BICYCLES TRICYCLES & OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: WILLIAM EDWARD HURRELL (Warehouseman) 27 Ivy Lane Hoxton London N
and DAVY HAMMOND (Stationer) Hackney Road London do hereby declare the
nature of invention for BICYCLES TRICYCLES & OTHER VEHICLES, to be as follows:-
It relates to that part of a Bicycle Tricycle or other Velocipede known as the
fork; being that part which embraces the wheel and carries the Axle bearings or
sockets on either side.
Its object is to absorb vibration by a novel method of applying a spring or
springs.
It consists in attaching the axle bearings or sockets to short arms or levers
which are pivoted or hinged on to the fork instead of attaching them directly to
or forming them in the fork itself; These arms-one on each side are capable of a
swinging or angular motion on their pivots as a centre, when the axle is passed into
its place in its bearings or sockets the appearance is similar to a trapeze suspended
from the fork, the axle answering for the bar.
The usual position of rest of this axle is behind and below the pivots, so that
when the wheel meets with an obstacle it is capable (with its axle) of moving
bodily backwards as well as upwards, this motion is controlled by a spring or
springs placed in any suitable position.
In the case of a fixed axle (i.e where it does not revolve) sufficient rigidity can
be obtained by clamping the arms on to the axle against shoulders provided for
the purpose-but it is preferred in any case to connect the two arms together by a
bent strap or auxilliary fork passing over the tyre or periphery of the wheel this
auxilliary fork moves with the arms & its outer end where it bends over the wheel
forms a convenient position for joining it by a spring with the first or main fork.
The accompanying drawings show several modifications in their simplest form.
The same letters apply to each Figure.
A. The main fork attached to frame of machine by usual methods.
B The swinging arms to which are attached or formed the axial bearings or
sockets C.
D Axle of wheel

page_text: G Spring connecting the two forks & controlling the motion of the arms-when
the arms are raised this spring is extended by the auxilliary fork.
Figure 1 is a side view of the arrangement as usually to be applied.
"
2 is a perspective view of the same.
Figure 3 shews a modification for bringing the axle more directly under the
main fork.
Figure 4 shews the arrangement where the auxilliary fork is not used-the two
arms are not joined except by the axle either the arms are extended for
a short distance & coupled on the fork by springs on each side as shewn in
black lines or the fork is extended downwards & coupled directly on to the
arms as shewn in dotted lines.
Obviously the mechanical details of this invention may be more or less modified
without departing from the principles thereof as herein described & set forth
springs other than spiral can be used & the arrangement of springs in Fig 4 is also
applicable to Figs 1. 2 & 3 also where the wheel to the fork of which this invention
is applied is a driver it is preferred that the arms carrying its axle should project
directly in front of the pivots attaching them to the main fork.
Also it will be seen that this invention is applicable to any other vehicle in which
one or more of its wheels is embraced & supported by a fork such as Bath chairs,
Railway trollies &c.
1002

page_text: We WILLIAM EDWARD HURRELL of 27 Ivy Lane Hoxton in the county of
Middlesex Warehouseman-and DAVY HAMMOND of 264 Hackney Road Hackney
in the county of Middlesex, Wholesale Stationer do hereby declare the nature of
our invention for BICYCLES TRICYCLES & OTHER VEHICLES and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
Our invention relates to an improved method of applying a spring or springs to
the fork or forks of a Bicycle Tricycle or other Vehicle for the purpose of
obtaining elasticity & thereby absorbing vibration.
Since filing our Provisional Specification it has come to our knowledge that a
certain arrangement on somewhat similar lines to our own has already been used
and we therefore wish it to be understood that we only claim as our invention
those improvements which are formally defined in the claims set forth at the end of
this our final specification.
In the arrangement referred to as having been already used (and which we
believe has only been applied to a Bicycle back fork);-The fork itself is of such
extra length that its lower ends are carried a short distance below the axle of the
wheel; to these ends short arms are pivoted-one on each side-projecting upwards
& clamped to the axle,-(there being a spring on each side to keep the upper ends
of the arms away from the fork). The angle or set of these arms is such that the
axle cannot rise without at the same time moving forward relatively to the fork,
and this forward motion which necessitates an increased speed of the wheel when
it rises to pass over an obstacle obviously detracts considerably from the advantage
gained by the upward "give" or elasticity.
According to our improvements, First;-The angle or set of the arms pivoted on
the fork is altered, & arranged so that when the wheel rises to pass over an
obstacle the motion of the axle relatively to the direction of motion of the entire
machine, is either directly upward or directly backward, or a combination of these
two motions i.e. upward & at the same time backward. Secondly; The arms
are prolonged upwards alongside or inside the fork thus forming levers to the ends
of which springs may be attached to couple them to the fork, the advantage being
in securing increased leverage for the springs & thereby enabling lighter ones to
be used. Thirdly:-The ends of these levers or prolongations of the arms are
coupled together over the wheel-either rigidly or by a link or otherwise, so that
one spring may be sufficient to control the motions of both arms, or to ensure both
arms oscilating together as one piece.
The accompanying sheet of drawings shews our improvements progressively.
The arrow indicates direction of motion for which the forks drawn are arranged
ie from right to left.
Fig 1 shews the arrangement already used & illustrates the defect herein pointed
out viz-that the axle cannot rise without at the same time moving
forward.
Fig 2 shews first improvement in which the pivots are carried back & the arms
set forward-as will be seen from the dotted quadrant-the axle most
move back when it rises.
Fig 3 shews a modification of first improvement the direction of motion being
the same-it also shews second improvement viz the prolongations of the
arms & a suitable method of coupling their ends to the fork-by. a spiral
spring on each side.

page_text: Figs 4 & 5 shew side & end views of an arrangement embodying the three
improvements as fitted to the front steering wheel of a Tricycle & shews
particularly the last & main improvement-consisting in coupling the
ends of the prolongations of the arms together over the wheel.
The same letters apply to each Figure as follows-
A the Fork
C the Arms
B the Pivots
D the Axle
E the prolongations of the arms.
F the connection over the wheel.
We do not confine ourselves to the use of spiral springs but may use any
suitable form arranged either for compression or extension as the case may require.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and the manner in which same is to be performed what we claim is-
. I The arms carrying the axle pivoted on the ends of the fork and set such an
angle with the fork that the motion of the axle when the wheel rises to
pass over an obstacle is more or less a resultant of an upward & backward
motion, in combination with suitable springs for bringing the arms back
to their normal position relatively to the fork-substantially as shewn in
Figs 2 & 3.
II The levers forming prolongations of arms which carry the axle & are pivoted
on the fork, in combination with a spring attached to the end of each lever
& coupling it to the fork on each side substantially as shewn in Fig. 3.
-III Connecting the levers or prolongations of the arms together over the wheel
by a rigid or link coupling for the purpose of insuring rigidity and enabling
one spring to control the motions of both arms.
IV The combination with the fork, of a swinging or oscilating frame pivoted on
the fork and carrying the axle of the wheel, consisting substantially of
2 arms carrying the axle and pivoted on the fork and prolonged upward
forming levers which are coupled together over the wheel there being a
spring or springs for holding the swinging frame in its normal position
relatively to the fork substantially as shewn in Figs 4 & 5.
Dated this Twentieth day of November 1884.
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