one of the links and a part of the steering bead or
frame substantially as and for the purpose herein before described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawing.
(2.) Supporting the rear end of the frame upon the rear wheel of a bicycle by
a combination consisting of a forked frame S and T a swinging fork M and springs
as V substantially as described and illustrated.
(3.) A. bicycle or other velocipede constructed and having a frame supported
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 20th day of February 1891.
CLERK & MARKS,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for Applicant.