Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1887
Complete Left, 17th Dec., 1887
Complete Accepted, 20th Jan., 1888
I ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS of 70 Chancery Lane in the Parish of St. Andrews
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention (which invention has been communicated to me from abroad by Albert
H. Overman of Boston in the United States of America) to be as follows:-
My invention relates to an improvement in velocipedes, the object being to absorb
vertical vibration, and prevent lateral deflection in such machines, and thus increase
their comfort and durability.
With these ends in view my invention consists first of a bowed spring fork
connecting the frame of the machine and an axle thereof, and cushioning vertically.
Secondly of a stay or brace connecting the frame of the machine and an axle thereof,
and accomodating vertical action but resisting lateral deflection; and thirdly of certain
details of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter set forth.
My invention is applicable to each or any of the wheels of a velocipede, but as it is
specially adapted to the steering wheel I will for the purpose of this application
describe it as applied to such.
The bowed spring fork consists of four bowed rods, secured at their upper ends to a
cross-head adapted to be rigidly attached to the lower end of the steering-post, socket
or head, and provided at their lower ends with eyes adapted to receive the extended
ends of the axle of the steering wheel.
About midway in the length of the rods they are tied together by a brace, of
any suitable construction and curved outward to receive the edge of the wheel,
which runs between the inner rods, which are slightly spread apart for the
purpose.
The respective rods are placed side by side in the same lateral plane and those on
opposite sides of the wheel are nearly parallel. There is however, a gradual divergence
n the rods from their upper to their lower ends so that the fork as a structure is
apering, and widens from the point of its attachment to the steering post or its
quivalent, to its connection with the axle.
The rods are bowed, to bring the steering-head in line with the axle, or with the
TD 1

page_text: point of contact of the wheel with the ground, and so that beginning at their upper
ends they will follow the rim of the wheel and then bending, extend forward on a
horizontal line passing through the same.
The stay consists of two arms, provided at their lower ends with eyes, adapted to
receive the extended ends of the axle, and merging at their upper ends into a shank
baving lugs upon its outer face, and playing in a sleeve pivoted to the steering-post or
its equivalent so as to rock in a vertical plane to the exclusion of any lateral movement,
the lateral strain upon the pivot being relieved by suitable interlocking hubs and
spurs.
The brake and its tubular lever, are pivoted to the lugs on the top of the stay,
the upper end of the tubular lever receiving a rod connected at its upper end with
a hand lever which is pivoted to the handle-bar and controlled by a suitable
spring.
Washers are placed upon the ends of the axle between the eyes of the rods and arms
to preserve the relations of the same, the eyes and washers being tied together by nuts
screwed on to the said ends of the axle.
The spring rods of the fork being placed side by side in the same lateral plane
brace each other against twisting or other deflection or distortion resulting from lateral
strain, so that even independent of the stay the wheel will be responsive in steering
and free from weaving in running. At the same time the fork responds readily to
vertical impressions, cushioning easily, absorbing vibration, and greatly promoting the
comfort of the rider, and saving the machine much wrenching, shock and strain,
thereby increasing its durability.
The stay accomodates all vertical action between the upper and lower ends of the fork
by the playing of its shank in the pivoted or rocking sleeve, but as to lateral action, it
forms a rigid connection between the frame of the machine and the wheel, therefore
without in any way interfering with, or abating the cushioning effect of the bowed,
spring fork, the stay stiffens and reinforces the connection between the frame of the
machine and the wheel, and assists the braced fork in resisting lateral strain. The stay
has also a very important function in its carriage of the brake which it preserves in
line with the rim of the wheel under any conditions of strain to which the cycle may be
exposed.
The fork and stay may be used independently if desired although they are highly
efficient when combined. If desired more than four rods may be employed in the fork,
and their bow or curve and relative arrangement may be modified as becomes expedient.
Thus the outer rods might be curved, or sharply slanted inward at their lower ends to
meet a shorter axle.
The stay may also be modified under obvious ways of securing accomodation to
vertical action and resistance to lateral deflection.
Dotal : 1011 1
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent.

page_text: Pretplats.
T, ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS, of 70, Chancery Lane, in the Parish of St. Andrews,
Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention (which has been communicated to me from abroad by Albert H.
Overman of Boston, in the United States of America) 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 an improvement in velocipedes, the object being to absorb
vertical vibration and prevent lateral deflection in such machines and thus increase
their comfort and durability.
With these ends in view my invention consists First, of a howed spring fork
connecting the frame of the machine and an axlo thereof and cushioning vertically;
secondly of a stay or brace connecting the frame of the machine and an axle thereof
and accommodating vertical action but resisting lateral deflection, and thirdly of
certain details of construction and combination of parts as will be hereinafter set
forth.
My invention is applicable to all or any of the wheels of a velocipede, but as it is
more specially suited for the steering wheel I will for the purpose of this application
show its adaptation thereto.
In the accompanying drawings Figure 1. is a view in side elevation of the front
part of a tricycle showing my invention adapted to the steering wheel. Figure 2. is
a view thereof in front elevation with the wheel in dotted lines. Figure 3. is a
detached perspective view of the bowed spring fork, and Figure 4. is a similar view of
the stay.
Throughout the soveral views similar parts are marked with like letters of
reference.
The bowed spring fork consists, as herein shown, of four bowed rods H. H. H. H.
secured at their upper ends to a cross-head 1. adapted to be rigidly attached to
the lower end of the steering post, socket, or head D provided at their lower
ends with eyes J. adapted to receive the extended ends of the axle L. of the steering
wheel G.
About mid-way in the length of the rods they are tied together by a brace M. of
any suitable construction the said brace being curved outward as shown at N. to admit
he periphery of the wheel which runs between the inner rods which are slightly
pread apart for the purpose.
The respective rods are placed side by side in the same lateral plane and those on
pposite sides of the wheel are nearly parallel. There is, however, a gradual diver-
ence in the rods from their upper to their lower ends, so that the fork as a structure
s tapering and widens from the point of its attachment to the steering post or its
quivalent, to its connection with the axle.
The rods are bowed to bring the steering head in line with the axle, or with the
oint of contact of the wheel with the ground, and so that beginning at their upper

page_text: ends they follow the rim of the wheel and then bending extend forward on a horizontal
line passing through the axle of the wheol.
The stay consists, as herein shown of two arms O. O. provided at their lower ends
with eyes P. P. adapted to receive the extended ends of the axle L. and merging at
their upper ends into a shank Q. having lugs S. S. upon its outer face, and playing
in a sleeve T. pivotted to the steering post or its equivalent by the pin U. so as to
rock in a vertical plane to the exclusion of any lateral movement, the lateral_strain
upon the pivot U. being relieved by suitable interlocking hubs V. V. and spurs W. W.
as shown.
The brake X. and its tubular lever Y. which are rigidly connected together, are
pivotted to the lugs S. S. on the top of the stay, the upper end of the tubular lever
receiving a rod Z. connected at its upper end with a hand lever A' which is pivotted
to the handle-bar B. and controlled by a suitable spring.
Washers C. are placed upon the extended ends of the axle between the eyes of the
rods and arms to preserve the relations of the same, the eyes and washers being tied
together by nuts 10' screwed on to the said ends of the axle.
The steering rod A., the handle bar B., the handles C. C., the steering head or
socket D., the steering post E., the backbone F., and the wheel G., present no novel
features and are of the ordinary construction.
The spring rods of the fork being placed side by side in the same lateral plane,
brace each other against twisting or other deflection or distortion resulting from lateral
strain, so that even independent of the stay tho wheel will be responsive in steering
and free from weaving in running. At the same time the fork responds readily to
vertical impressions, cushioning easily, absorbing vibration, and greatly promoting the
comfort of the rider and saving the machine much wrenching, shock and strain, thereby
increasing its durability.
The stay accommodates all vertical action between the upper and lower ends of the
fork by the playing of its shank in the pivotted or rocking sleeve, but as to lateral
action it forms a rigid connection between the frame of the machine and the wheel,
therefore without in any way interfering with or abating the cushioning effect of the
bowed spring fork, the stay stiffens and reinforces the connection between the frame of
the machine and the wheel and assists the braced fork in resisting lateral strain.
The stay has also a very important function in its carriage of the brake which it
preserves in line with the rim of the wheel under any conditions of strain to which the
cycle may be exposed.
Although the invention is herein shown as applied to the steering wheel of a velocipede
it is not however limited to such use, but may be utilized in the mounting of any of the
wheels of velocipedes where available.
The fork and stay may be used independently if desired although they are highly efficient
when combined. Neither are limited to the steering wheel of a velocipede but both
may be applied to the other wheels of such vehicles.
If desired more than four rods may be employed in the fork, and their bow or curve
and relative arrangement may be modified as becomes expedient. Thus the outer
rods might be curved, or sharply slanted inward at their lower ends to meet a shorter
axle.
The stay may also be modified under obvious ways of securing accommodation to
vertical action and resistance to lateral deflection.
I would therefore have it understood that I do not limit myself to the exact
construction and arrangement of parts herein shown and described, but hold myself
at liberty to make such changes and alterations as fairly fall within the spirit and scope
of my invention.
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 :-
1st. In a velocipede a bowed spring fork, braced in itself against lateral action,
substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2nd. In a velocipede, a bowed spring fork, composed of springs braced against each
other to resist lateral deflection, substantially as set forth.
3rd. In a velocipede, a bowed spring fork, composed of four or more springs placed
side by side in the same lateral plane and braced against each other, substantially as
set forth.
4th. In a velocipede, a bowed spring fork composed of four or more springs, the
two inner springs being separated to receive the wheel between them, substantially as
set forth.
th. In a velocipede a bowed spring fork, composed of four or more bowed springs,
those on opposite sides of the wheel being substantially parallel with each other
throughout the greater part of their length, substantially as set forth.
6th. In a velocipede a bowed spring fork, composed of springs braced against each
other and tied together, substantially as set forth.
7th. In a velocipede, a bowed spring fork, composed of springs tied together by a
horizontal brace curving outward to avoid the periphery of the wheel which runs
between the springs, substantially as set forth.
8th. In a velocipede, a bowed spring fork, composed of four or more springs,
shaped to follow the curve of the wheel from its attachment with the frame of
the machine and then bending inward and extending forward to the axle of
the wheel on a horizontal line passing through the same, substantially as set
forth.
9th. In a velocipede, a stay connecting the frame of the machine with the axle of a
wheel and accommodating vertical action, but resisting lateral deflection, substantially
as set forth.
10th. In a velocipede, a stay connecting the frame of the machine with the axle of a
wheel and accommodating vertical, but resisting lateral action, and a brake carried by
such stay substantially as set forth.
11th. In a velocipede, a spring fork, in combination with a stay accommodating
the vertical action of the fork, but resisting lateral deflection, substantially as set
forth.
12th. In a velocipede, a bowed spring fork, having one end attached to the frame of
the machine and the other to the axle of a wheel, and a stay also attached to the axle
of such wheel and frame, substantially as set forth.
13th. In a velocipede, a spring fork in combination with a stay connected with the
frame of the vehicle so as to accommodate the vertical action of the fork, and resisting
lateral deflection, substantially as set forth.
14th. In a velocipede, a spring fork composed of spring rods provided at their lower
ends with eyes adapting them to be slipped over extensions of the axle of a wheel, in
combination with a stay having arms also provided with eyes for connection with such
axle, the eyes of the rods and arms being tied together by nuts applied to the ends of
the axle, substantially as set forth.
15th. In a velocipede, a bowed spring fork, a stay accommodating vertical action,
but resisting lateral deflection and a brake carried by such stay, all combined arranged
and operating substantially as set forth.
16th. In a velocipede a spring fork consisting essentially of the bowed springs H.H.H.H.
the curved brace M. the stay O. provided with the lugs S. S. to carry the brake, and
the shank Q. to engage with the sleeve T. pivotted to the head or frame of the machine
by the pin U. all combined, arranged, and operating, as and for the purpose hereinbefore
set forth.
Daind this 17th
5 n
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