Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left. 21st July, 1897-Accepted. 18th Sept. 1897
Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes and the like.
I, GEORGE PILKINGTON of Earlsdon Cycle Works, Earlsdon, Coventry, Warwick-
shire, Manager, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to velocipedes, particularly rear-driving safety bicycles
and the like fitted with so-called "diamond" frames, and it consists in the
improvements hereinafter described.
Instead of adjusting the chain by adapting the driving wheel axle to move
backwards and forwards in more or less nearly horizontal guides in the 'fork-
ends' at the rearmost extremities of the frame, I fix the rear wheel axle and
adapt the crank axle to move, that is I adjust the chain by moving the front
chain wheel instead of the back chain wheel.
The members of the two forks on each side of the frame unite in an angle piece
or forkend slotted in an approximately vertical direction to receive the axle of
the driving wheel.
The bottom bracket' is of hollow cylindrical form but of somewhat larger
diameter than usual. The crank axle bearings (which may be constructed on
the cone-adjusting' system, but are preferably constructed on the 'cup-adjusting'
system as is hereinafter supposed) are not made up directly in the bottom
bracket, but are contained in a separate barrel which is either bored eccentrically
or better is provided with flanges eccentric to the bore of the barrel but con-
centric with each other. The said flanged barrel is adapted to fit accurately in
the bottom bracket, except that one end may be provided with a narrow flange
of extra diameter, which Hange may form a stop so that the barrel may be readily
positioned laterally and it may also be milled, notched or otherwise fashioned
to facilitate the rotation of the barrel when required. One of the flauges near
the same end, (or it may be the opposite end), of the hub is of considerable thick-
ness and a groove is turned in the circumferential surface thereof concentric
with such flange; one or more cuts are made in the walls of the barrel inward
from this end so far as the said groove or a little further. The bearing cups are
screwed into the ends of the barrel, one being preferably fixed by any suitable
means the other being provided with flats, peg holes or other suitable means for
rotating the same so that it may be readily adjusted. The bracket cylinder is
provided near one end with a transverse vertical socket, the passage through
which opens into the transverse aperture through the said cylinder. When the
barrel is positioned in the cylinder the before-mentioned groove in the former
comes opposite the socket on the latter, so that the grooved flange projects slightly
into the passage through the said socket. A taper cotter is inserted in the said
socket and bears against the wall thereof on the one hand and the grooved flange
on the other. The smaller end of the cotter projects through the socket and is
screw threaded. On a nut being screwed tight on to the screwed end of the cotter,
the said cotter is jammed between the socket and flange and the grooved and split
part of the barrel is gripped. The effect of the gripping is to first close the split

page_text: part of the barrel on to the adjusting cup which is thereby locked, and next to
prevent rotation of the barrel itself; the presence of the cotter in the groove
also prevents lateral movement of the barrel. When the nut and cotter are
slacked, the cup may be turned to adjust the crank axle bearing, and/or the barrel
may be turned. The effect of the latter movement is to alter the adjustment of
the chain, as the crank-axle (on which is fixed the larger chain wheel) is, by
reason of the flanges on the barrel, mounted excentrically in the bracket cylinder.
On either or both adjustments being completed both are relocked by retightening
the cotter and nut. This construction of the bottom bracket may be applied to
other velocipedes and the like.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane London, W.C., and
49 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicant.
provements
I, GEORGE PILKINGTON of Earlsdon Cycle Works, Earlsdon, Coventry, Warwick-
shire, Manager, 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:-
My invention relates to velocipedes, particularly rear driving safety bicycles and
the like fitted with so-called "diamond" frames, and it consists in the improvements
hereinafter described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Figure I is a side elevation of so much of a rear driving safety bicycle as is
required to illustrate my invention.
Figure II is a front view in section of the bottom bracket or cylinder and parts
contained therein.
Figure III is a front elevation of the barrel alone.
Figure IV is an end elevation of the said bottom bracket or cylinder and,
Figure V is a transverse section on the line a-a in Figure IV.
Figures II to V are drawn to an enlarged scale and similar reference numerals
indicate similar parts throughout the drawings.
Instead of adjusting the chain in the usual way, by adapting the driving wheel
axle 2 to move backwards and forwards in more or less nearly horizontal guides
in the fork-ends" at the rearmost extremities of the frame, I fix the
rear wheel axle and adapt the crank axle 3 to move, that is I adjust the chain
by moving the front chain wheel 5 instead of the back chain wheel 6. The
members of the two forks 7, 8 on each side of the frame unite in an angle piece
or forkend 9 slotted in an approximately vertical direction to receive the axle 2
of the driving wheel.
The "bottom bracket" 10 is of hollow cylindrical form but of somewhat larger
diameter than usual. The crank axle bearings (which may be constructed on
the "cone-adjusting" system but are preferably constructed on the ". cup-
adjusting" system as shown) are not made up directly in the bottom bracket
but are contained in a separate barrel 11 which is either bored eccentrically or
better is provided with flanges 12 eccentric to the bore of the barrel but co-axial
with each other as shown. The said flanged barrel 11 is adapted to fit accurately
in the bottom bracket 10, except that one end is preferably provided with a narrow
flange 13 of extra diameter, which flange may form a stop so that the barrel 11

page_text: may be readily positioned laterally. The said flange 13 may also be milled,
notched or otherwise fashioned to facilitate the rotation of the barrel 11 when
required. One of the flanges near the same end, (or it might be the opposite end),
of the barrel 11 is of considerable thickness and a groove 14 is turned in the
circumferential surface thereof concentric with such flange: one or more cuts 15
are made in the walls of the barrel inward from this end so far as the said groove
or a little further. The bearing cups 16, 17 are screwed into the ends of the
barrel 11, one (16) being preferably fixed by any suitable means, the other 17
being provided with flats, peg holes 18 or other suitable means for rotating the
same so that it may be readily adjusted. The bracket cylinder is provided near
one end with a transverse vertical socket 19, the passage through which opens
into the transverse aperture through the said cylinder. When the barrel 11 is
positioned in the cylinder 10 the groove 14 in the former comes opposite the
socket 19 on the latter, so that the grooved flange projects slightly through the
passage into the said socket. A cotter 20 is inserted in the socket 19 and bears
against the wall thereof on the one hand and the grooved flange on the other.
One end of the cotter projects through the socket and is screw threaded. On
a nut 21 being screwed tight onto the screwed end of the cotter, the said cotter
is jammed between the socket and flange, and the grooved and split part of the
barrel is gripped. The effect of the gripping is to first close the split part of the
barrel on to the adjusting cup 17 which is thereby locked, and next to prevent
rotation of the barrel 11 itself within the bracket 10: the presence of the cotter 20
in the groove 14 also prevents lateral movement of the barrel 11 if the width of
the cotter equals the width of the groove 14, which I prefer. When the nut
and cotter are slackened, the cup 17 may be turned to adjust the crank axle
bearing, and or the barrel may be turned. The effect of the latter movement is
to alter the adjustment of the chain, as the crank axle 3 (on which is fixed the
larger chain-wheel 5) is, mounted eccentrically in the bracket cylinder 10. On
either or both adjustments being completed both are relocked by retightening the
cotter and nut. This construction of the bottom bracket may be applied to other
suitable velocipedes and the like in a similar manner.
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. In a velocipede or the like provided with chain or equivalent gearing and
a crank axle carrying one of the chain or equivalent gear wheels,-mounting the
crank axle and its bearings in a barrel, and mounting the said barrel eccentrically
in the bottom bracket or cylinder, splitting that end of the said barrel which is
adapted to hold the bearing adjusting cup or the like, and providing the corres-
ponding end of the bottom bracket with a transverse socket and cotter, whereby
the rotation of the bearing cup or the like within the barrel and the rotation of
the barrel within the bottom bracket or cylinder may be simultaneously prevented
by re-tightening the said cotter for the purposes of locking the adjustments of
the crank axle bearing and the chain or equivalent respectively, substantially as
set forth.
2. In a velocipede or the like, the means for locking the adjustment of the crank
axle bearing and the adjustment of the chain or the like simultaneously, sub-
stantially as herein described.
3. In a velocipede or the like, the combination with the frame, the chain, the
chain wheels and crank axle, crank axle bearings and bottom bracket or cylinder
of;-
A rotatable barrel mounted eccentrically in the bottom bracket or cylinder and
containing the crank axle bearings.
A cut or cuts in that end of the said barrel which holds the adjusting cup or
the like of the crank axle bearings.

page_text: A transverse socket on the end of the said bottom bracket or cylinder corres-
ponding to the split end of the said barrel.
A cotter adapted to be inverted in the said socket and bear against the split
end of the said barrel,
And means for tightening the said cotter all combined arranged and adapted
to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In a velocipede or the like the combination with the frame, the chain, the
chain wheels and crank axle, crank axle bearings and bottom bracket or cylinder
of.
A rotatable barrel mounted eccentrically in the bottom bracket or cylinder
and containing the crank axle bearings.
A cut or cuts in that end of the said barrel which holds the adjusting cup or
the like of the crank axle bearings.
A groove formed in the said barrel concentric with its circumference and
adjacent to the split end thereof.
A transverse socket on the end of the said bottom bracket or cylinder corres-
ponding to the split end of the said barrel.
A cotter adapted to be inserted in the said socket and bear in the said groove
formed in the said barrel.
And means for tightening the said cotter, all combined arranged and adapted
to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In means for locking the adjustment of the crank axle bearings and the
chain respectively of a velocipede or the like, such as referred to in the preceding
claiming clauses, the employment of a groove in the circumferential surface of
the barrel, adapted to receive the locking cotter whereby lateral movement of the
barrel with the bottom bracket or cylinder is prevented, substantially as set forth.
G. The improvements in or relating to velocipedes and the like substantially
as herein described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
1
TI
1007
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18 Hertford Street, Coventry, 75 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49 Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicant.