IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Francis Richard Wood, of 13, Newcastle Street,
Farringdon Street, in the City of London, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN OR APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Francis Richard
Wood at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd October
1880.
JAMES FRANCIS RICHARD WOOD, of 13, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street,
in the City of London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to bicycles, the
object being to provide spring device for the bearings of the back or trailing wheel,
so that the rigidity of the back fork and back bone may be modified so as to reduce
the shocks which successively occur to the rider.
The Invention is carried into practice as follows:-The end of the back fork
terminates in C springs, which are curved outward, upward, and around, and the
ends terminate with bearings for the axle of the back wheel. The back-bone is
provided at about midway its height with a roller, against which the main wheel
tyre may bear if from vibration these should approach each other.
In another arrangement the back bone is provided at the lower end between it
and the fork, or at the ends of the fork, with double laminated carriage or bow
spring and yielding spring block bearings for the back wheel axle for giving the
required elasticity.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Francis Richard Wood in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
22nd April 1881.
JAMES FRANCIS RICHARD WOOD, of 13, Newcastle Street, Farringdon Street,
in the City of London. IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO BICYCLES."
"
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or applicable to bicycles, the
object being to provide spring device for the bearings of the back or trailing wheel,
so that the rigidity of the back fork and back bone may be modified so as to reduce
the shocks which successively occur to the rider.

page_text: The Invention is carried into practice as follows:-The end of the back fork
terminates in C springs, which are curved outward, upward, and around, and the
ends terminate with bearings for the axle of the back wheel. The backbone is
provided at about midway its height with a roller, against which the main wheel
tyre may bear if from vibration these should approach each other.
In another arrangement the backbone is provided at the lower end between it
and the fork, or at the ends of the fork, with double laminated carriage or bow
spring and yielding spring block bearings for the back wheel axle for giving the
required elasticity.
The particulars of the Invention are illustrated in the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and the same are referred to by Figures and letters in the following
particular description :-
-
In Fig. 1, A are the "C" springs, which are bolted at B to the back fork
(shortened for the purpose), one of said springs A on each side of the wheel, and
Care bearing blocks supported in the ends of the springs A to carry the axle of
wheel, but the ends of spring A may be carried around to form bearings in the end
thereof, but this arrangement is hardly so desirable, although I have used bicycles
so fitted by myself; D is the roller mounted in the back fork to prevent the back
bone coming against the driving wheel, but in practice with springs A of proper
strength the roller D is not found to be necessary for general use. This same
arrangement of springs A is shown applied to the front wheel bearings, corresponding
letters marking equivalent parts; care must, however, be taken that the play of
the springs is not so great as to bring the periphery of the wheel tyre against the
top of the fork at E. The detail of bearings Ċ is shewn in Figs. 1 and 1b.
Fig. 2 represents the application of the bow springs A with the bearings C;
Fig. 3 represents the bearing blocks C, working with a box F, with opening from
one side to the other to allow for the axle of wheel, said box F carrying a
regulating spring and adjusting pressure screw G; Fig. 3a is detail of this spring
bearing; Fig. 4.shows a slight modification of the construction of the support F of
the bearing C, the adjusting pressure screw G being below and acting directly upon
the bearing block instead of upon the spring; Fig. 5 represents the springs A and
bearings Cattached to spring bars C' fixed to the end of the back fork, or the back
fork end may be used of sufficient length to carry the springs A without the
intermediate spring bars C¹.
Having now described the nature and particulars of the said Invention, I
claim,―
The improvements in or applicable to bicycles for affording required yield to the
bearings of the axles to prevent concussion to the rider, as herein specified in
reference to and shown by the respective Figs. 1, 1ª, and 1b, 2, 3, and 3ª, 4 and 5
of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Francis Richard Wood, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
In presence of
WALTER A. BARLOW,
G, St. Paul's Chyard.,
E.C.
JAMES FRANCIS RICHARD WOOD. (LS.)