IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING GEAR OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I WALTER PHILLIPS of Coventry in the County of Warwick, Manager to
Messrs D. Rudge & Co. Bicycle and Tricycle Manufacturers, do hereby declare
the nature of my said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING GEAR
OF VELOCIPEDES," to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to control the steering wheel or wheels of tricycles
and other velocipedes so that the movement of the vertical steering handle may be
imparted instantaneously to the steering wheel or wheels without any backlash or
play and consequently without any rattle or noise.
In the ordinary rack and pinion steering the teeth soon become worn, more
especially in one place and it is therefore impossible to adjust them so that thoy
will move freely throughout their length. My steering gear is constructed and
arranged as follows.-On the vertical steering handle is fixed a small drum having
two grooves cut in its periphery. In these grooves are fixed at one point two.short
lengths of chain each of which is wound round the drum in the reverse direction to
the other, so that as one chain is wound up, the other is unwound. The free ends
of the chains are fixed to the steering rod, which is connected to the steering wheel
or wheels in the usual manner, and is carried in suitable guides. The end of one
or both chains fixed to the steering rod is fitted with a short screw which passes
through an eye fixed to the rod and is provided with a nut on each side of it so
that any slackness of the chains may be easily taken up.
It will be seen that when the steering handle is turned in one direction the one
chain is wound on the drum which pulls the steering rod one direction while the
other chain is unwound and vice versa.
I am aware that a drum and band or chain has been used in conjunction with a
rack and pinion steering gear and also that a steel band and drum have been used
for the purpose of steering but they have many defects and have not been found
of any practical use.

page_text: I WALTER PHILLIPS of Coventry in the county of Warwickshire Manager to
the firm of D. Rudge & Co Bicycle & Tricycle Manufacturers 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 :-
The object of my invention is to control the steering wheel or wheels of tricycles
and other velocipedes so that the movement of the vertical steering handle may be
imparted instantaneously, to the steering wheel or wheels without any backlash or
play and consequently without any rattle or noise. In the ordinary rack and
pinion steering the teeth soon become worn, more especially in the centre part of
the rack, and those teeth of the pinion in gear with it, and it is therefore impossible
to adjust them so that they will move freely throughout their length. My steering
gear is constructed and arranged as follows:-On the vertical steering handle is
fixed a small drum having two grooves cut in its periphery. In these grooves are
fixed at one point two short lengths of chain, each of which is wound half round
the drum in the reverse direction to the other so that as one chain is wound up the
other is unwound, and vice, versa The free ends of the chains are fixed to the
steering rod, which is carried in a suitable guide, or guides, and is connected to
the steering wheel in the usual manner. The end of one or both of the chains
connected to the steering rod, is fitted with a short screw which passes through an
eye fixed to the rod, and is provided with a nut on each side of it so that the
tension of the chains can be adjusted and any other slackness easily taken up.
It will be seen that when the steering bar or its equivalent is turned in one
direction, the one chain is wound on the drum which pulls the steering rod in one
direction, while the other chain is unwound and vice, versa when the steering bar
is turned in the other direction the other chain is unwound on the drum which
pulls the steering rod in the other direction.
In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will more particularly
describe it with the aid of the accompanying drawings in which similar parts are
marked with like letters of reference.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan of my
improved steering gear. Referring to these figures A designates the small drum
fixed to the steering handle B, which is carried in a suitable socket C, fixed to some
convenient part of the frame of the machine, D designates the steering rod carried
in a suitable guide E, fixed on the support of the socket C, and connected to the
fork or equivalent arrangement for carrying the steering wheel or wheels in the
usual or any other convenient manner, F. F designates the two lengths of chain
fixed to the drum A by the pin a. Each length of chain after passing half round
the drum in a suitable groove formed in its periphery in opposite directions to one
another, are connected to the steering rod D, at such a distance on either side of
the drum as will allow the rod to travel the necessary distance One length of a
chain is fixed to a snug G, fixed to the rod and the other is connected to a snug H,
fixed to the rod, by a screw bolt h, and nuts h', h¹ by which the tension of the
chains can be adjusted, to compensate for wear or stretching of the links of the
haina

page_text: I am aware that a drum and two chains have been already used for the purpose
of steering velocipedes and also that a drum and band or chain in combination with
a rack and pinion steering gear has been used, and also that a steel band and drum
in combination with a steering rod have been used for the purpose of steering, but
they have all been found impractible in actual use, and therefore I do not claim
such a combination broadly but having now particularly described and ascertained
the nature of my said. Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
I declare that what I claim is :-
First In a velocipede the arrangement for transmitting motion from the
steering handle to the steering wheels substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown.
Second-In a velocipede the steering gear consisting essentially of the steering
handle B, the grooved drum A, the chains F, F, the circular steering rod D, and
guide E, all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose hereinbefore
set forth.
Third-In the steering gear of a velocipede the combination of the vertical bar
carrying the grooved drum the two chains wound thereon and connected to a
circular steering rod carried in a suitable guide, all arranged and operating as and
for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.LM.E.,
Agent for the Applicant.