Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 24th Oct., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
We, WALTER PHILLIPS, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Manager to
the Rudge Cycle Company, Limited, and ROBERT WALKER SMITH, of the Butts,
Coventry aforesaid, Machinist, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and is more especially
applicable to that class of velocipedes known as rear driven safeties, and the
invention has for its object to obtain a simple and efficient steering head or means
of connecting the backbone or frame with the steering post.
For this purpose, two horizontal lugs or bearings are formed or fixed upon the
steering post, one being located adjacent to, or forming part of, the clip or fitting
for holding the handle-bar, and the other being located adjacent to, and, if desired,
forming part of, the crown of the fork.
Upon the ends of the two parts of the tubular framing which are to be connected
with the steering post, are formed lugs or bearings corresponding with the lugs of
the steering post, and both faces of these lugs are formed with annular grooves or
races therein to receive a number of balls.
Each lug of the tubular frame is clamped to the corresponding lug of the steering
post by means of a bolt passing through both and threaded at its end to receive a
nut, and the head of this bolt is enlarged and grooved similarly to the lug of the
frame to form a race for one set of balls, whilst a washer screwing upon the bolt
and interposed between the lug of the frame and the lug of the steering post is
similarly grooved to form a race for the other set of balls."
The lug of the upper part of the tubular frame is clamped to the corresponding
lug of the steering post, whilst the lug upon the lower part of such frame is clamped
to the corresponding lug of the steering post.
By these means, a head is obtained which is very easy to manufacture, and which,
by reason of the employment of two sets of balls, one to take the upward and the
other the downward thrust, constitutes a most efficient ball bearing.
In cases where it is desired to cheapen the construction of the head, we dispense
with the balls, and, if desired, with the washer, and clamp the flat faces of the lugs
together, or we shape them to form a cone bearing.
It will be understood that when it is desired to form a single connection between
the backbone or frame, and the steering post, one of the lugs upon the latter is
dispensed with.
Although our invention is hereinbefore described in connection with a rear
driven and front steering safety bicycle, it will be evident that it is also applicable
to some other classes of velocipedes.
Dated this 5th day of December 1890.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: (Improvements in Velocipedes.
We, WALTER PHILLIPS, of Coventry, in the County of Warwick, Manager to
the Rudge Cycle Company, Limited, and ROBERT WALKER SMITH, of the Butts,
Coventry aforesaid, Machinist, 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 :-
Our said invention relates to improvements in velocipedes, and is more especially
applicable to that class of velocipedes known as rear driven safeties, and the
invention has for its object to obtain a simple and efficient steering head or means
of connecting the backbone or frame with the steering post.
For this purpose, two horizontal lugs or bearings are formed or fixed upon the
steering post, one being located adjacent to, or forming part of, the clip or fitting
for holding the handle-bar, and the other being located adjacent to, and, if desired,
forming part of, the crown of the 'fork.
Upon the ends of the two parts of the tubular framing which are to be connected
with the steering post, are formed lugs or bearings corresponding with the lugs of
the steering post, and both faces of these lugs are formed with annular grooves or
races therein to receive a number of balls.
Each lug of the tubular frame is clamped to the corresponding lug of the steering
'post by means of a bolt passing through both, and threaded at its end to receive a
nut, and the head of this bolt is enlarged and grooved similarly to the lug of the
frame, to form a race for one set of balls, whilst a washer screwing upon the bolt
and interposed between the lug of the frame and the lug of the steering post is
similarly grooved to form a race for the other set of balls."
The lug of the upper part of the tubular frame is clamped to the corresponding
lug of the steering post, whilst the lug upon the lower part of such frame is clamped
to the corresponding lug of the steering post.
By these means, a head is obtained which is very easy to manufacture, and which,
by reason of the employment of two sets of balls in connection with each pair of
lugs, one to take the upward, and the other the downward thrust, constitutes a most
efficient ball bearing.
In cases where it is desired to cheapen the construction of the head, we dispense
with the balls, and, if desired, with the washer, and clamp the flat faces of the lugs
together; or, we shape them to form a cone bearing.
It will be understood that when it is desired to form a single connection between
the backbone or frame and the steering post, one of the lugs upon the latter is
dispensed with.
Although our invention is hereinbefore described in connection with a rear driven
and front steering safety bicycle, it will be evident that it is also applicable to some
other classes of velocipedes.
And in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood, and readily
carried into effect, we will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.

page_text: Referring to Figure 1. a represents the steering post of a velocipede, and
b. represents two horizontal apertured lugs or bearings, the upper one of which
forms part of the usual clip 6* for holding the handle-bar 6**, and the lower one of
which forms part of the crown of the fork a*, or the upper lug b. might be formed
upon the steering post a, or the lower lug b. might be formed upon a clip, as will be
readily understood.
The two parts of the well known tubular framing c which are to be connected
with the steering post a. are formed at their ends with lugs or bearings r. corre-
sponding with the lugs b. of the steering post, and both faces of the lugs c. are
formed with annular grooves or races therein to receive a number of balls d.
Each lug c. of the tubular frame c' is clamped to the corresponding lug b. of the
steering post a. by means of a bolt e. passing through both, and threaded at its end
to receive a nut el, and the head e of the bolt is enlarged and formed with a
groove e similar to that c' of the lug c. of the frame c' to form a race for one set
of balls, whilst a washer f. screwing upon the bolt e. and interposed between the
lug c. of the frame c' and the lug b. of the steering post a. is formed with a similar
groove f¹ to form a race for the other set of balls d.
The lug c. of the upper part of the tubular frame c' is clamped to the corre
sponding lug b. of the clip 6* whilst the lug c. upon the lower part of such frame c¹
is clamped to the corresponding lug b. of the fork a*.
By these means, a head is obtained which is very easy to manufacture, and which,
by reason of the employment of two sets of balls d. one to take the upward, and
the other the downward thrust, constitutes a most efficient ball bearing.
In the arrangement represented at Figure 2., which is intended to cheapen the
construction of the head, the balls d. and washer f. are dispensed with, and the flat
faces of the lugs b. c. are clamped together; or, if desired, the meeting faces of the
lugs b. c. may be formed one with a female cone and the other with a corresponding
male cone, as will be readily understood.
In the arrangement represented at Figure 3. which is similar to that lastly
hereinbefore described, the enlarged head e₁ of the bolt e. is formed conical, and
the aperture in the lug c. is similarly formed in order to allow of adjustment for
wear.
It will be understood that when it is desired to form a single connection between
the backbone or frame c' and the steering post a., one of the lugs b. upon the latter,
and the corresponding lug c. upon the frame c' are dispensed with.
Although our invention is hereinbefore described in connection with a rear
driven and front steering safety bicycle, it will be evident that it is also applicable
to some other classes of velocipedes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a velocipede, the combination of a horizontal apertured lug formed on, or
carried by, the steering post, a corresponding lug formed upon the backbone or
frame, and a bolt and nut to clamp them together, substantially as herein shown
and described.
2. In a velocipede, the combination of a horizontal apertured lug formed on, or
carried by, the steering post adjacent to the steering handle, a similar lug formed
on, or carried by the steering post, adjacent to the crown of the fork, corresponding
lugs formed upon the two limbs of the tubular backbone or frame, and a nut and
bolt to clamp each pair of lugs together, substantially as herein shown and
described.
3. In a velocipede, the combination of a horizontal apertured lug formed on, or
carried by, the steering post, a corresponding lug formed on the backbone or frame,
and having annular races formed in its upper and lower faces, a large headed bolt
passed through the lugs and having a race formed therein, a washer interposed
between the lug of the frame, and the lug of the steering post, two sets of balls,

page_text: one occupying each race, and a nut screwing upon the bolt to clamp the parts
together, substantially as herein shown and described.
4. In a velocipede, the combination of a horizontal apertured lug, formed on, or
carried by, the steering post, a corresponding lug formed on the backbone or frame,
a large headed screw bolt passed through the lugs, two sets of balls interposed
between the wearing surfaces, and a nut screwing upon the bolt to clamp the parts
together, substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 7th day of September 1891.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicants.