Improvements in Wheel Attachments for Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1898
Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 5th Aug., 1898-Accepted, 15th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheel Attachments for Cycles.
I, PERCY ENFIELD DOWSON, of The Parsonage, Gee Cross, near Hyde, in the
County of Chester, Science Student, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows: -
The object of this invention is to provide for the construction and securing of
the axles of the wheels of bicycles in position in the tubes or forks without
applying a screw over the end thereof and thus avoid a nut on the end of the
axle.
It consists essentially in securing the axle in position by means of blocks
clamped tightly upon it by bolts or screws such blocks being capable of sliding,
or fixed, as required for either back or front wheel.
In the end of the fork or tube by which the axle is supported I place two
blocks or clamping pieces with one or two bolts or screws passing through by
which they are secured and clamped together. In the case of bolts being used
nuts are applied either on top or bottom and in the case of screws they are
screwed into one or other of the blocks.
For the back axle where adjustment is required the blocks are of sufficient
length to allow of lateral movement of the axle. A slot or groove is provided in
on or both blocks into which the end of the axle is fitted and in which it is
capable of being slid in either direction. The end of the axle is preferably
square to prevent rotation.
Instead of a slot or groove to receive the axle end it may pass between the
blocks to the other side so as to present a greater surface for the clamping
blocks to bear against.
Holes are made in the blocks and holes in the tubes and bolts pass through to
clamp them together, a sleeve or washer bearing directly against one or both
blocks against which the nut or head of the bolt presses.
In another form the blocks are formed with a hole or notch to receive the axle
end and they are made to slide to or fro in the tube end slots being formed
therein for the clamping bolts to pass through the clamping blocks and the
axle thus moving together.
In another modification the axle may be rigidly attached to or form part of the
sliding block and move to or fro with it. Bolts or screws may be attached to
the block and project top and bottom through a slot in the tube where they are
clamped or secured by nuts. Or a bolt may be passed through the block or
through the axle end."
To the back wheel I also apply an adjusting device with collar or ring passing
over the end of the axle with a projecting screw to which a nut is applied to
adjust the position of the axle and block or a bolt or screw may project from the
axle either fast to it or loosely connected for the same purpose. Or in the case
where the block is movable the screw may be connected to or passed through
the sliding block.

page_text: As applied to the front wheel the blocks will be similarly constructed and
secured to the fork ends and the axle ends to the blocks but no provision is re-
quired for adjustment and the same will be the case when chain gearing is not
applied to the back wheel.
Dated this 4th day of Novambar 1907
Improvements in Wheel Attachments for Cycles.
I, PERCY ENFIELD DOWSON, of The Parsonage, Gee Cross, near Hyde, in the
County of Chester, Science Student, 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:-
This invention relates to the construction and method of securing the axles of
the wheels of bicycles in position in the tubes or forks and is designed to obviate
the use of clamping nuts and screws upon the end of the axle.
It consists essentially in constructing the fork ends and the axle with clamp-
ing blocks by which the end of the axle is tightly clamped and held in position
by bolts or screws, such blocks being either fixed or movable to permit of the
sliding to and fro of the axle for adjustment as required for either front or back
wheel.
'
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in
which as examples two modifications of the invention for securing the axle are
illustrated in detail.
Fig. 1. Side elevation of rear fork of bicycle.
Fig. 2. Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 3. Plan.
Fig. 4. End elevation.
Fig. 5. Transverse section on line Fig. 2.
Fig. 6. Transverse section on line y-y Fig. 2.
Fig. 7. Sectional plan.
Fig. 8. Sectional plan on line - Fig. 2.
Fig. 9. Side elevation of a modified arrangement.
Fig. 10. Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 11. Plan.
Fig. 12. End elevation.
Fig. 13. Transverse section on line - Fig. 10.
Fig. 14. Sectional plan.
Fig. 15. Transverse section showing a further modification.
Fig. 16. Side elevation of another modification.
Fig. 17. Longitudinal section of same.
Fig. 18. Transverse section on line - Fig. 17.
Fig. 19. Transverse section on line y-y Fig. 16 showing a further modinea-
tion.
In the end of the fork or tube A by which the axle B is supported place two
blocks or clamping pieces D with two bolts or screws C passing through by
which they are forced together to clamp or grip the end of the axle B.
The blocks or clamping pieces D may be secured or fastened to the tube A by
brazing or by bolts or otherwise forming a slot in which the end of the axle can

page_text: slide for adjustment or they may be loose and free to slide with the axle, the
bolts passing through slots in the tube and capable of being moved backwards
and forwards therein.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 8 the blocks D are placed in the tube A and held in
position therein by the bolts C which are passed through them. The two blocks
are separated providing a slot or groove & between them into which the end b
of the axle B is fitted and in which it is capable of being moved in either direc-
tion. The end 6 of the axle B may be flattened or made square to prevent rota-
tion and passes between the clamping blocks through a slot in the inside of the
tube.
On the ends of the bolts C elongated nuts c or washers are applied so as to
apply the pressure direct upon the block instead of upon the tube. Where
screws are employed instead of bolts the holes in one block preferably the bottom
one would be tapped or screwed to receive them.
Over the end of the tube is fitted a cap E preferably secured by one of the
bolts C and the position of the axle is adjusted by a screw F passing through it
with a nut f on the outside bearing against the cap E or any other arrangement
of adjusting screw may be employed.
Referring to Figs. 9 to 15 in the interior of the tube A are brazed or otherwise
firmly secured the blocks or strips D and on the end of the axle B is fitted or
secured a block D' which slides between and is gripped by the blocks D when
clamped or forced together by the bolts C or by screws. The block D' on the
end of the axle B may be of the shape shown or of rectangular or other con-
venient shape which can be easily clamped and which will prevent rotation. It
may be formed in one with the axle or may be screwed, pinned, brazed or other-
wise fitted thereto. Or the block D' may be partially split or in two separate
parts to obtain better grip. Grooves d' may be formed in the blocks D and
projections on the block D' (or vice versa) to guide the blocks as they are
moved to and fro, (see Fig. 15). The axle is adjusted by a screw F passing
through the cap E with a nut f as above described or in other convenient manner.
Referring to Figs. 16 to 19, instead of inserting the clamping blocks in the
interior of the fork or tube ends A a clamping piece may be attached to or in-
serted in the end of the tube and project therefrom. This may be in the form
of lugs projecting therefrom or of a steel stamping of shape corresponding to
shape of tube with thickened or turned over pieces top and bottom to grip the
axle and a springing portion ", between to yield to the pressure of the bolts.
It will be evident that various other modifications may be devised for clamp-
ing the axle B within the tube while dispensing with a clamping nut upon the
end of the axle either at the outside of the tube or between the tube and the
hub, such as now in use.
(a) A slot or groove may be made in the face of one or both of the blocks
which are clamped together to receive a dove tail shaped end formed in the axle
so that the end would not project beyond the edges of the blocks.
(b) The axle may be rigidly attached to or form part of the sliding block and
move to and fro with it in the tube. Bolts or screws may be attached to the block
and project top and bottom through a slot in the tube where they are clamped
or secured by nuts. Or slots may be made in the sliding block instead of in the
tube and a bolt or bolts may be passed through the block through the axle and
through holes or slots in the tube.
(c). The block on one side of the axle may be made fast to the tube (either
top or bottom) and the block on the other side of the axle be affixed to or bolted
to the axle and the two blocks be secured or clamped by bolts or screws passed
through.
(d). Instead of two bolts the blocks may be hinged at one end and drawn or
forced together at the other end to clamp the axle.
(e). Instead of placing the clamping bolts vertically the axle may be made
with a flat collar and two (or four) blocks or strips be placed at the sides thereof

page_text: and the clamping bolts be passed through horizontally, the axle thus being
clamped to the sides of the tube instead of to the top and bottom walls thereof.
(f). The bolts may in some cases be replaced by a band passing round the
tube to be tightened by screw or cam lever or other ordinary device, thus obviat-
ing the necessity of boring holes in the tube. The band would slip off for the
purpose of detaching the wheel.
The fork tube A itself may be used to carry the clamping bolts as illustrated
or a lug or other attachment may be employed for the purpose and in either case
the interior of the tube may be machined or otherwise fitted or prepared to
receive the axle or axle blocks.
The clamping bolts C may be used to assist in securing seat stays, gear case,
step, mudguards etcetera.
A shield may be fitted over any slots in the tube to keep out dirt or dust, such
shield being clamped thereto or attached to the axle or sliding block or bolts to
slide with them.
As applied to the front wheel the blocks will be similarly constructed and
secured to the fork ends, and the axle ends to the blocks, but no provision is
required for adjustment and the same will be the case when chain gearing is not
applied to the back wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. The method of securing the axle to the fork tube by clamping it therein by
means of a block or blocks inserted in or attached to the tube which engage the
end of the axle one or more bolts (or screws) passing through the tube, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
2. Wheel attachments for cycles constructed with blocks inserted in the interior
or attached to the end of the tube between which the end of the axle is gripped
and secured with or without a block affixed to the axle, substantially as described.
3. A wheel attachment for cycles comprising one or more blocks inserted in the
tube and attached either to the tube or to the axle and clamped or secured in
position by bolts or screws passing through the tube substantially as described.
4. Means for securing wheels of cycles comprising a clamping piece or block
attached to or projecting from the end of the tube shaped to grip the end of the
axle (or a block thereon) and tightened thereon by bolts or screws passed through
it, substantially as described and shown.
5. A wheel attachment for cycles having the several parts constructed and
arranged in combination, substantially as described and shown with reference to
either of the figs. of the drawings.
T
1000
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool & London, Patent Agents.