NAD Appliance for Opening Cycle Forks to Remove the Wheel therefrom.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
TUNAD
Appliance for Opening Cycle Forks to Remove the Wheel
therefrom.
JOHN BOWER SMITH 7 Golden Hillock Road Birmingham Commercial
Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
An apparatus by which the ends of front forks of a cycle can be pulled or
pushed apart so as to remove the wheel.
It consists of two plates or bars to press on the inside of the forks, a connecting
bar or screw when turned round forcing one of the plates through which it passes
away from the other which is at the extreme end of the connecting bar or screw.
The same effect may be produced by a bar with hinge joint screw joint or
any other method by which the plates pressing against the fork sides may be
forced the required distance to enable the fork ends to disconnect from the spindle
of hub.
1000
Appliance for Opening Cycle Forks to Remove the Wheel
therefrom.
I, JOHN BOWER SMITH, of 7, Golden Hillock Road, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of my
said 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 has for its object an improved appliance for opening cycle forks,
by which the ends of the forks of a cycle can easily be pulled or pushed apart so
as to remove the wheel.
In order that my invention may be more clearly understood and easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which
I have illustrated four examples of my appliance for opening cycle forks.
Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a screw motion for opening the jaws or
horns of my cycle fork expander.
Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the jaws or horns opened by means of a
lever.
Figure 3 is a modification of Figure 2 showing one of the jaws forming part of
the lever L.
In carrying my invention into practice I mount the fixed jaw or horn A on one
end of the bar B and on the opposite end of this bar, which has a screw thread cut
part way down its length 1 mount the movable jaw or horn A¹, which moves up or
down the said bar by turning the handle or lever . The ends of these jaws or
horns are formed concave on their outer surfaces and these ends are covered with
india rubber or other soft material. The rod C, which is provided for the purpose

page_text: of steadying the jaws, is fixed at one end to the jaw A, and the jaw A¹ slides up
and down on the opposite end. At the back of each of these jaws I form the
projections a' and a3 and connect the spring S to each, by which means the jaw A
is quickly moved back to its normal position. Instead of the spring being secured
at the back of the jaws or horns it may encircle the rod C, in which case the
projections a² and a³ would be dispensed with.
At Figure 2 I have shown a modification of my invention. In this case I fix
the jaw A to the bottom ends of the side plates D and D' and the jaw A' is fixed
to one end of the rod d²; the other end of this rod is pivotted to one end of the
lever L, which is pivotted at to the side plates D & D'; the opposite end of this
lever acts as a handle for opening and closing the jaw A. Although I have only
shown a lever & screw motion for operating the jaw or horn A', it will be quite
evident that it may be operated by a rack & pinion or other means.
. The modification as shown at Figure 3 is a very simple method and cheaply
manufactured. The bar E is cranked at one end so as to form the fixed jaw or
horn A and the end of the lever F, which is hinged at f¹ to the other end, forms
the movable jaw or horn A'. The lever F may have an enlargement or cam
formed end instead of the jaw or horn A¹ to operate upon a sliding jaw mounted
upon the bar E instead of operating direct as per Figure 34.
The modus operandi is as follows:-The jaws are placed between the forks of
the cycle and by turning the handle or lever 6' in the case of Figure 1 the jaw A'
moves outwards, thus expanding the cycle forks the required distance so as to
enable the spindle of the wheel to be easily disconnected and the wheel removed
without the least exertion, and as soon as the handle is released the spring draws
this jaw back to its normal position. In the methods as shown at Figures 2 and 3
after the jaws have been placed between the forks the movable jaw in each case is
operated by their respective lever.
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 :-
.CLAIMS.
First. The improved appliance for expanding or opening the forks of a
velocipede consisting essentially of two jaws or horns operated by a screw motion
or by the action of a lever or their equivalents in the manner and for the purpose
substantially as herein before described and as shown upon the accompanying sheet
of drawings.
Second. In an appliance for opening the forks of a velocipede mounting two jaws
or horns upon the ends of a screwed bar so that when the said bar is revolved the
jaws or horns are opened in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein
set forth and as shown upon the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Third. In an appliance for opening the forks of a velocipede mounting the
movable jaw upon one end of a rod, the other end of which is hinged to a lever-
hinged to the appliance and operating the jaw in the manner substantially as
hereiu set forth and as shown upon the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Fourth. In an appliance for opening the forks of a velocipede forming the fixed
jaw or horn on one end of a bar & hinging the movable jaw or born to the opposite
end of the said bar, the said movable jaw or horn forming part of the lever which
operates the same substantially as herein set forth and as shown upon the
drawings.
Dated this 1st day of Anril 1897
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.