Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th June, 1894-Accepted, 15th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We WILLIAM ALLDAY of Springfield, Moseley in the County of Worcester
Manufacturer and EDMUND ALLDAY of Spring Coppice Knowle in the County of
Warwick Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows
Our invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes.
Our invention consists first of the following construction and combination of
the parts of the bottom bracket bearings of the crank axles of velocipedes.
We make the barrel or case of the bottom bracket bearing in the ordinary way.
In each end of the said barrel, a bearing is situated consisting of an adjustable
ring and a fixed collar on the rotating crank axle, the said adjustable ring and fixed
collar being used in place of the usual cup and cone. The adjustable ring fits over
the fixed collar and in the said ring is an internal V shaped groove and a nearly
In the grooves
similar shaped groove is made in the periphery of the fixed collar.
in the opposed faces of the ring and collar the balls work.
In order to effect the holding in position and tightening up of the outer
adjustable rings of the two bearings, we form at each end of the barrel of the
bracket, a long hollow snug. A taper pin is situated in each of the said snugs, the
The said taper
taper pin being tightened by a screw nut on its lower screwed end.
pin has a flat upon it which crosses and projects through a hole in the barrel and
presses upon the cylindrical part of the adjustable ring of the bearing. Two or
three flats are made on the periphery of the said ring of the bearing for the taper
pin to bear against, and in order to tighten up the bearing the screw nut on the
bottom of the taper pin is relaxed and the said adjustable ring of the bearing turned
so as to bring another flat opposite the taper pin.
Lubricators are fixed on the outer side of the barrel from which oil falls into a
groove in the collar part of the bearing fixed on the axle and rotating with it. By
the rotation of the said collar with the axle, the oil is distributed to every part
of the bearing. The balls are introduced through a hole in the periphery of each of
the adjustable ring parts of the bearing into the grooves between the said ring parts
and collar parts, the said hole being closed by a fitted plug.
We make the forks of velocipedes in the following manner. The fork is
constructed mainly in the ordinary way, but we form on the underside of the
upper crown of the fork and on the upperside of the lower crown angular webs
or fins which give great rigidity to the fork. The parts are brazed together in
the ordinary way.
In order to obtain great strength and rigidity in the cranks of velocipedes, we
give the said cranks the figure of a diamond or lozenge shaped frame the bars or
sides of the frame being T or H shaped in cross section. The ends of the diamond
or lozenge shaped frame of the crank are properly shaped for fixing it on the crank
axle and for receiving the pedal. The diamond or lozenge shaped crank and its
ends are formed from one piece of steel by stamping.
For adjusting the driving chains of velocipedes we use the following combinations
of parts. The ends of the axle or spindle on which the adjustable driving wheel is
mounted slide in forks carried by the framing of the velocipede as usual.
The

page_text: outer end of each fork is provided with parallel perforated lugs or uprights, the
perforations in which are in line with the slot or opening between the branches of
the fork. In the said slot of the fork and connected by a loop with the axle or
spindle of the driving wheel is a screw having only a longitudinal motion. The
said screw passes through the perforated parallel lugs or uprights described and also
through a screw box or internally screwed collar milled externally, situated and working
between the said parallel lugs. By turning this screw box or screw collar, a longitudinal
motion is given to the screw and the axle of the driving wheel made to slide in the
forks so as to adjust the driving chain passing over the chain wheel on the said
driving wheel. Or in place of an adjusting screw having only a longitudinal
motion, an adjusting screw having a rotary motion only may be employed. In this
case the inner end of the screw works in a screw box in the axle or spindle and the
screw collar working between the parallel lugs is replaced by a plain or unscrewed
collar affixed and constituting a head to the screw. By turning the said head
between the lugs, a rotary motion is given to the screw and the axle of the driving
wheel may be slidden in the forks. Our invention consists further of a detachable
lamp bracket for the head or front of velocipedes constructed in the following
manner.
We make the detachable lamp bracket of two parts, namely, of the lamp bracket
proper and of a clip for sliding upon the head or front of the velocipede both parts
being fashioned from sheet metal. The clip passes round about two thirds of the
handle bar column and its edges are turned back so as to form lips, the lips being
made slightly taper, and the edges of the lamp bracket are similarly turned back so
as to form lips. In the turned back edges or lips of the clip the turned back edges
or lips of the lamp bracket take or engage. By a downward sliding motion the
lamp bracket can be tightened to any extent in the clip and the latter at the same
time made to grip firmly the head or front of the velocipede and fix it thereon at
the desired position. By upward pressure upon the lamp bracket it may be
detached from the clip and head or front of the velocipede.
Our invention consists further of a detachable foot rest for the front forks of
velocipedes constructed as follows. We make the foot rest of two parts, namely of
a clip and of a bracket having a serrated upper surface, the said two parts having
turned back edges or lips for engaging them together similar to those described
with respect to the lamp bracket, but the clip is elliptical in cross section for fitting
and sliding upon the front forks. The clip having been passed onto the branch of
the fork at its lower end is raised thereon to the required height and the lips of
the foot rest engaged with those of the clip and the two parts secured together
and to the branch of the fork. By upward pressure upon the foot rest it can be
detached.
Dated this 6th day of October 1893.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We WILLIAM ALLDAY, of Springfield Moseley, in the County of Worcester, 4
Manufacturer and EDMUND ALLDAY, of Spring Coppice Knowle in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in bicycles, 5
tricycles and other velocipedes.
Our invention consists first of the following construction and combination of the
parts of the bottom bracket bearings of the crank axles of velocipedes.

page_text: We make the barrel or case of the bottom bracket bearing in the ordinary way.
In each end of the said barrel, a bearing is situated consisting of an adjustable ring
and a fixed collar on the rotating crank axle, the said adjustable ring and fixed
collar being used in place of the usual cup and cone. The adjustable ring fits over
the fixed collar and in the said ring is an internal V or U shaped groove and a
nearly similar shaped groove is made in the periphery of the fixed collar. In the
grooves in the opposed faces of the ring and collar the balls work.
In order to effect the holding in position and tightening up of the outer
adjustable rings of the two bearings, we form at each end of the barrel of the
bracket a long hollow snug. A taper pin is situated in each of the said snugs, the
taper pin being tightened by a screw nut on its upper screwed end. The said taper
pin crosses and projects through a hole in the barrel and engages in a spirally cut
groove in the cylindrical part of the adjustable ring of the bearing. Instead of
both rings being adjustable one only may be adjustable and the other fixed. In
this case the groove in the adjustable ring only is spirally cut.
Lubricators are fixed on the outer sides of the barrel from which oil falls into a
groove in the collar part of the bearing fixed on the axle and rotating with it. By
the rotation of the said collar with the axle, the oil is distributed to every part of
the bearing. The balls are introduced through a hole in the periphery of each
of the adjustable ring parts of the bearing into the grooves between the said ring
parts and collar parts, the said hole being closed by a fitted plug.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings represent respectively in front
elevation, side elevation and vertical section a bottom bracket bearing for a safety
bicycle containing our improvements: Figure 4 represents the same partly in
horizontal section and partly in plan and Figure 5 represents a cross section of the
same taken through one of the bearings:
Figure 6 represents the crank axle and bearings before they are introduced into
the bearing case.
a is the barrel or case of the bearing and 6 is the crank axle situated in the axis
of the said case. We make up the bearings for the said crank axle in the
following way.
At each end of the said crank axle b we form the collars b² 6,
the said collars having the deep V shaped grooves represented and also the
shallower grooves 63, 6 on their inner ends. The collars constitute the
rotating parts of the bearing. Over the said collars we pass the rings c, c,
the said rings having internal V shaped grooves corresponding with the V shaped
grooves in the collars 63, 62. The said rings c, c constitute the other or fixed parts
of the bearing. The bearing balls d, d are introduced into the races formed by the
V shaped grooves in the collars 63, 6 and rings c, c through holes in the peripheries
of the said rings c, c which holes are closed after the balls have been passed
through them by the fitted plugs or discs . The rings c, c have in their
peripheries, grooves c³, c' for the purpose hereinafter described the groove in one
ring being spirally cut, but both of the said grooves may be spirally cut.
The crank axle and bearings having been put together in the way described and
represented in Figure 6, are introduced into the bearing case a and are fixed
therein in the following manner. On the front side of the bearing case a we form
the hollow snugs a³, a² the holes in the said snugs intersecting the bearing case
internally as represented in the sections Figures 4 and 5. In the said holes in the
said snugs a², a, taper pins e, e are situated the said taper pins being drawn into
the said holes by the screw nuts f, f on their screwed
ends. When the said
upper
taper pins e, e are drawn into the holes in the snugs a³, a' their parts of larger
diameter are inade to cross the barrel or case a and take into the grooves c³, c³ and
by the further drawing of the said pins in the said holes they bind and secure the
rings c, c in the case or barrel a. When in consequence of wear it is desired to
re-adjust the parts of the bearings it is only necessary to relax the taper pin e
locking the ring with the spiral groove in it and to turn the said ring in the
direction of the arrow in Figure 2 when the said ring will be slightly withdrawn
and the bearing re-adjusted. By advancing the screw nut on the taper pin e the

page_text: adjustable bearing ring is relocked in position. By the construction and arrange-
ment of the parts hereinbefore described the crank axle and bearings may be
removed from the case of the bottom bracket without separating the parts of the
bearing.
In order to ensure that every part of the bearing shall be lubricated we arrange
in the top and at each end of the bearing case, lubricators or cups a³, a³ the holes
in the bottoms of which overhang the grooves, & in the collars &³, b². The oil
supplied to the said cups consequently drops into the said grooves 63, 63 and is
thereby distributed to the bearings.
We make the forks of velocipedes in the following manner. The fork is con-
structed mainly in the ordinary way, but we form on the underside of the upper
crown of the fork and on the upperside of the lower crown angular webs or fins
which give great rigidity to the fork. The parts are brazed together in the
ordinary way.
This part of our invention is illustrated in front elevation in Figure 7, plan in
Figure 8 and side elevation, partly in section, in Figure 9.
9, g are the blades of the fork and is the steering socket; i, k are the upper and
lower crowns respectively by which the blades 9, 9 and socket h are connected
together. On the underside of the upper crown i we form the webs or fins, the
said fins connecting the horizontal part or plate of the said crown with its tubular
part. On the upperside of the lower crown webs or fins k², k² are formed similar
to those on the lower side of the upper crown, the said webs *, and k², k² when
the parts are put together meeting at their ends.
In order to obtain great strength and rigidity in the cranks of velocipedes, we
give the said cranks the figure of a diamond or lozenge shaped frame the bars or
sides of the frame being Tor H shaped in cross section.
The ends of the diamond
or lozenge shaped frame of the crank are properly shaped for fixing it on the crank
axle and for receiving the pedal. The diamond or lozenge shaped crank and its
ends are formed from one piece of steel by stamping.
A diamond or lozenge shaped crank of the kind described is represented in side
and front elevation respectively in Figures 10 and 11: Figure 12 is a cross section
on the line, Figure 10: Figure 13 represents a cross section through a diamond
or lozenge shaped crank the sides or bars of which are H shaped in cross section :
Figure 14 represents sections taken in planes at right angles to one another of a
portion of the crank showing the method we employ of securing the pedal axle to
the crank.
In Figures 10, 11 and 12 the T shaped sides or bars of the diamond or lozenge
shaped frame are marked I, 1.
In securing the pedal axle to the crank we make a hole in the end of the crank
crossing and intersecting the hole in which the plain end of the pedal axle o fits.
In the said cross hole a taper pin m is inserted the said pin m being drawn and
secured in the said cross hole by means of the screw nut n. A flat is formed on
the underside of the plain end of the pedal axle o against which a corresponding
flat on the upperside of the taper pin m bears when in place thereby securing or
keying the pedal axle o to the crank. By this method of securing or keying the
pedal axle to the crank the screwed end of the pedal axle which ordinarily projects
through the crank and the screw nut and washer for the same are dispensed with
and the width of the tread of the velocipede is consequently reduced.
For adjusting the driving chains of velocipedes we use the following combination
of parts. The ends of the axle or spindle on which the adjustable driving wheel
is mounted slide in forks carried by the frame of the velocipede as usual. The
outer end of each fork is provided with parallel perforated lugs or uprights the
perforations in which are in line with the slot or opening between the branches of
the tork. In the said slot of the fork and connected by a loop or washer with the
axle or spindle of the driving wheel is a screw having only a longitudinal motion.
The said screw passes through the perforated parallel lugs or uprights described
and also through a screw box or internally screwed collar, milled externally

page_text: situated and working between the said parallel lugs. By turning this screw box or
collar a longitudinal motion is given to the screw and the axle of the driving wheel
made to slide in the forks so as to adjust the driving chain passing over the chain
wheel on the said driving wheel.
This part of our invention is illustrated in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20 ;
Figures 15 and 16 represent in side and back elevation the rear portion of the
frame of the safety bicycle and the hub, chain wheel and spindle of the rear or
driving wheel to which our improvements in the mechanism for adjusting the
tension of the driving chain is applied: Figures 17, 18, 19 and 20 represent
the said mechanism and parts of the same detached drawn to a larger scale.
The frame p of the velocipede terminates in the forks p³, p' as usual. The lower
branches of the said forks are longer than the upper branches and terminate in
parallel lugs or uprights p³, p³. The said lugs p³, p³ are U shaped the open
sides being situated on the inner sides of the forks p p as best seen in
Figures 16 and 18. The axes of the Ushaped openings in the lugs p³, p³ are
coincident or in line with the slots between the branches of the forks p², p².
Between the said lugs p³, p³ milled screw boxes or rings q, q are situated and
passing through the said lugs p³, p³ and screw boxes q, 7 are the screws r, r made
in one piece with the washers or loops 7³, ª against which the screw nuts
the screwed ends of the spindle t bear. When it is desired to alter the tension of
the driving chain it is only necessary to slightly. unscrew the screw nuts s, & and
rotate the screw boxes q, q when the screws r, r and washers ³, and with them
the spindle of the rear wheel are advanced or withdrawn in the slots of the
forks p, p. The mechanism is locked in its adjusted position by the tightening or
screwing up of the screw nuts s, s on the spindle t.
8 оп
Our invention consists further of a detachable lamp bracket for the head or front
of velocipedes constructed in the following manner.
We make the detachable lamp bracket of two parts namely of the lamp bracket
proper and of a clip for sliding upon the head or front of the velocipede, both parts
being fashioned from sheet metal. The clip passes round about two thirds of the front
column and its edges are turned back so as to form lips, the lips being made
slightly taper and the edges of the lamp bracket are similarly turned back so as to
form lips. In the turned back edges or lips of the clip the turned back edges or
lips of the lamp bracket take or engage. By a downward sliding motion the lamp
bracket can be tightened to any extent in the clip and the latter at the same time
made to grip firmly the head or front of the velocipede and fix it thereon at the
desired position. By upward pressure upon the lamp bracket it may be detached
from the clip and head or front of the velocipede.
This part of our invention is represented applied to the steering post of a
velocipede in side elevation and plan respectively in Figures 21 and 22.
Figures 23, 24 and 25 represent respectively in side elevation, back elevation and
plan the lamp bracket clip on the steering post and Figures 26, 27 and 28 represent
respectively in side elevation, plan and front elevation the lamp bracket detached ;
the whole of the figures being drawn to a large scale.
u is the lamp bracket clip situated upon the steering post and w is the lamp
bracket. The edges of the lamp bracket clip u are turned back as represented and
form lips u³, u the said lips u³, u² tapering or being separated at bottom to a
greater extent than at top as seen in the back elevation Figure 24. The edges of
the lamp bracket are turned inwards and constitute lips w³, w similar to the lips
on the clip. When the clip u is on the steering post and it is desired to attach
the lamp bracket thereto it is only necessary to engage the lips w², w² with the
lips u, u of the clip and to slide the lamp bracket on the clip. By the sliding of the
lamp bracket on the clip, the lips being engaged together, the said clip is made to
firmly grip the steering post and the lamp bracket is at the same time tightened on
the clip. By an upward pressure on the lamp bracket it may be detached from the
clip and the clip moved into another position on the steering post or be detached
therefrom.

page_text: Our invention consists further of a detachable foot rest for the front or steering
wheel forks of velocipedes constructed as follows. We make the foot rest of two
parts, namely, of a clip and of a bracket having a serrated upper surface, the said
two parts having turned back edges or lips for engaging them together similar to
those described with respect to the lamp bracket, but the clip is elliptical in cross
section for fitting and sliding upon the front forks. The clip having been passed
onto the branch of the fork at its lower end is raised thereon to the required height
and the lips of the foot rest engaged with those of the clip and the two parts
secured together and to the branch of the fork. By upward pressure upon the foot
rest it can be detached.
This part of our invention is represented applied to one of the blades of a
steering wheel fork in front elevation and plan in Figures 29 and 30 and the clip
part of the foot rest is represented in side elevation, front elevation and plan
respectively in Figures 31, 32 and 33; Figures 34 and 35 represent in front and
side elevation the foot rest proper detached.
y is the blade of the fork and u is the elliptical clip part of the foot rest and w is
the foot rest proper. The said clip part of the foot rest and the foot rest proper
are constructed and engaged together essentially in the same manner as the lamp
bracket and lamp bracket clip herein before described and as the parts of the foot
rest are marked with the same letters of reference as corresponding parts of the
lamp bracket we do not think it necessary further to describe them.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim as our
invention of "Improvements in bicycles tricycles and other velocipedes'
"
First. The improvements in the bottom bracket bearings of the crank axles of
velocipedes herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of
the accompanying drawings; that is to say, arranging in the ends of the case
of the bottom bracket, internally grooved bearing rings the grooves in which
coincide with similar grooves in the collars on the crank axle and form the races
for the bearing balls, the parts being constructed, arranged and combined
substantially in the manner herein before described and illustrated.
Secondly. Securing and adjusting the bearing rings of bottom bracket bearings
in the ends of the case of the bottom bracket by making grooves in the peripheries
of the rings, the said grooves in one or both rings being spirally cut, with which
grooves taper screw pins situated in holes intersecting or opening into the interior
of the bearing case, engage for the purpose of securing the bearing rings sub-
stantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 of
the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. Providing the bearing cases of bottom bracket bearings near their ends
with oil cups or lubricators and providing the crank axle at the parts immediately 4
under the said oil cups with grooved collars for receiving and distributing the oil to
the bearings substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2
and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. Strengthening the steering forks of velocipedes by providing the
upper and lower crowns of the forks with webs or fins substantially as herein before 4
described and illustrated in Figures 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifthly. Making the cranks of velocipedes of a diamond or lozenge shaped
frame the sides or bars of which are Tor H shaped in cross section, the said sides
or bars being in one piece with the ends as herein before described and illustrated
in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13. Also connecting cranks of the particular kinds 5
shown in Figures 10, 11, 12 and 13 to their pedal axles or spindles by the means
herein before described and illustrated.
Sixthly. The improvements in the driving chain adjusting mechanism of
velocipedes herein before described and illustrated in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18, 19
and 20 of the accompanying drawings; that is to say, the combination with the 5
lower branches of the forks at the rear of the velocipede frame of lugs or uprights

page_text: and milled screw boxes, situated between the said lugs or uprights and the screws
together with their loops or washers on the wheel spindle substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Seventhly. The sheet metal lamp bracket and lamp bracket clip for velocipedes
herein before described and illustrated in Figures 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27 and 28
of the accompanying drawings; that is to say, forming the engaging parts of the
lamp bracket and lamp bracket clip into lips for engaging the lamp bracket and
clip together by a sliding motion substantially as described.
Eighthly. The sheet metal detachable foot rest for the blades of the steering
forks of velocipedes hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 29, 30, 31,
32, 33, 34 and 35 of the accompanying drawings; that is to say, forming on the
clip part of the foot rest and on the foot rest proper lips for engaging the two parts
together by a sliding motion substantially as described.
Dated the Twenty-second day of June 1894.
WILLIAM ALLDAY.
EDMUND ALLDAY.