Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 10th Sept.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Bicycles.
:
We, JOHN FRANCIS MURPHY, Mechanical Expert, LEWIS THEODORE LOCHNER,
Retail Druggist, and JAMES MURPHY, Farmer, all of Adrian, in the County of
Lenawee, and State of Michigan, United States of America, 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 bicycles, and especially to the steering mechanism
thereof.
The object of the invention is to provide in connection with a suitable frame
having front and rear steering heads, two forks arranged to. turn in said heads
and carrying the front and rear wheels, and means connecting said forks whereby
they are turned simultaneously in opposite directions.
The invention consists in certain novel constructions, combinations and
arrangements of parts, all of which will hereinafter be more fully described and
claimed.
In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification:
Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a bicycle embodying our invention,
and
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same, the steering heads being
shown in vertical section.
Referring to the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine, B and B¹
the front and rear wheels respectively, and C the driving gear.
The frame A comprises a top or upper reach bar a, and front and rear reversely
inclined heads a¹ and a respectively. These heads are held rigidly in their
inclined position in relation to the bar by corner braces a³ a3. The front fork
stem b passes up through the inclined head a¹ being provided with the usual ball
bearings for securing it in position. A handle bar 6 of any suitable construction
has its stem fitted adjustably in the upper end of the fork stem b in the ordinary
manner. The crown of the fork 6 for the front wheel B is provided with angular
lugs or shoulders 63. The rear wheel B¹ is mounted in a rear fork 64, and the
stem of the latter passes up through the head a² in a manner similar to the fork
stem b, to receive the saddle-post 65 having a T head 66 on which the saddle 67 is
mounted. The crown of the fork 64 is provided with lugs or shoulders 68, similar
to the shoulder 63 of the front fork. The lugs or shoulders 63 and 68 are pro-
vided with openings 69, to receive the ends of crossed connecting rods 610 610
The driving mechanism C, of the usual chain and sprocket style, is supported in a
suitable frame c consisting of a pair of bottom runs connected rigidly to the fork
of the rear wheel B¹ and inclined braces which extend from the crank-hanger
upward to upper end of the rear fork stem, said runs and braces being rigidly
connected to and moving with the rear fork. A coiled spring F connects crown

page_text: of fork 6² and crank-hanger so as to normally keep them in alignment and pre-
vent excessive wobbling.
It will be observed from the foregoing description, that when the front wheel B
is turned in one direction to guide the machine, the rear wheel B' will be turned
to a corresponding degree in the opposite direction, through the medium of the
connecting bars 610 and thus the turn made by the machine will be exactly double
the amount that would be made if the front wheel alone were turned:
By means of the construction set forth, a very delicate touch upon the handle
bar will have a greatly increased effect upon the steering apparatus of the
machine and the latter can be controlled with approximately, half-the-movement
necessary when the front wheel alone is turned.
This construction is of great assistance in turning corners, enabling ruts and
holes to be avoided. Instead of the 'rear wheel following straight on when the
front wheel is turned, it also turns and follows the circular path described by
the front wheel, thus avoiding the rut or recess by turning about the edge of the
same.
We also contemplate applying our improved steering mechanism to ladies'
wheels. When applied to ladies' machines only a slight alteration of the connect-
ing rods 610 is necessary in order to get them out of the way of the dress of the
rider and this is done by the rods 610 being bent downwards in the centre in such
a way as to follow the shape of the bar a of the frame which bar in the case of
ladies' machines is formed with a dip or downward bend in the centre.
It will be noticed that the action of the rear wheel B¹ is positive, and that said
wheel does not merely follow on in the path of the front wheel in a loose manner,
but is turned from side to side by the rigid connection with the front wheel. We
also contemplate employing suitable adjusting means for the rods 610 which may
consist of nuts on the end of said rods, whereby any misalignment between the
front and rear wheels may be corrected.
We do not care to limit ourselves to the particular formation of the frame
shown, as any construction now upon the market can be made to answer equally as
well by the addition of the rear steering head. It will also be observed that the
rider may control the steering through the medium of the saddle, as well as
through the front handle bar, by reason of the saddle-post turning with the rear
fork stem.
F
It will be observed in our invention, that the effort of steering a machine is
reduced to a minimum, and a perfect balance may be sustained at all times by
the slightest movement of either the handle bar or the saddle.
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. In a bicycle, a frame comprising front and rear steering heads, in combina-
tion with front and rear forks having their stems received in said heads, one
stem having connection with the handle bar and the other with the saddle post,
connection between said forks for turning them in opposite direction, propelling
niechanism carried by the rear fork, and a stiffening spring connecting the front
fork with the frame carrying the propelling mechanism, substantially as specified.
2. In a bicycle, a frame comprising front and rear heads, in combination with
front and rear forks having their stems received in said heads and having con-
nection with the handle-bar and saddle-post, crossed connections between' said
forks, a crank hanger, bottom runs rigidly connecting said crank-hanger and rear
forks, braces connecting the crank-hanger and upper end of the rear fork stem,
propelling mechanism arranged to move with the rear fork and crank-hanger, and
a flexible yielding connection between the crank-hanger and front fork;' sub-
stantially as specified.
3. In a bicycle, a frame comprising a front head and a rear head, front and rear
forks having their stems arranged to turn therein, connection between said forks

page_text: for simultaneously turning them in opposite directions, propelling mechanism
fixed relatively to one fork, and a yielding connection between the other fork and
the part of the frame carrying the propelling mechanism, substantially as specified.
Dated this 4th day of April 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.