Improvements in Bioyoles,
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Jan., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 2nd Dec., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bioyoles,
I, GEORGE RICHARD FENNER, of Chester Gardens, Kennington Road,
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Cycle Constructor, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
My invention relates to an improved type of bicycle. The front wheel which is
5 the driving wheel is mounted loosely on the pedal-crank axle and is driven there-
from by any suitable form of speed gearing. The driving wheel is mounted in a
vertical or approximately vertical fork terminating in a fixed socket from which a
short backbone extends rearwards. From the axle of the driving wheel, or from
the vertical fork adjacent thereto, a fork extends rearwards approximately in the
O horizontal plane. The rear of this fork is connected to the end of the backbone by
a tube or socket placed either in the vertical plane or sloping slightly rearwards
from the horizontal fork. The rear wheel is mounted in a double forked frame the
one fork of which is approximately horizontal and the other sloping upwards.
Extensions of these forks are connected to the tube or socket immediately in the
5 rear of the front driving wheel so as to form a steering head, preferably of the
ball socket type so that the machine turns for the purpose of steering at a point
between the two wheels. The transverse handle bar is mounted on a pillar fitting in
the socket fixed to the top of the vertical fork carrying the steering wheel in which
it is loosely mounted in suitable ball bearings. The lower end of this handle bar
pillar is connected to the frame carrying the rear wheel at the steering head
between the two wheels, either by a chain connection, by racks and pinions, or by
bridle rods and arms so as to allow the transverse handle bar to control the move-
ment of the steering head and so steer the machine.
Dated this 28th day of January 1893.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bioyoles.
I, GEORGE RICHARD FENNER, of Chester Gardens, Kennington Road,
Lambeth, in the County of Surrey, Cycle Constructor, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what mauñer the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention relates to an improved type of bicycle. The front wheel which is
the driving wheel is mounted loosely on the pedal-crank axle and is driven thore-
from by any suitable form of speed gearing. The driving wheel is mounted in a
vertical or approximately vertical fork terminating in a socket or bracket carrying
the backbone or top member of the frame. From the axle of the driving wheel, or
from the vertical fork, adjacent thereto, a fork extends rearwards, and is connected
to the end of the backbone or top member of the frame by a tube thus completing
the rectangular frame carrying the driving wheel. The rear wheel is mounted in
a double forked frame, the one fork of which is connected to the upper end, and
the other to the lower end, of a tubular socket enclosing the tube forming the rear
part of the rectangular frame carrying the driving wheel, and forming the steering
head or rocket, so that the steering is effected at a point between the two wheels.
The transverse handle bar is mounted on a pillar fitting in a socket fixed to the

page_text: forward end of the backbone in front of the fork carrying the steering wheel. The
lower end of this handle bar pillar is connected to the frame carrying the rear
wheel at the steering head, either by a chain connection, by racks and pinions, or
by bridle rods and arms, so as to allow the transverse handle bar to control the
movement of the steering head and so steer the machine.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will more particularly
describe it making reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
.
Figure 1 is a broken view in side clevation of my improved bicycle, and
Figures 2 and 3 are broken views-partly in section-
-on an enlarged scale
showing the construction of the steering head or socket.
"
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The front driving wheel A is mounted either directly or indirectly on the axle B
which is fitted with driving cranks C and pedals of the usual construction. The
axle B is carried in bearings D fixed to or carried by a vertical fork E and an
approximately horizontal fork E. The vertical fork E terminates in a crown or
socket "e" to which is fixed the backbone or top member F of the frame carrying
the driving wheel A. On to the forward end of the backbone F is a socket F
adapted to receive the pillar G carrying the handle bar G. Suitable ball bearings
are interposed between the pillar G and the socket F' to reduce friction. The rear
end of the backbone F is connected to the rear end of the fork E' by means of a
tubular member J which completes the rectangular frame carrying the driving
wheel. The rear wheel A is loosely mounted on an axle B' carried by a triangular
frame, the members H and H' of which are double to form forks in which the
wheel runs, and the member H' is a single tubular member rigidly connected or
attached to the members H and H'. The member H forms a socket which fits over
the member J to make the steering head or joint as illustrated by Figures 2 and 3
of the accompanying drawing. The ends of the spindle J are attached to the
backbone F and to the horizontal fork E' by means of clip sockets K & K', the
former serving also to carry the seat pillar L for carrying the combined saddle and
spring M, and the latter serving also to lock the adjustable cone of the ball
bearings on the spindle J.
The handle bar pillar G is connected with the member H' of the frame carrying
the rear wheel forming the socket of the steering bead by means of a coupling
rod N, connecting an arm or bracket "g" carried by the pillar G with a similar
arm or bracket on the member H of the rear frame on the opposite side of the
machine to which the arm or bracket "g" is fixed; so that the movement of the
transverse steering hand bar in one direction causes the tubular member H' to
move in the other direction, thus causing the steering to be divided equally
between the two wheels of the machine.
Instead of using a coupling rod and arms or brackets to connect the steering
pillar with the steering hoad I may use either a pair of such coupling rods in
which case flexible links may be substituted for the said rods, or I may use flexible
links or chains passing round quadrants or their equivalents formed on or fixed
to the said pillar and socket respectivaly.
As I use small wheels in this construction of bicycle, I prefer to mount the
driving wheel A loosely on the axle and to interpose between the said parts any
suitable form of gearing which will impart to the driving wheel a speed of
rotation superior to that of the axle.
I am aware that it is not broadly new oither to construct bioyoles in which
the front wheels are the driving wheele, or to utilize both wheels for steering
purposes, and I do not therefore claim such as my invention, but
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 :-
1. The improved construction of bicycle as hereinbęfore described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawing.

page_text: 2. In a bicycle the wheels of which are placed tandemwise, the front one of
which is the driving wheel mounted in a rectangular frame and to which motiou
is communicated from a free running pedal-crank axle by means of any suitable
form of speed gearing and the rear wheel of which is mounted in a triangular
frame pirotted to the rectangular frame carrying the front driving wheel so that
the steering is effected by and between both the wheels;. mounting the transverse
handle bar and the support for the saddle or seat on the rigid frame carrying
the driving wheel so that the positions of the driving axle, the steering handle
bar and the scat or saddle never vary with respect to each other.
Dated this 19th day of Ontaka. 1902
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.