IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR VEHICLES.”
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Roland Harrington, of the Firm of F Harrington and
Company, of Stewart Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford,
Bicycle Manufacturers, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR VEHICLES.”
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Roland Harrington at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th December 1877.
ROLAND HARRINGTON, of the Fum of F. Harrington and Company, of Stewart
Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Bicycle Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR
VEHICLES."
In a "Stanley" head the set pin which bears upon the top centre of the neck
is dispensed with, and in place thereof a plain cylindrical piece is substituted,
hollowed out to receive the upper part of the neck and the top centre. Upon the
top of the said cylindrical piece, and within the head, is placed a spiral spring, and
above the spring a plain cylindrical piece, partly within the head and partly pro-
jecting above. The handle is provided with a central ball or socket, which is
screwed on to the outside of the upper part of the head, and is screwed sufficiently
low to press down the upper cylindrical piece, and thus compress the spiral spring.
The head is thus made self-adjusting.
The handle bars, which are of iron or steel, are screwed into the central ball in
the ordinary manner, and are covered or surrounded with metal tubes (preferably
of brass or gun metal) which are slipped over the handle bars, and are kept secure
between the handles and the central ball by means of nuts screwed into the
extremities of the handle bars.
The spokes are tinned, and are thus non-corrosive.
The bearings consist each of a number of rollers (in a case) turned down smaller at
each end and carried in washers, the two washers for each heaving heine kant anart hs2

page_text: distance pieces rivetted thereto, and thus form a frame, in which the rollers revolve,
the said frame itself revolving freely with the rollers The internal diameter of the
washers is slightly larger than the diameter of the spindle round which the rollers
revolve, and the external diameter of the said washers is slightly smaller than the
internal diameter of the case in which the said rollers revolve, so that only the 5
rollers bear upon the spindle and the case.
The rollers are kept from rubbing against one another by being carried in the
washers.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Roland Harrington in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 8th June
1878.
ROLAND HARRINGTON, of the Firm of F Harrington and Company, of Stewart
Street, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, Bicycle Manufacturers.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND SIMILAR
VEHICLES."
The Invention relates firstly to an improved construction of "Stanley" head.
The set pin, which is ordinarily used to bear upon the top centre of the neck, is
dispensed with, and in place thereof a plain cylindrical sliding piece (preferably of
steel) is substituted, hollowed out to receive the upper part of the neck and the top
centre. Upon the top of the said sliding piece, and within the head, is placed a
spiral spring, and above the spring a screwed plug, which is screwed into the top
of the head, and presses upon the spiral spring. The top of the screwed plug is
provided with a square or other suitably shaped part to receive a spanner, and the
said part projects above the top of the head, and is concealed in the hollow ball
forming the centre of the handles. The head is thus made self-adjusting, as the
spiral spring takes up the wear. A small set pin is screwed through one side of
the ball and head, and slightly enters the screwed plug, thus preventing the ball
and plug from becoming unscrewed.
The Invention relates secondly to a method of rendering the wheel spokes non-
corrosive, and consists in tinning the said spokes or coating them with brass.
The Invention relates thirdly to an improved construction of roller bearing;
each bearing consists of a number of rollers within a case. The rollers are turned
smaller at each end, and are carried in washers; the two washers for each bearing
are kept apart by distance pieces riveted thereto, and thus form a frame, in which
the rollers revolve; the said frame itself revolving freely with the rollers. The
internal diameter of the washers is slightly larger than the diameter of the spindle
round which the rollers revolve, and the external diameter of the said washers is
slightly smaller than the internal diameter of the case in which the said rollers
revolve, so that only the rollers bear upon the spindle and the case. The rollers
are kept from rubbing against one another by being carried in the washers.

page_text: My improved construction of "Stanley " head is illustrated by Figures 1 and 2.
The Figures are drawn full size; Figure 2 is a back elevation with the neck.
removed, and Figure 1 is a section through a, a, of Figure 2, the neck and part of
the frame or backbone being shewn in this view.
The same letters of reference occurring upon both views indicate corresponding
parts.
A is the socket or head; B, the neck; and C, C, the centres or pivots, D is the
cylindrical sliding piece (preferably hardened steel) turned to slide easily in the part
E of the socket A, and itself drilled to receive the top centre C; F is a spiral spring
bearing upon the piece D; G is a plug screwed to fit into the top of the socket.
The plug G is formed with a square part H at its top, by which means it is screwed
down to bear upon the spiral spring F, and thus to tighten up the centres C, C, as
required. K is the ball forming the centre of the handles; the ball K is screwed on
to the outside of the top of the socket, and is recessed to allow room for the upper
part of the plug G; L is a set pin, which is screwed through one side of the ball K
and socket A, its point slightly entering the plug G. The ball K and plug G are
thus prevented from becoming unscrewed. By this arrangement the head is self-
adjusting, the spiral spring taking up the wear.
My improved construction of roller bearing is illustrated by Figures 3 and 4;
the Figures are drawn full size. Figure 3 is a front elevation, with the front plate
of the case and the outer washer removed; Figure 4 is a cross section through the
case shewing the rollers and frame in elevation.
The same letters of reference occurring upon both views indicate corresponding
parts
M is the spindle; N, the case (preferably of gun metal); O, a lining of hardened
steel; P, P, plates (preferably_steel) secured in place by having the metal of the
case N slightly riveted over; R, R, etc., are hardened steel rollers turned down at
each end to enter bearings in the wrought-iron washers or rings S, S; T, T, T, are
distance pieces shouldered down to enter the washers S, S, and riveted over at the
back thereof.
The bearing holes in the washers are larger than the journals at the ends of the
rollers, as shewn by dotted circles in Figure 3, so as to allow the rollers free play
while keeping them properly apart from one another.
The interior diameter of the washers is larger than the spindle bearing, and the
exterior diameter of the washers smaller than the case, so as to be respectively
clear of each. The whole pressure upon the spindle is communicated direct through
the rollers to the case; U is the usual opening for oil; the case is fixed to the fork
by means of the lug or car V in the usual manner.
The rollers may be carried between centre points screwed into the washers
instead of being turned down at each end, and in this case the washers and distance
pieces may be in one piece, or the rollers may be turned with centre points at
each end and run in centres in the washers.
When the washers are formed in one piece with the distance pieces they may be
of cast metal (preferably gun metal), otherwise it is preferred to make them of
steel.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I declare that I do not limit myself to the exact details
as shewn; but what I claim as my Invention, and desire to secure by Letters
Patent, is,-
1st. Constructing a "Stanley" head for a bicycle, or tricycle, with a sliding piece
D, spiral spring F, and screwed plug G, substantially as and for the purpose described
and shewn.
2nd. Tinning or coating with brass the wheel spokes of bicycles, tricycles, and
similar vehicles to render them non-corrosive.
3rd. Constructing a roller bearing for the front or hind wheel or wheels of a
bicycle, tricycle, or similar vehicle, so that the rollers are carried in loose washers
(either in bearings or in centres), the said loose washers forming a frame by being

page_text: distanced apart and kept in their relative position by means of distance pieces,
substantially as and for the purpose described and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said Roland Harrington, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
Witness,
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Assoc. Inst. C.E.,
Patent Office,
Wolverhampton.
ROLAND HARRINGTON. (L.S.)