IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Augustus Lea Bricknell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1883.
AUGUSTUS LEA BRICKNELL of Brixton in the county of Surrey Civil Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
"
This invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes and relates
principally to the construction of that type of velocipede known as a tricycle or
quadricycle though it might be applied or modified to certain velocipedes known
as dicycles or parallel-wheel bicycles
Various plans have been proposed to reduce the width of velocipedes for enabling
them to pass through a doorway entrance or passage These may be roughly
summed up as follows
(a) That class having the framework hinged in such a manner as to admit of
its folding together.
(b) That class which by the withdrawal of pins or other parts admits of the
framework being in part disconnected.
(c) That class having the frame or axle laterally telescopic
(d) That class having one or both of the main driving wheels detachable.
The objection to the first is that the construction of a folding frame must sooner
or later rob the structure of its rigidity besides the annoyance of having to soil the
fingers by withdrawing greasy bolts or other locking devices.
The objection to the second stands tantamount to the first
The objection to the third is that of greatly increased cost besides the trouble of
withdrawing fastenings or winding up special mechanism to reduce the width of
the frame or axle.
The objection to the fourth is the trouble and time expended in removing either
or both wheels and replacing them, and further most of these plans involve
[Price 6d1

page_text: inconvenience risk and danger from the various parts becoming accidentally
unfastened and perhaps lost.
Now I propose by my invention to obviate all these evils and reduce the cost of
a collapsible tricycle or like velocipede in a very great degree.
My invention consists in forming in part of either or both hubs of the driving or
other wheels a coarse-pitched taper screw. The hub or hubs are partly bored or
formed (as hereafter described) taper for this purpose.
A corresponding taper end is formed on the driving wheel or other spindle which
taper end carries a corresponding coarse-pitched taper screw.
The end of the spindle inside the hub end is locked against it by a fine-pitched
screw cut on the spindle and with a lock nut or nuts against the hub from
without; the direction of the coarse and fine-pitched threads being the same or
opposite.
Now if the velocipede is driven forwards by its driving spindle the more it
travels the tighter the hub is bound to the spindle
But if the lock nut be released and the driving spindle or spindles be held by the
brake or otherwise while the wheels are run forward to overrun the spindle, then
the screw threads disengage and the spindle or spindles telescope into the hub or
hubs thus reducing the width of the machine.
The securing nut which I prefer to use goes into a recess in the hub and being
between the frame and the hub cannot be lost while the mere power of the fingers
is sufficient to secure and release it.
Instead of a lock nut or a screwed plug, pins or screws passing through the
spindle may be used and these would have to be withdrawn before collapsing the
machine.
As it is important to have brake power for holding the spindle while wheeling
the machine forward to collapse it I prefer to use a band brake on the spindle, onc
end of the band carrying a screwed nut a screwed spindle passing through it and
carrying a toothed wheel gearing with another toothed wheel on a handle rod.
The screwed rod may be provided with a universal joint in its length.
By this means the brake can be applied with any power and left on thus avoiding
the inconvenience of holding the brake handle while telescoping the machine and
also relieving the wrist of strain in descending hills
To construct my hubs with great accuracy and cheapness without having to
specially bore and tap or screw them I cast them on chilled iron taper mandrels
having threads of desired pitch thereon or therein.
The outer portion is then surfaced up and finished.
As the brass or gun metal castings expand with heat more than the iron
mandrels they can when heated be easily screwed off.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Augustus Lea Bricknell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
6th October 1883.
AUGUSTUS LEA BRICKNELL of Brixton in the County of Surrey Civil Engineer
"IMPROVEMENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
"
This Invention has for its object improvements in velocipedes and relates
principally to the construction of that type of velocipede known as a tricycle or
quadricycle though it might be applied or modified to certain velocipedes known
as dicycles or parallel wheel bicycles.
Various plans have been proposed to reduce the width of velocipedes for enabling
them to pass through a door-way, entrance or passage. These may be roughly
summed up as follows:-
(a) That class having the framework hinged in such a manner as to admit of
its folding together.
(b) That class which by the withdrawal of pins or other parts admits of the
framework being in part disconnected.
(c) That class having the frame or axle laterally telescopic.
(d) That class having one or both of the main driving wheels detachable.
The objection to the first is that the construction of a folding frame must sooner
or later rob the structure of its rigidity besides the annoyance of having to soil the
fingers by withdrawing greasy bolts or other locking devices.
The objection to the second stands tantamount to the first.
Tho objection to the third is that of greatly increased cost besides the trouble of
withdrawing fastenings or winding up special mechanism to reduce the width of
the frame or axle.
The objection to the fourth is the trouble and time expended in removing either
or both wheels and replacing them, and further most of these plans involve incon-
venience risk and danger from the various parts becoming accidentally unfastened
and perhaps lost.
Now I propose by my invention to obviate all these evils and reduce the cost of
a collapsible tricycle or like velocipede in a very great degree.
My invention consists in forming in part of either or both hubs of the driving
or other wheels a coarse pitched taper screw. The hub or hubs are partly bored
or formed (as hereinafter described) taper for the purpose.
A corresponding taper end is forined on the driving wheel or other spindle which
taper end carries a corresponding coarse-pitched taper screw.
The end of the
spindle inside the hub end is locked against it by a fine pitched screw cut on the
spindle and with a lock nut or nuts against the hub from without; the direction of
the coarse and fine pitched threads being the same or opposite.
Now if the velocipede is driven forwards by its driving spindle the more it
travels the tighter the hub is bound to the spindle.
But if the lock nut be released and the driving spindle or spindles be held by the
brake or otherwise while the wheels are run forward to overrun the spindle, then
the screw threads disengage and the spindle or spindles telescope into the hub or
hubs thus reducing the width of the machine.
The securing nut which I prefer to use goes into a recess in the hub and being
between the frame and the hub cannot be lost while the mere power of the fingers
is sufficient to secure and release it.
Instead of a locked nut, a screwed plug, pins or screws passing through the
spindle may be used and these will have to be withdrawn before collapsing the
machine.
As it is important to have brake power for holding the spindle while wheeling
the machine forward to collapse it I prefer to use a band brake on the spindle
one end of the band carrying a screwed nut, a screwed spindle passing through

page_text: '
it and carrying a toothed wheel gearing with another toothed wheel on
handle rod.
The screwed rod may be provided with a universal joint in its length.
By this means the brake can be applied with any power and left on thus avoiding
the inconvenience of holding the brake handle while telescoping the machine and
also relieving the wrist of strain in descending hills.
To construct my hubs with great accuracy and cheapness without having to
specially bore and tap or screw them I cast them on chilled iron taper mandrels
having threads of desired pitch thereon or therein.
The outer portion is then surfaced up and finished.
As the brass or gun metal castings expand with heat more than the iron mandrels
they can when heated be easily screwed off.
And in order that my invention may be understood and carried into practical
effect I have caused to be annexed to this specification the accompanying sheet of
drawings and to the figures and letters of reference thoreon marked I now refer :-
Figure 1 is a vertical section of my improved hub and spindle.
Figure 2 end view of same.
A is the spindle formed with the taper male screw B as before described and C
is the finer lock thread cut thereon.
D is the hub formed with a corresponding female thread to fit male screw B.
•
E is the lock nut screwing against the side of the hub. This nut is preferably
formed as in Figure 2. It has passing through a hole formed in it, a plug F carried
by a spring & secured by a screw or stud to the nut. This plug drops on the
thread C and helps to keep the nut in position.
As before mentioned other suitable devices may take the place of the lock thread
and nut C E.
In applying my invention to a balanced double driving tricycle I may make one
or both hubs on this principle.
In the case of alternate or single driving rear steering tricycles I preferably fit
a band brake on each spindle or if a spoon brake be used I make the spoon rods to
telescope with the collapsing hub.
It is evident that the male screw could be formed in the bub and the female
thread on the spindle if desired. It is also evident that instead of making the
coarse screw on the spindle taper (which is the best form) it might be made parallel
and furnished with a head.
Having now described my invention and the best mode known to me of per-
forming the same I would have it understood that what I claim as novel and
original and desire to secure under the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is:-
In velocipedes requiring their width to be reduced, the use of taper ended (or
parallel) screwed spindles A B in combination with internally tapered (or parallel)
screwed hubs D and lock nuts E or other suitable devices for securing the same as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
In witness whereof I the said Augustus Lea Bricknell have hereunto set my
hand and seal this fifth day of October in the year of our Lord One thousand
sight hundred and eighty thron
Witness
E GARDNER COLTEN Assoc Soc. T.E.
Patent Agent
Victoria Chambers
Chancery Lane W C.
AL BRICKNELL (L.S.)