IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Hillman, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick,
Machinist, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER
VELOCIPEDES."
Sealed the 22nd November 1878, and dated the 5th June 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Hillman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 5th June 1878.
WILLIAM HILLMAN, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinist.
PROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
$
IM-
My Invention relates to improvements which are partly more especially appli-
cable to bicycles and partly equally applicable to velocipedes with three or more
wheels.
The said Invention comprises, 1st, an improved construction of the front fork of
a bicycle, whereby the weight of the vehicle is reduced, and its stability is increased.
The said improved fork is constructed of four small metal tubes or tubular rods,
two on one side and two on the other side of the wheel. The lower ends of these
tubes are brazed or otherwise secured in iron or steel lugs or pieces, to which the bear-
ings of the wheel are attached. The upper ends of these tubes are attached to two
plates, which extend across the fork above the wheel. The said tubes pass through
the lower to the upper of these two plates. The said plates and the portions of the
tubes between them form the head or rudder of the vehicle and carry the centres
or pivots whereby the said head or rudder is connected with the backbone. Upon
the two front tubes are arranged two adjustable lugs, one on each tube, for carrying
the guiding bar. The said lugs are in the form of two rings placed at right angles
to each other.
I may modify this part of my Invention by constructing the said fork of one tube
attached to the head plates and to the bottom lug, and provided with a stay rod or
two stay rods on each side, extending from end to end of the said tubes, stretchers
being arranged at the lower plate to give the said stay rods a diagonal position and
the proper tension.

page_text: The said Invention comprises, 2ndly, a peculiar and novel construction of roller
bearings for bicycle wheels. The said bearings consist of a bearing box or case
formed of two annular or ring-shaped parts or halves. The axle has turned in and
around it a groove or channel, semicircular in its transverse section, and the said
halves of the bearing box are channelled or grooved in such a manner that when
the said parts or halves are properly fitted together upon the shaft they will enclose
an annular space or channel, circular in section, in which I place a series of balls
formed of steel or other suitable material. The two annular parts or halves of the
said box are united by screws or by other suitable means which permit them to be
adjusted to compensate for wear, and they are secured by a bolt or pin to the lug
in which the ends of the fork tubes are fixed, as above specified.
By having the said case or box divided into two halves in a plane parallel with
its sides, that is to say, into two annular grooved parts, fitted together around
the grooved or channelled part of the axle, I am enabled to adjust the said parts or
halves to compensate for the wear of the balls or bearing surfaces, without destroy-
ing or impairing the circular form of the bearings.
The said Invention comprises, 3rdly, improved steering mechanism, chiefly
designed for tricycles or three-wheeled velocipedes, in which the rider occupies a
seat between two large wheels (one or both of which may be driving or propelling
wheels), with a small guiding wheel in front of him.
According to this part of my Invention, I provide at one side of the seat a
tubular handle, shaped externally to be conveniently grasped by the hand, and
preferably covered with leather or india-rubber. The said handle is supported by
and between two brackets which are attached to the frame of the vehicle, and
which allow the handle to turn freely but prevent its moving endwise. A screw
rod with a very quick thread is passed through this handle, which has in it a
corresponding thread, and forms the nut for this screw rod. By turning the handle
the said screw rod will have imparted to it an end wise motion. This screw rod is
connected by a light rod of steel or other suitable metal to a lever fixed on the
vertical fork of the guiding wheel, and by manipulating the said handle the said
guiding wheel can be turned in either direction. I prefer to fix on the other side
of the seat a dummy handle to be grasped by the left hand of the rider.
In cases where it is desirable to provide a tricycle with a third large wheel in
place of the small guiding wheel, I may construct the fork of the said wheel in the
improved manner above described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Hillman in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th Decem-
ber 1878.
WILLIAM HILLMAN, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Machinist.
PROVEMENTS IN BICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES."
"IM-
My Invention relates to improvements which are partly more especially appli-
cable to bicycles and partly equally applicable to velocipedes with three or more
wheels.
The said Invention comprises, first, an improved construction of the front fork
of a bicycle, whereby the weight of the vehicle is reduced and its stability is
increased.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, of the Drawing;
Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 is a front elevation, Figure 3 is a plan or
top view, and Figure 4 is a horizontal section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
This improved fork is constructed of four small metal tubes or tubular rods a,
and when the said fork is in its place these rods extend downwards on both sides
of the wheel b, that is to say, two of them are on one side and two on the other
side of the said wheel, as shewn in Figure 2. The lower ends of these tubes a are
brazed or otherwise secured in iron or steel lugs or pieces c to which the bearings d
of the wheel are attached. The upper ends of these tubes a are attached to two
plates e, f, which extend across the fork above the wheel b. The said tubes a pass
through holes in the four corners of the lower plate e to the upper plate f, which is
formed with holes for the reception of their upper extremities, the said tubes or
rods being brazed or otherwise made fast in the plates e, f. These said plates and
the portions of the tubes between them form the head of the vehicle, and the said
plates support the vertical shaft or rod g, whereby the head is pivotted to the back-
bone h of the vehicle, that is to say, the said vertical rod g is formed or securely
fixed on the upper extremity of the backbone, its upper and lower ends being fitted
to turn freely on or in bearings formed at the centre of the said plates e, f. Upon
the upper plate or cap fare formed or arranged two clips i for carrying the guiding
bar or double handle j. The said clips are split and provided with small lugs i¹ fitted
with pinching screws, by tightening which the bar ; may be made fast in the
said clips.
As shown in the Drawing, the tubes a are taper, but I may use parallel tubes if
desired.
By this improved manner of forming the fork, it will be seen that I avail myself
of the principle of tubular construction, which, to those familiar with the subject of
machinery, is well known to afford the greatest strength or power of resistance
with a given weight or quantity of material.
I may modify this part of my Invention by constructing each side of the said
fork of one tube attached to the head plates and to the bottom lug, and provided
with a stay rod, or two stay rods, either solid or tubular, on each side, extending
from end to end of the said tubes, stretchers being arranged at the lower part to
give the said stay rods a diagonal position and the proper tension.
The said Invention also comprises improved steering mechanism, chiefly designed
for tricycles or three-wheeled velocipedes, in which the rider occupies a seat be-
tween two large wheels (one or both of which may be driving or propelling wheels),
with a small guiding wheel in front of him.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawing,
Figure 5 being a plan or top view, and Figure 6 a side elevation of the same.
I provide at one side of the seat a tubular guiding handle 7, shaped externally to
be conveniently grasped by the hand, and preferably covered with leather or india
rubber. The said handle is supported by and between two sides or lugs of a
bracket m attached to the frame of the vehicle; the said sides form bearings, which

page_text: allow the handle to turn freely on its axis but prevent its moving endwise. A
screw rod n with a very "quick" or coarse thread is passed through this handle 7,
which has in it a corresponding screw thread and forms the nut for the said screw
rod. By turning the handle the said screw rod n will have imparted to it an
endwise motion. This screw rod is connected by a light rod o of steel or other
suitable metal to a lever p fixed on the vertical fork a of the guiding wheel, and
by manipulating the handle the said guiding wheel can be turned in either direc-
tion. I prefer to fix on the other side of the seat a dummy or "grip" handle q to
be grasped by the left hand of the rider.
In cases where it is desirable to provide a tricycle with a third large wheel in
place of the small guiding wheel, I may construct the fork of the said wheel of
hollow bars or tubes, in the manner above described, and illustrated in Figures 1
to 4.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practise, I wish it understood that I
claim,―
First. The improved fork (for a bicycle or other velocipede) constructed of two or
more tubes, or hollow rods, or bars, as and for the purposes specified.
Second. The improved steering mechanism consisting of the screw nut or handle,
supported and confined by and between two bearings, which permit it to turn
freely but prevent its endwise movement, and which handle is fitted upon a rod,
whereon is formed a quick or coarse screw thread, and is thereby connected with
the steering or guiding wheel for the purpose of operating the same, as above set
forth.
Third. The combination of my improved steering or guiding mechanism with
the other parts of a velocipede, as shewn in Figures 5 and 6 of the Drawing, or
otherwise, as and for the purposes specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Hillman, have hereunto set my
haud and seal, this Fourth day of December, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
W. HILLMAN. (L.D.)