Improvements in the Steering Arrangement of Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1896-4ccepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Steering Arrangement of Cycles.
I, JAMES DUNCAN of 67, Kingswood Road, New Brompton, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:—
This invention relates to improvements in connection with the steering arrangement
of cycles and has for its object to provide a means by which the steering wheel
will be automatically returned into a straight position after steering to one side,
thus enabling the rider to guide his cycle very easily, and in a more direct line.
The device propose to employ consists of a spring preferably of spiral form
connected to the frame, and by means of a lever to chains or other connections
passing to the steering spindle, or to a part of the machine moving with the steering
wheel. The connection is fitted at each side so that on turning the wheel to either
side the spring is collapsed or extended and tends to pull the wheel back into level
position.
As applied to ordinary safety bicycles an arm is fitted to the steering spindle and
to each end of the armi the chain or other connection is fitted, Loth connections
passing to a lever carried by a small bracket or clip fitted to the frame. The other
end of this lever engages with a rod serving to collapse or extend the spring when
the lever is turned.
As applied to ladies cycles an arm is fitted to each fork to which the connections
are attached, the arrangement being otherwise similar.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had to
the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 shows a cycle fitted with my improvement in side elevation,
Fig. 2 is an elevation partly in section of the spring and connections,
Fig. 3 shows the cross bar attached to the steering spindle,
Fig. 4 is a detail view showing how the chain is connected to the arın, and
Figs. 5, 6, and 7 are detail views showing the device applied to a ladies cycle.
As shown in Figs. 1 to 4, the spring A is carried in a small tube or sheath B
supported by the clips or brackets U fixed or adjustably fitted on the upper tube D
of the frame. Within this tube and spiral spring the rod or spindle E is placed
extending from end to end of the case, and provided with the sleeve or disc e secured
on the spindle by the nuts e'. This disc bears against one end of the spring A the
other end of the spring bearing against the loose disc a carried by the collar b fixed on
the inside of the tube B. The spindle is provided with the adjustable stop e fitted to
the spindle by a small screw taking into one of a number of holes which allow the
stop to be fixed in the desired position. This stop limits the motion of the spindle
abutting against the disc or plate a. The spindle can be removed from the front
end of the case pulling out the disc a along with it the disc catching against the
shoulder at the end of the spindle. The nuts el allow the disc e to be adjusted to any
required position regulating the strength of the spring. To the other end of the
spindle the extremity of the elbow lever F is connected by means of a pin or bolt
and nut, the other arm projecting for some distance from the bracket, and being
provided with the holes at short distances apart. To the outer end of the lever the
chain or connection G is fitted provided with a forked end bolted to the lever
through any one of the perforations. By means of the perforations the conuection

page_text: can be adjusted to the desired position. Two connections are employed one at each side,
the rear ends of both being connected to the same link. The front ends are secured to
each extremity of the cross bar H fixed securely to any part of the steering spindle
and provided with forked ends h by means of which the chains are secured. Each
chain terminates in a screwed pin g which extends through the socket J which is
pivoted in the fork h so that it can rock or turn to one side. To complete the
connection the nuts are employed one on each side of the socket or perforated
block, the nuts allowing the length of the chain to be adjusted accurately.
As applied to ladies cycles, the front fork tube D' is provided with the arm H¹
preferably forked and secured to the tube by the clip A. The chain or connection G
is fitted to the extremity of this arm, the other part of the arrangement being similar,
to that described with the exception that the spring case is secured to the main,
tube D' of the cycle.
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 :-
(1) Improvements in steering apparatus for cycles, consisting in providing a cross
arm on the steering mechanism at each side, connections at each side passing to a
spiral spring fitted to the frame of the cycle and adapted to be collapsed or extended
on turning the handle bar in either direction, substantially as described and for the
purposes specified.
(2) In an improved means for regulating the steering of cycles, the combination
with a cross arm on the steering mechanism at each side, and connections passing
from each end of the arm, of a spiral spring, a case containing the said spring, a
spindle connected to the spring and a lever fitted at one end of the spindle and at the
other to the connection from the cross arm, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
(3) In an improved means for regulating the steering of cycles, the combination
with a cross arm on the steering mechanism at each side, and connections fitted to the
cross arm at each side of the cycle, of a spiral spring, a case containing the said spring
and fitted to the frame of the cycle, a spindle passing through the case, an adjustable
sleeve on the spindle bearing against the spring, a loose disc in the case against
which the other end of the spring bears, and an elbow lever fitted at one end to the
spindle and at the other end to the connections, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
(4) In an improved ineans for regulating the steering of cycles in which a
connection at each side is employed operating a spring fitted to the frame, the
combination with a cross arm or bar fixed on the steering spindle, forked ends on the
said bar and a pivoted socket or perforated block in the forked ends, of a screwed pin
at the extremity of the chain or other connection passing through the socket, and
adjusting nuts securing the parts together substantially as described and shown and
for the purposes specified.
(5) In an improved means for regulating the steering of cycles, the combination
with a cross arm on the steering mechanism at each side, connections fitted to the
extremities of this arm and an elbow lever at the other end of the connection, of a
spiral spring, a case carrying the said spring and fitted to the frame of the cycle,
a spindle within the said case connected to the elbow lever an adjustable sleeve on
the spindle bearing against the spring, a loose disc supported by a collar at the
inside of the case and an adjustable stop on the spindle, substantially as described and
shown and for the purposes specified.
(6) The improved means for regulating the steering of cycles, applied to ordinary
safety bicycles, constructed and operating substantially as described and shown in
Figs. 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified..
(7) The improved means for regulating the steering arrangement of cycles,
applied to ladies safety bicycles, consisting of an arm clamped to each front fork,

page_text: connections from the said arms and a spring device secured to the main stay of the
cycle, constructed and operating substantially as described and shown in Figs. 5, 6,
and 7 of the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
L10ne
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.