Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 1st May, 1893-Accepted, 2nd June, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, GEORGE DOUGLAS LEECHMAN of 19 Hertford Street, Coventry in the
County of Warwick, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My improvements relate principally to the bearing parts of velocipedes and
have for their objects increased ease of adjustment and, either directly or indirectly,
increased case of running.
To attain these objects I construct the several parts to which the improvements
relate as follows,-
In those bearings in which a non-rotating spindle is used and adjustment is
provided by means of one or more cones, discs or rings which do not rotate except
for the purposes of adjustment I produce one or more of the said cones, discs or
rings so far through the framework to which the bearing is attached and so fashion
it or them that it or they may be operated from the outer side instead of the inner
side of the said framework.
In those velocipedes in which the driving wheel or wheels is or are propelled
through gearing connecting it or them with a pedal crank axle situated without
the said driving wheel or wheels I attach so much of the gearing as is attached to
the axle, to the axle between the bearing lines and connect the bearing parts by a
skeleton or complete hollow case passing over the part of the gearing fixed to the
axle but having an aperture or apertures or a recess or recesses to accommodate the
gearing. By means of this form of construction a single adjustment for the pedal
crank axle bearing may be combined with the placing of the strain of the gearing
between the bearing lines without overhanging.
In pedals, I attach to each face a hook which passes up in front of the toes to
prevent the foot from slipping and in some cases do away with the usual pedal bars
and enlarge the bases of the hooks to form the treads. The hooks may be made
adjustable in length.
In ball bearings, I form the rotating and non-rotating surfaces with opposite
grooves which together form channels or races in which the balls have four points
of contact in the form of a square. The said channels or races are divided at right
angles to the axle for adjusting purposes.
Dated this 90th day of July 1802
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, GEORGE DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, of 19 Hertford Street, Coventry in the
County of Warwick, 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 improvements relate principally to the bearing parts of velocipedes and
have for their objects increased ease of adjustment and, either directly or indirectly,
increased ease of running.
To attain these objects I construct the several parts to which the improvements
relate as follows
In those bearings in which a non-rotating spindle is used and adjustment is
[Price Sd.]

page_text: provided by means of one or more cones, discs or rings which do not rotate except
for the purpose of adjustment, (as, for example, in the front and rear wheel ball
bearings of the well known type of velocipede commonly called the rear driving
safety bicycle, in which the balls run between cones on a spindle and cups in the
ends of the hub, one of the cones being adjustable along a screw thread on the
spindle and locked by tightening one of the two nuts which hold the spindle to
the fork or framework of the machine,) the base of this adjustable cone, disc or
ring has been cut off and made to stop at and abut against the inner side of or to
project but partly into, the said fork or framework, and the exposed part of the
cone, disc or ring lying between the said inner side of the fork or framework and
the outer face of the end of the hub has been left round or more commonly provided
with a milled collar or with flats enabling it to be rotated by the fingers or a
spanner, as the case may be, for the purpose of adjusting the bearings, but the
rotating has not been readily performed owing to the confined position of the parts.
In such bearings, instead of cutting off the base of the said cone, disc or ring and
causing it to stop at and abut against the said inner side of the fork or framework
or to project but partly into the said fork or framework, I produce the base of the
said cone, disc or ring so far through the said fork or framework to which the
bearing is attached and so fashion it, that it may be operated from the outer side
instead of the inner side of the said framework, where the parts are more readily
accessible. Both the cones, discs or rings may be made adjustable and in some
cases the spindle may be made in two parts, each part carrying a cone, disc or ring
which cone, disc or ring may be movable thereon but is preferably fixed thereto.
In those velocipedes in which the driving wheel or wheels is or are propelled
through gearing connecting it or them with a pedal-crank-axle situated without the
said driving wheel or wheels, as, for example, in the type of velocipede called the
rear driving safety bicycle herein before referred to, in which the driving wheel is
propelled through gearing consisting of a chain wheel secured to the said driving
wheel, a similar chain wheel secured to a pedal-crank-axle which is situated beyond
the circumference of the said driving wheel, and an endless chain running on the
two said chain wheels, I mount the said axle in an extended bearing bracket and
provide the said axle and bracket with coned friction surfaces at or near the ends
of the bracket and preferably insert a row or ring of balls between each pair of
cones, the friction surfaces of which are adapted in any convenient manner for the
purpose and attach so much of the gearing as is attached to the axle, to the axle
between the bearing lines and connect the bearing parts by a skeleton or complete
hollow case passing over the part of the gearing fixed to the axle but having an
aperture or apertures or a recess or recesses to accommodate the gearing. By means
of this form of construction a single adjustment for the pedal-crank-axle bearing
may be combined with the placing of the strain of the gearing between the bearing
lines, without overhanging of the parts.
In pedals, I attach to each face a hook which passes up in front of the toes to
prevent slipping, and in some cases do away with the usual pedal bars and enlarge
the bases of the hooks to form the treads. The hooks may be made adjustable in
length.
In order that my invention may be well understood I append drawings which
show the general form and arrangement of the several parts but modifications can
be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.
In the drawings similar numerals refer to corresponding parts.
On Sheet I,
Figure I is a sectional elevation and Figure 1 an end view of a bearing
adjustment constructed according to my invention.
Figures III, V and VII are sectional elevations and Figures IV, VI, VIII
and X are end views of variations or modifications of the same.
Figure IX shows plan and edge views of the washer 17, shown in section in
Figure VII.

page_text: OL
xte bearing bracket constructed according to my invention.
On Sheet III,
Figures XIII & XIV are end or side views of the same.
On Sheet IV,
Figure XV is a sectional elevation and Figure XVI a plan of a pedal body'
fitted with my improved hooks.
Figure XVII is a sectional elevation and Figure XVIII a plan of a modification
of the same.
On Sheet V,
Figure XIX is a sectional elevation, Figure XX a plan and Figure XXI a
front view of a further modification of the same.
Referring to Figures I and II the balls 2, 3, run between cones 4, 5, on the
spindle 6 and cups 8, 9, in the ends of the hub 10. The cone 4 may be screwed
along the thread on the spindle 6 and its base is produced through the hole in the
forkside 11 of the fork 11, 12, and is made with a hexagon end 13 by which it may
be rotated by a suitable spanner. Turning the cone 4 inwards tightens the bearing
and turning it outwards loosens it. The nut 14 is screwed on to a suitably threaded
portion of the produced part of the base of the cone 4 and abuts against the
forkside 11 locking the cone 4. The nut should move more freely on the cone
than the cone moves on the spindle so that when the nut is being turned it may not
carry the cone round with it. The nut 14 is slackened before and tightened after
adjusting the bearing.
Instead of using a single piece spindle such as 6 Fig. I, and screwing one of the
cones 4 movably thereon, the spindle may be made in two portions 6, 7, screwed
together (see Figs. III & IV) and the cones 4, 5, made in one piece with, or fixed
to the respective portions of the spindle. The said portions may have parallel
fitting parts, such as 15, 16, Fig. III in addition to the screw threaded parts.
By using a single piece spindle and making it project through the produced base
of the cone 4, the nut 14 may be screwed on to the end of the spindle 6 (see Figs. V,
VI, VII, VIII and X) instead of on to the base of the cone 4; and by interposing
a washer 17 between the back of the nut 14 and the face of the forkside 11 and
over the portion 13 of the cone 4 that projects beyond the face of the forkside 11
and making the washer 17 of greater thickness than the length of the said projecting
portion 13 of the cone 4, I obtain a more direct connection between the spindle 6
and the forkside 11. The washer 17 and portion 13 of the cone 4 may have plain
fitting circular interior and exterior surfaces respectively and corresponding radial
holes 18 (see Figs. V & VI) enabling the cone 4 to be rotated by a suitable tommy
inserted through one of the radial holes in the washer into one of the radial holes
in the portion 13 of the cone 4. In this case the washer 17 fits freely over the
portion 13 and when the tommy is withdrawn turning the nut 14 has no tendency
to turn the cone 4, provided the spindle is prevented from turning, e.g. by being
locked by the nut on its other end. Instead of making the washer 17 and portion 13
of the cone 4 with complete circular surfaces and tommy holes they may be made
with flats as at 19, 19, 20, 20, Figs. VII, VIII & IX enabling the cone 4 to be
turned by a parallel jawed spanner without removing the nut 14 or washer 17; the
width between the flats 20, 20, on the washer 17, the width between the flats 19, 19
on the portion 13 of the cone 4 and the width between the flats on the nut 14 are
preferably all equal to one another. In this case the washer 17 is preferably made
with a top 21 and a base 22 to compensate for the weakness caused by reducing the
material to form the flats 20, 20. Again, instead of making the washer 17 and the
portion 13 of the cone 4 with plain fitting circular interior and exterior surfaces,
respectively, they may be made so that the one cannot rotate, either at all, or only
part of a revolution, without the other, preferably by forming a projection or pro-
jections or an equivalent or equivalents on the interior surface of the washer 17 and
a corresponding recess or recesses or an equivalent or equivalents on the exterior

page_text: surface of the portion 13 of the cone 4 as indicated in dotted lines at 23 in Fig. X.
In this case the exterior surface of the washer 17 is preferably made with six or
any other convenient number of flats so that it may be rotated with a box or close-
ended spanner. The washer 17 fits over the portion 13 of the cone 4 sufficiently
freely to allow of its moving in either direction parallel to the spindle 6 and is
preferably made with the outer face,i.e. the face next to the nut 14,-smoother
than the other face or back, so that when the nut 14 is rotated, the washer 17 and
the cone 4 (over the portion 13 whereof the washer is fitted,) shall have little or no
tendency to rotate too.
or
When it is desired to carry the annular end or eye of a mudguard stay or the like
on the spindle or produced portion of the cone, the said annular end or eye is
preferably placed against the outer face of the fork or framework, and the spindle
and
the produced portion of the cone is or are lengthened to an extent
corresponding to the width of the said annular end or eye. If and when the said
mudguard stay or the like is removed, the space left vacant by the annular end
and
or eye, on the spindle produced portion of the cone, may or should, as the
case may be, be filled by a washer or the like of suitable thickness and internal
diameter.
or
If desired, the produced portion of the cone may be made separately from the
remainder thereof and the two parts caused to rotate with one another by any
suitable means, such as projections on the one engaging with corresponding recesses
in the other.
Referring to Figures XI, XII, XIII and XIV, the pedal-crank-axle 30 is
mounted in the extended bearing bracket 31, 32, 33, 34. The said axle 30 and
bracket 31, 32, 33, 34, are provided with cones 35, 36, and 37, 38, respectively, the
said cones being adapted to receive the rows or rings of balls 2, 3, which are
inserted between them. The chain wheel 43 is secured by the key 44 or any other
convenient means to the axle 30 between the bearing lines i.e. where the balls 2, 3,
run on the cones 35, 36.
The cones 35, 36, are either made in one piece with or are secured to the axle 30
by any convenient means. The cones 37, 38, are screwed into the parts 31 and 34
respectively of the bracket; the cone 38 being preferably locked by a set screw
such as 39 and the cone 37 being adjustable by means of tommy holes such as 40
or any other convenient means and locked by a split lug and bolt such as 41 and 42
or any other suitable device.
The bearing parts 37, 38, are connected by a hollow case consisting of the
barrel 31, flange 32, band 33 and plate or disc 34 and passing over the chain
wheel 43. Apertures 45, 46, are made to allow the chain to run into and out of
the case or bracket. The flange 32, band 33, and plate 34 are preferably made of
skeleton form, the arms 47 being ribbed to increase the lateral rigidity of the
bracket. The three parts 32, 33, 34, may be cast in one piece or may be worked
up from preferably several pieces or may be constructed in any other convenient
manner. A light and rigid bracket may be made by using a sheet metal cone as
indicated by dotted lines in Figure XI, in place of the barrel 31 and flange 32.
The plate 34 is rigidly secured to the remainder of the bracket by screws 48 or
other convenient means and is preferably provided with a grooved ledge 49 to
catch any dust and the like which may fall from the chain or chain wheel and
prevent its entering the bearing parts 3, 36, 38. A similar ledge or an annular
plate 50, as shown, may be provided on the other side of the chain wheel on the
barrel 31 or flange 32; or both ledge and plate may be used together to prevent
any dust and the like entering the bearing parts 2, 35, 37. Suitable lugs such
as 51, 52, 53, 54, are provided for securing the bracket or case to the frame of the
velocipede. The lugs 53, 54, to receive the members of the lower back fork or
back stays" are preferably situated as far apart as may be on the case or bracket
so as to increase the lateral stability of the frame of the velocipede.
66

page_text: In constructing the case or bracket for the type of velocipede commonly called
the direct steering tricycle, the chain wheel 43 is preferably secured to or near to
the centre of the pedal-crank-axle 30 and the hollow case modified accordingly, the
enlargement consisting of the flange 32, band 33 and plate 34 being placed midway
or approximately midway between the ends of the bracket or case and the plate 34
being provided with an extension corresponding to the barrel 31. A grooved
ledge or ledges such as 49 or an annular plate or plates such as 50 or both, may be
used to prevent any dust and the like entering the bearing parts. The bracket or
case may be attached to the frame of the tricycle in any convenient manner
according to the design thereof.
Referring to Figures XV & XVI. To each face 61, 62, of the pedal, a hooked
piece of metal or other suitable material 63, 64, is attached by screws 65, 66, and
nuts 67, 68, or their equivalents. The screws and nuts preferably pass up to their
heads through slots 69, in the hooks and hold the two hooks 63, 64, to the
faces 61, 62, of the pedal and to one another. The slots 69 are preferably of such
length as to allow the hooks to be adjustable lengthwise to a convenient extent
and the slots and the heads of the nuts and screws are preferably so arranged that
the said heads do not project above the surface of the hooks. The bodies of the
pedal bars 71, 72, are preferably cut away to receive the hooks so that the upper
surfaces of the hooks and screws and nuts do not project above the surfaces of the
bars 71, 72. Or, the bars 71, 72, may be dispensed with and the bases 73, 74, of
the hooks enlarged to form the treads, as shown in Figures XVII and XVIII;
the hooks in this case being secured to the barrel or centre tube 75 of the pedal or
better to saddles 76, 77, fitted to the barrel 75, the said saddles having projecting
arms or horns 78, 79 to support the bases of the hooks. The bases 73, 74, may be
covered with india rubber or other yielding and durable material.
As a modification the hooks may be made separately from the bases, as in
Figures XIX, XX and XXI where the hooks 63, 64, are made from looped pieces
of wire. The saddles 76, 77, are each made in two pieces, one (76, 77,) fitting the
barrel and the other (84, 85,) fitting the bases 73, 74, to which they are respectively
secured or with which they are respectively made in one piece. The parts 84, 85,
carry the horns or arms 78, 79, if any. Grooves are made between the parts 76, 84
and 77, 85, respectively, to hold the wires of the hooks 63, 64, respectively and
screws 65, 66 are passed through clearance holes in, say, the base 73 and the part 84
into screw threaded holes in the other part 85. The screws hold the parts 84, 85,
and the bases 73, 74, to the saddles 76, 77, respectively and the saddles to the
barrel 75; the screws also cause the wire hooks 63, 64, to be gripped between the
parts 76 & 84, and 77 & 85, respectively. The hooks may be adjusted as to length
by first slackening the screws, setting the hooks, thus freed, in the desired positions
and securing them there by retightening the screws. The sides of the bases may
be formed with parts turned up to form the usual guides 82, 83.
I am aware that the cones of bearings in which a non-rotating spindle is used
have already been produced through the fork or framework to which the bearing is
attached as set forth in the Specification of William de Courtney No. 5213,
16th March, 1892, and I am aware that adjustable hooks passing up in front of the
toes to prevent slipping have already been made as, for example, set forth in the
Specification of Alfred Trueman No. 8804 10th May 1892, and I do not broadly
claim any of such arrangements as my invention but,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
I. In those bearings of velocipedes in which a non-rotating spindle is used and
adjustment is provided by means of one or more cones, discs or rings which do not
rotate except for the purpose of adjustment, producing the base of one or both of
the said cones, discs or rings so far through the fork or framework to which the

page_text: bearing is attached and so fashioning it, or them; that it or they may be operated
from the outer side instead of the inner side of the said fork or framework.
II. The improved method of adjusting bearings of the kind referred to in
Claim as herein before described and illustrated by Figures I and II of the
accompanying drawings.
111. The improved method of adjusting bearings of the kind referred to in
Claim I as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures III and IV of the
accompanying drawings.
IV. The improved method of adjusting bearings of the kind referred to in
Claim as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures V and VI of the
accompanying drawings.
V. The improved method of adjusting bearings of the kind referred to in
Claim as herein before described and illustrated by Figures VII, VIII and IX
of the accompanying drawings.
VI. The improved method of adjusting bearings of the kind referred to in
Claim as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures V and X of the
accompanying drawings.
VII. In those velocipedes in which the driving wheel or wheels is or are
propelled through gearing connecting it or them with a pedal-crank-axle situated
without the said driving wheel or wheels, attaching so much of the gearing as is
attached to the pedal-crank-axle, to the pedal-crank-axle between the bearing lines
and connecting the bearing parts by a skeleton or complete hollow case passing over
the part of the gearing fixed to the pedal-crank-axle but having an aperture or
apertures or a recess or recesses to accommodate the gearing substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
VIII. In pedal-crank-axle bearings as referred to in Claim VII the combination
of the chain wheel 43 secured to the axle 30 between the bearing lines, with the
hollow case 31, 32, 33, 34, connecting the bearing parts 37, 38, and passing over the
chain wheel and the apertures 45, 46, therein allowing the chain to run into and out
of the case or bracket, all combined, arranged and operating substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
IX. In pedals for velocipedes attaching to each face a hook which passes up in
front of the toes, the said hook being adjustable or not adjustable as to length,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
X. In pedals for velocipedes, the combination with the faces 61, 62, of the
hooks 63, 64, and of the screws 65, 66, and of the nuts 67, 68, substantially as
described with reference to Figures XV and XVI of the accompanying drawings
and for the purposes stated.
XI. In pedals for velocipedes, the combination with the barrel 75, of the
hooks 63, 64, having enlarged bases 73, 74, of the screws 65, 66, and of either the
nuts 67, 68, or the saddles 76, 77, with arms 78, 79, substantially as described with
reference to Figures XVII and XV or XVIII of the accompanying drawings and
for the purposes stated.
XII. In pedals for velocipedes, the combination with the barrel 75, of the
hooks 63, 64, of the saddles 76, 77, 84, 85 with or without the armis 78, 79, and of
the bases 73, 74, and of the screws 65, 66, substantially as described with reference
to Figures XIX, XX and XXI of the accompanying drawings and for the
purposes stated.
XIII. The improvements in and relating to velocipedes substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
Dated this 28th day of April 1893.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN.