Improvements in the Steering Mechanism of Velocipedes and Manumotive Carriages.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Sept., 1895-Accepted, 26th Oct., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Steering Mechanism of Velocipedes and
Manumotive Carriages.
I AUGUST VONHAUSEN of 56 Rheinstrasse, Wiesbaden, in the German Empire,
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 velocipedes and to machines driven by the hand or
manumotive carriages and consists in the arrangement of mechanism for steering
the machine by means of movements of the saddle, the improvements being more
particularly intended for velocipedes, or machines driven by combined hand and
foot power.
On the drawings appended hereunto the improved steering mechanism is shewn
applied to a tricycle driven by combined hand and foot power, to exhibit its suitability
for such cycles, the steering mechanism however being also applicable to cycles
driven by foot power only.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent a tricycle with hand and foot driving gear.
Fig. 3 a vertical section of the steering post and its connections. Fig. 4 a
similar section of the saddle post, and
Fig. 5 a plan of the steering mechanism.
The back wheels a are driven by their axle b, the chain wheel i which is driven
by chain from the chain wheel which along with its opposite wheel d' is
actuated directly from the handles through levers fl and connecting rods, and
indirectly from the pedals e through chain wheel c and chain g.
The saddle is fixed on the L pin or its equivalent which is supported in the
frame in the manner hereinafter described so that it can turn and is connected to
the steering post or spindle fixed on the front fork n by mechanism transferring the
motion of the saddle thereto.
Figs. 3 to 5 show the arrangement of the mechanism for transmitting the turning
motion of the saddle carrier 7 produced by a lateral twist of the saddle, to the
steering post fixed to the front fork n.
The mechanism for transmitting the motion of the saddle carrier to the steering
post consists preferably of two spur wheels p p fixed respectively upon the
saddle carrier and steering post, gearing with which, racks which can slide on
stationary discs or plates r,, immoveably connected with the machine framing A.
In order to keep the racks in gear with the spur wheels p, they are guided by
clips fixed upon the plates r. It is evident that upon turning the saddle k and
saddle carrier or pin l, connected with it, the spur wheel » fixed on the latter
will participate of the movement which in consequence of its larger diameter
relatively to p', will produce a greater angular movement of the wheel pl on the
steering post, so that by turning the saddle the steering movement of the front
wheel can be effected immediately as desired.
Instead of wheels and racks, crank pins fixed in discs and connecting rods
may be used for transmitting the motion of the saddle carrier to the steering
post.
When using the saddle steering arrangement for bicycles, it may be locked in
position for mounting the machine, which, for instance, may be done in a most
simple manner by means of a pin s, which passes simultaneously through a notch in
rack 9: or between the teeth of spur wheel pl and a hole s' in the disc, and thus
locks the steering mechanism and front wheel.

page_text: In the tricycle with combined foot and hand driving gear shown in Figs. 1 and 2,
and similarly constructed cycles, the front wheel is used for steering and turned
sideways by a corresponding movement of the saddle.
The arrangement for steering by turning the saddle may however also be used
when the front wheels of a tricycle or the front wheel of a bicycle is driven and
the rear wheel used for steering. This arrangement is not shewn on the drawings
as it will be similar to that herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, declare that what I
claim is :
1. In velocipedes and manumotive carriages the construction and arrangement
of steering mechanism substantially as described and illustrated in and by the
accompanying drawings.
2. In velocipedes and manumotive carriages the construction and arrangement
of parts substantially as and for the purpose described herein before with reference
to Figs. 1 to 5 of the drawings.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.