Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
We, GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS, of The Woodlands, Beeston, in the County of
Notts, Engineer, and THE RALEIGH CYCLE COMPANY, LIMITED, of Nottingham, in
the county aforesaid, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates first to a back pedalling brake, secondly to a steering
lock, and thirdly to an anti-vibrating handie bar.
The first part of this invention has reference to a back pedalling brake for
bicycles the chain adjustment of which is effected by an eccentric pedal-crank
axle bracket. We hang a lever from a shoulder formed on the pedal-crank bracket
adjusting cup. and on the end of this lever we pivot a pawl or tip so arranged that
a stop formed on or fixed to the crank on the side of the machine on which the
lever is hung engages the said pawl or tip at each revolution. When the cranks
are rotating in a forward direction as in propelling the bicycle forwards, the pawl
or tip gives way and allows the crank to pass, but when the cranks are rotated in
a backward direction i.c. when back pedalling the pawl or tip does not give way
but becomes rigid with the lever to which it is pivoted and thereby permits the
crank to operate the said lever which is connected with the operative part of the
brake by means of a suitable connecting link preferably having a spring interposed
in its length so as to provide a certain amount of elasticity in the connection, thus
allowing for any inequality that there may be in the rim and permitting the brake
to act in a smooth manner. Although we do not limit ourselves to the use of any
particular form of brake we prefer to use the aforedescribed mechanism in con-
junction with a brake of the horse shoe type acting on the rim of the driving
wheel and we prefer to use this back pedalling mechanism in conjunction with
the usual hand operating mechanism so that the brake may be applied by either
hand or the foot or by both in combination.
The second part of this invention-an improved steering lock-consists of a
metallic band adapted to encircle the tubular extension of the front fork within
the socket of the main frame forming the steering head, the two ends of this band
being adapted to be drawn together to cause it to grip the said tubular extension
of the fork by means of a screw engaging the said ends and passing through one
of the brackets connecting the socket to the frame.
The screw adjusting device consists essentially of a threaded sleeve cut away
at its one end to engage with a shaped hole in one end of the metallic band so as to
prevent its rotation therein, and of a screw adapted to engage the other end of the
metallic band by a shoulder and to thread into the said sleeve the screw being pro-
vided with a milled head whereby it can be rotated from the exterior of the socket.
According to the third part of this invention the handle bar is made in two
parts which are dovetailed together at the centre and fixed the one to the other
by a transverse cottar. The bar is mounted so as to be free to rotate in the socket
carried by the handle bar stem and the cottar fixing the two parts together works

page_text: in a slot in the said stem. The movement of the handle bar is restrained by reason
of the cottar resting on a spring plunger, of any suitable type, mounted in the
handle bar stem. while its upward movement is checked and arrested by means
of a cap containing a rubber buffer or equivalent spring device.
Dated this 6th day of October 1899.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech.E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.
We, GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS, of The Woodlands, Beeston, in the County of
Notts, Engineer, and THE RALEIGH CYCLE COMPANY, LIMITED, of Nottingham, in
the county aforesaid, 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:-
This invention relates to an anti-vibrating handle bar, and comprises essentially
a handle bar free to partially rotate within a suitable socket and controlling said
movement by means of a spring contained in the stem or pillar.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates some forms our invention may
assume:―
Figures 1 and 2 are sectional views in front elevation and plan respectively of
a handle bar constructed according to the present invention, and
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views of a modification.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, the handle bar is made in two parts A, A', which
are dovetailed together at the centre and fixed the one to the other by a transverse
cottar B. The bar is mounted to be free to rotate in the socket C carried by the
handle bar stem or pillar C, and the cottar B fixing the two parts together works
in a slot c in the said stem. The rotary movement of the handle bar A, A¹, is
restrained or controlled by reason of the free or projecting end of the cottar B
resting on the sliding covering cap d of a spring D mounted within the handle
bar stem or pillar C, the fixed supporting cap d of the said spring may in some
cases be made movable or screwed into the stem or pillar C¹ so as to allow for the
adjustment of the spring D. The upward pulling movement on the handle bar
is checked and arrested by means of a cap c' containing a rubber buffer cor
equivalent spring device.
In the modification illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 the handle bar, although made
in two pieces A and A' is not joined together and fixed at the centre by the cottar
pin B, but the two parts engage each other at a short distance from the centre by
means of a screwed joint as shown on the right hand side of Figure 4, a lock pin
or screw a is provided to prevent the one part unscrewing from the other; the
cottar pin B or its equivalent merely being screwed or otherwise fixed into a solid
or reinforced part formed within the part A of the handle bar.
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 velocipede so mounting the handle bar within a socket carried by the
handle bar stem that a partial rotation therein of the said handle har is controlled

page_text: by means of a transverse or radially projecting pin on said handle bar engaging
a spring mounted within the handle bar stem, substantially as described.
(2) In a velocipede an anti-vibrating handle bar constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawing.
(3) In a velocipede an anti-vibrating handle bar constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated by Figures 3 and 4 of the
accompanying drawing.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst.C.E., M.I.Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.