Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 8th Sept., 1891--Accepted, 7th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, ERNEST QUELLE, of 49 South Street, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to connect the wheels and frames of velocipedes
together in such a manner as to receive and absorb the vibration set up by
inequalities in the road, and by shocks and jolting.
I will describe my invention as applied to an ordinary rear driven "Safety"
bicycle, but its adaptation to other forms of velocipedes will be readily understood.
According to this invention I pivot the driving axle fork or frame and the crank
axle bracket to the main frame of the machine in such a manner that (1) the crank
axle; (2) the pivot of driving axle fork and main frame, and (3) the driving axle,
are in one straight line. I also connect the rear part of the driving axle fork or
frame to the main frame by means of a spring of any suitable shape or design.
To the driving axle fork I pivot one end of a stay rod, whose other end is pivoted
to the crank axle bracket. One or both ends of this stay rod is or are adjustable,
and while allowing free vertical movement of the wheels, the stay rod keeps the
sprocket wheels a proper distance apart, thus preventing the chain from slackening.
Two such stay rods may be used if required.
In the case of tandems, I may pivot to the main frame a second crank bracket
identical to the first already described, and connect the two together by means of
one or two stay rods, such as hereinbefore described.
The pivot of the driving axle fork and main frame (hereinafter referred to as
the main pivot) is placed just in rear of the crank axle, and behind the gear wheel
thereon, so as to obtain the full width between the pedal cranks. The main pivot
is made in the form of a cylindrical pin, turning on its longitudinal axis within a
tube or socket, the pin is attached to the fork or frame and the tube brazed or
otherwise. rigidly secured to the main frame or vice versa.
Dated this 11th day of December 1890.
66
CASTLE SMITH,
Invention" Office, 54, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I ERNEST QUELLE of 49 South Street, Camberwell, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to connect the wheels and frames of velocipedes
together in such a manner as to receive and absorb the vibration set up by
inequalities, in the road, and by shocks and jolting.
"
I will describe my invention as applied to an ordinary rear driven "Safety
bicycle, but its adaptation to other forms of chain geared cycles will be readily
understood.
According to this invention I pivot the driving axle fork or frame and the
crank axle bracket to the main frame of the machine. I also connect the rear
part of the driving axle fork or frame to the main frame by means of a spring
of any suitable shape or design. To the driving axle fork I pivot one end of a

page_text: stay rod, whose other end is pivotted to the crank axle bracket. One or both
ends of this stay rod is or are adjustable, and while allowing free vertical move-
ment of the wheels, the stay rod keeps the sprocket wheels a proper distance apart,
thus preventing the chain from slackening. Two such stay rods may be used if
required. In the case of tandems, I may pivot to the main frame a second crank
bracket identical to the first already described, and connect the two together by
means of one or two stay rods, such as hereinbefore described.
The pivot of the driving axle fork and main frame (hereinafter referred to as the
main pivot) is placed just in rear of the crank axle and behind the gear wheel thereon,
so as to obtain the full width between the pedal cranks. The main pivot is made
in the form of a cylindrical pin, turning on its longitudinal axis within a tube or
socket, the pin is attached to the rear fork or frame and the tube brazed or
otherwise rigidly secured to the main frame or vice versu.
And in order that my invention my be well understood and carried into practice,
I will now proceed to describe the same with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which similar letters of reference are used to denote the same or
corresponding parts throughout.
Figure 1 shews an elevation of a "Safety" bicycle constructed in accordance
with my invention;
Figure 2 is a plan of the back fork and the crank axle bracket;
Figures 24 to 10 shew enlarged views of details of construction; and
Figure 11 shews in elevation part of a chain geared tricycle made according to
my invention.
The driving axle fork or frame A and the main frame C are pivotted together
by the main pivot E. The driving fork or frame is also attached to the main
frame by means of the spring O P M, the end M of which is clamped or otherwise
rigidly affixed to the top of the stay fork A2 of the driving fork or frame. The
other end of the spring O P M is pivotted to the link NO whose other end N
is pivotted to the main frame C. Two springs may be used if desired, one for
each side of the stay fork A³, or the two sides of the stay fork may be connected
by a cross piece on to which the end M of the spring O P M may be rigidly
secured. The crank axle bracket G is pivotted at L to the main frame C. The
distance from E to L is such that the main pivot E is beyond the periphery of the
chain wheel J so that advantage may be taken of the full width between
the crank arms G' and the main pivot E made as long and as strong as possible
(see Figure 2).
Should the spring O P M be compressed until the pivot N touches the end M
then (1) the crank axle F, (2) the main pivot E, and (3) the driving axle D will
be as nearly as possible in the same straight line. I adopt this method of construc-
tion for the following reason:-the driving axle D describes an arc from the
centre E. As the driving axle D travels through this arc the stay rods Rare
moved longitudinally and being secured to the crank axle bracket G the latter is
given a small swing on its pivot L. It is desirable to keep this swing of the crank
axle bracket as small as possible to minimise the possibility of the pedals leaving
the rider's feet. To effect this it is necessary to place the pivot E in such a position
that the radius E D of the arc is horizontal or approximately so, thus the arc is
as nearly vertical as possible. I am aware that cycles have been already made
wherein the main frame and the rear fork or frame have been pivotted together
and used in combination with a pivotted crank axle bracket and with tension stay
rods, but hitherto the pivot has been placed either above or below the straight
line through the crank and driving axles, and consequently the crank axle bracket
has had a comparatively large swing on its pivot. I am also aware that cycles,
have been made wherein the main pivot has been arranged in a straight line with
the crank and driving axles, but this latter arrangement has only been hitherto
used with a fixed crank axle bracket, and consequently the elastic effect of the
springs and main pivot has been considerably minimised by the rigidity of the
crank axle bracket.

page_text: The stay rods R serve to keep the chain at its proper tension. Two of these
stay rods are used, one on each side of the driving wheel, they are pivotted at
each end, and are provided at one or at both ends with a nut working on the
screwed end of the stay rod, or with equivalent means for adjusting the tension of
the chain.
Figure 8 shews detached plan and elevation of the stay rods R used with the
cycle shewn in Figures 1 and 2, and Figure 9 shews plan and elevation of the
pivot K in which the ends of the stay rods are inserted. The rear end of each
stay rod terminates in a socket H. A lug His brazed or otherwise rigidly
affixed in a suitable position on each side of the rear fork or frame A. These
lugs H carry sockets similar in size to the sockets H on the stay rods; a bolt H³
is passed through both sockets and the nut H' is screwed up. The front end of
each stay rod is threaded and passed through a socket K on the tube K. The
tube K turns on a bolt or pivot pin whose ends are supported by the arms a and b
secured to the crank bracket G (see Figures 2 and 24). The adjustment of the
stay rods is effected by means of the nuts S working on the screwed ends.
$6
The main pivot E is on the centre principle and is in the shape of a box or
socket E open at one side to allow the driving fork to work, after the style of the
Stanley" head as used in ordinary bicycles. Or the main pivot may work in
end bearings secured to the main frame after the manner of the steering centre as
shewn at A in Figure 1. Figures 3 and 34 shew plan and side elevation of the
main pivot; Figures 4 and 5 are sections on the lines X X and Y Y respectively
of Figure 3; Figure 6 is a section on the line Z Z of Figure 4; and Figure 7
shews detached views of the box or socket Es, the pivot centre, and the cup U
for taking up the wear of the bush and pivot centre. This cup screws into a
collar E on the end of the box or socket E, the said collar being tightened
up by the bolt and flanges E as shewn in Figure 5, or a lock nut may be
substituted for the collar and flanges if found desirable. The cup U is provided
with small holes U bored in the end so that it may be unscrewed or screwed
up by a special key when desired. For lubricating the bush and pivot a small
aperture Us is bored through the centre of the cup U. A similar hole for lubri-
cating may if desired be bored through the centre of the other end of the box or
socket E as shewn at V Figure 7.
The pivot centre E' is provided with two tenon pieces E' on to which the fork
arms A are brazed or otherwise rigidly affixed. The main frame C is brazed
or otherwise rigidly secured to the box or socket E' at E' and E³ (see Figures 3
and 4).
Figure 10 shews a modification of the main pivot wherein a ball bearing is
substituted for the cone pivot and bush bearing shewn in Figures 3 to 7.
In Figure 11 the main pivot E is secured to the 1 shaped frame of the driving
wheels of a tricycle.
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 :-
1. In a chain geared cycle wherein the crank axle bracket and the rear driving
fork are pivotted to the main frame, the placing of the main pivot in rear of the
chain wheel and in the horizontal straight line passing through the crank and
driving axles, or approximately so, to obtain the full width between the pedal
arms and to reduce the swing of the crank axle bracket to a minimum, substantially
as described and illustrated.
2. In chain geared cycles wherein the crank axle bracket and the rear driving
fork is pivotted to the main frame by a main pivot situated in rear of the chain
wheel and approximately in the horizontal straight line passing through the crank
and driving axles, the attachment of the rear fork stays, or their equivalents, to a
spring or springs connected to the main frame substantially as and for the purpose
hereinbefore set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 3. The general arrangement of parts forming my improved chain geared cycle
substantially as described and shewn.
Dated this 8th day of Santambor 1801
F. W. GOLBY,
Agent for the Applicant.