Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Mar., 1896-Accepted 5th Sept., 1896
A communication by ALBERT BERNHARDT HOLSON, of the City of Chicago, in
the County of Cook and State of Illinois, United States of America.
1, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool and 6 Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster 118 New Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick, and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, 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 pace indicators which are provided with a revoluble
glass or celluloid tube containing liquid which indicates the speed by the position
of a vortex formed in the surface thereof, which varies at different speeds iu depth
in proportion to the difference in centrifugal force.
One object of the invention is to provide a construction which is particularly
adapted to use in connection with any ordinary bicycle, by providing a novel
means for communicating motion from the bicycle wheel to the revoluble indicator
tube.
Another object is to provide a form of caps for the ends of the indicator tubes
which serve to not only yieldingly close the ends of the tubes to prevent the egress
of the contained fluid, but also form in combination with a particular form of
step and a partition ring, and a series of balls, an inexpensive mud proof ball
bearing.
Still another object is to provide means attached to the indicator frame which
will show the proper angle to secure the instrument to the bicycle front axle, the
several features herein before named being fully described hereinafter, and are
illustrated.
In the accompanying drawings
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the central portion of the front wheel of a bicycle
showing the lower end of one side the front fork with the indicator attached to the
end of the front axle, the means for actuating the revoluble tube of the indicator
being shown in the form of a small spring finger attached to two spokes of the
front wheel, the circular broken line indicating the circle described by the spring
finger;
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the indicator showing the vortex in the top of
the contained liquid in broken lines, and the numerals on the frame to indicate
different rates of speed;
Figure 3 is a side elevation of the lower portion of the indicator, same scale as
Figure 2, to show indicator which points to the proper angle at which the
instrument is attached to the bicycle;
Figure 4 shows, respectively, a side elevation and a plan of the spring finger for
actuating the indicator tube;
Figure 5 is an axial section, on an enlarged scale, of the top indicator tube cap,
the dust ring and the upper end of the frame, the step bearing, with a series of

page_text: balls, a portion of the frame and the top portion of the indicator tube in front
elevation;
Figure 6 shows, respectively, an axial section and a bottom elevation of the top
tube cap, same scale as in Figure 5;
Figure 7 is a side elevation of one of the ends of the transparent indicator tube
showing a small bead at the end margin;
Figure 8 is a side elevation and a plan of one of the steps which form a part of
the ball pivotal bearing of the indicator tube:
Figure 9 is a plan and an axial section of the dust ring for the ball bearing
chamber which ring is shown in section in proper position in Figure 5;
Similar letters indicate like parts throughout the several views.
In the drawing, A is the frame or support having laterally projecting ends into
which are secured steps B and B¹ which are adjustable, and each has a flange C
which is almost as large as the diameter of chamber D at the outer end of the tube
caps E and E, and at the inner ends of each of these steps is a small rounded
projection F at the centre which contacts the balls G which are disposed in a
circle around the bottom and side walls of inner chamber D' of the caps E and E¹.
In practice, the caps E and E¹ are drawn from discs of wrought metal in one
piece so that the walls around chambers D and D₁ are double as shown.
Chambers D and D' are separated by a ring D2, Figures 5 and 6, through whose
centre hole projects the rounded end of the step F.
The caps E and E¹ have an annular projection or band I which serves to stiffen
them at the centre of length.
Band I is made by pressing the inside of the cap outwardly, and thus forming
an annular groove I inside the cap which is adapted to receive and retain the
marginal edge of a disc or mass of cork J, and also yieldingly retain the end of
indicator tube K which is provided with a small outwardly projecting bead K¹
which engages the groove when the end of the tube contacts packing J. The
slits L in the caps permit the side walls of one end of the cap to expand and then
contract upon the ends of the indicator tube when it is being inserted therein to
position. The actuating finger M is attached to the spokes of the front wheel,
and is usually made of thin spring metal with the free end covered with leather or
rubber, which covered portion makes a wiping contact with the lower tube cap E'
once in every revolution of the bicycle wheel, which intermittent action causes the
easily revolved indicator tube K to maintain substantially a regular speed in unison
with the pace of the bicycle, and since the contact of the spring-finger is yielding,
and of very short duration, a very small amount of power is absorbed.
The side of the frame of the indicator may be graduated and have numerals as
shown, or in any other form most convenient. At N is a gravity indicator which
is pivotally mounted on the side of the frame to show at what angle the indicator
tube A is to be set, the top or point end of the indicator registering with line N¹,
Figures 1 and 3, when the frame A is in the position shown in Figure 3.
The indicator is disposed in the angular position shown, so that the rider may
have the graduated face shown in Figure 2 presented square with the line of sight
when the vortex in the liquid in the indicator tube and the graduations are
plainly seen.
The gravity angle indicator N is a necessity, since the height of the vortex
inside of the indicator tube varies at the same speed at different angles from the
vertical.
The method of constructing the ball bearing with flanges C on the steps B
and B with the ring D³ pressed down into the cap, effectually prevents the
entrance of mud or dust into the ball chamber D', and the dust ring D' also prevents
losing the balls when the indicator tube is removed from the frame A.
The rate of speed of a bicycle per mile is shown by numerals on the frame A
the numerals indicating the number of minutes per mile, the lower end of the
vortex in the revolving fluid at R, (broken line), indicating according to its
position for the time being the speed as is usual with apparatus of this class.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. in a pace indicator for bicycles, the combination with a liquid rotatory
indicator, of a friction actuating finger attached to the bicycle wheel and adapted
to rotate the indicator tube by intermittent frictional contact, substantially as
described.
2. The combination in a pace indicator for bicycles having a rotatory indicating
tube containing liquid and attached at less than a vertical angle to the bicycle, of
a gravity indicator N pivotally mounted upon the tube frame and adapted to
indicate the proper angle from the vertical to be subtended by the tube, in the
manner stated.
3. The combination in a pace indicator of the class named, of a ball bearing
comprising a tube cap having chambers at the outer end separated by a ring, a
series of balls arranged in a circle within the inner chamber, and in contact with
the bottom and side walls thereof, and a stationary step having a laterally projecting
flange adapted to almost fill the diameter of the outer chamber, and a central
projection from the inner side of the said flange which is disposed through a
central hole in the said ring, and in contact with the circle of balls in the inner
chamber, as stated.
4. The combination in a pace indicator of the class named having a combined
ball bearing chamber and cap for each end of the revoluble indicator tube, of a
ball bearing chamber having side walls which are inside the general side walls of
the caps, the bottom of this chamber forming a partition in the caps which serves
as a cover for the ends of the indicator tube, an annular groove formed around
inside the caps close to the said partition, which groove engages the marginal edge
of a disc of packing which is in contact with the partition named, and a projecting
annular bead at the ends of the indicator tube also in contact with the packing
substantially as described.
Dated this 12th day of March 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.