IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING. MECHANISM OF VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS, of Saint John's Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, velocipede manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for, IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING.
MECHANISM OF VELOCIPEDES, to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide simple and effective mechanism which
shall ensure the steering wheel or wheels of a tricycle, or other velocipede,
returning quickly to the straight or central position and remaining in such
position when, and so long as, pressure is removed from the steering handle or
handles.
Various expedients have been resorted to for this purpose, amongst others, an
arrangement of annular clutch and spring around the steering spindle, and an
arrangement of two springs acting in opposite directions to one another.
Now, according to this invention, one spring only is employed, and this is
connected with the framing of the machine. Two horns project one on each side
of the steering fork or spindle or equivalent part, and a cross-head is pressed up
against such horns by means of the spring, aforesaid, in such a manner that, in
whichever direction such spindle or fork is turned, one of the horns presses the
cross-head against the pressure of the spring. The spring and cross-head, con-
sequently, tend to keep the fork or spindle in its straight or central position and to
return it to such position upon removal of any force by which it has been turned
therefrom.
According to this method of effecting the purpose described, the rigidity of the
central position is not dependent upon the balance of the pressure of two opposing
springs (as in the case of two springs), but the whole of the pressure exerted by
the one spring acts directly to maintain the fork or spindle in such position; and,
moreover, the initial difficulty in steering occasioned by friction (as in the case of
the annular cam) is obviated.

page_text: I, FRANCIS JOSEPH JAMES GIBBONS, of Saint John's Works, Church Lane,
Wolverhampton in the County of Stafford, velocipede manufacturer, 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, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and the letters of
reference marked thereon (that is to say):
---
The object of this invention is to provide simple and effective mechanism which
shall ensure the steering wheel or wheels of a tricycle; or other velocipede,
returning quickly to the straight or central position, upon the removal of any
pressure by which they have been turned therefrom, and remaining in such
position so long as such pressure is removed from the steering handle or handles.
Expedients have been previously resorted to for this purpose, such as an
arrangement of annular clutch and spring around the steering spindle, and an
arrangement of two springs acting in opposite directions to one another."
Now, according to this invention, a single spring only is employed, and is con-
'nected with the framing of the machine and is so geared with horns or projections,
one on each side of the steering fork or spindle or equivalent part, either by incans
of a cross-head which it presses against such horns, or by means of chains by
which it tends to pull such horns towards itself. In either case, the steering fork,
or spindle, or equivalent part, is held firmly in its central position by means of the
spring, as such fork, or spindle, or equivalent part, cannot turn in either direction
without immediately relieving the pressure or force exerted by the spring upon the
one horn, and increasing such force upon the other horn in a direction to return
the fork, spindle, or other part, to its central position.
A modification of this invention is illustrated, in side elevation, by figure 1, and
in plan by figure 2, of the drawings herewith. A is a part of the framing of a
velocipede (that is of a tricycle in the case illustrated). B is a socket brazed or
fixed to the forward end of such frame. C is the front fork, and D is the steering
spindle on such fork, passing through the socket B. E is a spiral spring (shewn by
broken lines figure 1) within a case F which is brazed or fixed to the frame A.
G is a plunger having its forward end projecting from the front of the case F, and
its hinder end within such case so as to bear against the front end of the spring E.
His a cross-head on the end of the plunger G. J J is a bar carried from the
upper end of the fork C by means of an arm K. a a are button-headed screws
screwed through the bar J J, and having their button heads projecting from the
inner face of such bar so as to bear against the front face of the cross-head H near
to each end thereof. 6b are squares on the back of the screws a.a by which such
screws are turned. It will be seen that in whichever direction the spindle is turned,
the bar JJ being turned therewith, the cross-head H is forced back by one of the
button-headed screws a a, and the plunger is consequently forced backwards and
compresses the spring E within the case F. On the removal of the force employed
to turn the spindle in steering, the spiral spring. E forces forwards the plunger G
and cross-head H until the bar J J has been forced back again into the position
shewn on the drawings, with the cross-head H bearing firmly against both the
button-headed screws a a, at which point the spindle is in position for straight
running. aa are guide-bara fixed on either side of the case F. and joined together

page_text: by a cross-piece d fixed to the underside of the frame A. The upper edge of the
cross-head H is guided along the underside of the bars cc so as to be prevented
from turning on the axis of the plunger. The two ends of the bar J J are curved
forwards, so that in the event of the spindle being turned through a considerable
angle, the back of one of such curves will bear against the front of the cross-
head H, and thus maintain the pressure exerted by the bar J J against the
cross-head H, at an approximately uniform distance from the centre of such cross-
head.
L and L' are the usual springs around the spindle D, above and below the
socket B, respectively, for the purpose of reducing vibration in travelling.
A further modification of this invention is illustrated in side elevation by
figure 3, and in plan by figure 4:
In these figures the parts corresponding to those in figures 1 and 2 are similarly
lettered.
The plunger G is inserted within the back end of the case F, and has a lug M to
which two adjustable eye-bolts N N are fixed, as shewn, one on each side of the
centre thereof. OO are lugs or horns, one on each side of the steering fork C.
ee are eye-bolts fixed to such lugs, and P P are chains, each connecting an eye-
bolt N with an eye-bolt e, as shewn. It will now be seen that, as the spindle D is
turned in either direction in steering, the plunger G is pulled by one of the
chains P P and compresses the spring E, and upon the removal of the force
employed for this purpose, the spring forces back the plunger G until both the
chains P P are tightened and the spindle consequently back into position_for
straight running. Rods or cords may, of course, be substituted for the chains P P.
According to the above methods of effecting the purpose described, the rigidity
of the central position is not dependent upon the balance of the pressure of two
opposing springs (as in the case of two springs), but the whole of the pressure
exerted by the one spring acts directly to maintain the fork or spindle in such
position; and, moreover, the initial difficulty in steering occasioned by friction (as
in the case of the annular cam) is obviated.
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
1. In a velocipede, the combination of a single spring carried by the framing of
the machine, and at an angle with the steering fork, spindle, or equivalent part,
(that is at right angles or other convenient angle therewith) with suitable means
by which the same is compressed on the steering fork, spindle, or equivalent part,
being turned in either direction from its normal or central position, and through
which means the spring reacts so as to force back such fork, spindle, or equivalent
part, into its central steering position again, on the removal of any force by which
it has been turned therefrom, substantially as described and shewn.
2. In a velocipede, the arrangements, substantially as illustrated by figures 1 to 4,
inclusive, of the drawings herewith, according to which a single spring operates to
return the steering fork, spindle, or equivalent part, to its central steering position,
upon the removal of any force by which it has been turned therefrom.
Dated this seventh d
1007
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton,
Agent for the Applicant.