Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1889
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1890-Accepted, 29th Mar.,
1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I WILLIAM HARVEY SMITH of George Hotel Yard, Bradford, Cycling Agent do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
My improvement consists in making what is known as a sociable velocipede
which can be run with two wheels-both running on the same track-one behind
the other, and with the riders sitting side by side, and the wheel track between
them.
To accomplish this I employ a special arrangement of the seats and their supports,
as also of the bars, levers, cranks, driving and steering gear connected therewith,
and these I so adjust that the seats placed after the manner of panniers, can, with
their riders, balance each other, whether the weights be equal or unequal, and so
keep up the running efficiency of the machine, just as a single rider does on the
ordinary bicycle. And by these means I claim that I not only obviate all the
objections to the old style of sociable, of having two or more wheel tracks, but
also those of the tandem velocipedes in use at the present time, where the riders
sit one behind the other, and I accomplish this without any loss of running power.
By special arrangement of the saddle rests and supports, and the other mechanism
I may at will convert the sociable into a single bicycle so that it may be used by one
or two riders at will.
Dated this 1st do of Man 1000
THOS. R. ASHENHURST,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I WILLIAM HARVEY SMITH of George Hotel Yard, Bradford, Cycling Agent
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:-
My improvement consists in making what is known as a sociable velocipede
which can be run with two wheels-both running on the same track-one. behind
the other and with two riders sitting side by side and the wheel track between
them.
To accomplish this I employ a special arrangement of the seats and their supports,
as also of the bars, levers, cranks, driving and steering gear connected therewith,
and these I so adjust that the seats, placed after the manner of panniers, balance
each other whether the weights be equal or unequal, and so keep up the running
efficiency of the machine, just as a single. rider does on the ordinary bicycle, and by
these means I claim that I not only obviate all the objections to the old style of
sociable, of having two or more wheel tracks, but also those of the tandem velocipedes
in use at the present time, where the riders sit one behind the other, and I accomplish
this without any loss of running power.
By special arrangement of the saddle rests and supports, and the other mechanism,
I
at will convert the sociable into a single bicycle so that it may be used by one
or two riders at will.
may
And in order that my said invention may be more clearly understood I will now
proceed to describe the same aided by the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the "Sociable" bicycle constructed according to my
invention.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a plan of the same.
Fig. 4 shows the back axle and hub of driving wheel.
Fig. 5 shows a section of same.
The other figures are detailed drawings of parts to be referred to presently.
The letters of reference indicate similar parts in each figure where they occur.
A. A. A. Figs. 1. 2 and 3 shows the frame of the machine. B. Fig. 1 shows the
pillar for supporting the seat of the rider. C the saddle. D the handle bars and E
the pillar for supporting the same. G is the axle through the driving wheel and H. H
are transverse bars behind the head pillar. There are two pairs of pedals K. K. K¹ K¹
of the usual type and geared to the driving wheel by chain wheels and pitch chains
of the usual type. The axle bar G passes through the hub of the driving wheel and
is so arranged that the wheel may occupy any position upon it, that is, the wheel may
be moved any distance to one side or the other of the centre of the space between
the two extremities. In like manner the transverse bars H. H. are made so that the
socket on the head pillar may be moved from side to side upon them. The object of
this is that in the case of two riders of unequal weight the leverage on each side of
the wheel can be adjusted so as to ensure their balancing each other and thus main-
taining a proper equilibrium.
The axle bar G may be square, triangular, hexagonal, circular or of any other form,
and the hub made to correspond and fit upon it. By preference I make it circular
with a key-bed as shown in Fig. 4 when the axle and hub are shown apart from the
rest of the machine, and a section of the same at Fig. 5. In this illustration L is the
key-bed M is a feather key and N. N are nuts used to compress the hub tube. Three
or more cuts are made in the hub tube as shown at O. O. O. Fig. 5 and the
outside is made slightly tapered and a thread cut upon it to receive the nut. Thus
when the wheel is moved upon the axle, the feather key fitting in the key-bed of the
axle and hub of the wheel keeps the two firmly together for driving purposes, and
the nuts N. N. being screwed on the tube compresses it thus keeping the hub of the
wheel in the desired position on the axle. At the same time that the driving wheel is
moved on its axle the head pillar is moved a corresponding distance on the bars H. H.
so as to keep the front and driving wheels properly in line with each other and
occupying the same relation to the frame, saddles and pedals of the machine.
I keep the head pillar and head fixed in position on the transverse bars H. H. by
means of a clamp and set screws or other suitable means.
For the purpose of mounting the machine I place at one side the small tilt wheel P.
at a reasonably short distance from the ground, so that one rider may be seated before
the other mounts.
By this arrangement both riders are driving the same driving wheel and one is also
steering the machine and is responsible for the maintenance of the equilibrium, as in
an ordinary bicycle of the tandem or single type.
When the machine is set in motion and sufficient speed or momentum has been
gained for the steering to properly balance the machine and riders the tilt wheel P
rises from the ground and the machine at once becomes a single track machine. I
then place at a convenient point between the two riders a handle or lever for further
raising this tilt wheel, by suitable means, a sufficient distance from the ground to keep
it clear of any ordinary obstruction in running, as by the system of balancing the
riders herein before described.
There is no need for any tilt wheel or side support in any form after the steering
gear has been brought into use as described.
For the purpose of steering I employ the ordinary handle bar as in ordinary
bicycles, I place a steering pillar at Q the details of which are shown at Figs. 6 and 7.
The stem R. is held in position in the tube S. by means of a set screw near the top
which permits the adjustment of the handle bars at any height convenient for the
rider. To the tube is attached a cross head T. T. which is connected by means of the
rods T T Fig. 3, to a corresponding crosshead on the head pillar I. so that every

page_text: movement of the steering handle is at once communicated direct to the steering wheel,
and the movements of the machine are under direct and immediate control.
Fig. 8 is a plan and Fig. 9 a section of the steering crosshead showing the method
of fixing to head pillar I. The tube and crosshead are kept in the frame steering
pillar by the screw cap V. V. Fig. 7.
Fig. 10 is a front elevation of an alternative method of moving the front wheel in
relation to the frame of the machine by moving the "backbone" of the machine on
the parallell bars instead of the bars H. H. behind the head pillar.
I may convert the "Sociable" into a single machine removing one of the seat
pillars to a socket at W. and the steering frame pillar to another socket at W Fig. 3,
and at the same time removing the two pedals on the outside of the machine, the rider
using the two inside the frame.
Having now 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 :-
1st. The construction of a" sociable" bicycle running on a single track and using
a central driving wheel driven by two or more riders in the manner herein
described.
2nd. The moving of the frame carrying the seats of the riders in relation to the
wheels of the machine either in the manner herein described or by the employment
of a second frame sliding or moving upon one which may be fixed in relation to
the wheels, so as to balance riders of unequal weight, and maintain a proper equili-
brium, and to keep the wheels in a vertical plane when running straight.
3rd. The direct steering of a " sociable" bicycle by means of handle bars and
connecting rods direct to the head pillar and steering wheel.
4th. The general arrangement or combination of parts as herein described and set
forth, for the construction of a sociable" bicycle velocipede.
"
Dated this 27th day of February 1890.
TY
TATT
W. H. SMITH.