Improvements in Bicycle Sulkies or the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 21st July, 1894-Accepted, 29th Dec.,
1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle Sulkies or the like.
We, FREDERICK S. STODDARD of 325 Madison Street, Syracuse in the
County of Onondaga and State of New York, United States of America,
Mechanic, and JOHN NOTTINGHAM of 305 South Warren Street, Syracuse
aforesaid, Physician, 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 :-
Our invention relates to bicycle sulkies; and our object is, primarily, to remedy
the difficulties heretofore existing in sulkies of this class, owing to the fact that
they have not been adapted to persons of different weights, nor provided with
means for adjusting them to different weights of drivers, so that, heretofore, when
a sulky has been made for a light rider, and a heavier person occupies it, the
extra spring downward of the arch connecting the separate wheel axles, will throw
said axles out of a horizontal, and the wheels out of a vertical, thereby causing
said axles to bind and cut, even with ball bearings, because said axles are not at a
right angle to the line of draft, and also causing the sulky to draw much harder
and run heavier, all producing and causing damage to the sulky, and reducing the
speed of the horse.
The object of our invention is to produce a sulky of this class, which is provided
with simple, efficient means for remedying the aforesaid difficulties, objections and
faults of construction and operation; in which the arch which is connected to and
carried by the wheel-forks, is provided with a truss-rod adjustably connected to the
inner branches of said forks, and having intermediate connections to said arch, in
which said truss-rod is also, when desired, made in sections, said sections being
provided with means whereby they can be adjusted with reference to each other;
or in which both the centre and the ends of said truss-rod are provided with means
of adjustment, whereby, whether one or both are used, said truss-rod can be
adjusted to spring said arch against the strain of the load to be carried, so that
when loaded the axles will always stand horizontal and the wheels vertical; in
which the arch is split longitudinally and spread or widened out, not only to
produce a double arch with a single truss-rod, but to also permit the seat to be
mounted upon and secured directly to the arch; also in which the forward
connection between the thills is arched upwardly and forms the front support for
the seat, and, at the same time, permits the closer hitching of the horse to the
sulky; also in which the stiffness of the fork, or of the arch below the split and
spread thereof permits, when desirable, of dispensing entirely with the draft-rods,
or draw-bars commonly used to connect the thills to the wheel axles, and thereby
entirely overcome the horse-motion.
Our invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation
hereinafter described and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereunto
annexed.
It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,
in which
T: 1
is a ton plan of our sulke

page_text: Fig. 4, is an elevation of the sectional truss-rod, detached.
Fig. 5, is an enlarged sectional elevation of a nut, and rod connection between
said sections, for adjustment.
Fig. 6, is a like view of an internally threaded sleeve connection between them.
Fig. 7, is an elevation of a ratchet connection between said sections.
Fig. 8, is a sectional detail of a connection between the end of said truss-rod and
the wheel-fork for adjustment.
Fig. 9, is a side elevation of a connection between the truss-rod and the arch,
and an arch-section spreader.
Fig. 10, is a front (or rear) elevation thereof.
Fig. 11, is a detail of the spreader and securing bolt.
Fig. 12, is a front elevation of the seat, and the front truss cross bar connected
to the thills, which are shown in section.
Fig. 13, is an enlarged vertical section of the wheel-fork and the single, solid,
end of the arch connected thereto.
Fig. 14, is a vertical sectional detail of a connection of the arch to the fork,
when the division of the arch extends for its entire length and the ends of both
arch sections are connected to the fork.
Fig. 15, is a sectional detail of an adjustable axle-mounting upon a fork-arm,
and a detail of an adjustable axle-bearing, by which the height of the sulky can
be varied for horses of different sizes..
The sulky cousists, broadly, of the arch a, forks b, wheels c, thills d, seat e, and
the other parts hereinafter especially mentioned.
The arch a is shown as constructed with solid ends 2 between which it is split
to produce the arch-bars 3 which are spread apart, by means of distance pieces 4,
shown as tubular, and through each of which a bolt 5 is inserted to secure it in
position, said bolt also serving to connect the arms 6 of the link 7 Fig. 9 to
said arch.
Each link is provided with an eye 8 to receive the truss-rod 9 shown as
consisting of sections, and having its adjacent ends connected adjustably, as in
Figs. 4 & 5, by the right and left hand threaded rods 10 screwed into the truss
sections, and an interiorly right and left hand threaded nut 11 upon said rods ;
or, as in Fig. 6, by threading the ends of said sections right and left, and mounting
a sleeve 12 thereon, threaded interiorly in like manner; or, as in Fig. 7, by a
ratchet 13 on one section, and a hooked locking-bar 14 pivoted upon the other
one; these several means for adjusting said sections with reference to each other
being given us some of the numerous other devices adapted to be used for such
adjustment by varying the space between these ends of said sections; such devices
being shown at the centre of the truss in order to better equalize the changes
incident to the operation of the adjusting device, and to exert equal force upon
each end of the arch, or upon each fork.
The extremities of the truss-rod are shown as threaded interiorly to receive an
adjusting rod 15 which passes freely through a bracket 16 secured upon the inner
arm of the fork, and 17, 18, are jam nuts threaded to fit on to said rod, one above
and the other below said bracket.
By this construction a single truss-rod, through the branching link connections,
stays both arch-bars where spread apart, as also the solid portions of the arch,
and all together create a truss-support for the load upon the seat e which is
mounted directly upon and secured to the bars 3.
The forks are shown in Fig. 13, as consisting of the tubular arms 19
connected by an arch, a curved tube 20 within said arch, and extending down into
said arms.
A curved tube 21 encloses said arch and further helps to stiffen and
strengthen it. A socket 22 is arranged integral with, or secured to, said outer
tube 21, which is shouldered interiorly to support the end of the arch when
inserted and secured therein; and in. Fig. 14, the arch bars are shown as extending
separately to the fork, and mounted upon the stems 24 integral with, or secured
to, the block 25, secured to, or integral with, the tube 22; and, as the body and

page_text: arms of the fork are tubular, great strength is obtained for comparatively light
weight.
In the lower ends of said arms a plug 26 is (in Fig. 13) secured and the axle 27
is mounted therein, and the wheels c are journaled thereon by ball-bearings, or
any other style of bearing.
In Fig. 15, a nut 28 is secured in the arm, and 29 is a threaded bar inserted into
it, and provided with an eye 30, in which eyes the axle is mounted, and by removing
the wheel, said bars can be adjusted vertically to vary the height of the fork from
the ground, and consequently vary the height of the sulky for horses of different
size.
The thills are of any ordinary construction, and are secured to the arch by
clips 31, of any desired construction.
The seat e is of the usual construction, and is mounted upon the arch, its rear
being stayed by a brace, or braces, 32, between it and the rear extension of the
thills. The front cross-bars 33, 34, between the thills, are curved rearwardly and
arched upwardly so that they support the front of the seat.
This construction also permits the horse to be hitched closer, and thereby
reduces the draft of the sulky.
Draw-bars 35 & 36 may be used, if desired, connecting the axles to the thills;
but if these are omitted, all, or substantially all, of the horse-motion is avoided,
particularly when driving at a comparatively slow speed.
The adjustment of the truss-screw between the sections of the truss-rod, by
screwing it up and thereby drawing the ends of the sections toward each other,
operates to throw the wheels out, by the drawing of the sections through the links
marked, and the consequent leverage of the lower ends of said sections upon the
forks, thereby causing the wheels to become inclined inwardly toward each other,
from a vertical, and then when the load is applied to the seat, the downward
spring of the arch will restore said wheels to a vertical. This is the adjustment
for a heavy person.
When the ends of the sections are forced apart, the wheels are thrown in, so
that they incline outwardly from each other, and then the application of the load
brings them up to a vertical.
This mechanism can be used alone, or in conjunction with the take-up mechanism,
or the take-up mechanism can be used alone; said take-up operating as follows:
The nut 17 is first loosened, then by screwing up the nut 18 the wheel is drawn
in, by the reduction in the length of the truss-rod, and then screwing the
nut 17 down again to the bracket the wheel is secured in that position. Each
wheel is separately adjusted. By loosening or unscrewing the nut 18 and screwing
the nut 17 down, the wheels are thrown out, through and by reason of the
increase of the length of the truss-rod above said bracket, and the fact that
the links maintain it at the same distance from the arch at all times and under
all circumstances.
It will be seen that, in either case, the adjustment is effected by varying
the length of the truss-rod, and, consequently, varying the rigidity of the truss,
as also that of the arch, all according to .the variation of the weight of the
load to be carried; and that when the arch is solid for its entire length, as it
can be, then the adjustment of the truss-rod to vary its length, will perform
the same function and accomplish the same results.
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. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss, wheel forks secured thereto, and means
to vary the length of the truss-rod, in combination.
2. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss, wheel forks secured thereto, connections
between the truss-rod and truss-arch intermediate to its length, and means to vary
the length of the truss-rod, in combination.

page_text: 3. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss, comprising a body split between its solid
ends, creating a double arch, wheel-forks secured to its ends, connections between
the truss-rod and the arches intermediate to its length, and means to vary the
length of the truss-rod, in combination.
4. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss comprising a double arch and a truss-rod
.connected to the wheel forks, and intermediately to said arches, wheel forks
secured to the ends of said arches, and means to vary the length of the truss-rod.
5. In a bicycle-sulky, an arching truss split between its solid ends, creating a
double arch, wheel forks secured to said ends, connections between the truss-rod
and arches, means to vary the length of the truss-rod, a seat mounted upon said
truss-arch, and thills connected to said arch.
6. In a bicycle-sulky, a truss-arch, wheel-forks secured thereto, and a truss-rod
connected to said arch and to said wheel forks, and means to vary its length, in
-combination.
7. In a bicycle-sulky, a truss wheel, forks secured thereto, thills connected to
said truss, a seat upon said truss, and front cross-bars connected to said thills and
arching rearward and upward and connected to the seat.
8. In a bicycle-sulky, a seat, and thills, in combination with cross-bars
connecting the thills and arching rearward and upward and secured to the front
.of the seat.
Dated this 20th day of July 1894
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicants.