Year: 1885

page_text: I, THOMAS HUMBER of Beeston in the County of Nottingham Cycle Manu-
facturer and Machinist do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is firstly to provide a spring in connection with the
steering wheel in such manner as to prevent the jarring of the wheel-on the road
being communicated to the steering handle by which the position of the wheel is
controlled. carry this out preferably in connection with automatic steering gear
in which a spring is applied tending constantly to place the steering wheel in the
position for straight running.
The arrangement as adapted to an automatic front steerer is as follows:-at
the fore part of the frame an inclined tube is carried; it receives within it another
tube to which at its upper end the steering cross head or handle is secured. On
the inner tube there is also a cam or inclined block which as heretofore in
automatic steering gear working in conjunction with a corresponding fixed cam or
inclined block which in this case is secured at the upper end of the outer tube.
The inner tube projects at its lower end from the outer tube and a spring is
interposed between the two; it abuts against flanges on each. This spring is the
automatic steering spring it draws down the inner tube, holds the two cams or
inclined blocks in contact and when permitted to do so places the steering handle
for direct progress. The stem of the fork carrying the steering wheel enters the
inner tube and it abuts at its upper end upon a coiled spring contained within
the tube. The load is transmitted to the steering wheel through this spring and
the spring plays as the wheel passes over inequalities in the road. The steering
handle when turned carries the wheel round with it by means of a key which
passes through the stem of the wheel fork, and projects so that its ends enter
slotted holes in the inner tube to which the handle is attached.
To carry the seat I employ the following spring mechanisın; it consists of a
short base plate or bar clamped to the frame of the vehicle; the base plate has a
TD 077

page_text: joint at one end and a spring blade is connected with it by this joint. The spring
is coiled around the joint in two complete open coils and it then projects horizontally
over the top of the base plate and parallel to it.
At the end distant from the joint the spring blade is connected with the base
plate by a bolt which allows play within limits. There is a helical spring
surrounding the bolt and between the base plate and the spring blade; it supports
the spring blade and on this latter the seat is secured by clips. The position of the
seat on the blade admits of adjustment as does also the position in which the base
plate is clipped on to the frame of the tricycle or vehicle..
Dated this 19th day of October 1885

page_text: пртотощеню
I, THOMAS HUMBER of Beeston in the County of Nottingham Cycle Manu-
facturer and Machinist 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:-
The object of this invention is firstly to provide a spring in connection with the
steering wheel in such manner as to prevent the jarring of the wheel on the road
being communicated to the steering handle by which the position of the wheel is
controlled. I carry this out preferably in connection with automatic steering gear
in which a spring is applied tending constantly to place the steering wheel in the
position for straight running.
The arrangement as adapted to an automatic front steerer is as follows:-at the
fore part of the frame an inclined tube is carried; it receives within it another
tube to which at its upper end the steering cross head or handle is secured. On
the inner tube there is also a cam or inclined block which as heretofore in
automatic steering gear works in conjunction with a corresponding fixed cam or
inclined block which in this case is secured at the upper end of the outer tube.
The inner tube projects at its lower end from the outer tube and a spring is
interposed between the two; it abuts against flanges on each. This spring is the
automatic steering spring it draws down the inner tube, holds the two cams or
inclined blocks in contact and when permitted to do so places the steering handle
for direct progress. The stem of the fork carrying the steering wheel enters the
inner tube and it abuts at its upper end upon a coiled spring contained within the
tube. The load is transmitted to the steering wheel through this spring and
the spring plays as the wheel passes over inequalities in the road. The steering
bandle when turned carries the wheel round with it by means of a key which
passes through the stem of the wheel fork, and projects so that its ends enter
slotted holes in the inner tube to which the handle is attached or in place of this
arrangement other suitable means may be adopted as herein after explained for
causing the wheel to be carried round when the steering handle is turned.
To carry the seat I employ the following spring mechanism; it consists of a.
short base plate or bar clamped to the frame of the vehicle; the base plate has a
joint at one end and a spring blade is connected with it by this joint. The spring
is coiled around the joint, in two complete open coils and it then projects
horizontally over the top of the base plate and parallel to it:
At the end distant from the joint the spring blade is connected with the base
plate by a bolt which allows play within limits. There is a helical spring
surrounding the bolt and between the base plate and the spring blade; it supports
the spring blade end on this latter the seat is secured by clips. The position of the
seat on the blade admits of adjustment as does also the position in which the base
plate is clipped on to the frame of the tricycle or vehicle.
In order that my said invention may be most fully understood and readily
carried into effect I will proceed to describe the drawings hereunto annexed...

page_text: Figure 1 is a front elevation of the parts in connection with the steering wheel
of an automatic front steering tricycle.
Figure 2 is a sectional side elevation of the same.
Figure 3 shows a modified form.
Figure 4 shows another modified form..
+
Figure 5 is a perspective view of a spring saddle support constructed in accordance
with my invention.
In Figures 1 and 2 a is the fore part of the frame of the tricycle. b is an
inclined tube fixed to the frame. c is another tube within the tube b. d is the
steering cross head or handle its stem d¹ enters within the tube c at its upper end
and is securely fixed by rivets or otherwise. c² is a cam or inclined block fixed on
the tube c. 62 is a similar cam or inclined block fixed on the tube b. e is a coiled
spring surrounding the lower end of the tube c'immediately above the fork in
.which the steering wheel is held. The spring e abuts against a flange c on the
tube c and also against another flange 63 on the tube b. As the spring e is in
compression it brings together the inclined faces of the blocks 62 and c² and when
permitted to do so holds them in the position shown in Figure 2 and with the
steering wheel parallel to the main wheels.
When force is applied to the cross head to steer the vehicle to the right or left
the spring e is further compressed as the incline on the block c² ascends the incline
on the block. 6. As soon as the cross head is released the spring e. causes the
return of these parts to the position in which they are represented in the drawing.
f is the steering wheel and g is the fork in which it is held. g¹ the stem of this
fork it enters within the tube c. and bears at its upper end against the coiled
spring contained within c. The other end of the spring h abuts on a disc or stop
at the closed upper end of the tube c. The stem g has a slotted hole in it at g*
and a key c fixed into the tube c passes through it. The stem g¹ is consequently
able to play up and down in the tube c the spring h yielding as the wheel passes
an obstacle and the jar which otherwise would be transmitted to the steering
. handle and the hands of the rider is avoided. The slot g* and key c* ensure the
movement of the steering crosshead being transmitted to the steering wheel.
The cams or inclined blocks b and c and the spring.e ensure when the steering
handle is released that the steering wheel is set for direct forward movement.
As before stated other means may be resorted to for preventing the stem gl
turning within the tube o in place of using the key c* and the alot g*. Thus as is
shown in Figure 3 the stem g¹ may be square and may be passed through a square
hole in a block C fixed within the tube o. Or the stem might be semi-circular or
triangular or of other convenient form and the hole through the block C be shaped
to correspond. Or the stem g¹ might be prevented from turning within the tube
in the manner shown at Figure 4.
In this construction the stem is circular, its lower end where it joins the fork
has an arm x extending from it which carries a short stem y parallel with the
stem.g¹.
The lower end of the tube has also an arm & extending from it through which
the short stem y works,
In these cases in addition to the spring operating as already described I prefer
to employ a second and opposing spring H so that the stem may never come to a
dead stop. This method of preventing jarring although conveniently applied in
connection with automatic steering is capable of being used without it-the only
change necessary is to arrange the tube c to turn but not to slide within the
tube b and to omit the cams b* and c³,
In Figure 5 k is a base plate or bar clamped on to the frame of the vehicle.
7 is a spring blade jointed to k at . At the blade is coiled around the joint k¹

page_text: in two open coils. is the horizontal limb of the blade and upon this the saddle
is clamped in the usual way-m is a coiled spring supporting the fore end of the
blade l, and n is a bolt passing through the parts k and land through the interior
of the coiled spring. The belt n restrains the upward tendency of both the blade l,
and the spring m when the weight is off the saddle.
This arrangement of springs gives great elasticity and prevents to a great extent
the rider being jarred by the irregularities of the rod.
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.) Steering gear for tricycles or like vehicles provided with two springs one
yielding as the wheel passes obstacles so that the movement of the wheel is not
transmitted to the hands of the rider and the other yielding when the steering
wheel is set obliquely to the main wheels and causing the return of the steering
wheel immediately the steering handle is released.
(2.) Steering gear for tricycles and like vehicles consisting of the following parts;
the tube b and the tube c, to which the steering handle is attached; the steering
wheel and fork; the stem g¹ of this fork sliding without turning in the tube c and
the coiled spring h on which the stem gl abuts within the tube c.
3. The steering gear for tricycles or like vebicles substantially as described and
illustrated at Figures 1 and 2.
4. The steering gear for tricycles or like vehicles substantially as described and
illustrated at Figure 3.
5. The steering gear for tricycles or like vehicles substantially as described and
illustrated at Figure 4.
6. A saddle support for a tricycle or like vehicle consisting of the parts k. l.
m and n.