Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 22nd Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 27th Jan., 1888
1 ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS of 70 Chancery Lane in the Parish of St. Andrews
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (which invention has been communicated to me from abroad by Albert
H. Overman of Boston in the United States of America) to be as follows:
My invention relates to those types of velocipedes having two driving wheels
mounted on an axle parallel and opposite to each other, the axle being driven by a
chain wheel mounted at the centre of its length, or approximately so, from a pedal
crank axle through an endless chain. It has for its object staying the axle against
sagging due to the pull of the driving chain, and consequently diminuition of internal
friction, and increased ease of propulsion.
It has been found by experience that two hearings for the driving axle of machines
of the type hereinbefore described are insufficient in any position they may be placed,
to prevent binding in the bearings and fracture of the axle, and now three and some-
times even four bearings are used to support the driving axle. This is not only costly,
but in practice it is found absolutely impossible to keep four or even three bearings in
a line after wear.
According to my invention I use a pair of bearings to support the axle, placed
thereon in the best position to carry the weight without binding the bearings, or
causing the axle to sag due to the weight of the rider. In close proximity to the
chain wheel on the driving axle I mount a third bearing which is connected with an
adjustable stay rod by a lateral joint. The other end of this stay rod is connected to
the bolt or stud which fixes the pedal crank axle bracket, or to any other convenient
part of the frame of the machine or bracket, in proximity thereto. The stay rod is
made in two lengths connected together by a right and left handed sleeve nut whereby
the length of the rod may be adjusted as required. The lower part of the rod is
provided with a lock nut so that it may be locked to the sleeve nut, but the top part is
not so provided, but is left free-that is simply screwed into the sleeve nut-so that this
[Price Rd

page_text: part of the rod will have a universal motion in case of any strain from springing of
the frame.
It will be understood that this supplementary bearing bears no weight of the load,
in point of fact when the machine is running free the bearing is idle; its whole
function is, in conjunction with the stay rod hereinbefore described, to prevent the
driving axle from sagging due to the pull of the driving chain in communicating
motion from the pedal crank axle to the driving axle. Owing to the stay rod being
made adjustable in length, no difficulty is experienced in keeping the supplementary
bearing linable with the other two bearings of the axle at all times, and under all
conditions.
L 1007
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.

page_text: Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS, of 70 Chancery Lane, in the Parish of St. Andrews,
Holborn in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention, which has been communicated to me from abroad by Albert
H. Overman, of Boston, in the United States of America, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :—
My invention relates to that class of velocipede in which the driving wheels are
mounted on an axle parallel and opposite to each other, and in which the said axle
receives its motion from a pedal crank axle through chain gearing at or about the
centre of its length, and it has for its object staying or bracing the axle, without
binding, against sagging, due to the pull of the driving chain, and consequently
diminution of internal friction and increased ease of propulsion.
It has been found by experience that two bearings for supporting the driving axle
of machines of the type hereinbefore described are insufficient both to support the
weight of the machine and rider, and to prevent the axle sagging under the pull of the
driving chain, in any position they may be placed, and it is now the common practice
to use three and sometimes even four bearings to support the driving axle. This is not
only costly, but in practice it is found absolutely impossible to keep such a number of
bearings in a line after wear.
According to my invention I use two bearings on the axle to support the dead
weight such bearings being mounted on the axle in the best position to carry the
weight without binding the bearings, or causing the axle to sag due to the weight
of the rider. In close proximity to the driving chain wheel on the axle I mount
a third or supplemental bearing which is not attached to the frame of of the machine,
but is connected by an adjustable stay or brace rod to the pedal crank axle bracket, or
frame of machine, contingent thereto. The stay rod is connected to the bearing case
by a vertical hinge joint, and to the pedal crank axle bracket by a transverse or
horizontal hinge joint. The stay rod is made in two sections united together by a
right and left handed sleeve nut adapting it to be adjusted in length as required. The
lower part of the rod is provided with a lock nut so that it may be locked to the sleeve
nut, but the top part thereof is not so provided, but is simply screwed into the sleeve
nut, thus allowing the rod to have an axial movement. This with the vertical and
transverse joints at the ends, gives a universal movement in case of strain from
springing of the frame and other causes.
It will be understood that this supplemental bearings supports no part of the
weight of the load, in point of fact when the machine is running free the bearing is
idle, its whole function is in conjunction with the stay or brace rod herein before
described to prevent the driving axle from sagging due to the pull of the driving
chain in communicating motion from the pedal crank axle to the driving axle. Owing
to the stay or brace rod being made adjustable in length no difficulty is experienced in
keeping the supplemental bearing linable with the other two bearings of the axle at all
times and under all conditions.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I have annexed a drawing
hereto which fully illustrates my invention. This drawing is a broken view partly in

page_text: side elevation and partly in section showing the application to a tricycle of a brace
embodying my invention.
The driving axle A. is supported by two bearings carried by the cross tube or
"bridge" B. of the frame of the machine in the usual manner. On the axle A. in
close proximity to the central driving chain wheel C. is mounted the supplemental
ball bearing D. which is hinged by the vertical screw bolt d. to the rear section E. of
the stay or brace rod. The forward section F. of the stay or brace rod is connected
to the pedal crank axle bracket G. on the longitudinal tube or backbone B' of the
frame by a transverse screw bolt g. The sections E. and F. of the stay or brace rod
are united by a right and left hand screw threaded sleeve nut H. which is locked to the
forward section F. of the rod by a lock nut h. By turning the sleeve nut the stay
rod can be lengthened and shortened, and so conformed to the exact requirements of
tension and to the wear or adjustment of the chain at all times.
It will be seen that the supplemental hearing D. carries no weight but merely
supports the axle A. against the pull of the chain, and as the stay or brace rod E. F.
is pivotted on the pedal crank axle bracket G. at g. it is free to give with the axle A.
without binding should it sag with the weight of the rider. The bearing D. is also
prevented from binding on the axle by any strain that the axle or frame carrying it
may be subject to, by reason of the rear section E. of the stay rod being free to move
axially with respect to the forward section F. thereof as before described.
Although the stay or brace rod is hereinbefore described as connected to the pedal
crank axle bracket, it may with equal effect be pivotted to the central tube or
backbone B so long as it is kept in the general line of the strain between the two
axles, at the same time by connectiong the rod direct to the frame of the machine,
all adjustment of the length of the rod after adjusting the tension of the chain is
avoided.
The pedal crank axle J., the cranks K., the pedals L., and all other parts which are
neither described or shown, present no novel features and may be of the usual
construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In a velocipede of the type herein before described, supporting the driving axle
against the pull of the driving chain by a supplemental ball bearing mounted on one
end of a stay or brace rod, the other end of which is pivotted on or near to the pedal
crank axle bracket as set forth.
2nd. In a velocipede of the type herein before described, a stay or brace having a
ball bearing at one end, and located in the line of strain between the driving and pedal
crank axles of the machine as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a velocipede, a brace having a ball bearing at one end embracing the
driving axle of the machine, and interposed between the driving and crank axles as
set forth.
4th. In a velocipede, a brace, consisting of a rod pivotted at one of its ends on or
near to the pedal crank axle bracket, and carrying at its other end a ball bearing
embracing the driving axle of the machine as set forth.
5th. In a velocipede a brace consisting of a sectional rod united by a right and
left-hand threaded sleeve nut for adjusting it, a ball bearing located at one end
of such rod and embracing the driving axle of the machine, the brace being
interposed between the driving axle and the pedal crank axle of the machine as
set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1887.