Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 8th July, 1887
Complete Left, 26th Mar., 1888
Complete Accepted, 18th May, 1888
I, WESLEY CLEGG, of 18, Mill Street, Canal Road, Bradford, in the county of
York, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide means for taking up as much as possible
the vibration or strains which usually come upon the wheels and frame-work of
velocipedes.
In carrying out this invention the backbone of the machine (usually made rigid) is
in two parts which cross one another and move or rock upon a central pin so as to
allow either wheel to move in a vertical plane.
Upon the front or steering fork I provide a sleeve through which the steering fork
can turn freely, but is prevented from moving vertically; from this sleeve one portion
of the backbone is carried to the upright part of the back fork to which it is connected
so as to allow of free vertical notion in either direction the said motion being limited
in extent by spiral springs.
The other portion of the backbone is rigidly connected to the upright part of the
back fork and crossing the first part is continued to the front or steering fork upon
which the end is free to move in a vertical direction the movement being limited by
springs.
The two parts of the backbone where they cross each other are connected by a pin
around which they are free to move.
By means of this central pin free action for both wheels in a vertical plane is
obtained thus transferring the strains or shocks thrown upon the wheels or framework
to the springs which govern the free or vibrating ends of the backbone.
Lateral motion of the moveable parts of the backbone is prevented by the aforesaid
attachments to the front and back forks.
I place the central pin connecting the two parts of the backbone at a point about
midway between the front or steering fork, and the upright back fork whereby I
provide for staying the forks upon the backbone for the general stiffening of the
framework and prevention of lateral motion in the crank axle.
G. F. REDFERN,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: 1, WESLEY CLEGG, of 18, Mill Street, Canal Road, Bradford, in the County of
York, Merchant, 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 provide means for taking up or reducing as
much as possible the vibration and strains which usually come upon the wheels and
framework of velocipedes, thereby increasing the durability of the machines and the
comfort of their riders.
In carrying out this invention the frame or backbone of the machine is in two parts
which cross one another and move or rock upon a central pin so as to allow either
wheel to move in a vertical plane.
Upon the front or steering fork or post I provide a sleeve placed upon or
immediately above the shoulder of the said post in which sleeve the post can turn
freely; from the sleeve one portion of the frame (forming an auxiliary arm) is carried
to the saddle post or upright part of the back fork to which it is connected so as to
allow of free vertical motion in either direction the said motion being limited in extent
by spiral springs.
The other or main portion of the backbone is rigidly connected to the saddle post
and, crossing the auxiliary arm, is continued to the front or steering post upon which
the end is free to move in a vertical direction, the movement being limited by
springs.
Lateral motion of the moveable parts of the frame is provided against by the
aforesaid attachments to the front and back posts.
The two parts of the frame where they cross each other are connected by a pin
about which they are free to move. This pin I place at a convenient point between
the steering and saddle posts and I have found that a point about midway between
the posts answers well.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will proceed to describe
how it can be carried into practico by reference to the accompanying drawings which
illustrate my invention by way of example applied to what is known as a safety rear-
driven bicycle.
Figure 1 is a side clevation of such a bicycle with my improvements.
Figure 2 is a plan showing the central pin connection or joint for the two parts of
the frame consisting of the backbone and the auxiliary arm.
Figure 3 shows a modified construction of the joint.
Figure 4 is a vertical section showing the manner in which the free ends of the
backbone and auxiliary arm are connected to the steering post and saddle posts
respectively.
Figure 5 is a-horizontal section on the line A B of figure 4.

page_text: Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a side elevation and a front elevation of a modified
form of the connections shown in figures 1, 4, and 5.
Figure 8 is a horizontal section on the line CD of figure 6.
Figure 9 is an elevation of a modified form of telescopic joint hereinafter
described.
Figure 10 is a transverse section on the line E F of figure 9.
Figure 11 is an elevation of another form of telescopic joint, and
Figures 12 and 13 are detached views of the main frame or backbone and auxiliary
arm respectively.
Figures 2 to 13 are drawn to a larger scale than figure 1.
Similar letters in all the figures indicate similar or corresponding parts.
a is the front or steering wheel of the bicycle, is the hind or driving wheel, c is
the steering post (on the front fork-c), d is the steering handle, e is the fork of the
hind wheel, is the saddle post or support carrying the saddle g at its upper end and
the driving cranks h, h, treadles i, i and chain wheel at its lower end; is the chain
and the chain wheel on the hind wheel, all the said parts being of ordinary
construction.
m, m and n, n are the two parts of the frame which I construct and arrange as
shown in figure 1, so that they cross each other, the part m, mi forming the backbone
or main frame and the part n, n' the auxiliary arm.
o is the pin on which the two parts of the frame move or rock, the said parts being
at this point formed with dises the faces of which move directly against each other.
Or the faces may be fitted with balls to reduce friction. The pin o may consist of a
plain bolt and nut as shown in figure 2 or I can fit the bolt with adjustable cones p, p
as shown in figure 3.
y is the sleeve which I provide upon the front or steering post e and which is here
shown resting upon a shoulder on the fork c. The steering post is free to revolve
within the sleeve and other attachments placed upon it so that the rider has direct
control over the steering wheel by means of the handles d. The front part n of the
auxiliary arm is jointed at r to the sleeve and is arranged to work telescopically by
making the part which is jointed to the sleeve in the form of a rod or plunger s
adapted to slide in the front end n of the auxiliary arm n, n'.
A spring t is placed within the part n and bears against a collar u upon the free end
of the plunger s.
A hollow nut within which the plunger s slides is adjustably screwed into the
free end n of the auxiliary arm by which means the length of the part n of the
auxiliary arm can be altered. A spring wis placed upon the plunger s between
the collar and the adjustable nut for the purpose of taking up the shock or jar
which might be caused when the plunger moves outwards.
〃
21
The auxiliary arm n, n¹ is continued to the saddle post where it is connected to:a
sleeve having collars or flanges a¹, a¹ and adapted to slide or have free vertical
motion in either direction on the saddle post f';, are the springs for limiting the
extent of motion of the sleeve, the said springs bearing against the collars or
flanges a', a' and against similar collars or flanges e, el on the saddle post f
The main frame m, m' forms a continuation of the back fork e and is rigidly
connected at d to the saddle post and after crossing the auxiliary arm n, n' is
continued to the front or steering post e to which it is connected by a sliding sleeve
similar to that connecting the auxiliary arm to the saddle post and is similarly
limited in its vertical movement by springs b1, b. It will thus be seen that the main
frame m,
m² and the back fork e form one rigid piece or bar extending from the
centre of the hind wheel to the steering post c.
The main frame m, m' and the auxiliary arm n, n¹ can advantageously be connected
to the sleeves, by providing the free ends m¹ and n' with forks or straps el as
shown in figures 1, 4 and 5, rubber cushions or other suitable springs being placed
between the straps e¹ and the sleeves. The upper parts of the straps are rounded as
shown so that as the sleeves move up or down the rounded surfaces can roll upon
the collars a', a¹ of the sleeves.

page_text: Or the connection of the main frame and auxiliary arm to the said sleeves can be
effected by providing a lug or trunnion g' on each side of the sleeve as shown in
figures 6, 7 and 8. The lugs g', g¹ are fitted with split journals ', hand both the
lugs and the journals are placed within the fork or strap el.
Springs, are placed at the back of the journals h¹, h¹ and serve to keep the faces
of the journals in working contact with the lugs g', g'.
By means of the central pin or joint o free action for both wheels in a vertical
plane is obtained thus transferring the strains or shocks thrown upon the wheels or
framework to the springs, which govern the free or vibrating ends m¹ and n¹
respectively of the main frame and auxiliary arm. It will be obvious that other joints
than those shown can be employed.
The telescopic arrangement of the auxiliary arm (which may be of any convenient
section) serves to limit the movement of the front wheel in an outward direction but
allows it to move inwards on meeting with an impediment thereby allowing the
wheels to approach each other the strain or shock being taken up by my system of
springs.
Figures 9 and 10 illustrate a modified form of the said telescopic arrangement in
which I fix in the plungers a pin j' working in slots formed in the part n of the
auxiliary arm, the outward movement of the plunger being limited by a spring sliding
collar and a fixed collar y against which spring sliding collar the pin jabuts except
when the plunger is moved inwards through the wheels coming in contact with an
impediment. By varying the position of the fixed collar y the length of the arm can
be adjusted.
The spring sliding collar can if required be dispensed with, the pin then bearing
against the rigid collar y.
Figure 11 illustrates another form of the said telescopic arrangement in which the
spring is placed outside the part n of the auxiliary arm and bears against a fixed
collar and a loose ring o¹ thereon. The ring of bears against adjustable bolts p', p
fixed to a collar g' on the plunger s. The bolts slide in and are guided by a collar
fixed on the end n of the auxiliary arm and serve to adjust the length of the part n
and to regulate its telescopic movement.
I have described and shown by way of example three telescopic arrangements
which I have found to give good results but it will be obvious that other arrange-
ments could be employed which would give a telescopic movement to a part of the frame.
It will be obvious that the said spring telescopic arrangement and joints can be
applied to the part m² or to the part n' of the frame or to both those parts instead of,
or in combination with, the telescoped portion n so as to allow the said parts to move
through the are of a circle struck from the pin or joint o.
2
I sometimes find it advantageous to place a small spring between the sleeve and
the shoulder of the fork c², the sleeve in this case sliding to a small extent on the
steering fork. The object of this spring is to form a cushion between the sleeve q and
the fork when the latter meets with any impediment.
I have described and illustrated my invention as applied to a rear-driven safety
bicycle but I wish it to be understood that I desire to claim its application to any
kind of velocipede the construction of which will admit of its being adapted thereto or
used in combination therewith.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. Constructing the frame of a velocipede in two parts, that is to say, of a main
frame or continuous backbone and an auxiliary arm, the two parts crossing and
moving upon each other, the front end of the continuous backbone being connected to
the steering post and the ends of the auxiliary arm to the steering and back post of
the velocipede by spring connections so as to allow either wheel to move in a vertical
plane and approach or recede from each other, substantially as and for the purpose
herein before described.

page_text: 2. The means whereby the vibrating ends of the main frame and auxiliary arm are
connected to their respective posts in combination with springs for receiving the
shocks or vibration of the front and back wheels, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in figures 1, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 of the drawings.
3. The means for connecting the front end of my auxiliary arm to the steering post
of a velocipede, such means consisting of a sleeve such as jointed to a spring
plunger arrangement, substantially as herein before described and illustrated in
figures 1, 9, 10, 11 and 13 of the accompanying drawings.
4. The combination of parts forming the improved velocipede substantially as
herein before described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
D
1 1030
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicant.