Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1887

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
We GEORGE GRAINGER TANDY of 43 Cedars Road, Clapham, in the County of
Surrey, Surgeon, and HERBERT ROE TANDY, of 402 Kennington Park Corner, in the
same County, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
The object of this invention is to reduce the vibration and shocks now felt when
riding a velocipede (either a bicycle or tricycle) over a rough road or other
irregularities in the road, such as tram rails, and the invention consists in a novel
arrangement of elastic frame whereby this object is effected.
Among the attempts hitherto made to attain this end, the saddle has been mounted
on springs of all kinds, shapes, and arrangements. Springs have been interposed
between the frame and the axles of the wheels. A separate frame carrying the saddle,
pedals, and steering handle has also been elastically mounted on a rigid frame, an
elastic connection being provided connecting the wheels between the steering handle
and steering wheel, but all these plans have more or less failed in their object for
various reasons. In another arrangement, the steering fork is jointed to the main
frame, the parts being kept in the proper position by coiled springs, but this plan is
defective, inasmuch as the steering handle and saddle move separately and in opposite
directions, a defect which is at once fatal to good riding and to the comfort of the
rider.
Now in carrying out our invention as applied to a bicycle of those types which
have wheels of equal or nearly equal size, we divide the frame or backbone into two
parts, and we interpose between these parts a curved or segment piece, to the lower
part of which the front part of the frame carrying the steering neck is rigidly
connected, and at a slight distance above this, the back part or fork for the driving
wheel is pivotted or hinged in any suitable manner.
At the upper end of this segment piece is a socket to receive the saddle spindle, and
at its lower end is pivotted a forked piece provided with bearings for a crank axle, on
which a chain wheel or wheels is or are mounted.
The lower end of the segment piece is connected to the back fork by a suitable
ID 037

page_text: spring or springs, so that the rider, when he mounts the machine, will be seated on an
elastic frame, which will be quite unaffected by any inequalities in the road..
The crank axle is connected with the axle of the driving wheel by stay rods, so that
a uniform distance between the two axles will always be maintained, however much
the frame may be depressed by the weight of the rider.
We have mentioned above a segment piece, but we would remark that we do not
intend to confine ourselves to such, as a straight bar or piece might be employed, but
we prefer the segment form, as it enables us to use a longer back fork, which improves
the action of the machine without unduly lengthening the machine.
In this machine, the steering handle and the saddle being mounted in the same
rigid frame, will always maintain their proper distance the one from the other.
Dated this 16th day of March 1887.

page_text: Improvements in Velocipedes.
We GEORGE GRAINGER TANDY of 43 Cedars Road, Clapham, in the County of
Surrey, Surgeon, and HERBERT ROE TANDY, of 402 Kennington Park Corner, in
the same County, Engineer 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 object of this invention is to reduce the vibration and shocks now felt when
riding a velocipede (either a Bicycle or Tricycle) over a rough road, or over
irregularities in the road, such as tram rails, and the invention consists in a novel
arrangement of elastic frame whereby this object is effected.
In the accompanying drawing we have shown in side elevation a bicycle of the
type having wheels of equal, or nearly equal size, and constructed according to our
invention.
A A¹ is a rigid frame, preferably of √ shape, provided at the end of the arm A
with a steering neck or head B for the steering fork B', and at the end of the arm A¹
with a socket C for the seat spindle C.-Pivotted at A* to the arm A¹ is the fork D
of the driving wheel. The point of the V frame and the fork D are connected
together by a pair of coiled springs E, one on either side of the wheel. Pivotted to
the point of the V frame is a pendent swinging bracket F, which carries the bearings
for the pedal and chain wheel axle G.--The free end of the bracket F is connected to
the free end of the fork D of the driving wheel by a rod or bar H, so that the same
distance will always be maintained between the two axles, and the chain will thus be
always kept tight. The rod H may of course be made adjustable in any well known
manner, if desired, so as to tighten up the chain should it become necessary to do
so. A is a stay to strengthen the V frame, and A3 is an adjustable rod which limits
the rise of the frame when passing an obstruction.
When the rider mounts, the frame A A' will be depressed, and the springs E
extended, and so long as the rider is on the machine, all vibration and shocks will be
taken up by the springs E.
In this arrangement of machine, the steering handle and the seat, being secured at
opposite ends of the rigid main frame, always retain the same relative positions.
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. The bicycle constructed and arranged as herein shown and described.
2. In a velocipede in which the steering head and seat spindle socket are at opposite.

page_text: ends of a rigid main frame, the combination with a fork or frame for carrying the
axle of the driving wheel or wheels pivotted to the main frame, and also elastically
connected therewith, of a swinging bracket for carrying the pedal crank and chain
wheel axle, also pivotted to the main frame, the relative positions of the free ends of
the fork and bracket being maintained, irrespective of the movement of the main
frame, by adjustable or other spacing rods or bars, substantially as herein shown and
described.