Improvements in Bicycles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th June, 1891-Accepted, 18th July, 1891
Improvements in Bicycles.
I GEORGE BROWN of 109 Stoney Stanton Road Coventry, in the County of
Warwick Bicycle Maker do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of bicycles, and is
primarily intended for that class of bicycle now known as the "safety;" and its
object is, to provide that the frame of the machine shall consist of two principal
lines or supports, which shall lie at right angles to each other; also that the
working thrust or strain by the rider, shall be parallel, or nearly so, to that part
of the frame which forms the steering head; also that the said machine shall be
made double steering, that is, the rear as well as the front wheel is capable of a
steering motion.
According to this our invention an oval fork embraces each of the wheels; one
of such forks being extended on in a tubular form to serve as that part of the
frame, and terminates with the handle cross bar for steering, while the other fork
is also extended towards the former, and at right angles thereto. At such point
upon the first named line of frame where the intersection of the second line takes
place, a socket is provided, having a leg or spindle extending therefrom and at
right angles thereto. Upon this leg or spindle is passed the extension of the
second fork, and which latter is capable of a rotation thereon. At the
upper
of the tubular part of the second fork, is provided a part bevil wheel which gears
into a similar part bevil wheel provided upon the first fork extension, so that upon
turning the steering handle, both wheels are moved inwards or outwards towards
or from each other.
end
The treadle bracket is carried from the frame by suitable rods &c., and the
position of the saddle and the said treadle arbor, are about parallel to the front
line of the frame. This arrangement is intended to lessen the vibration upon the
franies of these machines, and by reason of the direct parallel thrust, the machines
are driven with less power than is ordinarily required.
Dated this 6th day of Sentember 1890.
CHARLES T. POWELL,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles.
I GEORGE BROWN, of 109 Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Bicycle Maker 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:-
This invention relates to the construction and arrangement of cycles and is
primarily intended for that class of bicycle now known as the "safety ;" and its
object is, to provide that the frame of the machine shall consist of two principal
lines or supports, which shall lie at right angles to each other; also that the
working thrust or strain by the rider, shall be parallel, or nearly so, to that part
of the frame which forms the front steering head; also that the said machine
shall be made double steering, that is, the rear as well as the front wheel is capable
of a steering motion.
According to this my invention an oval fork embraces each of the wheels; one
of such forks being extended on in a tubular form to serve as that part of the

page_text: end
frame, and terminates with the handle cross bar for steering, while the other fork
is also extended towards the former, and at right angles thereto. At such point
upon the first named line of the frame where the intersection of the second line
takes place, a socket is provided, having a leg or spindle extending therefrom and
at right angles thereto. Upon this leg or spindle is passed the extension of the
second fork, and which latter is capable of a rotation thereon. At the
upper
of the tubular part of the second fork, is provided a part bevil wheel which gears
into a similar part bevil wheel provided upon the first fork extension, so that upon
turning the steering handle, both wheels are moved inwards or outwards towards or
from each other. Or I may effect the same thing in a modified form.
In using
these part bevil wheels only one tooth in the one wheel is necessary to work in
between two terth in the other wheel, hence instead of the one tooth I provide a
peg upon the one part to work into a slot upon the other part, which arrangement
1 find to be somewhat simpler in construction.
The treadle bracket is carried from the frame by suitable rods &c., and the
position of the saddle and the said treadle arbor, are about parallel to the front
line of the frame. This arrangement is intended to lessen the vibration upon the
frames of these machines, and by reason of the direct parallel thrust, the machines
are driven with less power than is ordinarily required.
In order to more particularly explain this my invention I have appended
hereunto illustrative sheets of drawings upon which are figures and numbers of
reference, similar numbers throughout the several views referring to the same
thing or part.
Fig. 1, is a general side view of a machine constructed according to this my
invention.
Fig. 1 is a detached part view showing how part bevil wheels may be
employed.
Fig. 2. is an enlarged part side view and Fig. 3, part plan view, and Fig. 4, an
end view, in detail of the rear fork.
Fig. 5, is an end sectional view on line A-B (Fig. 4).
Fig. 6, is an enlarged part side view and Fig. 7, part plan view, and Fig. 8, n
side sectional view in detail of the front fork.
Fig. 9, is a detached view of the upper tubular end of the front fork.
Fig. 10, is a detailed detached view of the pin which connects the front and rear
forks together.
Fig. 11, shows in section the method of commeeting the front and rear forks, and
the steering arrangement.
1, is the front wheel carried in the front fork 2. 3, is the rear wheel carried in
the rear fork 4. 5, is the stoering bar operated by the handles 6. 7, is the saddle
carried upon hinged brackets 8, and supported by rod 9, and spring 10. 11, is the
treadle arbor and 12, the treadle, carried by rods 13 and 14.
Upon the rear fork 4, (see Figs. 2, 3 & 11) are placed the connecting plates 15,
& 16; plate 15, having therein the cranked hole 17, while the plate 16 is provided
with the slot or jaw 18. Between these two plates is placed the upper part 19, of
the front fork. and secured thereto by swivel pin 20, and screw pins 21, 21, (see
Fig. 10 & 11.)
Again. The front fork is built up as follows:-The upper end 22, is made
tubular to receive the extension part 23, of the piece 19. In the end of the part 23,
is fixed the pin 24, which is passed through the fixed collar 25, and secured thereto
(so that the tubular part 22, may rotate thereon) by lock nuts 26. Upon the
external of the tubular part 22, is carried a projection or tooth 27, which gears
into the slot or jaw 18, upon the rear fork.
Attached to the part 10, is the socket 28, in which is carried the steering bar 5.
Upon this steering bar is secured a plate 29, having a projection 30, which gears
into the slot. 17, upon the rear fork.
The steering is therefore effected thus:-Upon turning the steering bar 5, to
the right or left, the projection 30, moves the plate 15, and of course with it the

page_text: rear fork 4. The motion of the fork 4, in its turn moves the plate 16, (which is
in one therewith) which by reason of the jaw 18, moves the projection 27, and by
so doing the front fork 2, is rotated, thus causing the front and rear forks to be
simultaneously steering.
As before remarked and as shown in Fig. 14: the plates 15, 16, & 28 &
projection 27, may be substituted by teeth being formed thereat, to work one into
the other similar to bevil wheels, but I find it is more troublesome to make than
the equivalent parts elsewhere illustrated and described.
Again. In order to carry out the arrangement whereby the manipulative force of
the rider shall be about parallel to the line of the front fork, the bracket 8, which
carries the saddle 7, is hinged at 31, and further supported by the spring 10.
Within this spring is carried a two part rod 9, having at the inner end of the one
part a pin 32, free to move along but not to leave the slot 33, in the other part
rod; so that in the rare event of the spring breaking the rod would support the
saddle, while in the ordinary way the slot 33, would be longer than necessary for
the vibration of the spring.
I would here also point out the importance in the form and build and yet
lightness of the frame of my machine. The double sides of the rear fork for
instance being carried right to the top makes it very strong and rigid, yet light.
The firm solid attachment of the part 19, to the part 23, coupled with the
external tubular part 22, again makes the front fork firm and strong.
Also, the relative rearward position of the rider to the centres of the wheels
enables the front wheel the more readily to mount over obstacles when running.
It will be self evident that the construction of frame here illustrated and shown
only as applied to a bicycle will be equally applicable to a tricycle with but little
adaptation in its connection to the arbor of the rear wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. Making the frames of cycles of two essential extended front and back forks
whose lines intersect each other at right angles, substantially in the manner
described and illustrated upon the drawings.
2. The combination in a cycle, of the front and back forks and wheels, and
steering bar and handles, with the projecting plates 15 and 16, and projections 27
and 30, or their equivalent toothed wheels constructed and operating substantially
as described and shown and for the purposes specified.
3. The employment in steering cycles, of a tooth or projection upon or in
connection with the steering handle, engaging with a slotted plate upon the
moveable (rotating) fork substantially as described & illustrated.
4. Carrying the saddle of cycles so as to obtain an approximate parallel thrust
or strain with the front fork, by the combination of the frame, the wheels, and
treadles and treadle arbor &c., with the bracket 8, and spring 10, having the rod 9,
substantially as described and shown.
3. Carrying the treadle arbor of such machines by means of rods or stays (14)
connected at their upper ends to the back fork only and having no support or stay
from the front part of the frame, substantially as shown and described upon the
drawings.
Dated this 6th day of June 1891
CHARLES T. POWELL,
12, Cherry Street, Birmingham, Applicant's Agent.