IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Starley, junior, and John Kemp Starley, both of
Coventry, in the County of Warwick, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
VELOCIPEDES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER
VEHICLES
"
Sealed the 13th February 1877, and dated the 18th November 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Starley, junior, and
John Kemp Starley at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th
November 1876.
JAMES STARLEY, junior, and JOHN KEMP STARLEY, both of Coventry, in the
County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES."
These improvements in velocipedes relate, firstly, to a novel construction of three-
wheeled vehicle suitable for ladies' use.
The seat is attached to a transverse rectangular frame, which is supported on one
side by a large driving wheel, and on the opposite side by two smaller wheels.
This rectangular frame is fitted with bearings to receive the crank axle of the driving
wheel, and the cranks of this axle are connected by rods to a pair of treadle levers,
the fulcrums of which are carried by the bottom bar of the rectangular frame.
Attached to this frame in a way that will admit of easy detachment therefrom is a
side frame, in the opposite ends of which are sockets to receive the stems of the forks
in which the small running wheels are mounted; these stems are fitted with cross
heads, and the cross heads are connected together by a diagonal tie rod. A handle
on the cross head of the forward wheel stem serves to steer these wheels, and turn
them simultaneously in opposite directions.
To give stiffness to the side frame a strut or tie bar is used to connect its rear end
with the transverse or main frame.
The driving wheel is so constructed that it will admit of being readily removed
from its crank shaft when it is required to pack the vehicle in a small compass, and

page_text: it is with the same object of packing the parts closely together that the side frame
is made detachable, as above mentioned.
The second head of this Invention relates to the construction of wheels for
velocipedes.
The hub of the wheel is formed of two metal discs carrying flanges on their outer
faces, and these are connected by cross bars of a length suitable for giving the
required breadth to the hub. Through the flanges of these discs we drill radial
holes at equal distances apart to receive screw pins, which serve to retain the ends
of wires which constitute the spokes of the wheel. These wires are threaded through
eyes on the inner periphery of the wheel, and their ends are brought down each to a
screw pin, one fitted to the right hand and the other to the left hand disc of the hub.
The inner ends of these pins are drilled to receive the turned up ends of the wires,
and by screwing in the pins the wires will be drawn to tension. This will form a
very light and strong wheel, suitable not only for velocipedes of various constructions,
but also for other vehicles.
The mode of securing the wire spokes just described is equally applicable to
hubs when made solid with the axle, as is the case with the driving wheels of
bicycles.
The third head of the Invention relates to improvements in brakes for velo-
cipedes.
Hitherto it has been usual to make the brake act upon the india-rubber tyre
when the progress of the vehicle was required to be slackened, but the tendency
of the brake was either to injure the tyre by straining it, or if the tyre was
muddy to slip and produce no brake action. To avoid these defects we cause the
brake to grip the iron felloe. Supposing, for example, the brake to be applied to
the hind wheel of a bicycle, we pivot to the stem of the fork two gripping arms,
which will bear against the flattened sides of the iron felloe, and thereby stop the
rotation of the wheel. To bring these arms into contact with the wheel we connect
the pendent ends of the arms with a strong piece of gut or equivalent substance,
passing the gut under a pair of pulleys carried by the wheel fork, and laying it
over or connecting it with a tension pulley attached to the usual brake cord or
chain. When this cord or chain is drawn taut the arms will be caused to grip the
wheel and put the required amount of friction thereon, thereby leaving the india-
rubber tyre unaffected by the action of the brake. The like effect may be produced
by making the gripping jaws rigid, and shaping them so that they shall embrace the
felloe of the wheel, the sides of which are to be V shaped to correspond with the
gripping faces of the jaws. The gripping jaws form part of a sliding piece carried
by the wheel fork, and they are held out of action by springs. The pull of the
brake cord will however overcome the springs and draw the jaws into close contact
with the felloe, and thus brake the wheel.
Another improvement in brakes is to use a fluted roller in place of the ordinary
brake roller, which bears upon the india-rubber tyre. This roller will by reason of
the ribs on its periphery bite into the tyre without injuring it, and thus ensure a
firm hold on the wheel. The roller is fitted to a friction disc of larger diameter than
the roller, the axle of which is carried by arms pivotted to the backbone of the
bicycle. A coiled spring serves to hold the roller out of contact with the wheel,
and a brake lever pivotted to the backbone and bearing upon the friction disc
presses the roller into contact with the wheel tyre. This action of the brake lever
is produced by the rider drawing the brake cord to tension. The brake cord may
be put in action by its connection with the steering handle, or by leading it down
over a guide pulley and down to a rocking foot rest on the front fork, the tipping of
which foot rest will throw the brake into action.
A further improvement in the means of retarding bicycles, particularly when
descending hills, consists in providing a means for instantly increasing the distance
between the front and hind wheels, and thus putting a drag on the progress of the
yehicle. This is effected by dividing the backbone into two parts in rear of the

page_text: seat, and connecting those parts together by a hinged back joint. A catch or bolt
is used for securing the parts rigidly together, but when this catch or bolt is with-
drawn the hinged joint will drop, and the hind wheel will recede and produce the
effect desired. The movement of the bolt or catch may be obtained by connecting
it with a cord that is made taut by a hand lever.
A modification of this mode of increasing this "reach" or space between the front
and hind wheels is to joint the socket of the front wheel fork to the backbone of the
bicycle. By allowing the socket to turn back on this joint the fork will be canted,
and the desired object attained.
The fourth head of the Invention relates to a mode of fitting the axle of the
driving wheel of bicycles to its forked bearing, and the pedal crank to the axle.
Hitherto when an accident has occurred causing the bending of the pedal cranks,
great inconvenience has been experienced by the rider owing to the difficulty of
straightening or resetting the cranks, which are made fast to the axle. Moreover,
no provision has been made against the lateral wear of the parts, and consequently
a rattling of the wheel in its bearings has resulted. We now propose to cone the
ends of the hub at the part nearest the axle, and to cone both the inner and outer
ends of the sockets in the fork. The inner ends of the sockets will fit against the
cones of the hub, and to the outer ends we fit loose coned pieces, against which the
pedal cranks will abut, or the cones may form a portion of the cranks. These
cranks we fit to the wheel axle by means of transverse keys, which passing through
their respective cranks, will bear against the flattened portion of the axle. By
knocking out these keys the cranks may be readily detached, and if bent they may
be straightened by any ordinary blacksmith. Should the parts wear loose it is
only necessary to shift the cranks inward, and refix them by their transverse keys
to the wheel axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Starley, junior, and John Kemp Starley in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 18th May 1877.
JAMES STARLEY, junior, and JOHN KEMP STARLEY, both of Coventry, in the
County of Warwick. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES, A PART OF WHICH IMPROVE-
MENTS IS APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES."
These improvements in velocipedes relate, firstly, to a novel construction of three-
wheeled vehicle suitable for ladies' use.
In Sheet I. of the accompanying Drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of this
vehicle; Fig. 2 is a front elevation, and Fig. 3 a plan view of the same.
A is the seat attached to a transverse rectangular frame B, which is supported on
one side by a large driving wheel C, and on the opposite side by two smaller
wheels D, D¹; this rectangular frame is fitted with bearings to receive the crank
axle E of the driving wheel, and the cranks of this axle are connected by chains and
link rods to a pair of treadle levers F, the fulcrum rod G of which is carried by
rods G, G¹, pendant from the frame B. Attached to this frame in a way that will
admit of easy detachment therefrom is a side bar H, the opposite ends of which
terminate in vertical sockets made to receive the stems of the forks d, in which the
small running wheels are mounted; these stems are fitted with cross heads d', and
the cross heads of the two wheel forks are connected together by a diagonal tie
rod d. A handle 3 on the forward wheel stem serves to steer these wheels, and
turn them simultaneously in opposite directions.
The driving wheel we so construct as to allow of its being readily removed from
its crank shaft when it is required to pack up the vehicle in a small compass. The
peculiar construction of wheel which we prefer to use for this purpose, and which is
illustrated in the Figuros, will be more conveniently described hereafter, as wheels

page_text: of this construction are capable of a wide application where lightness of draught and
. elegance of appearance are required. With the view also of providing for the com-
pact storing away of the parts of which the vehicle is composed, we mount the
pedal levers F loosely on their fulcrum rod, and connect the steering wheel bar H to
the frame B by means of nuts fitted with handles h, which nuts take on to screwed
extensions of the transverse bars of the frame B, and when removed by means of
their handles, allow of the removal of the bar H with its appendages from the main
frame of the velocipede.
Fig. 4 shows the body of the velocipede detached from its wheels and the pedal
levers thrown up towards the seat, thus presenting a compact form for transport or
stowage. The three wheels can then be brought together into a comparatively small
compass. When however the velocipede is wanted for use, the driving wheel is
slipped on its axle and secured by an end nut, and the bar to which the steering
wheels are fitted is readily secured to the frame B, as above explained.
The second head of this Invention relates to the construction of wheels for velo-
cipedes, and is illustrated in Sheet II. of the Drawings, where Fig. 1 is a partial side
view of the wheel, and Fig. 2 is a partial cross section of the same.
The hub of the wheel is formed of two metal discs a, a, carrying flanges on their
outer faces; these discs a are connected together by cross bars 6 of a length suitable
for giving the required breadth to the hub. Through the flanges of these discs
radial holes are drilled at equal distances apart, as shown in the partial plan view,
Fig. 3, which represents a portion of one of the flanges laid out flat; these holes are
intended to receive screw pins c, c, which serve to retain the ends of wires d, consti-
tuting the spokes of the wheel; these wires are threaded through eyes e on the inner
periphery of the wheel, and their ends are brought down each to a screw pin, one
fitted to the right-hand and the other to the left-hand disc of the hub. The inner
ends of these pins are drilled to receive the turned up ends of the wires, and by
screwing in the pins the wires will be drawn to tension. This arrangement of parts
will constitute a very light and strong wheel, suitable not only for velocipedes of
various constructions, but also for other vehicles.
The mode of securing the wire spokes just described is equally applicable to hubs
when made solid with the axle, as is the case with the driving wheels of bicycles ;
this modification is illustrated in the partial sectional elevation at Fig. 4, hereafter
to be more particularly referred to.
The third head of the Invention relates to improvements in brakes for velocipedes,
and relates to the use of a ribbed or fluted roller in place of the ordinary smooth
brake roller, which bears upon the india-rubber tyre.
In Fig. 5, Sheet II. of the Drawings, our improved brake is shown as applied to
the back wheel of a bicycle; Fig. 6 shows in sectional plan the brake roller and its
attachment; and Fig. 7 is a partial side view of the front of the bicycle, showing
the means for actuating the brake by the foot of the rider. In these Figures fis
the backbone of the bicycle, terminating in a hind fork f¹, on which the hind
wheel is mounted; h is the ribbed or fluted brake roller, which will by reason of
the ribs on its periphery bite into the tyre without injuring it, and thus ensure a
firm hold on the wheel; this roller h is mounted on an axle, which is carried by
arms pivotted to the backbone of the bicycle. A coiled spring k serves to hold
the roller out of contact with the wheel g, and a forked brake lever pivotted to
the backbone bears upon friction surfaces on either side of the roller, and presses
'the roller into contact with the wheel tyre. This action of the brake lever is pro-
duced by the rider drawing the brake cord m to tension. The brake cord may be
put in action by its connection with the steering handle, or, as shewn at Fig. 7, by
leading it under and over guide pulleys down to a rocking foot rest n on the front
fork 0,
the depression of which foot rest will throw the brake into action.
A further improvement in the means of controlling the speed of bicycles when
descending hills consists in providing a means for instantly increasing the distances
between the front and hind wheels, and thus putting a drag on the progress of the

page_text: vehicle. This is effected by fitting the fork to the backbone of the bicycle in such a
manner that the fork may be rocked forward by the rider, and readily restored to
its vertical position. This part of our Invention is illustrated at Figures 8, 9, and
10, Sheet II. of the Drawings. Fig. 8 shows in partial front view, Fig. 9 in partial
side view, and Fig. 10 in partial plan view the front fork of the bicyle attached to
the backbone so as to be free not only to answer to the steering handles, but also to
a tipping handle. In these Figures fis the backbone cranked near its front end to
form the vertical coupling piece f*; o is the fork fitted with steering handles o' and
with a cross piece o², which is socketted to receive a pivot pin projecting from the
under side of the backbone f. The upper end of the backbone is socketted to
receive a pivot screw p, which passes eccentrically through a collar q, provided with
a hand lever q'; this collar fits into a bearing made for it in the upper end of the
fork o. When therefore it receives a half turn it will by reason of its excentric con-
nection with the backbone cause the fork to tip, as indicated by the dotted lines in
Fig. 9, and increase reach or distance between the front and hind wheels. By
reversing the motion of the lever q¹ the excentric q will return the fork to its normal
position.
The fourth head of the Invention relates to a mode of fitting the axle of the
driving wheel of bicycles to its forked bearing, and the pedal crank to the axle.
This is illustrated in the partial sectional view, Fig. 4, Sheet II. of the Drawings,
where a is the wheel axle, to which are welded the discs a that form the hub of the
driving wheel; o, o, is the fork; r, r, are the pedal cranks.
Hitherto when an accident has occurred causing the bending of the pedal cranks,
great inconvenience has been experienced by the rider owing to the difficulty of
straightening or resetting the cranks, which are made fast to the axle. Moreover,
no provision has been made against the lateral wear of the parts, and consequently
a rattling of the wheel in its bearings has resulted. We now propose to cone the
ends of the hub, as at a*, and to cone both the inner and outer ends of the
sockets o* of the fork. The inner ends of the sockets we fit against the cones of
the hub, and to the outer ends we fit loose coned pieces s, against which the pedal
cranks will abut, or the cones may form a portion of the cranks. These cranks we
fit to the wheel axle by means of transverse cottars t (see the detached view Fig. 4ª)
of the pedal crank. These cottars we tap at their ends to receive binding nuts, and
we slot the pedal cranks to receive the cottars. We also make broad bearing faces
on the axle a¹ to receive the cottars, and permit of their lateral adjustment. When
the cottars are inserted they are held tightly in place by the binding nuts. By
knocking out these cottars the cranks may be readily detached, and if bent they
may be straightened by any ordinary blacksmith. Should the parts wear loose it is
only necessary to shift the cranks inward and refix them by their transverse cottars
to the wheel axle.
Having now set forth the nature of our Invention of "Improvements in Veloci-
pedes, a Part of which Improvements is Applicable to other Vehicles," and explained
the manner of carrying the same into effect, we wish it to be understood that under
the above in part recited Letters Patent we claim,―
First. The arrangement of three-wheeled velocipede, as above described with
reference to Sheet I. of the Drawings, which ensures lightness of construction, pro-
vides for an economical application of power, and admits of the facile detachinent of
the driving wheel and the steering wheels with their connections from the body of
the carriage, and the close packing together of the parts, for the purpose above set
forth.
Secondly. The construction of travelling wheels, whether for velocipedes or
other carriages, as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, Sheet II., of
the Drawings.
Thirdly. The improved brake, described with reference to Figures 5, 6, and 7,
Sheet II. of the Drawings.
Fourthly. Jointing the front wheel fork of bicycles to the backbone thereof, so as

page_text: to permit of the reach or distance between the front and hind wheels being increased
at pleasure, as and for the purpose above described.
Fifthly. The mode of fitting the axle of the driving wheel of bicycles to its forked
bearing, and the pedal cranks to the axle, as described with reference to Figures 4,
Sheet II. of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Starley, junior, and John Kemp
Starley, have hereunto set our hands and seals, the Sixteenth day of May,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.