Improvements in the steering mechanism of loose back velocipedes
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Apr., 1886.
Complete Left, 17th Jan., 1887.
- Complete Accepted, 18th Feb., 1887.
I GEORGE HOOKHAM of Nos. 7 and 8 New Bartholomew Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to
be as follows:-
:-
In the complete specification of Letters Patent granted to me for Improvements in
the steering mechanism of loose back velocipedes dated the 23rd day of May 1884
No. 8108, I have described represented and claimed steering mechanism for loose-back
velocipedes consisting essentially of a toothed wheel or pinion fixed upon the vertical
stem or shaft turned by the steering handle of the velocipede which said toothed wheel
or pinion gears with a toothed sector or toothed wheel on the fore end of the loose
back of the velocipede the last named toothed sector or toothed wheel being of longer
radius than the toothed wheel or pinion on the shaft of the steering handle. By this
arrangement, the motion through a given angle of the steering handle produces a less
angular change in the backbone than that of the said handle. Hence the rider has
greater command over the steering of the vehicle than he would have if the angular
notion produced in the backbone were equal to the angular motion of the handle.
Instead of making the radius of the toothed wheel or sector longer than the radius
of the pinion it may be made of the same length and yet give the rider sufficient.
command over the vehicle or under special circumstances it may be shorter.
In the arrangement constituting the patent referred to as well as in the modifications
last described the ratio of the radius of the pinion to the toothed sector is constant.
Instead of making the ratio of the radii of the two paris connecting the steering
mechanism constant the said parts may be so constructed and arranged that in
proportion as the steering handle is deflected from its normal position through a
greater and greater angle it shall produce a greater and greater relative change in the
angular position of the backbone of the velocipede. That is to say when the handle
is near its normal position and the radii of the two connected parts are equal its
angular motion produces a nearly similar angular motion in the backbone of the
velocipede but as the handle in its motion recedes more and more from its normal

page_text: .
position a given angular motion in the handle produces a relatively greater angular
motion in the backbone of the velocipede. Ordinarily however I construct the parts
so that in their normal position tlie radius of the fore end of the backbone is longer
than the acting length of the sliding rod geared to it.
. I construct and arrange the parts in the following ways:-To the fore end of the
backbone joint a rod having motion in a horizontal plane. This rod takes into a
slides in a hole in or in a tubular socket carried by the vertical shaft of the sicering
handle opposite the fore end of the backbone and the connection of the backbone with
the steering handle is effected by the said sliding rod and hole or tubular socket.
When the velocipede is travelling in a rectilinear path the fore end of the backbone
the jointed rod and consequently the tubular socket in which it slides are all in the
same right line and the virtual or acting length of the said sliding roil that is the
distance between the axis of its joint and the axis of the handle shaft is at a minimum.
When for the purpose of changing the path of the velocipede the rider turns the
steering handle through a greater or less angle the sliding pin and fore end of the
backbone make a greater or less angle with one another. The sliding pin is drawn
more or less out of the tubular socket and its virtital or acting length increases that of
the fore end of the hackbone always being constant. In consequence of this virtual
lengthening of the sliding pin as the steering handle is moved through a greater angle
a greater angular change is made in the backbone by a given angular change in the
steering handle in proportion as the steering handle is at a greater distance from its
normal position.
Or the same effect may be produced by connecting the shaft of the steering handle
with the backbone of the velocipede by means of a rod or arm fixed at right angles on
the shaft of the steering handle taking into a swivelling socket carried by the fore end
of the backbone. As the steering handle is deflected from its normal position the said
rod and fore end incline to one another. the swivelling socket slides on the said rod to
a greater distance from the axis of the handle shaft thereby virtually lengthening the
said rod. This change in the virtual or acting length of the said rod produces the
effect herein before described.
Or a like effect may be obtained by connecting the backbone and the shaft of the
steering handle by a connecting link jointed to the shaft of the steering handle so as
to be capable of motion in a vertical plane the end of the said link jointed to the fore
end rising and falling vertically. As the said link by rising and falling virtually
lengthens and shortens its change of position in the turning of the steering handle
produces the effect herein before referred to.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Steering Mechanism of Loose Back and other.
Velocipedes.
I GEORGE HOOKHAM of No. 7 and 8 New Bartholomew Street Birmingham in the
County of Warwick Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my Invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :—
In the complete specification of Letters Patent granted to me for Improvements in
steering mechanism of loose back velocipedes dated the 23rd day of May 1884
No. 8101, I have described, represented and claimed, steering mechanism for loose
back velocipedes consisting essentially of a toothed wheel or pinion fixed upon the
vertical stem or shaft turned by the steering. handle of the velocipede, which said
toothed wheel or pinion gears with a toothed sector or toothed wheel on the fore end
of the loose back of the velocipede, the last named toothed sector or toothed wheel
being of longer radius than the toothed wheel or pinion on the shaft of the steering
handle. By this arrangement the motion through a given angle of the steering handle
produces a less angular change in the backbone than that of the said handle. Hence
the rider has greater command over the steering of the vehicle than he would have if
the angular motion produced in the backbone were equal to the angular motion of the
handle. Instead of making the radius of the toothed wheel or sector longer than the
radius of the pinion it may be made of the same length and yet give the rider sufficient
command over the vehicle; or under special circumstances it may be shorter.
In the arrangement constituting the patent referred to as well as in the modifications
last described the ratio of the radius of the pinion to the toothed sector is constant.
Instead of making the ratio of the radii of the two parts connecting the steering
mechanism constant, the said parts may be so constructed and arranged that in
proportion as the steering handle is deflected from its normal position through a
greater and greater angle it shall produce a greater and greater relative change in the
angular position of the backbone of the velocipede. That is to say, when the handle
is near its normal position and the radii of the two connected parts are equal its
angular motion produces a nearly similar angular notion in the backbone of the
velocipede but as the handle in its motion recedes more and more from its normal.
position a given angular motion in the handle produces a relatively greater angular
motion in the backbone of the velocipede. Ordinarily however I construct the parts
so that in their normal position the radius of the fore end of the backbone is longer
than the acting length of the sliding rod geared to it.
I construct and arrange the parts in the following ways. To the fore end of the
backbone I joint a rod having motion in a horizontal plane. This rod takes into and
slides in a hole in or in a tubular socket carried by the vertical shaft of the steering
handle opposite the fore end of the backbone and the connection of the backbone with
:

page_text: the steering handle is effected by the said sliding rod and hole or tubular socket.
When the velocipede is travelling in a rectilinear path the fore end of the backbone,
the jointed rod and consequently the tubular socket in which it slides are all in the
same right line and the virtual or acting lengil of the said sliding rod, that is, the
distance between the axis of its joint and the axis of the handle shaft is at a minimum.
When for the purpose of changing the path of the velocipede, the rider turns the
steering handle through a greater or less angle, the sliding pin and fore end of the
backbone make a greater or less angle with one another. The sliding pin is drawn
more or less out of the tubular socket and its vertual or acting length increases, that
of the fore end of the back bone always being constant. In consequence of this
virtual lengthening of the sliding pin as the steering handle is moved through a
greater angle a greater angular change is made in the backbone by a given angular
change in the steering handle in proportion as the steering handle is at a greater
distance from its normal position.
Or the same effect may be produced, by connecting the shaft of the steering handle
with the backbone of the velocipede by means of a rod or arm fixed at right angles on
the shaft of the steering handle taking into a swivelling socket carried by the fore end
of the backbone. As the steering handle is deflected from its normal position the said
rod and fore end incline to one another, the swivelling socket slides on the said rod to
a greater distance from the axis of the handle shaft thereby virtually lengthening the
said rod. This change in the virtual or acting length of the said rod produces the
effect herein before described.
Or a like effect may be obtained by connecting the backbone and the shaft of the
steering handle by a connecting link jointed to the shaft of the steering handle so as
to be capable of motion in a vertical plane, the end of the said link jointed to the fore
end rising and falling vertically. As the said link by rising and falling vertually
lengthens and shortens its change of position in the turning of the steering handle
produces the effect hercin before referred to.
I will now proceed to describe the manner in which my invention is to be
performed.
My improvements in the steering mechanism of loose back velocipedes described
represented and claimed in the specification of Letters Patent granted to me dated
the 23rd of May 1884 No. 8101, consists in modifying the said mechanism in the
following manner. In the mechanism described in the said specification a toothed
wheel or sector on the fore end of the loose backbone of the velocipede gears with a
toothed wheel or pinion on the shaft of the steering handle, the radius of the toothed
wheel or sector on the backbone being longer than the radius of the toothed wheel or
pinion on the shaft of the steering handle. My present improvements consist in
making the radii of the sector and pinion of equal length or making the radius of the
wheel or sector on the backbone shorter than the radius of the pinion on the shaft of
the steering handle,
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent in plan a tricycle
containing steering mechanism constructed according to my invention, the plan
Figure 1. exhibiting the parts of the tricycle in the positions which they respectively
occupy when the tricycle is travelling in a straight path and the plan Figure 2
exhibiting the same when the tricycle is moving in a curved path.
Figure 3 represents in vertical longitudinal section and side elevation and Figure 4
in plan steering mechanism constructed according to one of the arrangements
constituting my invention drawn to a larger scale than Figures 1 and 2.
".
Figure represents in side elevation and Figure 6 in plan another arrangement of
my invention drawn to the same scale as Figures 3 and 4.
Figures 7 and 8 represent in side elevation and Figure 9 in plan the steering
mechanism of the tricycle represented in Figures 1 and 2 drawn to a larger scale:
Figure 10 represents a front elevation of a portion of the same.
In Figures 3, 5, 7 and 9 the parts of the steering mechanism are represented in the
positions which they respectively occupy when the tricycle is travelling in a rectilinear
path and in Figures 4, 6 and 8 the parts of the steering mechanism are represented in

page_text: the positions which they respectively occupy when the steering handle is deflected
from its normal position for steering the vehicle in a curved path.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several Figures of the
drawings.
a, a are the travelling wheels of the tricycle and b is the trailing or hind wheel
supported by the backbone e the said backbone being capable of turning on the pin or
centre carried by a fixed part of the tricycle frame; d is the steering post or
shaft carrying at its top the lar or steering handle e. The lower end of the steering
handle shaft works and is capable of turning in a forked bracket on the tubular
sleeve a (see Figure 10) around the shaft of the driving or travelling wheels a, a.
The said steering handle and its shaft, can thus have motion independent of the tubular
sleeve a and the driving shaft as seen in Figure 2. The arrangement represented for
giving an independent motion to the steering handle shaft constitutes no part of my
invention is the chain wheel on the driving shaft to which chain wheel motion is
communicated from the pedal shaft in the ordinary way.
B
I will first describe the steering mechanism represented in Figures 3 and 4.
C
To the fore end 2 of the jointed backbone e I joint a rod g so that the said rod may
have an angular motion upon the said backbone in a horizontal plane. The said rod g
has a knuckle at its rear end and the fore end of the backbone c is furnished with
a fork between the branches of which the knuckle g is fitted, the two parts being
jointed together by the vertical joint pin as best seen in Figure 3. On the vertical
shaft d of the steering handle e and opposite the fore end of the backbone, is a
tubular socket in which the rod g takes and slides, the connection of the fore end e²
of the backbone c with the shaft of the steering handle being effected by the sliding
rod 9 and socket 7. When the tricycle is travelling in a rectilinear path (as
represented in Figure 1) the fore end of the jointed backbone e, the jointed rod y
and the tubular socket are all in the same right line as illustrated in Figure 3 and
the virtual or acting length of the said sliding rod is at a minimum; that is, the
distance between the axis of the joint on the fore end c² of the backbone and the axis
of the steering handle shaft d is at a minimum. When however the liandle bar e is
deflected more or less from its normal position for changing the path of the tricycle as
illustrated in Figure 2 the parts of the steering mechanism take the positions
represented in Figure 4, the sliding rod g and fore end 2 of the back bone making a
greater or less angle with one another. By this angular motion of the sliding rod it
is drawn more or less out of the tubular socket i and its acting length is increased,
the length of the fore end c³ of the backbone remaining constant. By this arrangement
the virtual lengthening of the sliding rod y as the steering handle is deflected through
a greater angle causes a greater angular motion to be made in the backbone by a
given angular change in the steering handle in proportion as the steering handle is at
a greater distance from its normal position as will be understood by an examination of
Figures 2 and 4.
I will now describe the arrangement represented in Figures 5 and 6.
C
In this arrangement a swivelling socket on the fore end of the jointed backbone and
a sliding rod fixed on the steering handle shaft are employed; is the backbone to
the fore end of which the swivelling socket is jointed at /, the said swivelling
socket having motion in a horizontal plane; mis the sliding rod fixed on the shaft
of the steering handle at right angles. When the tricycle is travelling in a straight
path as illustrated in Figure 1. the fore end of the backbone, the swivelling socket k
and the sliding rod in are in the same line as illustrated in Figure 5 but as the
steering handle is deflected from its normal position the said rod m and fore end
the backbone incline to one another as illustrated in Figure 6, the swivelling socket k
sliding on the rod m to a greater or less distance from the axis of the handle shaft d,
thereby virtually lengthening the said rod and producing the change in the virtual or
acting length of the said rod and the effect herein before described with respect io
Figures 3 and 4.
of
I will now describe the arrangement represented in Figures 1, 2, 7, 8 and 9 in
which a connecting link having motion in a vertical plane is employed; is the

page_text: P
connecting link by which the fore end c² of the backbone e is connected to the shaft d
of the steering handle e. The said link is jointed at one end to the fork of the
tubular collar fixed to the steering handle shaft d and the other end of the said
link is jointed to the fork of the swivelling collar turning and rising and falling on
the pin or pivot s carried by the fore end of the backbone. The connecting link
is capable of rising and falling vertically so as virtually to lengthen and shorten it.
When the tricycle is travelling in a straight path as illustrated in Figure 1 the parts
of the steering mechanism occupy the respective positions represented in Figures 7
and 9, that is, the link is situated in a line with the fore end o² of the backbone. On
deflecting the steering handle e for changing the path of the tricycle, the link P turns
upon its joint and takes the position represented in Figures 2 and 8 and the axis of
the travelling wheels, a takes the angular position with respect to the fore end of
the backbone represented in Figure 2. As the link takes the position Figure 8 it
moves in a vertical plane and virtually lengthens and the tubular collar swivels and
rises on the pin or pivot s on the fore end of the backbone and the distance. from
the axis of the handle shaft d and the fore end of the backbone is increased as seen in
Figure 8 for producing the effect herein before particularly explained.
My improvements are applicable to velocipedes generally,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention and
the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that I claim as my invention
of "Improvements in steering mechanism of loose back and other velocipedes."
First Making the steering toothed wheel or sector on the backbone of loose back
velocipedes of the same radius as or of shorter radius than the radius of the toothed
wheel or pinion on the shaft of the steering. handle substantially as herein before
described.
'
Secondly Connecting the fore end of the jointed backbone of the velocipede with
the shaft of the steering handle by means of a horizontal rod jointed to the fore end of
the backbone taking into and sliding in a horizontal tubular socket in the shaft of the
steering handle for the purposes and substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Thirdly Connecting the fore end of the jointed backbone of the velocipede with
the shaft of the steering handle by means of a horizontal pin or rod on the shaft of the
steering handle taking into and sliding in a tubular socket swivelling on the fore end
of the backbone for the purposes and substantially as herein before described and
illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly Connecting the fore end of the jointed backbone of the velocipede with.
the shaft of the steering handle by means of a link having motion in a vertical plane,
the said link being jointed to a collar on the steering handle shaft and to a collar
capable of swivelling and rising and falling upon a pin or pivot on the fore end of the
backbone for the purposes and substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 1. 2. 7. 8. 9 and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
GEORGE HOOKHAM.