Improvements in Spring Frames for Bicycles, Tricycles, and like Road Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Frames for Bicycles, Tricycles, and like Road
Vehicles.
We, ALBERT JORDAN and JOHN GEORGE HILLYARD BROWNE, Cycle Manu-
facturers, both of 194, Goswell Road, in the County of London, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to bicycles, tricycles, & like road vehicles, in which the
wheels are mounted on a rigid frame to connect the front & back wheel or wheels.
The rider being mounted on a second frame. The handlebar, saddle, pedals, &
entire second frame on which the rider is mounted is insulated from the shocks &
vibration communicated to the wheels & rigid frame caused by these wheels
rolling over the inequalities of the road surface, thus:-
The second frame is mounted on to the rigid frame by means of sliding sockets
& link or links, & held in normal suspension by the use of a concealed spring,
bearing the weight of the rider, so arranged that the entire second frame is allowed
a correct vertical movement of two or more inches, and is connected to the circular
movement anaintained from the back axle. The chain is not tensioned or
slackened, by intercepting a link or links fixed to the lower extremity of the
second frame & connecting sprocket. Guides or sliding sockets are provided on
the rigid frame to enable the seat pillar tube to travel in a vertical direction &
be maintained firmly from side strain. The heads of both frames are mounted
on a fork on front wheel with steering post. The first or rigid frame being con-
nected by a ball bearing to steering post & the second frame in a like manner
above it. The steering post is divided or seperated between the two heads & again
connected by a slide or link, thus allowing the front part of the machine to close
between the two frames, or expand in a vertical direction as required by the weight
of the rider, & maintained by the spring. For the purpose of reducing friction
between these two points we insert balls or rollers between the vertical slide or
link.
Thus we have a second frame mounted upon a rigid frame, & connected thereto
by links & a spring, for the purpose of insulating the rider from the continual
vibration resulting from the uneven surfaces of roads.
1000
A. JORDAN,
J. G. H. BROWNE.

page_text: .
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Spring Frames for Bicycles, Tricycles, and like Road
Vehicles.
We, ALBERT JORDAN and JOHN GEORGE HILLYARD BROWNE, Cycle Manu-
facturers, of 194, Goswell Road, in the County of London, do hereby declare
the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to bicycles, tricycles and other analogous road vehicles
in which the rider is insulated from the shocks and vibrations arising from the
inequalities of the road, and more particularly in that class in which the wheels
are mounted in a rigid frame which carries a spring supported frame fitted with
the handle-bar, saddle, and crank bracket. The object of our invention is to
construct frames of this class in a new and improved manner whereby the whole
construction is rigid, so far as the application of power is concerned, yet yielding
to absorb shocks and vibration.
And in order that our said invention may be particularly described and
ascertained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which our
invention is shown applied as a frame for a bicycle, from which its application
to tricycle and other road vehicle frames will be readily understood, similar letters
of reference indicating corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle frame constructed according to our
invention.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale, of the lower or crank
bracket portion of the frame.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of same.
Fig. 4 is a section drawn to an enlarged scale illustrating the telescopic arrange-
ment of the head.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate the sliding connection between the handle bar and
the steering stem.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view drawn to an enlarged scale, of the spring support
device.
Fig. 8 is a similar view of a modification.
Referring to Fig. 1 it will be seen that we employ two complete frames ab:
the frame a is rigid and is connected to the axles of the wheels, at the front by
the usual fork a and at the rear by the usual stays and struts; the frame bis
also rigid in itself being triangularly composed of the members b, b¹ and 6º. The
member or diagonal is capable of sliding telescopically within the diagonal a²
of the frame a, and similarly the steering stem c is capable of sliding telescopically
within the upper head 63 of the frame b. The frame 6 is connected to the driving
wheel spindle by a pair of compression stays 64, the stays being capable of move-
ment on said spindle. But in order to allow for the circumferential movement of
the bracket b and stays 64 and to render the connection between the frame b and
said stays rigid when power is being applied we provide a link motion one such
device being illustrated; we would here state that we do not limit ourselves to
the motion shown as any other kind of link motion may be employed without
departing from the spirit of our invention. The link motion shown is more
clearly illustrated in Figs. 2 & 3. The diagonal b¹ of the frame b carries a fitting 66
which is pivoted at 67 to a shell or sleeve 8 surrounding and capable of rotating
on the bracket cylinder or case 69 of the bracket 65 which is securely clamped
in the bracket rings 610 of the stays 64. The fitting is also securely attached to
the twin members 63 as shown. The pivot 67 also carries a link d pivotally
connected at ď¹ with a rocking lever d² pivoted at 13 to the stays 64; a pair of

page_text: links d are also pivoted at d¹ to the rocking lever and to the frame a at a³.
This link device accommodates the circumferial motion of the bracket and
ensures an approximate parallel motion to the diagonal 6' so that it may slide
easily within the diagonal a², whilst the connection between the diagonal 6' and
the bracket and rear axle is such that no power applied for driving purposes is
absorbed thereby.
Fig. 4 illustrates the sliding connection between the handle bar and the steering
stem. The lower head a³ of the frame a is formed as usual; the steering stem c
is formed at the upper end with a slotted boss or socket c¹ (Figs. 5 and 6) in
which the tange of the handle bar stem e¹ is capable of a sliding longitudinal'
movement. The upper head 63 is formed analogous to the lower head, its inner
tube receiving the handle bar stem e¹ which is secured therein by the usual
clip e. The upper head 62 is therefore free to slide upon the steering stem-c,
whilst the tange and socket c' enable the steering motion of the handle bar to be
imparted to the steering stem. Or the connection may be made by links or
other devices.
The frame b is supported on and in the frame a by a suitable spring or by an
air cushion. In Fig. 7 a compression spring is illustrated for the purpose and
in Fig. 8 the application a tension spring is shown. is an adjustable sleeve
suitably arranged on the diagonal 61 adapted to bear upon a spring g¹ in the
cylinder at on the diagonal a², the adjustment for different weights of riders being
accomplished by screwing the sleeve g up or down as will be understood. h is
the usual saddle stalk. i represents a roller against which the sleeve impinges,
the position of the roller being adjustable by screw bolts ¹ to take up slack caused
by wear. In Fig. 8 the tension spring k is arranged exteriorly to the diagonal a²
and preferably in a tube ; any suitable means are provided whereby the tension
may be readily adjusted. 12 is a snug attached to the diagonal 61 to which the
spring is connected.
It will thus be seen that both frames are in themselves rigid structures, one
being resiliently mounted in and upon the other in such a manner that neither
the strength of the whole frame nor the effect of propulsion are impaired; thus
by means of our invention the mechanical efficiency, (that is to say the power
available for driving purposes less that absorbed by the frame and mechanism
under all circumstances) is the same as in the ordinary rigid frame, in addition
to which we provide efficient means for absorbing the shocks and vibrations
arising from the inequalities of the road.
We are aware that spring frames for cycles have been previously made in which
the position of the saddle handle-bar and crank bracket relatively to each other
remained unaltered and were fitted to one portion of a frame arranged to move
vertically upon a fixed frame, to which the wheels were attached, in combination
with a spring such for instance in what was known as the " whippet spring
frame"; we do not therefore claim the use of the two parts of the frame of the
"whippet" description, per se except so far as our improved constuction and
arrangement are concerned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A spring frame for bicycles, tricycles and analogous road vehicles, consisting
of a pair of triangulated rigid frames, one rigidly attached to the axles of the
wheels and the other mounted upon said fixed frame in such a manner that the
movement of the moveable frame is parallel with the diagonal member of the fixed
frame, the moveable frame being suitably jointed to the chain or compression
stays, constructed and arranged substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings.
2. A spring frame for bicycles, tricycles and analogous road vehicles, consisting
of a triangulated fixed frame, to which the axles of the wheels are attached, the

page_text: usual steering fork being also fitted; a moveable triangular frame, the diagonal
member of which slides within the diagonal member of the fixed frame and the
head of which slides upon the steering stem which passes through the head of the
fixed frame; a pair of compression stays, suitably jointed to the lower end of the
moveable frame and to the rear axle; means (such as the link motion shown and
described) for accommodating the tangential or angular motion of the moveable
frame relatively to that of the compression stays; and a compression or tension
spring or air cushion suitably arranged to support the moveable frame, sub-
stantially as set forth.
3. In spring frames for bicycles tricycles and the like, the application and use
of the link motion shown and described with reference to Figs. 2 and 3, consisting
of a pair of links d, rocking lever da link d, fitting 66, and shell or sleeve 68,
severally arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings.
4. In spring frames for bicycles, tricycles and the like, the improved method
of connecting the steering, viz., a tang on the end of the handle bar stem fitting
and sliding in a socket in the steering stem, substantially as set forth.
5. The improved spring frame for bicycles, tricycles and like road vehicles,
substantially as set forth.
ALBERT JORDAN,
JOHN GEORGE HILLYARD BROWNE.
By George Downing & Sons,
Chartered Patent Agents,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C.