IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLE AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Palmer, of Aston juxta Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Machinist, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BICYCLE AND OTHER VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Palmer at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th February 1881.
JOHN HENRY PALMER, of Aston juxta Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
The first part of my Invention relates to a compound spring movement to secure
freedom from concussion otherwise arising from irregularities upon the surface of
the ground traversed. This I affect in the following manner-The principal
action required of a spring to which my Invention relates is play on a right line
from the seat of the rider to the point of contact with the obstruction to be
surmounted, which is secured by the ordinary means of a sliding movement
forward. By reason of the small diameter of the trailing wheel it is necessary to
prevent the vibration from that part of the machine reacting upon the rider, which
I accomplish by the ordinary means of a sliding movement backward. My
improved spring then is constructed by a combination of the two movements before
described, and it is carried into effect in the following manner :-
The backward sliding spring is jointed to the framework of the vehicle at its
fore end, and allowed to play freely at its rear end in a suitable holder. The
forward sliding spring is jointed at its rear end upon the backward sliding spring
and allowed to play freely at its fore end.
The second part of my Invention relates to the prevention of the vibration of
the handles or steering bar. In my improved method the handles are secured to
a bar jointed at its lower end to the framework of the vehicle and allowed to
oscillate at its upper end (to which the handles are secured), the extent of such
oscillation being regulated by means of suitable springs; or the handles can slide
in a horizontal direction, the degree of movement being regulated by the aforesaid
means.
The third part of my Invention relates to the prevention of the vibration from
the trailing wheel being communicated to the framework of the vehicle.
The

page_text: support carrying the trailing wheel is jointed to the framework instead of forming
one piece with it, the amount of play being regulated by suitable springs.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to vehicles having wheels placed at a
distance from each other, but which do not run in the same track, and this is to
allow of turning in short curves without danger of falling over. To accomplish
this I use mechanism in accordance with the laws of gravity, by which the rider,
and preferably the wheels also, are brought into the natural leaning position when
moving in circles. This I accomplish by so constructing the framework of the
vehicle that the action of turning the wheel or wheels to describe a curve cause
the wheels, or the framework, or both, to depart from the perpendicular and take
a leaning position corresponding with the centripetal force of gravity; and to
obtain the above object I use suitably arranged inclined surfaces, cam movements,
and connecting rods and joints. I use the following arrangement of parts:-To
one part of the framework (which by preference shall be the back) are attached
two arms resting upon the other part (which by preference shall be the front) the
ends of the said arms being bent to a suitable angle. By turning the part of the
framework upon which the other part rests, the part resting thereon (by reason of
the inclines formed by the bent arms) is tilted out of the perpendicular and takes
a leaning position, and this enables the machine to move in a small circle without
danger of falling over.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Henry Palmer in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
15th August 1881.
JOHN HENRY PALMER, of Victoria Road, Aston juxta Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Machinist. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER
VEHICLES."
The first part of my Invention relates to a compound spring movement to secure
freedom from concussion otherwise arising from irregularities upon the surface of
the ground traversed. This I effect in the following manner:-The principal action
required of a spring to which my Invention relates is play on a right line from the
seat of the rider to the point of contact with the obstruction to be surmounted,
which is secured by the ordinary means of a sliding movement forwards. By
reason of the small diameter of the trailing wheel it is necessary to prevent the
vibration from that part of the machine reacting upon the rider, which I accomplish
by the ordinary means of a sliding movement backwards. My improved spring
then is constructed by a combination of the two movements before described, and it
is carried into effect in the following mauner:-
The backward sliding spring is jointed to the framework of the vehicle at its fore
end and allowed to play freely at its rear end in a suitable holder. The forward
sliding spring is jointed at its rear end upon the backward sliding spring and
allowed to play freely at its fore end,

page_text: The second part of my Invention relates to the prevention of the vibration of
the handles or steering bar. In my improved method the handles are secured to a
bar jointed at its lower end to the framework of the vehicle, and allowed to oscillate
at its upper end (to which the handles are secured), the extent of such oscillation
being regulated by means of suitable springs; or the handles can slide in a
horizontal direction, the degree of movement being regulated by the aforesaid
means.
The third part of my Invention relates to the prevention of the vibration from
the trailing wheel being communicated to the framework of the vehicle. The
support carrying the trailing wheel is jointed to the framework instead of forming
one piece with it, the amount of play being regulated by suitable springs.
The fourth part of my Invention relates to vehicles having wheels placed at a
distance from each other, but which do not run in the same track, and this is to
allow of turning in short curves without danger of falling over. To accomplish
this I use mechanism in accordance with the laws of gravity, by which the rider,
and preferably the wheels also, are brought into the natural leaning position when
moving in circles. This I accomplish by so constructing the framework of the
vehicle that the action of turning the wheel or wheels to describe a curve
causes the wheel or wheels, or the framework, or both, to depart from the
perpendicular and take a leaning position corresponding with the centripetal force of
gravity; and to obtain the above object I use the following arrangement of parts:-
To one part of the framework (which by preference shall be the back) are attached
two arms resting upon the other part (which by preference shall be the front), the
ends of the said arms being bent or set to a suitable angle. By turning the part
of the framework upon which the other part rests, the part resting thereon, by
reason of the inclines formed by the bent arms, is tilted out of the perpendicular
and takes a leaning position, and this enables the machine to move in small circles
without danger of falling over.
It will be understood that the before described
tilting movement may be effected by any well arranged inclined surfaces, cam
movements, connecting rods and joints, and that I do not limit myself to the precise
details herein before particularly described.
That my Invention may be better understood I have annexed Drawings hereto
which I will now proceed to describe.
Similar letters of reference relate to the same parts in the Figs. which illustrate
the various portions of my Invention.
Fig. 1 illustrates my improved combination springs.
Fig. 2, the improved arrangement of handles or steering bars; and Fig. 3 is a
plan of the same.
Fig. 4, the improved method of attaching the support of the trailing wheel.
Figs. 5 and 6 illustrate a vehicle having 3 or more wheels running in different
tracks; and Fig. 7 the same vehicle with its wheels in position to turn in circles,
and its framework and one wheel tilted.
Fig. 8, a vehicle constructed according to my Invention, having one arm bent or
set at a suitable angle, and resting upon or connected to a portion of the framework
by means of a spindle working between centres.
In Fig. 1a is the framework; b, fore end of backward sliding spring; c, its rear
end; is the rear end of forward sliding spring; e, its fore end.
In Figs. 2 and 3 f is the upright bar jointed to the framework at its lower end g
and allowed to play freely at its upper end, to which is attached the handle bar h;
i, i, are the springs which control the amount of play.
In Fig. 4 is the support of trailing wheel jointed at to the framework;
L, m, is the spring which controls the amount of play.
In Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8, n, n, n, are the arms bent or set at an angle, attached to
the part of framework marked o, o, and resting upon another part of the frame-
work p, p, which is jointed at Q to the part of framework marked o, o; r is the
spindle working between centres S, S.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which

page_text: the same is or may be performed, I desire it to be understood that I do not limit
myself to the precise details hereinbefore described, as these may be varied or
modified without departing from the nature of my said Invention, but what I
claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is,
First. The combination of springs having freedom of play forward and backward,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Fig. 1 of the accompanying
Drawings.
Second. The improved method of attaching the handle or steering bar by which
the rigidity of the connection between the said handle or steering bar and the
framework is broken, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in
Fig. 2 & 3 of the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The use of a joint to connect the support of the trailing wheel to the
framework of a machine constructed according to my Invention, and a spring to
regulate the action of the said joint, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Fig. 4 of the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The arrangement of the framework of a vehicle constructed according
to my Invention, having an arm or arms bent or set at such an angle that upon
moving that portion of the framework (upon which the said arm or arms rest) in a
certain direction, the remaining part of the framework with its wheel or wheels is
made to tilt to the required degree, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 8 of the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Palmer, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Witness,
T. EMERY DAVIES,
Edgbaston,
Birmingham.
JOHN HENRY PALMER. (L.S.)