Improvements in Velocipedes, also Applicable to Carriages and like Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 16th Dec., 1889-Accepted, 25th Jan., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes, also Applicable to Carriages and like
Vehicles.
We FREDERICK HOPKINSON and LEONARD CHARLES HOPKINSON of 49 and 51
Cleveland Street Doncaster in the county of York, Engineers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements on a former invention for which we have
applied for Letters Patent such application being numbered 4571 and dated
26th March 1888 entitled "Improvements in Velocipedes also applicable to carriages
and like vehicles."
In such velocipedes and chain driven vehicles to which our said prior invention is
applicable and in which we used a divided and pivotted backbone or frame carrying
the driving and steering wheels we suspended the bearings of the cranks and chain
wheels below the divided back-bones and from the pivotal axis thereof and we con-
nected the axis of the pedal shaft and the axis of the rear driving wheel by coupling
rods adjustable so as to maintain the tension of the chain or chains.
We also used as the pivotal axis of the chain wheel or wheels, a bracket depending
from the backbones carrying straps working on discs on the backbones thus allowing
the chainwheel or wheels to move as the velocipede or driven vehicle traversed
irregular ground.
Now according to our present invention we dispense with the aforesaid bracket,
straps and discs fixed to the backbones and substitute a bearing between the divided
backbones or, bearings outside of the same.
The shaft mounted in the bearings carries the chainwheel or chainwheels and
pedals and also pivots the backbones or frames together.
We carry lugs or brackets downwardly from the backbones or frames and moveably
connect each oppositely together by slotted guides, clamps or otherwise and advan-
tageously fit them with anti-frictional bearings so that one can work against the other,
the pivotal shaft of the backbones or frames forming the fulcrum.
Between, or outside, the backbones or frames we mount or pivot on the pivotal,
driving or transmitting shaft, a frame which carries the seat pillar and steering post
and on the sides of each backbone we braze or otherwise affix curved or suitable guide
plates which bear against the aforesaid pivoted frame carrying the seat pillar and
steering post and so giving stability to the structure.
These guide plates or the said frame may be fitted with balls or
rollers.
antifrictional
Thus one shaft connects the backbones, acts as a pivot between them, furnishes the
fulcrum of the driving or transmitting gear and carries the seat pillar and steering
post so that all are mounted on a common axis.
In the case of tandems or sociable velocipedes or for like purposes, chainwheels and
pedals might be mounted on convenient parts of the frame carrying the seat pillar and
steering post to drive the central shaft or transmit power therefrom.
If desired, connecting rod link or other gearing may take the place of chains.
We may in some cases use electro-motors driven by primary or secondary batteries
in combination with or independently of pedal, manual or combined pedal and inanual
power.
Dated 9th day of March 1889.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: '3 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes, also Applicable to Carriages and like
Vehicles.
We,FREDERICK HOPKINSON, and LEONARD CHARLES HOPKINSON, of 49 & 51
Cleveland Street, Doncaster, in. the County of York, Engineers, do hereby
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
Our invention relates to improvements on a former invention for which we have
applied for Letters Patent, such Application being numbered 4571 and dated
26th March 1888 entitled Improvements in Velocipedes also applicable to carriages
and like vehicles."
In such velocipedes and chain driven vehicles to which our said prior invention is
applicable and in which we used a divided and pivoted backbone or frame carrying
the driving and steering wheels we suspended the bearings of the cranks and chain
wheels below the divided backbones and from the pivotal axis thereof and we con-
nected the axis of the pedal shaft and the axis of the rear driving wheel by coupling
rods adjustable so as to maintain the tension of the chain or chains.
We also used as the pivotal axis of the chain wheel or wheels a bracket depending
from the backbones carrying straps working on dises on the backbones thus allowing
the chain wheel or wheels to move as the velocipede or chain-driven vehicle traversed
irregular ground.
Now according to our present invention we dispense with the aforesaid bracket strap
and discs fixed to the backbones and substitute à bearing between the divided back-
bones or bearings outside of the same.
The shaft mounted in the hearings carries the chain wheel or chain wheels and
pedals and also pivots the backbones or frames together.
We may carry lugs or. brackets downwardly from the backbones or frames and
moveably connect each oppositely together by slotted guides clamps or otherwise
and advantageously fit them with antifrictional bearings so that one can work
against the other the pivotal shaft of the backbones or frames forming the fulcrum.
Between or outside the backbones or frames we mount or pivot on the pivotal
-driving or transmitting shaft, a frame which carries the seat pillar and steering
post and on the sides of each backbone we braze or otherwise affix curved or
suitable guide plates which bear against the aforesaid pivoted frame carrying the
seat pillar and steering post and so giving stability to the structure.
These guide plates or the frame may be fitted with balls or antifrictional rollers.
• Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the figures and letters
of reference thereon
Fig. 1 is a side elevation shewing part of Quadricycle.
Fig. 2 is a plan of Quadricycle with saddle omitted.
Fig. 3 sectional view of pivotal axis and driving gear.
Fig. 4 elevation of rear slotted guides with antifrictional roller.
Fig. 5 elevation of front slotted guides with antifrictional roller.
A Aare a pair of backbones or frames built up with rigid supporting stays,
these backbones or frames are placed side by side carrying driving wheels BB
mounted upon axles wbich run in bearings CCCC and fitted with chain wheels D D.
Upon the front end of said backbones or frames we mount steering sockets E E
fitted with pivots carrying steering wheels FF; these pivots are jointed at G G
to links H H in turn universally jointed at I, I to a cross bar JJ, which swivels
upon an arm K of the steering har.
shews the body frame carrying seat pillar and steering post fitted with
bearings M M to transverse axle Ň N upon which are mounted chain wheels with
balance gear 0 0 and cranks chains pass over the wheels O O and aforesaid
driven wheels D D.
Rings or bearings P P affixed to the backbones or frames socket upon axle N N or

page_text: upon the bearings or bearing cases of such axle or in such other manner whereby the
two backbones or frames may oscillate upon the axis N N which is also the axis of the
body frame and driving gear.
To impart lateral stability to the structure, we fit studs carrying antifrictional
rollers R R upon extended parts of body frame L and opposite to said antifrictional
rollers upon extensions of the backbones or frames we affix guide plates S S³ which
take bearing against the said antifrictional rollers.
The stud carrying antifriction roller R¹ carries also a pinion wheel T which gears
into two racks U U situated opposite each other upon the backbones or frames
whereby the frame carrying seat pillar and steering post is held in the desired
position.
Above the aforesaid antifriction roller and pinion we fit clamps or caps V V which
bend downwards over the said guide plates $ $ and prevent separation of the back-
bones or frames.
Upon the lower front end of each backbone or frame we affix a slotted guide
plate W W which plates overlap each other as shown in Drawing Fig. 5.
X shews a stud carrying antifriction roller affixed to low end of steering post L³
which said roller passes through both plates W1 W2 whereby the backbones or frames
and steering post carried by the body frame L are moveably connected with each
other.
Upon the lower rear end of one backbone or frame we affix a slotted guide plate Y
shewn in Fig. 4 and to the opposite backbone or frame a stud with antifriction roller
to work within the said guide plate.
We have herein shewn an arrangement for pivotting the two backbones or frames
upon the axis of the driving gear whereby the tension of the driving chains will not
be affected when the wheels of the vehicle which rise and fall independently of each
other run either upon level or irregular ground.
This arrangement enables us to dispense with the coupling stays and brackets
described in a previous Specification.
In the case of Tandems, Sociables, and other Velocipedes, chain wheels and pedals
might be mounted upon convenient parts of the body frame which carries seat pillar
and steering post to drive the pivotal axle or transmit power therefrom.
If desired connecting rod, link, or other gearing may take the place of chains.
We may in some cases use electro motors driven by primary or secondary batteries
in combination with or independently of pedal, manual or combined pedal and manual
power.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is,
1. In a velocipede having a divided pivoted backbone or frame, each half of which
carries wheels running in parallel track, pivoting the two halves of the said backbone
or frame on the shaft which carries the chain wheel or wheels and pedals substantially
as herein described.
2. The general arrangement of and combination of parts in a velocipede having a
divided backbone or frame substantially as herein described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 16th day of December 1880
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.