Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
I, WILLIAM BORTHWICK SMITH, of 139 Cannon: Street, in the City of
London, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
.
This invention relates to velocipedes of different kinds, and more especially to
bicycles. of the kinds ordinarily known and used. It has for its objects novel
methods of construction and arrangement, by which great simplicity, cheapness,
and efficiency, are obtained.
The first part of the invention consists of a novel method of connecting the
fork of the driving wheel of an ordinary or other bicycle to the frame of the
machine, instead of the ordinary socket upon the frame in which the spindle upon
the fork works.
'
For this purpose, assuming that an ordinary bicycle is to be used, a more or less
upright stem or bar of sufficient height is provided above the fork which carries
the driving wheel, and a similar one is also arranged at the front end of the main
back-bone of the machine. These two stems or bars are arranged so as to be
parallel and close to each other and they are connected together by a flexible plate
of elastic metal or other suitable material, the front end or edge of which is
rivetted or otherwise firmly attached to one of the upright bars, and the other end
or edge to the other of the upright bars.
In this way the fork and the backbone are strongly and firmly connected together
without play or shake, but at the same time sufficiently flexibly to allow the front
fork to be turned to the right or left, for the purpose of steering by means of a
steering bar or handle fixed to or forming part of the upper end of the fork bar.
The attachment may be effected in any convenient way. For instance, the fork
and upright bar (which may be of any suitable transverse section) may be made in
two parts, those which constitute the bar being rivetted or otherwise attached
together and holding the edge of the flexible joining plate between them. The
upright bar upon the front end of the backbone may be similarly made, the other
edge of the flexible plate Ding fixed between its two parts.
Instead of a single flexible joining plate, two separate ones may be used, and by
the novel method of construction described the bicycle is very simple, strong, rigid,
and cheap, whilst there is sufficient flexibility to allow of easy stooring.
The method of joining together the two parts of the frame a flexible joint
may be applied to connecting together the parts of bicycles of other kinds, or of
tricycles or other cycles where applicable.
Another part of the invention relates to a novel method of constructing and
arranging the parts of cycles, so that they can be used either with the driving
wheel in the front or at the back.
"
Supposing that this part of the invention is applied to an ordinary "safety
bicycle, the wheels are made preferably (but not necessarily) of the same size, the
bearings of each wheel are carried in the lower ends of forks in the usual way,
and upon the axle of one of the wheels a chain wheel of the ordinary kind is
fixed, whilst the upper end of the fork which carries the other or steering wheel,
is made to turn in a more or less vertical socket in one end of the backbone of
the machine, or is connected to the latter by a flexible joint in the novel manner
just described.
The curved or straight central part of the length of the backbone or frame
which connects the two forks is made as nearly horizontal as convenient, and at or

page_text: near the centre of its length is a vertical column or bar in or upon which the
steering handle fits and turns.
Supposing that the driving wheel is to be used in front, the saddle is arranged
at a sufficient distance behind the steering handle, its back end being supported
(with the intervention of a spring or springs) by the backbone, near to the rear or
steering wheel, and its front end being similarly carried by the column or bar
which carries the steering handle. Below the backbone' or frame, under the
steering handle is made a bracket carrying a transverse axle, upon which are fixed
cranks, pedals, and a chain wheel, of the usual kind; an endless chain connecting
this wheel with that upon the. driving wheel axle already described.
The steering handle is provided with a lateral arm or lever, which is connected
with a corresponding arm upon the upper end of the fork which carries the
steering wheel, but upon the opposite side of the machine, by a connecting rod of
suitable length, and the bicycle is ridden in the usual way...
.
When it is desired that the driving wheel shall be at the back, the saddle is
turned round upon the central upright bar, and its back end is then supported
upon the end of the backbone opposite to that which carried it in the arrangement
first described. The handle bar is also turned round, the connecting rod having
been first disconnected and the latter is then reconnected to the lever or arm upon
the handle bar, the two levers being then upon the same side of the machine.
The connecting rod will in this case be shorter, and one of its ends is therefore
provided with two holes at a sufficient distance apart either of which as. required
is connected to the lever. Or other equivalent device may be used.
The machine can now be ridden in exactly the same way as before but with the
steering wheel in front the process of alteration from one position to the other
being very quickly and easily effected.
Another part of the invention relates to what is known as a geared ordinary
bicycle, and consists of a novel modification of the gear by which the relative speed
of the pedal axle and the driving wheel is altered.
For this purpose, a toothed wheel of sufficient diameter having internal teeth
is firmly fixed to one of the arms of the fork which carries the driving wheel,
and upon the hub of the driving wheel which passes through this wheel, is fixed a
smaller toothed wheel having external teeth, but in the same plane as that first
described that is to say just inside the pedal lever or crank..
Upon the pedal crank is firmly fixed a stud, upon which turns freely a third
toothed wheel fitting between the two already described and gearing with both of
them.
When the crank is turned therefore the toothed wheel carried by it drives the
driving wheel of the machine at a speed the relative velocity of which may be
varied by varying the proportions between the two inner externally toothed
wheels.
+
This method of arrangement is very simple, cheap, and effective.
Another modified gear for the purpose described is constructed as follows:-
The eyes in the lower ends of the fork arms, in which the driving axle turns, are
made excentrically or near one side of the circular bosses on the fork ends, and the
driving axle is provided with a toothed pinion at each end formed or fixed upon it.
An internally toothed wheel gears with the toothed pinion, its centre corre-
sponding with the centre of the boss, and the latter is made to project and is
turned cylindrical, or is provided with a circular groove or recess, upon or into
which a guiding flange upon the internally toothed wheel fits and is supported, but
can turn freely preferably with the intervention of friction balls of the usual kind.
Upon the outer side of the internally toothed wheel is formed or attached the
pedal lever.
The driving wheel having internal teeth there is little friction between it and
the toothed pinion, and no provision is required to reduce such friction. The
arrangement is therefore very simple, cheap, and effective, and occupies little
Anace

page_text: Another modified form of arrangement, for the same purpose consists of an
internally toothed wheel attached. to or otherwise connected with the inner side of
the pedal crank or lever, and gearing. into the teeth of a pinion turning upon a
stud fixed to the fork or frame carrying the driving wheel hub, the said pinion
being also provided with a set of chain wheel teeth driving a similarly toothed pinion
or chain wheel fixed to or forming part of the hollow hub of the driving wheel,
and to which motion in the same direction will be imparted by means of a con-
necting chain or perforated steel band any desired extra speed of the driven wheel
being obtained by varying the proportions and number of teeth of the different
wheels.
Balls. or other anti-friction bearings may be used in some or all of the different
working parts of the machine.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes..
I, WILLIAM BORTHWICK SMITH, of 139, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Engineer, 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 and accompanying drawings, that is to say :-
:-
This invention relates to velocipedes of different kinds, and more especially to
bicycles of the kind ordinarily known and used. It has for its objects novel
methods of construction and arrangement, by which great simplicity, cheapness,
and efficiency, are obtained.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of the invention.
The first part of the invention consists of a novel method of connecting the fork
of a driving wheel of an ordinary or other bicycle to the frame of the machine,
instead of the ordinary socket upon the frame in which the spindle upon the fork
works.
For this purpose, assuming that an ordinary bicycle (as illustrated in Figures 1,
2, and 3), is to be used, a more or less upright stein or bar a of sufficient height is
provided above the fork 6 which carries the driving wheel, and a similar one c.is
also arranged at the front end of the main back-bone d of the machine. These two
stems or bars are arranged so as to be parallel and close to each other and they
are connected together by a flexible plate e of elastic metal or other suitable
material, the front end or edge of which is rivetted or otherwise firmly attached
to one of the upright bars, and the other end or edge to the other of the upright
bars.
In this way the fork and the backbone are strongly and firmly connected
together without play or shake, but at the same time sufficiently flexibly to allow
the front fork to be turned to the right or left, for the purpose of steering by
means of a steering bar or handle fixed to or forming part of the upper end of the
fork-bar.
e
The attachment may be effected in any convenient way. For instance, (as
shewn) the fork and upright bar a (which may be of any suitable transverse
section) may be made in two parts, those which constitute the bar being rivetted or
otherwise attached together and holding the edge of the flexible joining plate
between them. The upright bar c upon the front end of the backbone d may be
similarly made, the other edge of the flexible plate e being fixed between its two
parts. The parts of the double bar a are shewn carried up and bent over to form
the steering handle-bar.

page_text: Instead of a single flexible joining plate, two or more separate ones may be used,
and by the novel method of construction described the bicycle is very simple,
strong, rigid, and cheap, whilst there is sufficient, flexibility to allow of easy
steering. A lining of india rubber or other soft material may be arranged between
the flexible plate and the bars by which it is held.
The method of joining together the two parts of the frame by a flexible joint
may be applied to connecting together the parts of bicycles of other kinds, or of
tricycles or other cycles where applicable.
Another part of the invention relates to a novel method of constructing and
arranging the parts of cycles, so that they can be used either with the driving wheel
in the front or at the back.
Supposing that this part of the invention is applied to an ordinary "safety"
bicycle, (as shewn in Figure 4, which is in illustration only, and is not intended to
shew the proper shape and proportions of the several parts), the wheels f, g, are
made preferably (but not necessarily) of the same size, the bearings of each wheel
being carried in the lower ends of forks h, i, in the usual way, and upon the axle of
one of the wheels f, a chain wheel of the ordinary kind is fixed, whilst the upper
end of the fork which carries the other or steering wheel g, is made to turn in a
more or less vertical socket in one end of the backbone of the machine, or is
connected to the latter (as shewn) by a flexible joint in the novel manner first
already described. Tubular or other stays may be used where necessary.
The curved or straight central part of the length of the backbone k or frame
which connects the two forks is made as nearly horizontal as convenient, and at or
near the centre of its length is a vertical column or bar in or upon which the
เ
steering handle m fits and turns.
Supposing that the driving wheel ƒ is to be used at the back or rear, the saddle n.
is arranged at a sufficient distance behind the steering handle m, its back end being
supported (with the intervention of a spring or springs of any convenient form and
method of arrangement) by the backbone k, near to the rear or driving wheel f,
and its front end being similarly carried, with the intervention of a spring, by
the column or bar which carries the steering handle m. Below the backbone
or frame k, under the steering handle is made a bracket carrying a transverse
axle o upon which are fixed cranks, pedals, and a chain wheel, of the usual kind,
an endless chain p connecting this wheel with that upon the driving wheel axle
already described.
The steering handle m is provided with a lateral arm or lever, r, (Figure 5),
which is connected with a corresponding arms upon the upper end of the fork
which carries the steering wheel, by a connecting rod t of suitable length, and the
bicycle is ridden in the usual way.
When it is desired that the driving wheel shall be at the front, the saddle n is
turned round upon the central upright bar to the position n', and its back end
is then supported upon the end of the backbone k opposite to that which carried it
in the arrangement first described. The handle bar m is also turned round to
the position m', the connecting rod t having been first disconnected and the
latter is then reconnected (as shewn at t¹, Figure 5), to the lever or arm upon
the handle bar, the two levers r and f being then upon opposite sides of the
machine.
The connecting rod t will in this case be shorter, and one of its ends may be
provided with two holes at a sufficient distance apart either of which as required is
connected to the lever. Or other equivalent device may be used.
9
The machine can now be ridden in exactly the same way as before but with the
steering wheel behind, the process of alteration from one position to the other
being very quickly and easily effected, and none of the parts having to be detached,
omitted, or fresh ones added.
:
Another part of the invention relates to what is known as a geared ordinary
bicycle, and consists of a novel modification of the gear by which the relative speed
of the pedal axle and the driving wheel is altered.

page_text: The improved gear (as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7) consists of an internally
toothed wheel attached to or otherwise connected with the inner side of the pedal
crank or lever r, and gearing into the teeth of a pinion w turning upon a stud
fixed to the fork or frame y which carries the driving wheel hub, the said pinion w
being also provided with a set of chain wheel teeth A, driving a similarly toothed
pinion or chain wheel B of suitable size, fixed to or forming part of the hollow
hub z of the driving wheel, and to which motion in the same direction will be
imparted by means of a connecting chain or perforated steel band, any desired
extra speed of the driven wheel being obtained by varying the proportions and
number of teeth of the different wheels. In this method of arrangement all the
wheels rotate in the same direction.
Balls or other anti-friction bearings may be used in some or all of the different
working parts of the machine.
I do not confine myself to the precise details of my invention, which may be
varied more or less to suit different circumstances, but St.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The method of connecting or jointing together the parts of velocipedes by
means of a flexible plate or plates, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described and illustrated.
2. The method of constructing bicycles, so that they can be used with the
driving wheel either in front or at the rear, without detaching, adding to,
or substituting, any of the parts, substantially in the manner described and
illustrated.
3. The gear by which the relative speed of the pedal axle and the driving wheel
is altered, consisting of an internally toothed wheel attached to the pedal crank or
lever, and gearing with a toothed pinion turning upon a stud fixed to the fork or
frame carrying the driving wheel hub, the said toothed pinion being also provided
with chain wheel teeth driving by means of a chain another toothed chain wheel
fixed upon the hub of the driving wheel of the machine, substantially in the manner
described and illustrated.
Dated this 6th day of February 1001
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.