Improvements in Tandem and other Bicycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tandem and other Bicycles.
I EDWARD COLSTON HILL, of No. 555 Euclid Avenue in the City of Toronto
in the County of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, Bicycle Dealer, 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 the invention is to construct a light, strong, easy-running and
easily controlled tandem bicycle, which may, when necessary, be adapted for a
single rider, and it consists essentially in connecting the saddle of the rear rider to
a portion of the frame detachably connected to the main frame so that the rider is
placed immediately above the axle of the rear wheel to which the pedal cranks he
operates are connected. A sprocket wheel connected to the rear axle is connected
by a driving chain with a similar wheel on the driving axle which has the usual
chain and sprocket connection with the hub of the rear wheel. An important part
my invention consists in providing both the axle and hub of the rear wheel with
independent ball bearings arranged between them, and suitably shaped pieces
adjustably connected to the rear fork connections of the main frame, the whole
being constructed in detail, substantially as hereinafter more particularly described.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine provided with my improvements.
Figure 2 is a section of the driving axle bearings.
of
Figure 3 is a sectional view of the hub and axle of the rear wheel and their
connections.
Figures 4 and 5 are details showing the method of connecting the detachable
frame to the main frame of the bicycle.
Figure 5 also shows the chain adjustment.
In the drawings, like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the
different figures.
In Fig. 1, A represents the main frame of the bicycle, which will be seen is of
the ordinary pattern and construction with a slightly elongated chain base.
B is the front wheel, and C the rear wheel connected to the rear forks of the
machine as hereinafter described.
The front rider is located on the saddle D, connected in the usual way to the
main frame of the bicycle, and operates the pedal cranks E in the usual manner.
F is the front handle bar, which may be either independent (for single steering)
or connected with the rear handle bar G (for double steering purposes).
His the supplementary frame supporting in an ordinary manner the rear
saddle D¹. This frame is detachably connected to the main frame at a and b as
shown more clearly in Figs. 4 and 5 of which a description is hereinafter given.
I are the rear pedal cranks connected directly to the axle of the rear wheel C.
The usual sprocket wheels J and K are connected respectively to the driving axle
and the hub of the rear wheel, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3 and are connected by the
driving chain L. Two sprocket wheels M. and N of equal diameter are connected
respectively to the driving axle and the axle of the rear wheel and are connected
by a second driving chain O. From this construction it will be seen that the
weight of the rear rider is located immediately above the axle of the rear wheel
thus enabling the frame of the machine to be made very short and therefore of
sufficient strength without greatly increasing its weight over that of the ordinary
single safety. The power of the rear rider being applied directly to the axle of
the rear wheel, is, by the sprocket wheel and chain connection, conveyed to the

page_text: driving axle and thence by the ordinary sprocket wheel and chain connection to the
hub of the rear wheel. Thus it will be seen that the rear rider pedals at the same
speed as the front rider, though by altering the gearing, any desired ratio of speed
may be obtained between them.
On reference to Figs. 4 and 5 the method of attaching the supplemental frame H
will be seen.
The upper brace P of this frame has a flattened end Q formed
thereon fitting into a split connection formed on the connection R, and secured
therein by a bolt and nut.
The forks T are slipped into split sleeves U formed on the connections V which
sleeves are made to securely grasp the lower ends of the forks by tightening the
clamp W. Other methods of course may be used to secure the supplemental frame
in position without departing from the spirit of my. invention. From these
connections it will be easily seen that the supplemental frame H may be entirely
removed when necessary and the machine is then serviceable for a single rider, and
is of no greater weight than an ordinary single roadster.
If it is desired to build the machine so that the front saddle may be used by a
lady rider, the upper brace of the main frame A, is replaced by the brace e shown
in dotted lines in Fig. 1.
An important part of my invention lies in the construction of the bearings of the
rear wheel and its axle, as illustrated in Fig. 3.
d is the axle of the rear wheel provided at its opposite ends with the ball cones e, e'.
The cone e is adjustable and is locked by means of a nut f while the cone e' is a
fixture on the axle. To the opposite ends of this axle the pedal cranks i are
connected.
N is a sprocket wheel rigidly connected as showu to one of the rear pedal cranks,
or otherwise made to revolve with the axle d.
M is a similar sprocket wheel on the driving axle i which is provided with the
usual ball bearings, and has the front pedal cranks E connected thereto.
jare pieces adjustably connected to the rear fork connections, as hereinafter
described, and cupped at k to bear on the balls running on the cones e, e¹ and coned
at 1. On these cones bear a second series of balls running in cups m formed on
the hub n of the wheel. To this hub is connected the usual sprocket wheel K
which, as seen in Fig. 1, is connected by the driving chain L to the large sprocket
wheel J on the driving axle. Sand bands g and h are formed respectively on the
cones e, e¹ and stationary pieces j. These sand bands fit into grooves in the
stationary pieces ; and the hub n as shown, to keep dust out of the bearings.
From this construction it will be seen that both the axle and the hub have
independent bearings on the stationary pieces j thus overcoming all the objections
on the score of extra friction urged against any arrangement where the ball
bearings of the hub of the rear wheel have their complimentary bearings on cones
revolving with the rear axle.
:
On reference to Fig. 5 the method of connecting the stationary pieces ; to the
connections V is shown. The connection V is formed in the usual way to embrace
the pieces which have toothed racks o formed on opposite sides thereof, which
eugage with teeth formed on the swinging jaws p of the chain adjustment. These
jaws are pivoted at p' and are held in position to engage the racks o, by means of
the screws gas shown. It will easily be seen that by releasing the jaws p the
tension of the driving chains may be readily adjusted, and that when the jaws are
clamped in position by the screws q, the stationary pieces ; are securely and rigidly
held in position. Though I describe this method of adjustment for the pieces j, it
will of course be understood that many others might be used to answer the purposes
of my invention.
From the above description it will be clearly seen that I have constructed a very
strong and exceedingly light tandem bicycle," which as a matter of fact weighs
scarcely any more than an ordinary roadster; that by my arrangement of the
bearings of the rear wheel, all undue friction is effectually overcome, and that
though it is not essential to my invention that 'the supplemental frame be detachable,

page_text: yet if it is made so the machine may be very easily adapted for use by a single
rider when necessary.
Although I describe my improvements as being applicable to a machine intended
for two riders it will of course be understood that they are equally useful in
machines intended for three, four, or a larger number of riders.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a tandem bicycle, a supplemental frame carrying the saddle of the rear
rider, consisting of a substantially horizontal brace detachably connected to the
upper rear connection and a vertical fork, the lower ends of which are detachably
connected to the lower rear connections of the main frame, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
2. In a tandem bicycle, a supplemental frame carrying the saddle of the rear
rider, consisting of a substantially horizontal brace detachably connected to the
upper rear connection and a vertical fork, the lower ends of which are detachably
connected to the lower rear connections of the main frame, in combination with a
rotatable rear axle to which the rear pedal cranks are connected; a sprocket wheel
and chain connection between the said rear axle and the driving axle; and the
ordinary sprocket wheel and chain connection between the driving axle and the hub
of the rear wheel, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a bicycle in which both the axle and hub of the rear wheel revolve, the
combination with stationary pieces connected to the frame of the machine; of a
series of balls arranged between cones connected to the axle, and cups formed in
the stationary pieces; and a series of balls arranged between cones formed on the
said stationary pieces, and cups formed in the hub of the rear wheel whereby both
axle and hub have stationary bearings on which to revolve, thus avoiding the
excessive friction resulting when one or the other has its bearing on a moving part,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. In a tandem bicycle, the combination of the rotatable rear axle d, adjustable
cone e and fixed cone e', stationary pieces j connected to the frame of the machine,
a series of balls arranged between the cones e, e¹ and cups k in the said stationary
pieces; a series of balls arranged between the cups on the hub n and cones on the
Baid stationary pieces; sprocket wheel N. fixed to the rear axle second driving
chain O; sprocket wheels M and J fixed to the driving axle i, driving chain L,
and sprocket wheel K fixed to the hub n of the rear wheel substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
5. In a tandem bicycle, the combination of the rotatable rear axle d, adjustable
cone e and fixed cone e', stationary pieces j connected to the frame of the machine;
a series of balls arranged between the cones e, e¹ and cups k in the said stationary
pieces, a series of balls arranged between the cups on the hub n and cones on the
said stationary pieces, sand bands 9 and h fitting into grooves in the stationary
pieces and the hub n; sprocket wheel N. fixed to the rear axle ; second driving
chain O, sprocket wheels M and J fixed to the driving axle i; driving chain L
and sprocket wheel K fixed to the hub n of the rear wheel, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Dated this 14th day of December 1894.
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.