Improvements in or Connected with Velocipedes.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Left. 29th Aug., 1889-Accepted, 9th Nov., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Velocipedes.
I THOMAS RICHARD DEVEREUX BINGHAM, of 80 Brixton Hill in the County of
Surrey Retired Captain Bengal Lancers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
o be as follows:-
The primary objects of my invention are to increase the speed and safety of
velocipedes.
The wheels are brought close together and the riders over the centres of the
wheels.
For this purpose as applied to a tandem bicycle, I provide say a 56" front wheel
with 36" rear wheel geared up to say 60" or in some cases to more with the forks of each
wheel set vertically or nearly so over the axles whereby the weight is carried directly
or nearly so over the crank axles. The braking may be effected by spoon brakes
applied to the front and rear wheels, or by band brake to the rear axle if preferred,
but for the purposes of the invention great brake power is required and therefore
spoon brakes are preferable except when the invention is applied to a tricycle in which
case I prefer a spoon brake to the front wheel and a band brake to the bind axle.
Stay rods may he provided on each side of the backbone to stiffen the same and to
take the longitudinal strain and so to lock and secure the wheels together. Adjustable
screws are used to tighten up the rods when necessary to do so. The rim of the front
driving wheel is made of the hollow deep rim type for the introduction therein of
weight or weights, preferably lead; this may be employed as a solid material filling
or partially filling the hollow rim, or the weights may be made in one, two or more
sections and inserted in the hollow rim where required, their position and weight
being regulated according to circumstances or concentrated when required. Instead
of lead or alloy thereof, quicksilver contained in steel tube might be used for which
purpose the wheel rim may be composed of an inner steel tube made in sections or
continuous for containing the weight whether that be lead, quicksilver, or other
substance or substances.
The wheels being close together enable me to reduce the draught, preventing
"sagging" and at same time enabling me to adjust the weight of the riders over the
centres of the axles while the weighted rim when revolved at high speed materially
assists in overcoming gradients and obstacles on the road, or pressure of the wind.
L 1888
Dated this 50th day of
vember 1988
T. R. D. BINGHAM.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Connected with Velocipedes.
I, THOMAS RICHARD DEVEREUX BINGHAM, of 80 Brixton Hill in the County of
Surrey, Retired Captain Bengal Lancers, 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 :-
-
The primary objects of my invention are, to increase the speed and safety of
velocipedes.
The wheels are brought close together and the riders when the machine takes the
form of a bicycle are over the centres of the wheels.
For this purpose as applied to a tandem bicycle, I provide say a 56" front wheel
with 36" rear wheel geared up to say 60", or in some cases to more, with the forks of

page_text: each wheel set vertically or nearly so over the axles whereby the weight is carried
directly or nearly so over the crank axles, but of course it must be distinctly
understood that I do not limit myself to the use of wheels of any particular size.
The accompanying drawing illustrates in side elevation a tandem bicycle so con-
structed according to my invention.
The braking may be effected by spoon brakes A, A as shewn in the drawing, applied
to the front wheel B and rear wheel C or by band brake to the rear axle if preferred,
but for the purposes of the invention great brake power is required, and therefore
spoon brakes are preferable except when the invention is applied to a tricycle in which
case I prefer a spoon brake to the front wheel and a band brake to the hind axle.
Stay rods D, D, may be provided on each side of the backbone to stiffen the same and
to take the longitudinal strain and so to lock and secure the wheels together. Adjustable
screws are used to tighten up the rods when necessary to do so. The rim of the front
driving wheel is made of the hollow deep rim type for the introduction therein or
thereon of a weight or weights preferably lead, as shewn at E E; this be
employed as a solid material filling or partially filling the hollow rim, or the weights
may be made in one, two, or more sections, and inserted in the hollow rim where
required, their position and weight being regulated according to circumstances, or
concentrated when required. Instead of lead or alloy thereof, quicksilver contained
in steel tube such as is shewn at F F might be used, for which purpose the wheel rim
may be connected to an inner steel tube made in sections, or continuous, for containing
the weight, whether that be lead, quicksilver, or other substance or substances.
may
The wheels B and C being close together enable me to reduce the draught, prevents
"sagging," and at same time enables me to adjust the weight of the riders over the
centres of the axles, while the weighted rim when revolved at high speed materially
assists in overcoming gradients and obstacles on the road or pressure of the wind.
Although the invention is only shewn as applied to a tandem bicycle it is obvious
that the same is applicable to other types. The only practical difference between the
application to a Tricycle and a Bicycle being, that in the former case an additional
wheel is added to the hind axle parallel to the rear wheel C, and the rear rider would
then occupy a position between the two rear wheels.
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:
In velocipedes having the forks thereof set vertically or nearly so over the axles,
the combination therewith of a weight or weights composed of lead or alloy thereof,
or for example of quicksilver, in a tube or tubes, the said weight or weights being
carried in or by a hollow deep rim, all substantially as and for the purposes
set forth.
Dated this 29th day of August 1889.
Dated this 29th day of August 1889.
THOS. R. D. BINGHAM.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.