Improvements in Cycles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Nov., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 17th Sept., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles.
I GEORGE BROWN, of 7 Lea Road, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, Works
Manager, do hereby declare the nature this invention to be as follows :-
This invention relates to improvements in cycles, and has for its object improved
means whereby the vibrations occasioned on uneven roads may be absorbed; also
improvements in or connected with the cranks, and the pedal pin; also improve-
ments relating to the mud guards of such machines.
In carrying out these improvements I proceed somewhat as follows:-
I employ a rocking seat pillar, similar to that described in a Patent granted to
me bearing date Sep. 8th 1890, and numbered 14083, and in conjunction therewith
provide, (from the head, or other suitable part of the frame,) a jointed rod extending
towards and communicating with the said rocking pillar. This communication
takes place as follows:- Upon the said rocking pillar is provided a joint, to which
is connected the one end of a tubular piece, or piece of other suitable form, which
extends for a short distance along the rod before mentioned; that is, one of such
parts is tubular, so that the one may pass within or along the other, and in such a
manner that their ends shall project outwards, in order that upon their exterior
there is carried two spiral springs. Between these two springs is provided a fixed
eye or slotted projection which is carried from the frame. These two ends upon
which are carried the springs, may be tightened up by means of a screw and nut.
Thus, when any vibration comes upon the head of the machine, which has a
tendency to lengthen or shorten the distance between the head and the rocking seat
pillar, one or the other of the springs is brought into compression, and so absorbs
such vibration, without communicating the same to the rider.
Again. In some cases, as for instance in cycles for ladies, I may not only employ
this arrangement in a modified form near the saddle, but I further provide a similar
arrangement at the junction of the head with the back bone or main part of the
frame. The said back bone is connected to the head by means of a hinged or
pivotted joint. At the rear of this joint, I connect the one end of the spring
arrangement before described; its other end being connected to the head at some
little distance upward above the said connection. Thus any vibration due to an
obstacle in front of the wheels and which tends to turn the head upon the connecting
joint is again absorbed in the spring.
This method of connecting the back bone to the head upon a pivotted joint may
be made central with the said head, or at a little distance to the rear; and also
where or where not, the forward anti-vibrating arrangement is used, such joint or
connection may also consist of a plain joint, or balls bearing.
Again. I make the crank of cycles from a hollow tube, each end of such tube
being plugged or otherwise made solid for connection to the arbor or to the pedal
pin, as may be desired. Between these two ends however, I form such crank into
a diamond section, or such diamond section may be further corrugated in order.to
increase its strength. This diamond section I find to withstand the twisting strain
to which they are subjected, better than those of present make.
Longitudinally the crank is made taper, and preferably I prepare the pedal pin
with a diamond shaped hole at its one end, to fit thereon. These two may then be
brazed together, or, if desired, a small extending screw pin and nut and washer
may be used to secure them. Or, if preferred the ordinary slotted end may, be
made upon the crank, to receive the ordinary pedal pin.
Again. In constructing and fixing the mud guards for these machines, I provide

page_text: a frame of wire, consisting of (double) parallel wires curved according to require-
ments, and in width equal to the width of the guard required. The one end of
this frame is secured to the head or other part of the frame somewhat as
follows:-
The front ends of the two wires pass along one on either side or inside, of the
front or back fork; their ends are further bent into a part hook form, which take
underneath a pin or projection upon the front part of the fork, and beneath the
crown. At a short distance to the rear of these pins or projections, are provided
other similar pins or projections over which the wires pass, thus giving as it were a
spring like action to the wire frame. At the other extreme end of the frame or at
any desired point in its length, this frame is further connected to the wheel arbor
or other suitable part by tie rods taking on to a cross bar formed in or upon the
said wire frame. This need only be done by hooking such rods thereonto, by
reason of the springy character of the frame. I now further provide a removable
cover or sheath of leather or other suitable material, which may be drawn on to the
said frame, which shall serve as the mud guard when such is required, but which
may be withdrawn when not required.
Thus, when no mud guard is required, as in fine dry weather, the cover or guard
would be removed, thereby reducing considerably the resistance to wind pressure:
and the said cover being of a folding portable character, it may be carried in the.
pocket or bag.
The form of this frame, method of attachment, and also of the cover may be
considerably varied, its chief point being a removable guard in order to reduce the
pressure of wind when riding.
Dated this 3rd day of November 1891.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycles.
I GEORGE BROWN, of 7 Lea Road, Wolverhampton Staffordshire, Works
Manager, 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 improvements in or connected with the cranks and
pedal pins of cycles.
In the Specification filed provisionally with my application for Patent, I made
mention of improvements other than those connected with the cranks and pedal
pins, but such other improvements I now abandon, and desire to claim those only
as hereinafter mentioned.
I make the cranks of cycles from a hollow tube, each end of such tube being
plugged or otherwise made solid for connection to the arbor, and to the pedal pin.
Between these two ends however I make such crank in a diamond sectional shape,
or such diamond section may be further corrugated in order to increase its strength.
This diamond section I find to withstand the twisting strain to which they are
subjected better than those of present make.
In order to further and more clearly explain this my invention I have appended
hereunto an illustrative sheet of drawings upon which are figures and numbers of
reference, similar numbers referring throughout the several views to the same thing
or part.
Fig. 1, is a general front view of a crank with the pedal pin, made according to
this my invention.
Fig. 2, is a side view of the invention.
Fig. 3, is a sectional view of the tube on line A-B.
Fii a contional alávation of th
T

page_text: Fig. 5, is a view of the diamond tubular crank having a slotted end.
Fig. 6, is a sectional view of the tubular part showing how it may in some
instances be corrugated.
The tubes from which the cranks are made are usually drawn in long lengths,
from which short lengths are cut or sawn to form the parts 1, and therefore would
longitudinally generally be parallel. I may however if desired stamp them into
shape and also make them taper, but preferably they are made parallel. The
arbor end 2, is plugged into the one end, and the pedal pin end 3, is also plugged.
These plugs are welded, brazed or otherwise firmly secured in the ends of the
tube 1. 4, is the pedal pin, which is provided with the diamond shaped end 5,
having a diamond shaped hole to fit on to the tube, and is brazed or otherwise
secured thereto.
Generally the tubes from which the cranks are made, are plain as seen in section
Fig. 3, but in some instances I may corrugate them as seen in Fig. 6, in order to
increase their strength. Also, in some instances, the plug at the pedal pin end
may be extended to form the usual slotted end 6, to receive the usual form of
pedal pin.
Although I have described the sectional form of the crank as being of a diamond
shape, yet it will be readily seen that any approximate shapes thereto may be
adopted, but the section shown I find to give the best results.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
Cycle cranks having the central tubular part, of a diamond sectional shape or
approximation thereto, whose ends are further prepared and shaped for the pedal
pin and for the treadle arbor as hereinafter described and illustrated upon the
drawings.
Dated this 2nd dor of Ano 1800
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.