Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 3rd June, 1889-Accepted, 13th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
We, ISAAC WATTS BOOTHROYD, Manager and PHILIP LOUIS RENOUF Engineer,
both of 47 Farringdon Road in the City of London do hereby declare the nature of
our said invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the construction of the forks and bearing cases and the
method of coupling the same on velocipedes. Instead of forming the forks of single
tubes of large diameter, tapered and ovaled we employ tubes of smaller diameter and
need not oval or taper them, but supply a pair of stays of lessor substance, which we
mount behind the forks by attaching their upper ends to the crown of the fork &
their lower ends to the bearing cases. The latter are threaded internally and contain
the usual screwed discs or caps, but instead of being split through at one side or at
both sides & being furnished with projecting lugs and bolts for the purpose of locking
the discs in position, we channel the bearing cases from the inside without breaking
through the outside; a bolt or screw is then inserted across the channel and at
right angles to it by means of which the case may be made to grip the discs.
Where there is an extension below the bearings for the purpose of carrying a
lever or other driving gear, the forks are made to project to a suitable distance and
through a hole in the bearing cases, the extended forks being furnished with a suitable
stay between their extremities and the bearing cases, which thus form a truss in the
middle of the fork and the upper and lower stays. The hole in the bearing case is
also channeled & furnished with a clamp screw or bolt, without having a projecting
split lug. Clamps of this description are lighter, their screws are more accessible
and the jaws are not so likely to incet and jamb as on those of the usual description;
where castings are employed the channels can be safely cast and where two holes are
parallel one channel can be formed between the two.
When the forks are hinged and have to move in unison with a separate steering
bar, we use ball joints of the following construction:
Each moving end is furnished with a stud carrying a ball; this ball is passed
through a socket slightly undercut internally; a rod with a concave end is screwed
through the socket till it pushes the ball into the undercut part till it cannot come
out; the rod is then locked in position. The other end of this rod is telescoped
into the tubular connecting rod to a suitable distance and fixed by screwing
a conical nut over the end of the tubo which is slit so as to form a clamp.
The same process is repeated at each end of the tube and the forks and steering
bar thus coupled.
Dated this 1st day of September 1888
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
Wo ISAAC WATTS BOOTH ROYD, Manager and PHILIP LOUIS RENOUF Engineer,
both of 47 Farringdon Road in the City of London, do hereby declare the nature of
our said 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 relates to the construction of the forks and of the hearing cases of
velocipedes, and in the method of fixing, coupling and mounting these parts. The
forks mounted over the front wheel of an ordinary bicycle or other front-driving
bicycle are usually of thin elliptical section, thus being weak sideways and liable to
D

page_text: twist we prefer to make them out of tube which is round or very nearly round;
and in order to maintain the requisite amount of rigidity to resist the pull of the
driving wheel acting on the hearings, we provide a tension stay on each fork,
fixed to the crown of the head and behind the same, extending to the bearings.
These bearings are preferably furnished with an adjusting disc or hollow cone screwed
into the hearing case.
With Bearings of similar construction the cases are usually furnished with a special
projecting lug, which being cut or split right through and furnished with a nip screw
or bolt lock the adjusting disc or cone in position.
But it is found that the frictional action of the usual pattern case on the discs is
uneven and imperfect and that the lugs may sometimes even be partially closed
without sufficiently holding the disc; the bearing case not being of even flexibility
as it has several flexible and several comparativly thickened positions. We there-
fore channel out the solid lug or shank which connects the case with the fork or other
portion of the velocipede, from the inside & furnish this portion with a transverse
nip, screw, or holt leaving the rest of the bearing case to act as a flexible strap of
even substance round the disc which can thus be gripped in a firm and reliable
manner. Where the bearing case can be mounted on the fork or other part of the
velocipede by means of a split lug we prefer to do so and form a clamp in
precisely the same way, not by forming a separate lug to be split right through,
but by channeling out the connection between bearing and lug. In some instances
one channel or slot between the hole in which the fork or other part of the frame
is inserted, and the screwed hole in 'the bearing will be found sufficient for the two
purposes of locking the bearing adjustment and of mounting the bearing on the
velocipede.
Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 shows the tubular fork B stayed by a rod C
passing from the bearing E to a projection behind head A.
The bearing E is shewn separately in Fig. 2 where, as in the following drawings,
F is the adjusting disc & H a nip screw.
The shank which connects the bearing case to the machine
channelled from
the inside so that the screw H will tend to close the slot G and then grip the
disc F.
Fig. 3 & 4 shew two views of a bearing of this kind furnished with a hole and
a channel I and a nip screw K across the same to fit round the fork of a bicycle or
bottom stay of a rear driving safety or any similar part of a velocipede. Fig. 5 & 6
shew bearings in which the part of the frame they are to be attached to, lies parrallel
with the spindle passing the bearing-as is the case on the bridge of a triangle axle ;
on Fig. 5 each hole is provided with a separate chaunel or slot, whilst on Fig. 6 one
single slot passes from hole to hole. This form of clamp besides being very effective
is very economical in manufacture, as both holes and the slot can be cast in the
peice where a casting is admissible.
Fig. 7 & 8. shew two views of a very simple, efficient & cheap adjustable chain
wheel bearing for rear driving safety bicycle.
The bearing case is L & L are circular recesses which take the screwed adjusting
discs of the bearing which are locked by means of the screws H1 H2 traversing the
slots made in the connection between the bearing cases.
Two transverse holes are provided into which the forks or stays of the velocipede
are inserted and the screws K' K2 close in, the slot which passes from one hole to
the other.
Where the fork or corresponding part attatched to the steering wheel or wheels
of velocipede has to be coupled with a steering har by means of a link which requires
freedom of motion in more directions than one, we insert into the end of the one
handle-bar and on the end of the front handle bar if the fork or corresponding part
be furnished with one, a short steel rod M in Fig. 9 bent down at one end &
terminating in a ball. The joint is shewn in section, N being a small peice bored
and tapped longitudinally and with a transverse hole large enough to admit the
insertion of the ball; the steering rod P of which part only is shown is recessed

page_text: at its extremity to fit the face of the ball; it is screwed into the peice N till
it holds the ball and prevents it dropping out this position being secured by
the lock-nut O thus a simple joint is made allow sufficient universal motion.
We are aware that forks have been mounted on the front and driving wheels of
bicycles, consisting of several tubes, but in these cases no one of these parts was
capable of resisting the side or twisting strains by itself; and also the front forks
of a front driving bicycle have been furnished with stays attatched to the front of
the head so as to be practically inoperative, but having now particularly described
and ascertained the nature of our said Invention and in what manner the same is
to be performed we declare that what we claim is :-
1). A front fork for a front driving bicycle, of circular section furnished with
a stay in tension behind the steering head in the manner and for the purposes
set out.
2). On Velocipedes a clamp for the purpose of gripping the adjusting cone of a
bearing, a tube, a rod or other part, such clamp being provided with an internal slot
or channel in the manner and for the purpose described.
3). On Velocipedes a clamp in which the usual second or split lug is dispensed
with, a suitable internal slot or channel being provided in the lug attaching the clamp
to the main part.
4). On Velocipedes a bearing case furnished with an internal slot or channel as
described for the purpose of locking a bearing or bearing part in the manner
described.
5). A bearing case substantially as described in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings
in which one piece only is used, one end acting as a clamp to the frame of a
velocipede, and the other end as a clamp containing the bearings or bearing part.
6). A hearing case or clamp capable of gripping the frame of a velocipede
and the bearing or bearing parts simultaneously and furnished with a single internal
channel or slot or a pair of internal channels or slots substantially as shewn in
Figs. 5 & 6 and for the purpose described.
7). A bearing bracket for velocipedes as shewn in Figs. 7 and 8 and provided
with the internal channel or slot for the purpose and in the manner described.
8). On Velocipedes a universal ball joint in which the joint piece is provided
with a transverse hole to admit the ball, a longitudinal and threaded hole for the
purpose of taking a screwed rod, and capable of adjustment, substantially as shewn
in Fig. 9.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & CO.,
Agents for the Applicants.