Improved Construction of Velocipedes and the like Machines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
Date of Application, 15th Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Construction of Velocipedes and the like Machines.
ELI DAVIDSON, residing at Tattershall Drive North, The Park, in the Town
and County of the Town of Nottingham, Wholesale Druggist do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
.
It being a
For the improved construction of velocipedes and. the like machines.
desideratum to reduce vibration to a minimum, especially as regards the handle-
bar or steering apparatus, I insert open helical springs between the point at which
vibration is set up, and the point of contact with the machine and the riders
hands.
Hitherto the forks which have carried the bearings of the wheel axles and the
handle-bar have been so constructed as to form one piece so that all irregularities
of the road or track are conveyed direct to the hands and body of the rider,
producing ill effects, which my invention will prevent, giving greater comfort in
riding velocipedes and the like machines. I will now describe several ways of
applying my invention for the prevention of vibration by adjusting it to the point
in the construction of the machine where it will most effectually prevent the
vibration being transmitted to the rider. At the terminal of each fork which
carries the wheel axles, instead of a fixed hole I insert a bracket or jaw which is
brazed or otherwise secured to the ends of the forks, these brackets or jaws carry
two bearings one above another, through which a slide passes, the centre of which
is flattened to form a disc in which holes are made to carry the wheel axles, one
edge of this disc slides in a groove cut in the brackets to prevent any twisting and
to give rigidity in steering, allowing the wheel to run central of its fork. By
inserting the open helical springs on the upper end of the slide above the disc
which carries the wheel axle and abuting under the upper bearing of the bracket
or jaw a cushion is formed close to the axle of the wheel the point at which the
vibration is set up, so that when any obstruction or irregularity is met by the
wheel the open springs in the brackets compress, the wheel being allowed to rise in
its fork instead of jolting the whole machine and setting up the objectionable
vibration.
Another way of applying the open helical springs, is by making the brackets or
jaws with two fixed rods parallel to each other and secured by being passed
through holes in the brackets or jaws and having lock nuts on the ends, the bearing
for the wheel axle is made with two parallel boles to slide on the fixed rods and an
open helical spring on, each rod above the bearing and under the upper part of
the bracket, the double fixed rods preventing any twisting when. steering the
machine.
Another mode is made by utilizing the tubes (which are generally used in the
construction of velocipedes and like machines) those forning the forke are cut to a
suitable length and a ferrule brazed round the ends to give strength and finish,
a slide is made to fit inside the tube, and long enough. to reach the axle of the
wheel which it will carry, the end of the slide which is out of the tube being
fashioned for that purpose and holes made to receive the axle ends. That portion
of the slide which is inserted in the fork tube may be grooved to admit of the
insertion of steel balls between the edge of the slide and the inside of the tube.
This facilitates the play of the slide, stops being fixed at the ends of the grooves

page_text: to prevent the balls falling out, a slot is cut in the centre of the slide a screw
passing through the tube and slot in the slide secures the wheel to the fork,
allowing the necessary play for the helical springs which are made flat or oblong
in this case, in order to insert them inside the tubes above the slides, and under-
neath a suitable stop formed inside the tube.
The following particulars for this improved construction are necessary.
The fixing of the brackets or jaws must allow the slides which carry the axles
and springs to play at an angle which is found at a point half the distance from a
right angle line passing through the axle of the wheel and a line passing through
the length of the fork and handle-stalk down to the base or floorline thus giving
the proper rake at which to construct machines to enable the springs to play
with the greatest freedom.
These particulars being observed will admit of these arrangements being applied
to all bearings on velocipedes and the like machines allowing the wheel and axles
to play in a vertical direction, cushioning on the helical springs and their
abutments preventing both jolting and vibration in the machine and discomfort to
its rider.
Dated this Twelfth day of October 1806
ELI DAVIDSON.
*Improved Construction of Velocipedes and the like Machines.
I, ELI DAVIDSON of Tattershall Drive North, The Park, Nottingham, in the
County of Notts, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved method of aud device for mounting the
axles of the wheels of velocipedes and like machines in the frames adapted to carry
them, the object being to reduce vibration to a minimum, and it consists in
mounting them in slides mounted in brackets carried by the said frames, in
controlling the movements of the said slides by suitable springs, and in so mounting
and guiding the said slides that they are extremely sensitive to shocks although
the rigidity of the machine is not impaired.
In similar devices already used the great defect is that if the brackets or slides
are free enough to allow the springs to act to absorb small vibrations, the transverse
rigidity of the machine is considerably impaired, but by my improved construction
this defect is entirely obviated.
In the accompanying drawing which shows-by way of example-my invention
applied to the rear part of the frame of a bicycle for carrying the driving
wheel:-
Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation,
Figure 2 is a view in cross section on line a, a, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a broken view in side elevation showing another way of carrying-my
invention into practice, and
Figure 4 is a view in cross section on lines y, y, Figure 3.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The terminals of each member of the forks or frames adapted to carry the
axle X of the wheels are shaped or arranged to form brackets A which carry two
bearings a and a located one above the other. In these bearings is mounted
a slide B which at or about its centre is arranged to carry one end of the axle X,
the other end being carried by a similar device on the end of the other member of
the fork or frame.

page_text: Around the upper part of the slide B is mounted a suitable spring such as C
adapted to bear against the under side of the bearing a ani so act to support the
weight of the machine and rider, and if desired a small buffer spring such as C¹
may be mounted on the lower part of the slide B as shown.
The slide B is so shaped that one of its sides 6 bears against the adjacent face a
of the bracket A and engages therewith so as to act as a guide against torsional
strain, balls or rollers being preferably interposed between the surfaces as shown.
by the drawings to reduce friction to a minimum.
It will be apparent that with this construction the parallel movement of the
slides is maintained, apart from the tie effected by fixing the axle to them.
For convenience in construction the slides B are made round but this is not
obligatory as one or both ends may be made of rectangular shape as shown by
Figures 3 and 4 whereby balls or rollers may be introduced on both sides of the
slides.
In the construction illustrated by the accompanying drawing the slides B are
shaped to adapt them to carry the axle of the driving wheel provision being made
for the adjustment of the said axle with respect to the frame. In slides adapted to
carry the axle of the steering wheel no such provision is necessary.
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.) The combination of parts hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
accompanying drawing, forming my improvement in velocipedes and like
machines.
(2.) In a velocipede or like machine the axles of the wheels of which are
carried by slides mounted in bearings formed on or fixed to the frame and in which
the movements of the said slides with respect to the frame are controlled by
springs, guiding the slides so as to ensure their parallel movement by causing them
to take a bearing against or otherwise engage with the adjacent faces of the
brackets on the frame carrying the bearings of the said slides either with or
without balls or rollers interposed between the said sliding parts, as and for the
purpose set forth.
(3.) In a velocipede or like machine the combination with the frame and axles
of the wheels, of slides such as B adapted to receive the said axles each having
one side fitting in sliding contact with brackets such as A carried by the frame of
the machine, of slides such as B adapted to carry the axles, of bearings such as a
and a carried by the brackets A and adapted to receive the slides B, and of
springs such as C and C' encircling the ends of the slides, all combined, arranged
and adapted to operate, as and for the purpose set forth.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.