Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 28th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left 21st Apr. 1898-Accepted. 20th May, 1898
I, WORDSWORTH EVERARD JONES, of Dunsby Rectory, Bourne, in the County
of Lincolnshire, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the front or steering forks of bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes, and has for its object to prevent or absorb the
jar or jolt or vibration usually experienced by the rider through the handle-bar,
arising from the front or steering wheel passing over undulations or raised sub-
stances lying within the path of the machine.
In machines of this type as at present constructed, the spindle of the front or
steering wheel is connected directly to, and borne by the fork ends, and all jolts
and jars arising from the cause before mentioned is conveyed' directly through
the said fork to the handle-bar thereon and from this to the hands and shoulders
of the rider, but according to my invention such jolt, jar, or vibration is absorbed
at the point of connection between the said spindle and the fork ends, and does
not reach the hands of the rider.
In carrying my invention into effect 1 construct the lower ends of both members.
of the front or steering fork preferably in the form of a rectangular frame or
substantially so, in each of which I place a bearing plate, the ends whereof are
so formed as to engage with the sides of the said rectangular frames and slide
easily up and down the same, and in each of the said bearing plates a circular
aperture is provided which serve as bearings for the ends of the axle of the said
front or steering wheel.
Upon the upper and lower faces of the said bearing plates I fix or otherwise
provide suitable springs or solid or hollow inflatable or other blocks of rubber or
other elastic material, which abut against the upper and lower horizontal portions
of the said frames, and maybe occupy the whole of the spaces in these above and
below the said bearing plates, the upper of the said springs or elastic solid or
hollow blocks serving to absorb the vibrations caused by the said wheel passing
over the obstructions in its path, while the lower of the said springs or elastic
blocks would' absorb such vibrations as may be caused by the rebound of the said
bearing plates.
Although I have described my invention as applied to the front or steering
wheels of the machines named; I may find it convenient, and reserve to myself
the right to apply the same to other wheels if desired for the same or like
purposes.
D
theth 1
e T.1007
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: ovo many relating to velocipedes.
I, WORDSWORTH EVERARD JONES, of Dunsby Rectory, Bourne, in the County
of Lincolnshire, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:--
My invention relates to improvements in the front or steering forks of bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes and has for its object to prevent or absorb the
jar, jolt or vibration usually experienced by the rider through the handle bar,
arising from the front or steering wheel passing over undulations or raised sub-
stances lying within the path of the machine.
ני
In machines of this type as at present constructed, the spindle of the front or
steering wheel is connected directly to and borne by the fork ends, and all jolts
and jars arising from the cause. before mentioned is conveyed directly-through
the said fork to the handle bar thereon and from this to the hands and shoulders
of the rider, but according to my invention, such jolt, jar, or vibration, is absorbed
at the point of connection between the said spindle and the fork ends and does
not reach the hands of the rider.
In order that my invention and. the manner in which I purpose carrying the
same into effect, may be fully understood reference is hereinafter made to the
accompanying drawings of which:
Fig. 1 is a side view of a front fork end constructed according to one method
of carrying out my invention, while Fig. 2 is a section upon the line A Biof Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the front fork end according to a second or alternative
method of constructing my invention.
1
Fig. 4 is a view of such a fork end as Fig. 3, with one of the retaining plates
removed:
L
Fig. 6 is a view of the hub of a front or steering wheel of a cycle, of which
the fork ends (partly in section) have been arranged according to my invention,
and shewing the application of the method of construction illustrated by Figs. 3
and 4.
To carry
Referring to the method illustrated by Figs. 1 and 2.
my invention into effect I construct both the members A of the front
or steering fork of a bicycle, tricycle or other velocipede, with their lower ends
in the form of a preferably rectangular frame B, the inner surface of the two sides
of which said frames are of V or other suitable shape in cross section, to adapt
them for retaining between them a bearing plate C, the side edges of which said
plates are formed to correspond with that of the frame B so that the said plates
may freely slide vertically therein as suggested by Fig. 2, and in each of the said
bearing plates C a circular aperture is provided which form bearings for the ends
of the axle or spindle D of the wheel, the said plates being retained thereon by
nuts E in the usual way.
01.
The height of the plates C being half or thereabouts that of the depth of the
frame B, the spaces existing between the upper and lower surfaces of C and
the upper and lower ends of the frame B, I fill in with solid or partly solid
blocks F and G respectively, of rubber, rubber composition, or other elastic material,
the upper of which F serves to absorb vibrations caused by the wheel passing
over obstructions or undulations in its path while the lower one G would absorb
such vibrations as may be caused by the rebound of the plates C after compressing
the blocks F, and by this means the shocks.or jars consequent upon such vibration
that would otherwise be conveyed through the fork A to the hands and shoulders
of the rider, would be absorbed by the said resilient blocks F and G
1

page_text: In Figs. 3 and 4 I illustrate an alternative method of carrying my invention
into effect, according to which I provide the frames B of circular instead of rect-
angular formation, in each of which I place a circular block H of rubber, rüliber
composition, or other elastic material, and these may be solid or provided with
any number of holes J to regulate their resiliency as desired. The said blocks
may be retained in the frames B, by the means of any suitable cement, and if
necessary these may be prevented from rotation within B by the means of serra-
tions or teeth K formed upon the inner surface of the said frames (as at Fig. 4).
Each of the said blocks is provided with a central hole L of larger diameter than
and through which passes the ends of the axle or spindle D of the wheel, the said
blocks being enclosed upon their inner and outer surfaces by circular plates M
and M respectively, which have central holes adapted to form bearings for the
ends of the axle or spindle D, and each provided' with a central boss N, the outer
surfaces of which said bosses fit the holes L in the blocks H and thereby keep
the said blocks out of contact with the grease upon the axle D, the said bosses
being preferably separated from each other by a metal or other washer a.
inner of the said plates (M) abut against the ball-race cups P of the hub R and
are retained in position upon D by the means of nuts E in the usual way.
The
In this arrangement the frames B slides between the plates M, M' as the upper
or lower surfaces of the blocks H are compressed in absorbing vibration the effect
of such absorbtion being the same and for like purposes as that of the blocks F
and G in Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 although illustrating the application of Figs. 3 and 4
will also serve to make clear the application of Fig. 1.
Although I have described and shewn my invention as applied to the front or
steering wheels of the machines named, it is obvious that the same devices and
their arrangements may be applied to the hind wheel or wheels of such machines
for preventing vibration from reaching the seat of the rider or riders.
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:-
1st. As a means for absorbing vibration in bicycles tricycles and other veloci-
pedes the employment of spring cushions in the ends of the wheel forks of same,
in combination with means for retaining such blocks in position substantially
as herein described and shewn.
2nd. In an improved method of and means for suspending the frames of cycles
upon their axles, the formation of a rectangular frame such as B, upon the fork
ends, the said frames being each adapted to carry a sliding bearing plate C and
blocks F and G of rubber, rubber composition, or other resilient material the
aid plate being arranged to carry the ends of the wheel axle D substantially as
and for the purposes described and shewn by Figs. 1, 2, and 5 of the accompany-
ing drawings.
3rd. In an improved method of and means for suspending the frames of cycles
upon their axles, the formation of circular frames such as B upon the fork ends,
the said frames being each adapted to carry a circular elastic solid or cushioned
block such as H retained in position within the said frames by the means of
plates M and M¹ having bosses N forming bearings for the axles, D of the machine
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 3, 4
and 5 of the accompanying drawings..
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
No. 1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, E.C.,
Agent for Applicant.