Improvements in Cyclometers and Means for Operating the same.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 22nd Jan., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cyclometers and Means for Operating the same.
I, WILLIAM CLIFFORD HOMAN, of Meridin, New Haven County, State of
Connecticut, United States of America, Inventor, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in cyclometers and strikers therefor, and
consists chiefly in the novel arrangement and construction of the adjusting means
therefor.
The main objects of my invention are to provide a simple, inexpensive and
effective means for adjusting the position of the cyclometer and the striker, so that
said parts will co-operate in the most effective manner.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing, in which
Fig. 1 is a rear view of a portion of a bicycle, illustrating the operative positions
of the cyclometer and striker.
Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5 are like views of the cyclometer bracket, each illustrative of
different positions, whereby the lateral adjustment of the cyclometer is effected.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the cyclometer and bracket shown in Fig. 1.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation of one of the details.
Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the striker, some of the parts being detached and
partly in section.
A is the hub of the front wheel of a bicycle. B is a shaft projecting through
said hub. C is the lower end of the front fork, the same being secured to the wheel
in the usual manner. D is a screw-threaded nut working on the shaft B. E is the
supporting member of the cyclometer bracket, one end of which may be held
between the front fork C and the inner surface of the nut D. The upper end of
the supporting member E is bifurcated to form arms E', E². One of these arms, E²,
is off-set at a greater distance from the main supporting member E than the other,
for the purpose hereinafter described. F is a carrier of substantially tubular form,
projecting from one side of the casing G of the cyclometer. This carrier F is by
preference. internally screw-threaded, and is provided with a slot about midway in its
length. The space between the arms E', E2 is substantially the same as the distance
between the slot in the carrier F and the end of said carrier, so that the said
arms E¹, E² may embrace that part of the carrier on the other side of said slot,
as shown in Figs. 1 to 5. H is a set screw. When the parts are assembled, as shown
in any of the Figs. 1 to 5, the screw may be inserted and the arm of the carrier
adjacent the inner surface of the screw head, brought into close engagement with
the carrier to prevent accidental displacement. I is a star wheel connected to a
suitable train of registering mechanism within the cyclometer casing. J is a striker
carried by the spoke K of the wheel and adapted to impinge against one tooth of the
star wheel I at each forward revolution of the wheel, and thus intermittently
advance the train of registering mechanism. As the distance between the fork and the
spokes of a bicycle wheel varies in different makes of wheels, it is desirable to provide
an effective means whereby the cyclometer may be laterally moved into the path of
travel of the striker. The position indicated in Fig. 2 shows the cyclometer adapted

page_text: to present its star wheel in the path of travel of a striker carried by a wheel spoke,
which runs close to the front fork blade of the bicycle. Fig. 3 shows the bracket
reversed so as to move the cyclometer to a slight degree inwardly. Fig. 4 shows
another position by which the cyclometer is moved inwardly still further, while
Fig. 5 shows its extreme inward position. It is manifest that more than one slot
may be provided in the carrier and the bifurcated end of the bracket, and arranged
accordingly. The distance between the axial center of the cyclometer casing G and
the shaft B may be varied by loosening the set-screw H and swinging the cyclometer
body in the arc indicated in Fig. 6 by dotted lines.
The adjustment and attachment of the striker J is effected as follows: The rear
end of the striker is provided with a longitudinal slot adapted to receive the spoke K.
The rear end of the striker is also externally screw-threaded. Movable on this
screw-threaded portion is an adjustable nut, recessed in its rear surface to correspond
substantially with the side of the spoke. M is a washer, and N a set nut. When
the parts are assembled, the adjusting nut L is prevented from slipping on the body
of the striker by the screw-threaded engagement, while the set nut N securely holds
the spoke K between said adjusting nut L and the washer N. To vary the lateral
position of the striker J, the parts M and N are loosened and the adjusting nut L
rotated either forward or backward as occasion requires, and to a proper degree,
when the nut N may be tightened, again securing the striker in place. The radius
of the circle in which the striker moves may be increased or diminished by loosening
the set-nut N and moving the striker up or down on the spoke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:―
1. A cyclometer bracket comprising a bifurcated supporting member, one of its
forked arms being off-set at a greater distance than the other arm.
2. A supporting means for a barrel cyclometer, being, a carrier projecting from
one side of the barrel body, a slot in said carrier, a bifurcated supporting arm
embracing that part of the carrier to one side of said slot.
3. A supporting means for a barrel cyclometer, being, a carrier projecting from one
side of the barrel body, a slot in said carrier about midway in its length, a
bifurcated supporting arm embracing that part of the carrier to one side of said
slot, one of said forked arms being off-set farther than the other, and a set screw.
4. A cyclometer striker having its rear end screw threaded and provided with a
longitudinal slot, an adjusting nut thereon, and a set nut to the rear of said
adjusting nut.
5. A cyclometer striker having its rear end screw-threaded and provided with a
longitudinal slot, an adjusting nut thereon, a groove in the rear surface of said
adjusting nut, a washer, and a set nut to the rear of said adjusting nut.
Dated this 29th day of October 1897.
FELL & JAMES,
Agents for the Applicant.