Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Feb., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 30th Nov., 1888
I, MARTIN DIEDERICK RUCKER, of 32, Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London,
in the County of Middlesex, London Manager to the firm of Messieurs Humber
& Co. Limited, Cycle Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :-
may
castor
My invention relates to those classes of velocipedes steered by the front wheel,
and it has for its object mounting the said steering wheel so that it may be
have a
controlled by a direct acting transverse handle bar, and
like action to ensure the said steering wheel automatically returning to its central
position for running in a straight line without the use of cams springs or their
equivalents.
I am aware that the steering centres of the heads of forks or frames carrying
steering wheels have already been arranged to give a castor action to such wheels but
the heads or frames of such machines have usually been controlled indirectly by a
transverse handle bar through bridle rods or their equivalents, the friction of which is
more than sufficient to overcome the castor like action of the wheel unless a very
considerable amount of lead is given to the said wheel.
Hitherto with one exception all machines steered by a front wheel by means of a
direct transverse handle bar have had the steering head or joint so placed that its
axial line either iouches the ground at the point of contact of the wheel therewith,
or in advance thereof, the said axial line passing either in the rear of the centre
of the wheel or so far in advance of it as to cause the steering head or joint to rake
back at such an angle as to cause the frame of the machine to drop considerably
as the steering wheel is turned out of its central position, thus destroying the castor
action.
The exception herein before referred to, is that set forth in the application for a
Patent numbered 3935 of 1887. In this case the centres of the head or joint are
arranged so that the axial line thereof passes in advance of the centre of the steering
wheel, and so gives it a castor action, the head or joint being raked back so slightly
as will not allow the action of gravity to overcome the castor like action given to the
steering wheel by the position of the steering centres. In this arrangement the

page_text: transverse handle bar is mounted on the usual post carrying the lugs for the centres,
which are obviously in advance of the said post. Therefore to allow the said post to
oscillate a segmental slot is formed in the backbone, or inversely a slot is formed in
the post to allow the backbone to oscillate.
Although this arrangement answers admirably in practice it is awkward to construct
and adds considerable weight to the machine. Now according to my invention I
attain the same end without the use of the slotted frame.
1 mount the steering wheel in a fork which curves slightly forwards from the
centre of the wheel and rakes slightly backwards and carries at its upper end a head,
preferably a closed or "Stanley "head. The axial line of the centres of this head
therefore passes in advance of the centre of the steering wheel. From the top of the
said head I carry back a lug on which I mount a tubular post carrying the transverse
handle bar. By this arrangement I dispense with the slotted frame.
In conjunction with this arrangement of steering head I sometimes use the spring
post arrangement set forth in Patent No. 12491 of 1885, mounting the said device
within the tubular post carried by the lug on the top of the steering head.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, MARTIN DIEDERICK RUCKER, of 32 Holborn Viaduct, in the City of London
in the County of Middlesex, London, Manager to the firm of Messieurs Humber
and Company Limited, Cycle Manufacturers, 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 those classes of velocipedes steered by the front wheel,
and it has for its object mounting the said steering wheel so that it may be
controlled by a direct acting transverse handle bar, and may have a castor-
like action to ensure the said steering wheel automatically returning to its central
position for running in a straight line, without the use of cams springs or their
equivalents.
2L
I am aware that the steering centres of the heads of forks or frames carrying
steering wheels have already been arranged to give a castor action to such wheels, but
the heads or frames of such machines have usual been controlled indirectly by
transverse handle bar through bridle rods or their equivalents, the friction of which is
more than sufficient to overcome the castor-like action of the wheel, unless a very
considerable amount of lead is given to the said wheel.
Hitherto, with one exception, all machines steered by a front wheel by means
of a direct transverse handle bar have had the steering head or joint so placed
that its axial line either touches the ground at the point of contact of the wheel
therewith, or in advance thereof, the said axial line passing either in the rear of the
centre of the wheel, or so far in advance of it as to cause the steering head or joint
to rake back at such an angle as to cause the frame of the machine to drop considerably
as the steering wheel is turned out of its central position, thus destroying the
castor action.
The exception referred to, is that set forth in Jelley's Patent No. 3935 of 1887. In
this case the centres of the head or joint are arranged so that the axial line thereof
passes in advance of the centre of the steering wheel and so gives it a castor action,
the head or joint being raked back so slightly that the action of gravity does not
overcome the castor-like action given to the steering wheel by the position of the
steering centres. In this arrangement the transverse handle bar is mounted on the
usual post carrying the lugs for the centres of the head or joint which are obviously
in advance of the said post. Therefore to allow the said post to oscillate a segmental
slot is formed in the backbone, or inversely a slot is formed in the post, to allow the
backbone to oscillate.
Although this arrangement answers admirably in practice, it is awkward to construct
and adds considerably to the weight of the machine. Now according to my invention
I attain the same end without the use of the slotted frame.
The method I adopt to attain this end is illustrated by the accompanying drawing
in which Figure 1. is a view in side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to
my invention, and Figure 2. is a view-on an enlarged scale--in sectional elevation
of the steering head or joint of the said machine. Figure 3. is a view in side clevation
of a bicycle fitted with a modified form of my invention, and Figures 4. and 5. are
views on an enlarged scale-of the modification of the steering head or joint, the
former being a longitudinal section, and the latter a transverse section in the rear of
the head or joint.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.

page_text: Referring to Figures 1. and 2. I mount the steering wheel A. in a fork B. which
curves slightly forwards from the axle a. of the wheel and then rakes slightly
backwards and carries at its upper end a head C. preferably, a closed or "Stanley
head. The axial line of the centres of this head pass in advance of the centre
of the steering wheel. From the top of the head C. I carry back a lug c. on which
1 mount the tubular post D. carrying the pillar E. of the transverse handle bar F.
The head C. is fitted with a fixed centre cat its base, and an adjustable centre screw c²
at the top, both adapted to receive the neck-centre pin g. on the end of the backbone G.
in the usual mannner.
Instead of curving the fork B. I sometimes use a straight fork, and correct the
position of the head C. by setting its axial line at any angle with the centre of the
fork as shown in fine dotted lines in Figure 1.
Referring to Figures 3. 4. and 5. of the accompanying drawings. Instead of
curving the end of the fork B. I use a straight fork in a line with the steering post D.
and I carry the head C. forward of the said fork B. and steering post D. by means of
lugs b. and e, the said lugs being strengthened to prevent their spreading by means of
curved webs 161 on each side of the said head.
Although my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing as applied to a
bicycle, its application to a front-steering tricycle can be carried out in identically,
the same manner.
Those parts to which no reference is made herein, or which are not fully
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, present no novel features and are of the
types usually employed.
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
1 claim is
1st. Constructing the steering heads .or joints of velocipedes specifically in the
manner, and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. In a velocipede steered by a single front wheel, mounting the head or joint in
advance of the steering post, and in such a manner that the axial line of its centres
passes in advance of the centre of the steering wheel, as set forth.
3rd. In a velocipede, constructing the steering head or joint in the manner
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1. and 2. of the accompanying
drawing.
4th. In a velocipede, constructing the steering head or joint in the manner
hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 3. 4. and 5. of the accompanying
drawing.
5th. In a velocipede, the combination of the fork B. curving forwards from its point
of connection with the axle a. of the steering wheel A., the enclosed head C. mounted
on the top of the said fork, the lug c.extending rearwards from the top of the said
head and carrying the steering post D., all constructed, arranged, and operating as and
for the purpose set forth.
6th. In a velocipede the combination of the fork B., the lug b. mounted on the top
the said fork and extending forward to carry the head C., the lug c. mounted on
the top of the said head and extending rearwards to carry the steering post D., and the
curved webs to stiffen the lugs b. and c, all combined, arranged, and operating
as set forth.