Improvements in the Construction of Front Driving Geared Bicycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Front Driving Geared
Bicycles.
J, EDWIN JACKSON, of Knowsley Park, Prescot, Lancashire, Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF FRONT DRIVING GEARED BICYCLES 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 improvements in the construction of front driving geared
bicycles, is, to avoid the excessive strain on back bone, caused by the weight. of
rider seated thereon, as at present constructed, by placing, the seat of rider, on or
near the end, of fork of front driving wheel, making the fork of front driving wheel
a fixture to the back-bone and carrying the same upward, to the height desired to.
form seat pillar. In order to do this, and bind the frame firmly together, I steer
by means of back wheel, instead of by the front wheel, which is the method adopted
at present, for front driving geared bicycles.
In illustration of my improvements I enclose one sheet of drawings.
The same letters, and figures, apply to the different views, of the same parts.
Fig. 1. is a side view of frame of bicycle drawn to a scale of 1 in. to the foot.
Fig. 2. is a vertical section of ball socket head, for handle bar pillar.
Fig. 3. is a view of socket head enclosed with connections broken off.
Fig. 4. is a plan of socket head.
Fig. 5 is a vertical section, through ball socket, to receive spindle connected to
fork of back wheel.
Fig. 6. is a view of ball socket enclosed.
Fig. 7. is a plan of ball socket and its connections, cut off.
Figs. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. and 7 are drawn full size.
I now describe the various parts, as shewn on drawings.
A. is fork of front driving wheel of the usual form, with seat pillar A' connected
thereto, the seat pillar being prepared to receive seat pin, and having a socket
formed A to receive back-bone.
B is backbone, formed hollow, of steel tubing.
C are tension, or stay rods, one on each side to bind the frame firmly together.
D is back fork and spindle, with ball race formed thereon, the fork being formed
hollow in the usual way.
E is back fork, ball socket, in which spindle of back fork is mounted,
swivels.
F is ball race screwed on spindle D.
G is check nut, to adjust ball bearings.
and
H is a portion of gear wheel, teeth being required on one half only, giving ample
radius for steering.
I is another wheel, where teeth are required on one half only.
J is steering rod to which I is connected.
K is another gear wheel, connected to steering rod J.
L is another gear wheel fixed on, or near, bottom end of handle bar pillar.
M. is handle bar pillar, broken off at top.
N. is ball socket for handle bar pillar.
The handle bar is not shewn. The brake lever, brake rod, and brake spoon, are
not shewn, as they form no part of my invention, and are of the usual type to suit.
Having now described the various parts, shewn on drawings, I will proceed to
describe how I put the same together.
I take backbone B which is formed hollow of steel tubing, and cut to length

page_text: required, and insert in socket A' formed on the top end of fork A of front driving
wheel, braze, or otherwise fix the same securely together.
I then take back fork ball socket E, and insert lug E' into end of tube, or back-
bone B brazing or otherwise firmly securing the same together.
I then take tension or stay-rods C and fix by bolt, pin or otherwise to ends of
fork A the other ends of rods C being fixed to lug C¹, by pin, or otherwise, formed
on socket E which braces the backbone B and fork A firmly together.
I then take ball socket N for handle bar pillar and insert lug N¹ into end of tube
forming backbone B and braze, or otherwise firmly secure.
I now take steering rod J and fix wheel K by screw or otherwise as found most
desirable, and cut to exact length required. I now insert balls in cup formed in
ball socket of handle bar pillar N at No. 1 then insert steering rod J into back-
bone B. I then insert balls at 1' and fix wheel I on steering rod J.
I then take back fork D and insert spindle D into ball socket E. I then fix on
spindle D wheel H and set up by ball race screwed on to spindle D at F and fix
and adjust ball bearings by check nut G, the wheel H and wheel I being truly in
gear. I then take handle bar pillar M and insert into ball socket head, and fix
wheel L. I then insert balls in cup at top of handle bar pillar at M¹ and cover by
ball race M and adjusted by check nut M³. I then insert balls into cup at N
cover by ball race N and screw up by check nut N³. I then fix gear wheel Las
shewn which gears into wheel K fixed to steering rod J. Having now put all the
parts together I fix on the thin covers at N' and at E. The bicycle being now
fully. mounted, the handle bar, which is connected to handle bar pillar M which
needs no description, and is actuated to the right or left for steering in the usual
manner, the wheel L being in gear with wheel K turns steering rod J round its
axis, and the wheel I being in gear with wheel H on spindle of back fork D turns
the back wheel to right or left as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The combination of fork of front driving wheel and seat pillar substantially
as herein described and set forth.
2nd. The steering by back wheel, instead of front driving wheel, by which
arrangement I am enabled to brace the frame firmly together.
3rd. The combination of frame in the form of a triangle, the fork forming one
side, the backbone forming 'the other side, and the third side being formed by stay
or tie rods as substantially herein described and set forth.
4th. The transferring the weight of rider from backbone to seat pillar on end of
fork of front driving wheel.
5th. The combination of parts for steering by back wheel, the wheel on handle
bar pillar, in gear with wheel on steering rod, steering rod and wheel in gear with
wheel on spindle of back fork.
6th. The combination of steering parts being enclosed, inside backbone, ball
socket of back wheel, and ball socket head for handle bar pillar.
Dated this 1st day of March 1893.
EDWIN JACKSON.