Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes and Kindred Machines.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 10th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 16th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes and Kindred
Machines.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD ROBERTS of Saint James' Square, Bristol, in the County
of Gloucester, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention for improvements in the construction of velocipedes and like
machines relates more particularly to the manner of arranging and mounting the
front or steering wheel or wheels, and consists of a double, or compound fork
connected to levers, or arms, fulcrumed upon the axle and operated by a spring
or springs, the object of which is to destroy, or partially destroy vibration or
shock to the driver, or drivers, when the machine encounters stones, ruts, or
other obstructions within its path or track.
To the
In carrying out my invention I provide a fixed or steering fork fashioned
according to my invention so as to carry upon each of its lower extremities
one end of a short lever or arın fulcrumed thereto or thereupon, the opposite
ends of said levers, or arms being pivotted to, or fulcrumed upon, or in other
words carry the axle of the front or steering wheel of the machine.
centre, or thereabouts of said levers, or arms rigidly attach the ends of a second,
or oscillating fork, which inclines therefrom for a short distance towards the
wheel, and is fashioned in such a manner that whilst being clear of the wheel it
is free to oscillate within and clear of the fixed or steering fork, and is connected
at its upper end by a spring or springs to a suitable arm or arms formed upon the
front or back, or front and back of the fixed or steering fork. The tension of the
spring or springs operate alike in supporting the weight, or part of the weight
of the rider, or riders, and in permitting the wheel to rise or ride over obstructions
within its path, in the former case the levers or arms are depressed at one end by
the weight upon the fixed or steering fork, and take their fulcrum from the axle of
the wheel, and in the latter case are raised at the opposite end by the rising of the
wheel, and find their fulcrum upon the lower extremities of the fixed or steering
fork, and in both cases the inner fork is caused to oscillate within the fixed or
steering fork against the tension of the spring or springs, and this without
imparting vibration or shock to the rider or riders. Suitable foot rests may be
formed upon the fixed or steering fork, and the steering arrangement carried out
in the most approved manner of such machines in general use.
Dated this 10th day of January 1891
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes and Kindred
Machines.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD ROBERTS of Saint James' Square, Bristol, in the County
of Gloucester, Cycle Manufacturer, 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 for improvements in the construction of velocipedes and like
machines relates more particularly to the manner of arranging and mounting the
front, or steering wheel, and consists of a double, or compound fork connected to
D
77

page_text: levers, fulcrumed upon the axle, and operated by a spring, or springs, the object of
which is to destroy, or partially destroy vibration, or shock to the driver, or drivers
when the machine encounters stones, ruts, or other obstructions within its path or
track.
In order that my invention and the manner of carrying out the same may be
clearly understood I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of part of a front, or steering wheel such as would be
employed upon a bicycle, or tricycle, the fork, or forks of which are constructed in
the manner forming the subject of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the duplex, or compound spring fork
and levers as shewn in position upon the steering wheel in Fig. 1.
Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all three views of the
drawings.
In carrying my invention into effect I construct the fixed, or non-oscillating
steering fork A fashioned in such a manner as to be able to carry upon its lower
extremities, or terminations A¹ and A" one end of two short levers, or arms B
and B, pivotted thereon by means of suitable bolts and nuts, pins, or the like,
which may be cupped internally to carry small balls as bearings, when desired.
The opposite ends of the levers, or arms B and B are each provided with a hole
through which pass the ends of the front, or steering wheel axle C, so that C is
free to revolve within the bearings thus formed by B and B', said axle being
retained within these bearings by any suitable means but preferably by that of
lock nuts screwed upon a thread formed upon the ends of C in the usual way,
so that while B and B¹ may be said to carry the axle C, the axle C may be
described as a fulcrum for B and B¹. To the centre or thereabouts of cach of the
levers, or arms B and B are rigidly attached, or formed integrally therewith the
ends of a second or oscillating fork D, constructed in such a manner as to incline
inwards from B and B¹ in its upward course, towards the wheel E and the fixed
fork A, but perfectly clear of both, in order that it may oscillate within A, and
over E, without touching either. The said oscillating fork D carries upon its
upper end a ring, hook, or other projection to which is connected one end of a
spiral, or other spring, or springs G, the opposite end, or ends of said spring, or
springs being connected to a projecting arm, or arms F, formed upon the front, or
back, or front and back of the fixed fork A. In the accompanying drawings
I have chosen to illustrate the application of one arm F upon the back of the fixed
fork, connected by one spiral spring G to the upper end of the oscillating fork D.
The tension of G in the case illustrated acts alike in supporting, or partly supporting
the weight of the rider, or riders, and in permitting the wheel E to rise, and ride
over obstructions within its path, without imparting shock, or vibration to the
rider, or riders. In the former case when the weight of the rider is upon the
machine, the fixed, or steering fork A would descend slightly, depressing that end
of the levers, or arms B and B', which would find their fulcrum upon the axle C,
but in the latter case should E meet with obstructions, or ruts within its path, it
would rise as shewn by the dotted outline thereof in Fig. 1, and ride over the
obstruction, B and B' would then be raised at their opposite ends, taking their
fulcrum from their points of junction with A' and A", and in both instances the
inner fork D would oscillate within A as shewn by the dotted outline in Fig. 1, the
spring G expanding to accommodate this, in the former case, until the weight of
the driver and the tension of G had reached the point of equilibrium, and in the
latter case, to an extent equal to the height of the obstruction, or the rise of E.
The levers, or arms B and B extending from A in a direction opposite to
that in which the machine would travel, enables the wheel E, to rise, or ride over
obstructions, or ruts within its path, so as to be scarcely noticed by the rider,
or riders.
The tension of the spring G would be guaged so that, when the rider is upon the
machine the inner and outer forks would be about parallel with each other, as in

page_text: Fig. 3, for the sake of symmetry, and when two arms F are used, one on the front
and one on the back of A, the tension of the spring G upon the former, would act
against compression, that of the latter (as in the case illustrated) against expansion,
and I may in lieu of a spiral spring for the front arm F, construct a small tube and
piston, so that the compression of the air contained therein would serve as a
cushion, when D is oscillating in a forward direction.
I may arrange a metallic loop attached to the upper part of A' and A" slightly
below the level of the top of D, and extending in a forward direction, so that
should the spring G accidently break while the machine is in use, said loop would
arrest the top of D and prevent the rider from falling.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is,
1st. For improvements in the construction of velocipedes and kindred machines,
the employment of a duplex, or compound spring fork, consisting of the parts
named and described, combined and operating as and for the purposes herein set
forth and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. For improvements in the steering forks of velocipedes and the like, for the
reduction of shock, or vibration, the construction and use of an internal fork D,
attached to, or forming part of, two levers, or arms B, and B', pivotted, or
fulcrumed upon the driving wheel axle C, and similarly connected to, and operating
in combination with, an outer fork A, provided with one, or more arms F, and
spring, or springs G, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn by the appended drawings.
Dated this 10th day of April 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.