Improvements in Steering Safety Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
Improvements in Steering Safety Bicycles.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM BULLEN of 17 Thorncombe Road, East Dulwich do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The following improvements in steering safety Bicycles may either be attached to
existing machines for Gentlemen or Ladies, or may be incorporated with the original
design, in which case, some slight modification in details is desirable, but the main
features are the same.
If adapted to existing machines, the front steering handles are removed. In place
of them, two curved supports are clamped on to the main saddle-bearing pillar,
springing backwards and outwards behind the rider's legs. At the extremity of each,
which is curved conveniently to be opposite the saddle, is a bearing, parallel to the
main pillar, through which passes a handle, similar to the handles of the old-fashioned
side-steering tricycles. The steering is done entirely with the right handle: the left.
is idle or works the break.
To the shaft of the right handle is attached an arm, projecting backwards: to the
extremity of this arm on a crank or elbow, a rod is attached, passing behind the
rider's legs, jointed to another arm attached to a revolving shaft clamped to the main
pillar, behind and parallel to it. At the bottom of this shaft are two arms, jointed to
rods which are attached to the sides or top of the fork of the front wheel, which turn
it in the desired direction. By a simple system of cranks the movement of the side
handle thus actuates the front wheel.
In place of a simple arm, I also adopt a rack & pinion or a pinion & cogwheel at
the handle to communicate motion to the shaft at the back of the pillar.
In place of the two arms and rods to turn the front wheel, I also use bevelled cog
wheels or a chain.
The whole motion from handle to front wheel may as a modification be com-
municated by means of pneumatic or hydraulic pressure through the medium of
rubber or metal tubes, the handle compressing rubber balls or metal cylinders, as it is
turned one way or the other, similar mechanism acting on the front wheel at the
other ends of the tubes.
In the case of a new machine the shaft at the back of the pillar may be dispensed
with, and the motion be communicated by means of a rod working inside the pillar or
by a sheath surrounding the same, having arms cogs or chain wheel at bottom. The
top horizontal bar may also be dispensed with (which may also be the case in
adaptations) and a smaller front wheel used, by which considerable weight is
saved.
In machines fitted on this system, both mounting and dismounting are done from
the front, as at present with Ladies' machines.
The advantages of my side-steering attachment are:-an upright instead of a
stooping position, a more direct pull against the pedals when power is required, and
the entire freedom of one hand.
Dated this 27th day of Oct 1806

page_text: I, GEORGE WILLIAM BULLEN, of 17 Thorncombe Road, East Dulwich S.E., Gentle-
man, 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:-
My improvements in steering may either be incorporated in the original design of
the machine, or may be attached to existing machines for gentlemen or ladies, in
which case some slight modifications in details are desirable, but the main features
are the same.
The annexed drawings illustrate several ways of carrying out my invention.
Figure 1 is a side elevation. Figure 2 is a plan and Figure 3 is a plan with some
of the parts omitted of a bicycle.
I will first deal with a new machine. The frame may be briefly described as that
of a lady's machine with a smaller front wheel. A convenient proportion is that
shewn in the drawing, Figure I:-Back wheel 26 inch, front wheel 22 inch diameter.
There is no handle bar in front. To the main pillar A¹ A2 are clamped two curved
arms B1 B2, through the extremity of each, fitted in suitable ball bearings, pass two
handles CC2 raking with the pillar. These handles are adjustable in height by
means of an ordinary collar D. This collar clamps the handle spindle to a sleeve
passing through the bearings at the bottom of which short levers E¹ E2 project
backwards which respond to the movements of the handles.
Upon the pillar A A2 is a sheath F with ball bearings, at the top of which projects
a lever G in the same plane as the levers E¹ E2. These three levers are connected
with a straight or curved rod connecting E, E2 and G. At the bottom of the sheath
two rods HH2, H3 H+, pivot on short levers I¹ I connecting with the front wheel,
which thus responds to every movement of the handles. In this way the steering is
effected with either or both handles, but as an alterative I sometimes arrange to
steer with one handle only, leaving the other free to work the brake.
When steering with both handles, a back-pedalling, pneumatic, thumb or other
brake that can conveniently be worked from the handles is employed.
In place of the sheath FI sometimes employ an internal rod M, connected at the
top to the lever G and at the bottom to the rods H1 H2, H3 H4; or I employ a rod N
at the rear of the pillar A¹ A2 passing through supports clamped to the pillar. Both
these devices are shown by dotted lines in Figure I.
In place of the rods H1 H2, H3 H4, I sometimes employ a wire rope or chain with
suitable tighteners, and this is an advantage at certain angles. I also employ a shaft
with bevelled cog wheels at each end for the same purpose.
In place of the lever E' or E2, I also employ a rack and pinion or pinion and cog
wheel at the handle to communicate motion to the shaft inside, surrounding or at
the back of the pillar.
As a modification, I also connect the handles directly with the front wheel as shown
in Figure IV, by means of a strand or chain passing on pulleys, round the curves
B B2, down the pillar A1 A2 and thence at a convenient angle to the front head. In
this case two grooved wheels J' J2 are fixed to the handles in place of the levers E¹ E².
The strand is fixed to these wheels at convenient points K¹ K2. The strand is pro-
vided with screw tighteners LL2 L³. This arrangement permits of steering with
either or both hands.
In adaptations of existing machines any of the above mentioned methods may be
adopted, the one selected depending on the amount of structural alteration permitted.
For instance, it is easier to attach a rear steering post N than the sheath F: and
still easier to attach the pulleys required in the arrangement shown in Figure IV: in
"

page_text: all cases the curved arms B1 B2 and handles are attached in one piece by one or two
bolts.
The mounting and dismounting are of course done from the front as in a lady's
machine.
The advantages of my side steering arrangement are an upright in place of a
stooping position, a more direct pull against the pedals where power is required and
the entire freedom of one hand. A further advantage is an open front, enabling
easy dismounting in emergencies; while the curved arms supporting the handles
effectually prevent a lady's dress becoming disarranged.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The construction and arrangement of a bicycle as herein shown and described.
2. The combination of parts consisting of the seat supporting pillar A¹ A², the
arms B1 and B2 rigidly fixed thereto, the partially rotating handle or handles
C1 and C2 carried at the ends of the arms B1 and B2 and gear connecting the said
handles with the fork and the steering wheel substantially as described.