CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER MANUMOTIVE MACHINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Bayliss, John Thomas, John Slaughter, and James
Elliott, all of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinists, for the
Invention of 61
CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER MANUMOTIVE
MACHINES"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Bayliss, John Thomas,
John Slaughter, & James Elliott at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents
on the 21st February 1878.
THOMAS BAYLISS, JOHN THOMAS, JOHN SLAUGHTER, and JAMES ELLIOTT, all of
Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinists. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
BICYCLES AND OTHER MANUMOTIVE MACHINES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or connected with bicycles,
tricycles, and other similar manumotive machines or apparatus.
The first of these improvements is more especially applicable to tricycles, and
consists in the application thereto and use in combination therewith of plain,
roughened, studded, or toothed pulleys, which are geared or connected by a belt,
band, or chain, and one of which is carried by the backbone or framing of the
machine and receives motion by means of pedals or treadles actuated by the feet,
and the other of which derives its motion therefrom by means of the bolt or chain,
and being situated and fixed on the main axle imparts its motion thereto and so
effects the propulsion of the machine. There is thus substituted a crank action for
the usual lever action by which machines of this class are at present propelled, and
the rider is enabled to exert a more direct action upon the machine and obtain
increased speed. The diameters of the pulleys applied to the machines are regulated
by the speed required.
The seat upon which the rider sits we arrange, so as to allow of its being raised
or lowered to suit persons of different statures, by adapting or suitably connecting
a pin, bolt, or screw with the stem or pillar of the seat and the backbone of the
machine.

page_text: And in order to facilitate the action of the machine in turning at an angle there
is a collar fixed near the spindle and shaft contiguous to the wheel, which prevents
displacement of the india-rubber upon the wheel.
Another improvement refers to the wheels of these and similar machines, and
consists in the application of two spokes to each nipple instead of one spoke only
being inserted into each nipple as at present, and according to this improvement
we take a piece of metallic wire or rod (steel by preference) and feed it through
the nipple, its centre or inner part being bent or U shaped, and suitably connected
therewith; two separate spokes will equally answer the purpose for which this
improvement is designed, and which is to reduce the number of nipples, and
augment the number of spokes, and to reduce the weight and impart strength to
the machine.
To render the foot rest adjustable, without necessitating the usual weakening
holes or slots in the front fork, we secure it to each side of the fork by means of a
dovetail collar which will allow of its being raised or lowered.
To dispense with the usual lock nuts in the steering head and pedal pins we slot
the upper or outer end thereof at its month, so as to cause it to expand when a
conical pin is screwed thereinto.
In order to facilitate the adjustment and fastening of the cranks we provide a
taper pin or bolt with a smooth part or joint about mid or part way, and screwed
or threaded thence to the head.
In lieu of the usual eccentric bearing at the front fork we employ an adjustable
screw, which actuates a wedge bearing on the upper inclined surface of the under-
bearing.
And in lieu of the usual separate instruments we also use a combined spanner
and nipple wrench, rendered adjustable by means of a sliding wedge which enables
the same to turn heads, nuts, or nipples of various sizes or diameters, the wedge
being pushed in more and more as the nuts decrease in size. At the other end of
the instrument we attach a swing piece or joint with an opening or jaw, the spanner
being similarly provided under the swing piece, so that when a large nut is to be
moved the swing piece is raised, and for a small nut the swing piece is lowered to
cover the larger part below it.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Thomas Bayliss, John Thomas, John Slaughter, & James Elliott
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th August 1878.
"
THOMAS BAYLISS, JOHN THOMAS, JOHN SLAUGHTER, and JAMES ELLIOTT, all of
Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinists. CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
BICYCLES AND OTHER MANUMOTIVE MACHINES."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in or connected with bicycles,
tricycles, and other similar machines or apparatus.
The first of these improvements, which is illustrated on the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings in Figures 1 to 3, is more especially applicable to tricycles, and consists
in the application thereto and use in combination therewith of plain, roughened,
studded, or toothed pulleys 1, which are geared or connected by a belt, band, or
chain 2, and one of which is carried by the backbone or framing 3 of the machine,
and receives motion by means of pedals or treadles 4 actuated by the feet, and the
other of which derives its motion therefrom by means of the belt or chain 2, and
being situated and fixed on the main axle 5 imparts its motion thereto and so
effects the propulsion of the machine. There is thus substituted a crank action for
the usual lever action by which machines of this class are at present propelled,
and the rider is enabled to exert a more direct action upon the machine and obtain
increased speed. The diameters of the pulleys 1, applied to the machine, are regu-
lated by the speed required.
The seat 6 upon which the rider sits we arrange so as to allow of its being
raised or lowered to suit persons of different statures, by adapting or suitably
connecting a pin, bolt, or screw 7 with the stem or pillar 8 of the seat and the
backbone 3.
Another improvement, illustrated in Figures 4 to 6, refers to the wheels of these
and similar machines, and consists in the application of two spokes 9 to each
nipple 10, instead of one spoke only being inserted into each nipple as at present;
and according to this improvement we take a piece of metallic wire or rod, steel.
by preference, and either feed it through an upper connection of the nipple, as
shown in Figure 5, its centre or inner part being bent or U shaped, or place it
outside the nipple, as shown in Figure 4, the lower end of the latter being grooved
or slotted so that the wire falls into it or pass it completely through the nipple
from the lower end, as shown in Figure 6, its position in this case being retained
by means of a pin or screw inserted through the body of the nut transversely or
otherwise; two separate spokes will equally answer the purposes for which this
improvement is designed, and which are to reduce the number of nipples, and
augment the number of spokes, and to reduce the weight of and impart strength
to the machine.
To render the foot rest 11 adjustable, without necessitating the usual weakening
holes or slots in the front fork, we secure it to each side of the fork by means of a
dovetail collar 12, which will allow of its being raised or lowered, the stem 13 of
the foot rest being square at 14, over which one part of the collar similarly shaped
is passed so that it cannot rotate or shake, the stem is screwed at its inner end and
enters the other part of the collar, the parts being united and secured by a nut,
see Figures 7.
To dispense with the usual lock nuts in the steering head and pedal pins we
slot the upper or outer end thereof at its mouth, as shown at 15, Figures 8, so as
to cause it to expand, when a conical pin 16 is screwed thereinto and fill out a
countersunk recess in its cap 17, and so secure all parts firmly in position.
In order to facilitate the adjustment and fastening of the cranks 18 we insert a
taper pin or bolt 19, as shown in Figures 9, and afterwards screw a taper pin 20,
screwed or threaded to its head into the head of the crank to tighten or release the
parts.

page_text: In lieu of the usual eccentric bearing at the front fork we employ an adjustable
screw 21, which actuates a wedge 22, bearing on the upper inclined surface of the
under bearing 23, see Figures 10.
And in lieu of the usual separate instruments we also use a combined and
portable spanner and nipple wrench, rendered adjustable, as shown in Figures 11,
by means of a sliding wedge 24, which enables the same to turn heads, nuts, or
nipples of various sizes or diameters, the wedge being pushed in more and more as
the nuts decrease in size. At the other end of the instrument we attach a swing
piece or joint 25 with an opening or jaw, the spanner being similarly provided
under the swing piece, so that when a large nut is to be moved the swing piece is
raised, and for a small nut the swing piece is lowered to cover the larger part
below it.
Figure 12 represents an oil receptacle, which may be fixed upon or attached to
the lower end of the fork or in any other suitable position to lubricate the spindle
in such machines.
Having now described the nature and objects of our said Invention, together
with the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed, we would remark
in conclusion that we claim as our Invention, the above described improvements in
or connected with bicycles, tricycles, and other similar machines, and the application
thereof to such machines, substantially in the manner herein-before described, and
as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Thomas Bayliss, John Thomas, John
Slaughter, and James Elliott, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this
Twenty-4th day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and seventy-eight.
THOMAS BAYLISS. (L.s.)
JOHN THOMAS.
(L.S.)
JOHN SLAUGHTER. (L.S.)
JAMES ELLIOTT.
(L.S.)
Witness,
JOHN KENDRICK.
THOMAS BAYLISS. (L.S.)
JOHN THOMAS.
(L.S.)
JOHN SLAUGHTER. (L.S.)
JAMES ELLIOTT.
(L.S.)