IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Humpage, of Brunswick Street, in the City
and County of Bristol, Engineer and Machinist, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Humpage at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1882.
JOHN HUMPAGE of Brunswick Street in the City and County of Bristol
Engineer and Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
This invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes. I form the
wheels with spokes of wire which in section is of a double convex lens like form;
or it may be of a diamond section. The wire cut accurately to the proper length
is headed at both ends. The felloe which is of the usual trough like form, adapted
to receive an india rubber tyre, is perforated with holes to receive the spokes.
Each hole in form somewhat resembles a key hole, at one end it is large enough for
the head on the end of the wire spoke to pass through. Entering this hole is a
slit just of a size to admit the wire and at the further end of the slit at the outer
side of the felloe there is a countersunk recess. The spokes are passed through the
felloe from within outwards, then passed into the slit and drawn back, so that the
head enters the countersunk recess. The hub of the wheel is in two parts which
are capable of sliding along a centre tube, but with a feather to prevent them
turning. These parts are flanged outwards at the periphery or thickened to receive
the spokes which may be inserted into key hole like holes as already described in
respect to the felloe, or the spokes may be received into notches in the flange or
thickened edge and retained in place by a covering ring fixed on with pins. When
the parts of the wheel have been put together the spokes are strained up tight by
drawing the parts of the hub asunder along the tube which passes through their
centre. There are teeth cut upon the tube and catch levers or pawls are provided
upon the parts of the hub to engage with these teeth. Thus when the spokes
have been tightened they are retained in the strained condition by the catches or
pawls which prevent the parts of the hub again coming together.

page_text: I construct bicycles with the fork and the back bone connected without joint
and I steer by means of a jointed axis passing down through the hollow back bone.
At its lower end this jointed axis terminates in the fork in which the small hind
wheel is carried, hence by turning the jointed axis this wheel may be inclined so
as to direct the vehicle. At its upper end the jointed axis terminates in a bevilled
pinion which engages with another bevilled pinion upon the upright axis of the
steering cross head. This axis is carried in a socket upon the back bone. Or
sometimes I steer a bicycle by cords or chains attached to an arm upon the axis of
the steering cross head. These cords or chains are led over guide pulleys on either
side, down through the limbs of the fork, which I make tubular, and along other
tubes which serve to connect the lower ends of the fork with the bottom of the
back bone. Here the cords or chains from either side, meet and are connected
upon the periphery of a small pulley on the fork of the hinder wheel. In this
arrangement the steering cords or chains are concealed within the tubular frame of
the vehicle, they may however be exposed. Sometimes I provide an arc of teeth
upon the axis of the steering cross head and cause these teeth to engage with
corresponding teeth upon a rocking lever to which the steering cords or chains are
attached.
It
I provide a brake upon the upper part of the wheel in front of the rider.
consists of a lever with its fulcrum upon the socket which receives the axis of the
steering crosshead; this lever is provided with a palm to press upon the periphery
of the main wheel. The brake is operated by a hand lever which has its fulcrum
on the same socket and is moveable in a vertical plane. There are teeth formed
upon the hand lever around the axis and these engage with the teeth of a rack
which is carried upon a suitable guide when the brake lever is raised, the rack is
moved forwards and operates against the upper end of the lever carrying the
brake palm pressing the palm onto the wheel. A block of india rubber is interposed
between the rack and the end of the palm lever so that the action of the brake
may not be too severe.
There is a bolt upon the hand lever for working the brake, which engaging with
teeth on the boss or bearing in which the lever is carried, locks it fast in any
position in which it may be placed.
I arrange the handles in such manner that their position upon the steering cross
head may be altered at pleasure to obviate the fatigue which arises from the hands
being kept long in one position. The handles are grooved along the back to
receive the end of the cross head. The cross head terminates in an eye which
receives a screw pin and this part of the cross head enters a metal box let into the
wooden handle. The pin passing through the side of the box and through the eye
serves to connect the handle with the cross head but so as to be movcable to
occupy its ordinary position as a continuation of the cross head or at pleasure to
be turned to the rear at right angles to the cross head. A spring catch is provided
to retain the handle in either position.
I support the seat upon a two limbed spring, bent so as to form a knuckle, and
the knuckle is received into a socket provided to receive it upon the back bone.
The two limbs of this spring project forwards, the lower and shorter limb bears
on the back bone, and upon the other the seat is carried. Or in some cases I carry
the seat upon a spring which is secured to the head of the machine, and of which
the limbs project to the rear. The upper limb carries the seat, the lower limb is
forked and lies on either side of the back bone; the two prongs are connected by
a bridge piece passing over the back bone and taking a bearing upon it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said John Humpage in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th August
1882.
JOHN HUMPAGE of Brunswick Street in the City and County of Bristol
Engineer and Machinist "IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES."
This Invention bas for its object improvements in velocipedes.
I form the wheels with spokes of wire which in section is of a double convex
lens like form; or it may be of a diamond section. The wire cut accurately to the
proper length is headed at both ends. The felloe which is of the usual trough liko
form adapted to receive an india rubber tyre, is perforated with holes to receive
the spokes. Each hole in form somewhat resembles a key hole, at one end it is
large enough for the head on the end of the wire spoke to pass through.
Entering this hole is a slit just of a size to admit the wire and at the
further end of the slit at the outer side of the felloe there is a countersunk
recess.
•
The spokes are passed through the felloe from within outwards, then passed into,
the slit and drawn back, so that the hend enters the countersunk recess.
The hub,
of the wheel is in two parts which are capable of sliding along a centre tube, but,
with a feather to prevent them turning. These parts are flanged outwards at the.
periphery or thickened to receive the spokes, which may be inserted into key hole,
like holes as already described in respect to the felloe. Or the spokes may be
received into notches in the flange or thickened edge and retained in place by a
covering ring fixed on with pins. When the parts of the wheel have been put
together the spokes are strained up tight by drawing the parts of the hub as,
under along the tube which passes through their centre. There are teeth cut upon.
the tube and catch levers or pawls are provided upon the parts of the hub to engage,
with these teeth. Thus when the spokes have been tightened they are retained in
the strained condition by the catches or pawls which prevent the parts of the hub
again coming together.
Figure 1 represents to an enlarged scale the sectional form which I prefer for the
wire of which the spokes are made but a diamond section may also advantageously
be employed. Figure 2 is a side elevation and Figure 3 a front elevation of a
portion of one of the spokes, and shows the head at its end. Spokes of this form
are less impeded by the air than spokes of a circular section.
Figure 4 is an elevation full size of a small portion of the felloe of the wheel."
Figures 5 and 6 are transverse sections thereof taken on the lines 1. 1, and 2.2°
respectively in Figure 4. a. is the part of the key hole like opening in the felloe
by which the headed end of the spoke is passed through. a. is the slit into which.
the stem is then passed and as is the countersunk recess which receives the head
when the spoke is tightened up.
Figure 7 is a front elevation partly in section of one half of the hub of the
wheel. Figure 8 is a transverse section of the same.
b is a disc, one of a pair, these discs are set facing each other upon a tube c.
through which the axle passes and they are able to slide upon this tube. b. b. are
notches in the periphery of the disc b to receive the spoke wires. d. is a covering
ring by which the spokes are kept in place, this ring is attached to the disc bby.
screw pins. The tightening of the spokes when they are all in place is effected by
separating the discs b. balong the tube c and the discs are prevented coming
together again by spring catchies b². carried by the dises 6 and which engage withi
teeth c. c. upon the tube c.
.

page_text: I construct bicycles with the fork and the back bone connected without joint
and I steer by means of a jointed axis passing down through the hollow back bone.
At its lower end this jointed axis terminates in the fork in which the small hind
wheel is carried; hence by turning the jointed axis this wheel may be inclined so
as to direct the vehicle. At its upper end the jointed axis terminates in a
bevelled pinion which engages with another bevelled pinion upon the upright
axis of the steering cross head. This axis is carried in a socket upon the back
bone.
Figure 9 shows a longitudinal section, full size, of part of the hollow back bone
of a bicycle, having a jointed steering axis passing down through it.
Figure 10 is an elevation partly in section of the parts at the upper end of the
back bone and Figure 11 is a side elevation of the steering wheel at the lower end
thereof. e is a portion of the back bone and f. f. are the links of which the jointed
steering axis is composed. The links are forked at each end and a pin g' connects
the link to a block g. which is received into the fork; the pins g' in each block g
are at right angles and thus a universal joint is provided between link and link.
The uppermost link is jointed to an axis h and the lowest link is connected with
the stem of the fork i. in which the steering wheel ; is carried.
The axis h has a bevelled pinion h' upon it which gears with a similar pinion
upon the axis k of the steering handle. This axis is received into a socket i fixed
upon the back bone at its upper end.
Or sometimes I steer a bicycle by cords or chains attached to an arm upon the
axis of the steering crosshead. These cords or chains are led over guide pulleys on
either side, down through the limbs of the fork, which I make tubular, and along
other tubes which serve to connect the lower ends of the fork with the bottom of
the back bone. Here the cords or chains from either side meet and are connected
upon the periphery of a small pulley on the fork of the hinder wheel. In this
arrangement the steering cords or chains are concealed within the tubular frame of
the vehicle, they may however be exposed.
Figure 12 is a side elevation and Figure 13 is a front elevation of a bicycle in
which the steering is effected by an endless cord or chain. The back bone e. of
the bicycle as in the former case is rigidly fixed to the main fork l. The limbs of
the fork are made hollow and an endless steering chain passes down through them
and over the guide pulleys a, 7. At the lower ends of the limbs of the fork, the
chain also passes around other guide pulleys 12. 13. and then through the hollow
stays m m which connect the limbs of the fork with the lower end of the back
bone. The stem of the steering wheel has a pulley i¹ upon it and to this the
endless steering chain is attached. The axis k. of the steering handle is provided
with a short arm k¹ which is also attached to the chain so that the movement of
the steering handle causes the chain to be pulled in one or other direction. The
stays m. m. between the limbs of the fork and the back bone serve greatly to
stiffen the structure.
Sometimes I provide an arc of teeth upon the axis of the steering crosshead and
cause these teeth to engage with corresponding teeth upon a rocking lever to which
the steering cords or chains are attached.
I provide a brake upon the upper part of the wheel in front of the rider. It
consists of a lever with its fulcrum upon the socket which receives the axis of the
steering crosshead; this lever is provided with a palm to pross upon the periphery
of the main wheel. The brake is operated by a hand lever which has its fulcrum
on the same socket and is moveable in a vertical plane. There are teeth formed
upon the hand lever around the axis and these engage with the teeth of a rack
which is carried upon a suitable guide. When the brake lever is raised, the rack
is moved forwards and operates against the upper end of the lever carrying the
brake palm pressing the palin on to the wheel. A block of india rubber is
interposed between the rack and the end of the palm lever so that the action of
the brake may not be too severe.
There is a bolt upon the hand lever for working the brake, which engaging with

page_text: teeth on the boss or bearing in which the lever is carried, locks it fast in any
position in which it may be placed.
My improved brake is seen in Figure 10. n is the brake lever, it has its fulcrum
at n. and n². is the palm for exerting pressure upon the periphery of the wheel.
is a stud projecting from the socket and upon it a piece o is able to slido
without turning. p. p. are india rubber disc springs. q is the hand lever by which
the brake is controlled; it is connected by a joint pin at 12. with a projection from
the socket . The inner end of the lever q has teeth upon it which gear into
corresponding teeth upon the piece o, so that when the hand lever q. is raised the
brake palm is pressed against the wheel. r is a little spring bolt carried upon the
lever q and which engages with teeth upon the projection around the fulcrum of
the lever. When the brake is on the spring bolt retains the lever g. until it is
withdrawn by means of its lever handle r'.
I arrange the handles in such a manner that their position upon the steering
crosshead may be altered at pleasure to obviate the fatigue which arises from the
hands being kept long in one position. The handles are grooved along the back
to receive the end of the cross head. The cross head terminates in an eye which
receives a screw pin and this part of the cross head enters a metal box let into tho
wooden handle. The pin passing through the side of the box and through the eye
serves to connect the handle with the cross head but so as to be moveable to occupy
its ordinary position as a continuation of the cross head or at pleasure to be turned
at right angles to the cross head. A spring catch is provided to retain the handle
in either position.
Figure 14 is a side elevation of one of the handles, Figure 15 is a longitudinal
section of the same, Figure 16 is a section taken on the line 1. 1. in Figure 15.
8, is the end of the cross head and t. is the handle thereon. The outer wooden
part of the handle is grooved and a metal box t'. is fitted into it. The end of the
cross head enters the box t¹. and a pin or axis u. secures the handle to the cross
head. is a spring within the box t'. it presses against the cross head so as to
hold the handle in position, either as shown by the full lines, or as shewn by tho
dotted lines in Figure 15. is a pin securing the wooden part of the handle t.
upon the box t¹.
I support the seat upon a two limbed spring, bent so as to form a knuckle, and
the knuckle is received into a socket provided to receive it upon the back bone.
The two limbs of this spring project forwards; the lower and shorter limb bears
on the back bone, and upon the other the seat is carried.
In Figure 12 w is the seat and x, is the knuckled two limbed spring upon which
it is carried. y is the socket fixed upon the back bone. The knuckle of the
spring is received into the socket which fits it, the spring is slidden in from the
side and then its lower limb is brought down to bear upon the back bone by
turning the spring in the socket.
Or in some cases I carry the sent upon a spring which is secured to the head of
the machine, and of which the limbs project to the rear. The upper limb carries
the seat; the lower limb is forked and lies on either side of the back bone; the
two prongs are connected by a bridge piece passing over the back bone and taking
a bearing upon it.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention and the manner of
performing the same I would have it understood that I claim :-
First The construction of the wheels of velocipedes with spokes of wire of
double convex or diamond sectional form, substantially as described.
Second. The method of securing the spokes, by providing a head upon the end
of the spoke and passing this head by a key hole like passage into a recess
substantially as described.
Third. The method of tightening the spokes, by the separation of the two parts
of the hub of the wheel along a centre tube or axis substantially as described.
Fourth. The method for steering bicycles, by a jointed axis passing down

page_text: through the hollow back bone and connected at its lower end with the fork of the
steering wheel substantially as described.
Fifth The construction of bicycles with the back bone and the fork rigidly
connected and the steering wheel at the binder end of the back bone moveable
about a vertical axis by means of chains or other suitable connections passing to it
from the steering handle, substantially as described.
Sixth. The arrangement of a brake upon the driving wheel substantially as
described.
Seventh. The construction of moveable handles for bicycles substantially as
described.
Eighth. The method of supporting the seat of a bicycle, upon a knuckled two
limb spring received into a socket, substantially as described.
In witness whereof I the said John Humpage have hereunto set my hand
and seal this 15th day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty two.
TATTIT
THEDAT