Improvements in or Applicable to the Frames of Bicycles or other Velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
Date of Application, 20th NOV., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Aug., 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Applicable to the Frames of Bicycles or other
Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM ANDREW, of 77, Kirkbank Street, Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, House Furnisher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention is applicable to the frames of bicycles and other velocipedes
especially those made with diamond pattern frames and the principal object of
the said invention is to dispense with, or reduce to a minimum the vibration
to which the saddle and handle bar of such machines are liable when being
driven over rough rods.
For the purposes of my invention I make the main part of the frame rigid
as usual so far as relates to the steering socket, top and bottom tubes, bottom
bracket and seat post, the connections of this rigid part of the frame however
with the bearings of the front and rear axles and wheels are made with hinge
joints and are provided with springs or pneumatic buffers in such a way as to
impart an amount of resilience thereto which will prevent the vibration of the
wheels and their axles from being communicated to the rider either through
the handle bar or through the saddle.
The front fork of the machine, instead of carrying the bearings of the front
axle directly has attached to its lower ends by hinge joints (preferably made with
ball bearings) two short arms or levers projecting forwards and connected to
the lower ends of an auxiliary fork which carries in ball bearings the front
axle, the upper end of this auxiliary fork being similarly carried by two short
arms or levers or a forked lever hinged to the crown of the main or steering
fork, so as to form a kind of "parallel motion." The upper end of the auxiliary
fork is fitted with a plate or disc, and at a convenient distance above this is
another plate or disc supported by a curved bracket from the crown of the main
or steering fork, so that at the same time that the latter can revolve in the
steering socket in the usual manner and carry the front axle and wheel round
with it, the steering socket and main fork can rise and fall independently of the
wheel. Between the two discs above named I insert and fix an inflatable ball or
bulb of india rubber or other elastic and airtight substance strengthened with
canvas or otherwise or a coiled or other suitable spring or springs which thus
supports the front portion of the frame and reduces the vibration to a minimum.
For the same purpose I connect the front ends of the chain stays to the bottom
bracket by means of a similar hinge joint, so that they act as levers and I hinge
the lower ends of the rear fork thereto, and instead of connecting the upper end
of the said fork rigidly to the rear end of the top tube, as usual, I make the
fork terminate just above the wheel and I connect it by two hinged arms or
levers or a forked arm or lever to a bracket secured to the seat post, and I pro-
vide the upper end of the fork and the rear part of the top end of the seat tube
with plates or discs opposite to each other, and between the two I insert or fix

page_text: an inflatable ball or bulb or a coiled or other suitable spring, or springs, thus
connecting the bearings of the driving axle to the rigid part of the frame in a
similar resilient manner so that the greater part of the vibration of both front
and rear wheels is absorbed by the pneumatic balls bulbs or springs, and is not
communicated to the rigid part of the frame or to the rider.
I would here remark that all the hinge joints should be so constructed as to
allow of a rising and falling motion only, and to prevent any sideways play
whatever, and that I prefer to make these hinges on the principle of ball-bearings
with adjustable cones so that they can be screwed up when required, without
fear of tightening the joints so as to interfere with their proper action.
Dated this 25th day of November 1898
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.
Improvements in or Applicable to the Frames of Bicycles or other
Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM ANDREW, of 77, Kirkbank Street, Oldham, in the County of
Lancaster, House Furnisher, 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 improvement which forms the subject of this invention is intended to
be applied to the frames of velocipedes, especially bicycles that are made with
diamond pattern frames; the object of my invention is to obviate or reduce to
a minimum the vibration in the saddle, pedals, and handle bar of a machine
when being driven over rough roads.
For the purpose of my invention I make the main part of the frame rigid as
usual so far as relates to the steering socket, top and bottom tubes, bottom
bracket and seat post, but the connections of this rigid part of the frame with
the bearings of the front and rear axles and wheels are made with hinge joints,
and are provided with pneumatic or other suitable springs in such a way as to
impart an amount of resilience thereto which will prevent the vibration of the
wheels and their axles from being communicated to the rider either through
the handle bar, pedals or the saddle.
In the accompanying drawings to which I hereinafter refer Fig. 1 is a side
view of a bicycle frame constructed according to my invention. Fig. 2 is a
plan of hinged joint for connecting the chain stays to the bottom bracket. Fig. 3
is a plan of the lever or bar that connects the rear fork with the seat post. Fig. 4
is a modification of my invention.
In these views similar letters refer to similar parts. In my invention the
bearings of the front wheel axle are not attached directly to the front fork, but
the lower ends 1 of said fork are connected to an auxiliary fork e by two short
levers as d as shown either in Fig. 1 or Fig. 4, and the front axle pin is carried
at the junction of said auxiliary fork and levers. The upper end of the fork c
is supported in like manner by two short arms or levers c hinged at or near the
crown of the main or steering fork both of said forks being retained approxi-
mately in a parallel position and having like motion. The upper end of the
auxiliary fork is fitted with a plate or disc g and at a convenient distance above
this is another plate or disc g¹ that is supported by a bracket as f that is formed
preferably on the upper end of the main steering fork b or attached thereto, so

page_text: that the upper end of the main steering fork can revolve in the steering socket
in the usual manner and carry the front wheel and axle round with it, the steer-
ing socket and main fork being free to rise and fall independently of the wheel.
Between the discs gg I insert and fix an inflatable ball or bulb v of india
rubber or other elastic and airtight substance strengthened with canvas or
otherwise, or a coiled or other suitable spring or springs which thus supports
the front portion of the frame and reduces the vibration to a minimum. For
the same purposes I connect the front ends of the chain stays m to the bottom
bracket n by means of a hinged joint as 7 Fig. 2, and connect the rear ends of
said chain stays to the lower ends of the rear fork h by hinged joints as j; the
rear fork is made shorter than usual, terminating just above the wheel, and is
connected by two hinged arms or levers or by a forked arm or lever as k to a
bracket or lug p that is secured to the seat post q. I provide the upper end of
the rear fork and the rear part of the top end of the seat tube with plates or
discs placed opposite each other, and between the two I insert or fix an
inflatable ball or bulb v¹ or a coiled or other suitable spring or springs, by which
the bearings of the driving axle are connected to the rigid part of the frame
thereby obtaining resiliency in the rear as well as the front part of the frame.
By these means the whole or nearly the whole of the vibration of both the front
and rear wheels is absorbed by the pneumatic bulbs, cushions or springs herein-
before described and is not communicated to the rigid part of the frame or to
the rider. The hinged connections which have only a rising and falling motion
are constructed preferably with ball bearing joints with adjustable cones which
can be screwed up when required so as to prevent lateral play without tightening
the joints or preventing free action.
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
1 claim is:
1. In diamond frame bicycles and frames of cycles of like construction the
combination with the main or steering fork of an auxiliary fork that is con-
nected to the main steering fork by hinged arms or levers, said auxiliary fork
being surmounted by pneumatic or other springs upon which the front portion
of the frame rests and arranged so as to turn simultaneously with the main
steering fork in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein before
described.
2. In diamond frame bicycles and frames of cycles of like construction, the
combination of chain stays whose front ends are hinged to the bottom bracket
and the rear ends hinged to the bottom ends of the rear fork, a connecting link
as k pivotted to the seat pillar for supporting the upper end of the rear fork, and
india rubber air cushions or other suitable springs fitted between discs on the
upper portion of the rear fork and the rear part of the top end of the seat tube
by which the bearings of the driving axle are connected to the rigid part of the
frame all substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
3. Diamond frame bicycles and like cycle frames that are constructed sub-
stantially as herein before described.
Dated this 21st day of August 1899.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.