Improvements in Bicycles and Tricycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 24th May, 1900-Accepted, 18th Aug., 1900
UNAL DI PUITIVATION.
Improvements in Bicycles and Tricycles.
I, THOMAS HELYEAR, Engineer and Machinist, of 54, West Street, Bridport, in
the County of Dorset, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention, for improvements in bicycles & tricycles, has for its object
the prevention of vibration & concussion, from the bumping of the rear wheel
or wheels on rough ground, which is felt in all bicycles or tricycles; the attain-
ment of this end without varying the distance between the saddle & cranks
or between the centres of the chain wheels; securing at the same time a rigid
frame; & the cushioning of the wheel or wheels on springs in such a manner that
the return movement shall be gradual & easy.
Attached to or built into, the frame of a bicycle or tricycle are a pair of slide
quadrants having their concave sides towards the crank bracket; & having a
radius of the distance between the centres of the crank axle & the rear wheel or
wheels. Attached to the wheel axle are slide blocks, which, sliding within the
quadrants on either side, allow the wheel or wheels a radial movement up or down
without lifting the frame. Above & below the slide blocks, are placed helical
springs, the upper ones of which absorb the greater portion of the vibration,
preventing it being communicated to the frame & thence to the rider. The springs
on the under sides of the slide blocks act as buffers to graduate the recoil. Thus
a machine with solid tyres can be ridden with nearly the same ease & with
pneumatics & pneumatic tyres can be ridden at a much greater pressure than is
now possible, giving a resultant greater speed with a lessened liability to puncture.
Dated this 23rd day of August 1899.
THOMAS HELYEAR.
I, THOMAS HELYEAR, Engineer and Machinist, of 54, West Street, Bridport, in
the County of Dorset, 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 improvements in cycles and has for its object the
prevention of vibration and concussion from the bumping of the rear wheels
on rough ground, which is felt in all cycles: the attainment of this end without
varying the distance between the saddle and the cranks or between the centres of
the chain wheels, is effected by the means hereinafter described. At the same
[Price Sd

page_text: time a rigid frame is secured, and the cushioning of the wheels on springs, in
such a manner that the return movement shall be gradual and easy.
Attached to or built into the frame of a bicycle, for example, are a pair of
slide quadrants having the concave sides towards the crank bracket and having a
radius of the distance between the centres of the crank axle and the rear wheel.
Attached to the wheel axle are slide blocks, which, sliding within the quadrants
on either side, allow the wheel a radial movement up and down without lifting
the frame. Above and below or only below the said slide blocks are placed
helical springs, to absorb the vibration and to act as buffers to graduate the recoil.
And in order that my said invention may be better understood I will now
proceed to describe the same with reference to the drawings accompanying this
specification, which shews my invention as applied to a bicycle by way of example.
Fig. 1 shews part elevation of the rear of a bicycle having my invention applied
thereto. Fig. 2 shews end view of same. Figs. 3 and 4 are details hereinafter
referred to.
The same letters of reference are employed to denote the same parts in all the
views.
X shews the back fork of bicycle to each side of which is fixed a slotted
quadrant in which blocks d d fixed on the rear axle, slide. Below each of the
blocks d d I fix one end of a pull spring e, the other end of
such spring is fixed to the lower end of the slotted quadrant a, SO
as to control the working of the blocks in the quadrants and absorb
the vibration and prevent its being communicated to the frame and thence
to the rider. The quadrant a together with the block d and spring e is shewn
detached and drawn to an larger scale at Fig. 3.
Instead of having only one spring below each of the blocks d d, I may have
a helical spring above and below as shewn clearly on the detail at Fig. 4. In
this case the upper springs absorb the greater portion of the vibration, and the
lower ones act as buffers to graduate the recoil.
This machine with solid tyres can be ridden with nearly the same ease as one
with pneumatic tyres, and when provided with pneumatic tyres it can be ridden at
a much greater pressure than is now possible, giving a resultant greater speed
with a lessened liability to puncture
In the case of tricycles I have the same arrangement fitted to the rear forks of
the back wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. Bicycles and tricycles, constructed substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. In bicycles and tricycles, attaching to or building in the frame, quadrants
in combination with blocks mounted on the rear axle so as to work in said
quadrants such blocks being controlled by springs, for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 24th day of May 1900.
BROWNE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
9, Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, London, W.C.
BROWNE & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,
9, Warwick Court, Gray's Inn, London, W.C.