Improvements in Springs for Bicycles and other like Carriages.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th May, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Springs for Bicycles and other like Carriages.
I, GEORGE WHYTE, of North View, Elgin, Scotland, Doctor of Medicine,.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In this invention the springs are made from a strip of steel sufficiently strong,.
say for bicycles, about three-quarters of an inch wide, half an inch thick at one end
and diminishing to a quarter at the other, or any other sizes can be made for
convenience. The strip is coiled on itself, beginning at the small end into two or
three coils, the coils closer below than above. The upper part of the strip is bent
so as to form a support for any superstructure which may be attached either
directly or indirectly. A tube the width of the spring is fixed in the centre of the
coil for the reception of the axle. Flat bent springs may also be arranged within
the nave of the wheel to carry out the same objects. The nave should be of large
size with a sufficiently large bore. The axle box may be supported by three or
four springs passing from the inside of the nave to the axle box either in the centre
or at each end of the axle box. The vibration between the axle and the axle box.
will thus be lessened.
For a bicycle there should be a spring on each side of the wheel, the axle
revolving and carrying the wheel with it. Where there are two wheels on an axle
there should be one spring on the inner side of each wheel, but when the axle is.
short a single wider spring may be sufficient.
As an alternative the strip of steel, much thinner, may be coiled spiral fashion
and flattened into the form of a cone or triangle, the lower coils telescoping into the
upper. Friction may be lessened by allowing only about one eighth of an inch at.
either edge of the spring coming into contact with the axle, the part of the axle
between being slightly shallowed which may be used as a receptacle for a lubricant.
The chain gearing may lie on either side of the spring, preferably on the inner.
In the alternative arrangement the bearing for the axle is attached to the smaller
end of the cone, the superstructure to the larger. For wheels other than driving
wheels of cycles the nave of the wheel may have an indiarubber cushion within it,.
either solid or with air spaces.
Dated this 31st day of Au 1002
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, E.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Springs for Bicycles and other like Carriages.
GEORGE WHYTE, Doctor of Medicine Beaucamp de Bas, Câtel, Guernsey,
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:-
For the purpose of description and illustration I enclose one sheet of drawing.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the bicycle, shewing the coiled springs A A. with
the mechanism for preventing torsion or twisting of the springs.
Fig. 2. is an end view, shewing transverse section of one spring and adjacent
narts.

page_text: Fig. 3. and Figure 4. are, side elevation and end view of an alternate arrange-
ment. Guides which are not shewn in Fig. 3. and Fig. 4. should be added.
The coiled spring is made from a tapering strip of steel, thick at one end and
gradually becoming thinner at the other, coiled upon itself, beginning from the
small end into two or more coils which are somewhat closer together below than
above. The thick end is doubled back upon itself for the attachment of the for
Fig. 1. K L.
This doubled back portion may be proportionally stronger than the other part
of the spring. A tube for the reception of the axle of the bicycle wheel is drive:
into the central coil of the spring.
This tube has a disc at each end encasing the spring, D, but not touching th
coils.
These discs for lightness may be spoked or otherwise perforated but made
sufficiently strong. The springs are placed on each side of the driving wheel of
the bicycle, Fig. 1. A. see also end views, parallel to each other and to the plane
of the wheel. They are firmly fixed to the fork above while the axle is in the
central coil. The axle may revolve in the axle tube carrying the wheel with it, or
it may be a fixture in the tube, the wheel revolving on it, in both cases being
actuated by the chain gearing. Two pairs of guides descend from the fork above,
to below the spring E, E, E'. These guides are united in couples below the discs
and the two pairs united. In the large wheeled bicycle, these guides should be
close to the axle, so as to prevent any to and fro movement of the axle in the
spring. The discs and guides should be sufficiently strong to prevent any possible
torsion or twisting of the spring. The pedal wheel and driving wheel axles are
united together and always kept at the same distance apart by the stay H Fig. 1.
This stay has an up and down movement to accommodate itself to the movements
of the frame of the bicycle on the springs.
These coiled springs may be made of different strengths to suit the different
weights of riders. A spring of strength suitable say for ten stone, would likely
also suit nine or eleven stone. The springs may be made, or the axle tubes, of one
uniform width or length-so as to be interchangeable with bicycles, the strength:
and elasticity depending on the thickness of the steel and the amount of tapering
and width of coils. The mud guards are supported from arms attached to the
inner discs. There are no springs on the front wheel, and the wheels may have
solid rubber tires. Pneumatic tires need not be used with these springs.
I depart from all the other alternatives in the Provisional Specifications.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. The coiled spring attached to the fork above and having the axle in the
centre.
2nd. The axle tube with encasing discs and guides, for preventing torsion or
twisting of the springs.
3rd. The connecting of the pedal wheel and driving wheel axles, by the
moveable forked stay, for preventing any to and fro movement of the driving
wheel axle, in the central coil of the spring.
4th. The support of the mud guards from the inner discs of the axle tube.
5th. The bicycle as herein substantially described and illustrated by the sheet of
drawings.
GEO. WHYTE. 5