Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct., 1890-Accepted, 6th Dec., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
I, THOMAS RICHARD DEVEREUX BINGHAM, of Wartnaby Hall, Melton Mowbray,
in the County of Leicester, Retired Captain Bengal Lancers, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My improvements relate more especially to means as hereafter described for
adjusting the chain gear of velocipedes whereby the rider can adjust the tension of
the chain with greater facility and accuracy than hitherto. For this purpose I mount
the chain wheel in bearings situated at the ends of two short arms which are jointed
at their opposite ends to the framework. On the extremities of the chain wheel axle
outside the bearings the cranks are keyed. One or both of the short arms has or
have a rod or rois jointed to the arms above the bearings of chain wheel the opposite
end or ends of the rod or rods is or are passed through a lug on the framework and a
screw nut or nuts placed on the rod or rods outside the lug, a set screw or its
equivalent being provided on the lug to clamp the rod. Or instead of a lug, the rod
might be passed through the framework itself."
The framework most suitable to my improvements is the so called diamond frame
type in which the gearing above described would be fitted at the angle at the lowest
part of the diamond frame which latter is or may be widened out and strengthened
at this part to take the lower ends of the arms for holding the gearing. The central
angles of the diamond frame may be connected by a tube or tubes.
The back part of the frame connecting the driving wheel bearings is carried round
the axle bearing and is brazed to a collar on the axle bearing whereby the back part
of the frame is practically made of one homogeneous piece of metal and consequently
is exceptionally strong at that part.
Gearing constructed in the manner above described is particularly applicable to
machines having weighted wheels similar to those described in the Specification of
my Patent No. 17484 of 1888, in the drawings of which is shewn a weighted wheel
having weights situated on the inner periphery and connected to the hub by cross
bar blades or tapered rods, the said rods being preferably made of steel.
Dated this 3rd day of Fahnuo1800
T. R. D. BINGHAM.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
I, THOMAS RICHARD DEVEREUX BINGHAM, of Wartnaby Hall, Melton Mowbray,
in the County of Leicester, Retired Captain Bengal Lancers, 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 improvements relate more especially to means as hereafter described, for
adjusting the chain gear of velocipedes, whereby the rider can adjust the tension of
the chain with greater facility and accuracy than hitherto.
My invention will be best understood by the following description having reference
to the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 being an elevation and Figure 2 a plan view of my arrangement for
carrying the crank shaft and for adjusting the chain tension, these views being drawn
to a scale of about 6 inches to the foot.

page_text: Figure 3 shews in side elevation a velocipede of the safety bicycle type constructed,
arranged and fitted according to my present invention.
Figure 4 shews in horizontal section on line ay of Figure 3 a part of the upper
frame with the seat pillar bracket, and
Figure 5 is a horizontal section on the line 'y' of Figure 3 shewing the arrange-
ment of the lower part of the frame for my chain adjustment.
Similar letters of reference refer to like parts in the various figures.
According to my invention I mount the chain wheel or crank axle A Figures 1
and 2 in bearings situated at or near the upper ends of two short arms or links B B
these being jointed at their opposite or lower ends to framework such as that hereafter
described. CC are the cranks keyed on to the extremities of the crank axle A one
or both of the arins or links B has or have a rod or rods D jointed thereto above the
bearings of the axle A and the opposite end or ends of the rods D are passed through
lugs E on the framework and the ro is D are secured by nuts, so that the position of
the arms or links B, and consequently of the axle and chain wheel, may be adjusted
thereby. In the drawings specially referring to Figures 1 and 2 there are shown two
rods D on one side and one on the other side and these are jointed by bolts D' to
upper projections on the arms B and then pass on either side of the said arms to the
framework, to which is brazed the lugs E. E' E' are nuts for fixing the rods D;
other equivalent devices may be employed instead of the lugs and nuts for holding
the rods 1) in position, but I have found these to answer the purpose well.
Instead of the lugs being employed the rods might be passed through the
framework itself.
The framework most suitable to my improvements and which I have shown at
Figures 3 to 5 when constructed according to my invention, is of the so called
diamond frame type in which the gearing above described is fitted at the angle at
the lowest part of the diamond frame which latter is, or may be widened out and
strengthened at this part as hereafter described to take the lower ends of the arms for
holding the gearing.
The upper member of the framework Figure 3 is composed of two tubes F parallel
to one another and a short distance apart, being brazed to projections from the centre
pillar G in front, distanced by a bracket piece H about centrally and the back part
of the frame connected with the driving wheel bearings is carried down to the axle
bearing receiving the back wheel between the said tubes F and they are brazed to
collars on the said axle bearings whereby the back part of the frame is practically
made of one homogeneous piece of metal and consequently is exceptionally strong at
that part. The lower member of the frame is also composed of parallel tubes. J J are
the forward lower tubes which are at their central ends joined by forging or casting
to other parallel tubes K K which pass on either side of the rear wheel and the rear
ends of the tubes K are fixed to the bearing collars of the said rear wheel.
At the joint between the tubes J and K the forged or cast connecting piece is
formed to receive a distancing bolt L on which the arms or links B B are mounted,
and it is to be particularly noticed that the arms B do not depend downwards from
the bolt L but extend in an upward direction and thereby enable the angle of the
tubes J and K to be taken advantage of for enabling the arms to be adjustably hold
by the rods D.
The bracket H which distances the upper tubes is also formed with a central socket
for receiving the seat pillar and from this bracket, tubes M extend downwards one on
each side and are connected to the tubes K.
Velocipedes with framework constructed as described and provided with the
improved chain adjustment devices are light and rigid and are capable of being
driven at a high rate of speed. The wheels most suitable for use with framework and
chain adjusting gear as before described, are such wheels as those I have shewn, the
front wheel measuring 36 inches in diameter and the rear wheel 44 inches in
diameter or thereabouts, and tangent or laced spokes may or may not be used as
desired.

page_text: 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
First: In velocipedes, mounting the crank axle carrying the sprocket wheel on
links B B the lower downwardly extending ends of which being mounted on the
framework, and the upper ends which carry the axle bearings being controlled by
adjustable rods D D attached to the framework whereby the tension of the driving
chain may be readily and accurately adjusted and such adjustment is not liable to
become clogged, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
Second: In velocipedes the construction and arrangement of the framework com-
posed of parallel tubing wherein the rear upper tubes F are bent down to the rear
wheel bearings, together with the arrangement of lower parallel tubes J and K, the
bracket H, the bolt L and the stay tube M the tubes F and J being joined at their
forward ends to centre pillar G all substantially as set forth.
Third: In velocipedes the combination with the construction and arrangement of
framework as heroin described and claimed, of the arms or links B B the lower ends
being mounted on cross bolt L the position of the said arms being adjustable by
rods D D hinged to the arms B B and held in lugs or equivalent devices to the
framework, the said arms B carrying at or near their upper ends the crank axle A
and sprocket wheel all substantially as and for the purposes herein described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
του.
T. R. D. BINGHAM.
By Brewer & Son,
33, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.