Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 18th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, DAVID GEORGE WESTON, Cycle Engineer of 9 Westrop Villas Canonbury
London N., in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
An improved telescoping axle for tricycles and velocipedes in which the driving
action is placed centrally so that the velocipede can be taken through a narrow
doorway or passage without removing the wheels.
I am aware there has been several Patents taken out for this purpose but in my
invention I claim to effect this purpose in a simple manner without weakness in the
parts operated.
I form the axle as follows consisting of inner and outer parts sliding in each
other, the outer parts or tubes carrying the driving gear the inner parts the
driving wheels. At the central parts it is formed of tubes-these tubes have
placed on them the central driving gear of any suitable action and the ball bearings
to hold them to the framework of velocipede, these tubes I will call the outer
tubes and they are so bored or constructed that they have 2 sizes of inside
diameter the small bore forming a shoulder for the head on the inner axle to butt
against, this inner axle may be solid or thick tube and has a head formed on it at
one end that fits the larger bore of the outer tube, this head is to prevent the inner
axle being drawn too far out or their coming out in riding, they are stopped by the
shoulder in the outer tube-it will be understood these inner axles with heads can
be inserted in place, when the axle is apart and separated from the framework of
velocipede.
To hold the inner axles to the outer tubes and so form a continuous axle I
extend the outer tubes beyond the bearings nearest the side wheels about one inch,
this extension of the outer tube is partially cut away to receive a cotter that is
held in a fitting or piece placed on the outer tube at this part, this fitting is bored
eccentrically to fit outer tube and has a hole drilled at right angles to the bore to
take the cotter this cotter being hollowed centrally to bear on the inner axle and
has a nut and screw to pull the part that bears tight against or on the inner axle
and so locking the parts for driving the machine.
The head on the inner axle may be of any suitable shape and the bore of the
outer tube so constructed to receive the head and prevent it turning in the bore
and I inay if necessary hold this axle from the outer tube in any convenient
manner other than the cotter described or modification of the same to prevent the
inner axle turning or working loose when ridden.
Dated this Seventeenth day of November 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I DAVID GEORGE WESTON Cycle Manufacturer 9 Westrop Villas Canonbury,
London N. Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
mauner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
An improved telescoping axle for tricycles and velocipedes in which the driving

page_text: action is placed centrally, by this invention the velocipede can be taken through a
narrow doorway or passage, without removing the wheels.
I am aware there has been several Patents taken out for this purpose, but in my
invention claim to effect this purpose in a simple manner without weakness in the
parts operated.
I form the axle as follows.. The axle is in two halves, the chain gear in the
centre, each half is formed of an outer tube or tubes and an inner tube or solid axle
extending to the side wheels running on the road. When these halves are placed
in position on the frame of velocipede, the central parts being tubular, the inner
axle can slide in and out, and as the road wheels are made fast to the inner axle
they are moved with it.
The outer central tubes have fixed on them suitable driving action gear and the
ball bearings that holds them to the framework of velocipede.
These tubes I will call the outer tubes see T¹ Fig. 1--and they are so bored or
constructed of tubes that they have two sizes of inside diameter the small bore at S
Fig. 1 forming a shoulder inside the outer tube T¹ Fig. 1 for the head H¹ Fig. 1
on the inner axle to butt against this head fits the large bore and is to prevent the
inner axle being drawn too far out or coming out in riding being stopped at S by
the shoulder.
It will be understood the inner axles with heads are inserted in the outer tubes
when the axle is apart and seperated from the frame of velocipede.
The head H of the inner axle may be of any suitable shape-it is shown at H³
with flats fitting in the tube at S this part of bore may be a piece of tube inserted
in the outer tube T' and braized there with the end formed internally at S of
octagon or other shape it need not be formed all along the bore, but at the
end only to receive the corresponding shape on the head, see H³-this shape
shown being conical it does not jamb in the bore on compressing the width of
velocipede.
The means for preventing the inner axle turning in the bore may be of other
arrangement than shewn.
To hold the inner or sliding axle to the outer tubes and so form a continuous
axle, I extend the outer tubes beyond the bearings nearest the side wheels and on
the extension I place any suitable clip or fastening. One convenient form of
fastening I have described in my Provisional Specification as follows.
The extension of the outer tube is partially cut away to receive a cotter that is
held in a fitting shown Fig. B this fitting is bored eccentrically to fit the outer
tube and has a hole drilled at right angles to the bore to take the cotter, this
cotter being of peculiar shape hollowed centrally and shown at Fig. C-to bear on
the inner axle at the part cut away in the extension of outer tube and has a screw
and nut to pull the part that bears tight against or on the inner axle at H and so
locking the axle together for driving it.
I here state this fastening is not new in velocipedes but it is novel in its
pplication to velocipede axles, and I disclaim any tittle to it for any other purpose
han fastening telescopic parts of axles of velocipedes, and I do not bind myself to
use this fastening only.
The drawing at Fig. 1, shews half of axle composed of outer tube and the
inner axle with head H and the 2 bores or diameters with the cotter block in
position.
Fig. B the fitting or cotter block.
Fig. C the cotter.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-

page_text: 2nd. A fitting for holding axle together shewn at Figs. B and C.
3rd. The combination of axle parts and any suitable fastening, formed sub-
stantially as shewn and described or mere modification thereof for use in telescopic
axles for velocipedes.
Dated this Seventeenth day of August 1894.
DAVID GEORGE WESTON.